Everyside Social Eatery and Taphouse is an ambitious new venture from the superstar forces behind some of the hottest watering holes in downtown Toronto, who are now injecting some fresh personality (and much-needed personability) to an area long defined by office towers and big chains: the city's Financial District.

The team at Warm Welcome Hospitality have taken their years of experience shaping spots like Melrose on Adelaide, St. John's Tavern, Piccolo Cafe e Vino and others to launch not just a new multi-storey restaurant, but an entire beer line, as well, all in a space that serves as a surprisingly bright, thoughtfully-appointed refuge inside the bustling Richmond-Adelaide Centre.

With over 300 seats — including a 2,000-square-foot wraparound patio with outdoor bar — the restaurant is sprawling. And yet, a meticulous attention to detail is evident throughout, from the well-balanced menu to every aspect of the design, including the custom hand-painted murals by local artists and brick centrepieces hand-salvaged from the city's waterfront.

At the heart of it all is the eponymous warmth that the restaurant group and its founder, Brian James, are known for bringing to all of their projects.

The Financial District has offered new opportunities for the burgeoning brand, which is an outlier next to chains like Earls, Cactus Club and Joey (all owned by the same restaurateur family).

"This is a really cool area, you get to meet and connect with a lot of people," he told us of his big move east of John Street, where he's cemented quite the presence through the multiple restaurants he's opened there in the last seven years.

"This neighbourhood is an interesting one because it's all massive corporations. We're surrounded by great companies, but they're backed by so much, so for us [smaller guys], it's just us."

And as the new kids on the block, they've definitely made a splash in their first few months of opening.

The space, formerly home to an outpost of 3 Brewers that shuttered in 2019, has been completely revamped, with the extensive renovations taking place over many months as the food program and beer side of the business were built. And, seeing what the team has built, the wait was more than worth it.

Compared to the rounded-out pub menu at St. John's Tavern or the lean list of snackable plates, charcuterie and date-night cocktails that Melrose is known for, Everyside's menu is eclectic, with Italian, Thai, Moroccan, Mediterranean, English, Mexican and American influences across a great range of dishes.

Appetizers include tried-and-true staples: sharable truffle fries ($12), crispy calamari ($16), shishito peppers with harissa ($15), hummus & pita ($11), and, the biggest hit that James says ends up on almost every table, the bang bang shrimp ($16), which delivers the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, spicy, saucy, crispy, substantial and all-around tasty — understandably a fan favourite.

Meatier dishes like the mini smash burgers ($19) and crispy chicken sliders ($19) are complemented by lighter, elegant openers like the the satay chicken lettuce wraps ($15), tenderloin tartare ($22) and, our personal pick, the summertime burrata ($23), in which the titular creamy centrepiece is paired with arugula, mint, caramalied peaches, deliciously candied pistachios, and citrusy, sour sauces.

Every bite brings hits of delectable freshness with hints of sweetness for an addictive combination.

Beyond the requisite salad and bowl options (ranging from $16 for a kale ceasar to $18 for a buddha bowl), tacos (shrimp or quesabirria for $17 or $18, respectively) and handhelds (the beef dip for $22 and Anthony Bourdain-inspired mortadella sandwich for $18 are standouts) that offer something for everyone, there are the pizzas, which James is particularly proud of.

With two meat and two veg options for $19-$21, they use three-day fermented sourdough for a thick and fluffy crust that bucks the thin crust flatbread trend popular among competitors. It's comforting and nostalgic, reminiscent of something as timelessly beloved as Papa John's, says the owner himself.

Another winner for us is found in the dessert section: a banoffee pie, a truly unique find in the city.

The frozen banana filling found between the caramel crust and chantilly cream provides a rich, luscious mouthfeel without being cloyingly sweet — the type of dish that you sit and savour each bite of in near disbelief.

With 44 taps, six of them for home pours, and a now-famous annual beer membership, Everyside is an ale-lover's heaven.

But, those who don't usually opt for a brew can feel at home, too, with a gamut of cocktail options ranging from light and refreshing (such as the $15 gin and elderflower-based Purple Fantana) to sweet and fruity (the $9 Pineapple Snaquiri) or classic and strong (like the $28 Dirty Goose Martini or the $18 Espresso Martini made with Piccolo cold brew, among others).

Though the spot is, first and foremost, a restaurant that "happens to make our own beer upstairs," the way it does beer — and really, its whole brand — is admirable in its approachability and inclusivity.

"Not everyone wants a light beer, but they want an easy-drinking beer," James says, hence the company's trifecta of the Easy Lager, Easy Amber and Easy IPA.

He frames Everyside as somewhat of a lifestyle concept, highlighting the sense of community that the team aims for in each of their establishments, whether formed around the beer, the atmosphere and service, or something else.

"We wanted to open up for a few months first to get that kind of culture first, to have that association with the beer. And so far, people love the beer," he says.

The goal is to have full distribution of the Everyside brews eventually, but for now, they can be found at the taphouse and at select bars and shops around the city. Collaborations with other local names, like Blood Brothers and Common Good, are also part of the ethos.

"I've always treated the restaurants like a product, but now we actually have a physical product beyond the in-house product," James says, excitedly. We, too, are eager to see how the brand grows.

Everyside is located at 120 Adelaide St. W. #100, Toronto.