Lisa Marie

Toronto is a city full of amazing restaurants, you could try new amazing places every time you go out – but there are always the places you come back to over and over again.

Matt Basile’s Lisa Marie was one of those places.

I couldn’t count the number of times I’ve been there, from my first visit when the Kung Pau Cauliflower blew my mind, to brunches with friends, and hysterically funny nights playing bingo over Burgers and Pad Thai fries.

So the news that Matt and his team were moving on to new ventures was bittersweet. Having followed the restaurant and it’s chef for years I am so excited to see what he does next, but I am equally sad to lose my go to Queen west spot.

So what else was I to do  - I made two reservations in the last 10 days (it would have been more if I’d had the time).  

I started with a Saturday brunch! The sunny spring morning made it warm enough to warrant opening the large glass garage door window at the front of the space which elicited actual cheers from the packed restaurant, already mostly filled with people nostalgically coming back for one last brunch.

We started with a cocktail - the Getaway Car a caesar with your choice of vodka, tequila, or gin with a beer chaser.  I went gin and never looked back!

My brunch companion, my Uncle Rob, went for the Beau’s Lugtread.

Rob, who’s worked in the food/hospitality world in some form or another his whole life, is more than just my uncle – as I’ve aged we’ve become close as friends. He and I make a point to get together at least once a month for Brunch, Dinner, or Coffee, and many of those meals have happened at Lisa Marie.

 So once we settled in it was decision time, what from this menu of hits was going to be the last thing… Pad Thai fries were a given, so that narrowed it down a little. I finally landed on the Fried Quail and Waffles. Rob grabbed the Bacon Explosion Benedict, a standby favourite!

We lingered a little while, soaking in the sun then we finally gave up our spot to one of the many people waiting to come in and enjoy.

My final final meal was on a Thursday, I’d been hoping to make it for a final Burgers and Bingo but sadly my work schedule didn’t allow for it. So imagine my joy when they added the Cali Smash burger to the specials board. So we got the best of both worlds.

An order of the delicious ribs to share as a starter, then a burger and Pad Thai fries one more time. Stuffed and Happy my friend and I walked back to her place to shake down all the food and fondly remember the great nights brought to us by Matt, Kyla, and the spectacular team at Lisa Marie.  

Thanks for all the good times, I can’t wait to see what you do next.