Where to eat, drink and shop in Leslieville

Written By

Christine Peddie

over 2 years ago

Ornate and pastel-hued, Bobbette & Belle’s superlative, dainty cupcakes are as far removed from Leslieville’s gritty, industrial roots as imaginable. A place that began as a small village just east of York, a place of nurseries, brickyards, freight tracks, and factories, has morphed into a family-friendly spot, where coffee shops, restaurants and yes, bakeries, have edged out the auto body shops, gas stations and warehouses so prevalent here last century.

Named for George Leslie Sr., an enterprising young Scottish gardener and landscaper who immigrated to the area in the early 19th century, Leslieville occupies a site between the Don River and Coxwell Avenue. It stretches south to Lakeshore Boulevard East, and north to the railway line. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was a place of industry, a place where bricks were fired and sizable factories pumped out everything from chewing gum to bottle caps, and more.

Queen Street East looking north of Carlaw Avenue, Nov. 5, 1948.

Queen Street East looking east to Leslie Street, July 27, 2022.

Annexed into Toronto in the early 20th century, Leslieville was finally connected to the city through transportation, making it more appealing to those looking to live close to, but perhaps not directly in, the downtown core.

A neighbourhood that has swung from bustling to busted, and back again, Leslieville is a unique pocket of Toronto. It’s a place where shops, eateries, green spaces and low-rise homes attract city-dwellers tired of the din of downtown but loath to flee to suburbia. A place where toddlers demolish ice cream cones while hipsters hang out on brewpub patios, and millennials sip espresso martinis at brunch spots, Leslieville offers plenty of variety for everyone to explore. The west end may have more clout but explore the east end’s top spots, and you’ll soon appreciate its particular allure.

Where to eat

Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice Restaurant

1220 Queen Street East

Recognized as much for its classic Italian fare as for the papier maché nose that hangs above its front door, Gio’s (as regulars call it) is as homey and bustling as nonna’s kitchen. Originally located at Yonge and Eglington, the family-run spot relocated to Leslieville in the early 2000s, bringing its red-and-white checkered tablecloths, self-deprecating brand of humour (if the nose didn’t tip you off, the restaurant’s Instagram will) and casual vibe to a new hood.

Now, the spot at 1220 Queen Street East is where Leslieville locals line up for an array of traditional dishes that serve as a veritable tour of the Bel Paese’s most popular piatti. Antipasti range from giant meatballs with ragù to arancini stuffed with mozzarella, served with tomato sauce and pesto. Primi include house-made potato gnocchi with roasted tomato sauce and classic, clam-heavy spaghetti alle vongole settled under a dusting of crisp garlic breadcrumbs. Italian recipes inspire fish and meat dishes served alongside roasted cremini caps, sautéed rapini with lemon and garlic, and more. Comfortable, unpretentious and family-friendly, Gio’s is the type of authentic spot everyone should be so lucky to have in their neighbourhood.

Lake Inez

1471 Gerrard Street East

The hand-made mosaic depicting songstress Kate Bush and writer Virginia Woolf presiding over the bar at Lake Inez is proof enough that the restaurant isn’t easily defined. Part gastropub, part cozy neighbourhood bistro, this is a restaurant that makes seasonal, confident dishes inspired by a host of culinary traditions. It’s also a place where a poetic resolve results in an ever-changing menu that never ceases to elicit joy.

Opened in 2017, under chef Robbie Hojilla, the spot swiftly garnered acclaim with its bold, fresh menu. Originally Asian in scope, flavours have evolved with current chef Jay Moore to include light-heartedly labelled dishes as diverse as Cracklins & Chicken Liver Mousse with sour cherry glaze, We Are Depressed Thus: Nachos, and Pavlovas in a Dangerous Time. As inspired by wistful soul-gazing as it is by good-humoured fun, the team at Lake Inez is adept at editing a surfeit of ideas into thoughtful plates.

Carefully curated beverage lists mean that a wealth of “weird” wines and craft beer are also always at arm’s length. Join the throngs who come for the food, relish the inimitable atmosphere and stay for the comfort of knowing they’re in the hands of a team giving the whole experience its all.

Maha’s Egyptian Brunch

226 Greenwood Avenue

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but judge a restaurant by the continual line-ups clogging the sidewalk outside its doors, and you can’t go wrong. Small and homey, with a no-reservations policy, Maha’s offers a feast of brunch favourites, six days a week.

Named for owner and head chef Maha Barsoom, Maha’s is a family-run spot that prides itself on authentic recipes, hand-made from start to finish. Since opening in 2014, the place has served up countless colourful plates, from crisp, herby falafel hiding perfectly jammy soft-boiled eggs, to stewed fava bean foole topped with everything from toasted sesame seeds to sauteed tomatoes and garlic. With chicken treated to Maha’s “sacred marinade,” then tossed with parsley, onions, and tomatoes, and crowded into an egg bun with tomeya, homemade mayo and tehina, Maha’s Mind Blowing Chicken sandwich alone could keep the business going strong.

For sipping alongside, you’ll find a list of flavoured, hot and cold craft lattes, traditional Turkish coffee, teas and cold drinks ranging from banana-flavoured Moze Bel Laban, to Carrot and Cream juice garnished with nutmeg.

Yes, visiting Maha’s includes waiting in line. Still, as the people in front of you already know, there are countless good reasons why you’ll want to join the queue.

Maple Leaf Tavern

955 Gerrard Street East

Nine years ago a bedraggled, albeit historic, east-side tavern dating back to 1910 was given a new lease on life. Thanks to new owners, the decrepit space was cleaned out, polished off, gussied up and presented anew, in 2016, to a city that had long written it off. Today’s Maple Leaf Tavern bears little resemblance to its former existence, besides its name and the owners’ commitment to running a restaurant that, at its core, is still a community tavern that welcomes, restores and cheers.

Cozy and refined, Maple Leaf Tavern surprises with dishes inspired by executive chef Stephane Renaux’s French background, creative spirit and commitment to serving Ontario’s seasonal, local best. From casual, tavern-apropos dishes, the menu flits to inspired options, assuring everyone’s cravings are met. There’s no better companion to a pint than the kitchen’s classic cheeseburger, dressed with Wild Wood Gruyère, dill pickle relish, lettuce, and garlic mayo. On the swish side, cavatelli nestle up to hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, peas and lobster in a luscious butter-sauce pasta. A selection of wood-fired proteins, from duck breast to wagyu picanha, can be paired with assorted sides for an entrée that’s decidedly upscale.

Avling

1042 Queen Street East

A relative newcomer to the Leslieville scene, Avling brings youthful zeal to its multi-purposed mission. Both a brewery and eatery, Avling was envisioned as, “a place for people to gather, laugh and catch up,” wrote owner and operator Max Meighen on the company’s website in 2021. Beyond that, it’s a place “to enjoy delicious, local food prepared thoughtfully, paired with beers brewed with equal consideration given to the seasons and local flavours.”

On every dish and in every glass, there’s evidence of a team devoted to presenting seasonal, thoughtful, sustainable fare. From using ecological farming methods to grow crops on a 4000-square-foot rooftop farm, to repurposing brewery wastewater as irrigation water for the garden, the team at Avling keeps circularity and sustainability front and centre. Beyond that, Avling’s menus are also just plain fun. Under executive chef Eva Chin, formerly of Kojin, the current menu displays a surfeit of technique in an array of exhilarating dishes.

Between the Xinjiang Lamb Dumplings with celery and rooftop chive vinaigrette, the Confit Beef Tongue with crispy egg noodles and black pepper onion jam, and the Drunken Whole Quails poached in wine with rooftop chilli crisp, it’s clear that Chin and the team are fermenting, foraging, upcycling and creating to their heart’s content. As for us? We’re more than happy to taste each and every experiment they want to dish out.

Where to drink

Left Field Brewery

36 Wagstaff Drive

A menu mainstay across the GTA, Left Field Brewery beers are lovingly crafted in Leslieville, at 36 Wagstaff Drive. An early entrant to the east-end’s brewery boom, Left Field has risen to the top of the crowded craft-beer bunch thanks to an easygoing array of IPAs, sours, dark ales, easy-drinking ales, lagers and hard seltzers. Family-run and “born from a passion for both craft beer and baseball,” according to the team, Left Field Brewery is as charming today as it was when it first hit the scene in 2013.

Though Left Field’s offerings are easy to find across the city, it’s worth heading to the source for a view of the 6000-square foot facility housing a bottle shop and tap room. There, 12 taps feature thirst-quenchers ranging from the ever-popular Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale and Ice Cold Beer to fruit-forward Piña Power, a pineapple IPA. Hit a home run by stocking up on all of your favourites before heading out.

Pinkerton's Snack Bar

1026 Gerrard Street East

Snack bar isn’t a misnomer; Pinkerton’s is home to truly tasty bites. Still, its rep as a grade-A watering hole comes from an enthusiastic beverage list that counts classic cocktails, oodles of spirits, wine, craft beer, cider, mead, even its own line of canned cocktails (called Dynamite Kid) on its roster.

Dubbed “loud and raucous,” by the Globe and Mail, Pinkerton’s has a house-party vibe and is a place where you can imagine strangers quickly becoming friends. Located in the same spot since 2016, at 1026 Gerrard Street East, it’s a veteran of a strip that’s still finding its identity between gentrification and intriguing urban hub. Make no mistake, though, Pinkerton’s is solidly charming with a gritty undertone. Pop in for a quick drink or a full night of boozy antics. Either way, you’ll be spoiled for choice from a hefty drink menu and have enough snacks on offer to see you through.

Godspeed Brewery

242 Coxwell Avenue

In 2017, a brewer from Montreal named Luc Lafontaine opened Godspeed Brewery in the heart of Leslieville. There, he combined years of experience at Dieu du Ciel! brewery, with a simple, refined approach to brewing. The place has been packed ever since.

Located on Coxwell Avenue, the minimalist, 140-seat brewery, taproom and retail shop is a place for all seasons, with a menu of draft beer, bottles, short cans, and Japanese-inspired comfort food available on weekends. The real draw, though, is an array of brews that continually intrigue and amaze. Inspired by traditional methods, styles and a deep-seated love of the craft, the beer on offer at Godspeed is as inspiring as it comes.

To begin, you might want to sample the Irori. Created as a “spiritual collaboration between mentor and pupil,” according to the team, the peated Scotch lager was made in tribute to celebrated brewer Greg Noonan. Or, you might go for one of the entrants in the team’s ongoing series of Abbey-inspired ales, the Abbaye Des Sept Minutes V. Made of strong ale that’s matured in rum barrels, each sip delivers dark fruit, cola, vanilla, toasted sugar, spice and robust feelings of goodwill.

Those seeking sessionable goods will swoon at the Baby Světlý, a lighter sibling to the team’s celebrated, yet stronger, Czech pale lagers. All in all, there’s a wealth of creativity and technique at work at Godspeed Brewery, ensuring guests never have to suffer through a single dull sip.

Where to grab a coffee

Dineen Outpost

1042 Gerrard Street East

Named for the historic Dineen Building housing its first location (opened in 2013), Dineen Coffee Co., has grown to include four boutique coffee shops including one at the corner of Gerrard Street East and Galt Avenue. On the outside, Leslieville’s Dineen Outpost is a gleaming white beacon to the caffeine deprived. Inside, the café is warm, understated and chic, with similar décor accents -- think marble countertops, brass fixtures, and mosaic tiles -- as its sibling locations.

Open seven days a week, the Outpost is the spot to grab everything from a morning latte and pastry to an afternoon pick-me-up accompanied by a baguette sandwich. Provided by Social Coffee & Tea Roasters, coffee comes in assorted blends from across the globe. Whether you prefer a suave, smooth sip or a stimulating jolt from a robust brew, the team here has you covered.

Omnia Coffee Roasters

1347 Queen Street East

Despite opening at the height of the pandemic in January 2021, Omnia Coffee Roasters has built a devoted clientele thanks to a passion for specialty beans (those that score 80+ points on a cupping sheet), seasonal rotation, and roast master Sameer Sidi’s significant expertise. Located on a relatively quiet stretch of Queen Street East, Omnia is an oasis of industrial cool, where regulars direct themselves for daily nourishment, in coffee form.

“My approach to roasting has always been to achieve optimal caramelization of the bean,” says Sidi on Omnia’s website. “This ensures maximum sweetness in the coffee, irrespective of its brewing method. Our coffees are curated to exemplify the natural aromatics and flavours of the bean.” From the El Salvador Mapache, with notes of dark chocolate and almond butter, to the Costa Rican Anaerobic Natural Finca Aquiares, which tastes, surprisingly, of cocoa nibs, watermelon and caramel apple, Sidi’s devotion to seasonal beans ensures excitement in every cup versus java ennui.

Plus, if affogatos means anything to you, you’ll now want to head to Omnia for more than just your usual latte, Nitro cold brew, or bag of beans. Recently launched in partnership with Solato, a new gelato program has made Omnia the sweetest spot on Queen Street East to be this summer.

Tango Palace Coffee Company

1156 Queen Street East

We’re here to tell you what insiders already know; Tango Palace is as heartening, authentic, and genuinely comfortable as coffee shops come. In business since 1993, it’s a veteran Leslieville spot that isn’t fazed by fads or fleeting fashions. Cozy armchairs and a rotating selection of works from local artists line the brick walls, with a metallic ceiling glimmering overhead. A large service counter takes pride of place at the centre of the room, where cheerful baristas take orders, pull espressos and add a spot of sunshine to each customer’s day.

At Tango Palace, beans from Hale Coffee transform into a range of caffeinated drinks, from lattes and mochas to espressos and Americanos. Baked goods, many sourced from Butter and Spice Bake Shop, include butter tarts, brownies, bars and cookies in a tempting array of flavours. With breakfast sandwiches and light lunch options on hand, there’s something to delight no matter what time of day you visit.

Where to shop

Allwood Market and Ka Café

1183 Queen Street East

A gourmet bazaar with a sustainable leaning, Allwood Market is singular spot on the Queen East strip. With merchandise ranging from ethically-sourced healing crystals to body balms, and an array of locally-made, carefully-curated edible goods, there’s plenty here to nurture anyone seeking soulful sustenance.

Owned and operated by fashion designer-turned-activist-turned-chef Kevin Allwood, the market combines shopping and dining into one cohesive space. At Ka Café, Allwood serves a menu of “vegan Jamaican Afro-soul food fusion,” ranging from brunch staples to plates of ackee with salted tofu, Rasta bowls, and jerk lentils.

Allwood Market and Ka Café is a spot you slip into only to emerge from, hours later, toting bags brimming with hot sauces and salt scrubs, hand-woven baskets, Allwood graphic tees, fresh-pressed juices and to-go meals for the family. You’ll feel good, you’ll feel refreshed, and you’ll count down the days until you return.

Leslieville Pumps General Store & Kitchen

913 Queen Street East

In 2012, Leslieville Pumps introduced its neighbours to a boisterously-fun menu of barbecued, comfort-food favourites, grocery staples, and the option to fill up with leaded or unleaded gas on every visit. The ultimate in convenience, the gas bar/restaurant quickly became a Leslieville landmark, treasured for its heaping sandwiches, loaded with smoked, sauce-slathered meats, Pump poutines, and general-store vibes.

After 10 years, the Pumps has moved to a spot three doors down from its original location. Newly opened at 913 Queen Street East, with brothers Jud and Greg still running the show, the market offers convenience staples in a solidly old-fashioned setting. Shelves here are stocked with a mix of familiar and nostalgic treats, with barn board and vintage signs adding to the old-timey charm. Need Cracker Jacks with a side of loaded poutine? When in Leslieville, you now know where to go.

Sanagan’s Meat Locker

1513 Gerrard Street East

In 2018, east-end-dwellers rejoiced at the news that Sanagan’s was slated to open a second location in their neck of the woods. Located at 1513 Gerrard Street East, the shop is smaller than the original in Kensington Market, yet lacks none of its appeal -- or variety of Ontario-sourced meats and pre-made goodies.

Whether you’re planning a picnic or a feast, Sanagan’s has the provisions you seek. It’s a place where charcuterie and pâtés vie for attention beside dinner saviours, like house-made meat pies, beef chili, saucy meatballs, and more. Condiments with the Sanagan’s stamp range from cranberry sauce and barbecue sauce to hot sauce and vinaigrette.

Party prep has never been easier, thanks to a thrilling assortment of trussed, cleaned, and tied, butcher-fresh meats. In all, this is a food haven masquerading as a mere butcher shop where you’ll find nearly everything a proper supper needs. Plus, with a team that expertly and willingly fields questions about cook times, cuts, and culinary techniques, you’re covered whether you’re a seasoned pro or just acquired your very first hot plate.

Photographs by Keessa Lynch, Larry Heng and Kristen Wells

Illustration by Sophie Berg

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