If you’ve been longing to get out and socialize over a pitch-perfect meal (and maybe a glass of wine), you’re not alone. Food lovers across the city have spent months fantasizing about sitting across the table from someone they care about while enjoying some flavourful cuisine.
Fortunately, the CafeTO program is allowing for expanded outdoor dining. The creation of cordoned off patios, which extend into curb lanes or sidewalks, are providing new opportunities to eat, drink, and be merry!
Here are five patios created through the CafeTO program that you are well worth visiting…
1) Campo
On Jane Street, not far from Bloor West Village, you’ll find a charming, Italian-inspired eatery known as Campo. From the handmade gnocchi to the braised rabbit leg, the cuisine here is truly divine. This west-end gem has been offering incredible meals for takeaway throughout the pandemic, and now its new patio is open for business. So call up your best foodie friend and enjoy a long, luxurious dinner out in the open air—don’t forget to end things off with the tiramisu!
2) Gio Rana’s
Is there such a thing as too much high-quality Italian food? Nope, so let’s head across the city from Campo for some more pitch-perfect pasta. Leslieville is home to Gio Rana’s Really, Really Nice Restaurant an eatery that’s been around since 1989. Tasty red sauce, checkered table cloths, and a whole lot of heart have helped keep the customers rolling in. Now east enders can once again get their fix on the restaurant’s enticing patio, complete with twinkle lights.
3) Little Sister
Little Sister is one of those restaurants that’s so unique, you simply have to try it. This local favourite, which has two locations, serves up exquisite Dutch Indo food, including flavourful snacks and traditional main courses. The udang kari (white shrimp poached in curry sauce) is a must-try, and all the cocktails are seriously impressive. If you’re looking for something different, head to the Portland Street outpost, where the patio is waiting (fyi, there’s a rigorous COVID policy in place, which you can read about on the restaurant’s website).
4) Gerrard East Market
Some patios are worth checking out for the theme alone. Gerrard East Market is one of them—though it does serve up some pretty tasty food and drinks, too. Complete with sand, beach chairs, and umbrellas, this east-end hotspot is the perfect place to enjoy a beer or two and a casual bite (think rice and roasted pork from GB Hand-Pulled Noodles or guava BBQ beef short rib from La Cubana). You’ll find Gerrard East Market in the parking lot of 241 Pizza and Pho Com Tam 168.
5) Stock TC
Beloved Italian restaurant chain Terroni and popular butcher Cumbraes have joined forces, and the results defy expectations. Known as Stock TC, their space near Yonge and Eglinton is a grocer, cafe, butcher, bakery, gelateria, and restaurant. If you’re looking to dine out, you’ll be happy to learn about their eatery patio, Stock Bar. From the classic pizza Terroni lovers adore to the perfect steaks that Cumbraes is known for, there really is something here for everyone. Put simply, this is the perfect place to enjoy a fan favourite while soaking up the sun!
Looking for the perfect neighbourhood for your next home? Check out our neighbourhood guides to learn more about some of our favourite communities!
