#FOOD: WORLD CUP TORONTO DINING OPTIONS ROUND-UP

World Cup frenzy is hitting the City of Toronto, with many international visitors looking for the best places to dine at while they’re in town. Here are some ideas in and around the City that showcase some of the best Toronto has to offer!

Takja BBQ House
Takja BBQ House, where chefs Jeff Kang and Edward Bang are continuing to raise the bar for Korean dining in Canada with an updated Hansang experience for spring/summer. The new menu features elevated seafood offerings, premium cuts grilled tableside, and a Mushroom Stone Pot Rice prepared in the Anseong Jumul Gamasot — a traditional Korean cast iron pot currently used at Takja exclusively in Canada. Reservations here.

Oroshi Fish Co.
Oroshi Fish Co. offers thoughtfully curated sushi platters for your World Cup viewing parties with family and friends! These stunning sushi sets come with chopsticks, seasoned soy, wasabi and gari which allows the party host to focus on spending time with friends and the game instead of worrying about food prep. Order here.

George Restaurant
GEORGE Restaurant is a MICHELIN-recommended fine dining destination located in a restored 19th-century chocolate factory in Toronto’s Old Town. Since 2003, Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto has led the kitchen with a philosophy rooted in seasonal ingredients, sustainable sourcing, and deeply personalized tasting experiences. GEORGE is owned by the Verity Group of Companies, founded by Mary S. Aitken, C.M. Reserve here.

Chaiiwala of London
For those running to catch the game or want to order takeout for a World Cup watch party, Chaiiwala of London offers quick, easy and tasty traditional chai and South Asian street foods with a nod to contemporary food trends. Signature offerings include Karak Chaii, Pink Chaii, Karak Coffee, and street food favorites like Desi Breakfast, Bombay Toastie, and indulgent Gulab Jamun Cheesecake. Find your nearest location here.

Riley’s Toronto
Toronto’s hottest new opening is the Michelin-recognized Riley’s. It’s a sophisticated yet approachable steakhouse and seafood concept that reimagines modern dining through craftsmanship, comfort, and community. It combines the refined service and theatrical flair that Glowbal Hospitality is known for with a menu that celebrates premium Canadian beef, sustainable seafood, and a curated raw bar experience. Reservations here.

Black + Blue Toronto
Located in the financial district, Black + Blue is Canada’s premier steak dining experience. They offer the magic of a classic steakhouse combined with a modern and energetic twist. They take great pride in being Kobe Beef certified, in addition to offering our guests a selection of the world’s rarest cuts. Black + Blue has private dining room options to host your watch parties with friends and colleagues. Reserve here.

Isaan Der
Isaan Der is Toronto’s only Northeastern Thai restaurant, led by Chef Ko. During the World Cup, they are offering a World Cup Grilled Platter and Beer Tower at only $109!

The World Cup Special includes: Grilled short ribs, Grilled pork ribs, Moo ping, Isaan sausage, Wings, Som tum, Shrimp chips, Sticky rice Beer Tower!! The combo platter is perfect for sharing with 5–6 people as you cheer for your favourite team! More here.

Hello Nori
Hello Nori is a premier dining destination specializing in innovative Japanese hand roll sushi, aburi oshi, and premium sake experiences. With multiple locations in Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, they are pioneers of the hand roll experience in Canada. The team is committed to using fresh, high-quality ingredients sourced both locally and directly from Japan while delivering exceptional hospitality.

The striking restaurant designs and attention to detail are central to their brand, creating a memorable atmosphere that captivates the guests’ imaginations. Focusing on sustainability, they proudly collaborate with local and Japanese import partners and have partnered with Ocean Wise to minimize their environmental impact. More here.

Simpl Things
SIMPL THINGS is a cozy, all-day cocktail, wine, and snack bar in Toronto inspired by vintage Miami design. Known for its playful seasonal menus, inventive drinks, and community-driven atmosphere, SIMPL THINGS celebrates connection through thoughtful food, genuine hospitality, and good vibes—from brunch to last call. Reserve now here.

(Photo credit: BMO Field)

#FOOD: PATIO SEASON 2026 AT TORONTO’S GEORGE

Patio season has arrived at 4x Michelin-recommended GEORGE in Toronto! Tucked behind the dining room, GEORGE’s enclosed courtyard has always been one of those spots locals know about and visitors stumble onto by accident. This season it officially opens for the summer — last week of May, or sooner if the weather cooperates.

It’s the kind of patio that actually earns the name: creeping ivy, a quiet water feature, sunshades and fans so it stays comfortable past sunset. The full GEORGE menu is available outside, plus a dedicated aperitivo program — shareable plates and cocktails designed for the kind of evening where nobody’s in a rush.

Capacity at George:

Regular dining – 52 covers
Seated dinner  – 60 private events
Cocktail reception – 100 standing

Reserve at table now here.

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#FOOD: GEORGE RESTAURANT TORONTO COURTYARD PATIO RETURNS

GEORGE Restaurant marks 23 years this spring under Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto and The Verity Group of Companies, with the return of its courtyard patio for the season alongside its signature tasting experience. The Patio at GEORGE will feature its own menu, launching in May 2026.

Opened in 2003 inside a restored 19th-century chocolate factory in Toronto’s Old Town, GEORGE has become one of the most enduring names in Canadian fine dining, earning four consecutive MICHELIN recommendations and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence (2025) for their wine programme that showcases its depth and thoughtful Old and New World pairings.

Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto has run one of the most passionate kitchens in the country. For over two decades, it has also served as an informal training ground for Toronto’s culinary community. Many of the cooks who have passed through GEORGE have gone on to lead some of the city’s most respected restaurants. In a dining scene that now draws international attention, a meaningful thread of that talent traces back to one kitchen and one chef. Loseto is a Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Champion and has received repeated national recognition.

A Tasting Experience Unlike Any Other in the City

“GEORGE is where I get to cook with exceptional ingredients, surround myself with great people, champion emerging talent and do something that matters deeply to me.”
— Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto, GEORGE Restaurant

GEORGE offers both à la carte and multi-course tasting menus, with its double-blind experience
as the restaurant’s signature. Each menu is tailored in real time to every guest’s preferences,
dietary needs, and the ingredients available that day.

With this dynamic customization, the menus change frequently to create a truly unique dining
experience for every guest that shifts from evening to evening, making each visit distinct.
Chef Loseto rounds out the experience with housemade gelato, a craft he honed at the
Carpigiani Gelato University in Italy,

The Patio at GEORGE

This June, GEORGE welcomes patio season with the opening of its enclosed courtyard — a
rare and intimate outdoor dining space in the heart of Old Town Toronto. Set within a restored
1850s chocolate factory, the space retains its original stonework and is complemented by live
water features, offering guests a serene escape unlike anything else in the city.

A dedicated patio menu will feature aperitivo-style dishes and shareable plates, designed for
relaxed, all-day dining.

The Dining Room at GEORGE

At GEORGE, the experience is warm without being casual, refined without being distant. True
hospitality, felt from the first hello to the last goodbye, has always been at the heart of the
restaurant.

Located at 111C Queen Street East in Toronto’s Old Town, GEORGE seats up to 110 guests in
its dining room and 60 in the courtyard, with private dining available for groups of 10 to 170. The
heritage red-brick chocolate factory gives the space a sense of history that few new restaurants
can replicate.

Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m., with lunch offered Wednesday
through Friday from 12 p.m. Tasting menus are priced from $100 to $230 per person; à la carte
dining begins at $40.

Secrette, is a hidden gem within GEORGE. This speakeasy bar offers handcrafted cocktails
and is ideal for aperitivo or a post-dinner nightcap.

ABOUT GEORGE RESTAURANT

GEORGE Restaurant is a MICHELIN-recommended fine dining destination located in a restored
19th-century chocolate factory in Toronto’s Old Town. Since 2003, Executive Chef Lorenzo
Loseto has led the kitchen with a philosophy rooted in seasonal ingredients, sustainable
sourcing, and deeply personalized tasting experiences. GEORGE is owned by the Verity Group
of Companies, founded by Mary S. Aitken, C.M.

ABOUT THE VERITY GROUP OF COMPANIES

For over two decades, the Verity Group of Companies has been dedicated to improving the lives
of women as they move into more senior positions in their organizations. Based in downtown
Toronto, the group brings together a collection of thoughtfully designed spaces and experiences
that support women in both their professional and personal lives.

At its core is Verity, a private women’s club spanning 65,000 square feet, offering co-working
areas, lounges, dining, meeting rooms, a gym, wellness facilities which include a swimming
pool. Created for women by women, Verity is home to a dynamic community of over 700
members who come together to exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, and pursue
their ambitions through a curated calendar of programs, speaker series, and member-led
initiatives.

The Verity Group of Companies also includes Sweetgrass Spa, a women-only wellness
destination offering personalized treatments, skincare, and restorative experiences designed to
promote balance and well-being; The Ivy at Verity, a boutique hotel featuring individually
designed rooms with balconies and a quiet, residential feel in the heart of the city; GEORGE
Restaurant, a four-time MICHELIN-recommended dining destination set in a restored 1850s
chocolate factory, known for its seasonal, ingredient-driven cuisine and refined tasting menus;
and Secrette, an intimate speakeasy-style bar offering craft cocktails and small plates in a
warm, atmospheric setting.

Together, these elements create a modern “third place” where women can work, connect, and
unwind in a supportive, elevated environment.