Toronto is in its new restaurant era, and we are here for it. We don't know where all these new Toronto restaurants are coming from, but there seems to be something new and exciting opening up every week. And best of all, there's a wide range in price and atmosphere, from Toronto's most delicious cheap eats to blow-the-budget spots for special occasions. Beloved chains from oversees are landing on our shore, while local industry vets are striking out on their own. There's an explosion of new Toronto restaurant openings right now.
Between the best Toronto restaurants that have been our favourites for years; all the alluring Summerlicious Toronto menus; the gorgeous, packed Toronto patios; and the abundance of new restaurants in Toronto, the decision of where to eat has never been more difficult — or more exciting. To make things ever so slightly easier for you, we've rounded up the new Toronto restaurant openings that are giving us life this summer.
Our foodie bucket list is growing as fast as our waistbands, and it's the perfect time of year to slip on a sundress or some stretchy shorts, slather on the SPF and explore the best new restaurants in Toronto right now.
24 new Toronto restaurants that are bringing the heat for summer
1. The Lunch Lady
93 Ossington Ave.
There are few more enduring commendations than a positive review from the late Anthony Bourdain. Ms. Thanh and her legendary Saigon street food stall were immortalized by the host of No Reservations, who affectionately named her “The Lunch Lady” in 2009. Now, following the success of its Vancouver location, the team has launched its first Toronto outpost on Ossington Ave., serving signature dishes like Nui Xào Bò (short rib rigatoni) and daily soup lunch specials, alongside a cocktail program inspired by the flavours of Vietnam.
2. Convivium Dining Community
83 Yonge St.
Nestled in a heritage building right in the heart of downtown, Convivium Dining Community offers three levels of luxurious, European-inspired culinary experiences. On the main floor, the charming, white tablecloth restaurant offers a menu of pasta, seafood, steaks and chops paired with signature cocktails or wine. On the second floor, guests can grab drinks at the cocktail bar or book private dining rooms, while the third floor features two event halls that are oozing old world elegance.
3. Radici Project
588 College St.
Tears for the fallen La Bartola were barely dried before the next concept was up and running in their former space. Radici Project combines Japanese and Italian cuisine, taken up a notch by seasonal Canadian ingredients. This College spot is in safe hands with husband-and-wife duo Emiliano Del Frate and Kayo Ito at the helm.
4. Petros82
900 York Mills Rd.
This spring, North York got its own iteration of Petros82, the downtown dining destination known for its raw bar, seasonal seafood and Mediterranean cuisine. Located in the Pan Pacific Toronto hotel, the new upscale Greek restaurant fully immerses guests in its gorgeous Aegean aesthetic while they dine on dishes like squid ink linguine, grilled lamb chops and prime ribeye.
5. Tony’s Sourdough Pizzeria
45 Mill St. W. Unit 9, Elora
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We’ll travel a long way for a good slice, and Tony’s Sourdough Pizzeria is well worth the 1.5-hour drive. Chef Tony Bish (The Next Iron Chef and MasterChef) brings his international cooking chops — and his grandmother’s recipe — to this charming spot in Elora. The naturally fermented dough is stretched, loaded with premium toppings, and baked in a blisteringly hot wood-fired oven for 90 seconds. The result is a chewy, tangy, and slightly charred ‘za. Try a white pizza like the Umami Pie, with smoked local mushrooms and truffle shoyu, or a red pie, like the Donna Summers — spicy pep with a wildflower honey drizzle. There’s also a decadent panzanella with torn sourdough instead of croutons and “The Don” meatball; a veal and beef treat that lives rent-free in our minds. The pizzeria only fires around 100 pizzas a day, so get there early.
6. Bisteccheria Sammarco
4 Front St. E.
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If Michelin had a baby, it might look something like Bisteccheria Sammarco, a new Italian steakhouse from culinary coparents Rob Rossi and David Minicucci. The talented pair behind beloved Michelin-starred Osteria Giulia in Yorkville and Little Italy’s Giulietta have teamed up again for a venture inside the former Biff’s Bistro space. Unlike the neighbourhood vibes of its predecessors, Sammarco is a crisp, white-tablecloth restaurant with a moody steakhouse ambiance and a stellar wine list to match. Don’t miss the 100 Egg Fettuccine, drowned in heavenly 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano.
7. Espro
2102 Queen St. E.
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Mornings in the Beaches hood are already pretty special, but a new addition is giving us another reason to rise and shine. Espro, a Vancouver coffee brand responsible for revolutionizing the French press, has been raising the game since 2004. Now, the West Coast trailblazer has opened its very first café on Queen Street East. The modernist space was designed by IV Design and features a tasting bar where guests can try a flight of single-origin beans from roasters around the world.
8. Zia's Place
1543 Dundas W.
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We first met Jess Maiorano during the pandemic, when her wildly popular virtual pasta classes transitioned into a permanent hand-rolled home at Pasta Forever. Now she’s back with Zia’s Place, a laid-back but refined dining room in Little Portugal that channels the soulful flavours of Southern Italy, with inspiration from Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. Expect generous share plates of Sardinian-style ravioli, housemade pastas with heart, vibrant signature cocktails, and the kind of warm hospitality that makes this neighbourhood gem feel like Sunday lunch at nonna’s.
9. Oche
461 King St.
Put away your Latin accents: This is U.K. darts, innit? And it’s pronounced “ock-ee,” ta very much. Oche — named after the throw line on the floor that players must stand behind — is the latest gaming space on King West, offering darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. The digital scoring system for darts is automatic, so you can snack and sip while the computers check that the math is mathing.
10. Pinky Swear Restaurant
2901 Lake Shore Blvd W., Etobicoke
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We’re willing to make the trek out to Etobicoke for this promising spot with a lengthy list of non-alc drinks of all kinds from wine, beer and sodas to complex cocktails. The pink and green decor lands somewhere between quirky and whimsical, while plates of pasta like the orechiette with mushrooms and rosé cream sauce make us want to jump in the car and start driving out to Lakeshore right now. On Sundays, they serve brunch dishes like sweet potato latkes with poached eggs and french toast, a housemade bread topped with blueberry compote and whipped cream.
11. Rayah
507 Parliament St.
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This gorgeous new Moroccan-French café and restaurant in Cabbagetown went all out with their enthralling decor, which will instantly transport you to the North African country. Enjoy pastries and coffee during the day, and hearty, flavourful meals in the evenings. And mint tea, of course.
12. Beso by Patria
478 King St. W.
Like a good kiss, Beso by Patria will make you swoon. Recently reopened, the space seriously turns up the heat — and we’re not talking about the Spanish flavours on your plate. A glamorous island bar, beneath the cavernous ceilings, is the eye-catching centrepiece. Painted bulls, matadors and flamenco dancers decorate the walls; alluring red curtains stretch from the floor to the ceiling. This is the date night spot to end all date night spots — just plan ahead if you want to bring your boo, here. Scoring a reservation isn’t easy.
13. The Playbook Commons
111 Princes' Blvd.
Somewhere between a sports bar and an Italian steakhouse, this elevated new restaurant in the Hotel X lobby is equally ready to host you for game night or date night. Cheer on the Leafs, Jays or the horse race you’ve bet on while feasting on mains like bone-in filet, branzino crudo, truffle tagliatelle, lamb chops and swordfish meuniere. With several TVs around the “sports theatre,” there’s no bad seat in the house — and if you aren’t watching the game, the restaurant’s gorgeous design or digital artwork series offer plenty of eye-catching entertainment, too.
14. Casa 73
20 Bay St.
Dripping with glamour and King West-y je ne sais quoi, this new Harbourfront Italian restaurant is a bona fide work of art.
Marvel at the red-leaf tree that stretches up to the ceiling, and dainty glass chandeliers while digging into comforting, romantic pasta plates like gnocchi burrata. Or, ball out on a 48-ounce chargrilled tomahawk served family-style while live music floats around the room from the grand piano tucked away in the corner.
15. Central
114 Ossington Ave.
This Calgary-based restaurant might be poised to change the game. Central, in the former Venezia Bakery space, is enormous (for the Ossington strip) and will likely attract crowds from day one. Everything from the vintage light fixtures to the vinyl record collection, classic stereos and grungy murals perfectly blends cool, retro and casual. There’s even a year-round patio with a fireplace, which is the best spot to enjoy their tasty pineapple jalapeño margarita, frosty spiced horchata and other signature cocktails.
16. Cassius Cucina Contemporanea
624 King St. W.
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King West just got a swanky new spot for pasta that turns into a dance floor late at night. Owned by Italian duo Pat Lisi and Bruno Commodari, Cassius Cucina Contemporanea is the latest place for the food-inclined to flock to. Guests clad in cocktail dresses and suits sip negronis around the stunning purple-pink centre table, while servers in cheetah-print jumpsuits promptly whisk you to your table to get the night rolling.
17. Queens Harbour
245 Queens Quay W.
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This summer, Queens Harbour is taking over a 23,000-square-foot space in a historic brick building on the waterfront. The 800-seat dining area is slated to have the largest retractable restaurant roof in the country, and its menu of “MediterrAsian” cuisine promises mezzes for sharing and a full raw and sushi bar.
18. The Ballyhoo Public House
526 Danforth Ave.
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While we’re not entirely sure about the “Manhattan by way of Dublin” description, we do love The Ballyhoo Public House’s mix of vintage and modern decor, and this local watering hole's playful spirit. Snack on steam buns, wings and dumplings; chow down on handhelds; or split a pizza with your pals. Wash it all down with drinks from the menu that’s divided into sessionable cocktails, house cocktails and spirit-free.
19. Chungneon Cupbap
615 Queen St. W.
In the cozy new Food Alley on Queen Street West, this cheeky cupbap spot is quietly serving tasty Korean street eats out of a blue shipping container. Build your own or pick from their signature bowls; on a bed of white or kimchi rice, or fries, dig into protein options like K-style beef bulgogi, spicy pork BBQ, fried chicken, tofu, dumplings and more. Then, dress it with the aptly named, gochujang-based Hell Fire; or less daring sauces like garlic mayo or teriyaki. They also have loaded hot dogs in flavours like bulgogi, kimchi cheese and smoked spicy pork; tteoboki to-go; buckets of Korean fried chicken and more. Chow down on the Food Alley’s patio, just steps off Queen’s hustle and bustle of weekend shoppers, or order it all to-go.
20. Vinny Restaurant + Vinyl Bar
480 King St. W.
Behind the alluring, illustrated mural off King Street West, Vinny continues the trend of upscale vinyl bars. The sprawling space that once housed Scale Hospitality's Pink Sky has switched hands and now belongs to Ink Entertainment, which has been behind a number of recent openings including Beso by Patria, Animl steakhouse and the revamped Cabana pool bar. Vinny is the latest in a long line of glamorous, over-the-top drinking and dining destinations, this time themed around retro music. Boxy old TVs play endless static, oversized speakers are piled up against the walls and the DJ spins vinyl, of course, while guests sit on crushed velvet furniture and sip crowd-pleasing cocktails in the 70s-esque atmosphere.
21. St. Lawrence Market North Building
92 Front St. E.
It’s been a long time coming, but St. Lawrence Market North is finally here, and our shopping bag is ready. Though the renovation is new, the building at 92 Front Street East is the historic site of Toronto’s original market, with roots dating back to 1803. The Saturday Farmers’ Market will now be operating out of the new building and will run year-round, offering a playground of fresh, seasonal and artisanal goods from local farmers and makers.
22. Ju-Raku
2901 Bayview Ave., Unit 101
Authentic Japanese cuisine is the latest upgrade to the shopping experience at Bayview Village. Ju-Raku combines omakase sushi and teppanyaki under its 4,500-square-foot roof, where Japanese and Scandinavian styles are seamlessly integrated into its stunning interior design. Grab a counter seat at this proudly Canadian-owned restaurant in North York and watch as dishes like sashimi and beef tataki are prepared in front of you by world-class chefs.
23. Grizzly Bar
739 Queen St. W.
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Let your patriotic flag fly at Grizzly Bar Canadian Kitchen, which has had a complete concept makeover from its former life as Offworld. Dust off your Canadian tuxedo and head to this spot for maple-infused tipples and Canuck-inspired snacks that you can, ahem, pay for with Canadian Tire money? Sounds aboot right.
24. Riley's Fish and Steak Toronto
155 Wellington St. W.
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“The steakhouses start coming and they don’t stop coming.” We’re pretty sure that’s how the Smash Mouth song goes, and that it was talking about Toronto’s endless string of new steakhouse openings. The most anticipated newcomer is Riley’s Fish and Steak, a Michelin-recommended Vancouver restaurant from the same people as Black + Blue that’s landing in Toronto in early 2026.
