I love Barbarian's but imagine they're all booked up tonight.....
Ask for Aaron, the owner. Tell him you've got the pictures from the night Charlie was in town and things got a little crazy with the guys from Cirque. You'll get a table fast.
The Octagon is great, in Thornhill.
Is Devonsleigh Place still around? It was at Warden and Steeles, your traditional wood panel, no windows type steak place.
If you're more west end, La Castile on Dundas and 427 area is out of this world.
I've always been a suburbanite, don't know what's around downtown except the chains..
Devonsleigh was converted to a Chinese resto a long time ago; great dim sum though.
Castile is nice place but haven't been in a loooooong time.
If you like wood panelling and overstuffed banquettes, check out Bardi's on York, between Front and Wellington. Serious old school beefhouse.
For a nice female-friendly ambience, the newer renovated Kegs are quite nice. Check out on the one at the Esplenade. Otherwise Harbour Sixty (but holy markup on the wine!) is a surefire bet. I've also heard good things about 1800 Degrees on Bloor West in Etobicoke. Almost went last year but date fell ill.