Food always tastes better when enjoyed with your nearest and dearest, whether that be family, friends or coworkers. Because sharing is caring, we’ve put together a list of our favourite spots for group dining and family-style meals across the city.
Byblos
Multiple locations
The regular menu at this eastern Mediterranean restaurant in the Entertainment District is normally served family-style, so it’s not a far stretch to bump up the portions for a crowd. Choose from three set menus that range from $65 to $85 per person. Each course features a few items including lamb ribs with dukkah, black truffle pide, Persian kale rice, king salmon with harissa and stuffed baklava for dessert. The spot on Duncan has plenty of space for groups.
byblosdowntown.com
Piano Piano
88 Harbord St.
Round up the troops and head to this Italian eatery on Harbord for a delightful fill of traditional Italian eats. Their five-course, family-style offering goes for $59 per person and leaves no stone unturned. Menus might open with salumi and cheese, chopped salad and calamari fritti before moving into mushroom cavatelli and pizza with spicy n’duja. Still hungry? Good. There’s dessert, like lemon cake and tiramisu, to round out the list.
pianopianotherestaurant.com
Leña Restaurante
176 Yonge St.
The Latin-influenced small plates menu at Leña lends itself to sharing with a group. Dig into items like spicy fried potatoes, yuca fries and charred calamari. With multiple levels, there are enough private rooms and cozy nooks to seat anywhere from 10 to 72 diners.
lenarestaurante.com
Marben
488 Wellington St. W
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There’s no middle-seat syndrome when you dine with a group of 13 or more at Marben, a modern comfort-food gastropub in the heart of downtown. Farm-to-table plates like pasture-raised chicken and seasonal vegetable wellington are served on large sharing platters or wooden planks down the long, family-picnic-style tables –for less reaching, more eating. Plus their commitment to sustainability ensures the perfect amount of food is prepared for guests. Prices on their family-style group menus range from $55 to $75 per person.
marben.ca
7 Numbers
516 Eglinton Ave. W
The family-style experience at 7 Numbers begins with classic antipasti starters (calamari, caprese and spinach salads) followed by a round of pasta and each diner’s choice of main from the restaurant’s secondi list along with sides. No stomach leaves unfulfilled after a group meal here.
sevennumbers.com
Tinuno
31 Howard St.
If you like your shared meals delightfully messy, this Filipino joint delivers. In fact, all they serve is traditional Filipino family-style feasts called kamayan, priced at only $15 per person. This multi-layered spread has sticky rice with grilled protein like squid, shrimp and pork skewers.
tinunothirtyone.com
