38 h. ago Ontario once had very bizarre McDonald's locations but they're gone forever

Although most McDonald's locations in Ontario look nearly identical today — with their grey exteriors and red columns topped with the chain's famous golden arches — some outlets had their own distinct quirky character throughout the 1970s and 1990s. As franchise owners worked to set their locations apart from others, many experienced unusual features that have since disappeared, including attached train cabooses to host birthday parties, and even one with a gas station built beneath it. For those who grew up in Ontario during the late 20th century, the sight of a bright red caboose beside your local McDonald's was a staple of childhood. Franchise owners across the province, from Chatham to Stratford, Barrie to Owen Sound, and Orangeville to Mississauga, converted former railway cars into dining rooms and play areas, and birthday party rooms. A McDonald's caboose restaurant in Chatham, Ont., in 1985. Photo: Don McQueen/Old Ont...

Other

46 h. ago Toronto bar that closed after 20 years being replaced by retro

A Toronto bar in a historic building is getting a new lease on life as it transforms into a new concept this October.The Gladstone House's Melody Bar had been a pillar of West Queen West, taking on various appearances and lives over the years, for over two decades, when it suddenly and quietly closed its doors at the end of 2022.Since then, the space at the historic property has sat dormant, collecting dust while the neighbourhood's frequenters grew impatient waiting to learn whether Melody Bar would rise from the ashes, or whether it really was gone for good.Alas, we finally have our answer, and it's the latter, but it's not all bad news.A new chapter is on the horizon for the former Melody Bar, as it prepares to transform into Cassette, a refined take on the classic, retro diner, opening at the end of October.If you're expecting a typical greasy spoon, think again. Cassette is going to pack a serious punch in the style department, while stil...

Other

48 h. ago Loblaw closing No Name discount grocery stores in Ontario after just a year

Loblaw Companies Ltd. is slowly winding down its ultra-discount No Name grocery store program, with two of the three pilot locations in Ontario now closed or slated to shut down just over a year after they first opened. The stores were originally launched in September 2024 and gave shoppers access to even lower prices than the company's existing discount chains, like No Frills. The concept aimed to reduce operating costs through shorter store hours, a smaller assortment of products, limited marketing, no refrigeration, and fewer weekly deliveries. At the time, the company said that the stores would help customers save up to 20 per cent on everyday essentials; however, it looks like the concept didn't exactly land with consumers, as its reduced operating costs meant shoppers would have to shop elsewhere for refrigerated items like dairy or fresh meat products. The bare-bones stores carried just 1,300 products, compared to the 7,000 items typically carried in sm...

Other

3 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

3 d. ago Where to eat and drink in neighbourhood just ranked Toronto's coolest

A Toronto neighbourhood was just named one of the coolest in the entire world — here's everywhere you need to eat and drink when you visit."Coolness" is subjective. In our opinion, anyway. Coolness can't be counted, measured or described. It's as transient as the water in a river. Just ask anyone who enthusiastically wore stretchy tattoo chokers in the '90s. Or the twenty-tens, for that matter.Still, despite coolness's characteristically translucent quality, there will always be places and things that are, indeed, "cool." Typically, it's cool people who call the shots. If a cool person says it's cool, it's cool.How many more times do you think we can say cool in this article? Hint: it's more than you think.That's more or less the methodology behind Time Out Magazine's annual list of the coolest neighbourhoods around the world. The British magazine rounds up the coolest connections its editorial team...

Other

3 d. ago Food prices in Canada keep rising faster than rate of inflation

No, you haven't been imagining it: your grocery bill may have gotten more expensive recently, at least according to Loblaw's September Food Inflation report, which states that food prices have remained above the general rate of inflation due to external pressures.The report, released on Sept. 30, shows that food inflation in Canada rose 3.5 per cent in August compared to the overall Consumer Price Index (CPI) at 1.9 per cent."Much of this gap is tied to broader global factors — such as commodity volatility, higher transportation and energy costs in the supply chain, and weather-related disruptions affecting produce and meat," reads the report.One of these weather-related disruptions is due to the unusually low rainfall seen in the Atlantic provinces, Quebec, and parts of Ontario. Due to this, Loblaw said that crops like corn, soybeans, blueberries, and root vegetables were "stressed during critical growth phases," which in turn reduced yields, ...

Economics

4 d. 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

4 d. 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

4 d. 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

4 d. 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

5 d. ago These are the new Toronto happy hours you need to check out right now

There are few better ways to shake off a long work day than hitting a happy hour, and these new ones in Toronto are among the best.Oh, happy hour. We could write an ode about our appreciation for bars' and restaurants' commitment to making their food and drink cheapest when we absolutely need it most.Whether it falls in the last hours of the workday, the wee hours in the morning or at any point on a Monday, a happy hour always delivers on its promise to put a smile on your face.If you've tired of exhausting your same old go-to spots, here are a few new or updated happy hours that you need to check out for after-work drinks this week.Everyside    View this post on Instagram           A post shared by EVERYSIDE - Social Eatery & Taphouse (@drinkeveryside)Very little can compete with a daily happy hour, but a multi-hour happy hour that happens twice daily? Yeah, we'll drin...

Other

8 d. ago Ontario bakery made famous by Keith Lee visit finally getting permanent home

An Ontario bakery that went viral last year is finally gearing up to open a permanent location after a roller coaster year.Ajax's Biscuits to Baskets was little more than a neighbourhood hidden gem run out of founder Suzanne Smith's garden shed before food influencer Keith Lee came rolling into town in April of 2024.At the time, the MMA fighter-turned-food critic, known for his honest TikTok reviews of small businesses, was in Toronto on a tour across major North American cities, taking his followers' suggestions on where to go.Someone suggested Biscuits to Baskets, Lee went, and he absolutely loved it. After that, the so-called "Keith Lee effect" took hold, and the bakery was swarmed with customers eager to try Smith's selection of cakes, chocolates and other confections.It was a response beyond the Smith family's wildest dreams, but every rose has its thorns, and the heightened attention on the bakery came with its fair share of ch...

Sport

9 d. ago Three restaurants in Ontario were just named among the best on the continent

North America's 50 best restaurants for 2025 have been revealed, and three Ontario eateries made their way onto the list.For the first time ever, World's 50 Best, one of the leading awarding bodies for the best restaurants and bars in the world, has unveiled its list for the top 50 restaurants in North America — and three spots in Ontario made it on the list.We may be biased, but let's be real, is anyone surprised?Fresh off the heels of a major victory on the 2025 Toronto Michelin Guide, where it received two stars, making it the most awarded restaurant in Canada, Lincoln's Restaurant Pearl Morissette leads the pack with an impressive third-place ranking.The Niagara region's restaurant and winery is celebrated for its commitment to local, seasonal cuisine and an endlessly changing menu crafted from ingredients sourced within the region.If the third-place finish wasn't enough, Restaurant Pearl Morissette also walked away with the award for...

Other

9 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. ago Starbucks announces massive layoffs and store closures including Canada

Starbucks will be closing hundreds of stores and laying off hundreds of employees in Canada and the United States, according to an announcement on Thursday.In a message to employees, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol shared two decisions the company has made in support of its "Back to Starbucks" plan.After reviewing the coffee chain's North America portfolio, Niccol said they identified stores that weren't performing well financially."These locations will be closed," he wrote. "Each year, we open and close coffeehouses for a variety of reasons, from financial performance to lease expirations. This is a more significant action that we understand will impact partners and customers."The CEO stated that the company will be closing about one per cent of Starbucks locations across Canada and the U.S. At the end of June, the company had 18,734 stores in North America. According to Niccol, this will be cut down to 18,300 stores by the end of September.In ...

Other

1 week 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

1 week ago Toronto neighbourhood lands on list of world's coolest for 2025

Time Out has dropped its annual list of the 39 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, and unlike last year (where the 6ix was completely snubbed), Toronto's very own Davenport has made the cut, which may not come as a huge surprise to locals.So, what makes this stretch of the city stand out? Once giving off industrial vibes — lined with garages and factories — Davenport has built itself a new lease on life. The area is now bustling with foot traffic and trendy cafés, buzzing patios during the summer, and breweries that draw crowds by night.Old warehouses and industrial infrastructure in this part of town have, in many cases, been reimagined to fit Davenport's modern flair.Of course, landing on a list that celebrates neighbourhoods shaping culture around the world only means Davenport isn't just cool by Toronto standards, it's officially on the global "coolness" radar.The only other Canadian locale to make this coveted list is...

Other

1 week ago Tim Hortons' 'TimShop' merch store replacing closed Toronto Eaton Centre business

For Tim Hortons fanatics who feel the tumblers and mugs at select stores just aren't enough merch, you're in luck, because the coffee chain is opening a dedicated brick-and-mortar merch store, the TimShop, in CF Toronto Eaton Centre this fall.Hoarding is now up around the future TimShop, advertising a grand opening in Nov. 2025.The new merch store is set to take over the retail space previously occupied by Bentley for over a decade until its closure last month. The Bentley store at the Eaton Centre closed in August after over a decade in business. JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com"The TimShop store at the Eaton Centre will be a holiday season pop-up expected to be open from early November to the end of December. It is the first retail store of its kind for us and is an extension of TimShop.ca," a Tim Hortons media representative told blogTO.     View this post on Instagram         ...

Economics