The central seating area of Dine on 3: not a plastic chair or styrofoam plate in sight
More often than not, eating at a mall food court entails styrofoam plates, disposable cutlery and, at best, indifferently prepared food. But take heart: Yorkdale Shopping Centre’ s new elevated food court Dine on 3, taking a cue from last year’s Urban Eatery makeover at the Eaton Centre, is on a mission to change all that. Flooded with daylight and peppered with refined, semi-secluded seating areas, Dine on 3 creates a laid back, luxurious atmosphere that’s a far cry from the crowded, plastic ambience of a traditional food court. Anthony Casalanguida, the general manager of Yorkdale, wanted to create an “oasis” for weary shoppers looking to “refresh and recharge,” and after 14 months of work and a $35-million investment, he’s betting he’s accomplished just that.
The open-concept food court boasts a total of 19 vendors, including a handful of fully licensed sit-down eateries, like the Italian espresso bar Espressamente Illy, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria and Amaya Express . The usual suspects, like A&W and KFC , are there as well, but they’re sporting sleek storefronts to fit in with the clean lines of Dine on 3 . To ensure guests can always snag a seat, the space takes reservations (yes, reservations) that can be made in person or via Yorkdale’s free smart phone app. Oh, and as we told you last week: there’s even a perfume butler.
141548 (Image: Susan Keefe) Sensibly portioned desserts at health-conscious Glow Press Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_10/ jun12dineon3_10 0 0
Sensibly portioned desserts at health-conscious Glow Press
141545 (Image: Susan Keefe) The cushy seating area at Su & Shi Noodle Bar Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_7.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_7/ jun12dineon3_7 0 0
The cushy seating area at Su & Shi Noodle Bar
141547 (Image: Susan Keefe) The prosciutto arugula fire bread sandwich at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_9/ jun12dineon3_9 0 0
The prosciutto arugula fire bread sandwich at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
141549 (Image: Susan Keefe) The hard-working wood-burning oven at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_11/ jun12dineon3_11 0 0
The hard-working wood-burning oven at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
141544 (Image: Susan Keefe) The surprisingly cozy atmosphere at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_6/ jun12dineon3_6 0 0
The surprisingly cozy atmosphere at Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
141543 (Image: Susan Keefe) A more secluded seating area Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_5/ jun12dineon3_5 0 0
A more secluded seating area
141542 (Image: Susan Keefe) Big Smoke Burger Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_4/ jun12dineon3_4 0 0
Big Smoke Burger
141541 (Image: Susan Keefe) Actual daylight in a mall food court Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_3/ jun12dineon3_3 0 0
Actual daylight in a mall food court
141546 (Image: Susan Keefe) The “Illymisu” at Espressamente Illy, complete with a shot of espresso Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_8/ jun12dineon3_8 0 0
The “Illymisu” at Espressamente Illy, complete with a shot of espresso
141540 (Image: Susan Keefe) Toronto’s first Espressamente Illy coffee shop Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_2/ jun12dineon3_2 0 0
Toronto’s first Espressamente Illy coffee shop
141539 (Image: Susan Keefe) Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_1.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_1/ jun12dineon3_1 0 0
141551 (Image: Susan Keefe) The central seating area of Dine on 3: not a plastic chair or styrofoam plate in sight Introducing: Dine on 3 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12dineon3_intro.jpg 656 430 [] https://torontolife.com/food/introducing-dine-on-3/slide/jun12dineon3_intro/ jun12dineon3_intro 0 0
The central seating area of Dine on 3: not a plastic chair or styrofoam plate in sight
Yorkdale Shopping Centre, 3401 Dufferin St., yorkdale.com
Reservations for a food court? I can’t wait for this ghetto food movement to run out of steam.
It’s about time Yorkdale! Great article, well written!
Reservations for a food court? I can’t wait for this ghetto food movement to run out of steam.
June 5, 2012 at 8:26 am | by Jenabee
“Ghetto Food Movement”? What the hell is that even supposed to mean? If anything this goes against the prevailing movement in food service these days, which is to have a policy of not having reservations.
As much as I detest shopping malls I commend them for this project. Highly sensible from both a lifestyle and eco perspective.