Some of my best meals are savoured slowly, mindfully, bite by bite, in my own company. I treated myself to a two-hour, four-course solo dinner at Papi’s, inside 100 Kellogg in London. It wasn’t just a meal. It was a culinary experience.

Dining solo at Papi’s is like a gastronomical spa. I didn’t just eat dinner—I experienced it. I savored it. I left feeling refreshed, satisfied, and deeply nourished on every level.

As I approached a deli counter they open a freezer door that reveals the cozy restaurant inside. Walking through felt like entering a portal straight into Toronto’s dining scene.

At the heated bar top, Rowan the bartender welcomed me with a warmth and generosity and the first course: a complimentary glass of rosé, in-house pickles, and a thick cube of crustless sourdough bread fried in celery salt—somehow tasting like grilled cheese.

The second course quickly followed: the oysters; six briny beauties! This paired with an espresso martini “bruised” (shaken until the ice disappears). Each oyster was a cool, clean kiss of the ocean, perfectly balanced by the sweet silkiness of the martini.

The third course, the star of the evening: Wagyu steak, precut and served with three different salts. The texture? Imagine eating a pillow made of meat—tender, melt-in-your-mouth, almost dissolving as my saliva did the work. Cooked medium-rare, every piece felt like a moment I didn’t want to end. I lingered, I savored, I let time stop with every bite. A glass of sweet Pinot Noir was the perfect companion.

To cleanse my palate, a grilled lobster tail arrived, buttery and light, preparing me for the richness of the sides. Creamed corn with cornbread pieces, a dish that tasted like the love child of mac & cheese and peanut butter—sweet, crunchy, nostalgic, and indulgent. And Brussels sprouts, roasted until caramelized, coated in a thick, sweet glaze and topped with Parmesan.

I felt like I was on a gastronomical circuit: a salty plunge as I melted into the steak, a buttery swim with the lobster, a refreshing plunge in the Pinot Noir, then a sweet break with the creamed corn, before ending with the earthy brussels sprouts.

Just when I thought I was satisfied, Rowan tempted me with more: a layered chocolate sponge cake with chocolate mousse, paired with a glass of port. It was rich, velvety, and the perfect way to savour and replay the entire meal in my mind. 

The gastronomical spa experience came in just over $400—almost exactly $100 per course with pairings. Worth Every Cent. Not just for the food, but for the experience: sitting alone, choosing exactly what I wanted, savoring it at my own pace.