66 h. ago Toronto Mexican restaurant chain quietly shuts down original location

A Toronto-based Mexican restaurant chain has quietly shuttered one of its busy downtown locations without notice.It's been well over a decade since La Carnita first began whipping Toronto Mexican food fanatics into a tizzy with their elevated(-ish) takes on street food staples like elotes, tacos and churros — and, boy, did the fervor ever stick around.Undoubtedly aided in the mid-2010s by co-founder Andrew Richmond's then-viral (or whatever the 2015 version of viral was) ice cream chain, Sweet Jesus, whose locations all either shared a space with or neighbored La Carnita locations, the Mexican joint was unstoppable for years.Sweet Jesus has since closed down all of its downtown Toronto locations (though a few are still open in the GTA and elsewhere in Ontario), but La Carnita, for its part, has held strong.Unfortunately for lovers of tacos, tequila, and all those other treats you've come to expect from the chain, their ranks have fallen by one, as La Carnita's original locatio...

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5 d. ago 50 essential Mexican restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once

Mexican restaurants in Toronto consistently churn out some of the city's most flavourful, fun and comforting eats — and, lucky for the city's residents, there's no shortage of them.From upscale Michelin-approved eateries to holes-in-the-wall with the best quesabirria you've ever tasted, these are the spots that any self-respecting Mexican food lover in Toronto needs to check out.Check out all 50 essential Toronto Mexican restaurants in this photo gallery.

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6 d. ago Hooters files for bankruptcy and here's what that means for Toronto location

U.S.-based restaurant chain Hooters, which is known for its chicken wings and all-female serving staff wearing revealing outfits, has officially filed for bankruptcy protection, and here's what that means for the chain's only Toronto location. On Monday, Hooters of America (HOA) Restaurant Group filed the motion for Chapter 11 protection in the North Texas Bankruptcy Court in Dallas.The company has been facing mounting financial challenges, and as a result, announced that it has entered into a restructuring support agreement to effectuate a sale transaction that will allow for the continued operation of the business under new ownership. The company has reached an agreement with a group of current franchisees, called the Buyer Group, to acquire and operate certain company-owned Hooters locations. The group is comprised of two existing Hooters franchisees, who collectively currently own and operate over 30 per cent of the domestic franchised Hooters locations, including...

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6 d. ago These were the best April Fools' Day pranks in Ontario this year

If you haven't caught on yet, it's officially April Fools' Day 2025 in Toronto, and as anticipated, many local attractions, businesses, and restaurants are taking to social media in hopes of pranking their followers and customers.From unrealistic moves to head-scratching and custom-made drinks for your four-legged friends, here are our picks for the best April Fools' Day pranks that tricked people in Toronto this year.Canada's Wonderland relocationDid you hear? Canada's Wonderland is relocating! Well, not actually, but plenty of people fell for this prank posted by the amusement park's social team this morning.    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by Canada's Wonderland (@canadaswonderland)The team joked that the park will be relocating to Wonder Island in 2031, a custom-built island located right by downtown Toronto. One person even asked if the amusement park would be providing a...

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6 d. ago Toronto servers at this restaurant get to choose how much you need to tip

As you take your last few bites of your meal and the bill arrives, you're suddenly faced with a familiar dilemma — should you tip 15, 18, 20 per cent, or maybe even more? You might find yourself reflecting on your waiter's service, the quality of the food, or how perfectly your steak was cooked.However, at this new Toronto restaurant, you can forget all that. Here, the servers do all the deciding for you.That's right, at Revoir le Calendrier, located in Toronto's Financial District, servers are given the power to decide exactly how much you need to tip. The restaurant, which officially opened its doors on Tuesday, is shaking up the traditional tipping concept with its revolutionary take, and some customers are still finding it difficult to wrap their heads around the idea.General Manager Alfred Pols tells blogTO that the restaurant's unique approach aims to reward both excellent service and customer etiquette."People are struggling financially more than ever. Food is expe...

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1 week ago The 50 best brunch spots in Toronto you need to try at least once

The best brunch in Toronto is a perfect treat to kick off the weekend or cure your hangover.Whether you're in the mood for sweet French toast topped with a tower of fruit or savory eggs Benedict swimming in a pool of Hollandaise, these are the restaurants that should always be at the top of your mind.Check out all 50 essential Toronto brunch spots in this photo gallery

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1 week ago The 50 best brunch places in Toronto you need to try at least once

The best brunch in Toronto is a perfect treat to kick off the weekend or cure your hangover.Whether you're in the mood for sweet French toast topped with a tower of fruit or savory eggs Benedict swimming in a pool of Hollandaise, these are the restaurants that should always be at the top of your mind.Check out all 50 essential Toronto brunch spots in this photo gallery

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1 week ago Ontario business tycoon worth almost $29B is one of world's 100 richest people

A Toronto investment firm tycoon who owns a local spa and restaurant has reclaimed the honour of being ranked among one of the top 100 wealthiest people in the world.Sherry Brydson has been moving up and down the rankings in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and recently leapt from just outside the list's top 100 rankings, moving from 101st place up to 98th.Currently the second-wealthiest Canadian overall and richest Canadian woman as of March 2025, according to Bloomberg, Brydson has climbed from the 107th position in 2024, amassing a wealth of $20.2 billion USD/$28.875 billion CAD.That's enough money to buy a nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier and still have around $7 billion USD left over as spending money.Brydson has accumulated this fortune thanks to her position as the largest shareholder in investment firm Woodbridge, controlling a 23 per cent stake in the major firm run by Canada's wealthiest family — the Thomsons.Brydson, who is the granddaughter of...

Economics

2 w. ago 50 restaurants for pasta in Toronto you need to try at least once

Pasta in Toronto always seems to hit the spot — whether it's a heaping pile of good old fashioned spaghetti topped off with a generous layer of parmesan or an intricate risotto carefully crafted with seasonal ingredients, there's a pasta restaurant in the city to suit the whims of every carb-fan in town.Check out all the essential Toronto pasta in this photo gallery. 

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2 w. ago Toronto couple left their jobs behind to launch 4 successful bars and restaurants

This Toronto couple is the team behind hot spots in one of the city's most buzzworthy neighbourhoods, and they're not slowing down any time soon. Long gone are the days when Ossington was little more than an underdeveloped thoroughfare in Toronto's west end.Over the past twenty years, trendy shops, stylish cafes and top-tier restaurants have moved in, solidifying the street's reputation as an uncontested place to see and be seen. International publications have even gone so far as to deem it one of the coolest streets in the world.Over the past five years, real-life couple and business team Brook Kavanagh and Lara Roberts have been at the forefront of keeping that legacy alive.While their combined career of owning and operating some of Ossington's most buzzworthy spots started in 2020, their respective culinary journeys began long before that.Brook has been working in kitchens since he was 14 years old, starting his apprenticeship while still in high school and bouncing around ...

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2 w. ago Toronto man 'blindsided' after company quietly hands franchise over to new owner

The owner of one Toronto restaurant location was shocked to find himself locked out of his business after his parent company quietly handed it over to someone new, he claims.For the past 13 years, Allen, a Toronto resident and owner of three different sushi restaurants in the city, has proudly owned and operated the Sushi Shop location in Union Station, but, he tells blogTO, it all came crashing down earlier this week."[On the morning of March 18,] I arrived at my store as I had done every day for 13 years, but this time  I wasn’t allowed in," Allen claims. "The locks had been changed. My business, my livelihood, my existence had been taken from me overnight."Allen tells blogTO that he was ultimately "blindsided" to show up for work and find that MTY, the parent company of Sushi Shop and a number of other quick-service food companies in Canada, had, apparently without his knowledge, sold the franchise to a new owner, who would be taking over the restaurant immed...

Economics

2 w. ago Toronto restaurant totally overhauls business model amid financial struggles

A Toronto restaurant recently announced that they'll no longer be offering dinner service due to the financial difficulties the restaurant industry currently faces.When we talk about neighbourhood gems — those places that, despite being tucked away in less buzzy corners of the city, still manage to entirely hit the mark — Danforth East's Taverne Tamblyn is about as good an example as you could choose.Opened in 2022 by Toronto Chef Ben Gundy, the casual and cozy French bistro is pleasantly unpretentious while still serving food that's, if I may be frank, really good.And it's precisely this approach to French cuisine that made it an instant hit among its community.It's the end of an era for Taverne Tamblyn and its fans, though, as Ben recently took to the restaurant's Instagram account to announce that, as of the end of the month, they'll no longer be offering dinner service (and, thus, eat-in service at all,).    View this post on Instagram &...

Economics

2 w. ago Police charge two men, hunt for two more after violent armed robbery

A restaurant diner was hit with a gun and robbed by armed bandits after the victim left the eatery to go to his car, according to Toronto Police. After leaving the restaurant — in the Steeles Ave.-Weston Rd. area — around 3 a.m. on March 2, three masked thugs with firearms approached the diner. A […]

Events

2 w. ago Matty Matheson just started a band and they're playing their first

Celebrity chef Matty Matheson never fails to have some serious surprises up his sleeve — and the latest, an announcement that his newly-formed band will soon be playing their first gig in Toronto, is perhaps the most surprising yet.From winning a Golden Globe for his role in The Bear to keeping Toronto's restaurant scene buzzing with new, tasty go-tos, Matty Matheson is certainly a busy guy, and it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down any time soon.The past six months have already brought his latest Toronto restaurant, Bar Clams and a new cookbook, "Soups, Salads, Sandwiches," to the fore, but his latest exploit caters more toward the soul than the stomach: he's making music.A huge personality both in and outside the kitchen, Matheson took to his Instagram account to announce the official formation of Pig Pen, a hardcore outfit featuring Alexisonfire's Wade MacNeil, Daniel Romano, Ian SKI Romano and Tommy Major.Matty, perhaps unsurprisingly, will be on v...

Culture

3 w. ago Dickey’s Barbecue Opens in Toronto, Serving Authentic Texas BBQ

The Iconic BBQ Brand Continues Its Growth in Canada, Bringing Legendary Flavors to Toronto’s Food Scene Toronto, Ontario, March 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest barbecue franchise, is excited to announce the opening of its latest location in Toronto, Ontario. Located at 2150 Bloor Street W In High Park […]

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3 w. ago These are all the places in Toronto you can get discounts with your PRESTO card

If you have a PRESTO card, you might not know that it can actually unlock some great discounts on events, restaurants, and attractions in Toronto. Besides just using your card to get you from point A to point B, you can take advantage of some exclusive PRESTO discounts that are available for a limited time only. While some discounts are only available this March, others can be enjoyed later in the year. These are all the places you can get a discount in Toronto just by showing your PRESTO card or applying a code online. Events  Toronto Comicon Get ready to geek out over comics, sci-fi, horror, cosplay, anime, and gaming at this three-day convention that takes over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre between March 14 and March 16. On Friday, March 14 only, you can show your PRESTO card at the Comicon box office to save 20 per cent on your Friday single day adult, youth, or family pass admission.     View this post on Instagr...

Transport

last month Toronto restaurant known for its wings closes after 54 years

A Toronto bar that's been a community stalwart for the past 54 years has officially closed its doors for good.While, in the over five decades that it's been a neighbourhood go-to, Etobicoke's Sloppy Joe's hasn't always borne the same name, one thing about it has remained constant: its status as a local legend.Originally founded in 1971 "driven by the dream of creating a neighbourhood gathering place that felt like home," according to a note on Sloppy Joe's' website, the business was taken over by its owners sons, Larry and Pete in 1998, when it officially became Sloppy Joe's.In the 27 years since then, the bar and restaurant only further continued to cement itself as that very homey neighbourhood watering hole their father dreamt of, hosting regular DJ nights and screening sports games for their Etobicoke neighbours.It also helped that their wings were, as agreed upon by many, some of the best in the city.54 years after their father started the family busine...

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