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Liza Agrba

Liza Agrba has worked as a freelance journalist in Toronto for over a decade and has earned multiple awards. She covers food, business and culture and writes memoir-style pieces. Her work frequently appears in the Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, Toronto Life and many other publications

Latest from Liza Agrba

The owner of a sort-of-secret pierogi place has opened a Ukrainian restaurant

The owner of a sort-of-secret pierogi place has opened a Ukrainian restaurant

Hoyra Gastrobar, a new sit-down spot near High Park, is from the woman behind Heavenly Perogy

Cabbagetown's newest restaurant transports guests to Morocco

Cabbagetown’s newest restaurant transports guests to Morocco

Rayah is a café by day, bistro by night

After closing six years ago, Harlem Restaurant has returned to Queen West

After closing six years ago, Harlem Restaurant has returned to Queen West

Welcome back, chicken and waffles

Mimi Chinese is hosting one of BC's most celebrated chefs for a collaboration dinner

Mimi Chinese is hosting one of BC’s most celebrated chefs for a collaboration dinner

Chef Bo Li of Vancouver’s the Fish Man is in town for one night only

This historic downtown greenhouse just got a makeover

This historic downtown greenhouse just got a makeover

Fresh off a three-year renovation, the Palm House at Allan Gardens is a perfect place for plants and parties

Tha Phae Tavern, chef Nuit Regular's new Thai bar, has karaoke rooms and a claw machine

Tha Phae Tavern, chef Nuit Regular’s new Thai bar, has karaoke rooms and a claw machine

Plus massaman curry brisket on a bun and boozy buckets

What's on the menu at Please and Thank You, a new snack and cocktail bar on Ossington

What’s on the menu at Please and Thank You, a new snack and cocktail bar on Ossington

It’s from the team behind Oddseoul

What's on the menu at Casa Morales, a new Mexican restaurant from the Gus Tacos team

What’s on the menu at Casa Morales, a new Mexican restaurant from the Gus Tacos team

It’s the taqueria’s fancier sit-down sister spot in Kensington Market

What's on the menu at Ayla, a new Hong Kong–inspired kitchen and cocktail bar above Patois

What’s on the menu at Ayla, a new Hong Kong–inspired kitchen and cocktail bar above Patois

Including interesting twists on cheung fun, char siu and caesar salad

What's on the menu at Lano, the Ritz-Carlton's new Italian-inspired lobby bar

What’s on the menu at Lano, the Ritz-Carlton’s new Italian-inspired lobby bar

That’s short for Milano

What's on the menu at Bar Clams, Matty Matheson's new East Coast–inspired diner

What’s on the menu at Bar Clams, Matty Matheson’s new East Coast–inspired diner

Including donair, seafood cocktail, hot turkey sandwiches and, of course, plenty of clams

What’s on the menu at I Am Döner, the quirky British kebab chain’s first North American location

What’s on the menu at I Am Döner, the quirky British kebab chain’s first North American location

Including wraps, fully loaded fries and decadent milkshakes

Sort-of Secret: The new walk-in lunch service at Affinity Fish

Sort-of Secret: The new walk-in lunch service at Affinity Fish

Including one of the city’s best katsu sandos

What's on the menu at Pizzeria No. 900, Toronto's first location of the Montreal-based chain

What’s on the menu at Pizzeria No. 900, Toronto’s first location of the Montreal-based chain

Including a pizza topped with smoked meat, naturally

What's on the menu at Holi Taco

What’s on the menu at Holi Taco

This Leslieville hole in the wall is about to be your new favourite taco spot

What's on the menu at Pho Le, a Michelin-awarded restaurant that specializes in southern Vietnamese pho

What’s on the menu at Pho Le, a Michelin-awarded restaurant that specializes in southern Vietnamese pho

The chain’s first-ever non-Asian outpost graces Richmond Hill

What's on the menu at Ramona's, a new cocktail and snack bar on Queen West

What’s on the menu at Ramona’s, a new cocktail and snack bar on Queen West

Inspired by Pacific coastal culture, the space is open from morning coffee to nightcap

Inside the new 10,000-square-foot Eataly at the Shops at Don Mills

Inside the new 10,000-square-foot Eataly at the Shops at Don Mills

Toronto’s third location of the Italian emporium is now open

Sort-of Secret: Pia, a monthly Mediterranean and Indian fusion pop-up

Sort-of Secret: Pia, a monthly Mediterranean and Indian fusion pop-up

Think arancini stuffed with spiced chicken biryani

What's on the menu at Leslie's Sandwich Room, Leslieville's new spot for heaping house-made sammies

What’s on the menu at Leslie’s Sandwich Room, Leslieville’s new spot for heaping house-made sammies

Plus kettle chips flavoured in house with everything from ketchup to peanut butter

What's on the menu at Takja BBQ House, a Korean barbecue restaurant unlike any other in Toronto

What’s on the menu at Takja BBQ House, a Korean barbecue restaurant unlike any other in Toronto

This is no DIY affair

Sort-of Secret: Panificio Bruno, an Italian home bakery turning out just 20 loaves of focaccia a week

Sort-of Secret: Panificio Bruno, an Italian home bakery turning out just 20 loaves of focaccia a week

Part of our series spotlighting the city’s edible hidden gems

What's on the menu at Arbequina, a new halal, alcohol-free restaurant on Roncesvalles

What’s on the menu at Arbequina, a new halal, alcohol-free restaurant on Roncesvalles

Including many thoughtful zero-proof cocktails

What's on the menu at Azura, a new Mediterranean restaurant on the Danforth serving blind tasting menus

What’s on the menu at Azura, a new Mediterranean restaurant on the Danforth serving blind tasting menus

No two menus are the same

Summer Camp Guide

Summer Camp Directory 2026

Summer Camp Directory 2026

Discover our top-rated summer camps for kids of all ages

Wines of the World

Wines of the World: Rediscover your favourites from Toronto Life’s Best Restaurants

Wines of the World: Rediscover your favourites from Toronto Life’s Best Restaurants

From cabernet and merlot to icewine and chardonnay, these wines are primed to pair and delight

Big Stories

Dead Reckoning: The executor of their estate was supposed to divide it among their friends and family. Instead, he bankrupted it

Dead Reckoning: The executor of their estate was supposed to divide it among their friends and family. Instead, he bankrupted it

When Sami and June Suomalainen died, it fell to the executor of their wills, a lawyer they hardly knew, to sell their million-dollar midtown home and split the proceeds among their inheritors. Seven years and six lawsuits later, the beneficiaries haven’t seen a cent

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2026

These are Toronto’s best new restaurants of 2026

This year’s list includes a 150-square-foot omakase counter, a Parisian brasserie in the Annex, Korean comfort food, Filipino karaoke and a Summerhill seafood spot that’s reinventing the raw bar

Hoop Dreams: Inside the making of the Toronto Tempo, the city’s newly assembled WNBA team

Hoop Dreams: Inside the making of the Toronto Tempo, the city’s newly assembled WNBA team

After years of false starts, months of nail-biting negotiations between the league and the players’ union, and an 11th-hour scramble to build a roster, Toronto finally has its own major-league women’s basketball team. Now it just has to live up to the hype

Live From New York: Inside the slay-or-be-slayed world of Studio 8H with SNL rookie Veronika Slowikowska

Live From New York: Inside the slay-or-be-slayed world of Studio 8H with SNL rookie Veronika Slowikowska

Slowikowska is the first Canadian to join the cast of Saturday Night Live in more than 25 years. She’s also this season’s breakout star. Now all she has to do is keep crushing it

Better Call Deepak: Meet drug lord Ryan Wedding’s self-styled cocaine lawyer

Better Call Deepak: Meet drug lord Ryan Wedding’s self-styled cocaine lawyer

The man who represented the infamous drug lord is unapologetically flashy—he has a Lamborghini and two Maseratis and wears $1,200 Louboutins. But did he become an accomplice to his client’s crimes? Deepak Paradkar says he was just doing his job. The FBI says he crossed a line

The Redemption Tour: The Blue Jays are back. Can they finish what they started?

The Redemption Tour: The Blue Jays are back. Can they finish what they started?

We’re not over it, but they are. Six months after that devastating defeat, the Jays take the field once more, bent more than ever on winning the World Series. Dispatches from the dugout

My Life as a True Crime Spectacle: My father’s crimes fractured our family. Then came the press

My Life as a True Crime Spectacle: My father’s crimes fractured our family. Then came the press

My dad was the infamous Rolex Killer. The news of his crimes nearly broke me. And ever since, my family has been hounded by reporters, podcasters and true crime fanatics—a whole new circle of hell

Robby on the Line: Out and about with Robby Hoffman, comedy’s equal opportunity assassin

Robby on the Line: Out and about with Robby Hoffman, comedy’s equal opportunity assassin

Larry David is the indisputable king of brutal honesty. But if anyone comes close, it’s Robby Hoffman, the suddenly everywhere comic from whom no group is safe

Notes on an Academic Scandal: Why did TMU demote a leading advocate of DEI?

Notes on an Academic Scandal: Why did TMU demote a leading advocate of DEI?

Pamela Sugiman, a former arts dean at Toronto Metropolitan University, was a key player in the school’s push for diversity, equity and inclusion. When the backlash against DEI arrived, she was demoted. The school says it was a coincidence. She disagrees

City of Renters: The dream of home ownership isn’t dead. Maybe it should be?

City of Renters: The dream of home ownership isn’t dead. Maybe it should be?

Scenes from the rent-for-life revolution

This generation was pummelled by Covid high school. Now the job market wants to replace them with AI

This generation was pummelled by Covid high school. Now the job market wants to replace them with AI

It’s hard out here for a 20-something

The High Price of Hope: Inside Toronto’s white-hot fertility market

The High Price of Hope: Inside Toronto’s white-hot fertility market

Desperate wannabe parents are betting their life savings on unproven treatments and false promises

Man vs. Machine: ChatGPT caused him to spiral into delusion. Now he’s suing OpenAI

Man vs. Machine: ChatGPT caused him to spiral into delusion. Now he’s suing OpenAI

Last spring, a chatbot convinced Allan Brooks that he had discovered a revolutionary mathematical theory. He says it nearly destroyed him

Smart City: 20 mind-blowing Toronto inventions that are changing the world

Smart City: 20 mind-blowing Toronto inventions that are changing the world

Homegrown innovations that will transform lives for the better

293 Days Without My Son: I gave up everything to rescue my kidnapped child from my abusive husband

293 Days Without My Son: I gave up everything to rescue my kidnapped child from my abusive husband

When Valentino was abducted, I knew three things: he’d been taken by his father, he was somewhere in India and I would not rest until I found him

The Violent Life of a Tow Truck Driver: How an unremarkable profession turned Toronto into a war zone

The Violent Life of a Tow Truck Driver: How an unremarkable profession turned Toronto into a war zone

The towing industry has been hijacked by criminals and kingpins who fleece customers, beat up dissenters and shoot their enemies. Inside the brutal turf war for the city’s wrecks

Street Fight: Inside the battle raging over Toronto multiplexes

Street Fight: Inside the battle raging over Toronto multiplexes

If this city stands any chance of solving the housing crisis, it will need buildings with multiple units in residential neighbourhoods—a move that has many residents saying, “Anywhere but here!”

Just Listed

For Sale: 92 Arjay Crescent

For Sale: 92 Arjay Crescent

As luxury buyers become increasingly focused on wellness, privacy, and long-term livability, a new generation of custom homes is emerging – one defined less by excess and more by thoughtful design

For Sale: 171 Durant Ave

For Sale: 171 Durant Ave

This rare property features 2 houses on 1 lot

For Sale: 50 First Avenue

For Sale: 50 First Avenue

A testament to time presiding over one of Uxbridge's most storied streetscapes, this magnificently preserved circa 1880 residence commands its prominent corner lot with the quiet confidence of a true architectural landmark

For Sale: 7 Bentley Drive

For Sale: 7 Bentley Drive

A commanding architectural statement in prestigious Stonegate–Queensway, this newly completed custom residence by Bali Homes Group presents a refined interpretation of contemporary luxury living

For Sale: 75 Queen Street

For Sale: 75 Queen Street

Guelph is having a moment