Lunch in Liberty Village
Liberty Village may not have a reputation as a dining destination, but talk with anyone who works in the area - at places like Corus, Digital Cement and II BY IV Design - and you won't be surprised why so few here pack a lunch. Come the noon hour, eating options seem almost endless, from cheap Korean and roti to some of the best pizza and pasta this side of Corso Italia,
Whether you're a construction worker on break from putting the finishing touches on the Liberty Market Building, a production assistant at one of the clandestine Internet porn sites or a music industry exec with an expense account, there's literally something here for everyone. And if none of the options below do the trick there's always the hot dog guy at the corner of Jefferson and Liberty.
Caffino
Caffino is a Liberty Village gem. This hidden restaurant is tucked inside the iconic Carpet Factory building and serves a perfect venue for both the power business lunch as well as something more romantic. High ceilings and a warehouse feel balance out the formality of white tablecloths. The menu is decidedly Italian with quattro stagioni pizza, penne Siciliana and steamed mussels among the offerings. More...
Warehouse Grill
True to its name, it feels like a small warehouse here. More informal than Caffino, Warehouse Grill offers made to order meals like tilapia wraps, roast beef sandwiches, pizza and hand cut fries. There's plenty of seating, both inside and on the patio. Beer, lemonade and smoothies impress on the drinks list. More...
Liberty Village Market & Cafe
This bustling grocery meets cafe is stocked with ready-made snacks and meals like sweet potato salad, rice pudding and their amazing salad rolls. There's also vegan soups, made to order sandwiches, salads and wraps. For a place that feels more grocery, there's a surprising amount of indoor seating here; though come summer most take their eats to go on the benches outside. More...
The Rotisserie House
This family restaurant specializes in home made Portuguese cuisine and is a favourite for their celestial rotisserie chicken. Also worth a look is the pork cutlet sandwich and their memories of grandpa roast potatoes. More...
In Japan
This under-rated sushi spot isn't the only place to find raw fish in Liberty Village but it's unquestionably the best. From maki to nigiri and sashimi, it serves up all the basics in good-sized bento box meals. There's adequate seating inside as well as a cozy front patio. More...
Island Foods
It's worth crossing King Street to kneel at the alter of Island Foods, home to one of the best rotis in the city. Also on the menu is oxtail stew, chicken and shrimp meals, doubles, beef patties and ginger beer, More...
Dilly Delicious
One of the many cheap-ish spots lining Atlantic Avenue, Dilly distinguishes itself with its Korean and Japanese influenced menu with favourities including bibimbap, teriyaki, Japanese udon with shrimp tempura and a wasabi chicken salad. Typical to this strip, there's also basic cafeteria food like ready-made pasta and egg salad sandwiches. More...
The Liberty
Good for a business lunch, The Liberty has a chic, modern interior, complimented by one of the neighbourhood's best wrap-around patios. On the menu are favourites like their Liberty Burger ($11) and steak sandwich ($14.45) as well as pizza, pasta, risotto, calamari, soups and salads. More...
Famous BBQ Express
You wouldn't know it from the name or the sign, but cafeteria-style Famous BBQ Express cooks up the best Indian food in Liberty Village. Go for the veggie thali, veggie or chicken roti or samosas. But if curry isn't your thing there's also the expected hamburgers, BBQ chicken dinners, souvlaki and club sandwich. More...
Brazen Head
Liberty Village's newest pub, Brazen Head is the place to go for prime patio gazing and grazing; or to catch whatever afternoon game might be on TV. The food here is pub standard, and definitely not a place friendly to vegetarians; but the lively ambiance and ample beer on tap sort of make up for the kitchen's shortcomings. More...
Merci Mon Ami
For premium sandwiches look no further than Merci Mon Ami. Two handsome, communal wood tables provide the backdrop for a lunch of roast turkey breast or steak sandwich. Prices range form $7.75 to $9.75 and all are served on delicious baguettes or other fresh bread. Smoothies and salads are also available. More...
Academy of Spherical Arts
This Liberty Village institution is perfect for the team-building lunch or for anyone travelling in pack of 10 or more. The best bet is their international lunch buffet ($17.75) every Friday from 12-3. The regular menu features items like shrimp cocktail, sauteed calamari, jerk pork tenderloin and pad thai. While there challenge your friends to a game of pool to see who picks up the tab. More...
Pho Asia 21
In-the-know lunchers cross the Dufferin street divide to south Parkdale's best Vietnamese restaurant. Slurp up a giant bowl of pho, some spring rolls, bun, congee, stir fried tofu or whatever else captures your fancy. More...
Oro Caffe
One of the first lunch destinations to take up lease in the Liberty Market Building, Oro Caffe still packs 'em in for their smoked salmon and grilled vegetable with goat cheese panini. Pair them with some fresh squeezed orange juice, Italian coffee, pasta or soup. More...
The Roastery
Liberty Village's original coffee house, The Roastery creates made to order sandwiches like their oven-toasted turkey bacon guacamole, Montreal bagels, pasta salads, smoothies, fresh juice, coffee and a wide variety of teas. More...
Magic Oven
The best place in the city for wheat and gluten free pizza, Magic Oven always wins over the crowd at the office lunch and learn. Limited seating options means this location is ideal for take-out or delivery. There's a variety of gourmet and vegetarian slices, tasty ciabatta sandwiches, soups and salads. More...
Atelier Thuet
Best for those looking for a quiet business meeting or dining on an expense account, bad-boy chef Marc Thuet's eponymous enclave is usually a better bet for brunch or dinner. More...
Naomi
This super low-key takeout spot is best for its salmon, tofu, beef and chicken bibimbaps. The less adventurous can squeeze in for a late breakfast, egg salad or BLT sandwich. In the summer, a few tables dot the area out front. More...
No Regrets
No Regrets has always been a bit hard to pin down and seems to be losing out on the lunch crowd to both established spots and recent arrivals. Diners now migrate to the more relaxed second floor or outside in the sunken patio next to the parking lot of the Dufferin Liberty Centre. More...
Comments (11)
well done review of the many lunch spots in the neighborhood. Good to see reviews of a few places I haven't visited yet.
A lot of good stuff on Queen West is also within range, if you're cool with hopping the tracks. I miss my clandestine porn site job. Downtown sucks for lunch.
Though the story was specifically about lunch places, one of the drawbacks of living/working in liberty village is the small number of dinner and evening food/entertainment locations. Sometimes it almost feels as empty as Bay&King after 7pm. It is shame that such a burgeoning, dynamic, multi-use, urban neighborhood needs to shut down at dusk. Coffee shops don't close at 6!
! I knew I recognized that middle sign from somewhere.
I though it was from a dream, but of course it was from The Rotisserie House aka Churrasquera. I was probably dreaming of having lunch there.
Magic oven is totally overrated: overpriced, puny servings of totally average pizza. I may have been spoiled by NY pizza, where practically every corner in downtown and midtown serves up good pizza, but even I know where to find better pizza in Toronto. Only thing going for Magic Oven is the gluten free pizza for those with allergy considerations. If you want to eat healthy, avoid pizza altogether!
also: Island Foods has a tasty interpretation of jerk and roti, but Ali's Roti on Queen (just east of Lansdowne) kicks Island Food's ass. Ali's isn't in Liberty Village, but if you can walk/bike/drive to Ali's you won't be disappointed. This is the real deal.
I'm not sure I agree with you about Ali's. It's ok but I don't think is nearly as good as Islands Foods or Bacchus
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