The restaurant: MARBL (455 King Street West)

The occasion: The ELLE Canada holiday party

The vibe: Elevated night out. The marble-and-brick-adorned space is super chic, making it a celeb hotspot during TIFF. For a more casual evening, grab a seat at the bar and catch the night’s Raptors game, or head to the back and watch the action unfold in the open kitchen.

The food and drinks: We came hungry and were not disappointed. We started the night noshing on apps of juicy meatballs and yellowfin tuna served atop crispy shoestring potatoes. (Pro tip: We shared everything, but be sure to ask your server how many plates you’ll need based on your group size if you want to do the same.) The housemade cocktails are also a must-try. We tried citrusy vodka-and-prosecco based French 74 (you can never go wrong with bubbles) and the Just Friends, a delightful blend of sake and grapefruit and lemon juices finished off with absinthe. And because we were celebrating the holidays, we obviously had to end the night with some desserts. Get an assorted platter to share. Thank us later.

The standout: The Chinois Prawns, a mouthwatering app dressed in a just-spicy-enough aioli that had everyone going back for seconds.

We recommend it for: The atmosphere at MARBL is laidback but still feels special, so it’s perfect for a girl’s night out or celebratory group hang. We’ll definitely be coming back in the warmer months when the super lush patio reopens for the season.

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