If there are two things I love, it’s eating and reading, and as the weather starts to show signs of spring, and we all start to come out of hibernation, I thought it would be a great time to introduce you to some of our favourite Toronto restaurants, and of course, some of the books we can’t stop thinking (or talking) about.
Read on for book recommendations based on your favourite Toronto restaurants!
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Tha Phae Tavern
New from the team behind Pai, inspired by the historic Tha Phae Gate, where locals and travellers come together, Tha Phae Tavern is the hottest new spot in town. Offering a Thai bar, claw machines, and karaoke rooms, it’s the place to be for people who like an electric, happening atmosphere, along with their delicious Thai food. In the heart of the Entertainment District, offering a wide assortment of drinks and eats (including a secret menu!) this is as much of an entertainment venue as it is an eating experience — the perfect place to spend a night on the town.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Like a meal at Tha Phae Tavern, Kaliane Bradley’s The Ministry of Time is bold, vibrant, and immersive, transporting you into an experience you won’t be able to stop talking about. Set in the near future, a civil servant gets her dream salary for a mysterious new job, working as a “bridge”, living with, assisting and monitoring an “Expat” from a different time in history, to help them adjust to their life in the modern world. Part spy thriller, part workplace comedy, part time travel romance— this book dives into multiple genres, while weaving together a complicated and absolutely gripping story, making for some really exciting reading.
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Tea-N-Bannock
Open since 2012, Tea N Bannock is the longest-running Indigenous restaurant in Toronto, featuring traditional dishes like Bison Burgers, bannock, fish and wild rice, and Navajo tacos. Full of delicious and affordable options for comforting and hearty meals, they also offer treats like jams, syrups, and loose-leaf bagged teas that you can buy if you want to try them at home. Not the place for fast food, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the restaurant invites you to slow down, and really savour your meal.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
I’ve spoken about it before, and will probably speak about it again, but Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry is the book equivalent of going through a mindfulness exercise together. Slow, intentional, and heartwarming, The Serviceberry is a beautiful guide to abundance and reciprocity in the natural world, and the ways we can apply it to the systems and world around us. It’s a short read where the author uses Indigenous wisdom and examples from nature to teach about reciprocity and the gift economy. This book is the perfect accompaniment to an unhurried and nourishing meal at Tea-N-Bannock.
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Gusto 101
Tucked away on Portland Street, Gusto 101 is a cozy and atmospheric Italian restaurant with delicious and generous portions. Rich in flavour, it’s the kind of place you go to eat when you DON’T have plans after. My favourite thing on the menu is their Mafalde Ai Funghi, a creamy mushroom pasta that you’ll be thinking about long after you finish it.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Allegra Goodman’s Isola is a lush and immersive reading experience about a young heiress who is marooned on an island with her lover after their relationship is discovered. Once a child of privilege, she now finds herself at the mercy of nature, and as the weather turns, and the ice comes, she discovers a faith she’s never needed before. Gorgeous and sweeping, and lush, a beautiful literary fiction novel is my equivalent to a perfect forkful of creamy pasta. Heavy, comforting, and unforgettable.
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Maha’s
Maha’s Egyptian Brunch is a beloved Toronto institution. Known for their delicious brunch, that’s well worth the lineup, the food is hearty and delicious, and incredibly affordable, and the atmosphere is bright, cozy, and intimate. It’s the brunch equivalent of a warm hug, the perfect place to catch up with your besties.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
You Made A Fool Of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
Akwaeke Emezi’s You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty is the literary equivalent of catching up with your friends over brunch (at Maha’s). Sumptuous, beautiful, heartfelt, emotional, and a bit scandalous, the book follows a young woman seeking joy while healing from the loss of the love of her life. After a steamy encounter at a rooftop party turns into a whirlwind summer romance, including a luxury trip to a tropical island, she realizes she might have bitten off more than she can chew… especially when attraction starts to build with the one person who is definitely off-limits. Messy and lush, but so fulfilling, this is the kind of book you won’t be able to stop talking about.
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Cafe Renée
If there’s one thing I love, it’s carbs, and trendy French/Italian restaurant Cafe Renée, with their French-inspired pastas and $12 Happy Hour martinis, is the perfect place to get your fix. Their pastas are hearty, delicious, and freshly made, the ambience is moody and intimate, and paired with their affordable (for Toronto) cocktails, it’s the perfect place to get a little after-work buzz.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner
Jennifer Weiner’s The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits is set in the world of pop music, following sisters Cassie and Zoe Grossberg, who were only born a year apart, but couldn’t have been more different. In the early 2000s, the sisters were catapulted into the spotlight as a pop sensation, but after a whirlwind year of fame, the band abruptly broke up. Now, twenty years later, Cassie is off the grid, Zoe is a housewife, and no one seems to know the real reason the Griffin Sisters broke up. Zoe’s teenage daughter Cherry is determined to be a star, and despite her mother’s warnings, she wants to know the truth. Vibrant and buzzy, it’s the perfect book to read with your friends, then discuss over $12 martinis at Cafe Renée.
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Rendez-Vous
Nestled on Danforth Street, Rendez-Vous is as much about its ambience as it is the delicious Ethiopian & Eritrean foods. Cozy and comfortable, with generous portions and delicious vegetarian options, this is a must-try in Toronto. The food is flavourful and shareable, and you can even experience a traditional coffee ceremony, where coffee beans are roasted right at your table. This is a gathering place designed for great conversation, and an unforgettable experience.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
The Final Strife by Saara El-Arifi
I’ve always felt like the literary equivalent of comfort food is lush fantasy world-building, and Saara El-Arifi’s The Final Strife delivers. Within a corrupt Empire that violently divides people by blood, three women fight for change, as the empire begins a set of dangerous trials to find its new leaders. Full of incredible world-building, brilliant characters, political intrigue, and heart-pounding action, this is the solid first book in an epic fantasy trilogy.
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Famiglia Baldassare
This is an intimate (tiny) and delicious restaurant that offers handmade pasta that you can take home, or enjoy in one of their ten available seats. There are long lines pretty much every time you go, but it still feels like a hidden gem. Eating at Famiglia Baldassare is as much about the experience as it is about the delicious Italian food. With a small and affordable menu, they take no reservations, and lunch is only available Wednesdays to Fridays, between 12 pm to 2 pm.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
Angels Before Man by Rafael Nicolás
Rafael Nicolás’ Angels Before Man is part love story, part cozy coming-of-age, and part tragedy. A queer retelling of Satan’s fall, it follows Lucifer, who is living in paradise, and struggling with shame and identity, until the strongest angel, Michael, comes into his life, and teaches Lucifer how to love himself. As their friendship blooms and grows into what might be the first romance in history, they soon realize that maybe paradise isn’t paradise. Sumptuous, beautiful, and a little bit of a hidden gem, kind of like Famiglia Baldassare, this book is kind of the “If you know, you know” of mythology retellings.
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Lake Inez
Located on Gerrard Street, Lake Inez is a quirky bar & restaurant, with funky decor, and a hand-written menu full of delicious & succulent meals. Their most unique offering is their Mystery Patio, a fine dining experience that offers six courses (& pairings), in their rooftop patio space. The menu changes monthly, and you don’t know what you’re going to get until each course arrives. Pricey, but an unforgettable experience, the Mystery Patio is well worth trying out, at least once!
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
She’s A Lamb! By Meredith Hambrock
Meredith Hambrock’s She’s A Lamb is dark, suspenseful, weird, and funny. Our main character Jessamyn St. Germain is meant to be a star. Even though her role in her theatre’s upcoming production of The Sound of Music is currently just babysitting the actors playing the von Trapp kids, she knows the director wants her close to the role, so when Samantha, the lead, inevitably fails, Jessamyn can take her place… That must be it. Unhinged, psychotic, and unputdownable, like a mystery patio dining experience, you kind of need to just let this book happen to you. Strap in, because you’re going to be in for a ride you won’t soon forget.
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Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club
In the heart of downtown Toronto, on Queen West, is an unassuming little restaurant called Matty’s Patty’s. Co-founded by Matty Matheson, the beloved chef, restaurateur, actor and producer, their offerings are simple: burgers and sides. From their plant-based Impossible Burgers, to their perfectly cooked cheeseburgers, paired with delicious sauces, this little storefront is comfort food, personified.
If this is your vibe, then the book for you is…
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
I have recently entered my Cowboy Romance Era ™, starting with Lyla Sage’s Rebel Blue Ranch series. Set in the small town of Meadowlark, Wyoming, Done and Dusted follows Emmy Ryder, a professional horseback rider who returns to her hometown after an accident makes it impossible for her to get back in the saddle. Back home, she runs into Luke Brooks, Meadowlark’s most notorious bachelor, bad boy, and bar owner. He’s also best friends with Emmy’s brothers, and the unofficial fifth member of their family. Neither of them expects the attraction growing between them… but what if they are exactly what each other needs? In my opinion, a good burger is like a good romance book — toe-curling, satisfying, and easy to digest.
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Ameema Saeed (@ameemabackwards) is a storyteller, a Capricorn, an avid bookworm, and a curator of very specific playlists and customized book recommendations. She’s a book reviewer, a Sensitivity Reader, a book buyer at Indigo Books & Music, and the Books Editor for She Does the City, where she writes and curates bookish content, and book recommendations. She enjoys bad puns, good food, dancing, and talking about feelings. She writes about books, big feelings, unruly bodies, and her lived experiences, and hopes to write your next favourite book one day. When she’s not reading books, she likes to talk about books (especially diverse books, and books by diverse authors) on her bookstagram: @ReadWithMeemz
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