A dozen years ago, Peter Jensen and Ann Kim met and fell in love while working at Momofuku. Since their first date, 鈥渨e haven鈥檛 spent more than a few days apart,鈥 says Kim. Within a year, they were married, and shortly afterwards, they welcomed their first child.
After working at a few other restaurants, the couple yearned for a spot of their own, so they (along with co-owners Jed Smith and Christine Oldham) opened Donna’s on a quiet stretch of Lansdowne in the Junction Triangle. It quickly became one of the city鈥檚 best west-end restaurants, serving up legendary roast-beef sandwiches, crisp salads and cosy comfort food. 鈥淒onna鈥檚 is comfortable and warm,鈥 says Jensen. 鈥淲e try hard to get the details right without being too fussy about it.鈥

Donna’s at 827 Lansdowne Ave.
Nick Lachance 海角社区官网StarThe menu is an international m茅lange, which, according to Kim, is classic Toronto. 鈥淚t鈥檚 no secret that 海角社区官网is the most multicultural city in the world, and that has given diners here an openness to trying new things,鈥 she says.
鈥淚 love that this openness from Torontonians gives restaurants the freedom to stay true to themselves.鈥

Donna’s interior:聽鈥淒onna鈥檚 is comfortable and warm,鈥 says co-owner Peter Jensen.
Nick Lachance 海角社区官网StarTwelve years into their partnership, Jensen and Kim still delight in taking advantage of all the city has to offer, culinary-wise, together.
These are the restaurants they go to when they鈥檙e not at their own.
Best takeout
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Ann: on College never disappoints; I love getting the grouper sandwich with avocado. We will usually split that and the special on rice. They somehow have the most perfectly ripe avocados every time, no matter the season. It鈥檚 magic.
Best cocktail bar聽
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Ann: . It鈥檚 a bit of everything: daytime coffee, great food, whiskey, cocktails, DJs 鈥 and chess nights!
Peter: We tend to go out for wine instead. For this, is great for a more relaxed night, and the Little Jerry is good if you want to hear a DJ.
The place we’re dying to try
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Peter: For our next date night, we will probably go to , or . Our business partner, Jed, always has some great recommendations for new places to try around town and we usually follow his lead.
Best dessert
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Peter: We like to go to Koreatown after dinner at home and share a bingsu (Korean shaved ice dessert) from . It鈥檚 nice on a hot day because it鈥檚 not too heavy.
Hidden gem
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Ann: on Dovercourt. Cute room, friendly staff, great little wine list and A+ pizza. Great place to refuel after an afternoon of thrift store shopping in the Bloorcourt and Bloordale area.
The last best thing you ate
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Peter: : everything was so tasty! The banchan were so modern and well-executed, and the meats were great too.
Current obsession
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Ann: When the warmer weather rolls around, we try out as many Korean restaurants as possible to try their naengmyum (cold noodles with icy beef broth). So far nothing beats the one from .
Best fancy dinner
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Ann: !
Peter: It鈥檚 always excellent.
Best comfort food
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Peter: on St. Clair. We go for the oxtail and jerk chicken.
Best lunch spot
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Ann: On our days off, we usually go to Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu in Koreatown and share a Combination Soon Tofu and a Spicy Squid.
Best late-night craving spot
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Ann: For takeout, all the way. The spicy original with both the poutine and fries supreme.
Peter: Late night after work: for the Chopped Cheese.
Ann Kim and Peter Jensen’s romantic picks
Your own first-date spot
Ann: On our first date, we bar-hopped and ended up at on College.聽
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Peter: Also, when we first started dating, we would meet after work at the .
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Ann: We were working at the same place at the time, and were trying to date in secret, so we would meet at the Done Right because we thought we wouldn鈥檛 get caught there. We were wrong!
Best date-night spot
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Peter: We usually try to tie in an event or activity like a concert with our date nights, so we go for a quick meal beforehand; we like in Chinatown, or maybe a slice from . If there is enough time afterward, we might grab a drink at Bathurst Local on the way home.
Most romantic vibes
Ann: For me, it’s : The room is intimate, the details are so thoughtful, and it鈥檚 moody but also calm.
Best food to split
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Peter: Marinated raw crabs from in Thornhill. You get two crabs per order. Eating whole raw crabs is a good way to get to know someone.
Best aphrodisiac meal
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Ann: I love oysters and if given the chance can eat an alarming number of them in one seating. is great for this, as is .
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