dome restaurant toronto

Toronto restaurant now lets you dine inside a private dome

What's the only way to take dome dining at Toronto restaurants to the next level? By offering brunch, of course.

Leslieville restaurant Gare de l'Est should be doing just that this weekend when they open up domes for dining on their patio. They'll be lit, heated, well-ventilated with vents and a big door, and made out of a rigid hard polycarbonate (unlike the soft plastic that many use).

They'll also be using a 100 per cent organic fogging sanitation spray to fog the entire pod with disinfectant, as well as wiping down and changing out everything after every use.

It will be "as strict if not more so than a regular patio," according to Erik Joyal of Gare de l'Est. Each pod will seat up to six members of the same family or social bubble.

There will also be set menus instead of a la carte ordering to minimize the amount of interaction with servers in the self-contained environments, though they will be starting out with just a la carte service for their first seatings.

There might be a seafood tower or stew diners would serve themselves, as well as drinks packages like self-serve cocktails with provided glassware and ice, or self-serve bottles of wine.

The earliest you should be able to get in for brunch service is this weekend, but the domes are reservation only so make sure to book ahead of time.

Lead photo by

Gare de l'Est


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Eat & Drink

Anger after Ontario food plant says it will shut down by early 2025 with 170 jobs lost

Toronto restaurant that opened with a lot of buzz has already closed

Someone made a Loblaws diss track and it's so dang catchy

Farmers' market that's under a Toronto highway opens this week

Here's how Costco prices compare between stores in Canada and the U.S.

Canadian shopper stunned by underweight bag of No Name frozen veggies

Highly anticipated croissant sandwich restaurant opens in Toronto this week

Outrage after Canadian restaurant forces tipping by hiding 'no tip' option