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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

Sort-of Secret: The Donuterie, artisanal doughnuts from a Leslieville lunch counter

Sort-of Secret: The Donuterie, artisanal doughnuts from a Leslieville lunch counter

They make cronuts, too. Remember cronuts?

What's on the menu at Clio, Charles Khabouth's new members-only restaurant and lounge on King West

What’s on the menu at Clio, Charles Khabouth’s new members-only restaurant and lounge on King West

It's in the old Spoke Club space

What's on the menu at Osteria Giulia, chef Rob Rossi's new Italian restaurant in Yorkville

What’s on the menu at Osteria Giulia, chef Rob Rossi’s new Italian restaurant in Yorkville

Including everyone's favourite drink right now: an espresso martini

What's on the menu at Fonda Balam, a new sit-down Mexican restaurant from the team behind the summer's hottest taco pop-up

What’s on the menu at Fonda Balam, a new sit-down Mexican restaurant from the team behind the summer’s hottest taco pop-up

It's co-owned by chef Matty Matheson

Inside SuperMarket, Superette's kaleidoscopic cannabis shop inside a shipping container

Inside SuperMarket, Superette’s kaleidoscopic cannabis shop inside a shipping container

It's a real trip

What's on the menu at Mimi Chinese, a gorgeous new Yorkville restaurant from the team behind Sunnys Chinese

What’s on the menu at Mimi Chinese, a gorgeous new Yorkville restaurant from the team behind Sunnys Chinese

Including a four-foot-long noodle

What's on the menu at The Wood Owl, a new Danforth wine bar from the team behind The Wren

What’s on the menu at The Wood Owl, a new Danforth wine bar from the team behind The Wren

And it's right next door

What's on the menu at Pink Sky, a swanky new seafood spot on King West

What’s on the menu at Pink Sky, a swanky new seafood spot on King West

Including a very lobster-y mac and cheese

What's on the menu at Good Behaviour Submarine, a sandwich shop that shares space with its sister ice cream parlour

What’s on the menu at Good Behaviour Submarine, a sandwich shop that shares space with its sister ice cream parlour

They've got both lunch and dessert covered

What's on the menu at Joni, the renovated Park Hyatt Toronto's swanky new restaurant

What’s on the menu at Joni, the renovated Park Hyatt Toronto’s swanky new restaurant

Dom Perignon by the glass, anyone?

What's on the menu at Campechano, the Toronto taqueria's new Little Italy location

What’s on the menu at Campechano, the Toronto taqueria’s new Little Italy location

Tacos, tacos and more tacos

What's on the menu at Gia, Trinity Bellwoods' new spot for plant-forward Italian

What’s on the menu at Gia, Trinity Bellwoods’ new spot for plant-forward Italian

It actually is easy being green

What's on the menu at Oji Seichi, a new ramen shop in East Chinatown from a former Momofuku chef

What’s on the menu at Oji Seichi, a new ramen shop in East Chinatown from a former Momofuku chef

Including shrimp sandos, signature sake—and ramen, of course

Sort-of Secret: These pillowy loaves of Japanese milk bread from a Roncesvalles ramen shop

Sort-of Secret: These pillowy loaves of Japanese milk bread from a Roncesvalles ramen shop

Aoi Yoshida found out that you can still make milk bread even if you run out of milk

Sort-of Secret: Mamaliga, a monthly pop-up spotlighting home-style Romanian dishes and drinks

Sort-of Secret: Mamaliga, a monthly pop-up spotlighting home-style Romanian dishes and drinks

It’s the newest venture from Haan Palcu-Chang, the chef of Favorites Thai BBQ

Sort-of Secret: Mamey, a family run pop-up and delivery service specializing in homemade tamales

Sort-of Secret: Mamey, a family run pop-up and delivery service specializing in homemade tamales

Each tamal is like a gift waiting to be unwrapped

This social worker makes $85,000 a year. How is she spending during the pandemic?

This social worker makes $85,000 a year. How is she spending during the pandemic?

Her recent splurges: $1,300 for a pair of Louboutin sneakers and $450 for Tom Ford perfume

What's on the menu at Mira Mira Diner, a retro-inspired spot in the Beaches for comfort food and cocktails

What’s on the menu at Mira Mira Diner, a retro-inspired spot in the Beaches for comfort food and cocktails

The vintage Hamilton Beach milkshake maker isn't just for show

Nine ice cream sandwiches you need to eat this summer

Nine ice cream sandwiches you need to eat this summer

Including one that involves two butter tarts

What's on the menu at Pizzeria Badiali, a new west-end spot inspired by New York's classic by-the-slice joints

What’s on the menu at Pizzeria Badiali, a new west-end spot inspired by New York’s classic by-the-slice joints

Don't worry, they do whole pies too

What's on the takeout menu at Tacos 101, the much-missed taqueria's new Kensington Market counter

What’s on the takeout menu at Tacos 101, the much-missed taqueria’s new Kensington Market counter

Now with 100 percent more Mexican ramen

What's on the menu at Toronto Beach Club, the new lakeside lounge and patio at Woodbine Beach

What’s on the menu at Toronto Beach Club, the new lakeside lounge and patio at Woodbine Beach

It's GG's Burgers' much fancier sister spot

Sort-of Secret: Pies by Squires, savoury meat pies and sausage rolls from a former Buca chef

Sort-of Secret: Pies by Squires, savoury meat pies and sausage rolls from a former Buca chef

Including one that's dinner and dessert, combined

Sort-of Secret: Alberobello Gelato, chef Lorenzo Loseto's new line of Italian ice cream

Sort-of Secret: Alberobello Gelato, chef Lorenzo Loseto’s new line of Italian ice cream

He actually went to gelato university in Italy

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