Toronto’s food scene is packed with hidden gems, but this year’s ByBlacks Restaurant Week is putting a spotlight on Black-owned businesses serving the most flavourful comfort food! The annual celebration runs from May 11 to 17 and highlights restaurants and caterers offering everything from smoky Nigerian suya and Lagos-style shawarma to braised oxtail, jerk lobster, Caribbean pasta dishes, homestyle Jamaican classics and more.

Here are four amazing Black-owned restaurants and caterers to check out in the midtown-Toronto lineup when you’re craving Caribbean and African flavours.

Carib Dish

 

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Fair warning: you probably won’t be able to settle on just one dish at this restaurant! The OG Carib Dish is in Barrie, but the team recently expanded to St. Clair W, giving Torontonians a new place to dig into Caribbean-Canadian eats inspired by flavours from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent and more.

The slow-cooked oxtail meal is one of the standout dishes: braised until fall-off-the-bone tender and simmered with lima beans in rich gravy, and paired with sides like rice and peas, steamed veggies or fried plantains. Their curry goat meal is another must-order if you want something deeply savoury and spicy. The menu also gets super playful with dishes like jerk chicken waffles, which pair boneless jerk-marinated chicken with sweet golden waffles for a salty-sweet combo that’s perfect for brunch. The restaurant’s loaded poutines are also worth trying, especially the jerk chicken and oxtail versions, which are both layered with gravy, fries and Caribbean-seasoned meat.

For seafood lovers, try the escovitch snapper, coconut-steamed salmon or jerk shrimp plates. Finish with sweet potato pudding or black fruit cake for a proper island-style dessert! 1828 St Clair Ave. W.

Frontlines Catering

 

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Frontlines is much more than just a catering company. The Weston Rd organization operates with a community-first mission, using food sales to support youth programming, mentorship, job training and mental health resources for young people across Toronto!

The delicious food is just a bonus. Its menu focuses on approachable Caribbean comfort meals designed for parties, office lunches and large gatherings, with trays loaded with jerk chicken, fried chicken and coconut curry chickpeas served alongside rice dishes, wraps and skewers. The lunch catering menu includes BBQ jerk chicken meals served with rice and peas or roasted potatoes, as well as chicken rasta pasta bowls and veggie pasta bowls for lighter options. Their appetizer spreads are just as craveable, with crispy fish sliders and Caribbean corn soup cups, as well as Caribbean snack staples like puff puff, cornbread squares and sorrel drinks! And if you have a sweet tooth, try traditional desserts like cassava pone and black cake. 1800 Weston Rd.

Greelz on Bloor

 

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Toronto’s first Nigerian street food space is now sharing the vibrant heat of Lagos with the West End! Since opening its newest location on Bloor St in September, it has become the go-to for smoky, spicy flavours. If you’re new to West African dishes, try Naija classics like the beef suya, seasoned with a spicy peanut-based rub, or the Agege Cheeseburger. Don’t skip the smoky jollof rice or chicken suya wrap: they’re both packed with heat and crunch.

If you’re into shawarma, Greelz gives the popular wrap a Nigerian twist. Their chicken and beef mix version comes packed with spicy grilled meat and sausage, while the “Lagos Party Bowls” include peppered beef and spicy goat meat coated in the restaurant’s designer sauce (pair either one with fried plantains or sweet potato fries!). 2100 Bloor St. W., Suite 5A. They also have a location in Kensington (198 Augusta Ave.).

Taste Seduction

 

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Taste Seduction blends traditional Jamaican cooking with flavours from other cultures, creating a menu filled with genre-blending dishes! The menu is curated by Chef Vernon Young, a native of Jamaica with years of experience in crafting traditional home-style meals (so you know you’ll get a flavour-packed plate).

Start with a comfort-food-heavy appetizer, like the “blow wow” lineup: deep-fried flour dough stuffed with jerk chicken or oxtail and cheese. Then dig into the braised oxtail, slow-cooked until tender and served with rice and peas, or the signature Bolts 3ple Mash Potatoes, a mash made with Yukon Gold, sweet potatoes and mini red potatoes! The jerk salmon and honey jerk BBQ salmon are also perfect picks if you want something smoky but a little lighter.

Now for the fusion: try the jerk pesto fettuccine, curry coconut fettuccine or rasta pasta tossed with spinach and seasonal vegetables (most dishes can also be customized with jerk chicken, shrimp or oxtail!)

For something more casual but still satisfying, the oxtail Philly sandwich and jerk chicken sandwich both pack serious flavour. And if you somehow still have room afterward, the Jamaican rum cake and Seduction milkshakes are waiting! 399 Keele St.

Still hungry? ByBlacks Restaurant Week is also showcasing the best black-owned restaurants in downtown Toronto,Toronto’s East End, Halifax and Eastern Canada. Follow @byblacks on Instagram or visit their website to find a Black-owned restaurant near you.

The restaurant scene in Toronto is in one of those too many good options, not enough nights phases. This week’s new openings stretch across the city, from intimate cocktail bars in the east end to small tasting menus in North York, plus late-night fried chicken, Greek comfort food, Persian plates and Portuguese home cooking that already feels like it’s been around forever.

Here are 9 of the best new restaurants to check out in Toronto this week.

1. Koutouki GiaMas

Koutouki GiaMas is a new Greek addition to Greektown on the Danforth, its name loosely translating to “our little tavern — cheers,” a fitting nod to the kind of place it wants to be: communal and unpretentious. The menu sticks to familiar Greek ground but with a focus on freshness and consistency — grilled octopus, salmon, stuffed bifteki and a lineup of house dips like melitzanosalata, rosiki and olive spread that regulars say set it apart from the usual strip offerings.  424 Danforth Ave.

2. La Vitrine Bar & Kitchen

La Vitrine Bar & Kitchen is a small cocktail bar and kitchen in the Beaches, just steps from Kew Gardens. The 30-seat space is built around a simple idea: thoughtful drinks, small plates, and a room that feels considered without being formal. The bar serves curated cocktails alongside a seasonal snack menu with Mediterranean influences. Weekends bring a slower breakfast service (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), featuring Turkish-inspired dishes, tea, and botanical notes that match the space’s relaxed pace. In the evenings, it shifts into a more energetic cocktail spot focused on detail-driven drinks and late-night atmosphere. 2014 Queen Street E.

3. ONZE

 

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ONZE is one of Toronto’s most talked-about new openings this spring, replacing the Michelin-recommended LSL with an evolved 11-seat tasting experience blending French and Japanese cuisine. Backed by acclaimed chefs Masaki Saito and Christian Le Squer, the restaurant’s menu leans into refined cultural fusion with dishes like Foie Gras Wagashi — a reimagined Japanese confection using French foie gras. The team has also acquired an Ontario farm to grow produce for the restaurant, deepening its hyper-seasonal, farm-to-table philosophy. 2066 Avenue Rd., North York

4. DownLow Chicken

 

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DownLow Chicken, the Vancouver-born fried chicken concept from founders Doug and Lindsey, has officially opened its Toronto location. What started as a late-night special at Merchant’s Workshop quickly became a cult favourite, eventually growing into its own standalone brand known for its crispy, spicy, and indulgent fried chicken sandwiches. The Toronto outpost continues the brand’s commitment to hormone-free, GMO-free, Halal-certified chicken, now sourced in part through Ontario partner Giannone Poultry, alongside BC’s Rossdown Farms. The menu centres around signature sandwiches like the OG Nashville-dusted chicken with slaw and pickles, the Jerk with jerk mayo and tomato, and rotating specials such as the Rosemary Chili Honey sando topped with apple slaw and manchego. 538 Manning Ave.

5. The Borrowed Donkey

 

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Elijah’s Automatic Flame Broiled, founded by Shant Mardirosian, is evolving beyond its burger roots with the addition of The Borrowed Donkey, a Sonoran-inspired Mexican concept inside the same Queensway space. The menu leans into traditional techniques and a strict seed oil–free approach, with made-to-order lard tortillas and flame-grilled meats. Standouts include a chicken chimichanga with mango sauce, a smoky steak burrito, house-made queso, and fresh salsas, plus playful house drinks and doughnuts for dessert. 821 The Queensway

6. Denj

 

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Denj is bringing a quieter, more minimalist approach to Persian dining in North York. Tucked away in Willowdale, the cozy bistro swaps over-the-top decor for an intimate atmosphere and a tightly curated menu of Persian classics. Highlights include crispy eggplant balls with kashk, pomegranate-walnut marinated olives, and the standout Denj Kebab — pan-seared patties from northwestern Iran served over soft flatbread soaked in rich tomato sauce. The cocktail program, dubbed “The Art of Alchemy,” blends house-made botanical elixirs with local spirits for drinks inspired by Persian spice markets. 4852 Yonge St., North York.

7. Elvira’s

 

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Elvira’s is a small Portuguese-run spot on Queen East led by chef Luis Lima and co-founder Carolina Lima. Luis comes from a kitchen background rooted in Portuguese cooking, focusing on familiar, home-style dishes from northern Portugal. Carolina brings a hospitality-first approach shaped by years working in social services in Portugal before moving into restaurants in Canada. The food reflects that mix of backgrounds: straightforward Portuguese comfort dishes like francesinha, roast chicken, prego no pão, and cod with cream sauce, served in a casual counter-style space. 639 Queen St. E.

9. Tre Vietnamese Kitchen

 

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Tre isn’t your average weeknight pho stop. The restaurant has only been open for a few weeks and is already the place to go for food inspired by authentic Vietnamese cuisine, served in a room lined with thousands of natural bamboo stalks. Start light with the grilled shrimp mango salad, where tart green mango cuts through smoky char, or go richer with the fish sauce-glazed chicken wings. Great beginning, but the house pho is the main event: the Special Tre’s Pho comes loaded with rare and well-done beef flank, beef balls and a deeply developed 24-hour broth, while the Pho Tre Special has some serious umami flavour. For dessert, the durian sponge cake is a standout, especially when paired with a bright honey kumquat tea. 31 Elm St, 2nd floor.

2026 has been the year of the rebrand for some of Toronto’s most beloved restaurants, but perhaps none has sparked more conversation than ONZE. The 11-seat intimate tasting experience opened earlier this spring in place of LSL at 2066 Avenue Road in North York.  

At $495-per-head, the price tag is a step back from the $680 found at its predecessor. A collaboration of some of the city’s most esteemed chefs, Didier Leroy, Masaki Saito, and Christian Le Squer, LSL had a short run as a nine-seat diner serving an elevated fusion of French tradition and Japanese ingredients.Though open for less than two years, the restaurant’s impact was significant, earning a spot among Toronto’s Michelin-recommended eateries in 2025.

According to ONZE representative Albert Hsueh, Didier Leroy stepping away from the kitchen at the end of 2025 created a “natural moment” for the evolution of LSL — and, unsurprisingly, a rebrand, considering the restaurant’s name partially referenced his initials. Despite the change, ONZE remains committed to its intimate tasting-menu format, continuing to blend Japanese and French culinary traditions.

ONZE also continues to be backed by Le Squer and Saito — the former bringing expertise in French cuisine, while the latter contributes a deep knowledge of Japanese ingredients and techniques.

“And after two years of working closely together, that synergy is even stronger than ever, with more ideas and creativity to share,” Hsueh said via email. “This collaboration will feel even more natural and seamless at ONZE.”

The redefined space also marks a new leadership chapter for ONZE, with Alexandre Sadowczyk stepping into a leading role. Bringing 15 years of fine dining experience across France, he’s joined by Hiroki Aikawa, whose résumé includes Michelin-starred kitchens in both France and Japan.

“Chef Aikawa also communicates in French with the team which we believe will spark so much more chemistry and creations for Onze,” Hsueh added.

In another ambitious move, ONZE has acquired an Ontario farm to grow its own vegetables and produce, further deepening its farm-to-table philosophy. The result is an ultra-upscale, intimate dining experience with a direct connection between the kitchen and the ingredients on the plate.

Where the evolution of ONZE is perhaps most evident, Hsueh says, is in the Foie Gras Wagashi. The traditional Japanese confection has been reimagined using French foie gras, representing “a deeper cultural exchange that’s refined and intentional.”

“Like LSL, ONZE aims to continue being one of the most ambitious dining concepts not just in Toronto but in the world,” the representative adds. “Bringing together master chefs and top talent from different parts of the world to deliver a truly unique tasting experience rarely found elsewhere.”

Mother’s Day brunch in Toronto may be a classic, but it doesn’t have to be boring. This year, restaurants across the city are offering creative, memorable experiences — from Italian-style feasts to French jazz brunches and exclusive daytime openings at top spots. With options ranging from affordable prix fixe menus to upscale buffets, there’s something special for every kind of mom — just be sure to book ahead.

1. Chotto Matte 

 

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For moms who love a lively scene, this $65 set-menu brunch delivers a high-energy experience with a live DJ and a vibrant atmosphere. The Japanese-Peruvian fusion menu features standout dishes like avocado toast sushi, shrimp and lobster udon carbonara, and dulce de leche pancakes—perfect for anyone looking to shake up the usual brunch routine.

Details: $65 per person | May 9–10, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

2. The Postmark Hotel 

 

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If your mom’s not a DJ in the morning kind of girl, the Postmark Hotel offers a quieter options. With the Overlea inside the Postmark Hotel pairing up with Unfazed Florals you’ll be able to bring your mom to a pop-up flower market to pick out Mom’s bouquet before heading over for brunch. There’s also an option for afternoon tea in the Lobby, so it’s the perfect day for a mom who’s more delicate than decadent. 

Details: Prix fixe (varies) | Soft, floral, low-key

3. Don Alfonso 1890 

If your mom is the type who is wow-ed by exclusives and one of a kind experiences, this is the spot that’ll have her jaw-dropping. This usually, dinner-only dining room at Don Alfonso is opening it’s doors for a rare daytime service to service the mom’s of the city with skyline views. This $100 tasting-style brunch is a refined approach to brunch, ideal for the mom who likes to indulge.

Details: $100 per person | Elevated, special-occasion

4. Cibo King West 

 

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For the classic, dependable mom, Cibo Wine Bar King West is a fitting choice. This city staple is hosting a one-day-only Mother’s Day brunch with bottomless mimosas and a lineup of familiar favourites (plus the occasional off-menu surprise). It’s the kind of place where you can settle in, take your time and enjoy a relaxed, nostalgic meal together.

Details: À la carte + bottomless options | May 10 only

5. Contrada 

 

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For the mom who appreciates creativity, Contrada offers a refreshing twist on the typical brunch. Instead of a set menu, the experience unfolds in waves — dishes arrive gradually, designed for sharing, grazing and lingering at the table. Expect rich, indulgent plates like ravioli al uovo with brown butter sage, burrata frittata with grilled crescentina, and duck Benedict with confit and guanciale hollandaise — perfect for a leisurely, decadent meal together.

Details: $75 per person | May 10, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

6. Small Talk 

The once dinner only and late night cocktail spot is debuting its new brunch menu on Mother’s Day weekend. If your mom is the trendsetting kind of woman we all aspire to be then she’s safe in the hands of cheese-master supreme Afrim Pristine and his French-inspired menu. Expect standout dishes like a  salmon martini board, quiche and a stellar breakfast sandwich layered with gouda and smoked harissa crema. Add jazz, a spritz-heavy drink list and it’s one of the more exciting spots on this list. 

Details: À la carte | Swanky

7. Windsor Arms Hotel 

If you want classic, go here. The Windsor Arms is doing a full brunch buffet in its courtyard with pastries, carving stations and mimosas on arrival. It’s expensive, but it delivers on that old-school, dressed-up Mother’s Day energy. 

Details: $155 adults / $65 kids | traditional

8. La Plume 

 

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A French-inspired brunch but with a bit of a funkier energy. Think foie gras crêpes, lobster salad and truffle eggs alongside pastries and lighter options. If you’re planning a full day, they’re also hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s screening in their speakeasy later that night, which may not be brunch but it’s definitely a breakfast of sorts. 

Details: À la carte |10 a.m.–3 p.m.

10. The Broadview 

 

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At The Broadview, brunch comes with a built-in atmosphere. The Bistro + Bar is transforming into a flower market with Beaux Florals, cocktails flowing and music running all weekend. If you want to stretch the celebration, the rooftop is doing complimentary prosecco and dessert Sunday night. 

Details: À la carte | May 9–10, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

10. The Dorset 

 

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For moms who love a proper tea moment, The Dorset is doing afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches and a lineup of desserts, plus a live illustration experience on Saturday. For those of you who can remember having tea parties with mum as a kid, here’s your chance to have a real one. It’s polished but still warm, and lands right in that mid-range price point. 

Details: $69 per person

11. Biff’s Bistro 

 

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For a more affordable French-inspired option, Biff’s Bistro is serving a $55 prix fixe brunch featuring classics like eggs Benedict, quiche Lorraine and Nutella crêpes, with the option to order à la carte. It’s a flexible, choose-your-own-adventure experience — reliable, well-executed, and easier to book than some of the pricier spots.

Details: $55 prix fixe

12. The Gladstone House 

For something a little more lived-in and local, Gladstone’s Cassette is hosting its signature brunch sessions with live music, family-style mimosas, and $10 espresso martinis. With it;s lived in history it’s the perfect spot to create memories without being overwhelming, and feels more like a Sunday hang than a formal event.

Details: À la carte | May 10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

13. Prime Seafood Palace 

 

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Details: Multi-course (varies)