From fine dining to street food, Toronto’s diverse culinary scene has made it a top destination for food lovers. But where do celebrities eat when they’re in town?
Here’s a look at where musicians, actors, and celebrity chefs have dined during recent visits to Toronto.
Chris Martin, Will Champion and Jonny Buckland (Coldplay) at Osteria Giulia
Midway through their four-night residency at the recently inaugurated Rogers Stadium this July, three of the four members of Coldplay dined at the Michelin-starred Osteria Giulia in Yorkville, as first reported by Star contributing columnist Shinan Govani.
Frontman Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion — who has dined at Giulia in the past — were among the party of 10 that stayed late and closed the restaurant down on July 9, owner David Minicucci told the Star. “They were wonderful and exemplary guests,” Minicucci said, adding that the group ordered pasta, grilled fish and seafood. “They kept it very clean and light.”
“They ordered well and were great to have in the room,” he added. “And Chris Martin was very engaging with our team.”
Guy Berryman (Coldplay) at DaNico
While the rest of his band was at Osteria Giulia, Coldplay bassist Guy Berryman zipped over to DaNico, an Italian fine-dining spot on College Street that has earned a Michelin star for its refined tasting menus.
“I came to your show yesterday and it was absolutely incredible,” chef Daniele Corona wrote on Instagram. “And today I found you at DaNico … honoured by your presence.”
Jesse Eisenberg at Curryish Tavern
American actor and director Jesse Eisenberg, whose 2024 film ”A Real Pain” was nominated for best original screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards, stopped by Curryish Tavern earlier this month with his wife, daughter and a friend who lives in Toronto.
Miheer Shete, who owns the Queen West Indian restaurant, told BlogTO that he received a call from the concierge at the Eisenberg’s hotel, and was told that the actor and his group was in the mood for “an Indian feast.”
Shete told the Star while Curryish has hosted actors and comedians in the past, Eisenberg is the most famous celebrity to dine at his restaurant. He said the actor’s party ordered samosa, asparagus salad, coconut stuffed branzino, green tomato butter chicken, stuffed paneer with roasted pepper korma and more.
Elyanna at Zezafoun
Elyanna — the Palestinian-Chilean pop singer who opened for Coldplay during their stint at Rogers Stadium — brought her band and a group of friends to Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine, a cosy, family-run restaurant in Davisville Village.
“Your sweet spirit lit up the place, and we truly loved having you,” the restaurant posted on Instagram.
Questlove at Kiin
This spring, legendary hip hop drummer, producer and DJ Questlove dropped by Kiin, a high-end Thai restaurant in the entertainment district, after his band The Roots played at Rebel. According to Jeff Regular, who owns Kiin alongside his wife, Nuit Regular, told the Star that Questlove ordered the restaurant’s latest tasting menu, and that he liked the wagyu and lamb courses in particular.
“That was huge,” Regular said. “Sadly, I was in Japan at the time, but I was freaking out.”
Dave Chappelle at Harlem Restaurant
Known for its Afro-Caribbean and soul food — it helped popularize fried chicken and waffles in Toronto, Star food reporter Karon Liu recently noted — and for hosting live music, Harlem Restaurant on Queen West re-opened its doors this spring after a closure that lasted nearly six years.
Within days of reopening in May, the restaurant hosted a birthday party for Toronto hip hop mogul Kardinall Offishall, which was attended by American stand-up comic and actor Dave Chappelle.
Elijah Wood at PAI
Forget potatoes, the Hobbits are into Thai food, now!
Dom Monaghan (the actor who plays Merry Brandybuck in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy) has long declared PAI — a northern Thai food fixture with locations in downtown and uptown — as his favourite restaurant in the city. So when his buddy Elijah Wood (the actor who plays Frodo Baggins) was in town in May, he urged him to check it out.
Woods was “very gracious,” said owner Jeff Regular. The actor ordered extensively off the menu, but his favourite dish was miang kung: a platter of fresh ingredients (shrimp, ginger, shallots, roasted coconut, etc.) that customers wrap in fresh betel leaf.
Martha Stewart at Pearl Yorkville Chinese Cuisine
Iconic businesswoman and lifestyle personality Martha Stewart was in town in February to film a television series, when she dropped by Pearl, an authentic Chinese restaurant in Yorkville that serves traditional Cantonese food and dim sum. According to BlogTO, Stewart ordered Peking duck, stir-fried long beans with black bean sauce, pan-fried hockey pucks, spinach and shrimp dumplings, and soup dumplings.
José Andrés at Fishman Lobster Clubhouse
Spanish-American celebrity chef and restaurateur José Andrés was also in town in February to shoot a television series last winter, and among the spots he dined was Fisherman Lobster Club, the Scarborough seafood restaurant known for its gigantic platters of lobster and crab.
Jonas Brothers at Adrak
Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas made an unexpected visit to Adrak in the beginning of the year — a Michelin-recommended restaurant in Yorkville serving modern Indian cuisine — last January.
“All of the brothers said the food was amazing and that they really liked the Chai biscuit dessert a lot,” a representative for the restaurant told the Star. “They were extremely friendly, kind and appreciative. No star-power attitude, and very humble.”
Other high-profile stars who have dined at Adrak since it opened include Jessica Alba, Oscar Issac, Daniel Boulud and Karan Aujla.
Buju Banton at Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
Chubby’s, the vibrant Jamaican spot on Portland, has long been a magnet for celebrities (Sean Paul, Anthony Mackie) and athletes (Scottie Barnes, Penny Oleksiak, Brandon Ingram). Last November, Jamaican dancehall legend Buju Banton dropped by for a meal, and snapped a photo with general manager Daniela Chinchilla.
