Stephanie Dickison's Blog, page 48

COVID-19: Licensed Toronto bars + restaurants allowed to sell liquor with food delivery + takeout

Nearly ten days after the Premier of Ontario declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered all bars and restaurants in the province to close unless offering takeout and delivery, the Government is allowing them to sell wine, beer and spirits, effective immediately.

The Government has amended Regulation 719 under the Liquor Licence Act (LLA) to “temporarily allow liquor sales licensees (i.e., licensed bars and restaurants) to sell beer, wine and spirits as part of a food order for takeout or delivery.” These changes are in effect as of today, March 26, 2020, until December 31, 2020. 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) states in its latest news release that “All liquor sales licensees are automatically permitted to begin selling liquor for takeout or delivery along with food – they do not have to apply, request permission, or notify the AGCO.” 

Licensees must however, meet many requirements and follow strict protocols, including: 

1. All types of liquor may be sold for takeout or delivery, but must be purchased together with food. This includes beer and wine made under a brew pub or wine pub endorsement.
2. Liquor sold for takeout or delivery must be in a sealed and unopened container. 
3. The permitted hours of sale and delivery of liquor with food are 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. 
4. Liquor may be sold for takeout or delivery through a third party, such as a food delivery service or ordering platform, provided they are acting on behalf of the licensee.   
5. There is no limit on the amount of liquor that may be sold for takeout or delivery. 
6. The licensee must ensure that any persons involved in the sale or delivery of liquor have completed Smart Serve training, including any third parties acting as agent for the licensee. In response to this extraordinary circumstance, the Government of Ontario is allowing agents who are not yet Smart Serve certified to begin delivering liquor on behalf of licensees, as long as they obtain their Smart Serve certification by April 25, 2020.  

For more information, view the release in its entirety. 

This favourable amendment may save some restaurants from the brink. Whether it can save the industry as a whole remains to be seen. Let’s hope.

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Eglinton Way

Photo courtesy of Tokyo Sushi.

In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses. 

EGLINTON WAY EDITION

Midtown’s Eglinton West between Oriole Parkway and Chaplin Crescent is replete with food shops, services, and restaurants.

Take a look:

***COVID-19 UPDATE: BUSINESSES LISTED BELOW MAY BE CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. PLEASE CONTACT ESTABLISHMENTS DIRECTLY FOR HOURS OF OPERATION.*** 

The Abbot on Eglinton             
Pub
508 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-487-8350

A&W
Fast Food Restaurant
1021 Avenue Rd.
416-440-0666 

The Bagel House  
Bagel Shop
450 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-901-9594 

Blooming Orchid   
Chinese, Japanese & Thai Restaurant
525 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-481-3825

The Burger Shack  
Burger Restaurant
233 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-487-1974

Chinese Food Gallery
Chinese Restaurant           
557 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-322-3230

Convenience Store at Petro Canada Gas Station
Convenience Store
1021 Avenue Rd.
416-440-0666 

Crosstown Coffee Bar
Coffee Shop           
187 Highbourne Rd.      
647- 347-7738

Crosstown Convenience
Convenience Store
524 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-347-1915 

Cyrene Restaurant 
Mediterranean Restaurant
530 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416- 440-2121

Dave Young Fruit Market 
Fruit & Vegetable Market 
494 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416- 489-1118 

Ferraro 502
Italian Restaurant 
502 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-488-7729

Fresh Harvest Fine Foods
Grocery Store
546 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-487-0388

GTA Sushi Catering    
Asian Fusion Caterer
359 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-280-5211 

The Healthy Butcher   
Butcher
298 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-674-2642   

Hotel Gelato
Dessert Shop 
532 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416- 932-2663

House Of Chan
Chinese Restaurant & Steak House
514 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-781-5575 

INS Market
Convenience Market
333 Eglinton Ave. W.

Kimono Japanese Grill & Sushi
Japanese Restaurant        
359 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-487-8660 

Lawyers & Lattes
Law Firm/Café              
511 Eglinton Ave W.
905-499-3659 

LCBO
Liquor Store
333 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-488-4700

The Mad Bean
Coffee Shop
519 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-235-2456 

Nikko Sushi
Japanese Restaurant        
376 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-349-1866 

Nomad Steakhouse
Steak House          
453 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-486-6623

Phipps Bakery Café
Bakery/Café
420 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-481-9111 

Pizza Hut  
Pizzeria     
233 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416- 487-4550 

The Queen's Legs
Pubs          
286 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-481-3555 

Sake Bar Kushi      
Japanese
257 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-748-7253 

Second Cup    
Coffee Shop    
518 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-481-3198 

Sina Persian Cuisine
Persian Restaurant     
288 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-344-0211

Sophie’s Dine-in and Takeout
Persian Restaurant
302 Eglinton Ave. W.     
647-616-1316

Starbucks 
Coffee Shop
444 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-488-0178 

Subway
Sandwich Restaurant        
365 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-901-1094 

Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop           
333 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-322-3140 

Tokyo Sushi    
Japanese & Korean Restaurant
373 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-486-9006

7 Numbers
Italian Restaurant        
516 Eglinton Ave. W.     
416-322-5183

--- 

Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.

Please contact establishments directly for more information. 

Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change. 

With thanks to The Eglinton Way BIA.

Secret Recipe: Cactus Rosado’s Al Pastor Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Confining tacos to be enjoyed on a single day - especially an in-between day like Tuesday - is ludicrous. 

The versatile handhelds are ideal any time (hint: 10am) or day of the week. Thanks to vibrant flavours and contrasting textures, tacos aren’t just instant crowd-pleasers; they’re a reprieve from your usual go-tos (Pasta, again?). Even better, whether it’s dinner for one or twelve, they’re conducive to any setting: formally at the dinner table, on odd chairs pulled together in the backyard, or verylikely, on the couch.

Cactus Rosado Taco Bar in Baldwin Village celebrates tacos every damn day. The restaurant that was to commemorate their grand opening last week, offers an impressive array of tantalizing menu options including: beef tongue, jerk chicken, octopus, roasted pumpkin, Brussels sprouts, and beets, for starters. The secret to their creations? Fresh ingredients, house made sauces, and proteins marinated in flavour-packed concentrations.

Head chef Aaron Okada adapted their Al Pastor (aka spit-grilled pork) recipe for home cooks, and it’s surprisingly quick and easy, once you’ve assembled all the ingredients.

Tender, crispy strips of savoury pork paired with a tropical sweet and spicy salsa results in a well-balanced dish that is anything but boring, no matter the day of the week.

Al Pastor Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Yield: 5-6 people (2 tacos each, with leftovers!)

Al Pastor

1 kg              Pork shoulder

Marinade

1 ½  cups    Orange juice
¾ cup   White vinegar
¼ cup   Chipotle in adobo
1            Guajillo chili, toasted and soaked 15 min to rehydrate
1            Ancho chili, toasted and soaked 15 min to rehydrate
2 cloves   Garlic
1 tbsp   Cumin
1 tsp         Black pepper
1 tbsp   Oregano
1 tbsp   Salt
1/2        White onion, roughly chopped
2 tsp         Achiote paste or powder
2 tsp         Smoked paprika

Directions 

1.Blend all ingredients to form a marinade.
2. Cut pork shoulder into ¼-inch thick strips, anywhere from 1 to 3 inches long each.
3. Marinate pork overnight using about 1 1/2 cups of liquid for every 1 kg of meat. 

To cook the pork

At the restaurant, it’s cooked in thin slices, layered on the spit like shawarma. At home, cook it in a frying pan as you would a stir-fry.

1. First, drain the liquid, reserving some for later.
2. Fry the pork strips in a pan on high heat until cooked and seared enough to get little crispy bits. You may need to do this in batches, so the pan isn’t too full.
3. When it’s almost done, you can add some of the marinating liquid into the pan and allow it to cook/reduce for a short time, just to get that last little bit of flavour in. You don’t want the end result to be too saucy.

Pineapple Salsa 

1 whole Pineapple, cleaned and cut into small dice
1 whole Red onion, cut into small dice
1/2        Serrano chile, minced
½ cup   Cilantro leaves, pick off stems and roughly chop
1 fl oz    Honey
2 tsp       Salt
1 tsp        Black pepper

Directions

Mix ingredients together in bowl.

To serve

Heat up tortillas (we use 6” white corn tortillas) on a frying pan with a tiny bit of oil. Layer each tortilla first with some al pastor pork, then a drizzle of crema or sour cream, topped off with a spoonful of pineapple salsa.

——— 

Cactus Rosado
26 Baldwin St.
416-901-8892
(currently closed due to COVID-19)

Check out other Secret Recipes.

 

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Parkdale

Photo courtesy of Miss Thing’s.

In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.

PARKDALE EDITION

Queen West between Roncesvalles and Dufferin bustles with a plethora of dynamic, diverse destinations, including the city’s largest number of Tibetan restaurants.

Take a look:

A+ Sushi & Bibim
Japanese & Korean Restaurant
1345 Queen St. W.
416 588-9988

A-1 Convenience
Convenience Store
265 Dunn Ave.
416-537-3974

A&N Canadian & West Indian Take Out
West Indian Restaurant
1427 Queen St. W.
416-530-5775

A&W
Fast Food Restaurant
1496 Queen St. W.
416-534-2400

Alexandria Falafel
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1233 Queen St. W.
416-533-7500

Ali Baba's
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1430 Queen St. W.
416-536-2100

Ali's Roti West Indian Food
West Indian Restaurant
1446 Queen St. W.
416-532-7701

Amico's Pizza
Pizzeria
1648 1/2 Queen St. W.
416-537-2222

Bala Super Market
Grocery Store
1474 Queen St. W.
416-535-9450 

Bar Vegandale
Bar
1265 Queen St. W.

Bernard's Pilipino Specialties Inc.
Filipino Store
1534 Queen St. W.
416-534-3640 

Best Convenience
Convenience Store
1410 Queen St. W.
416-538-0774

Budget One Stop
Convenience Store
1281 Queen St. W.
416-537-0394

Burrito Boyz
Mexican Restaurant
1736 Queen St. W.
416-537-2699 

Capital Espresso
Café
1349 Queen St. W.
416-531-7730 

Cattlemen's Meat Market
Butcher
1538 Queen St. W.
416-537-8454

Chantecler Boucherie
Butcher
1318 Queen St. W.
416-628-3586 

Chantecler Restaurant
French Restaurant – currently closed due to fire
1318 Queen St. W.
416-628-3586

CiCi's Pizza
Pizzeria
1618 Queen St. W.
416-533-3311 

Coffee Time
Coffee Shop
1402 Queen St. W.
416-516-2369

Copenhagen Vegan Café and Bakery
Vegan Bakery
1312 Queen St. W.
647-352-1312

Craig's Cookies
Bakery
1537A Queen St. W.
647-343-5156 

Duggan's Brewery
Bar
1346 Queen St. W.
416-890-7339

Easy Restaurant
Breakfast Restaurant
1645 Queen St. W.
416-537-4893

Escape Goat
Bar
1510 Queen St. W.
416-533-7777

Food and Liquor
Bar
1610 Queen St. W.
647-748-7113 

Fullworth
Grocery Store
1371 Queen St. W.
416-533-5880

Garleek Kitchen
Fusion Restaurant
1500 Queen St. W.
416-551-0929 

Glory Hole Doughnuts
Bakery
1596 Queen St. W.
647-352 4848 

Glory of India Roti Cuisine
Indian Restaurant
1407 Queen St. W.
647-349-5679

The Gourmet Shop
Bakery
1540 Queen St. W.

Grand Electric
Mexican Restaurant
1330 Queen St. W.
416-627-3459

The Grand Trunk
Bar
1718 Queen St. W.
647-748-4755

Grill Cottage
Middle Eastern/Mediterranean Restaurant
1468A Queen St. W.
647-748-8055 

Grocery Coffee
Café
1550 Queen St. W.
647-803-1479

Guu Izakaya
Japanese Restaurant
1314 Queen St. W.
647-351-1314 

Gyro Bar! Souvlaki Kitchen
Greek Restaurant
1647 Queen St. W.
647-350-5977

Hanoi Restaurant
Vietnamese Restaurant
1283 Queen St. W.
416-538-4963

Himalayan Kitchen
Tibetan & Himalayan Restaurant
1526 Queen St. W.
416-536-4138

Islas Filipino BBQ and Bar
Filipino Restaurant
1690 Queen St. W.
416-533-0777

Jason's Coffee Shop
Coffee Shop
1498 Queen St. W.
416-588-7978 

Jinks Art Factory
Coffee Shop/Tattoo Studio
1664 Queen St. W.
647-347-7779

LCBO
Liquor Store
1357 Queen St. W.
416-532-7283

Lee's Variety
Convenience Store
1578 Queen St. W.
416-538-0836

Le Phénix
French Bistro
1263 Queen St. W.
416-342-1587 

Little Tibet
Tibetan Restaurant
1449A Queen St. W.
416-532-9728

Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
Italian Restaurant
1710 Queen St. W.
416-534-6700

The Local Market
Grocery Store
1434 Queen St. W.
647-348-0611

Loga's Corner Momo Takeout
Tibetan Restaurant
216 Close Ave., Suite A-C
647-761-0965 

Lucky Supermarket
Grocery Store
1438-1440 Queen St. W.
416-532-6160

Lynn's Convenience
Convenience Store
1326 Queen St. W.
647-350-2188 

Mandala Bakery & Convenience
Bakery/Convenience Store
1506 Queen St. W.
647-352-1234

The Mezz
Bar
1546 Queen St. W.
647-812-2144

Miss Thing's
Hawaiian Restaurant & Bar
1279 Queen St. W.
416-516-8677

Motel Bar
Bar
1235 Queen St. W.
416-399-4108 

Mother India
Indian Restaurant
1456 Queen St. W.
416-588-4634 

My Roti Place
Indian Restaurant
1376 Queen St. W.
416-538-7684 

Newfoundland Store
Grocery Store
1537 Queen St. W.

Norling Tibetan & Hakka Cuisine
Tibetan & Hakka Restaurant
1512 Queen St. W.
416-532-2877

Not Your Mother
Vegan Ice Cream Bar
1346 Queen St. W.

Om Restaurant
Tibetan Restaurant
1439 Queen St. W.
416-532-3901

Parkdale Breakfast Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
1449 Queen St. W.
416-532-6835

The Parkdale Drink
Bar
1292 Queen St. W.
416-778-8822

Parkdale Milk & Variety Mart
Grocery Store/Convenience Store
1487 Queen St. W.
416-532-6068

Pete's Corner Grill
Family Restaurant
1582 Queen St. W.
416-530-5736 

Pizza Pizza
Pizzeria
1432 Queen St. W.
416-967-1111 

Plentea Tea Bar
Café
1205 Queen St. W., Unit 2
647-351-8321

Pretty Ugly Bar
Bar
1237 Queen St. W.

Queen and Dufferin Convenience Inc.
Convenience Store
1205 Queen St. W.
416-537-7377

Queen Fresh Market
Grocery Store
1384 Queen St. W.
647-351-8838

Queen Supermarket Indian & Canadian Groceries
Grocery Store
1429-31-33 Queen St. W.
416-534-0077

Queen's Mini Mart
Grocery Store/Convenience Store
1666 Queen St. W.
416-532-6143 

Ravi Soups
Soup Restaurant
1533 Queen St. W.
416-536-7284 

The Rhino Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
1249 Queen St. W.
416-535-8089 

Rice & Noodle
Chinese Restaurant
1508 Queen St. W.
416-535-6868 

Rustic Cosmo Café
Café
1278 Queen St. W.
416-531-4924

Sam 24 Hour Fine Foods
Grocery Store
1521 Queen St. W., Unit 101-102
647-878-7501 

The Shameful Tiki Room
Bar
1378 Queen St. W. 

Shangrila Tibetan & Asian Cuisine
Tibetan & Asian Restaurant
1600 Queen St. W.
416-588-1100 

Sho Izakaya
Japanese Restaurant
1406 Queen St. W.
647-350-1406

Skadarlija Restaurant
Bar
1608 Queen St. W.
416-539-0378

Skyline Restaurant
Diner
1426 Queen St. W.
416-536-3682

Stone's Place
Bar
1255 Queen St. W.
416-536-4242 

Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
1395 Queen St. W.
647-340-8101

Sun Fa Restaurant
Restaurant & Bar
1485 Queen St. W.
416-539-8935

Superfly
Bar
5 Brock Ave.
416-551-9603 

Super Land Market
Grocery Store
1400 Queen St. W.
416-588-0665 

T.Dot Variety Store
Convenience Store
4 Macdonell Ave.
647-439-5892

Tashi Delek Cafe
Himalayan Restaurant
223 Jameson Ave., Unit 3
416-454-0136

Tibet Kitchen
Tibetan Restaurant
1544 Queen St. W.
416-913-8726

The Tempered Room
Bakery
1374 Queen St. W.
416-546-4374 

Tennessee Tavern
Eastern European Restaurant & Bar
1554 Queen St. W.
416-535-7777

Tim Hortons
Coffee Shop
1480 Queen St. W.
416-516-8947 

Tiny Café
Café
10 Macdonell Ave.
647-865-2873

TO. Lounge
Bar
1384 Queen St. W.
416-532-9565

Tsampa Tibetan Restaurant
Tibetan Restaurant
1528 Queen St. W.
416-535-1440 

Yak Café
Café
1504 Queen St. W.
416-533-9778

Yummy Stuff Bakery
Bakery
1660 Queen St. W.
416-531-9732 

241 Pizza
Pizzeria
1468 Queen St. W., Rear Entrance
416-241-0241 

--- 

Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.

Please contact establishments directly for more information. 

Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change. 

With thanks to the Parkdale BIA.

At The Table with Alli Chung

It all started at a young age. While her peers were taking on typical roles in elementary school plays (horse, tree, Robin Hood), was performing Shakespeare.

That drive continued throughout her teens and young adulthood - modelling during high school, followed by acting in her “spare time” while completing a B.A. in Advertising and Marketing. So it’s no surprise she’s amassed an impressive amount of work in a short amount of time.

Recently, she guest-starred on hit shows The Bold Type (Amazon) and UnReal (Hulu), and wrapped a major recurring role as Detective Taylor Kim on CBC’s Coroner. You can also catch her on The Expanse (Syfy), Dark Matter (Syfy), Damien (A&E), Man Seeking Woman (FXX), The Stanley Dynamic (YTV), Almost Heroes (Showcase), Lost Girl (Showcase). and horror filck SAW 3D. Speaking of films, she lead Mariner - an official selection for TIFF 2016 and one of TIFF’s Top Ten Shorts in Canada - and co-produced her first short film, FOMO.

Never one to just “sit around,” the Canadian actor shared her current food obsessions in-between takes of her (many) upcoming projects.

Occupation

Actress 

Place(s) of Residence

Currently residing between Toronto and Vancouver.

Last thing you ate

Chicken bone broth and a pomegranate banana smoothie. Today was a healthy day!

If you were left to your own devices to make something at home, what would it likely be?

Honestly, I’d like to say sushi or truffle risotto but the more embarrassing truth is I’d probably just munch on fancy crackers and cheese. Or dare I say, make frozen pizza!

When staying at a hotel, what are you raiding from the mini fridge?

Let’s be real. It’s going to be the wine. And cheese and crackers, of course. LOL.

Guilty pleasure

Mac and cheese. And chips. Always chips.

Drink of choice

Peach iced tea or water.

Favourite meal of the day and why 

I love lunch! I’m not a huge breakfast person, so I usually have a matcha in the morning, start working and forget to eat, so I’m starving by mid-afternoon. Which makes lunch so much more satisfying!

Favourite cookbooks to use 

My favourite cookbook I’ve had for years. Jamie’s Kitchen by Jamie Oliver. Cliché, but so good. It’s on my coffee table.

Favourite cookbooks just to look at

I’m not vegan, but I love to peruse vegan cookbooks. I love comparing the recipes to the meat-based and dairy-based recipes that are out there.

Most of them taste just as good! And feel healthier. Doing a little bit can make a huge difference. It’s a journey. I’m trying to do my part for our planet.

Three items always in your fridge

Hot Sauce, Cheese, and Oat or Coconut Milk . 

Top three Toronto restaurants

1. Yueh Tung  

My favourite Chinese restaurant. I’ve been going there for years. Cantonese Chow Mein and the Chicken Curry are excellent. Love the low-key vibe and the traditional phoenix and dragon artwork.   

2. Live Organic Food Bar

This place makes plant-based foods top quality and luxurious! Cocktails are delicious and healthy. They have smoothies, juices and elixirs sold in bottles to go. And they’re committed to sustainable, organic, local farmers. What couldn’t I love?!

3. Bukhara Grill

Amazing curries, dimly lit with exposed wooden beams, and family run. Lovely service.

Go-to food and bev order at a restaurant

Anything with avocado, fries or cheese. Wine all day, every day! Pinot Noir, please.

Would you rather: Go to farmers’ market/nearest pub/food truck?

You’ll usually find me at the nearest pub. ;)

Describe your kitchen

I travel often so I’m usually living in different spaces. But my cottage up north I consider MY kitchen. I’ve recently just had it renovated and added an island, dishwasher and sink looking out onto the water. It’s open and airy, minimalistic, with a grey and white color scheme. Sometimes blue jays come to visit me on the patio while I eat lunch. It’s my favorite place to cook, hang out and have great chats. 

Describe your cooking style

I’d say my cooking style is ‘on-the-go.’ I’m usually cleaning while I’m cooking. When I’m by myself, it’s very basic and minimal. But I love taking the time to make special meals for friends and family.

Ideal food day: From the time you wake up until bed, what are you having?

Wake up: Matcha with oat or coconut milk.

Lunch: Tuna sandwich or avocado toast and blueberry & chia smoothie with cinnamon on top.

Dinner: Depends on the day! Mattar paneer and garlic naan, truffle mushroom pizza, or tacos and margaritas.

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Fairbank Village

Photo courtesy of Mulu Bakery.

In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use them to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.

FAIRBANK VILLAGE EDITION 

Covering Eglinton West from Dufferin to Chamberlain, and Dufferin from Hunter to the CNR Rail north of Schell, this midtown Toronto neighbourhood is filled with tantalizing fare from across the globe.

Take a look:

Chito’s Pizza
Pizzeria
1853 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-783-6666

Churrasqueira Portugal BBQ & Grill
Portuguese Restaurant
1912 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-916-6875   

Delicious Empanadas
Colombian Restaurant
2438 Dufferin St.
647-827-2278 

Eglinton Fast Food Inc.
Canadian/Filipino Restaurant
1837 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-781-1700 

Express Thai Cuisine Restaurant
Thai Restaurant
2440 Dufferin St.
416-785-1994 

Fil-Euro Bakery
Bakery
2348 Dufferin St.
647-350-6022

Filipino N' Toronto Grocery and Take-Out Food
Grocery Store/Takeout Food
1859 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-780-0015

Frenzline Sports Bar & Grill
Bar & Grill
2346 Dufferin St.
416-782-8629 

George’s Eatery & Bar Inc.
Bar & Grill
1988 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-784-9091 

House of Indian Roti
Indian Restaurant
2344 Dufferin St.
416-901-7684

Landmark Restaurant
Bar & Grill
1839 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-789-9302 

Mulu Bakery
Bakery
1893 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-916-1805 

My Little Butcher Shop
Butcher
1948 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-783-1437

No Frills
Grocery Store
1951 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-256-1686

Ocean Grill Restaurant
West Indian Restaurant
2442 Dufferin St.
416-787-9181

Pat's Gift and Variety
Convenience Store
1835 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-782-2502

Pizza Hut
Pizzeria
1862 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-787-4500 

Popeyes
Fast Food Restaurant
1875 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-781-4063 

Stefano's Sports Bar
Sports Bar
1984 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-435-8366

Sunlong Natural Market
Grocery Store
1895 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-780-9339

Sushi Zuki
Japanese Restaurant
2030 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-352-2030  

Thai Shan Inn
Thai Restaurant
2404 Dufferin St.
416-784-1491 

Vietnamese Restaurant
2404 Dufferin St.
416-784-1491 

Vari Coffee & Deli
2432 Dufferin St.
416-784-1143 

Variety Store
Indian Take Out/Convenience Store
1860 Eglinton Ave. W.
647-797-9440

Yummy Tummy Bar & Grill
Canadian Restaurant
1962 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-782-0782 

4 Your Convenience
Convenience Store
1990 Eglinton Ave. W.
416-792-3564

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Explore other Neighbourhood Food + Drink Guides.

Please contact establishments directly for more information.

Names, addresses, phone numbers and websites subject to change.

With thanks to the Fairbanks VIllage BIA.

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Riverside

In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use each one to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.

RIVERSIDE EDITION

The eastside nabe imbued with a buzzy vibrancy, simultaneously evokes a relaxed, community vibe.

Take a look 

Animal Liberation Kitchen
Vegan Restaurant
100 Broadview Ave., Unit 202
647-232-9790 

Blackbird Baking Co.
Bakery/Retail
635 Queen St. E.
416-546-2280

Bonjour Brioche
French Bistro/Bakery
812 Queen St. E.
416-406-1250

Boxcar Social Café Bar
Café/Bar
4 Boulton Ave.
416-349-1210

The Broadview Hotel
Hotel
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439

The Broadview Hotel Café + Bar
Café/Bar
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439

Brickworks Ciderhouse
Gastropub
709 Queen St. E.
416-759-6565

Butchers Of Distinction
Butcher/Retail
738 Queen St. E.
416-466-9191

Cannonball Coffee and Bar
Café/Bar
641 Queen St. E.
416-463-0500

Chez Nous Wine Bar
Wine Bar
798 Queen St. E.
416-781-4743

The Civic
Canadian Restaurant
106 Broadview Ave.
416-362-8439

The Comrade
Restaurant
758 Queen St. E.
416-778-9449 

Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Coffee Shop
630 Queen St. E.
647-436-3460

Eastbound Brewing Company
Brewpub/Brewery/Bottle Shop
700 Queen St. E.
416-901-1299

ēst Restaurant
Tasting Menu Restaurant & Cocktails
729 Queen St. E.
416-792-1000

Fortune Smoke & Gift Store
Convenience Store
736 Queen St. E.
416-465-1988

Good Karma
Indian Restaurant
689 Queen St. E.
416-551-6152

Hi-Lo
Bar
753 Queen St. E.
416-551-3459

I’ll Be Seeing You
Bar
747 Queen St. E.
416-778-9988 

il ponte – Cucina Italiana
Italian Restaurant
625 Queen St. E.
416-778-0404

Indian Spice Room
Indian Restaurant
717 Queen St. E.
647-349-1009

Jasper Dandy
Bar
725 Queen St. E.
647-343-1698

The John
Bar
682 + 686 Queen St. E.
416-469-1396 

La Carnita
Mexican Restaurant
780 Queen St. E.
647-344 0780

LAN Vietnamese Restaurant
Vietnamese Restaurant
755 Queen St. E.
647-748-7388

LCBO
LIquor Store
772 Queen St. E.
416-465-6943

Lob
Bocce Ball/Restaurant
100 Broadview Ave., Unit 101
416-583-1516

Lucky Star Restaurant
Chinese Restaurant
739 Queen St. E.
416-466-8688

Nomads Restobar
Global Restaurant/Bar
701 Queen St. E.
416-551-1553 

The Opera House Grill & Patio
Greek Restaurant
737 Queen St. E.
647-348-7717

Pizza Nova
Pizzeria
714 Queen St. E.
416-439-0000

Pizza Pizza
Pizzeria
680-678 Queen St. E.
416-967-1111

Pizzaiolo
Pizzeria
722 Queen St. E.
416-406-3456

Prohibition Gastro House
Gastropub
696 Queen St. E.
416-406-2669 

Riverside Burgers
Burger Restaurant
688 Queen St. E.
416-850-7026

Riverside Market
Grocery/Convenience Store
720 Queen St. E.
416-466-0821

Ruby Watchco
Farm-to-Table Family Style Restaurant
730 Queen St. E.
416-465-0100

Saulter Street Brewery
Brewery/Taproom/Bottle Shop
1-31 Saulter St.
416-462-9379 

Siddhartha Indian Cuisine
Indian Restaurant
734 Queen St. E.
416-463-4200 

Starbank Convenience Mart
Convenience Store
705 Queen St. E.
416-463-4663

St. John’s Bakery
Bakery
153 Broadview Ave.
416-850-7413

Subway
Sandwich Restaurant
727 Queen St. E.
647-435-8673 

Sweet Jesus
Ice Cream/Dessert Shop
780 Queen St. E.
647-334-0780

Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine
Middle Eastern Restaurant
810 Queen St. E.
416-465-2500

Tertulia Espresso + Bar
Cafe/Bar
711 Queen St. E.
647-696-1166

Urban House Cafe
Restaurant & Bar
718 Queen St. E.
416-901-9718

White Lily Diner
Modern Diner
678 Queen St. E.
416-981-7800

Wine Rack
WIne Store
731 Queen St. E.
416-465-5454

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Please contact establishments directly for more information.

Names, address, phone numbers and websites subject to change.

With thanks to the Riverside BIA.

COVID-19: Toronto restaurants and bars ordered to close unless offering takeout or delivery

Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This included the closure of all restaurants and bars not offering takeout and delivery services.

While many operators of full-service restaurants not previously set up for to-go options quickly pulled together take out and delivery options, others closed down operations entirely. To try and keep businesses afloat during this chaotic and uncertain time, many restaurateurs who were set to launch menus for pickup and delivery, after careful consideration decided not to move forward after all.

Some have cited that it is a public safety issue. Bloordale’s Sugo, a casual Italian restaurant at Bloor and Lansdowne, took to Instagram to share their message: “We Feel that Offering TAKE OUT is SOCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, UNTIL the VIRUS is UNDER CONTROL, SUGO is CLOSED until FURTHER NOTICE and we HOPE that our PEERS, RESPECT THE COMMUNITY and CLOSE UP SHOP FOR A COUPLE DAYS!!!” Many more took to social media to share they’ve also shut down operations, including Archive 909, The Gaslight, and Poor Romeo. Restaurateurs such as Lester Sabilano, owner of Lamesa Filipino Kitchen; Cory Vitiello, chef and co-founder of rotisserie and greens chain FLOCK; and celebrity chef Lynn Crawford, co-owner of Ruby Watchco, also announced indefinite closures.

Others are trying to stay afloat by offering dishes to go, but it’s increasingly difficult.. Especially as delivery platforms charge restaurants a hefty fee (it varies - usually around 30 per cent). So while American delivery platform Uber Eats promoted free delivery for customers earlier this week, it has yet to waive any fees for businesses using the service.

As diners are likely largely unaware of this (and the slim profit margins restaurants already face), customers should reach out to restaurants directly for the best way to order, to prevent any additional losses. This also applies when placing orders for other items including dairy, bread, beer, wine, liquor, and household items.

To help struggling eateries, Marcel Morgenstern, owner of Burnt Ship Bay Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, launched a petition yesterday afternoon to allow licensed restaurants across the province to include wine and beer with takeout and delivery orders. This small change would make a substantial difference to restaurants trying to survive this crisis - it was sanctioned in New York State as of yesterday. At press time, signatures for the petition had almost doubled since earlier today.

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As the current landscape is changing dramatically and swiftly, follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and Facebook for breaking news, visit the website for timely updates, and subscribe to the newsletter (so you can stop scrolling and catch up all at once).

Toronto Restaurants Food + Drink Guide: Yonge Lawrence Village

Photo courtesy of Shoushin.

In order to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape at this time, I’m creating a guide of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, cafes, and food shops for every neighbourhood in Toronto/GTA. Use each one to locate nearby shops, discover restaurants offering take out and delivery, and support local businesses.

YONGE LAWRENCE VILLAGE EDITION

This North Toronto community is home to an array of establishments, many of which have been a part of neighbourhood for decades.

Take a look:

A la Turk
3443 Yonge St.
416-770-1122

Abbot Pub & Fare
3367 Yonge St.
416-544-9074

Alex Convenience
3344 Yonge St.
416-481-2311

Aroma Espresso Bar
3343 Yonge St.
416-488-5219

Belly Buster Submarines
3447 Yonge St.
416-489-6051

Bobbette & Belle
3347 Yonge St.
416-466-8800 

The Burger Cellar
3391 Yonge St.
416-345-0084

The Burger’s Priest
3397 Yonge St.
416-488-3510

Circle K Convenience Store
3211 Yonge St.
416-489-3253

Coppi Ristorante
3363 Yonge St.
416-484-4464

The Friendly Butcher
3269 Yonge St.
416-544-1729

Freshii
3333 Yonge St.
416-440-0009

Gabby's Roadhouse
3263 Yonge St.
416-322-3621 

Gamberoni Ristorante
3238 Yonge St.
416-482-3063

George's Independent City Market
3080 Yonge St.
416-483-6996

Good Fruit Good Life Market
3226 Yonge St.
416-901-8390

Hazels Diner
3401 Yonge St.
416-850-0121

Joy Thai Restaurant
3192 Yonge St.
416-487-5144

Kristapsons Smoked Salmon
3248 Yonge St.
416-489-3474

La Diperie
3264 Yonge St.
647-461-8542

Lime Asian Kitchen
3243 Yonge St.
647-344-5463

Loblaws
3501 Yonge St.
416-481-7753 

Maiz
3220 Yonge St.
647-341-8555

McDonald’s
3400 Yonge St.
416-481-8779

Metro
3142 Yonge St.
416-484-0750 

Monkey Bar & Grill
3353 Yonge St.
416-486-2288

Papabubble
3360 Yonge St.
416-483-3360

Parmigiano Trattoria
3186 Yonge St.
416-489-6668

Pestacio
3322 Yonge St.
647-748-5322

Piazzetta Trattoria
3441 Yonge St.
416-440-1777

Pizza Nova
3205 Yonge St.
416-483-5858

Pizza Pizza
3231 Yonge St.
416-481-1111

Pizzaiola
3365 Yonge St.
416-256-7777

Pizzaville
3308 Yonge St.
416-736-3636

Popeyes Lousianna Chicken
3479 Yonge St.
647-347-5444

Riz on Yonge
3321 Yonge St.
416-322-6789

Saigon House
3393 Yonge St.
416-483-0736

Shichimi Sushi
3233-3257 Yonge St.
416-482-2080

Shinobu Sushi
3403 Yonge St.
416-830-0741

Shoushin
3328 Yonge St.
416-488-9400

Stack Restaurant
3265 Yonge St.
647-346-1416

Starbucks
3250-3252 Yonge St.
416-488-8277

Starbucks Yonge and Lawrence
3050 Yonge St.
416-486-0220

Subway
3295 Yonge St.
416-481-1657

Summer's Best
3229 Yonge St.
416-932-1991

The Sushi Bar
3365 Yonge St.
416-348-3369

T-Buds Tea Lounge & Creperie
3343 Yonge St.
416-352-3624

The Original San Francesco
3233 Yonge St.
416-535-7805

Trio Ristorante Pizzeria
3239 Yonge St.
416-486-5786 

The Uptown Pub House
3185 Yonge St.
416-480-2828

Urban Hakka
3305 Yonge St.
416-481-0101

Yonge Sushi
3421 Yonge St.
416-546-7938

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Please contact establishments directly for more information.

Names, address, phone numbers and websites subject to change.

With thanks to the Yonge Lawrence Village BIA.

COVID-19: Health officials urge Toronto restaurants and bars to cease dine-in service

At a news conference held yesterday afternoon. Dr. Eileen de Villa, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, implored Toronto restaurants and bars to stop dine-in service to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

By midnight last night, many establishments in Toronto/GTA made the difficult decision to shut down their dining rooms, while other venues closed operations completely, for the foreseeable future.

This follows a wake of closures in cities across the globe, including celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s empire, chef Eric Ripert’s Le Bernadin, and fine dining mecca Eleven Madison Park in New York.

In Toronto, hospitality workers been working tirelessly to put takeout and contact-free delivery solutions in place, while adhering to strict cleaning regimens, social distancing protocols, etc., to ensure items get to you safely.

As things are changing so quickly, I’m creating food and drink guides for each neighbourhood, so you know what’s available nearest you. These include restaurants, bars, bakeries, breweries, cafes, liquor stores, and food shops including grocers, convenience stores, and specialty shops. 

I’ll have more info in the newsletter, so subscribe to stay up-to-date, and follow Toronto Restaurants on Insta and FB for timely updates. 

In the meantime, please support our local businesses. They need us now more than ever.