With the reopening of RendezViews, the summer season has officially begun, which means you can once again enjoy all the outdoor activities the massive outdoor patio has to offer.
The return of RendezViews comes as Ontario eases its COVID-19 measures, which now allows families and groups of friends to dine outdoors. Moving into the first step of its long-awaited reopening plan, the province has finally provided restaurant owners with the glimmer of hope they've been searching for: a return to normalcy.
But, rest assured, this year's patio season will be unlike any other. That is, at least, the case with RendezViews, or as the team likes to call it: RendezViews 2.0.
Collaborating with Collective Arts Brewing, The Fifth and The Ballroom, the team behind the outdoor project have transformed what used to be an ordinary parking lot into a unique cultural experience.
“This year, with the help of our BIA and all of our amazing partners and sponsors, we will be offering a very special experience -- a combination of all the things we’ve so desperately missed," says Barry Taylor, Director of Operations for The Ballroom. "Obviously, we haven’t been able to go to restaurants, attend concerts, galleries or sporting events, so we are incorporating a lot of those elements into our 2021 RendezViews offering."
More than anything, RendezViews wants this moment to be a fresh start for Toronto, a blank canvas on which to create. Infusing art, vibrancy and optimism into what was formerly an empty space, RendezViews has managed to accomplish that and more -- becoming Toronto's go-to summer hangout (complete with an Instagrammable backdrop).
Taking over the blank canvas are local artists Bruno Smoky and Shalak Attack of Clandestinos Art. Presenting a visual story of triumph, optimism and community growth, they call their exhibition, Reflections.
"We picture the mural as a face looking into a mirror, and in the mirror are the person's reflections with many other people surrounded by nature," Smoky and Attack explain. "The floor will also work as an organic reflection of the murals, that starts with big waves and ends with smaller waves that fragment into more geometric shapes."
But it's not just the parking lot that's getting a makeover this year.
Rendezviews has also expanded its menu to include a variety of new items in collaboration with Dr. J's and Pai. The options are endless, from a spicy plate of pad thai to a juicy Impossible burger!
Aside from being a fun place to hang out, the restaurant will also be a safe place to visit, thanks to its health and safety procedures. RendezViews is implementing a number of measures, including social distancing, cashless payment systems and QR code menus, as part of its efforts to keep diners safe and reduce contact points.
Currently, the restaurant is open for patio drinks and dining every Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. on and can be found at 229 Richmond Street. A full reveal and celebration will follow the mural's completion on June 24, so plan to book your table as soon as you can!
