I popped in to Ultra on the the afternoon of their re-opening in February and was met by controlled pandemonium. I sidestepped some workers and said hello to cool as a cucumber co-owner Charles Khabouth, who vowed they'd be ready for that evening's event. Luckily the dust settled, and everything went off without a hitch.
One of my favourite Toronto design firms - Munge Leung - is behind the restaurant's rather glam re-do, including those showstopping 15ft tall curtains printed with mondo images by photographer Stephen Green-Armytage, taken from his book Extraordinary Chickens. The curtains flank a huge solid oak table and 24 hi-gloss lipstick red charivari chairs. Not to take anything away from those chickens, but that table - designed and created for the space by edgy firm Castor - is quite the stunner too; it's a massive 25-feet long solid oak number supported by a quirky mix of vintage, baroque and hand-carved cast aluminum legs. Click here to see the table under construction, and make sure to stop in at Ultra for a cocktail or spot of dinner sometime.
