From neighbourhood pizza joints to top-tier Syrian cuisine, you’ll find great food and even better service at these Etobicoke patios.
So you are fully vaxxed and finally ready to relax on a patio but your local spot is packed. Or maybe you just want a change of scenery. Well nestled in between Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga, and Lake Ontario, Etobicoke provides some tasty and not too far away options for patio dining or a quick pick-up and go. Here are a few of my faves.
850 Degrees Pizza
I don’t know if I have ever seen a restaurant with so many reviews that mention how great the service is. In an era where complaints about horrible experiences reign supreme, 850 Degrees Pizza is an exception.
I’m guessing the staff is in such a great mood because they also get to enjoy the wide array of pizzas, sandwiches and salads that are on the menu. Or maybe it is because the South Etobicoke pizzeria offers a bunch of crowd-pleasing, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options.
Full disclosure, 850 Degrees Pizza has some pizzas you’ll want to order simply because their names are so fun to ask for (think “Group of 7, Shinny and Superman”) but don't get so caught up in the menu that you forget to ask your incredibly friendly server about their monthly specials.
Rudy (Queensway)
So the newest Rudy location does not technically have a patio (we're talking a couple of picnic tables) but when Toronto’s (arguably) best burger comes to Etobicoke, you do not tend to worry about technicalities.
What you should worry about is whether or not you should go Rudy or Rude Dude (Rudy slang for ordering a single or a double cheeseburger). And once you’ve decided on which burger to order, next you will want to decide if you want it “tattooed” (Rudy slang for adding bacon to your burger).
But hey, you may decide that you are craving a chicken sandwich at the moment and decide to abandon the burger plan altogether and grab a Valentino instead. Next decision, fries or poutine. See, like I was saying, you’ve got bigger fish to fry (but don’t worry, there is no fish on the menu).
Mooring Eats
The Syrian food scene in Toronto has been gaining some well-deserved traction and if Mooring Eats has anything to do with it, it is only going to get even bigger. From familiar Middle Eastern favourites like kebabs and falafels to lesser-known delicacies like shish tawook and barazek (a Syrian cookie made with sesame seeds and crushed pistachios), Mooring Eats has something for everyone.
Including their culture-bending chicken shawarma poutine, complete with squeaky cheese curds, to satisfy even the finickiest poutine purist. Now a patio always feels that much better when the cold drinks are flowing. So when you are there, try a Barbican, a tasty Middle Eastern take on non-alcoholic beer.
Revolver Pizza
With a brand new garage door conversion that gives patio diners a view inside of the restaurant, things feel a little closer to “normal” at Revolver Pizza. Something that is also “the norm” at Revolver, hot, fresh and flavourful wood-fired slices or full pies.
Open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily (except for Mondays when they open even earlier), you’ve got plenty of time to enjoy this Royal York Road favourite. Things do get a little busier around dinner time so I’d recommend heading over a little earlier if you can to beat the rush. Pro tip: grab at least a couple of their dips with whatever you order. Hot Honey and Garlic Aioli are my picks.
SanRemo
Now remember at the beginning of this article, I mentioned you may not necessarily be coming to Etobicoke for the patios. You may want a change of scenery or you may want a cannoli donut. You may want a cannoli donut, some strawberry coconut gelato, a Nutella tart, a pizza bread sandwich and a caffe crema. And if that is the case, then you need to visit SanRemo Bakery.
Now as delicious as this place is, you may want to avoid it if you are bad at making decisions. The number of options here will blow your mind. I mean, you don’t remain a neighbourhood favourite since 1969 without keeping things interesting. From store staples to specials, everything looks (and tastes) incredible. Newbies should hop on their Instagram account to ready themselves for this fun-filled food adventure.
Lucky's Chicken & Waffles
Not too long ago, Toronto had very few great options for fried chicken. Nowadays, thanks to the likes of The Heartbreak Chef, Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken, PG Clucks and many more, great chicken is all over The Six.
Well, Lucky’s Chicken and Waffles just may have the same effect on Etobicoke. Crispy, crunch, moist chicken is where this story starts, but as they say, the devil is in the details. And at Lucky’s, there are a couple of not-so-subtle details that made me take notice.
The first being the fries, often seen as the Robin to chicken’s Batman, here they are truly an equal partner in this dynamic duo. The fries are incredible on their own and stand out as the foundation for the Yardbird Poutine. Second not-so-subtle detail, Lucky’s Maple Sauce. Sweet, thick, and infused with just the right amount of heat to change everything you thought you knew about chicken and waffles.
The last detail I have to highlight is if you are doing takeout or delivery, your sandwich toppings are packaged separately so that what is hot (like chicken and buns) stays hot and what is cold (like pickles and slaw) stay cold. It’s like a McDLT for the 21st century. (Yes it is fine if you Google McDLT).
