9 h. ago 5 new restaurants in Toronto's The Annex area you need to try at least once

Toronto's Annex neighbourhood is a bustling hub at the intersection of numerous major neighbourhoods, so it only makes sense that it's home to a slew of great restaurants.Hugged by Toronto culinary hubs like Davenport, Koreatown, Harbord Village and Yorkville, the Annex, despite once being best known for housing a huge discount store, is becoming a tour de force of food in its own right.With big wins, like the sister location of Ossington's Cote de Boeuf, on the way, things are only heating up on The Annex's food scene, but the past few months have already brought a dazzling crop of new restaurants to the neighbourhood you should get excited about.Here's our roundup of the new restaurants in The Annex you need to try at least once.

Other

33 h. ago Restaurants in Toronto left with no choice but to raise prices amid skyrocketing inflation

Several popular Toronto restaurants have been left with no choice but to raise their prices as inflation continues to swell.The non-stop rise of food costs is a reality that people across Canada have grown accustomed to over the past few years. That's not to say we're happy about it, but it's just the way it is — kind of like accepting the fact that the Leafs will, inevitably, let us down each hockey season.Still, many restaurants across the city, particularly independents, have tried their best to keep costs for their diners low, understanding that we're all feeling the pinch these days, and believing that skyrocketing supply costs shouldn't get in the way of your ability to eat great food.A noble quest, indeed. Alas, inflation is getting to a point where even the restaurants most committed to maintaining reasonably accessible prices are finally being forced to give them a boost.For Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken owner Jordan Harasinski Gillis, kee...

Economics

68 h. ago One of Toronto's best sandwich shops is about to open a new location

A Toronto restaurant known for some of the best sandwiches in Toronto is setting its sights on a new neighbourhood.If you know your sandwiches in Toronto (and, really, what Toronto resident doesn't have a running list of their top five sandwich shops ready at all times?), you most certainly know of Elm Street Italian Deli.Founded by Lawrence La Pianta of Cherry Street Bar-B-Que fame, the contemporary take on a traditional Italian deli has gained a reputation for its sizeable, satisfying sandwiches over the years, earning itself a widely agreed upon distinction as one of the city's best sandwich shops.That the sandwiches incorporate meats smoked, grilled and processed out of Cherry Street Bar-B-Que certainly helps, too.Now, even more people in the city will be able to experience the magic that is Elm Street Deli for themselves, as La Pianta gears up to open a third location, just a hop and a skip from Cherry Street Bar-B-Que, in Leslieville.More specifically, Elm Street is mo...

Other

3 d. ago These restaurants are where the Toronto Blue Jays eat when they're off

Toronto's beloved Blue Jays may be busy on the road to a potential World Series, but when they're not out raking in wins on the diamond, they can often be found dining at local restaurants.Sports superstars have to eat, too, and the Toronto Blue Jays, on top of being the current object of all of the city's sports-related hopes and dreams, are evidently major fans of the local food scene.While restaurants all over the city are due to get a welcome boost in business as the postseason rages on through October, the players themselves have a selection of favourites where they, personally, like to indulge in a post-win meal when they're on home turf.The Jays could potentially play their next home game on Friday should the New York Yankees recover from their ALDS deficit, so if you want to eat like the team, here's where you should be heading. Or, you could always attempt Real Sports' appalling new No-No Challenge, instead.Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Honorary Tor...

Other

5 d. ago A groovy new pizza place is replacing a neighbourhood favourite in Toronto

A Toronto restaurant that was a local favourite is about to be replaced by a trendy new pizza joint.Toronto is riddled with so-called "hidden gems:" those if-you-know-you-know spots good enough to contend with the most buzzworthy of institutions that, for whatever reason, go virtually undetected by people outside the neighbourhood.For Harbord Village residents, up until February of 2025, one such spot was Borden Street's Think It Cafe.A cozy, homey cafe that served up Italian paninis, baked goods from Amico Chef and coffee, Think It stood as a certified neighbourhood staple for seven years before a series of obstacles piled up high enough for the cafe to ultimately close its doors.There's good news on the horizon for the neighbourhood, though: a new venture is preparing to keep up the Italian tradition in Think It Cafe's former home at 196 Borden St., albeit with a different dish.    View this post on Instagram    &n...

Other

9 d. ago Restaurants set to benefit if Blue Jays go on long playoff run

October baseball will be good for Toronto restaurants. That’s according to past spending data provided by Moneris, a company that specializes in payment processing. As the Toronto Blue Jays get set to begin their playoff march with two games at home this weekend, downtown eateries should expect to see an increase in supporters dining while […]

Other

9 d. ago Toronto chef steps away from fine dining scene to open new casual restaurant

A Toronto chef who cut his teeth in fine dining restaurants across North America is venturing out to do something totally different.Chef Barbode Soudi says that, for the majority of his 20-year tenure working in kitchens across the continent, fine dining was always the plan."I guess my first job was Crush Wine Bar, he said. "But I think one of the most pivotal moments of my career was when I did six months, when I was young, at Eigensinn Farm under Michael Stadtlander."From there, stints at The French Laundry in Napa, Toronto's Lucien, Nota Bene, Black Hoof, and San Francisco's Quince all added feathers to his cap until, ultimately, he returned to the local fine dining scene at Actinolite and Alo."I was always trying to work for the best places and best chefs that I could," Soudi explained. Eventually, he rose in the ranks from sous chef to executive sous chef and, eventually, chef de cuisine at Alo. Then, the pandemic hit. A...

Other

1 week ago What to eat at first Toronto outpost of restaurant chain made famous by Guy Fieri

Vancouver's Peaceful Restaurant has finally opened its first location in Toronto, bringing Northern Chinese cuisine to the Annex.Peaceful Restaurant had already been a local favourite across Metro Vancouver for 15 years by the time Guy Fieri rolled into town in 2013, to feature the restaurant on an episode of his show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.The episode further catapulted the restaurant into local legend status, beloved city (dare we even say, province?) over for its droolworthy Mandarin-style cuisine.It was only a matter of time before we got the chance to dust off our chopsticks and try the restaurant for ourselves, and now, nearly 30 years after Peaceful Restaurant's first location opened, we've finally scored our own location in Toronto.At the helm of the whole operation is Executive Chef and founder Charlie Huang.Huang opened the first location of Peaceful Restaurant in Vancouver back in 1998, and tells us visitors from Toronto have been begg...

Other

1 week ago Toronto shopping and dining destination getting first restaurant

The Well in Toronto already has, more or less, anything you could want, but it’s about to welcome a groovy new nightclub concept.Big things are, seemingly, always going down at The Well ever since it officially opened in late 2023.Recent additions like Taline’s new casual concept Giragi and a Bear Steak Sandwiches location at the ever-popular Wellington Market Food Hall have only kept the lifestyle complex’s stock on the rise.Something new is on the way, though, that could quite possibly change everything.Opening later this fall on Wellington, Noyaa, from Dubai’s Tribes Hospitality Investment group, is finally bringing a much-needed dose of party atmosphere to The Well.The new nightlife destination is a first-of-its-kind for The Well, whose nighttime offerings have been limited to bowling at National or late-night drinks at Aera since its inception, but don’t worry, there will be plenty to eat, too.The nightclub doubles as a lux...

Other

1 week ago Ritzy new Toronto restaurant from Michelin chef opens this week

A ritzy Toronto hotel is adding a new restaurant that pays homage to Indian and British cuisines to its lineup this week.Toronto's Le Germain Hotel is, in no way, wanting for great food and drink offerings.Its newly refreshed lobby bar, Library, is the stuff that lesser hotel lobby bars dream of, and it's in good company with celebrated restaurants (albeit ones attached to competing hotels) like Akira Back and Nobu just a stone's throw away.Still, the hotel is upping the ante as it prepares to launch its luxe new restaurant, Punch, this Thursday, Oct. 2.A deft blend of British and Indian cuisines, the menu at Punch is the masterwork of Executive Chef Mandar Kulkarni, who has made his name in the Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 kitchen, on top of other reputed restaurants like Buca and Le Select Bistro."I feel privileged to share a menu that reflects my own story and cultural roots," says Kulkarni. Indeed, the story being told on the plate is a deeply personal...

Other

1 week ago Breakfast restaurant with many Vancouver locations arrives in Toronto this month

A breakfast restaurant that has locations across Vancouver is finally about to make its Toronto debut this fall.We're big fans of inheriting chains from elsewhere in the country over here in Toronto.Whether they're celebrated hits like The Lunch Lady or crowd-pleaser chains like Central, we're always happy to see some hometown heroes touch down in the 'Six. We also, as most people do, love breakfast and brunch.A combination of the two? That's a sure recipe for glory. Just look at our enthusiasm when Calgary's OEB finally opened a location in the city.Now, there's a new Western Canada breakfast staple that's about to be added to the metaphorical Toronto pancake stack: Vancouver favourite, Yolks.Founded as a charming, blue cart churning out creative takes on breakfast classics in 2012, Yolks has since blossomed into a must-try chain, boasting three locations in Metro Vancouver and one in Ottawa.According to the chain's website, l...

Other

1 week ago DoorDash is expanding into restaurant reservations and robot deliveries in U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO — DoorDash is expanding its offerings, adding restaurant reservations and robot deliveries in some U.S. markets. The San Francisco-based company, already the largest U.S. delivery provider, announced its expansion plans Tuesday, saying it wants to bring even more business to the merchants it works with and stay ahead of ever-increasing customer demand. DoorDash’s […]

Other

1 week ago How a Toronto restaurant turned a derelict shack next door into its side hustle

Toronto's Mamma Martino's Pasta and Pizzeria has a terrifying secret behind the Etobicoke restaurant, with a spooky-looking house at the rear of the Italian eatery, known as Martino Manor, touted as the "scariest haunted attraction" in town.Known for the faint of heart, Martino Manor is a 20-minute experience that takes the bravest of the brave into a haunted manor filled with blood, gore, violence, and terrifying characters. However, this attraction is more than just a seasonally themed Halloween experience; it's a Martino family passion.Martino Manor is named for the adjacent Mamma Martino's, and the family behind the Italian restaurant is entering its seventh year of operating this annual haunted house. Fernando Martino, the 29-year-old mastermind behind the thrilling experience, has a passion for all things Halloween decor.  "My father, Bruno Martino, owned a rundown property attached to our re...

Other

2 w. ago Popeyes location in Toronto under fire for allegedly not paying employees and more

A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen restaurant in Toronto is under scrutiny, with employees of the franchise protesting outside the Scarborough location this week, alleging unpaid wages, unsanitary conditions, and other concerns.Employees of the Popeyes at 2633 Lawrence Ave E, in Scarborough, are protesting against their employer, Irfan Memon, and demanding action from the corporate higher-ups at Popeyes.A representative of the protesting employees reached out to blogTO with allegations of bounced cheques, using unsanctioned meat supplies, mislabeling chicken as Halal-certified, and a general sense of disorder at the Midland and Lawrence location.A concerned employee told blogTO in an email statement that Memom has not paid wages in weeks, saying that "employees are behind five pay cheques. All his cheques got bounced, not once but twice and thrice." The employee shared images of the bounced cheques to back up this claim.In addition to their unpaid wages, workers allege that Memom...

Events

2 w. ago Toronto bar shuts down permanently after decades in business

A Toronto restaurant that's been a neighbourhood favourite for decades has officially closed permanently due to development.Death, taxes, and your favourite restaurant shutting down. These are truths we must all come to accept one day or another, and Toronto's had a particularly rough go in the "restaurants closing" department as of late.While over the past several months, the city has welcomed a number of exciting (and tasty) new concepts, we've also had to say goodbye to more than a few longstanding institutions.We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but we're about to add yet another closure to that list.As of Aug. 31, Davisville Village staple Kramer's Bar & Grill has officially entered the deadpool.Located at the intersection of Yonge and Davisville, the bar, on first glance, was nothing entirely special; just your typical neighbourhood sports bar, serving pints and wings on occasionally sticky tabletops.It was the community...

Economics

2 w. ago These 8 new restaurants in Toronto are actually worth the hype

A new restaurant seems to pop up in Toronto every day, but we've got the scoop on which ones you actually need to try.Summer 2025 has been a fruitful one for the Toronto food scene. Now that we think of it, every season is, but late summer has brought us some real gems we hope are able to stand the test of time.Whether you're in the mood for a one-of-a-kind luxury dining experience or a classic hot pot session with your friends, the Toronto food scene's got you covered and well-fed.Here's our round-up of some of the best new restaurants in Toronto you need to check out.Golden Horseshoe BBQ    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by Golden Horseshoe Barbecue (@goldenhorseshoebbq)If you haven't been hearing the buzz about this new barbecue spot at the corner of Dupont and Christie, you need to wake up and smell the brisket.All jokes aside, since opening its...

Other

2 w. ago The most heartbreaking Toronto restaurant closures of summer 2025

When one door closes, another one opens, but that doesn't keep us from being heartbroken over the restaurant closures in Toronto this summer.Restaurants are like seasons: they come and, before you know it, they're gone. Summer 2025, now that we're well and truly into the fall, felt a lot like that.While restaurants in the city, all too often, are over before they even started, others manage to stand the test of time, becoming as much a fixture in the neighbourhood as the old man who feeds pigeons on the corner or the local outdoor cats.It's those restaurants whose closures stick with us the most, and, unfortunately, we lost no small number of them this past summer.Here are some of the biggest restaurant closures that happened in Toronto during Summer 2025.By The Way CafeThere's something about the closure of a restaurant that's been around since the year started with a 19 that stings especially hard. This Annex brunch spot had been a local staple since the &#...

Culture

2 w. ago CHARLEBOIS: How solo dining is reshaping Canada’s restaurants

Canadians are redefining restaurants — trading dinners for breakfasts, group outings for solo meals, and indulgence for value

Other

2 w. ago 'Stranger Things' stars stopped in at a Toronto restaurant and posed with staff

A gaggle of stars from Netflix's perpetually popular show Stranger Things just stopped by an equally beloved Toronto restaurant for a bite.While no telekenesis or parallel universes were present at the celebrated Entertainment District Thai restaurant Pai this weekend, diners were still treated to a somewhat strange sight, indeed.Stranger Things stars Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin, who play the leading roles of Mike, Dustin and Lucas, respectively, stopped by the restaurant unannounced for a meal.Admittedly, stranger things have happened: Pai just so happens to be a celebrity hot spot in the city, attracting everyone from TIFF attendees to the entire cast of Guillermo del Toro's new Frankenstein movie.    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by Jeff Regular (@paitoronto)"[Finn Wolfhard] back at ...

Other

2 w. ago Restaurants struggle as more Canadians look for value, dine out less: report

TORONTO — A new report shows restaurants are under pressure as consumers steer away from dining out, while rising operational costs squeeze profit margins. A new Restaurants Canada report finds three in four Canadians are eating out less, often because of the high cost of living. That share is even higher among those aged 18 […]

Other