After a long winter stuck inside, Toronto residents are just itching to get outside once the temperature warms up. And that goes for dining too! Many restaurants have turned to patio dining as a way to expand both their seating capacity and their clientele, particularly with families. Even upscale venues and hotspots are now catering to the highchair crowd with separate kids menus and family-focussed amenities. (Hot tip: Hit the busy places early, around 5-6pm, for quick and easy service before the adult dinner rush starts after 7.) So, cheers! It’s our Guide to the Best Family-Friendly Restaurant Patios in Toronto…
The Aviary Brew Pub
Where: 484 Front St. East, Corktown
Kids menu items: Chickadee burger, chicken fingers, cheese quesadilla, grilled cheese
The Blake House
Where: 449 Jarvis Street, Church-Wellesley Village
Kids menu items: Chicken caesar salad, chicken fingers, baked mac & cheese, grilled cheese, burger
Cluny Bistro
Where: 35 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
(Les Petits Enfants) Kids menu items: Classic Caesar, gnocchi, grilled cheese sandwich & frites, fish & chips, raw market garden vegetables
El Catrin Destileria
Where: 18 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
Kids menu items: Arroz Con Pollo (braised chicken w/rice), cheese or chicken quesadilla, pescaditos (fried fish & tortilla chips w/guacamole)
Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant
Where: 212 King Street West, Entertainment District
Kids menu items: Grilled cheese, Fish & chips, cheeseburger, chicken fingers, cheese pizza
Hemingway’s Restaurant and Bar
Where: 124 Cumberland Street, Yorkville
Kids menu items: Pasta, pepperoni pizza, chicken fingers, Grilled cheese
The House on Parliament
Where: 454 Parliament Street, Cabbagetown
Kids menu items: Pasta, cheese & chicken quesadilla, fish & chips, chicken fingers
IRENE — Corus Quay
Where: 25 Dockside Drive, Harbourfront
Kids menu items: Cheeseburger, popcorn chicken, challah grilled cheese, two chicken Tacos
Lobster Burger Bar
Where: 214 King Street West, Entertainment District
Kids menu items: Cheeseburger & fries, mac & cheese, fish sticks & fries, poutine, grilled chicken caesar salad
Mill Street Brewery
Where: 21 Tank House Lane, Distillery District
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, hamburger, cheeseburger, cheese or pepperoni pizza
The Olde Spaghetti Factory
Where: 54 The Esplanade, Old Town Toronto
Kids menu items: Chicken dippers & fries, cheese or pepperoni pizza, tomato or meat sauce spaghetti, spaghetti & meatball, penne alfredo
Paupers Pub
Where: 539 Bloor St. West, The Annex
Kids menu items: Fish & chips, burgers, chicken fingers and more
Pie Bar
Where: 207 Queens Quay West, Harbourfront
Kids menu items: Cheese or pepperoni pizza, tomato or butter & parmesan pasta, chicken fingers
The Pour House Pub and Kitchen
Where: 182 Dupont Ave., The Annex
Kids menu items: Burger, chicken fingers
The Rec Room – Three10
Where: 255 Bremner Blvd., John Street Roundhouse
Kids menu items: Pepperoni or cheese pizza, chicken bites or fingers, mac & cheese, Cheeseburger, hot dog
Steam Whistle Kitchen
Where: 255 Bremner Blvd., John Street Roundhouse
Kids menu items: Hot dog, Dino nuggets, Smash burger (all meals can be made vegan)
Storm Crow Manor
Where: 580 Church Street, Church-Wellesley Village
Kids menu items: Mama Crow’s ol’ Fashioned Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Padawan Pasta (capellini noodles with butter & cheese or tomato sauce), Chocobo Tendies and Pixie Plum Sauce (chicken tenders), Tauros Burger, Necromancer Nachos (gluten-friendly possible), Poggers Stick
Stout Irish Pub
Where: 221 Carlton Street, Cabbagetown
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, fish’n’ chips, grilled cheese, burger
Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co. (seasonal)
Where: 120 Centre Island Dock, Toronto Islands
Kids menu items: Mac & cheese, chicken fingers, burger
Beaches Brewing Company
Where: 1953 Queen Street East, The Beach
Kids menu items: “I don’t care” (cheeseburger), “I’m not hungry” (chicken tendies), “I don’t know” (mac n’ cheese), “I don’t want that” (cheese pizza), “Ummmm whatever” (grilled cheese)
Bodega Henriette
Where: 1801 Gerrard Street East, Upper Beach
Kids menu items: Burger, grilled cheese, French toast, Kids’ breakfast
Breakwall BBQ
Where: 1910 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: Chicken wings, chicken fingers, mini burgers, pulled pork sliders, poutine, pasta (choice of sauce) with garlic bread
Jawny Bakers Restaurant
Where: 804 O’Connor Drive, East York
Kids menu items: Penne or Alfredo pasta, pita pizza, grilled chicken, chicken strips
Slate Restaurant & Bar
Where: 2237 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: San Marzano spaghetti (tomato), Butter & Parmesan spaghetti, Americano pizza, Margherita pizza, grilled cheese
Occasions Restaurant
Where: 30 Eastwood Road, Upper Beaches
Kids menu items: Grilled cheese, chicken fingers, spaghetti with meat sauce, fish & chips
Sauvignon Bistro
Where: 1862 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: Pasta with tomato, cream & cheese, or butter sauce
The Stone Lion Pub
Where: 1958 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: Burger, mac & cheese, chicken bites, fish & chips and more
The Wolfe Tone Pub
Where: 1961 Queen St. East, The Beach
Kids menu items: Burger, chicken fingers, sausage, curry, fish
Barque Smokehouse – Kids Eat Free on School Nights!
Where: 299 Roncesvalles Ave., High Park
Kids menu items: Beef brisket, chopped BBQ pork, baby back ribs, pulled BBQ chicken, grilled cheese
The Indie Alehouse
Where: 2876 Dundas Street West
Kids menu list: Burger, chicken sandwich, grilled cheese, pizza, mac n’ cheese
The Lakeview Restaurant
Where: 1132 Dundas Street West, Ossington Village
Kids menu items: Chicken fingers, grilled cheese, hamburger, veggie burger, tuna sandwich and more
Granite Brewing & Tied House
Where: 245 Eglinton Ave. East
Kids menu items: Fish and chips, Chicken fingers, Grilled cheese, Burger, Cheese pizza, Tomato Sauce and mixed cheese on pita, Mac & cheese, Pasta, Chicken & Cheese Sandwich
McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon
Where: 1544 Bayview Avenue, Uptown
Kids menu items: Soft beef tacos, safari chicken buddies, crunchy chicken wrap, hot dog, penne, burger, grilled cheese, pepperoni pizza
Amsterdam Brewhouse/Barrel House
Where: 245 Queens Quay West, Harbourfront; 87 Laird Drive, Leaside
Kids menu items: Pasta, cheeseburger, pizza (cheese or pepperoni), fish bites
Café Landwer
Where: 33 Bloor St. East; 165 University Ave.; 1912 Avenue Road; 3401 Dufferin St.; 5000 Yonge St.
Kids menu items: Breakfast, halloumi sticks, pizza (also available gluten-free), pasta, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, grilled cheese
Il Fornello
Where: 576 Danforth Avenue, Greektown; 2901 Bayview Ave, North York, plus Ajax, Oakville, Richmond Hill
Kids menu items: Pizza – cheese, margherita, pepperoni, Hawaiian, pasta – Bolognese (meat), Pomodoro (tomato), Burro (butter), Alfredo (cream)
Slayer Burger
Where: 739 Queen St. East, Riverside; 2013 Yonge St., Midtown; 1400 O’Connor Dr., East York
Kids menu items: Hei Hei (chicken sandwich), Slay Slay (kids’ burger)
Is your tummy rumbling? Then, check out our Food & Drink event list here!
