Subscribe

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

Everything there is to eat and drink at Table Fare and Social, a new food hall and patio at CIBC Square

Everything there is to eat and drink at Table Fare and Social, a new food hall and patio at CIBC Square

Including Thai street food, smash burgers, ramen and cocktails

Sort-of Secret: Smilk Bars, an ice cream bar business from a graduate of Italy's Gelato University

Sort-of Secret: Smilk Bars, an ice cream bar business from a graduate of Italy’s Gelato University

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

What's on the menu at Chaiyo, a fast-casual Thai counter from chef Nuit Regular

What’s on the menu at Chaiyo, a fast-casual Thai counter from chef Nuit Regular

It’s inside CIBC Square’s fancy new fourth-floor food hall

What's on the menu at Le Tambour Tavern, a new Parisian-inspired steakhouse in Hamilton

What’s on the menu at Le Tambour Tavern, a new Parisian-inspired steakhouse in Hamilton

It’s from the chef-owner of Union, Côte de Boeuf and Hearts Grey County

What's on the menu at Miss Aida, a new Lebanese restaurant on Roncesvalles from the team at J's Steak Frites

What’s on the menu at Miss Aida, a new Lebanese restaurant on Roncesvalles from the team at J’s Steak Frites

This time, there’s more than one main on the menu

What's on the menu at Lazy Daisy’s, the east-end brunch institution that’s now doing dinner

What’s on the menu at Lazy Daisy’s, the east-end brunch institution that’s now doing dinner

Hello, smash burgers on biscuits

Twelve of Toronto's best ice cream flavours, ranked

Twelve of Toronto’s best ice cream flavours, ranked

Toronto creameries are elevating ice cream to an art form. Here, our picks for the city’s best pints

Inside Spanish Pig, a new gourmet food shop on Roncesvalles that sells fancy ham, preserved seafood and made-to-order sandwiches

Inside Spanish Pig, a new gourmet food shop on Roncesvalles that sells fancy ham, preserved seafood and made-to-order sandwiches

It's jammed with jamón

What's on the menu at Lardo, Little Italy's new spot for Italian groceries, sandwiches and wine

What’s on the menu at Lardo, Little Italy’s new spot for Italian groceries, sandwiches and wine

And coming soon: dinner service

What's on the menu at Bar Dêm, a new Vietnamese speakeasy with an alleyway entrance

What’s on the menu at Bar Dêm, a new Vietnamese speakeasy with an alleyway entrance

Including "photine" and deconstructed banh mi charcuterie

What's on the menu at the Pearl, a new cottage-country market and snack bar in Muskoka

What’s on the menu at the Pearl, a new cottage-country market and snack bar in Muskoka

It's just down the street from the Kee to Bala

What's on the menu at Ultra, the revival of Charles Khabouth's Queen West supper club, now at Yonge and St. Clair

What’s on the menu at Ultra, the revival of Charles Khabouth’s Queen West supper club, now at Yonge and St. Clair

We’re reminded of a certain Harry Styles song

Inside the new 36,000-square-foot T&T Supermarket at Fairview Mall

Inside the new 36,000-square-foot T&T Supermarket at Fairview Mall

Featuring a breakfast counter serving jian bing

What's on the menu at Romi's, a new bakery and market from ex–Parallel Brothers chef Tomer Markovitz

What’s on the menu at Romi’s, a new bakery and market from ex–Parallel Brothers chef Tomer Markovitz

Including challah, verdant falafel and out-of-this-world chocolate chip cookies

What's on the menu at Margo, a new (public) Mediterranean restaurant inside a posh private club on King West

What’s on the menu at Margo, a new (public) Mediterranean restaurant inside a posh private club on King West

Including flaming cheese and one dessert that’s more than meets the eye

What's on the menu at Then and Now, Parkdale's new Asian fusion restaurant with a no-tipping policy

What’s on the menu at Then and Now, Parkdale’s new Asian fusion restaurant with a no-tipping policy

It's a certified living wage employer

What's on the menu at Trinity Market, a new wine bar, snack counter, pizza parlour and bottle shop right next to Bellwoods

What’s on the menu at Trinity Market, a new wine bar, snack counter, pizza parlour and bottle shop right next to Bellwoods

Picnic mode: activated

What’s on the menu at CKB, a brand-new Italian-ish bistro on Roncesvalles

After 20 years working in Italian kitchens, chef David Brace finally has his own

"It’s not that difficult to make things accessible": A Q&A with the owners of a Toronto restaurant that caters to neurodivergent people

“It’s not that difficult to make things accessible”: A Q&A with the owners of a Toronto restaurant that caters to neurodivergent people

Sarang Kitchen in Dovercourt Village serves up Korean fried chicken—and inclusivity

What's on the menu at Zuzu, Janet Zuccarini's new retro-inspired Italian kitchen in Regent Park

What’s on the menu at Zuzu, Janet Zuccarini’s new retro-inspired Italian kitchen in Regent Park

Including a slab of baked ziti that's a thing of beauty

What's on the menu at Crafty Ramen, Toronto's first location of the popular Guelph-based noodle biz

What’s on the menu at Crafty Ramen, Toronto’s first location of the popular Guelph-based noodle biz

Including bowls with vegan broth and noodles

What's on the menu at Casa Paco, chef Rob Bragagnolo's new Spanish restaurant and bar in Little Italy

What’s on the menu at Casa Paco, chef Rob Bragagnolo’s new Spanish restaurant and bar in Little Italy

Two words: paella Sundays

What's on the menu at Yokai Izakaya, a Japanese-inspired gem in a Woodbridge strip mall

What’s on the menu at Yokai Izakaya, a Japanese-inspired gem in a Woodbridge strip mall

Including Wagyu sliders, hand rolls topped with 24-karat gold flakes and boozy bubble tea

What's on the menu at Taverne Tamblyn, a charming new French restaurant on Danforth

What’s on the menu at Taverne Tamblyn, a charming new French restaurant on Danforth

Olliffe Butcher Shop's Ben Gundy is back in the restaurant biz

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

Charm Offensive: The cottage country mortgage broker who lost $101 million of his clients’ money

Charm Offensive: The cottage country mortgage broker who lost $101 million of his clients’ money

Sandy Sussman spent decades wooing the upper echelons of Toronto society, becoming their go-to investment guy. He took their money and made a huge bet on cottage country. When the market tanked, he lost it all. Then he did everything in his power to cover it up

The Monster Cottages vs. the Resistance: Inside the ruthless battle for the future of Muskoka

The Monster Cottages vs. the Resistance: Inside the ruthless battle for the future of Muskoka

From Gravenhurst to Port Cockburn, the uber rich and powerful are buying up shoreline for private island compounds and sprawling mega-resorts, radically changing the face of Muskoka and infuriating environmentalists, locals and long-time cottagers

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

Just Listed

For Sale: 99 Lake Promenade

For Sale: 99 Lake Promenade

This classic Hamptons-style home by Chatsworth Fine Homes offers an exciting opportunity to customize a new dream home and build instant value - without the long wait of new construction

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