This isn't a Toronto resto but yesterday I went to "The Berlin" in downtown Kitchener and I must say it exceeded expectations.
I wasn't planning on going there, in fact, I was at a regular chain restaurant when the director of my department walked in so I figured I'd say high and then fuck off.
Berlin has obvious nods to KW's German heritage and takes over the space that Ren @41 used to run.
What impressed me most was they make their own tonic in house, so, if you order a gin and tonic, as I am known to do, they actually make the tonic in front of you. This has never happened to me in all my carousing around the world. And it was tastey and fresh. I then tested the barkeep with a vermouth and bitters and he hit it bang on. After that I just got drunk and let the barkeep tend to me in whichever way he felt appropriate.
-jM
A&D