It’s the start of September, and that means the summer is starting to wind down. Sigh! But seeing as we’re in the midst of a long weekend, the Toronto Food Blog wanted to take a moment and celebrate some of the great patio eats on the Lower-Eastside of town. After all, it’s not hard to reason with patio season.
Lucky for us, the Riverside & Leslieville BIAs have teamed up again this year; a collaboration to promote the “support local” experience and a patio season like no other on their shared main street. We’re thrilled to be part of it again this year!
There’s still potentially a TON of patio season left. Let’s make the best of it, shall we? So join us as we get out there and enjoy some of the fabulous local restaurants participating in #QueenEastEats
First stop is Jules Bistro (1290 Queen St E) in #Leslieville for an absolutely gorgeous Rack of Lamb!
Grilled to perfection, this platter-for-two comes loaded with crispy frites, peppery salad and the best ratatouille we’ve ever tasted. Perfect for sharsies on date night in their wonderful dining room or out on the front patio!
Romain & the crew are wonderful hosts, and this dining experience was definitely one of the most memorable of 2023 (to date)!
Tabülè Riverside (810 Queen St E) spoiled us rotten on their intimate back patio with a gorgeous #meatlessmonday spread.
Falafel w/ tahini, kumquat mocktails, grilled eggplant and fried cauliflower. What a feast! You always know what you’re going to get at this Riverside mainstay.
On this edition of #fridaypizzanightwiththegirls, we try Slowhand Sourdough Pizza (99 Pape Ave) for the first time. Not sure what we were waiting for!
We hang with owners Dan & Brett, both east-end locals, and discuss their meteoric rise from backyard to brick & mortar… and their passion for creating consistently light, airy and crispy sourdough pizzas.
We sample a couple of their E.P.I.C. pies on their patio (every piece is a corner)…
Peter Piper: Ezzo pepperoni, pickled jalapeños, whipped ricotta dollops, oregano, hot honey drizzle.
What’s the Dill Yo? Creamy roasted garlic sauce, sliced Kosher dills & fresh dill, Carolina Gold mustard drizzle.
One of our favourite lunch spots in the city is BlessedLove Caribbean Market (753a Queen St E). Needless to say, we were absolutely thrilled they were participating in #QueenEastEats this year!
Covering the Leslieville food scene jut isn’t complete without a visit to see our amigo Jud, owner of one our fave BBQ joints in the 6ix: Leslieville Pumps (929 Queen St E).
Jud is a pleasure to golf with and an even better lunch host.
He recommends we dig into his Turkey Club w/ oak smoked turkey, house thick cut bacon, thyme roasted tomatoes, kale chips and pesto aioli.
This is an absolute banger of a sandwich!
Growing-up in downtown Toronto, we’ve seen many a good show over the years at The Opera House. Glory daze!
Turns out, they got a pretty awesome kitchen & patio to take care of the munchies.
Chicken Souvlaki Dinner with all the trimmings at The Opera House Grill & Patio (737 Queen St E) is a solid order.
Two skewers of juicy chook; huge salad w/ lots of feta; the starch of your choice; pita & dips; quiet patio seats! What’s not to like?
We’ve been dying to try Daddy’s Chicken (1276 Queen St E) and sample their take on the crispy classics.
Great tunes, hospitality and patio vibes solidify this casual Leslieville spot as worthy of repeat visits!
Chicken BLT Sandwich with Avocado Garlic Mayo, Bacon, Lettuce + Tomato
Three Piece Fried Chicken w/ fresh-cut fries, Garlic Parmesan Corn + Spicy Coleslaw
Hot Hot Sandwich w/ Lime & Jalapeno Aioli, Spicy Slaw + Deep-Fried Pickles
Hot Wings by the Pound!!!
We were thrilled to hear that ēst Restaurant (729 Queen St E) was rolling out a lunch menu for the very first time.
Chef Jordan Diniz rolled out the red carpet for us, treating us to Mocktails and a couple of his best-selling dishes…
Truffle Burrata w/ Figs to start, followed by a main-portion-sized order of Seared Ahi Tuna Tataki. Chef’s kiss on both! What a presentation!
We’re heading back ASAP to try the rest of their elevated menu. Table for two please!
Single-origin Cortados at Omnia Coffee Roasters (1347 Queen St E) on the eastern edge of #Leslieville put the spring in our step to start the week.
These guys are sourcing, scoring and roasting (on prem) only the finest seasonal rotations from all corners of the globe!
What a great use of this garage space!
The Comrade (758 Queen St E) is a place that needs little introduction.
This Riverside cocktail bar has an elevated menu that’s built to impress whatever the occasion!
Off-menu Beck Taxis, FTW! #IYKYK
It’s not hard to reason with patio season
Toronto Food Blog 
Great – and mouthwatering choices. it’s been a couple of years since I lived in Leslieville, so there are some old favourites and one or two places to discover. I see you’ve done Completo and Hastings Snack Bar – two perennial faves. And I’d have to mention Chick-N-Joy – a classic!