Introducing: Rock Lobster Leslieville, which has a kids’ menu and three (three!) patios
Name: Rock Lobster Food Co. (Leslieville)
Contact Info: 1192 Queen St. E., 416-533-1800, @rocklobsterfood, rocklobsterfood.com
Owners: Matt Dean Pettit and Mike Homewood, who also own nearby Boots ‘n’ Bourbon, along with partners Darryl Fine and Alan Thomson
Chefs: Executive chef Matt Dean Pettit and corporate chef de cuisine Deron Engbers
The Food: Fans of the Ossington and Queen West locations will recognize the lobster boils, lobster rolls and elaborately garnished lobster-tail Caesars. Everything else is new, including lobster bruschetta, a fried-clam roll with Sriracha mayo and a few vegetarian dishes. There are also kids’ options, like mac ‘n’ cheese topped with crumbled Goldfish.
The Drinks: Ontario wine, craft beer and a handful of cocktails designed specifically for this location (including a fancy take on Mike’s Hard Lemonade).
The Place: The former Curzon room was rebuilt from ground up and decorated in Rock Lobster’s signature style—i.e. lots of woodwork and rustic Canadiana (decorative antlers, wall-mounted snowshoes). Like the other locations, there’s a huge, colourful mural painted by Matt Pettit’s dad, Donald Pettit. Unlike the other locations, there are three distinct patios—one on the street, one in the back and a tiny one squeezed into a side alleyway—all of which are licensed until 2 a.m.
