Madame Marie’s Weekly Roundup: Toronto’s Best Takeout, Delivery and Dining During COVID-19 – October 20, 2020

The second wave of COVID-19 continues to ravage the hospitality industry. Recent legislation has mandated that all restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and food and drink establishments in Ontario hotspots pause indoor dining for 28 days. Faced with an uncertain future, please do what you can to support small business owners and the hospitality industry as a whole.

Here are my picks this week.

Greta Solomon’s
1118 Queen Street East
(647) 347-8640
gretasolomonsdiningroom.com/

Every city needs a charming French restaurant complete with bistro sets that spill onto the sidewalks. In Toronto’s Leslieville neighbourhood, that’s Greta Solomon’s. This contemporary French restaurant has been a destination for lovers of French cuisine since 2016, as evidenced by the drool-worthy weekly menus created by proprietor Darlene Mitchell and her all-female team. In this stage of the pandemic, diners can delight in dishes such as heirloom tomato and goat cheese mousse, saumon de printemps and 12-ounce Ontario striploin on the heated patio. The whole menu is available for takeout, including a stellar collection of natural and Old World wines available at 20 percent off.

Avelo
51 St. Nicholas Street
(647) 643-3132
avelorestaurant.com

This upscale plant-based paradise from the owners of Awai (now closed) has recently launched Avelo at Home, a fresh take-out and delivery concept. Designed as a four-course tasting menu, it features the restaurant’s unique and popular creations, such as the porcini mushroom soup, maitake mushrooms with bordelaise sauce, potato and cauliflower gratin, and maple roasted Brussels sprouts and Honeycrisp apple tatin with vanilla bean coconut ice cream. Place your order one day ahead for pick up or delivery Thursday to Saturday through localEats.TO.

Reunion Island Coffee
385 Roncesvalles Avenue
(416) 551-3431
reunioncoffeeroasters.com/coffee-bar/

A preferred destination of coffee purists in the west end, this Roncesvalles café has long lines every day of the week – even in the midst of a pandemic. The corner shop is outfitted for takeout only given the current situation. Although the vibe has changed, skilled baristas serve espresso-based drinks, drip and cold-brew coffees made from the shop’s dedicated roastery in Oakville. Pastries are supplied by Blackbird Baking Co. Don’t forget a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth pain au chocolat or gooey ginger cookie to pair with your java.

Bon appétit!

Bisous,

Mme. M. xoxo

Does your restaurant want to be featured in Madame Marie’s Weekly Roundup? Are you a diner who wants to share your delicious experience with the city? Contact me.

Operations are subject to change during this crisis so please contact each restaurant for the most up-to-date information.