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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

What's on the menu at Curryish Tavern, chef Miheer Shete's innovative Indian kitchen on Queen West

What’s on the menu at Curryish Tavern, chef Miheer Shete’s innovative Indian kitchen on Queen West

It started life as a popular pandemic pop-up and meal service

What's on the menu at Spaccio West, the Italian commissary kitchen's new 8,000-square-foot location in the Junction Triangle

What’s on the menu at Spaccio West, the Italian commissary kitchen’s new 8,000-square-foot location in the Junction Triangle

It's where all of Terroni's pasta- and pizza-production magic happens

Inside Affinity Fish, a new Toronto fishmonger dedicated to sourcing Canadian freshwater fish

Inside Affinity Fish, a new Toronto fishmonger dedicated to sourcing Canadian freshwater fish

Specifically, those from the Great Lakes

What's on the menu at Henry's, a new restaurant and wine shop on Queen West

What’s on the menu at Henry’s, a new restaurant and wine shop on Queen West

Like the wine you had with dinner? Buy a bottle (or three) to go

What's on the menu at Campechano Cafe, the popular taqueria's new spot for Mexican brunch

What’s on the menu at Campechano Cafe, the popular taqueria’s new spot for Mexican brunch

What's not on the menu: tacos

What's on the menu at Le Sélect, the second coming of one of Toronto’s favourite French bistros

What’s on the menu at Le Sélect, the second coming of one of Toronto’s favourite French bistros

It's back, bébé

What's on the menu at Torisho, the first Canadian outpost for the Japanese karaage chicken chain

What’s on the menu at Torisho, the first Canadian outpost for the Japanese karaage chicken chain

But, with chicken this good, it’s bound to be the first of many

Sort-of Secret: Sailor's Fish and Chips, a new takeout counter inside Hooked on Danforth

Sort-of Secret: Sailor’s Fish and Chips, a new takeout counter inside Hooked on Danforth

Unsurprisingly, the city's seafood experts make some pretty good snacks

What's on the menu at True History Brewing, a new craft brewery in St. Clair West Village

What’s on the menu at True History Brewing, a new craft brewery in St. Clair West Village

It's the neighbourhood's new spot for German- and Czech-style beers

The best ceviche in Toronto, ranked

The best ceviche in Toronto, ranked

Our favourite of the city's cured fish dishes

What's on the menu at Bouffe, chef David Adjey's new French kitchen on Dundas West

What’s on the menu at Bouffe, chef David Adjey’s new French kitchen on Dundas West

He's found a new home since losing his La Nectarine space

What's on the menu at Great Lakes Brewpub, the Toronto brewery’s big new beer hall by the water

What’s on the menu at Great Lakes Brewpub, the Toronto brewery’s big new beer hall by the water

Including personal pan pizzas, smash burgers and lots of beer

What's on the menu at Hawker, Kensington Market's new spot for fancy plant-based fare

What’s on the menu at Hawker, Kensington Market’s new spot for fancy plant-based fare

Organic landscapes and arboreal themes inspire the imaginative vegan plates

What's on the menu at Prime Seafood Palace, Matty Matheson's new Queen West steakhouse

What’s on the menu at Prime Seafood Palace, Matty Matheson’s new Queen West steakhouse

Including A5 Wagyu, dry-aged salmon and sturgeon caviar

Inside Mirazule, an unconventional Prince Edward County inn from a pair of veteran hoteliers

Inside Mirazule, an unconventional Prince Edward County inn from a pair of veteran hoteliers

Rates include a multi-course breakfast, drinks, and occasionally an invite to a dinner party at an additional cost

Toronto's 10 best hot dogs to scarf down this summer, ranked

Toronto’s 10 best hot dogs to scarf down this summer, ranked

Our picks for the city's top dogs, from orthodox to outlandish

“No matter how long you take, you can’t be prepared for something like this”: After six years and one pandemic, Matty Matheson's Prime Seafood Palace is finally open

“No matter how long you take, you can’t be prepared for something like this”: After six years and one pandemic, Matty Matheson’s Prime Seafood Palace is finally open

How the culinary and architectural gem came to be

What's on the menu at Recette, a fun French restaurant on Queen West with a Chantecler chef in the kitchen

What’s on the menu at Recette, a fun French restaurant on Queen West with a Chantecler chef in the kitchen

It's upscale and inventive—but not necessarily fussy—food

Sort-of Secret: No Pain Gimbap, a new west-end kitchen for Korean snacks

Sort-of Secret: No Pain Gimbap, a new west-end kitchen for Korean snacks

The sushi-like rolls are perfect for park picnics

What's on the menu at Adrak, Yorkville's sleek new Indian restaurant

What’s on the menu at Adrak, Yorkville’s sleek new Indian restaurant

Most of the team members trained under Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia

What's on the menu at Slowhand Pizza, a new east-end spot for thick-crust sourdough pies

What’s on the menu at Slowhand Pizza, a new east-end spot for thick-crust sourdough pies

It's a little bit Italy, a little bit San Francisco and a little bit Detroit

What's on the menu at Mandy's, Toronto's first location of the Montreal-based salad chain with a cult following

What’s on the menu at Mandy’s, Toronto’s first location of the Montreal-based salad chain with a cult following

It's the trendiest new place to get your greens

Six Toronto restaurants cooking Ukrainian meals to benefit the war relief effort

Six Toronto restaurants cooking Ukrainian meals to benefit the war relief effort

Half a dozen ways to help out and enjoy good food at the same time

Because Toronto has the best pho this side of Vietnam

Reasons to Love Toronto Now

Because Toronto has the best pho this side of Vietnam

Two new restaurants are offering up world-class pho and banh mi

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