Where the Food Dudes’ Adam Minster eats in and around Dovercourt Village

Adam Minster, a Food Dudes partner and co-owner of Rasa, Chop Hop and Sara, is a busy guy. He’s built Harbord Village’s Rasa into a Bib Gourmand–awarded neighbourhood institution, turned a salad into a brand (a very good salad, to be fair) and now, in challenging economic times, he’s launched an ambitious prix fixe concept at Sara, designed to make dining out feel accessible again.

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“People are more intentional about how they spend when they go out now,” Minster says. “If they’re choosing to have a night out, they want it to feel like something—to celebrate, to remember. We wanted to create that kind of experience in a way that still feels welcoming.”

When he’s not at one of his restaurants, Minster, a new dad, keeps things close to home. He spends much of his off hours with family, gravitating toward neighbourhood spots and simple meals that don’t require much ceremony. It’s a balance that mirrors his approach to restaurants: high standards, grounded in real life.

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Here are four of Minster’s favourite spots to eat in and around Dovercourt Village.

Good Behaviour

342 Westmoreland Ave. N., goodbehaviourto.ca

“I love places that don’t take themselves too seriously while still caring about every aspect of the food they serve. That’s Good Behaviour in a nutshell. Selling handcrafted ice cream and submarine sandwiches side by side is such a fun juxtaposition. When you try either a sub or some ice cream, you can tell how much Michael and Eric care about the details. Everything is meticulously crafted.”

Go-to dish #1: The meatball sub

“Hands down, every time, this is my order. It’s simple but absolutely delicious. I love when a dish proves that a few great ingredients are all you need, letting the star of the show shine. In this case, it’s the meatballs: a pork-and-veal blend that’s incredibly soft, juicy and packed with flavour. The sandwich is finished with house chili oil, which makes the melted provolone even gooier, and fresh basil, which ties everything together beautifully. There’s something especially satisfying about grabbing a sandwich, finding a spot in the sun and enjoying it while my kid is happily occupied with some ice cream.”

Go-to dish #2: Ice cream

“They always have a rotating monthly flavour. Sometimes these are really cool collabs with other great places around the city. It’s like Pokémon for me—you gotta catch ’em all! Today I went with lingonberry and lavender. Next month, maybe it’ll be strawberry and basil.”

Better Days Coffee and Donuts

963 Dovercourt Rd., betterdaysdonuts.ca

“I’ve never been a big doughnut guy. My family used to drive to Florida every year when I was a kid, obviously stopping at a few Tim Hortons along the way. I don’t want to date myself, but this was basically when they had just coffee or doughnuts. I always veered toward sour cream glazed, as this felt more like a dense cake to me, which I preferred. Then Better Days came into the picture, and now I’m a doughnut convert.”

Related: Better Days, a new Dovercourt Village bakery, is bringing back classic Canadian doughnuts

Go-to dish: Sour cream glazed doughnut

“I think Better Days makes the best one I’ve ever had—sorry, Timmies. It has perfectly crisp edges beneath just the right amount of glaze, which is just the right amount of sweet. The centre is dense and crumbly in all the ways a great sour cream glazed doughnut should be. Whenever we have friends or family over for an afternoon hang, I pick up a dozen to share. That said, don’t sleep on the chocolate coconut or the apple fritter—they’re both excellent. But, when it comes to my number-one pick, I’ll never stray from a cake doughnut.”

Mac’s Pizza

759 Dovercourt Rd., macspizza.ca

“Ever since having our first child, we’ve tried to start traditions at home that are easy to maintain but will keep the family doing things together. That’s where Mac’s Pizza comes in. Every Sunday, we have pizza-and-movie night. Granted, Romi is only 19 months old, so her participation right now is just eating the pizza, but I can’t wait until she can express what movie she wants to watch with us. I’m a sucker for all things Disney and Pixar, so bring it on.”

Go-to dish: The Angry Pepperoni pizza

“This is our usual order. It’s got all the hallmarks of the style—pepperoni, jalapeños and Mac’s house-made hot honey—but my favourite part is the scattering of fresh basil. It adds a bright, herbaceous note that takes the whole pie to another level. We’re spice freaks, so we always pile on a healthy dose of chili flakes too.”

Go-to drink: Natural wine

“They also have an excellent selection of natural wines, including their own collaboration with Paradise Grapevine. Family, pizza, good wine and a movie—how can you go wrong? I suppose a terrible movie choice could do it, but my wife’s an actor, so we like to think we’re pretty good judges over here.”

Cafe Paradise

1014 Bloor St. W., cafeparadiseonbloor.com

“Is there a mother out there who doesn’t tell you that breakfast is the most important part of the day? Breakfast is actually how I first realized I loved cooking. My mom was adamant that I eat breakfast, but I wasn’t a morning person, and my mom’s eggs were not exciting enough to change that. So, at around seven-years old, I asked my mom if I could start making my own eggs. The result was scrambled concoctions with add-ins like lemon, syrup and cayenne, long before I knew what building flavours meant. I’m always searching for a great breakfast place.”

Go-to dish #1: The Full Monty breakfast

“Like the meatball sub at Good Behaviour, this is proof that simple food executed well can be exceptional. Thick-cut bacon, house-made sausage—because the only thing better than bacon is not having to choose between bacon and sausage—alongside freshly baked focaccia and hand-cut potatoes. There’s nothing flashy about it; it’s just a collection of really good things done with meticulous attention to detail. A great breakfast is truly my happy place.”

Go-to dish #2: The Victory Burger

“This isn’t exactly a secret menu item, but it’s definitely not talked about enough. Chef Victor Barry first started slinging these beauties during the pandemic, out of the former Piccolo Piano space across the street from Rasa, and now they’ve found a home on a menu once again. The burger is beautifully simple: two smashed patties, pickles, onions, cheese and Victory sauce on a house-made Japanese milk bun. It’s one of the city’s true hidden-gem burgers. I usually skip the fries, but only because I tend to order them alongside my breakfast plate, where they somehow feel completely appropriate before noon.”