Toronto Raptors star Scottie Barnes is entering his third season in the NBA and in the 6ix, and he's got plenty of recommendations when it comes to where he likes to eat or party with friends after leaving it all out on the court.
Barnes recently told Narcity about his favourite restaurants in Toronto during a wide-ranging chat ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. The conversation revolved around him joining the PlayStation Playmakers lineup, which is a roster of top celebrities and athletes whom you can follow through their PS5 gaming adventures.
Barnes had plenty to say about his off-court habits during the chat, and while much of it was about gaming, he also revealed where he'd take his friends for a night out in Toronto and the one Canadian dish that didn't exactly blow him away.
The Toronto Raptors forward said he has a personal chef who "takes care of me" oftentimes, and so he doesn't eat a lot of junk. "I'm trying to eat right to stay healthy to prepare for the season," he said. "You gotta get a chef that helps you do that."
However, he has tried one of Canada's most unhealthiest signature dishes: poutine.
Barnes says he had his first taste of poutine in Montreal, and while he didn't mind it, it wasn't "crazy special" either. "It was alright," he said with a shrug.
If you're feeling a bit miffed by Barnes' "meh" response to poutine, don't be; fat-heavy foods like French fries can seriously slow an athlete down because it takes the body longer to process all of it, a nutritionist told Narcity. Add gravy and cheese curds to those fries and you're looking at an even tougher meal to digest.
With that in mind, you probably won't run into Barnes at a burger or shawarma spot around Toronto during the NBA season.
Still, he admits there are several higher-end restaurants he likes to visit when he's got a free night in the 6ix. He says it all depends on "the vibe and what I'm feeling," but he definitely has a shortlist of the best restaurants in Toronto.
Here are the Toronto restaurants where you might see Scottie Barnes enjoying a nice meal during the NBA season.
Silent H
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 361 King Street
Cuisine: Mexican
This Mexican restaurant on King West is definitely a vibe, with its stunning archway entrance, elevated cocktail list and wide range of Mexican dishes to choose from.
Narcity paid Silent H a visit earlier this year and their Ensenada Dreams margarita blew us away.
"I eat there a lot," said Barnes.
Harbour 60
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 60 Harbour St.
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Harbour 60 is one of the places to be if you're hoping to bump into Drake, LeBron James or a Toronto Raptor, and so it's no wonder that Barnes would include this steakhouse on his list.
This is a fantastic spot for a big celebration like a birthday or anniversary, and you can get some next-level dishes such as the Harbour 60 Seafood Tower or the 44-oz Tomahawk steak to make the night extra special.
Cactus Club Cafe
Price: 💸💸
Address: 77 Adelaide St. W
Cuisine: Contemporary
Cactus Club Cafe has a long history with the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard actually stopped in here after winning the NBA championship with the Raps in 2019, and it remains a popular place with this generation of players, including Scottie Barnes.
STK Steakhouse
Price: 💸💸💸
Address: 153 Yorkville Ave
Cuisine: Steakhouse
STK Steakhouse is an international chain with a stellar reputation across the U.S. and in several other countries. They're obviously known for their steaks, but they've also got a sneaky good brunch with bottomless mimosas that won't cost you nearly as much as dinner.
No matter which time of day you visit, STK's Toronto location has a dreamy interior that'll make you want to snap pics between every bite of your meal.
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Address: 12 Brant St.
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Are you noticing a trend here?
Jacobs is a ritzy steakhouse with a piano bar and a long history as one of the best spots to eat in the city. It's even got a spot in Toronto's Michelin Guide.
Chef Danny McCallum knows his steak and sources only the very best cuts for the dry-aged steaks on his menu, which draws all kinds of athletes and celebs to the restaurant.
Barnes said he likes to take friends to Jacobs to show them the "best steak" in the city, and that's saying something when you visit all the top steakhouses on the regular.
Many of Barnes' top restaurants in the city are steakhouses, and that's no coincidence.
Pro athletes burn way more calories than the average Canadian, and that means they need to eat well and eat a lot to recover after performing. NHLers for instance are also very fond of steakhouses and Italian restaurants because they serve plenty of high-protein meals to fuel their muscles.
Canadian athletes such as Bianca Andreescu (tennis) and Penny Oleksiak (swimming) have recently shared their own fitness and eating regimes with Narcity, and while the diets differ from one sport to another, food is still a huge factor for each individual.
It's the classic "you are what you eat" thing, and if you want to be a champ, you have to eat like one.
As for Barnes, the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year is looking to restore a bit of glory to the Toronto Raptors this season. The team missed the playoffs last year and is in a bit of a retooling phase, after waving goodbye to several key pieces from their 2019 championship season in recent years, including Fred VanVleet and coach Nick Nurse over the summer.
"I'm just trying to win as many games as possible," Barnes told Narcity. "Make the playoffs and push to try to win a championship."
Here's hoping we'll get to see Barnes celebrating a championship win at a Toronto restaurant sometime in the next few years!
Toronto Raptor Scottie Barnes Shared His Fave Restaurants & What He Really Thinks Of Poutine
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