London's Local Flavour 2015

• Restaurants • Culinary Retail • Farmers’ Markets 

LocaL 

LONDON’S 

20 

15 

FLAVOUR 

CULINARY GUIDE 

2 0 

1 5 

londontourism.ca 

A Publication from 

eatdrink 

The LOCAL Food & Drink Magazine

Discover 

SHOPPING 

RICHMOND ROW 

123 King Street, London | 519.663.2002 | info@downtownlondon.ca 

www.downtownlondon.ca

Restaurants • Culinary Retail • Farmers’ Markets 

LocaL 

LONDON’S 

20 

15 

FLAVOUR 

CULINARY GUIDE 

A Tourism London guide from the publishers of 

eatdrink magazine 

eatdrink.ca 

Think Global. Read Local. 

1-800-265-2602 or 519-661-5000 

www.londontourism.ca tourismlondon @tourism_london 

Downtown Information Centre 

391 Wellington Street (at Dundas) 

Wellington Road Information Centre 

696 Wellington Road South 

londontourism.ca/culinary

Contents 

4 Introduction 

6–9 Maps ( # = business location) 

Restaurants 

10 David’s Bistro 1 

12 Abruzzi Ristorante 2 

14 Blu Duby 3 

16 Michael’s On The Thames 4 

18 The River Room / Rhino Lounge 5 

20 T.G.’s Addis Ababa Restaurant 6 

22 The Church Key Bistro-Pub 7 

24 Thaifoon 8 

26 Che RestoBar 9 

28 Blackfriars 10 

30 Black Trumpet 11 

32 La Casa Ristorante 12 

34 Toboggan Brewing Co. 13 

38 Five Fortune Culture Restaurant 

14 

40 Icarus Resto Bar 15 

42 Idlewyld Inn & Spa 16 

44 The Windermere Manor 17 

46 Garlic’s of London 18 

47 Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium 19 

48 Chaucer’s Pub 20 

49 Marienbad 21 

50 Fellini Koolini’s / The Runt Club 22 

51 Joe Kool’s 23 

52 Tiger Jack’s Bar & Grill 24 

53 Shelly’s Tap & Grill 25 

54 Katana Kafé & Grill 26 

55 The Root Cellar Organic Café 27 

56 Edgar & Joe’s Café 28 

57 Olive R. Twists Food & Beverage House 

58 Aroma Restaurant & Café 30 

59 The Springs Restaurant 31 

29

Culinary Retail 

61 Jill’s Table 32 

62 The Pristine Olive Tasting Bar 

64 Patrick’s Beans 34 

65 Olive-Me & Co. 35 

33 

Farmer’s Markets 

67 Covent Garden Market 36 

Covent Garden Farmers’ Market 

70 Western Fair Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 

Masonville Farmers’ Market 38 

71 Hyde Park Market 39 

37 

72 Acknowledgments 

QR CODES: We have included these 

helpful little codes in this guide to 

quickly assist mobile phone users 

who want additional information 

on the business profiled. Any QR 

Reader will work, and there are many, but we 

recommend the NeoReader QR & Barcode Reader 

for ease of use and “quick response.” There is a free 

dowload for every device. Go to get.neoreader.com 

on your mobile phone’s web browser and follow the 

easy instructions. 

Featured image on this page is from Blu Duby: Pepper-Coated Beef Tenderloin 

with a bourbon demi-glace, truffle fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables

London is Cooking 

with Local Flavour 

Are you passionate about where your 

food comes from? If so, you are going 

to love dining in London, where many 

farm-to-table inspired restaurants collaborate 

with local farmers to provide the freshest, most 

seasonal and highest quality products available. 

London is known for having some of the best 

community markets and seasonal farmers’ 

markets in the province. Many of the 

restaurants in this guide are leading 

the way when it comes to working 

with farmers and culinary artisans 

to ensure that local and sustainable, 

products find their way to 

the plates of their customers, and 

our “local food” movement has 

matured and come into its own. 

Farm-to-table is a term that can 

mean slightly different things to different 

people. At its core, however, farm-to-table 

means that the food on the table came directly 

from a specific farm(s). Other times, the use of 

farm-to-table emphasizes a direct relationship 

between a farm and a restaurant, or a retailer. It 

can also refer to farmers’ markets, farmgates and 

other places where customers can procure food 

directly from growers. 

In London, there are many up-and-coming chefs 

and culinary professionals who are embracing 

new and original versions of farm-to-table. They 

represent the vanguard of the modern Ontario 

culinary scene and have a reputation for ingenuity 

and creativity. They also possess exceptional, 

compelling culinary philosophies and are 

committed to fostering a cutting-edge culinary 

repertoire by sharing their knowledge with fellow 

professionals and patrons. 

We also have cooks, restaurateurs, publicans, 

retailers and connoisseurs who are not just 

advocating “eating and drinking local” and “eating 

seasonal,” they are enthusiastically and creatively 

promoting and developing new region-specific 

cuisines. They have a reputation for referencing both 

the local terroir and the quintessence of Ontario 

country tradition for inspiration. As for their cuisine, 

it’s made from scratch and it’s ground-breaking. 

They are implementing time-honoured traditions 

and trusted techniques yet delivering 

ingredients in revolutionary ways 

while focusing on the local sourcing 

of ingredients, nutrition and 

environmental sustainability. Many 

of these trailblazers are profiled 

in this guide. While we celebrate 

local farmers, our true culinary 

stars are innovating in kitchens 

throughout the city, offering up 

some of Ontario’s finest food and 

pairing them with a rich variety of craft 

beer and local wine tasting experiences. 

The increase in London’s range and choices in 

culinary offerings reflects both our growing ethnic 

diversity and an increased demand driven by 

sophisticated consumers, who are seeking bolder, 

more exotic and authentic tastes from a variety 

of cultures. Our various restaurants — new and 

old — distinguish themselves with both tradition 

and up-to-the-minute adaptations of our region’s 

characteristic flavours and ingredients. 

Whether you’re interested in one-stop shopping 

at one of our specialty food shops, or at our many 

farmers’ markets for a diversity of local products, 

or just want to explore the unique destination 

restaurants throughout our city, we know you’ll 

enjoy the vast choice of dining options London has, 

offering a taste of our “Local Flavour.” 

Bryan Lavery 

Writer at Large, 

eatdrink magazine 

Restaurant Amenities Legend 

L— Licenced T— Take-Out Available P— Patio A— Accommodations Available 

W— Wheelchair Accessible B— Bring Your Own Bottle Service Available — Downtown London Location 

4 London’s Local Flavour 

www.londontourism.ca INTRODUCTION

A DINER’S JOURNAL 

www.londontourism.ca 

London’s Local Flavour 

5

WARBLER WOODS 

NATURAL AREA 

LONDON 

SKI 

CLUB 

Map A 

BOLER RD. 

SANITORIUM RD. 

BYRON BASELINE 

WINDSOR & DETROIT 

COUNTY RD. 2 

EXIT 177 

THAMES RIVER 

HWY. 4 

COLONEL TALBOT RD. 

35 

HYDE PARK RD. 

39 

GAINSBOROUGH RD. 

OXFORD ST. 

RIVERSIDE DRIVE 

WONDERLAND RD. 

COUNTY RD. 2 & HWY.4 WEST 

C.N.R. 

SPRINGBANK DR. 

HWY. 402 

FANSHAWE PARK RD. W. 

31 

W 

SARNIA RD. 

C.P.R. 

WHARNCLIFFE RD. S. 

MEDWAY CREEK 

ELMWOOD AVE. 

EMERY ST. 

BASELINE RD. 

EXIT 183 

EXETER ROAD 

WESTERN RD. 

Blackfriars Bridge is 

Closed to Cars Indefinitely. 

Access Blackfriars Bistro 

off Wharncliffe. 

24 

STANLEY 

WORTLEY 

17 

HWY. 4 

H 

University of 

Western Ontario 

BLACKFRIARS ST. 

? Information Centres VIA Rail – Train Station 

H Hospitals 

Greyhound – Bus Terminal 

Shopping Malls 

RIDOUT ST. 

38 

VICTORIA ST. 

TALBOT ST. 

BELGRAVE 

RICHMOND ST. 

RICHMOND ST. 

SOUTHDALE RD. 

TO WINDSOR & DETROIT 

H 

COMMISSIONERS RD. 

WELLINGTON ST. 

10 22 23 13 

11 7 

2120 

15 18 

5 

CARLING 

19 1 

29 36 

8 9 

32 14 3 

2 

4 12 W 

28 

16 

30 

µ 

HORTON 

HIGH ST. 

SIMCOE 

SOUTH 

WIND 

WATERLOO ST. 

GRAND AVE. WEST 

WELLINGTON RD. 

EXIT 186 

25 

? 

W 

N 


www.londontourism.ca MAP A

FANSHAWE PARK RD. E. 

ERMERE RD. 

THAMES RIVER 

FANSHAWE LAKE 

HURON ST. 

PARK ENTRANCE 

COLBORNE ST. 

MAITLAND ST. 

33 

WILLIAM ST. 

ADELAIDE ST. 

OXFORD ST. 

HIGHBURY AVE. 

FANSHAWE 

COLLEGE 

CLARKE RD. 

OXFORD ST. E. 

26 

DUFFERIN AVE. 

PICCADILLY ST. 

CENTRAL AVE. 

34 

QUEENS AVE. 

QUEBEC ST. 

FIRST ST. 

SECOND ST. 

THIRD ST. 

ST. 

ST. 

ST. 

H 

6 

KING ST. 

YORK ST. 

ADELAIDE ST. 

27 

RECTORY ST. 

37 

Western 

Fairgrounds 

FLORENCE ST. 

EGERTON ST. 

DUNDAS ST. 

POTTERSBURG CREEK 

TRAFALGAR ST. 

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKWAY 

CRUMLIN SIDE RD. 

ON ST. 

H 

H 

ESTMINSTER PONDS 

ATURAL AREA 

THOMPSON RD. 

POND MILLS RD. 

HIGHBURY AVE. 

HAMILTON RD. 

THAMES RIVER 

MEADOWLILY WOODS 

NATURAL AREA 

GORE RD. 

RIVER RD. 

MACDONALD-CARTIER FREEWAY 

HWY. 401 

WILTON GROVE RD. 

EXIT 189 

EXIT 194 

WESTMINSTER DRIVE 

SCOTLAND DRIVE 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LONDON, CALL: 

TOURISM LONDON (519) 661-5000 OR 1-800-265-2602 


E-mail: tourism@londontourism.ca 

MAP A 



7

12 

Map B 

11 

10 

9 

8 

7 

6 

4 

5 

Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Free Indoor Wi-Fi Downtown London Office Parking 

32 19 

12 

29 

2 

8 

36 3 

14 

FANSHAWE 

CDPA 

9 

LONDON 

MUSIC 

HALL 

21 

20 

1 

18 

7 

CENOTAPH 

15 

11 

22 

8 



MAP B

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

13 23 

MAP B www.londontourism.ca 

RICHMOND STREET 

STATIONPARK 

ALL SUITE HOTEL 

30 

PICCADILLY STREET 

N 

A B C D E F G H I J K 

Free Outdoor Wi-Fi Zone 

(LondonLAWN.ca) 

Free Indoor Wi-Fi Hotspot 

P 

Parking 

Downtown London Office 

For More Information: 

123 King Street, London 

519-663-2002 

info@downtownlondon.ca 

www.downtownlondon.ca 

@Downtown_London 

DowntownLondon 


9

David’s Bistro 

London’s Oasis for 

Food Lovers! 

Chef David Chapman, his daughter Natalie 

(left) and wife Cindy Kinsella help create 

“an oasis for food lovers” with professional, 

friendly service at David’s Bistro. 

Elegantly tucked into a fine Richmond Street 

heritage building, this is one of Downtown 

London’s culinary landmarks. 

10 London’s Local Flavour www.londontourism.ca RESTAURANTS

Classic Bistro 

432 Richmond St. (at Carling) 

MAPS A & B: 

1 

PHONE: 519-667-0535 

LUNCH: WED–FRI 

11:30 am–2:30 pm 

DINNER: MON–SUN 

5 pm–10 pm 

LUNCH: $10– $14.50 

DINNER: $23 – $28 

www.davidsbistro.ca 

Chef Elvis Drennan 

THE SCENE 

David’s Bistro, a classic French bistro, was 

opened in 1998 by David Chapman. After being 

chef and then chef/owner of Anthony’s Seafood 

Bistro (a local landmark at the time) for 18 

years, Chapman decided to reinvent himself. His 

traditional bistro, with its small bar, vibrant red 

walls and checkered tablecloths, is a venerated 

downtown London culinary anchor. The classic 

bistro motif perfectly matches the traditional 

approach to service and attention to detail. 

MENU HIGHLIGHTS 

Chef/owner David Chapman and Co-Chef Elvis Drennan, who has helmed the kitchen 

and a talented kitchen staff for a number of years, present perfectly executed classic 

regional French-inspired specialties. The emphasis is on authentic country cuisine with 

primarily seasonal and high quality local ingredients. Chapman and 

Drennan are long-time proponents of the philosophy that simplicity, 

seasonality and purity are the hallmarks of good cooking. 

A blackboard Prix Fixe Menu changes daily. Chapman is also 

acclaimed for his multi-course “Trust Me” Dinners. The chalkboard 

prix-fixe menus change daily, in tune with the seasons and the availability 

of special items, as does the interesting wine list, with a range of carefully selected 

consignment wines listed on a separate blackboard, augmenting regular favourites. 

Classic Bistro Fare at David’s includes the highly recommended: 

• Provençal Fish and Seafood Stew 

in a saffron broth; 

• Duck Leg Confit with lingonberry 

sauce and rosti potato; 

• Crispy Chicken Breast with bacon 

and mushrooms; 

• Grilled Filet Mignon with winter 

vegetable ragout & squash chips; 

• An innovative dessert selection, 

all made in house. 

Classic French Bistro Fare 

Daily Prix Fixe Choices 

Famed “Trust Me” Dinners 

— Chef’s Tasting Menus 

Excellent Wine List, Available 

by Glass or Bottle 

Full Service Catering Available 

L 

W 

Duck Leg Confit with Lingonberry 

Sauce and Rosti Potato 

Provençal Fish & Seafood Stew 

– Shrimp, Mussels, Scallops & 

Fish in a Saffron Broth 

Chou Croute Garnie 

– Smoked Pork, Rabbit Sausage, 

Weiss wurst & Sauerkraut 

RESTAURANTS www.londontourism.ca London’s Local Flavour 

11

Abruzzi 

Ristorante 

Italian Inspired ... 

Locally Focused 

Co-owners Rob D’Amico and Chef 

Dave Lamers have lifted Abruzzi 

into the top echelon of Italian-inspired 

restaurants, serving both modern and 

traditional regional specialties. As host 

and chef, respectively, each brings 

a polished professionalism to their 

Downtown epicurean hotspot. 


119 King Street, 

London ON 

519 675-9995 

www.abruzzi.ca 

Italian-inspired 

Farm-to-Table Dining 

119 King Street (at Talbot) 

MAPS A & B: 

2 

PHONE: 519-675-9995 

HOURS: MON–SAT 

11:30 am – LATE 

closed sunday 

LUNCH: $8– $16 

DINNER: $15 – $33 

www.abruzzi.ca 

A superior wine list includes 

interesting consignments 

A long-standing commitment to 

local sustainable ingredients 

Menus change seasonally 

Authentic Italian regional specialties 

Attentive, knowledgeable service 

THE SCENE 

Abruzzi is well-groomed but casual, with an 

elegant white marble bar just inside the front 

entrance. There is an elevated communal 

table in the centre of the dining room that 

seats eight. The chairs and banquettes are 

comfortable enough for a three-hour sitting. 

The simple, striking décor with bare brick 

walls and lots of mirrors, the innovative 

lighting, and the friendly ambience are all 

central to the Abruzzi experience. The service 

is attentive, polished and knowledgeable. 


Chef Dave Lamers takes the earthy Italian 

culinary vocabulary and imbues it with both Steps to Budweiser Gardens 

his idiosyncratic style and a culinary dialect 

that is responsive to the seasons. Lamers stresses simplicity and freshness as 

foundations of the Abruzzi kitchen philosophy. The menu offerings capture the 

essence of Italian cooking. They are intuitive, often iconic, prepared with locallysourced 

and quality ethnic ingredients, executed with skill and an eye to detail. 

The kitchen has a long-standing commitment to procuring local and sustainable 

ingredients. Signature dishes include: 

• An appetizer of perfectly cooked Grilled Octopus, with roasted grape tomato, 

olives, arugula, fingerling potatoes and romesco (red bell pepper) sauce; 

• Creamy, all’onda (wavy), and perfectly al dente Prosciutto Risotto with local 

asparagus, leek, grape tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, lemon and fresh basil; 

• Braised Local Rabbit with house-made pillow-shaped gnocchi, arugula and 

house-made ricotta; 

• Grilled Beef Tenderloin with crispy gnocchi, mushrooms, 

spinach, green beans, red wine and veal stock reduction; 

• Everspring Farms Duck Breast accompanied by oyster 

mushrooms, Swiss chard and caramelized baby carrots; 

• Dark Chocolate Frangelico Tart with brûléed bananas, toasted 

hazelnuts, chocolate hazelnut gelato, nutella snow and caramel sauce. 

L 

W 

Baby Beets Salad with whipped 

goat cheese, organic seedlings, 

pistachios, balsamic reduction 

& Tuscan olive oil 

Ricotta Gnudi with house-made 

pancetta, wild hedgehog 

mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, 

sage brown butter & pecorino 

Grilled Veal Chop with mushroom 

lasagna, beans & marsala jus 


13

Blu Duby 

Remarkable Dining 

Blu Duby owners Joe and 

Cheryl Duby have created a 

high energy atmosphere where 

people can come and enjoy a 

drink at the bar, a few appetizers 

or a full dining experience in a 

casual, yet elegant venue. Their 

goal: “A remarkable experience 

designed to accommodate 

every budget.” The result: a 

streamlined upbeat operation 

with a diverse and loyal clientele 

who appreciate a recessionfriendly 

gourmet menu that 

appeals to a broad demographic. 


International 

Comfort Food 

CORELICIOUS MENU 

32 Covent Market Place 

(also open at 125 Dundas Street) 

MAPS A & B: 

3 

PHONE: 519-433-1414 

MON–THURS: 11:30 am–11 pm 

FRI & SAT: 11:30 am–1 am 

SUNDAY: 11:30 am–9 pm 

Apps 

Caesar Salad 

Smoked bacon, shaved asiago, 

baguette crisp 

OR 

Vegetarian Caesar Salad 

OR 

La Sopa Del Dia 

Daily soup inspiration, fresh ingredients 

OR 

THE SCENE 

Escargot 

Pernod and fennel cream, julienne vegetables, 

Blu Duby features modern sophistication 

pastry triangle 

with its stylish décor, and offers an 

OR 

innovative approach to family-friendly 

Creamy Polenta 

comfort food and artful cuisine. Sundried Three Tomato, mesclun greens, 

separate locations can be easily wild mushroom & marsala sauce sauce 

transformed into private dining areas OR 

to accommodate parties and all types Seafood of cakes 

special occasions with attentive Variety of service, seafood, soya ginger aioli, asian slaw 

customizable menus and, best of all, the 

ability to leave the planning to talented 

professionals. 


Join Blu Duby for appetizers and wine, 

a quick lunch, or an entire evening 

of remarkable service in a relaxing 

atmosphere. Contemporary bistro-style selections and tantalizing vegetarian 

choices are on offer, as well as many classic favourites that have been updated. 

The restaurant’s cooking repertoire keeps evolving, and the presentation is both 

stylish and simple. The menu is an eclectic collection of Asian, Continental and 

Mediterranean influences and features items such as Vegetarian Spring Rolls, 

Moroccan Skewered Chicken, Grilled Lamb Lollipops as well as Roasted Rack of 

Lamb or Grilled Beef Tenderloin. 

Blu Duby offers lunch engineered to fit into the most limited break, perfect for 

busy professionals working Downtown. You will find everything from comfort food 

in the Braised Beef Onion Poutine to light, healthy fare in a variety of fresh salads. 

With many gluten-free choices and vegetarian options to choose from, diners are 

certain to find something to enjoy. Recommendations include: 

• Hand-Rolled Gnudi and Rocket finished with sautéed mushrooms, 

onions, carrots and bell peppers in a pomodoro sauce; 

• Crispy Skinned Salmon; 

• Malaysian Pad Thai with coconut milk, ginger, tamarind, 

brown sugar bean, cilantro, green onions and cashews. 

LUNCH: $8– $15 

DINNER: $15 – $30 

www.bluduby.com 

3 Separate Private Rooms 

Available for Dining or for 

Your Next Celebration 

Beautiful Atrium for meetings 

in Hotel Metro 

Steps to Budweiser Gardens 

& Underground Parking at 

Covent Garden Market 

Quick Lunch Options 

L T A W 

A Welcoming Ambiance 

Pear and Blue Cheese Salad 

Wild Mushroom & Brie Tart 


15

Michael’s On The Thames 

London’s Classic 

Celebration Destination 

Anniversaries, birthdays, a promotion ... there are many reasons to celebrate. 

Sometimes a great meal at a great restaurant is reason enough. London’s 

Celebration Destination is Michael’s On The Thames. No matter the 

occasion, 32 years of consistently good food and excellent service make Michael’s 

one of London’s great dining experiences. An exceptional culinary team includes 

(clockwise from top left) Kitchen Manager/Chef Dave Wyles, Bartender/Server Ryan 

Jackson, Server/Captain Maria Homolay and General Manager Joelle Lees, all 

dedicated to ensuring that your celebratory dinner or lunch is a memorable one. 


Continental 

Cuisine 

1 York Street (at the bridge) 

MAPS A & B: 

4 

PHONE: 519-672-0111 

LUNCH: MON–FRI 

11:30 am–2 pm 


from 5 pm 

LUNCH: from $8.99 

DINNER: from $17.99 

www.michaelsonthethames.com 

THE SCENE 

Superb continental cuisine 

and a relaxed environment 

await you at Michael’s On The 

Thames, winner of numerous 

awards, including the London 

Free Press’ BEST FINE DINING 

RESTAURANT and BEST 

ROMANTIC RESTAURANT, 

BEST ATMOSPHERE from London Community News, and the CERTIFICATE OF 

EXCELLENCE from Trip Advisor. Relax in the warmth of a stone fireplace, a view 

overlooking the Thames River and the elegance of a Baby Grand. Michael’s is the 

perfect place for great conversation over an outstanding meal. 


Michael’s specialty is exceptional continental cuisine ... with a twist. Here you can 

experience a great restaurant tradition — tableside cooking. Michael’s renowned 

Caesar Salad, Steak Diane, Chateaubriand, fabulous flambéed desserts like Cherries 

Jubilee, even flaming coffees! Michael’s appetizers range from a classic French 

Onion Soup to Escargots to an extraordinary Coquille St. Jacques. Drawing from 

local, seasonal ingredients to create signature main dishes, Executive Chef Denis 

Clavette and his team have a contemporary take on international classics, including: 

• Brome Lake Duckling à l’Orange — split and deboned crisply-roasted duckling 

flambéed with valencia orange sauce; 

• Rack of Lamb — Washington State lamb roasted with fresh mint and finished 

with demi-glace and port; 

• Grilled Rib Eye — one of Michael’s amazing house steaks, the Rib Eye is up to 14oz 

of well-seasoned AAA Canadian Red Brand beef, served with Maitre d’Hotel butter; 

• Northern Harvest Atlantic Salmon — coriander-crusted, served on seafood 

fingerling potato salad with a citrus emulsion and salmon skin crisps; 

• Prime Rib — slow roasted to seal in the natural juices. 

Finally, there’s more than Cherries Jubilee on the dessert menu at Michael’s. Try the 

Tartufo, true Italian ice cream lightly coated in cocoa crystals, served on cream and 

chocolate syrup web. Or Crème Brûlée, or ... well you get the picture. Michael’s On 

The Thames — traditions made new again. 

2 blocks to Budweiser Gardens 

A Range of Fine Wines 

Sommelier on Staff 

Your Celebration Destination 

Private Rooms Available 

Live Pianist at the Baby Grand 

Golden Plate Award Winner 

Reservations Recommended 

Gift Certificates: The Perfect 

Gift for Any Occasion 

Complimentary On-Site Parking 

L W 

Char grilled Filet Mignon 

Northern Harvest “Candied” 

Salmon 

Classic Dessert Selections 


17

The River Room Café and Private Dining 

The Rhino Lounge Bakery & Coffee Shoppe 

& North Moore Catering 

Sublime Food in 

a Stunning Location 

Owners Jess Jazey-Spoelstra and Harmen Spoelstra (above) opened 

The River Room and put Museum London back on the local 

dining map. This exceptional lunch and brunch spot reflects Jess Jazey- 

Spoelstra’s culinary philosophy “to create exceptional food at reasonable 

prices,” with lots of New York-style bravado. Jazey-Spoelstra has built 

her North Moore Catering’s reputation as one of the city’s 

premier caterers almost entirely on the word-of-mouth of a glittering 

retinue of clients. In 2014, the stylish Rhino Lounge Bakery & 

Coffee Shoppe opened to rave reviews for its sleek ambiance, 

creative menu, specialty coffees and outstanding baked goods. 

18 

London’s Local Flavour www.londontourism.ca RESTAURANTS

Cafés and Caterer 

421 Ridout Street North 

(within Museum London) 

MAPS A & B: 5 

PHONE: 519-850-2287 

THE SCENE 

The River Room is conveniently 

located downtown within 

Museum London, sporting 

banks of tinted windows with 

panoramic views overlooking 

The Forks of the Thames and 

the old courthouse. Jess Jazey- 

Spoelstra’s sophisticated design 

sensibility is reflected in the stylish and relaxed interior. The colour scheme is warm and 

friendly, and the textural elements are glass, leather and linen. The dining room features 

an attractive curved bar at the entrance with faux white leather stools. The walls are lined 

with beautiful photos that pay homage to the owners’ days in New York City. 


At lunch, Chef’s features include handmade gnocchi and ravioli. The Seafood Crêpe 

is stuffed with crab, shrimp and baby scallops in a cognac cream 

sauce. Deli sandwiches are accompanied by a spectacularly 

composed signature side salad. The Pastrami Reuben sandwich 

is essential New York deli, with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, 

Russian dressing and crispy dills. Feature Arancini Balls — that 

change daily — are served with greens, soup or hand-cut fries. 

The Yorkie Beef Dip with shaved rib-eye and tenderloin on 

house-made Yorkshire pudding with au jus has quickly become a signature dish. 

Über-Pastry-Chef Michele Lenhardt 

brings dessert offerings to a whole new 

level. Decadent Chocolate Cake with 

fudge frosting and Carrot Cake with 

cream cheese icing are classics, as is her 

made-to-order Apple Fritters with salted 

caramel sauce and the River Room’s 

signature Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée. 

The River Room has over a dozen dishes 

on the Brunch prix fixe menu ($25), including 

sublime Huevos Rancheros with two 

fried eggs atop crispy corn tortillas with 

Monterey jack cheese, black beans, pico 

de gallo and served with sour cream, and 

a classic Cobb Salad with grilled chicken, 

bacon, blue cheese, hard-boiled egg and 

chopped tomato & cucumbers. 

HOURS: TUES–FRI 11 am–4 pm 

SUNDAY 11 am–4 pm 

open for dinner during londonlicious 

LUNCH: $8– $16 

BRUNCH: $25 Prix Fixe 

www.theriverroom.ca 

Daily Lunch Specials 

Prix Fixe Sunday Brunch 

Caterer for every Social Occasion 

3rd Thursday of the month Dinners 

Open Evenings for Private Dining 

THE RHINO LOUNGE 

PHONE: 519-850-5111 

HOURS: TUES–WED 11 am–5 pm 

THURS 11 am–9 pm 

FRI–SUN 11 am–5 pm 

Open Evenings for Private Events 

Cronut Thursdays 

L 

T W 

Private Dining Space Available 

Roasted Tomato & Basil Soup 

with naked grape tomato and 

balsamic gastrique 

Rhino Lounge Cronut Thursday 


19

TG’s Addis Ababa 

Restaurant 

For more than a decade, T.G.’s Addis Ababa 

Restaurant has offered a tour de force from 

the Ethiopian culinary repertoire. Chef/restaurateur 

T.G. Haile (bottom left) is dedicated to supporting 

important cultural and community initiatives and 

events, despite the fact that she is a hands-on owner 

who does all of the cooking at the restaurant. 

— Family Friendly — 

Veg & Vegan Choices 


TG’s 

ADDIS ABABA 

Restaurant 

Authentic 

Ethiopian Cuisine 

465 Dundas St.(at Maitland) 

MAP A: 

6 

PHONE: 519-433-4222 

HOURS: TUES–FRI 

11 am–1 am by reservation 

TUES–SUN 

5 pm–10 pm 

closed monday 

THE SCENE 

The modest restaurant is tucked away 

off-the-beaten-track in an unassuming brick 

building on Dundas Street. The décor reflects 

the ancient Ethiopian culture, which makes an 

exotic yet comfortable, homey atmosphere. 


Dining at T.G.’S Addis Ababa 

Restaurant is characterized 

by the ritual of breaking injera 

(traditional yeast-risen flatbread, 

spongy in texture, crèpe-like in 

appearance, with sourdough tanginess) and sharing food from a communal platter, 

strengthening bonds of loyalty and friendship. 

Despite its reputation for being blistering-hot, truly authentic Ethiopian cuisine is 

characterized by a blending of flavours in order to produce a harmony of ingredients. 

T.G. is a skillful chef and her signature dishes from the repertoire of Ethiopian cookery 

comprises variations of sweet, bitter, sour, salty, hot and fragrant. She has developed 

a large variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes, with a wide range of deliciously spiced 

preparations and beautifully balanced flavours, based on lentils, split peas, chickpeas 

and other pulses. These flavour contrasts are the hallmark of T.G.’s cooking. 

Meat dishes fall mostly into two distinct categories: red stews (wat), which include 

berbere, and green stews (alicha wat), which do not. Wats are prepared with a generous 

amount of sautéed chopped onions, fried without oil, which gives them the distinct taste 

central to Ethiopian cuisine. T.G.’s menu includes several 

types of meat dishes, such as zilzel tibbs, strips of beef 

sautéed with green onion and spices. Ethiopian cuisine 

does not include pork. Recommendations include: 

• Dulet Kitfo — freshly minced, very lean beef, 

mixed and cooked with butter, onion, jalapeno 

pepper, and a special addis spice. 

• Quanta Ferfer is marinated grilled beef, with onion, 

tomato and a spicy sauce mixed with injera. 

• Defen Misr, green lentils cooked with traditional 

seasoning, onion and curry, is one of the most 

popular vegetarian choices. 

MENU: $10 – $16 

www.tgsaddisababarestaurant.ca 

Platters for sharing for 2, 3 or 

a crowd, or individual plates 

Traditional Cuisine & Spices 

Fully Vegetarian Menu Available 

Ethiopian Coffee Ceremonies 

Ethiopian Beers, African Wines 

and Local Beverages 

Reservations Recommended 

Take-Out & Catering Available 

L T W 

An Injera Platter Combination 

Vegetarian and Meat Options 

Traditional Seating Options 


21

The Church Key 

Bistro-Pub 

Craft Beer & Modern 

Pub Fare with Flair 

The Church Key is your destination pub, whether you’re 

looking for an impressive selection of craft beers or a pub meal with 

flair. Owners Pete and Vanessa Willis have nearly 50 years combined 

experience in the restaurant industry. The opening of The Church Key 

in May of 2009 was the culmination of a longtime dream. “We are 

definitely pub people,” says Vanessa. “We like an uncomplicated place 

where you can talk and have good food and beer and wine.” 


Farm-to-Table 

Bistro-Pub 

476 Richmond St. (N of Queens) 

MAPS A & B: 

7 

PHONE: 519-936-0960 

HOURS: SUN–TUES 

11 am–11 pm 

WED & THURS 

11 am–12 midnight 

FRI & SAT 

11 am–1 am 

LUNCH: $9 – $15 

DINNER: $14 – $26 

www.thechurchkey.ca 

willis@thechurchkey.ca 

THE SCENE 

Warm and comfortable, with a pleasing 

combination of brick, stone and wood, The Church 

Key is an extensively renovated pub in a prominent 

Richmond Row heritage building across from The 

Grand Theatre. An intimate outdoor courtyard 

flanks the south side of the building. 


The Church Key follows in 

the British tradition of the 

gastro pub by specializing 

in traditional food done 

with gourmet flair. Chef 

Michael Anglestad, with 

over 20 years in fine 

dining, uses seasonal, 

locally sourced ingredients 

extensively. 

• Try the Ploughman’s 

Plate, great as a meal 

or a shared appetizer, 

with English cheeses, crusty bread, paté, smoked salmon, duck breast bacon, 

branston pickle, pickled quail eggs and vegetables. Or start with Salmon 

Wrapped Scallops, sea scallops wrapped in house smoked salmon, 

drizzled with grapefruit & rice wine syrup and togarashi aioli. 

• Entrée favourites include the famous Church Key Burger, a 

traditional Fish & Chips, Beef Pot Roast, tender beef cheek slow 

cooked in red wine with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms & celery 

root, and the Buffalo Meatloaf, glazed with cranberry bbq sauce, 

topped with madeira & sweet onion gravy and served with creamed 

spinach and chive mashed potatoes.. 

• Sunday Brunch begins with a large basket of baked pastries, such as fresh 

croissants, almond cheesecake Danish, or sweet potato & pumpkin seed 

bread, all baked fresh by Pastry Chef Cliff Briden. Then enjoy a choice of five 

different brunch entrée items. The menu is different every week! 

Across from The Grand Theatre 

Vegetarian Options 

Sunday Brunch 11 am–2 pm 

Game Meat of the Week Specials 

Food Served Late! 

L 

P 

The Bar 

Across from the Grand Theatre 

Charming Courtyard Patio 


23

Thaifoon 

Restaurant 

A Modern Approach 

to Classic Thai Cuisine 

Manisay Visouvath and Fouzan (Rafael) Beg are the 

new proprietors of Thaifoon, Downtown London’s 

upscale Thai restaurant. Thaifoon’s with-it and tasteful 

take on the ancient Thai culture, with a décor that 

honours the past while embracing modernity, has 

earned raves of admiration. The restaurant continues 

to set itself apart with wonderfully exuberant flavours in 

dishes presented with an expert eye for detail. 


Contemporary 

Thai Cuisine 

120 Dundas Street (E of Talbot) 

MAPS A & B: 

8 

PHONE: 519-850-1222 


11:30 am–2:30 pm 


from 5 pm 

LUNCH: From $10 

DINNER: From $14 

www.thaifoonrestaurant.com 

info@thaifoonrestaurant.com 

THE SCENE 

The 38-seat restaurant is a 

tasteful and refined take on 

the ancient Siamese culture, 

with a soothing décor and a 

rich palette of browns and 

blacks with golden accents 

and pleasing Thai iconography. 

The minimalist room is sleek, 

with a sexy, Buddha Loungestyle 

soundtrack, rich dark 

woods and ultra-soft leather 

banquettes with cushions. 

Candles set the mood for a 

romantic evening or a casual 

night out to “escape” from 

the city. 


The kitchen’s oeuvre is a 

consistent showcase of 

Thailand’s regional flavours 

of hot, sweet, sour and salty, 

honouring tradition while embracing modernity. Thaifoon is careful to give you 

just the level of spicing you want. 

The restaurant is popular with vegetarian and gluten-free clients. Won-ton 

bundles are flawless — well-executed crispy and crunchy parcels of chiliinfused 

minced chicken accompanied by a ginger and plum sauce. Savoury 

curries surpass expectations with richness and variations on 

spiciness that are tempered with velvety coconut milk and 

fragrant aromatics 

The pad Thai continues to be properly prepared with 

perfectly cooked noodles, firm tofu with a silky interior, 

egg, crisp bean sprouts, scallions, fragrant cilantro, minced 

peanuts, fresh lime and the crucial sweet and sour tanginess. 

Recommended: Try the delicious signature Peanut Pasta, with Pankocrusted 

wide rice noodle, broccoli, spinach, bell pepper, carrot, coconut milk 

and peanut sauce, with shrimp, chicken or tofu. 

Buddah Lounge Soundtrack 

Coconut Currys 

Signature Peanut Pasta 

Homestyle Cooking 

City Wide Delivery 

Catering 

L 

T 

Thai Red Curry 

Thai Peanut Pasta 

Crispy Chiang Mai 


25

Che 

RestoBar 

Marvin Rivas’s stylish and sexy Che RestoBar 

on Dundas Street embodies the synergy between 

resto-lounge and the culinary vibe of the South 

Beach Miami food scene. Che provides the RestoBar 

experience in spades, luxe surroundings with a 

welcoming ambience, innovative culinary know-how 

and a well-thought-out selection of interesting 

wines and seductive cocktails to enhance 

your experience. 

London’s Latin 

American Hot-Spot 


Modern Latin 

American 

225 Dundas St. (at Clarence) 

MAPS A & B: 

PHONE: 519-601-7999 

DINNER: MON–SAT 

5 pm–Close 

closed sunday 

9 

DINNER: $10 – $26 

www.cherestobar.ca 

THE SCENE 

Marvin Rivas defines chic with his Latin- 

American-inspired Che RestoBar. This hip 

hotspot has a “gallery” feel that features exposed 

brick walls, an extended granite bar, massive 

contemporary light fixtures and stunning artwork. 

The style is definitely upscale and the tempo 

is upbeat, providing a welcoming space where 

people can revel in great food and drink, and 

not break the bank. The food-savvy servers are 

friendly and knowledgeable. 


The menu offers contemporary dishes with 

Latin American flavours. Hanger Steak Tacos 

Marvin 

Rivas 

are a revelation. Che’s tamarind leche de tigre marinated Tuna Ceviche is a house 

signature. Both the Jicama Cannelloni with hibiscus ginger sauce and the Yucca 

Poutine with cotija cheese, aji Amarillo and black olive puree are standouts.. 

• Try a Capirinha (Brazil’s national drink) or Cuba’s famous highball, a thirst-quenching 

Mojito, or a Pisco Sour with lime juice, sugar, egg white and sparkling wine. 

• A must-try, Che’s signature Huancaina Salad is perfection: a 

medley of sliced Yukon gold potatoes, ripe avocado, red onion, 

olives and eggs served cold, almost hidden under a blanket of 

cheese sauce scented with lime, and turned bright yellow by 

aji amarillo, a spicy chili pepper. 

• Grilled Octopus Confit, with an earthy black olive salsa, and Beef 

Heart Anticuchos (grilled kabobs) with ancho chili sauce. 

• Chimichurri is a traditional Latin 

American sauce with minced 

parsley, bursting with aromatics. 

Chef’s version is a garlicky 

revelation on cooked-to-perfection 

(Angus) Rib Eye Steak, with crisp 

yucca fries in mojo served with 

pico de gallo. 

Luxe Surroundings 

Welcoming Ambience 

Unique, Distinctive Cuisine 

Inspired by Latin American 

Accessible Wine List with 

Exceptional Picks 

Craft Cocktail Specials 

L 

T W B 

Enjoy the chic and lively Latin 

American RestoBar experience 

Double Pork Chop Adobo 

Tuna Ceviche 


27

Blackfriars 

Bistro and Catering 

A Gastronomical 

London Landmark 

28 

Farm fresh food prepared on site allows the talented 

Blackfriars team to provide guests with meals 

geared to their individual needs. This casually 

elegant bistro provides cutting edge flavours 

with a respect for culinary traditions.

Contemporary 

Bistro & Caterer 

46 Blackfriars Street 

MAP A: 

10 

PHONE: 519-667-4930 


11:30 am–2:30 pm 

DINNER: MON–SAT 

5 pm–10 pm 

BRUNCH: SUN 11 am–2 pm 

LUNCH: $8.95 – $14 

DINNER: $18 – $34.50 

BRUNCH: $7.50 – $13.95 

THE SCENE 

Blackfriars offers a deliciously artistic setting 

only a short walk from Downtown London. 

The central location and ample parking make 

this the perfect meeting place for a culinary 

adventure. Upbeat, knowledgeable staff are 

your first introduction to Blackfriars. A large 

blackboard, featuring several daily specials 

— utilizing the most interesting ingredients 

the area has to offer — covers most of one 

wall. There you’ll also find an ever-changing 

drinks list; Blackfriars has been a leader in 

providing diners with well-chosen craft beer Daily market-fresh creations 

and consignment wines, enhancing a full bar 

selection. The bistro’s intimate size and style allow for perfect closed room parties, 

and Blackfriars has established a strong reputation as London’s premier caterer. 


Blackfriars’ innovative culinary team, led by Executive Chef Jacqui Shantz, showcase 

their talents with seasonal menus handwritten by resteraunter Betty Heydon, who has 

presided over this gastronomical landmark for over 19 years. Recommendations include: 

• Sunday Brunch — a must to highlight your weekend. Try the classic Eggs 

Benedict with house-roasted potatoes or the Eggs Bombay — two eggs nestled 

on a bed of mixed grain rice with a mild red curry sauce and fresh fruit; 

• The daily soup with market-fresh ingredients, a perfect lunch 

with the Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich with spiced apple & 

sweet onion on housemade multi-grain bread; 

• Korean BBQ Wild-Caught Sockeye Salmon on lime coconutscented 

basmati rice finished with Asian slaw; 

• Blackened Beef Tenderloin Tip Taco on a corn tortilla with sliced 

avocado, shredded vegetables, black beans, cilantro and pico de gallo; 

• Almond-Crusted Chicken Breast, stuffed with apples, leeks and Swiss cheese with 

mini potatoes roasted with thyme, apple chutney and Brandy cream. 

Reservations accepted. 

www.blackfriarsbistro.com 

Enter off Wharncliffe Road 

Ample Free Parking 

Consumers Choice Award Winner 

for London Caterers 

Upbeat Lunches 

Intimate Dinners 

Closed Room Parties Available 

Dietary Needs Accommodated 

L T W B 

Outstanding Sunday Brunch 

Inspired blackboard specials 

in a playful artistic setting 

Executive Chef Jacqui Shantz 

(left) & Owner Betty Heydon 


29

Black Trumpet 

East Meets West: 

World-Inspired Cuisine 

Bamboo, stone, Douglas-fir, tile and fabric work together 

in Black Trumpet in an aesthetic and architectural 

triumph that remains ageless. Between the front terrace 

with its wrought iron gate and an inviting open-air 

courtyard, there are eight unique areas to the restaurant 

that remain faithful to the original design concept, 

expressed as Dutch-colonial Indonesian eclecticism. 


Contemporary 

International 

523 Richmond Street (S of Kent) 

MAPS A & B: 

11 

PHONE: 519-850-1500 

OPEN: 

MONDAY–SATURDAY 

Lunch and Dinner 

11:30 am–Close 

closed sundays & holidays 

LUNCH: $10–$19 

DINNER: $10–$38 

www.blacktrumpet.ca 

Chefs Scott Wesseling 

and Matt Rice 

World Cuisine Inspired by Local 

and Seasonal Ingredients 

In the Heart of Richmond Row, 

Just North of The Grand Theatre 

Private Dining Rooms Available 

Multi-media Capabilities 

Exotic Courtyard Patio 

THE SCENE 

Black Trumpet has a stunning and lush 

ambiance with a global point of view. In 

the warm weather months, the beautifully 

appointed and private Indonesian-style 

garden is a prestige spot for alfresco dining. 

This secluded oasis, seating 60, is one of 

the city’s best kept secrets. 

L 

P 


Chef Scott Wesseling has a modern-day 

take on the classics, drawing from local and 

seasonal ingredients to create his menu offerings. 

At lunch, the cuisine is an amalgam of Asian- and internationally-inspired 

signature dishes with influences and ingredients from various Mediterranean cultures. 

Dinner is an innovative take on time-honoured entrées that include: Spiced Duck 

Breast with curried sweet potato puree, herbed spaetzle, seasonal vegetables 

& mandarin orange gastrique; Peppered Striploin of Venison with celeriac 

and walnut agnolotti, charred kale, seasonal 

vegetables, black truffle aioli & a cherry chutney; 

and Togarashi Ahi Tuna with coconut jasmine 

rice, watermelon radish, papaya slaw & mango 

chili coulis. Other recommendations include: 

• Seared Sea Scallops with sweet corn and 

chevre puree, maple whiskey bacon, asparagus 

chips and charred scallion oil; 

• De-constructed Bhel Puri Salad with thinly 

sliced beets, cucumber, heirloom tomatoes, 

quinoa, green onion, cilantro yogurt vinaigrette 

and puffed rice; 

• Foie Gras Parfait with terrine of foie, strawberry 

gelee, pickled beets, toasted almonds & 

strawberry chips. 

Seared Sea Scallops 

De-constructed Bhel Puri Salad 

Spiced Duck Breast 


31

La Casa 

Ristorante 

Casual Fine Dining 

Since 1994 

A Downtown London landmark for fine dining for over 20 

years, the 75-seat “ristorante” remains a quintessential 

experience for casual but refined dining. Consistency and 

familiarity are the hallmarks of the La Casa culinary 

experience. Count on fresh, local ingredients and a warm, 

neighbourly ambience with intimate dining rooms accented by 

a crackling wood-burning fireplace and a well-stocked bar. 


Traditional Italian 

& Mediterranean 


MAPS A & B: 

12 

PHONE: 519-434-2272 

OPEN: 

MONDAY–SATURDAY 

Lunch & Dinner 

11:30 am–Close 

closed sundays & holidays 

LUNCH: $9–$20 

DINNER: $10–$35 

www.lacasaristorante.com 

THE SCENE 

In the middle of King Street’s restaurant 

row, across the street from the Covent 

Garden Market and kitty corner to 

Budweiser Gardens stands La Casa, 

with a stylish black brick façade. One 

enters the dining room through a short 

hallway, as one might enter a gracious 

home. Intimately candle-lit by night, 

large windows provide lots of natural 

light by day. 


La Casa encapsulates its Italian roots 

by offering traditional home-style fare 

such as risotto, ravioli, lasagne, lobster 

tagliolini and angel hair pasta. The 

Angel Hair, with sautéed tiger 

shrimp & bay scallops, tomato, 

cilantro & garlic olive oil 

Chefs Jason Eccles 

and James Smith 

menus emphasize the classics of the Italian culinary canon and the authenticity 

that comes from family recipes handed down 

through the generations. The 

pastas are all made in-house. 

The restaurant does its 

own smoking, baking and 

desserts. The sourdough 

starter is 20 years old now! 

Recommendations include: 

• Rack of Lamb — pistachio-crusted fresh 

Ontario lamb with chateau potatoes, 

vegetable ratatouille and a shiraz sauce; 

• Salmon Della Casa — fresh salmon, 

always uniquely flavoured and always with 

a grilled prawn; 

• Beef Tenderloin — 8 ounce hand-cut 

fillet, with asparagus tips, garlic mashed 

potatoes, roasted portebello mushroom and 

a beef jus demi-glace. 


Across from the Covent 

Garden Market 

Private Events 

Outstanding Scotch Selection 

Fresh Daily Food Specials 

L 

Pancetta Prawns, roasted, with 

greens & a spicy cocktail sauce 

Calamari, marinated & lightly panfried, 

with a lemon-dill beurre blanc 

Veal Marsala, veal tenderloin on 

a spinach & wild mushroom risotto 

gateau, in a marsala reduction 


33

Toboggan Brewing Co. 

Craft Beers Brewed On 

Site & Local Food Focus 

Toboggan Brewing Company is the brainchild of longtime London 

restaurateur Mike Smith, owner of the venerable Joe Kool’s and Fellini Koolini’s. 

Smith has installed a state of the art brewery in the basement of his former Jim 

Bob Ray’s bar, enlisted the help of experienced brewing masters, and launched a 

line of craft beers to serve his own establishments and the local market. 


Craft Brewery & 

Farm-to-Table Pub 

585 Richmond St. (at Central) 

MAPS A & B: 

13 

PHONE: 519-433-BEER (2337) 

PUB HOURS: SUN–WED 

11:30 am–1 am 

THURS–SAT 

11:30 am–2 am 

STORE HRS: SUN–THURS 

12 noon–11 pm 

FRI & SAT 

11 am–11 pm 

LUNCH: $8– $15 

DINNER: $15 – $30 

tobogganbrewingcompany.com 

THE SCENE 

A beer can wall greets visitors first, 

indicative of creative choices ahead. 

The basement houses most of the 

brewing equipment, but slick evidence 

of that process is also on display on 

the main level, with sparkling stainless 

steel brewing tanks decoratively lit on 

the north side of the room. A long bar 

flanks the opposite wall, with an 

array of draft taps and flat screen 

TVs behind it, and a large moose 

head anchoring one end. The 519 

Kitchen runs across the back of 

the room, capped by the the curled 

end of the large woodwork evoking a 

toboggan on the ceiling. A store near the 

exit will offer both Toboggan’s products and those from other producers. 


“We’re going to focus on as many foods as we can from the 519 area code,” says 

Owner Mike Smith, describing his newly minted 519 Kitchen. The emphasis on local 

ingredients is in sync with the craft beer options. The open kitchen allows visitors to see 

the staff in action and the large wood stone oven, brought over from the former P Za 

Pie restaurant from down the street, and a large BBQ smoker. Chef Mike Smith (same 

name, different person) will be cooking up Neapolitan Pizzas, from traditional favourites 

like the Margherita, with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil, or a modern 

Cajun Chicken & Brie, with Cajun chicken, red onions, spinach, roasted tomato, brie, 

mozzarella & aroasted garlic herb-infused olive oil. Other recommendations include: 

• House Smoked Meats by the pound, served with flour or gluten-free corn 

tortillas, perfect for sharing and with a vast variety of sides; 

• Small Plates Pub Fare such as Mussels and fresh-cut shoestring Frites served 

with roasted garlic mayo, ketchup and sriracha aioli; 

• Cheese and Charcuterie Boards, featuring local producers, and more 

vegetarian options than found on a typical bar menu. 

5 Different Craft Beers Brewed 

On Site, with Seasonal Small- 

Batch Specials 

Seasonal Farm-to-Table Menus 

Local Food Products for Sale 

L T P W 

Tasting Flights Available 

On-site State of the Art Brewery 

Carefully Crafted Ingredients 


35

Escape the 

STAY 

Nestled between the entertainment and business 

districts in Downtown London, Hotel Metro offers 

a boutique hotel experience. An architectural 

blend of modern and historic design complements 

this private 20-room hotel that delivers a personal 

service during your stay. 

RELAX 

Hotel Metro’s rooms are 

your visit. Awaiting you ar 

bath amenities, flat scree 

makers, soothing soaker 

walls in our signature loft 

delivered to your door — 

and unique experience. 

There is no limit to 

what we can arrange. 

Please contact us to 

customize your stay. 

We are available 24/7 to 

answer your questions. 

London’s Premier 

T: 519.518.9000 or 1.866.626.3876 

32 Covent Market Lan 


Ordinary 

designed to enhance 

e luxurious AVEDA 

n TVs, Keurig coffee 

tubs, exposed brick 

s and fine dining 

ensuring an exceptional 

ENJOY 

Many of London’s finest entertainment attractions 

are within steps of Hotel Metro’s doors: Budweiser 

Gardens, the historic Covent Garden Market and 

the Grand Theatre and many of London’s best 

restaurants and bars — including famed Richmond 

Row — are within walking distance. Located within 

Hotel Metro, Blu Duby Restaurant and Bar offers an 

eclectic seasonal menu. Feel like staying in? Blu 

Duby offers its menu in-room for your convenience. 

e Boutique Hotel 

E: info@mhotels.ca W: hotelmetro.ca 

e, Downtown London 

RESTAURANTS www.londontourism.ca London’s Local Flavour 37

Five Fortune Culture 

Restaurant 

“Pure Chinese” 

Cuisine & Culture 

Downtown London’s Five Fortune Culture Restaurant 

proprietors, Wenbei (pictured here) and Jie Liang Yin (Jeff) offer 

a “Pure Chinese” dining experience. Growing up in Yunnan, Wen 

Bei had great admiration for her grandfather, a medical doctor. He 

had many things to teach a young girl, but the one lesson that truly 

stayed with her was the importance of the food we put in our bodies. 

Under his influence, she learned that balance, quality ingredients 

and attention to detail are central to planning a good meal. 


Five Fortune Culture 

RESTAURANT 

Traditional Chinese 

366 Richmond St. (at King) 

MAPS A & B: 

14 

PHONE: 226-667-9873 

OPEN: 

WED–SUNDAY 

11:30 am–10:30 pm 

closed monday & tuesday 

LUNCH: $12 – $20 

DINNER: $15 – $40 

www.fivefortuneculture.ca 

THE SCENE 

When you walk into 

Five Fortune, you 

enter a casual dining 

experience grown out 

of an ancient culture 

nurtured in the bosom 

of the Himalayas. 

Chinoiserie and other 

decorative arts and 

imagery decorate the dining room, giving personal expression to 

Wenbei and Jie Liang’s former lives in China. 


There is a saying in Yunnan, quotes Wenbei: “We will eat anything with 

four legs except for a table.” The Five Fortune cuisine, as prepared by Jie Liang 

and interpreted by Wenbei is “Pure Chinese,” Yunnan with Sichuan and Guizhou 

influences. There is a selection of hot pots, noodle and rice dishes. Crossing 

Bridge Noodles is a bowl of extremely hot broth and served with a range of 

ingredients supplied raw to the table, including rice noodles, thinly sliced pork, 

poultry and fish, leaf vegetables, bean curd, aromatics and cilantro to balance out 

strong flavours, much like a hot pot. 

Try the jiggly iced congee and glutinous dia bao (steamed buns). You will never 

need Sriracha again, once you’ve tasted Wenbei’s homemade, hot and spicy, red 

pepper dipping oil. She jars it and sells it in the restaurant. An epigram on the menu 

states, “The fragrance always 

stays in the hand that gives 

the rose ...” Recommendations 

include: 

• Redolent steamed pineapple 

rice, the perfect side dish to 

sooth the heat of spicy offerings; 

• Spicy and Sour Mama Duck 

Soup Pot; 

• Yunnan Beef Noodles. 

Authentic Chinese Cuisine 

Specialty Drinks & Desserts 

Selected Evenings feature 

Traditional Song and Dancing 


& Underground Parking at 


L T W 

Ocean Hometown 

Fresh Dry Pot 

Spicy Chicken 

with Potato Copper Pot 

Soybean Congee & Fritters 


39

Icarus 

Resto Bar 

Modern Greek & 

Mediterranean Fusion 

Zack Agathos’ Icarus is an up-tempo Resto Bar in the 

heart of downtown London on Richmond Row. The restaurant 

features locally-sourced, rustic food artfully presented. With a 

vibrant ambience and a kitchen expertly led by Chef Cynthia 

Beaudoin, this is Modern Greek dining at its best. 


Contemporary 

Greek Cuisine 

519 Richmond St. (at Kent) 

MAPS A & B: 

15 

PHONE: 519 601-7110 

OPEN: 

SUN–TUES 

11:30 am–9 pm 

WED 11:30 am–10 pm 

THURS 11:30 am–10 pm 

FRI– SAT 

11:30 am–12 midnight 

LUNCH: $10 – $16 

DINNER: $10 – $32 

www.icarusrestobar.com 

THE SCENE 

Icarus Resto Bar features large 

picture windows, seating for 

more than a dozen at the open 

kitchen, yellow brick walls and 

chestnut-coloured accents at 

the entrance, and a bamboo 

ceiling in the front portion of 

the restaurant. There are good 

acoustics. Behind the row of 

banquettes, near the back, a 

whiskey and bourbon bar is 

slated for a future expansion. 


Greek and Mediterranean cookery has a long tradition, including noble preparations, 

enthusiasm for direct spicing and emphasis on lamb and olives, garlic, lemon, 

yogurt, cheese, grains, nuts, honey and seafood. Icarus features Greek specialties 

such as spanakopita, keftedes (lamb meatballs), 

souvlaki, grilled calamari and pastítsio, that 

comprises layers of pasta noodles, lamb ragù with a 

creamy béchamel topping. 

The Squash is a rich, sweet and savoury salad of 

roasted butternut squash, beet and pumpkin salad 

with red and green onion and spiced nuts tossed in 

maple vinaigrette. Other 

recommendations 

include: 

• Butternut Squash 

Parfait with whipped Greek yogurt, honey, 

granola, quinoa, spiced nuts and dried apricots; 

• Wild Mushroom and Leek Pappardelle tossed in 

a rich whipped garlic cream, finished with sweet 

peas and burnt lemon oil; 

• Saganaki — pan-fried goat cheese flambéed 

with lemon & brandy, served with pita or glutenfree 

bread. 

Interactive Open-Kitchen Concept 

Entertainment on Select Nights 

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian- 

Friendly Menu from Locallysourced 

Ingredients 

Daily Cocktail Features 

L T W B 

The Open Kitchen 

A Trio of Fresh Scallops 

Signature Spanakopita 


41

Idlewyld 

Inn & Spa 

London’s Premier 

Historic Inn 

In addition to boasting one of the city’s most distinguished 

dining experiences, the Idlewyld also offers 21 guest rooms, 

each uniquely decorated to enhance the Inn’s distinctive allure. 

A day spa has been added to the Inn’s amenities, with two 

massage beds, and manicure and pedicure stations. 


Contemporary 

Farm-to-Table 

36 Grand Avenue 

MAP A: 

16 

PHONE: 519-432-5554 

THE SCENE 

Two well-appointed dining rooms are a 

reflection of the casual elegance that the 

Idlewyld has built its reputation around. 

The rooms are smart and impeccable, 

combined with well-spaced tables, 

comfortable armchairs and banquettes. 

With unique furnishings, window 

treatments and gleaming exotic woods 

and other amenities, the Idlewyld is a step 

across the threshold of a grander era. 


Chef de cuisine Trevor Stephens offers a 

locally-inspired menu of contemporary and 

traditional choices, complemented by an international and local selection of wines, 

and draught ales are on tap. The service is knowledgeable, polished and deferential. 

Menus are loaded with ingredients that, along with the stylish dining room, 

evoke the phrase “fine dining.” Try the seared slices of crispy Duck Breast Confit. 

The breast meat is grilled to a seductive char on the outside and deep pink within, 

accompanied by an arugula salad. The house-made Charcuterie Tasting Board features 

duck, pistachio and cranberry rillettes, pork belly and vegetable terrine, sliced 

smoked brisket and other accoutrements. French Apple Tart is served warm with 

chèvre ice cream and caramel sauce. Other recommendations include: 

• Rosemary-scented Roasted Ontario Lamb Rack with cremini 

mushrooms and pearl barley risotto, with a dried cranberry 

demi-glace; 

• Braised Veal Osso 

Buco with housemade 

buttered egg 

noodles and stewed vegetables; 

• Vegetarian house-made Ricotta & 

Potato Gnocchi with garbanzo beans, 

roasted eggplant & yellow zucchini, 

wilted spinach, concasse tomato, 

shaved Parmigianno-Reggiano. 

Breakfast: MON–FRI 

7 am–10 am 

SAT, SUN & Holidays 

8 am– 11 am 

Lunch: MON–FRI 11 am–3 pm 

SAT 11:30 am–2 pm 

Dinner: TUES–SAT 5 pm– 9 pm 

Brunch: SUNDAY 11am–2 pm 

Afternoon Tea: 2 pm–4 pm 

(3rd SAT of the month) 

LUNCH: $11 – $19 

DINNER: $11 – $42 

www.idlewyldinn.com 

Business Lunch Menu 

Conference and Wedding Venue 

A Short Walk to Wortley Village 

Multi-media Capabilities 

Al Fresco Dining on Seasonal 

Courtyard Patio 

A L P W 

Private Dining Rooms Available 

21 Unique Guest Rooms 

Onsite Day Spa 


43

The Windermere Manor 

Charming Elegance, 

Fresh Seasonal Menus 

Executive Chef Kristian Crossen and his culinary team 

invite you to the Windermere to enjoy their exciting 

fresh lunch and dinner menus. Each year, Chef Kristian 

introduces many new dishes featuring the very best 

of seasonal products from local farmers and produce 

vendors. Closest to him are Sous Chef Angela Murphy 

and Chef de Cuisine Shawn Desmarais. Will Fraser, Josh 

Blackmore and Kris Simmons stand behind them, and in 

the back are Dennis Davidson and Josh Vannatter. 

44 London’s Local Flavour www.londontourism.ca RESTAURANTS44

Contemporary 

Farm-to-Table 

200 Collip Circle 

(off Windermere, W of Western Rd) 

MAP A: 

17 

PHONE: 519-858-5866 

HOURS: MON–THURS 7 am–9 pm 

FRIDAY 7 am–10 pm 

SAT & SUN 7 am–9 pm 

LUNCH: $10– $15 

DINNER: $15 – $30 

www.windermeremanor.com 

THE SCENE 

Windermere’s Manor is located in the 

north end of London — just far enough 

from the city to escape its hustle and 

bustle yet only minutes away from the 

Western campus, local hospitals, and 

Masonville Mall. Many guests enjoy 

their dining experience in the enclosed 

patio, heated comfortably year-round. 

Deer spotting has become a favourite 

pastime for many regular diners! 


Executive Chef Kristian Crossen creates Windermere menus true 

to his “farm-to-table” philosophy. As a graduate of George Brown 

College, Chef Kristian honed his culinary skills in Stratford and Langdon Hall 

before returning to London as Executive Chef at Braise restaurant and later joining 

The Windermere Manor Hotel and Conference Center. 

Sunday Brunch always starts with a basket of fresh-baked pastries. Lunch and 

dinner always feature fresh soup and a market fish-of-the-day. Creative vegetarian, 

gluten-free, and vegan options are also available. 

Recommendations include: 

• Parmesan Tortellini with Tuscan kale, roasted 

garlic, lemon-infused chicken broth & fine herbs; 

• Seared Flat Iron Steak with salt roasted 

fingerling potatoes, forest mushroom 

marmalade, watercress & radish salad; 

• Pan Roasted Pickerel in a chorizo broth with 

cannellini beans & kale. 

Windermere Manor can boast of an 

on-site apiary with 23 honeybee hives. 

Not only is the honey used in many of 

the dishes, but a selection is sent to 

House-cured duck ham, 

Grande Marnier and fig paté, 

fingerling chips, honey and 

vanilla pickled beets 

The Windermere Manor 

Hotel & Conference Centre 

St. Thomas’ Railway City Brewery. No 

visit is complete without trying their very 

own Windermere Honey Stung Ale, on 

tap, served by the glass or pitcher. 

Year-round enclosed & heated patio 

Ample free parking 

Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch 

and Dinner 

Featuring local food products & 

craft beers, including their own 

Windermere Honey Stung Ale 

L T P A 

Parmesan Tortellini 

Seared Flat Iron Steak 

Pan Roasted Pickerel 


45

Farm-to-Table 

Dining 

481 Richmond St. (S of Dufferin) 

MAPS A & B: 18 

PHONE: 519-432-4092 

HOURS: SUN–THURS 

11 am–9:30 pm 

FRI–SAT 

11 am–11 pm 

LUNCH: $7 – $15 

DINNER: $10 – $35 

www.garlicsoflondon.com 

dine@garlicsoflondon.com 

Beside The Grand Theatre 

Upscale Rustic Cuisine 

Seasonal Ingredients 

Naturally-raised Meats 

Menu Changes Monthly 

$30 3-Course Dinner Options 

L W 

Fresh, Warm Ambiance 

Prosciutto Pizza 

Maple Pecan Cheesecake 

Garlic’s of London 

Ethical, Seasonal, 

Regional Cuisine 

Owner Edo Pehilj 

A proponent of stellar farm-to-table 

cuisine, GARLIC’S OF LONDON Owner 

Edo Pehilj (above) ensures his carefully 

chosen team offers only intelligent and 

ethically-informed menu choices. This 

is top-of-the-line, rustic cooking using 

seasonal quality ingredients. 

THE SCENE 

Regional foods and recipes are a significant 

part of what makes one locale unique from 

another, and restaurants like Garlic’s of London 

create distinctive and memorable food and drink 

experiences which build enthusiasm and foster 

Chef Chad Stewart & 

community and culinary tourism. A venerated 

Manager Emma Pratt 

dining destination for over 20 years, Garlic’s is 

close to downtown entertainment venues, shopping, hotels and businesses and is well 

established as a favourite on London’s Richmond Row. 


The cooking of Chef Chad Stewart has a contemporary edge — rustic, and madefrom-scratch 

with inspiration from local and signature ingredients and seasonal 

products. Slow cooking, naturally raised foods and local farms are the ingredients 

that make the Garlic’s of London dining experience memorable. Everything is 

meticulously prepared from scratch ... from handmade pastas and slowly simmered 

stock reductions to freshly baked breads and desserts. The menu changes monthly, 

combining the seasonal harvests of the London area with sustainable, organic 

Ontario and Canadian products. Recommendations include: 

• Smoked bacon-wrapped Wild Boar Tenderloin with butternut squash purée, 

sautéed Brussel leaves, caramelized onions, and jalapeno bacon relish; 

• Cast iron-seared jumbo Wild Scallops, with creamy polenta, wilted spinach, 

roasted sweet potato, smokey balsamic onions, and candied bacon; 

• Signature Items including: Elk Salami Pizza, Pad Thai, Roasted 

Garlic and Onion Bisque, Smoked Garlic Fettuccine, Slegers 

Farm’s Organic Greens, Everspring Farm’s Muscovy Duck and 

longtime favourite Crème Brûlée. 



RESTAURANTS

Milos’ 

Craft Beer Emporium 

Home of Craft Beer & 

Fresh Local Food 

MILOS’ CRAFT 

BEER EMPORIUM 

is London’s premier 

craft beer destination, 

owned and operated 

by award-winning 

publican Milos Kral. 

“Pub Milos” has 

become one of the 

best hubs for “local” beer aficionados in Ontario. According to Milos, 

“There’s no such thing as a person who doesn’t love beer. There are 

only people who haven’t yet found a beer to love.” 

THE SCENE 

Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium serves 2 cask ales and 23 micro taps with excellent style 

variation. An impressive, ever-changing lineup of Ontario craft beers is on offer, with a 

few Quebec selections and some well-picked imports. A limited bottle menu primarily 

consists of private order, consignment and rare beers unavailable from the LCBO, 

including highly sought after Westvleteren 12. The pub has an open tap room layout 

with a large projector screen that displays all of the draughts on offer. A 

welcoming two-sided patio with entrances on Carling and Talbot 

streets seats 40 people comfortably. 


Chef Matt Reijnen prepares seasonal menus and specials that reflect 

a commitment and passion for everything local. The Lunch Menu features 

great salads and fresh sandwiches. The ever-changing 

Bar Menu features house-ground burgers, stunning 

charcuterie & cheese boards and other great tastes. 

Signature items include house-made salmon pastrami 

and house-made sausages. 

Chef Reijnen’s extensive use of local produce and farms 

includes local duck from Everspring Farms, for items 

like Duck Breast Confit, and heritage pork 

from De Martines Farms, for items such as 

Tamworth Pork Chop with grainy mustard 

gravy, roasted apples & pickled red cabbage. 

Farm-to-Table 

Beer Pub 

420 Talbot Street (at Carling) 

MAPS A & B: 

19 

PHONE: 519-601-4447 

MON & TUES: 11 am–12 midnight 

WED & THURS: 11 am–1 am 

FRI: 11 am–2 am 

SAT: 4:30 pm–2 am 

closed sunday 

LUNCH: $6 – $14 

DINNER: $9 – $23 

www.pubmilos.com 

milos@pubmilos.com 

Outdoor Patio 

Extensive Craft Beer Selection 

23 Rotating Draughts on Tap 

Two Rotating Cask Ales 

Beer Pairing Options 

Special Beer Dinners 

L P T W 

Farm-to-Table Cuisine 

Late Night Menu Available 

An ever-changing Draught List 


47

English Beer Pub 

122 Carling Street (at Talbot) 

MAPS A & B: 

20 

PHONE: 519-679-9940 

Chaucer’s Pub 

MON: 11:30 am–10:30 pm 

TUES & WED: 11:30 am–11 pm 

THURS: 11:30 am–11:30 pm 

FRI: 11:30 am–1 am 

SAT: 4:30 pm–1 am 

closed sunday 

LUNCH: $10– $15 

DINNER: $12 – $24 

www.marienbad.ca 

info@marienbad.ca 


Fine Banquet Facilities 

Live Jazz & Folk Music 

Outstanding Beer Selection 

European-style Sidewalk Patio 

L P T W 

Traditional Hearty Fare 

Live Music Events 

Spacious Sidewalk Patio 

Craft & Import Beer 

& Single Malt Specialists 

CHAUCER’S PUB is one of 

London’s premier beer pubs, located 

in an exquisite heritage building 

next to the Marienbad Restaurant. 

The two establishments share the 

same eastern and central Europeanfocussed 

menu, with a plethora of 

hearty, traditional fare. 

THE SCENE 

Chaucer’s Pub provides a more casual 

atmosphere than its Old World neighbour, 

the Marienbad Restaurant. Whereas the 

Marienbad takes its cues from eastern 

and central Europe, Chaucer’s features 

true Olde English style. This comfortable 

and cozy pub is a throwback to a different 

era, with a large bar featuring beautiful 

woodwork and a brass rail, beveled and 

Casual and Comfortable 

stained glass, an antique clock, a huge 

stone fireplace and intimate tables. Ancient weaponry adorns many of the walls, 

but Chaucer’s spirit is entirely convivial! 


One of London’s strongest selections of craft beers and imports will satisfy the most 

selective patrons. Try one of the European beers on tap, poured and presented 

according to tradition. While there is an emphasis on Belgian beers, Chaucer’s has 

14 beers on tap and stocks approximately 85 different brews from six 

continents at any given time, including brands such as Stella, Leffe, 

Hoegaarden, Guinness and Pilsner Urquell. Canadian breweries 

consistently on the menu include Keith’s, Mill Street and Unibroue. 

Taking considerable pride in their beer offerings, Chaucer’s rotates in 

selections seasonally, with heartier ales for the winter and clean crisp 

lagers for the warmer months. 

In addition to their beer selection, Chaucer’s also has an outstanding selection 

of single malt scotches on offer. A creative wine list, with some VQA representation, 

complements the menu. 



RESTAURANTS

Marienbad 

Restaurant 

A Taste of Europe 

European Cuisine 

122 Carling Street (at Talbot) 

MAPS A & B: 

21 

PHONE: 519-679-9940 

MON: 11:30 am–10:00 pm 

TUES & WED: 11:30 am–10 pm 

THURS: 11:30 am–10:00 pm 

FRI & SAT: 11:30 am–10:30 pm 

SUN: 4:30 pm–9 pm 

LUNCH: $10– $15 

DINNER: $12 – $24 

www.marienbad.ca 

info@marienbad.ca 


Fine Banquet Facilities 

Murder Mystery Dinners 

European-style Sidewalk Patio 

MARIENBAD RESTAURANT 

is located in one of London’s 

oldest heritage buildings. A popular 

downtown eatery since 1974, 

Marienbad brings a sophisticated 

European flair to fine dining, in a 

casual atmosphere. In season, the 

sidewalk patio is a popular spot for 

al fresco dining or a cold beverage. 

THE SCENE 

Marienbad Restaurant has plenty of Old 

World style and elegance. With a number 

of finely furnished private rooms, this 

is a popular spot for parties, banquets European-style Sidewalk Patio 

and corporate gatherings. The light 

and bright Atrium Room holds up to 40 

people; the cozy Fireplace Room holds up to 80 people; the more formal Prague 

Room holds up to 45 diners. A lively sidewalk patio, in season, brings the flavour of 

European cafés to the London scene. 


Offering casual fine dining with dishes from eastern and central 

Europe, Marienbad’s menu is sure to have something for the most 

discriminating palette. Here are a few of the favourites that have 

made Marienbad famous: 

• Gourmet Schnitzels, Goulash, Chicken Paprikash, Steak 

Tartare, Rouladen, Prime Rib, Seafood, Pastas and Salads. The savoury 

Hungarian Goulash is served with Bohemian dumplings, and the crispy Jäger 

Schnitzel, a pan-fried natural schnitzel, is topped with wild mushroom sauce. 

• For a unique “dinner and a show” experience, Marienbad’s 

Mystery Dinners offer an interactive, entertaining — and tasty! — 

evening. Shows change regularly, so call for details. 

L P T W 

Heritage Building, c. 1854 

Central European Favourites 

Elegant Private Rooms 


49

Casual Italian 

& Traditional Pub 

153-155 Albert St. (W of Richmond) 

MAP A: 

22 

PHONE: 519-642-2300 

Fellini Koolini’s 

& The Runt Club 

HOURS: MON–WED 11am–10pm 

THURS–SAT 11am–11pm 

SUN 4pm–10pm 

RUNT CLUB HOURS: 

MON–THURS 11am–1am 

FRI & SAT 11am–2am 

SUN & SAT 6pm–1am 

Summer Hours: 12 noon–1am 

LUNCH: $8 – $12 

DINNER: $18 – $24 

www.fellinikoolini.com 

fellinikoolini@yahoo.ca 

www.runtclub.ca 

info@theruntclub.com 

Build your own thin-crust pizza 

or pasta creation 

Children’s Menu 

L P W 

Playful & Fun Italian Décor 

Casual Affordable Favourites 

Flavours of Italy and 

the Mediterranean 

FELLINI KOOLINI’S ITALIAN 

CUISINI is restaurateur Mike 

Smith’s tongue-in-cheek 

homage to the surreal Italian 

director Frederico Fellini. With its 

sibling restaurant, THE RUNT 

CLUB, next door, the twin patios 

make Albert Street off Richmond 

Row a festive destination. Both 

eateries are celebrating 25 years 

of business. 

THE SCENE 

The Fellini Koolini’s décor is purposely 

overdone in sentimental Italian kitsch. 

The terrace (with the distinction of The Runt Club Patio 

being the first licenced patio built in 

the city) offers an inviting spot for al fresco dining. Next door, The Runt Club offers a 

larger patio, with a traditional pub atmosphere inspired by a “post-war Italian home.” 

There’s plenty of shade from mature trees, which are festooned with twinkle lights in 

the evening. This a very popular watering hole in the central part of the city. 


This is fun, casual dining with affordable menu items that include a 

diverse selection of intentional highbrow/lowbrow creations: pastas, 

thin-crust pizza, steamed mussels, calamari, steaks, etc. Or create 

your own, as a Pasta Architect, and select from a wide variety of pastas, 

sauces, meats and vegetables. Likewise, the Pizza Architect gets to 

choose all their favourite ingredients. The Runt Club offers the full Fellini Koolini’s menu. 

Recommended Selections include: 

• Roasted Chicken Spring Rolls with leek, shiitake mushroom, sundried tomato, 

smoked cheddar & garlic boursin cheese, served with a tomato dipping sauce; 

• Tuscan Trio Dip, roasted artichoke & asiago, roasted garlic 

parmesan & spinach, spicy roasted red pepper & cream cheese, 

served with pita points & toasted garlic cheese sticks; 

• Pecan-Crusted Chicken stuffed with brie & sundried cherries, 

finished with a honey & shallot cream sauce. 



RESTAURANTS

Joe Kool’s 

Not As Bad As 

We Used to Be 

Casual Bar 

and Grill 

595 Richmond St. (at Central) 

MAP A: 

23 

PHONE: 519-663-5665 

HOURS: MON–SAT: 11 am–2 am 

SUN: 12 noon–2 am 

LUNCH: $9 – $16 

DINNER: $11 – $23 

www.joekoolsrestaurant.ca 

ron@joekools.ca 

Semi-private Rooms Available 

Entire Menu Available for 

Take-Out and Delivery 

Kid’s Menu 

L T P W 

Photo caption about Acme 

Restaurant and this dish 

Restaurateur Mike Smith 

launched JOE KOOL’S 

32 years ago, and it’s 

been a fun and popular 

restaurant landmark and 

bar on Richmond Row’s 

busy scene ever since. 

A Richmond Row Landmark Bar Since 1983 

THE SCENE 

The eccentric surroundings provide a never-ending supply of eye-catching kitsch 

and memorabilia, from Elvis in his coffin to the 1000+ beer can collection. Kool’s 

is also a sports lover’s paradise, evidenced in umpteen big screens and regular 

TVs covering all of the angles and all of the games. If you want to 

watch it, they can probably get it! An elevated seasonal rooftop 

patio has a capacity for 130 people. Large groups can also 

arrange for semi-private rooms: the ever-popular “Back Room” 

with its mezzanine, and “The Penthouse” in the basement. 


There are 25 draft beers on tap, but Joe Kool’s is also about the food. The Soup 

de Yesterday, because it tastes better that way, is indicative of Kool’s humour and 

commitment to great taste. While there is something for everyone, Kool’s is known 

for its Santa Fe Spring Rolls, with Cajun chicken, corn, black beans, onions, monterey 

jack and pico de gallo, baked or fried and served with a side of chipotle mayo dipping 

sauce. Try the Sante Fe Chopped Chicken Salad, with chicken breast, mixed greens, 

monterey jack cheese, black beans, corn, tomato, avocado, roasted red pepper, 

pumpkin seeds and crispy tortilla chips, tossed in a creamy cilantro 

lime dressing. Other recommendations include the Jose Nachos, the 

Kitchen Sink Pizza, Deluxe Hot Dogs and Burgers and Chicken 

Wings. Kool’s also offers a convenient take-out and delivery service. 

Wall-to-Wall-to-Ceiling 

Eye-Catching Memorabilia 

Elevated Rooftop Patio 

TVs covering all Major Sports 


51

Casual Dining 

Bar & Grill 

842 Wharncliffe Rd S (at Southdale) 

MAP A: 

24 

PHONE: 519-690-0292 

HOURS: MON–WED: 


THURS: 11 am–1 am 

SAT: 11 am–2 am 

SUN: 12 noon–11 pm 

Tiger Jack’s Bar & Grill 

Let the Good Times 

ROAR! 

LUNCH: from $7 

DINNER: from $8 

www.tigerjacks.com 

rdejager@tigerjacks.com 

Lunch & Dinner Daily Specials 

• Mexican Mondays — Fajitas & 

Coronas 

• Tuesday Pasta Special 

• Wednesday NY Steak Special 

• Thursday Rib Festival 

• Friday Catch of the Day 

• Kids Eat Free All Day Sundays 

FRI & SAT night DJ & Dancing 

Plenty of Free Parking 

L T P W 

Thursdays Rib Night Special 

Signature Sauces for Sale 

Deep in the heart of South 

London, local restaurateur 

Rick DeJager has created 

a welcoming hot spot 

that has been pleasing 

crowds since 1998. TIGER 

JACK’S is a communityminded 

business with a 

Sports rule in the bar area 

focus on delicious food 

and great service. Let the good times ROAR! 

THE SCENE 

A large dining room, a full and lively sports-themed bar, and quick and 

attentive service make for a friendly and comfortable atmosphere. 

Pool tables are available, and on Friday and Saturday nights, a DJ 

and dancing warms up the crowd. Looking for a spot to celebrate 

a special occasion or host a group event? Reserve the Tiger’s Den for your private 

party, and check out the Party Platter Menu for some great party food suggestions. 


The extensive Tiger Jack’s menu is full of affordable casual dining options. The Soup 

of the Day is always fresh made, and the fryers all use trans fat-free oil. Expect all the 

regular pub food specialties such as a large selection of Chicken Wings, thin crust 

Pizzas, awesome Nachos and new Burgers, made in-house with fresh ontario cornfed 

beef, hormone- and antibiotic-free. Other features include the signature “Jumpin’ 

Jack Wrap,” Chicken Parmesan, salt & vinegar Fish & Chips, a selection of Steaks, 

Sandwiches, Salads and a section for all of “Tigers Favourites”! 

• Tiger Jack’s Famous Back Ribs 

(try the Blueberry BBQ sauce!) 

• Value-packed Daily Lunch & 

Dinner Specials feature some of 

Tiger Jack’s all-time favourites. 

• Bring Tiger’s home 

with you! Full 

menus are online; 

phone to place your 

Enjoy the Pool Tables 

take-out order. 



RESTAURANTS

Shelly’s Tap and Grill 

BEST WESTERN PLUS 

Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre 

Casual Restaurant 

and Lounge 

591 Wellington Road South 

MAP A: 

25 

PHONE: 519-691-3402 

Open Daily from 6:30 am – 10 pm 

Lounge Open until 11 pm 

LUNCH: $10 – $17 

DINNER: $10 – $14 

Where Good 

Times Happen 

www.shellystapandgrill.ca 

shellystapandgrill 

@lamplighterinn.ca 

All-Day Breakfast 

Daily Sandwich, Pasta and 

Entrée features 

Healthy choices with the 

freshest ingredients 

Shelly’s Sensational Oven-Roasted 

Chicken on Weekends 

Shelly’s Lounge features Flat- 

Screen TVs and Fireplace 

Free VIP Membership when you 

join Shelly’s Club! Special 

offers, premium discounts & 

invitations to exclusive events 

L T A W 

SHELLY’S TAP AND GRILL is all 

about great food and great people — 

an unstoppable combination. Dropins 

are encouraged, whether it’s for a 

quick and healthy breakfast (served 

all day!), a tasty lunch, a satisfying 

dinner, or for your favourite libation 

while enjoying the warm and friendly lounge with friends. 

THE SCENE 

Located within the comfortable confines of the BEST WESTERN 

PLUS Lamplighter Inn and Conference Centre, one of 

Southwestern Ontario’s premier hotel and conference facilities, 

Shelly’s offers true comfort. Rich woods, granite, a fireplace and 

stained glass enhance the intimate feel of the restaurant and lounge. 


• The All-Day Breakfast ranges from a light and refreshing “Good Morning 

Parfait” to rich and satisfying Eggs Benedict. 

• For a light lunch, try the Tandoori Salmon Salad as a refreshingly flavourful choice. 

For something a little heartier at dinner, try the New York Striploin Steak. 

• Quench your thirst with Shelly’s Classic Cocktails — all the 

traditional favourites — or browse the Martini Menu. Shelly’s 

features “i baci” wines from Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Pillitteri Estates 

Winery, and a broad selection of fine wines from around the world. 

Oriental Chicken Salad 

Tortilla Soup 

RESTAURANTS 



53

Modern Bistro 

2530 Blair Blvd. (off Crumlin) 

in the Diamond Flight Centre 

MAP A: 

26 

PHONE: 519-455-9005 

Breakfast: SAT & SUN 

9 am–12 noon 

Lunch: MON–SUN 

11 am–3 pm 

Dinner: WED–SUN 

5 pm–10 pm 

LUNCH: $8–$16 

DINNER: $23–$29 

www.katanakafe.com 

Weekend Breakfasts 


1 Block North of the Airport, 

off Crumlin Side Road 

Katana Kafé 

& Grill 

Unique Views 

& Fabulous Food 

L P W 

Sleek but Cozy Ambiance 

Runway View 45-Seat Patio 

Table, Bar and Patio Views 

of Airport Flights 

Within Diamond Flight Centre 

Katana 

Kafé 

& Grill 

KATANA KAFÉ’s tagline 

— “A little out of the way, 

a lot out of the ordinary!” 

— is more true today than 

ever. Perfect for plane 

spotters and aeronautical 

aficionados, in the Diamond 

Flight Centre, the 

Katana patio runs beside 

the London International 

Airport tarmac. The view 

Luis Rivas 

is spectacular and the 

food soars. 

London International Airport Plane Spotting 

THE SCENE 

The décor is sleek, with a contemporary vibe and aeronautical theme, with biplanes 

and hot-air balloons. Bright and airy, the tarmac-side patio and large windows allow 

for viewing flights coming and going on various London International 

Airport runways. Reservations are recommended. 


Katana Kafé offers a modern take on the bistro theme. Chef Michael 

Chilvers guides his stellar culinary team behind a glass partition, and 

the cuisine receives raves. The restaurant is a lunch-time favourite for 

the East London business crowd, who appreciate the professional and attentive 

staff. Enjoy a seasonal menu with interesting interpretations of seafood, game and 

steaks, and all desserts and ice cream are made in house. Suggestions include: 

• Starters such as the Warm Mushroom Tart on puff pastry with crumbled blue 

cheese and tomato chutney, or the Foie Gras on a maple sweet potato hash with 

double smoked bacon and sunny side quail egg; 

• Entrées such as the Grilled NY Striploin with bacon, smoked 

cheddar & potato tower topped with brie cheese and a caramelized 

onion demi, or the Seafood Risotto with shrimp, crab, 

calamari & mussels with roasted peppers in a lobster butter broth. 



RESTAURANTS

The Root Cellar 

Organic Café 

Local Organic Food 

& Craft Beers 

Farm-to-Table 

Organic Café 

623 Dundas Street (E of Adelaide) 

MAP A: 

27 

PHONE: 519-719-7675 

HOURS: MON & TUES 

8 am–9 pm 

WED–SAT 

8 am–11 pm 

LUNCH: $7 – $13 

DINNER: $12–$20 

www.rootcellarorganic.ca 

info@rootcellarorganic.ca 

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Fresh, Local, Organic Menus 

In-House Bakery 

Craft Beer & VQA Wines Offered 

Home of London Brewing Co-op 

L T P W 

Community-focused, local, sustainable 

and responsible are the key 

words to describe THE ROOT 

CELLAR, an organic café, bakery and 

juice bar in London’s Old East Village. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner, the 

commitment to a quality experience 

is evident in every delicious bite. 

THE SCENE 

Arched exposed brickwork, a tin ceiling, myriad 

rustic lighting fixtures and even an old sign 

discovered while renovations were underway 

and incorporated into the front of the butcher 

block bar create an earthy, creative vibe. 


The culinary team is led by Chef Dani Murphy and the kitchen’s 

repertoire of “from scratch” seasonal menu offerings — with everchanging 

daily specials listed on a colourful array of blackboards 

— are all organic (with minor exceptions). 80% of the food is 

procured locally, grown and produced within a 45-minute radius of 

London. The housemade artisan baked goods are made from locally sourced and 

organic grains. 

If you are looking for a sustainable Water Buffalo Burger, a tasty vegan 

Shepherd’s Pie, or some Kale and Potato Samosas, you have come to the right 

place. Pair that with one of The Root Cellar’s healthy Smoothies that don’t sacrifice 

great taste, like the Willy Wonka, with housemade chocolate sauce, peanut butter, 

banana and vanilla almond milk. Daily breakfast omelettes, soup of the day, 

sandwich specials and salad bowls are listed on The Root Cellar’s Facebook page. 

This is also the home of the London Brewing Co-op, adding “plough-to-pint” to 

the Café’s “farm-to-table” approach. Sample from an eclectic range of 

original beers, hand-crafted in small batch brewing, including lighter 

amber ales and robust stouts and porters. A VQA wine list is also 

available for lovers of the grape. 

Daily Blackboard Specials 

The Captain Planet Bowl 

Fancy Pants Fresh Pasta 


55

Farm-to-Table 

Social Enterprise 

255 Horton St. East (at Wellington) 

MAP A: 

28 

PHONE: 519-645-0900 

HOURS: MON–FRI 

7:30 am – 4:30 pm 

SAT & SUN 9 am – 3 pm 

Edgar and Joe’s Café 

A Café With a Purpose 

Breakfast: $5 – $8 

Lunch: $4.75 – $10 

www.edgarandjoes.ca 

Fresh and Local Ingredients 

Catering Available 

Free Parking 

Available for Private Functions 

in the Evenings 

T W 

A Community Gathering Space 

Innovative Lunch Combinations 

Fresh Baked Goods Daily 

EDGAR AND JOE’S is a 

gathering space and food 

operation with a social 

purpose in London’s SoHo 

district — “South of Horton” 

— just south of downtown. 

The café makes fresh 

and local food available, 

affordable and approachable 

with healthy choices from 

a wide variety of selections 

made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. 

THE SCENE 

The stylish and minimalist 70-seat Café is located in the Goodwill Social 

Enterprise Abilities Centre, opened in 2013. The Centre features a 50-seat town 

hall, 160-seat community hall and various other gathering spaces. Edgar and 

Joe’s has quickly garnered great word-of-mouth, becoming a favourite daytime 

destination with a diverse clientele from all over the city. 


Nutritious baked goods with high quality ingredients are freshly 

baked on site throughout the day. Sandwiches are definitely the 

stars of the show, from the classic BLT to innovative combinations 

inspired by global cuisines. Delicious soups, salads and a daily 

chalkboard special are on offer. The kitchen is liberal with fresh herbs, leaves 

and vegetables and never compromises on the quality of the meats and cheeses. 

The Classic Breakfast Special — eggs, toast, hash browns, and your choice of 

bacon, sausage or ham — is a standout. Other recommendations include: 

• Eggs Benny with two soft poached eggs served on a warm buttermilk biscuit topped 

with house peameal and the café’s signature hollandaise, served with homefries; 

• Roasted Vegetable Panini with mozzarella, basil pesto, tomato, grilled zucchini, 

roasted peppers, alfalfa sprouts and capers drizzled with balsamic & olive oil; 

• Edgar Burger with house-ground AAA Angus chuck, charbroiled 

and topped with Asiago cheese, sautéed mushrooms, doublesmoked 

bacon and shallots. Served on a toasted Kaiser with 

lettuce, tomato and house mayo. 



RESTAURANTS

Olive R. Twists 

Food & Beverage House 

Comfort Food 

130 King Street 

(Covent Garden Market) 

MAPS A & B: 

29 

PHONE: 519-204-9184 

HOURS: MON–THURS 


FRI & SAT 11 am–2 am 

SUN 12 noon–11 pm 

Lunch Express from $8.99 

Entrées from $16.99 

www.olivertwists.ca 

Start Fresh, Finish Simple 

—Welcome Home! 

In the heart of the city, London’s 

Covent Garden Market has a new 

“twist.” OLIVE R. TWIST’s simple 

classic comfort food is made to order 

for you and your friends. “Start Fresh, 

Finish Simple — Welcome Home!” 

THE SCENE 

From the moment you enter the inviting 

surroundings of this newly redesigned 

restaurant, your experience begins, 

Earth-tone brick walls, dramatic lighting, 

a granite bar top and fireplaces create a 

warm exciting simple feel of home. 

Outside, a 1700-square-foot patio (rated one of the best in the 

city) overlooks the Market Square and Budweiser Gardens. The 

patio features a separate lounge area, Oliver’s outdoor bar and 

“liquid chef” barbecue, TVs, and a dining area. 


Restaurant goers and foodies alike are invited to try simple tastes with unique 

flavours. This is homestyle cooking at its best, using only the finest meats, fish, 

vegetables, herbs and spices. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are available. 

Recommended features include: 

• Award-winning Jack Daniel 

Baby Back Ribs; 

• Homestyle Pure Beef Burgers; 

• Fire-grilled Steaks and Pork 

Chops 

• Atlantic Salmon 

• Asian-inspired 

Stirfries 

16 Draft Beers • 5 Craft Beers 

Daily Specials • Kids Menu 

Live Music Thursdays 

Martini Fridays — 2 oz $5.00 

Gluten-Free & Vegetarian Options 

“Olive R’s” Banquette Facilities 

Take-out Available 

Outstanding Seasonal Patio 

L T P W 

Downtown’s New Hot Spot 

Crispy Thai Salad 

Charbroiled Pure Beef Burger 


57

Italian, Spanish & 

Portuguese 

Cuisine & Frenchinspired 

Café 

717 Richmond St. (at Piccadilly) 

30 

MAP A: 

PHONE: 519-435-0616 

HOURS: SUN–THURS 

11:30 am–10 pm 

FRI–SAT 


LUNCH: From $9.95 

DINNER: From $18.50 

www.aromarestaurant.ca 

fg_international@bellnet.ca 

Aroma Café 

Open Daily from 8 am–10 pm 


Team-Building Cooking Classes 

Meeting Facilities 

Live Music on Weekends 

L T W B 

Aroma Café on Richmond St. 

Fresh Seafood Specials 

Seasonal Desserts 

Aroma 

Restaurant & Café 

Old World Charm 

in Downtown London 

Felipe Gomes’s AROMA RESTAURANT & AROMA CAFÉ combine 

Old World ambiance with high technology. Felipe’s experiential offerings 

include amenities and facilities for cooking classes, corporate teambuilding 

exercises, and a private conference room for up to 30. An on-site 

bakery provides croissants, cakes & French pastries and Portuguesestyle 

custard tarts, an homage to Gomes’ heritage. 

THE SCENE 

Aroma’s open courtyard dining room features a three-storey 

vaulted ceiling, creating a spacious yet cozy space, with a feeling of 

the Mediterranean outdoors. Aroma’s newest addition is the recently 

opened Aroma Café, a Parisian-inspired coffee house offering patrons 

a selection of speciality sandwiches, café au lait, croissants and patisserie. Aroma 

Café is part grab-and-go café, part bakery, and part casual dine-in restaurant. The 

café is attached to the restaurant, which fronts on Piccadilly Street. 


Aroma’s menus feature signature specialties from all over the Mediterranean: 

the south of France, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Felipe has made several 

additions to the menu and ensures there is always a selection of fresh fish from 

the coasts of Portugal and Spain. The calamari, 

grilled and served with olive oil and garlic sauce, 

is another Aroma favourite. 

• Signature starters include a Cream of 

Lobster Soup with grilled fennel and a dash of 

Port, and a Sundried Tomato, Baby Spinach 

and Basil Risotto. 

• For lunch, try Portuguese Cod & Shrimp Cakes, 

lightly breaded and served with a tomato coulis. 

• Dinner entrées include Marinated Lamb 

with roasted garlic and oregano with a 

blackberry and blueberry demi glace. 

• Desserts are presented 

“European style” — on a large 

tray for you to select from — 

and the Crème Brûlée is highly 

recommended. 

Felipe Gomes in Aroma’s 

Adega Lounge Wine Cellar 

58 


www.londontourism.ca RESTAURANTS

The Springs 

Restaurant 

Savoury Seasonal 

Cuisine 

THE SCENE 

Owners Tim and Laura Owen successfully 

launched The Springs with the creative 

genius and culinary guidance of Chef Andrew 

Wolwowicz. Their ethical gourmet refuge on 

Springbank Drive has met and surpassed 

London’s high expectations. The light-filled 

dining room, comfortable downstairs banquet 

room and inviting seasonal patio all hum 

with the contented sighs of satisfied diners. 

Reservations are recommended. 


Chef Andrew Wolwowicz cooks with finely 

Chef Andrew Wolwowicz 

tuned instincts, skill, dedication, precision, 

creativity and passion. The Springs is proud to use the finest locally grown products from 

farms specializing in sustainable agriculture, organic growing practices 

and ethically-raised livestock. The menus reflect dishes crafted from 

local, regional and seasonal speciality ingredients. Suggestions include: 

• Teriyaki Prawn Penne with jumbo shrimp, Portobello mushrooms, 

a julienne of sweet onion and peppers, and a spicy 

sweet Springs-made teriyaki cream sauce; 

• Duck Pierogies & Kung Fu Cabbage with shredded duck leg confit, 

sheep’s milk cheese & Yukon gold potatoes served with Kung Fu Rieslingbraised 

Wakefield cabbage & pancetta cream reduction; 

• Cast Iron AAA Beef Tenderloin, served with rustic whipped potato and seasonal 

vegetables, with lobster tail option; 

• Honey Lime Maitake Mush rooms and Heirloom Beets, served with a sweet 

coconut red curry over a crusted risotto cake with honey lime-glazed beets and 

mushrooms and sautéed arugula; 

• Chicken Supreme, pan-roasted, Manzanilla olive and tomato 

“tartar” with fennel pollen, spiced pumpkin seeds, organic quinoa 

and saffron-scented natural jus; 

• Everspring Duck Salad with Wildwood Greens. 

Farm-to-Table 

Dining 

310 Springbank Drive 

MAP A: 

31 

PHONE: 519-657-1100 

MON–THURS: 11:30 am–10 pm 

FRI: 11:30 am–12 midnight 

SAT: 12 noon–12 midnight 

closed sunday 

LUNCH: from $10 

DINNER: from $18 

www.thespringsrestaurant.com 

Beautifully Appointed Patio 

Live Music with Glenn Bennett 

THURS, FRI & SAT from 7:30 pm 

Minutes from Downtown London 

Plenty of Free Well-lit Parking 

Private Banquet Room 

L P W 

Light-filled Dining Room 

Ethical Gourmet Fare 

Creative Seasonal Desserts 


59

Culinary Retail 

60 London’s Local Flavour

Jill’s Table 

A Feast of Kitchen Essentials 

Kitchen Shop 


MAPS A & B: 

32 

PHONE: 519-645-1335 

MON–FRI: 9:30 am–6 pm 

SATURDAY: 8 am–6 pm 

www.jillstable.ca 

London’s Destination 

for Food Lovers 

Superior Kitchenware 

Unique Specialty Foods 

Outstanding Selection of 

Oils and Vinegars 

W 

After 15 years of business in 

downtown London, JILL’S TABLE 

continues to be the destination for 

food lovers. Owner Jill Wilcox and 

her team offer excellent product 

knowledge and superior customer 

service to make shopping an 

exciting experience. 

You’ll find a wide array of unique specialty 

foods, including one of the best selections 

of oils and vinegars; superior kitchenware, 

including All-Clad, Wusthof and Emile 

Henry; as well as many Canadian-made items, including The Garlic Box products, 

Touche Bakery cookies and Savvy Chef mustards. 

Looking for a fun activity to do with friends and family? Enjoy a unique evening 

out at a Jill’s Table Cooking Class taught by some of Southwestern Ontario’s 

best chefs. Or on the weekend, let your senses get the better of you with Sample 

Saturdays, when great new food products and recipes are yours to try. 

Need the perfect 

gift? Jill’s staff will help 

you choose a gift that 

wows! A custom- or 

pre-designed gift basket 

is always a great choice. 

Whether it is for a wedding, 

housewarming or 

birthday, they 

are always 

Cooking Classes 

Proprietor Jill Wilcox 

happy to gift 

wrap. 

Unique Specialty Foods 

Superior Kitchenware & Utensils 

Located Across from 


CULINARY RETAIL www.londontourism.ca London’s Local Flavour 

61

The Pristine Olive 

Tasting Bar 

Taste the Difference 

Real Quality Makes! 

In 2012, Jamie Griffiths (right) launched 

The Pristine Olive Tasting Bar, 

an exciting new concept, with his wife Clara, 

just two months after their son Reid was born. 

One of the family-run store’s popular six-bottle 

sample packs is named “Reid’s Favourites” 

and the latest flavour combination has been 

dubbed “NaturALLY Delicious” in honour of 

the new member of the family, Ally, who was 

born in December, 2013. 


The 

Pristine 

live 

Tasting Bar 

Olive Oil & Balsamic 

Vinegar Tasting Bar 

462 Cheapside St. (at Maitland) 

MAP A: 

33 

PHONE: 519-433-4444 

MON–FRI: 10:30 am–5:30 pm 


closed sunday 

www.thepristineolive.ca 

thepristineolive@gmail.com 

Since opening in June 2012, THE PRISTINE 

OLIVE TASTING BAR top priorities have 

been to bring Londoners the freshest and highest 

quality extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars 

available, but also educate customers on what 

makes the difference when it comes to true taste. 

With over 60 all-natural olive oils and balsamic 

vinegars — all available to try before you buy — 

there are a myriad of choices to ignite your taste 

buds. Customers are guided through the tasting 

process, where their favourite choices are freshly 

bottled from a stainless-steel tank called a fusti. 

The Pristine Olive is a place you really need to 

experience. “Once you taste our products, you will be amazed by the difference real 

quality makes.” Many do not realize the importance of freshness. “Think of your 

olive oil as a freshly squeezed fruit juice,” says Jamie Griffiths. “You wouldn’t want 

your orange juice sitting around for 3 years, would you?” 

This focus on freshness is only possible by the rotation of all their olive oils with every 

harvest. For half the year, they only carry oils produced in the Northern Hemi sphere (Italy, 

Spain, Portugal, California, etc.), and the other half only oils from the 

Southern Hemisphere (Australia, Chile, Peru, etc.). “We never have oils 

available past the 12-month mark following their harvest date.” 

The Pristine Olive’s Ultra Premium (UP) standard for extra 

virgin olive oil was developed to define and distinguish the 

freshest, highest quality olive oil in the world. This new category 

for extra virgin is well beyond any current industry standards. The 

Pristine Olive is the only place in London to offer their customers 

the UP standard in olive oil — the ultimate in flavour, authenticity, 

tree-to bottle transparency, third party sensory and chemistry lab testing. 

Knowing their customers value purity, in December 2013, they announced that 

all of their aged dark balsamic vinegars are now caramel colour-free, making them 

one of the few companies in the world to offer a truly colour-free product, with no 

added thickener or sweeteners. 

The Pristine Olive also carries many items made exclusively with their olive oil 

products: natural olive oil soap, a line of hair and skin care products, pesto, 

tapenades, and spreads all made with the finest ingredients, and of course, loads of 

their very own, fresh, vibrant UP-certified extra virgin olive oil! 

Extra virgin olive oils and 

balsamic vinegars: $13–$32 

Gourmet oils: $12–$98 

Ultra Premium Extra Virgin 

Olive Oils 

Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oils 

Fused (Agrumato) & Infused Olive Oils 

Traditional-Style Balsamic Vinegar 

Condimento 

Natural-Flavoured Balsamic 

Vinegars 

After Hours, Private Tastings Available 

P 

W 

Over 60 Oil and Vinegar Flavours 

Soothing Balms & Body Wash 

Sample Pack Options 


63

Organic Coffee 

Roastery 

952 Princess Avenue 

(Office Location) 

MAP A: 

34 

PHONE: 226-378-5100 

MONDAY–FRDAY 

9 am–5 pm 

www.patricksbeans.com 

Six Signature Blends in Stock 

Individual Varietals and Special 

Orders Available 

Custom Crafted Blend Specialists 

Patrick’s Beans 

Patrick Dunham’s goal 

for PATRICK’S BEANS is 

to offer consistently high 

quality coffee blends that 

are roasted locally and 

sourced ethically. Beans 

are individually roasted in 

small batches and then 

blended together to build 

something that is greater 

than the sum of its parts, 

attaining tailor-made 

tastes and complexities 

Fresh Roasted Coffee 

— On The Level 

Ethical High Quality Coffee 

that cannot be found in 

single varietal selections. 

Patrick’s fair trade, organic 

beans are sourced from 

Central America, Ethiopia, 

and Indonesia. These 

international coffees allow 

him to tap into the best that each bean has to offer. 

SIGNATURE BLENDS 

Patrick’s six signature blends — marketed under playful names such as “Super 

F’n Dark,” “Velvet Hammer,” “Tastes Like Danger (decaf),” and “The Safe Choice” 

— have been quickly adopted by customers across London and beyond. Each has 

a distinctively different flavour profile. For example, Dark & Brewding is a rich dark 

roast blend of Sumatran, Sidamo & Guatemalan coffees, full-bodied with complexity 

added by the sun-dried Sidamo. Find your favourite, and custom-crafted blends are 

also available. 

Six Signature Blends & More ... 

Skillfully Crafted Roast Profiles 

LOCAL CONNECTIONS 

Dunham caters to the specific needs of clients and his strategy includes offering 

fundraising opportunities to non-profits as well as demonstrating transparent 

community involvement. Patrick’s Beans can be found in a myriad of businesses 

around London, where they can be purchased as 

house blends unique to the café or restaurant, or 

as one of Dunham’s six signature blends. Enjoy 

Patrick’s Beans at these establishments: 

Aeolian Hall 

The Only On King 

Arva Flour Mill 

Pause Café 

The Boombox Bakeshop Rhino Lounge 

Eat Green Organics The Root Cellar 

The Hungary Butcher The Springs Restaurant 

Hyde Park Market The Starving Artist 

Jaydancin 

Time to Chill 

Kantina Restaurant 

Kiss The Cook 

Lets Eat Cake 

La Noisette Bakery London 



CULINARY RETAIL

Olive-Me & Co. 

Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Bar 

COO (Chief Olive Officer) 

Missy Haggarty 

OLIVE~ME & CO. has a passion for all things olive! Independentlyowned 

and operated by Missy Haggarty, the company brings 

the freshest available Extra Virgin Olive Oils and finest Balsamic 

Vinegars from around the world to London, so everyone can enjoy 

great international cuisine in their own homes. Olive-Me also offers 

unique Extra-Olive Virgin Oils, original Tapenades and Award- 

Winning Mustards, and Skin Care Products derived from Extra Virgin 

Olive Oils from a variety of sources. 

The European-inspired Tasting 

Why have any other when 

you can have Olive-Me! 

Room features an attractive 

array of large stainless steel 

fusti tanks which store the extra 

virgin olive oils and 

balsamic vinegars. Customers sample as many flavours as they wish 

with tasting cups and make their selections. Choose one or more, 

and even create your own signature blend. From the same fusti 

tanks they sampled from, the oils and vinegars are then hand 

poured and bottled, hand labeled, freshly corked and foil sealed. 

FRESHNESS GUARANTEED! 

By following the seasonal olive crush cycles, Olive-Me is able to 

source and deliver the freshest oils from some 

of the finest artisan producers from different 

countries of origin. In addition to a range of 

varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils, you will also find 

unique flavoured oils including Persian Lime and 

Blood Orange. The same care goes into selecting 

balsamic vinegars, which range from a beautiful 

18-Year-Old Traditional to White Balsamic, 

Chocolate Raspberry and Garlic Cilantro. 

PRIVATE TASTING PARTIES 

Book a private in-store one-of-a-kind event for 

your group, that can include complimentary 

tastings and gourmet 

food & wine packages designed 

Olive Oil-Skin Care Products 

to fit any budget or need. 

Olive Oil & Balsamic 

Vinegar Tasting Bar 

1570 Hyde Park Road, Unit # 7 

(at Gainsborough) 

MAP A: 

PHONE: 519-471-6548 

TUES–FRI: 10 am–6 pm 


SUNDAY: 


closed monday 

www.olivemeco.com 

London’s First Olive Oil Tasting Room 

Over 60 Varieties and Flavours of 

Extra Virgin Olive Oils & 

Balsamic Vinegars 

Sourced from the Finest Artisan 

Producers Worldwide 

Certified and Lab Tested 

Custom Labelling Available 

Free Tasting/Sampling Experience 

Sample Sizes & Gift Packs Available 

W 

35 

Various Sizes of Fresh Products 

Original Tapenades, Mustards, 

Dipping Sauces & Oils 

Tasting Is Believing! 


65

Farmers’ Markets 

66 London’s Local Flavour


The Heart of London 

Farmers’ Market 


MAPS A & B: 

36 

PHONE: 519-439-3921 

HOURS: MON–THUR 

8 am–6 pm 

FRI: 8 am–7:30 pm 

SAT: 8 am–6 pm 

SUN: 11 am–4 pm 

www.coventmarket.com 

Underground Parking 

The COVENT GARDEN MARKET, in its third incarnation, was rebuilt 

in its present location in 2000. Located downtown at the junction of 

King and Talbot Streets, it is a strong attraction for locals and out-oftown 

guests alike. The original market building, established in 1845, a 

handsome and stately affair, was once the subject 

of a bucolic oil painting by local artist Paul Peel. 

Today, the Covent Garden Market remains one 

of the city’s most venerated cultural landmarks 

and the heart and soul of the downtown area. 

On market days in earlier times, farmers travelled over 

back-country roads to sell from their wagons at Market 

Square. Meat was sold from covered booths inside the 

market building, and a large pot-bellied stove provided 

heat in the winter months. Market-goers and farmers were 

brought together to barter on sawdust-covered floors, where 

everything and anything was for sale. 

In the 1880s, a collection of shops just east of the market building was known 

as the Market Bazaar, selling anything “from a needle to an anchor.” By 1905, 

these buildings had been torn down and “con men, jugglers, musicians, magicians, 

medicine men and preachers” reportedly made pitches in the open square. 

Covent Garden Market, which was 

named, like many local landmarks, after 

the original in London, England, retains 

a strong sense of London’s early history 

and tradition. In the 1950s, the historic 

stately building was replaced by an 

enclosed market and parking garage, 

which were completed in 1956, with two 

levels added for parking in 1958. 

Despite all the changes, several 

long-time merchant families have 

served the market public 

for generations, including 

the Smiths since 1887 and 

the Havaris family since Bob Usher, Covent Garden Market CEO 

Outdoor Farmers’ Market 

In the Market Square 

HOURS: THURS & SAT 

8 am–6 pm 

May to November 

T W 

Tastes from 

The Tea Haus 

The original market Petit building Paris 

International Bakery 

and square, by Paul Peel, 1883 

Sebastian’s 

Strano Bagel & Deli 

Sweet Cakes 

Chris’ Country Cuts 

Field Gate Organics 

Seoul Seafood Shoppe 

Smith Cheese Inc 

Chocolate Factory 

La Chocolaterie Forrat 

Hasbeans 

Market Lottery 

Conservatory of Music 

Happy Wear 

Covent Garden Market and 

Square was rebuilt in 1999 

Spriet Family Theatre/ 

Original Kids Theatre 

The Studio 

We’re 

The Heart of London 

T 

K 

...and 

Bl 

Es 

FARMERS’ MARKETS 


67

Christine Scheer, Covent Garden 

Farmers’ Market Manager 

1910. Hasbeans, 

operated by the 

hospitable Smith 

family, have 

been market merchants 

for more 

than 125 years, 

and their coffee 

business continues 

to be a hands-on 

affair with Paul (3rd 

generation), Debbie 

(4th) and Joel 

— the unofficial 

market goodwill 

ambassador (5th). 

Today, the Covent 

Garden Market 

remains the heart 

of the city, where gourmet, artisanal and wholesome, 

farm-fresh quality can be found daily. Ask Bob Usher, the 

market’s personable CEO and a past President and still 

long-standing board member of the London Downtown 

Business Association, about some of the city’s best 

selection of organic foods, award-winning meats (Fieldgate 

Farms), ethnic foods (a long list!), the largest assortment of 

cheese (thanks to Glenda Smith) in Southwestern Ontario, 

confectionery, chocolatiers, market-roasted coffees, and 

a wide selection of seasonal fresh cut flowers. You’ll be 

amazed with the variety of ethnic, gourmet and specialty 

foods you can purchase, which showcase the multicultural 

diversity of our community. 

Introduce yourself to Chris Doris of Doris Family 

Produce — he’s the one who can help you find those 

hard-to-get quince in season, when Persian Chicken is the 

order of the day. Kleiber’s is another longtime fixture at 

the Market and has built a reputation for carrying a large 

array of authentic European delicacies, including quality 

ingredients from Germany, Holland, Poland and elsewhere 

in the EU. Owner Anna Turkiewicz is also well-known to the 

downtown lunch crowd for her homemade soups, schnitzels 

and sausages. And this is only a very short list of all the 

interesting and exciting vendors who give the Market its 

unique character and personality. 

Covent Garden Market also houses several excellent 

restaurants, such as Olive R. Twist’s, Waldo’s on King 

Bistro and Wine Bar, and Tanakaya. Amy Shackleton, 

Covent Garden Market Executive Assistant / Events Co- 

Ordinator will tell you that arts and culture are the focus of 

the market’s mezzanine, where a number of local artists 

and cultural organizations are located, and there’s even a 

community kitchen, an art school and a theatre. 

On Thursdays and Saturdays, Farmer/Chef/Instructor 

Christine Scheer manages the outdoor Farmers’ Market 

which offers fresh, friendly and local food to you outside 

on the square from May to December. Share the passion 

for locally-grown food direct from local farmers, growers 

and producers. The vendors selling at the Farmers’ Market 

are people involved in producing what they are selling, 

and they would be happy to answer any of your questions. 

As in the days of old, market days are full of enticing 

surprises, adding an element of discovery to the consistent 

daily providence of Covent Garden Market. 

UPSTAIRS: The Tea Haus 


FARMERS’ MARKETS

London’s Local Flavour 69


900 King Street 

at Ontario and Dundas Streets 

37 

MAP A: 

PHONE 519-438-5942 

HOURS: SATURDAY 8 am to 3 pm 

All Year 

www.londonsfarmersmarket.ca 

Masonville Farmers’ Market 

Masonville Place Mall 

38 

MAP A: 

Richmond St & Fanshawe Park Blvd, 

behind former Sears store 

HOURS: FRIDAY 8 am–2 pm 

May–Septermber 25 


T W 

Lindsay’s Bakery 

Anything Grows Seed Co. 

Momo’s at the Market 

Western Fair Farmers’ 

& Artisans’ Market 

WESTERN FAIR FARMERS’ & 

ARTISANS’ MARKET proprietor 

Dave Cook is among the most 

revolutionary and original culinary 

entrepreneurs in the city. Cook’s 

social enterprise company, The 

Artisan Group, owns and operates 

several London-based food 

companies, including The Fire 

Roasted Coffee Company, Western 

Fair Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market 

(WFFAM) and the Masonville 

Farmers’ Market. 

Variety. Relationships. 

Flavour. Community. 

THE HEART OF OLD EAST VILLAGE 

The Western Fair Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market is a year-round indoor market with 

some 100 vendors located on two floors in the historic Confederation building in London’s 

Old East Village. The main floor is dedicated mostly to food, and the second floor 

booths features independent vendors selling a mix of indie crafts, food, collectibles, 

vintage, and other artisan products. 

In the process of pursuing his passion, Cook discovered a direct link between 

healthy food access and economic and community development. WFFAM has 

become The Heart of Old East Village as an original business incubator and 

neighbourhood social centre. Market-goers love the WFFAM because they can buy 

farm-fresh products and find unique products they won’t discover anywhere else in 

the city. WFFAM is a popular destination for chefs, cooks and culinary enthusiasts 

in search of a variety of hand-crafted products and specialty ingredients. The local 

community loves the Market because it brings people together and has transformed 

a former culinary desert into a hive of productivity, attracting 

entrepreneurs, indie artisans and culinary innovators. 

WHAT’S IN SEASON IS ONLY ONE REASON 

The market not only has an unparalleled selection of produce 

vendors and butchers but also an unsurpassed variety of artisan 

bakers working with high quality ingredients and age-old and 

innovative techniques. Updated street foods and ethnic cuisines 

(think farm-to-table, East Indian, Tibetan, Salvadorian, Mexican, Polish, Dutch and 

Hungarian) are featured prominently, as well as other specialty food vendors and 

food stalls showcasing the multi-cultural diversity of the community. 

Several of London’s finest culinary offerings, including Fire Roasted Coffee, 

Habitual Chocolate, Momo’s at the Market, Goodah Gastro Truck, On the Move 

Organics, Café Bourgeois and True Taco, are located at the WFFAM. And the 

Market continues to serves as an anchor for community life by providing 

a setting for interactive cultural and civic activities that 

complement the WFFAM and its location in London’s 

Old East Village. 


FARMERS’ MARKETS

Hyde Park Market 


1331 Hyde Park Road 

(between Sarnia & Gainsborough) 

MAP A: 39 

PHONE: 226-236-1980 

HOURS: SATURDAYS 9 am–4 pm 

SUNDAYS 10 am–4 pm 

www.hydeparkmarket.ca 

Some specialty outdoor vendors 

open weekdays, including: 

Garden Centre, 

Ice Cream Hut, 

Vegetable Stand & 

Food Truck. 

Herb Gardens 

Healing & Meditation Garden 

Free Outdoor Yoga 

Live Music 

T W 

HYDE PARK MARKET proprietor May Windell can’t conceal her passion 

for supporting small local businesses and values in a true “market family” 

atmosphere. This welcoming, quaint and rustic market shop, open year 

round in Hyde Park, features twelve unique local vendors and carries an 

additional 50 locally-produced vendor products lines. 

ALL YEAR-ROUND 

Naturally Local 

During the outdoor season, 

the market family swells to a 

further 25+ vendors, offering 

products from locally farm grown vegetables & fruit with boxed programs, organics 

& natural products, a full garden centre, an ice cream hut & food truck, handcraft 

artisans, health & wellness, vintage & upcycle and local businesses. The year-round 

indoor market features local meat, cheeses, fresh meals, eggs, vegetables, baked 

goods, artisan teas & a coffee bistro, healing & pampering all-natural products, 

gluten-free & dietary choices, handicrafts, honey & a chocolate sweet shop. Even 

Ontario’s first Fashion Truck has made Hyde Park Market its home base! 

SPECIAL THEMED EVENTS 

This family & furry-friendly market invites you to attend their many themed events 

throughout the season such as Art in the Market, Health & Wellness, FoodFest, 

HarvestFest, PumpkinFest, Family Fun and so much more. A full schedule of 

events is on the website. Embracing their love for 

the earth and recycling, the Hyde Park Market 

family has created market-grown vertical pallet 

herb gardens and a healing & meditation garden, 

with free informational tours by Anke. Free outdoor 

yoga, paired with tea meditation by vendor beTeas, 

is offered Sunday mornings. Also take advantage of 

various outdoor fitness classes and ladies nights 

with local artisan talent. Enjoy a cup 

of artisan coffee, tea with lunch, or ice 

cream on the outdoor bistro patio while 

listening to local musicians & buskers 

Spicer’s Bakery 

perform on the open air stage. 

The Butcher’s Wife 

Carmela, The Cheesy Italian 

Fresh Local Fruits & Vegetables 

FARMERS’ MARKETS 



71

Acknowledgements 

PROJECT TEAM 

Bryan Lavery and Chris McDonell, with assistance and 

support from Tourism London, specifically John Winston, 

Chris Campbell and Joan Beaune. 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Steve Grimes took all of the original photography for this 

project, going above and beyond expectations. 

www.grimesphoto.com 

Thanks to many of the businesses involved for providing 

additional images for this guide. 

FRONT COVER 

Images, from top left and clockwise, are from: 

T.G.’s Addis Ababa Restaurant, 

Icarus Resto Bar, 

Five Fortune Culture Restaurant, 

and The Windermere Manor. 

Copyright © 2015 eatdrink inc. and the businesses listed. All rights reserved. 

Reproduction or duplication of any material published in London’s Local Flavour is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the Publisher. 

The views or opinions expressed in the information, content and/or advertisements published in London’s Local Flavour are solely those of the 

author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the Publisher or Tourism London. All information contained in this publication is believed to be 

accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Neither eatdrink inc. or Tourism London assumes any liability whatsoever for damages or loss 

arising from errors or omissions. 

Printed in Canada. 

More online @ 

londontourism.ca/culinary tourismlondon @tourism_london 

eatdrink.ca eatdrinkmag 

@eatdrinkmag 


www.londontourism.ca ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CONNECT 

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PLAY 

t, London Ontario · 300 York Street, London Ontario · 300 York Street, Lon 

Our culinary team is committed 

to enhancing your convention 

experience by sourcing local 

ingredients and designing 

inspired menu selections 

sure to delight every guest. 

www.londoncc.com 1.800.203.1992 fb.com/LdnCC @LdnCC 


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London's Local Flavour 2015

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