5 restaurants in and around Toronto you didn't know were owned by 'The Bear's' Matty Matheson
Inarguably one of the most famous celebrity chefs and restauranteurs in Toronto — and Canada as a whole — Matty Matheson has brought some legendary restaurants to life during his impressive career, from humble fast-casual joints to more refined and elevated dining experiences.
Now even more famous thanks to his recurring role as an actor and producer on the hit FX television series The Bear - which recently aired its successful third season, with season four due in early 2025 - many Torontonians are undoubtedly aware of Matty Matheson's iconic restaurants in and around the city.
However, others may be less aware of the chef's prolific presence in the Toronto food scene. So, let's get you up to speed! Here are five fantastic restaurants in and around Toronto you may not know are owned by the marvellous Matty Matheson.
Prime Seafood Palace
Price: 💸💸💸💸
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Address: 944 Queen St W, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: Easily Matheson's most grandiloquent current offering to the Toronto food scene, Prime Seafood Palace - one of his most recent ventures, which opened in 2022 - offers an elevated fine dining experience with a focus on expertly prepared seafood, steak, and sumptuous share plates.
Within the sleek yet warm dining room on Queen West, the menu consists of both hot and chilled seafood dishes perfect for sharing, including shrimp cocktails, tuna tartare, and even bites of thoughtfully sourced caviar if you're feeling extra bougie.
Follow those appetizers up with some robust cuts of steak of the highest possible quality, accompanied by sides like potatoes with aioli, summer squash with fennel and 'eweda' cheese, carrots in sea urchin butter, and Yorkshire pudding. This place is the very definition of a special occasion splurge, but it's worth it.
Matty's Patty's Burger Club
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: American
Address: 923A Queen St W, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: After the fancy excesses of Prime Seafood Palace, Matty's Patty's Burger Club is a refreshingly laid-back venture by comparison in the form of a fast-casual joint for smash burgers, fries, and other fast food-style comforts.
While some burger spots like to pile their patties with lots of creative toppings, Matty's Patty's takes a simpler approach that has proven to be a winning recipe. The classic cheeseburger—available as a single, double, or triple smash patty—is topped only with American cheese and a choice of sauces, including spicy ketchup or their house burger sauce. That's it, that's all!
But if you want something a little heftier, there's also the signature Matty burger, which sees a thick 7oz patty cooked to a perfectly pink medium, blanketed in cheese, and finished with mustard sauce, sliced onion, and pickles. Grab it with some fries or onion rings, and you're in business.
Cà Phê Rang
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Address: 147 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: This spot for comforting Vietnamese cuisine is a collaboration between Matty Matheson and Rang Nguyen, a close friend of Matheson's who helped train and mentor him as a young aspiring chef in Toronto.
Their lasting bond led them to this joint venture on Spadina, which serves a simple menu of Vietnamese dishes that balance traditional recipes and modern touches. Four banh mi are on offer, including chicken, pork, braised beef, and mushroom. Other dishes include delicious pho, cold vermicelli noodle bowls, and fresh rolls with options like red ham, shrimp, and mushroom.
Toronto is a city that loves good Vietnamese food, and this place has stood out by earning itself a Michelin Guide nod, which speaks to the quality and craft behind the food.
Maker Pizza
Price: 💸💸
Cuisine: Pizza and wings
Address: Multiple locations, Toronto, ON
Why You Need To Go: It hardly bears repeating that Toronto is absolutely bursting with brilliant pizza joints. Still, Matheson's Maker Pizza has managed to stand out among the crowd, frequently landing itself on lists of the best pizzerias in the 6ix.
Now with an impressive six locations throughout the city and a sustained popularity to keep them busy, the pizzas at Maker are reminiscent of Neapolian and tavern-style pies. They are finished with high-quality toppings, including homemade sauces, grass-fed mozzarella, heaps of natural pepperoni, and more.
The deliciousness doesn't stop there: Maker Pizza rounds out the menu with buffalo and lemon pepper chicken wings, made-to-order garlic fingers, desserts like gooey homemade cookies, and some tasty house dipping sauces. It's pretty much everything you need to level up your Friday pizza night!
Rizzo's House of Parm
Price: 💸💸💸
Cuisine: Italian American
Address: 2 Ridgeway Rd, Fort Erie, ON
Why You Need To Go: Okay, so this one is a bit of a cheat. Not only is it not in Toronto, but you'll need to drive more than two hours out of the city to visit.
Regardless, many Toronto foodies have shown some real dedication and made the extended journey to Matheson's hometown of Fort Erie to sink their teeth into Rizzo's House of Parm, a cozy, homestyle Italian American joint that will give you the best possible food coma.
Appetizers like bruschetta with burrata, fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, and Caesar salads kick things off on the right note, leading into more hearty Italian indulgences, including pasta dishes like carbonara, penne alla vodka, tagliatelle bolognese, and a classic spaghetti pomodoro.
Remember to order one of the massive parms, including chicken, veal, and eggplant options. They're big enough to share, but if you don't want to, hey, no judgment here! At least make sure you save a bit of room for house desserts like cannoli and tiramisu, which offer the sweetest finale.
What are you waiting for? Start the car!
This article has been updated since it was originally posted in August 2024.
