If you follow us on Instagram, you probably know that we’ve been featuring restaurants with patio dining over the past couple of months for Queen East Eats.
This year, we collaborated again with Toronto Food Blog, a locally-based food blogger and content creator, to pay a visit to select establishments and see (and taste) what they have to offer.
Queen East Eats is a joint annual campaign by the Riverside and Leslieville BIAs, highlighting patio dining in businesses along Queen Street East.
In case you missed this series on our socials, here’s a recap of all the Riverside and Leslieville-based restaurants Toronto Food Blog covered–and what they loved!
Ricky + Olivia (@restaurantrickyandolivia)
Address: 996 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1K1
Chef duo Ricky Casipe and Olivia Simpson’s namesake restaurant is all about putting their own unique spin on classics. The Big Mac Steak Tartare and Caesar Salad with beet tahini and Monforte Toscano cheese are perfect examples of the chefs’ fun approach to food.
Duke’s Refresher + Bar (@dukesriverside)
Address: 709 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
Duke’s Riverside does comfort food and does it well. A must-try is the Woody Burger with BBQ sauce, American cheese, bacon, and caramelized onions on bacon focaccia, complete with a side of hand-cut fries–you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ cheeseburger.
Pasaj (@pasajtoronto)
Address: 1100 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1K8
Go on a culinary journey at Pasaj. For brunch, try the Sucuk Benedict with zucchini fritters, poached eggs, and whipped feta sauce; as well as Grandma’s Pancakes with sour cherry jam, tahini helva, labne, and pistachios. They also serve sandwiches from their bakery, Simit & Chai.
ēst Restaurant (@est.restaurant)
Address: 729 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
An unexpected star off of ēst’s menu is the Crème Brûlée Cheesecake with lavender and earl grey, a decadent dessert with a delightful medley of textures. Their beer collab with Saulter Street Brewery makes for a great refreshment on a sweltering summer day, too.
Frankie’s Italian (@frankiesyafrankies)
Address: 892 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1J3
Frankie’s menu consists of hearty Italian fare, including a variety of pasta dishes like the Lamb Ragu Gnocchi with ricotta and parmesan. For pizzas, the Speziata Dolce with soppressata, goat cheese, and hot honey is a must-try.
Real Greek Gyros (@realgreekgyros)
Address: 731 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H1
The name itself pretty much tells you what to expect: fast, authentic, and no-gimmick Greek food. You can count on Real Greek Gyros to satisfy your craving for staples such as Gyros on a pita, Souvlaki Dinner, and Gyros Salad.
Photos by Toronto Food Blog
Make the most of the remaining weeks of patio weather we have left and dine al fresco at these restaurants and more. Discover Queen East Eats by exploring the online patio map.