Where to eat, drink and shop in Leslieville

Written By

Christine Peddie

over 1 year 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.