Joso’s says it has been serving Yorkville since 1967. A Yorkville dinner with some history behind it.
Eat & Drink DeskGuide
Long-Running Restaurants in Toronto, From 1967 to 1997
Seven Toronto restaurants with decades behind them, from Joso's and Cafe Diplomatico to Terroni and Pantheon, each open now and linked to its own site.
Some tables have been set for so long that the room itself feels like a local landmark. These seven Toronto restaurants each point to a founding year or a long run on their own pages, and each is taking bookings or orders now.
How did we pick Toronto’s long-running restaurants?
We took every date from the restaurant’s own site or about page and say so each time. We do not rank them or crown any of them, because a founding year is a claim the restaurant makes, not something we can settle. Before a place made the list we also confirmed it is open now, using a live booking or ordering page or a recent dated item on its own site, plus an independent source. Check each site for menus, hours and reservations. For more places to eat across the city, see our best restaurants in Toronto pillar.
Which rooms have five decades behind them?
Three of the seven point to roughly five decades or more, from a Yorkville dinner room to a College Street corner and a French bistro on Wellington.
Cafe Diplomatico’s About page says it was founded in 1968. It is at 594 College St. The page says Bar Diplomatico grew into a full restaurant by taking over the adjacent store, and that locals fondly call it The Dip. Come for a coffee, stay for the people-watching.
Le Sélect Bistro’s site says it has a 50 year history and is a Toronto staple on Wellington Street. It is at 432 Wellington Street West. Its site pairs classic French cuisine and Parisian-inspired decor with a wine cellar of over 1200 bottles. Order something French and take your time.
Which restaurants have been around since the 1980s and 1990s?
The next four started later but have had time to become habits. Between them they cover Hakka comfort food, seafood, Italian cooking and the Danforth.
Yueh Tung’s Our Story page says that in 1986 the founders found a tiny 15-seat restaurant in old Chinatown. Its site describes Hakka and Chinese comfort food, gives the address as 126 Elizabeth Street and says it is celebrating 40 years. Bring a group and order for the table.
Rodney’s Oyster House gives 1987 as its year of establishment on its site. The Toronto room is at 469 King St. West. The restaurant says it imports its seafood itself. Oysters, a cold drink and a long evening are the whole plan.
Terroni’s site lists Terroni Queen, 1992, as the original location. It says Terroni Adelaide, which opened in 2007, is housed in the historic Toronto courthouse and spans four floors. The company says it emphasizes the simplicity and quality of the ingredients it imports from Italy. A reliable pick for a big table.
Pantheon says it has served authentic Greek cuisine on the Danforth since 1997. The GreekTown on the Danforth BIA lists it at 407 Danforth Ave. Pantheon says it uses premium ingredients imported from Greece. Pair it with a walk along the strip.
What do these seven restaurants have in common?
Read the list from the first date to the last and one idea stands out: these are rooms with a point of view. Many of them are places we would book for a birthday, an anniversary, a post-show dinner or a Sunday with the family. They span a Yorkville dining room, an Italian café, a French bistro, Hakka cooking, seafood, a courthouse dining room and Greek cooking on the Danforth, so there is a choice for most appetites.
Longevity is not the same as quality, and we do not claim it is. What it does give you is a story to ask about and a room with a point of view. If you want a Toronto evening with some history in it, any of these seven will do the job.
Why do long-running restaurants matter to a city?
They hold memories. A table that has seen decades of first dates, family dinners and after-show suppers becomes part of a neighbourhood’s story, and eating there is a way to join in. They also give newer restaurants something to learn from. When you visit one of these seven, you are tasting a menu and a bit of Toronto’s dining history at the same time.
How can you enjoy a long-running restaurant?
Go with someone who loves stories and ask what has changed. Ask your server which dishes regulars order and what the room looked like years ago. Look for the framed photos, the old signs and the details in the decor. Book ahead for weekends and for milestone dates, and check the restaurant’s site for how it takes reservations. Then stay for dessert, because the best stories often arrive with the coffee. If you are visiting with a group, tell the restaurant when you book, and if you are going solo, a seat at the bar is a fine way to watch a room that has seen a lot of evenings.
Planning a week of good meals? Pair this list with our brunch guide and our cheap eats guide.
If you are building an evening around one of these rooms, give yourself time. Arrive a little early to look around, ask about the history if the staff are not rushed, and order something the restaurant is known for. Take a photo of the menu or the sign for your own scrapbook. And when you leave, say thank you, because a room that has lasted this long has earned it.
Send this to the friend you would bring to dinner, and ask them which room they remember best.
Sources (10)
- Home, Joso's
- About, Cafe Diplomatico
- Home, Le Sélect Bistro
- Our Story, Yueh Tung
- Home, Rodney's Oyster House
- Home, Terroni
- Home, Pantheon
- Restaurants Bars Cafes, GreekTown on the Danforth BIA
- One hundred pivotal moments in the history of Toronto dining, Toronto Life
- The ultimate guide to eating your way through the Danforth's best Greek institutions, Streets of Toronto
Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
How did this land?
Share this
“Seven Toronto restaurants with decades behind them, from 1967 to 1997.”
.jpg){kind=link}