Toronto restaurants that have morphed into markets selling groceries, meal kits and food-box subscriptions
As we continue our spring of social distancing, the city’s restaurants that haven’t closed are finding new and creative ways to supply people with food. Up until recently, that’s meant takeout and delivery services. Most recently, a handful of restaurateurs have turned their businesses into bodegas selling basic groceries. Others now offer CSA-like food subscription boxes or DIY meal kits. Here, more ways to eat well and support local restaurants at the same time.
Buca
Recreate the restaurant experience at home with an order of fresh pasta and sauce, pizza dough for a DIY pie night or a nodini kit with everything you need to make the addictive garlicky bread balls. Takeout and delivery from Wednesday to Sunday. 2 St. Clair Ave. W., buca.ca, @bucatoronto
Chadwick’s
This Annex mainstay’s brunch classics, like brisket hash and Venezuelan breakfast—complete with vacuum-sealed plantains and spiced popcorn—are now available in meal-kit form. A wide variety of dinner and appetizer options are also available, including tacos, smoked chuleta (pork chop), four kinds of nacho kits and “craft dinner” (yes, that’s elevated mac and cheese). Prices range from $15-20 per portion. Order online for pickup or delivery for orders over $50. 268 Howland Ave., 416-944-1606, chadwicks.ca
Chef Charlotte Langley
Craving seafood? Get one of chef Charlotte Langley’s lobster roll kits (roll, filling, herb salad for garnish and potato crisps included) or opt for a “seacuterie” kit chock full of hot smoked trout, pork belly with honey, pickles and a variety of sweets (hello, ice cream cake) and cheeses. Lobster rolls go for $25 per person, while individual seacuterie items range from $9 to $17. Order for pickup online, allowing for three days notice. chefcharlottelangley.com/the-larder/
Earls Kitchen and Bar
Earls’ new virtual grocery store lets you stock up on the essentials (produce, pantry staples, milk) as well as prepared meals. There are also some DIY kits (pan bread, pizza), plenty of booze and toilet paper by the roll. Pickup or delivery through Skip the Dishes. 150 King St. W., 46-916-0227, earls.ca, @earlsrestaurant
Edo
If sourdough isn’t your thing, sushi might be the DIY project you’ve been looking for. Edo’s kits come with detailed instructions and tips from the chef, a makisu (sushi roller mat), chopsticks, soy sauce dish, and all the ingredients you need to make your choice of maki roll: California, dragon or spicy salmon. Prices range from $4 to $18 per roll. Order for pickup or delivery, with minimum 24-hours notice, using this online form. 425 Spadina Rd., 416-482-8973, edorestaurants.com
Enoteca Sociale
The popular Italian restaurant now offers a selection of “at-home pasta kits,” filled with fresh pasta, sauce and toppings. Each week’s selection always includes amatriciana and cacio e pepe, along with a rotating third option—recently it was rigatoni with pork-and-fennel ragu. $17-$20 for two portions. Email pickup orders to enoteca@sociale.ca, including your preferred pick up date and time. 1288 Dundas St. W., 416-534-1200, sociale.ca
Fat Lamb Kouzina
Fat Lamb’s make-your-own pita kits come in portions of two, four, or six, complete with dough balls, your choice of roast pork or chicken, tomatoes, parsley, paprika and their signature tzatziki, of course. What you’ll need to provide: a rolling pin, a bit of flour for dusting and some extra virgin olive oil. The chicken option ranges from $22 to $60, while the pork goes for $18 to $48. Call or email for curb-side pickup. 874 Yonge St., 647-748-5262, fatlambkouzina.com
General Assembly Pizza
The Entertainment District pizzeria has created a DIY pizza kit that includes the restaurant’s naturally leavened dough. Each kit makes two personal-sized 10-inch pies. Choose from Mila Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil) or the Loving Cup (tomato sauce, aged mozzarella, grana padano, wild oregano and basil). Coming soon: frozen pizzas to go. Delivery through Foodora and Uber Eats. 331 Adelaide St. W., 416-583-5571, gapizza.com, @ga_pizza
Hotmess Tex Mex
If you suspect that a finished nacho platter won’t maintain its integrity through its journey to your home, you can opt for D.I.Y. taco and nacho kits from this Little Italy joint. Everything you need for six hardshell tacos sells for $22, and an enormous nacho platter with all the fixings is $28. There’s an option to add extra protein or cheese for $4.50. Call for takeout or find them on UberEats for delivery. 615 College St., 416-551-1322, hotmesstexmex.com
Lake Inez
Fans of this eclectic, upscale neighbourhood favourite will love their three-course meal kit for two, which comes with a bottle of natural wine and a love letter from the restaurant for $113. A recent kit included roasted beets with charred feta and wasabi, crispy wonton skins with Szechuan salt and Dungeness crab, and braised shiitake and king oyster mushrooms with nettle pesto and pickled mustard seeds. Menus for Saturday dinner are posted over Instagram, on Wednesdays at noon, where there’s a link to an online order form (get in early—they sell out quick). Pickup only. 1471 Gerrard St. E., 416-792-1590, @lake_inez
Little Sito
Little Sito’s meal kits—available in meat, vegetarian or vegan options—are perfect for sharing a Lebanese feast with one or two friends. Each version includes a number of dips, pita bread and salad to accompany the mains. The vegetarian kit includes healthy 10-ounce portions of labneh, hummus, and babaghanoush alongside falafel mix, labneh, mjadra (lentils and rice), eggplant stew, and whole Lebanese cucumbers and tomatoes. $35-$75. Order directly from their website for pickup or delivery. 840 Bloor St. W., 416-516-6464, littlesito.ca
Local Public Eatery
The Local has temporarily relaunched both of its locations as the Local Corner Store, a virtual supermarket where you can order the bar’s pub grub but also fruits and veggies, basics (bread, milk, butter), pantry items including sriracha, as well as toilet paper and booze. Craving some nachos to go with your Netflix? Order a DIY kit that comes with chips and all the fixings. Curbside pickup or delivery through DoorDash. 171 E. Liberty St., 416-901-8351, @locallansdowne; 180 Laird Dr., 416-696-6226, @localleaside
Mattachioni
David Mattachioni has turned his Junction Triangle trattoria into a mercatto. You can still get his fantastic wood-fired pies to go, but while you’re there to pick up your pizza, you can also grab some staples (milk, butter, tomatoes, cheese, olive oil), house-made sourdough or focaccia and wine. New to the takeout menu: bottled negronis. 1617 Dupont St., 416-519-1010, mattachioni.com, @mattachioni
Montgomery’s Restaurant
Chef Guy Rawlings has introduced his Grassroot Food Box, a CSA-style subscription. Subscribers to the restaurant’s newsletter can choose from a rotating checklist of local, sustainably sourced seasonal ingredients and products typically used in the Montgomery’s kitchen. And of course there’s an option to tack on individually wrapped rolls of toilet paper. To sign up, visit the website or email info@montgomerysrestaurant.com. Pickup or delivery within a designated zone. 996 Queen St. W., 647-748-4416, montgomerysrestaurant.com, @montgomerys.restaurant
Odin Coffee Roaster and Thor Espresso Bar
The sister coffee shops are now operating an online market selling prepared foods, snacks, baked goods, bread from Beatrix Bread, Greenhouse juices, craft beer, wine and (of course) coffee. Thor’s retail offerings include beauty products, chocolates, vegan goodies from Tori’s Bakeshop and bottles of liquor. Pickup and delivery within a designated zone. 514 King St. E. and 35 Bathurst St., odincoffeeroasters.com
Onn Meal
This meal-kit service is an offshoot of Onnki Donburi, a spot at Yonge and Hayden that specializes in Japanese- and Korean-style rice bowls. The menu is subject to change, but currently offers kits for Korean specialties like beef bulgogi and jeyuk (spicy pork). Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese options are on the docket for future menus. Prices range from $8-$47, with up to two pounds of meat included at the higher end. Order via Instagram DM or email for delivery, or pickup at the Hayden St. location. 40 Hayden St., no phone, @onnmeal
Pizzeria Du
Not on the make-your-own-pizza-dough bandwagon yet, but still up for a bit of DIY? Grab a vegan pizza–making kit from Pizzeria Du. Each kit includes enough pre-proofed dough, marinara sauce, and cashew mozzarella for two 10-inch pizzas and costs $16. Other cheese options (house-made cashew cheddar, soy cheese) are available upon request. Order directly from their website for pickup or delivery. 536 Queen St. W., 647-655-7451, pizzeriadu.ca
Sala Modern Thai Kitchen & Bar
Looking to learn how to make pad see ew, tom kha or red curry? In addition to their regular takeout menu, this popular Thai spot on the Danforth is selling meal kits that come with pre-portioned and packaged ingredients. Just unpack, follow the link provided for your video instruction and get cooking. Takeout only. 1262 Danforth Ave., 416-405-9999, @salakitchen
Wynona
Wynona offers customizable meal baskets, with a rotating menu of fresh pasta, sauces, and proteins, along with cooking suggestions and ready-to-eat sides. The latest menu features fresh rigatoni, spaghetti, and fettuccine, priced at $20 for four portions, liters of spicy sausage rose and pomodoro, and a 10oz. dry-aged New York strip loin for $34, among a variety of other proteins. Ready-to-eat apps include chicken noodle soup, seville marmalade and a little gem caesar salad. Order directly from their website for delivery. 819 Gerrard St. E., 416-778-5171, wynonatoronto.com
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