George Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Toronto Institution, Two Decades in the Making

GEORGE Restaurant opened in 2003 with a clear intention: to offer dining rooted in seasonality, creativity, and thoughtful hospitality. Set inside a restored 1850s chocolate factory on Queen Street East, the room pairs historic character with contemporary art — a distinctive backdrop for intimate dinners and special occasions alike. Four consecutive appearances in the MICHELIN Guide (2022–2025) and a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence confirm what Toronto diners have known for years.

Chef Lorenzo Loseto and the Seasonally Smart Ethos

At the centre of everything is Executive Chef Lorenzo Loseto, who has led the kitchen for two decades and is widely regarded as one of Canada's culinary greats. His approach — what the restaurant calls a Seasonally Smart Ethos — prioritises local, seasonal ingredients while drawing on global influences to produce dishes that feel both grounded and inventive.

The menu reflects this sensibility at every turn. On the current à la carte, courses move from Tuna Tataki with fennel and tapioca, through Lobster with saffron couscous and kimchi broth, to Venison with fingerling potato and squash. Quebec's Grey Owl goat's milk cheese and an Ontario cow's milk Mountain Oak appear as a dedicated cheese course — a quiet nod to Canadian producers. Desserts such as the Caramelized Apple Tart with cinnamon mascarpone and pecan close the meal with precision rather than excess.

The Chef's Choice Experience

Chef Loseto's signature is the Chef's Choice tasting format, available in four, seven, or ten courses — and up to fifteen at the Chef's Market Tasting. The experience is "double-blind": each course is customised to individual guest preferences, drawing from up to twenty original dishes. It is, by design, unrepeatable. Trained sommeliers guide wine pairings through each progression, a programme serious enough to earn recognition from Wine Spectator.

A vegetarian tasting menu runs parallel, with its own distinct arc — from Avocado Brûlée with matcha vinaigrette and quinoa through Artichokes in Thai curry to Tofu with rapini and potato pavé.

Beyond the Dining Room

Adjacent to the restaurant, the Secrette Speakeasy Bar offers a pre-dinner destination in its own right. The space also accommodates weddings, private dining, and corporate events, making it one of downtown Toronto's more versatile fine dining addresses. In-house artisanal gelato, crafted by Chef Loseto under the Alberobello label, adds one more layer of Canadian culinary craft to the experience.