#FOOD: LYLA LAUNCHES NEW EXPANDED LUNCH PROGRAM SUMMER 2026

This spring, Lyla continues to evolve as one of Queen West’s most versatile dining destinations, seamlessly moving from weekday lunch and Aperitivo into dinner and weekend brunch service. Launching Monday, June 1, the restaurant introduces an expanded lunch program designed around Mediterranean-inspired flavours, polished midday dining, and a cocktail-forward daytime experience, alongside the debut of Lyla’s refreshed seasonal patio on June 1, 2026.

About Lyla’s Lunch Menu

Designed for midday meetings, celebrations, private dining occasions, and long afternoons over cocktails, wine, and shared Mediterranean plates, Lyla’s new lunch experience sits between refined dining and relaxed hospitality. The restaurant’s daytime atmosphere is intentionally polished without feeling overly formal, offering a flexible setting equally suited for corporate lunches, social afternoons, FIFA-season visitors, and lingering daytime dining experiences.

Highlights from the new lunch menu include:

Raw Bar

Rotating Oysters — three ($15), six ($25), twelve ($49)
Starters & Flatbreads
Beef Tartare ($21) — anchovy oil, sous-vide egg yolk, smoked aioli, pecorino, sourdough
Bufala Flatbread ($19) — san marzano, mozzarella di bufala DOP, basil
Mushroom Flatbread ($21) — mixed mushrooms, ricotta, honey, caramelized onions, gruyère, gremolata
Short Rib Flatbread ($23) — braised short rib, pecorino, pickled red onion, smoked aioli

For the Table

Greek Salad ($23) — feta, cherry tomatoes, red onions, cucumber, roasted red peppers, olive tapenade, oregano
Burrata ($25) — heirloom & cherry tomatoes, pesto, baguette
Cauliflower ($17) — hummus, pomegranate, honey, confit garlic, mint
Crispy Squid ($19) — xo crisp, chili aioli
Caesar Salad ($21) — baby gem, double smoked bacon, capers, crostini, lemon-anchovy vinaigrette (add grilled chicken $13)
Entrées
Branzino ($29) — grilled seabass fillet, broccolini, lemon-caper ponzu sauce, crispy shallots
Paccheri Alla Gin ($25) — pork cheek, pepperoncino, san marzano rosé, pecorino
Chicken ($27) — grilled chicken breast, basil pesto, heirloom carrots
Steak Frites ($33) — 6 oz grilled Canadian prime picanha, confit garlic fries, au poivre jus
Steak Sandwich ($35) — baguette, picanha steak, gruyère cheese, crispy shallots, horseradish aioli, confit garlic fries

Alongside the new lunch program, Lyla’s signature offerings will continue throughout the season, further reinforcing the restaurant’s all-day dining approach. Dinner service remains available daily from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, showcasing the restaurant’s Mediterranean-driven menu of raw bar selections, handmade pastas, premium meats, and seafood, while weekend brunch continues Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM with optional bottomless mimosas.

Beginning June 1, guests will also be able to experience Lyla’s newly renovated seasonal patio, designed to further extend the restaurant’s relaxed yet elevated daytime atmosphere throughout the summer.

Complementing each experience is Lyla’s cocktail program, led by Head Bartender and Bar Manager Walter Pontes, whose beverage direction blends contemporary cocktail techniques with Mediterranean influences and aperitivo culture. Most recently, Pontes earned People’s Choice recognition at Bar Battle, further spotlighting Lyla’s growing reputation as a cocktail destination within Toronto’s dining scene.

About the Cocktail Program

Further elevating Lyla’s all-day dining experience is its signature cocktail program, led by Head Bartender and Bar Manager Walter Pontes, who recently earned Audience Choice recognition at Bar Battle for his standout cocktail presentation. The recognition further solidifies Lyla’s growing reputation within Toronto’s culinary and cocktail scene, with a beverage program that balances contemporary cocktail techniques alongside bright Mediterranean influences and aperitivo culture.

Highlights from the signature cocktail program include:

Rosato Spritz ($21) — amaro montenegro, white vermouth, cava, strawberry

Lychee Bianco ($22) — dillon’s gin, lillet blanc, choya, lychee

Tropic Noir ($23) — tromba reposado, tromba cafeto, pineapple, ginger

Sirocco ($24) — tromba blanco, aperol, hibiscus, passionfruit, lemon

Golden Canopy ($25) — leblon cachaça, flor de cana 7 year, passionfruit, lime, ginger

Midnight Ascent ($25) — mezcal, aperol, amaro nonino, grapefruit, almond

East Coast Martini ($29) — choice of Grey Goose or Hendrick’s Gin, served with an east coast oyster crowned in caviar

Golden Hour ($35) — clase azul reposado, bumbu rum xo, mango, lime

Lyla’s cocktails are designed to complement every stage of the dining experience, from lighter afternoon spritzes and aperitivo-style drinks enjoyed on Lyla’s newly renovated patio opening June 1, to more layered, spirit-forward evening cocktails.

For guests looking beyond lunch, Lyla’s broader programming will continue throughout the season. Dinner service remains available daily from 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM, offering the restaurant’s signature raw bar, handmade pastas, premium seafood and meats, alongside a curated wine and cocktail program. Weekend brunch will also continue Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM, complete with optional bottomless mimosas. For more intimate occasions, The Gold Room accommodates private dining experiences for up to 20 guests, while The Grotto offers a 4–6 guest chef’s tasting experience in a more immersive, chef-led setting.

To view Lyla’s current dinner menus, please see HERE.

To view Lyla’s brunch menu, please see HERE.

For private dining room menus and event information, please see HERE.

About Lyla
Located just minutes from Toronto’s downtown stadium and entertainment core ahead of this summer’s FIFA festivities, Lyla is positioned as an ideal destination for visitors, business lunches, daytime gatherings, and extended pre- or post-match dining experiences throughout the city’s busiest summer season.

Set in the heart of Queen West, Lyla’s menu centres on raw bar selections, handmade pastas, premium meats, and seasonal ingredients, now paired with an elevated weekday lunch offering available Monday to Friday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Guests can ease into the afternoon with refined yet approachable dishes before transitioning into Aperitivo from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, featuring cocktails and bites priced under $20. Reservations can be made HERE.

Designed around progression and flexibility, Lyla offers multiple ways to engage with the space throughout the day, further positioning the restaurant as a standout in Toronto’s culinary scene for everything from casual daytime dining and cocktails to celebratory dinners and curated private experiences.