Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

Joe Fortes's landscaped rooftop patio is an oasis of calm that's mostly populated by escapees from nearby corporate towers. The ties come off and a glass of wine or two later, no one's in a hurry to get back to the grind. Thanks to the roof's own bar and fired-up grill, sustenance is always near at hand. My advice? Order a glass of sparkling wine and a half-dozen oysters before making any further decisions. Then, more or less witless, ask for a whole bottle of whatever you've started on and Joe's signature Lifeguard Tower (one to three tiers of raw, cooked, and chilled fresh shellfish and other seafood), and you're done. (777 Thurlow Street, 604-669-1940)