Paralia is at Ashbridges Bay in east Toronto, on the Lakeshore, overlooking Lake Ontario. If the weather is nice, they have a GREAT patio, outfitted with heaters, to take the chill of the lake breeze away. I loved this restaurant, and not just because I got to be there with my great-grandfather this summer, which is a treat in itself, but the service, food and the atmosphere was uniquely fun and delicious. You cannot imagine how large this Mediterranean restaurant is – it’s bright, with the blue colour in their decor popping against their stark white interior. The ceiling is made up of twigs, which is very cool.
Not everything is organic, unfortunately, but a lot is, which is great, and you can tell by reading the menu that they do care about ingredients – and they don’t even have ketchup -just housemade tomato sauce! My great-grandfather, who you may know from other posts on my blog, is more discerning than I am (he has 101 years of practice eating dwarfing my 14 years!), but we have very different criteria to have it be a good dinner! So, if we both really like a meal, that means you probably will too!
Paralia was great dealing with allergies, and although the focus seems to be on meat and fish, my mother and sister were MORE than happy with their many vegetable dishes including lots of beans, which means there was plant-based protein! Their feta cheese is truly authentic, and is a blend of sheep and goat milk, which gives a honed edge to its flavour.
I do suggest that you share dishes, even just a bunch of appetizers and sides would make for a great and very filling meal, as their portions are very large. Their menu does change with what is in season and fresh, so don’t expect for them to have everything all year-round – this is a good thing!
It’s worth the trip to Paralia and if you are planning on dining with a large group or having a party, this spot can definitely accommodate you and make everyone happy!
Enjoy my pictures below!
