Get to know the Kingston restaurants that opened during the pandemic
Despite the difficulty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kingston has continued to show just how vibrant its food scene is. We’ve compiled a list of several restaurants that opened during the pandemic, so you can expand your taste buds and support local businesses. Read on to begin planning your next foodie adventure with spots that are sure to satisfy every craving.
Legend
🌾 gluten-free options
🌱 vegan options
🍄 vegetarian options
213 Montreal Street
Wednesday – Thursday: 4–8 pm, Friday–Saturday: 4–9 pm
If you’re looking for some punk vibes and pizza that’s simply out of this world, check out Pizza Monster. Pizza Monster began as a passion project serving at farmers’ markets and pop-ups at local cafes and breweries. After finding a home for their wood-fired oven in the Inner Harbour neighbourhood, they are finally a full-service pizzeria (lucky for us)! They also serve delicious salads and unique flavours of popsicles, including key-lime pie and pink lemonade. And it’s all made in-house. Although their menu changes daily due to their small capacity, you’ll be scrambling to get your hands on any of their pies.
Must-try: Salami Pizza (red sauce, calabrese salami, garlic honey, parm)
119 Princess Street
9:30 am – 10 pm daily
Have you ever had a cheesecake waffle on a stick? Fruit Festival has a wide array of creative desserts that can satisfy any sweet tooth. Since it opened in spring 2020, the restaurant has been receiving rave reviews from customers who love their fresh, handcrafted treats and amazing customer service. Vegans will love the array of fruity choices, from mini pancakes to almond milk smoothies…Whether you’re a crepe, milkshake, or ice cream person, you should check out this downtown spot the next time your cravings for fruit – or something more indulgent – hit.
Must-try: Fruit “sushi”
286 Princess Street
Thursday: 6–11 pm, Friday: 6–11 pm, Saturday: 6–11 pm, Sunday: 5–10 pm
Miss Bao Restaurant and Cocktail Bar opened in late 2019, and we’re so glad they’ve weathered the pandemic, continuing to share their Asian fusion-inspired menu. They serve share plates and larger plates, as well as several cocktails with ingredients you’ve probably never thought to pair together. Their menu changes with each season and at least half of it is always vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes. Miss Bao is dedicated to reducing their ecological footprint with locally sourced and sustainable produce, meat, and seafood, and aims to eliminate all food waste to achieve a zero-waste kitchen. Knowing you’re dining at an innovative restaurant that wants to build a sustainable community even beyond their restaurant practices makes the matcha cheesecake even sweeter.
Must-try: Bao Sampler (three pieces of Bao – tofu, chicken, and pork), Tom Yam Siam cocktail (a spicy, citrus-focus cocktail that fuses vodka, tropical coconut rum, lychee, lime, and chilis for a unique flavour profile that stands out from the rest).
291 Princess Street
Monday – Thursday: 1 pm – 10 pm, Friday – Sunday: 10 am – 10 pm
If you’re looking for a quick lunch spot downtown, make sure to check out Sindibad to experience some of the newest flavours in the city. They specialize in a variety of fatayers, an “easy to pick up” food filled with different ingredients like meat, cheese, or zaatar. You can customize your fatayer too. They also serve pasta as well as rich, moist kanafeh for dessert.
Must-try: Mohammara fatayer (fatayer dough, onion, tomato, garlic, crushed red pepper, vinegar, dried mint, and spices)
326 King Street East
Tuesday – Saturday 9:30 am – 5 pm, Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
While not technically a restaurant, this gourmet food store offers an unbeatable charcuterie “grazing” experience. They highlight local, Ontario, and Quebec artisanal foods while offering international items as well. Get lost in their selection of cured meat, cheese, olives, and antipasto or pick up a lunchtime sandwich like “Le Cubano” made with fresh dill pickles, Swiss cheese, grainy mustard, porchetta, and capocollo. The owners consistently post heartwarming videos on Facebook explaining their latest products as well as events in Market Square – they’re directly across from it. You’re sure to impress your guests at your next gathering with their variety of custom charcuterie trays.
Must-try: Blue cheese-stuffed oives and Bourbon maple-flavoured jalapenos
160 Princess Street
Tuesday – Wednesday: 11:30 am – 8 pm, Friday – Sunday: 11:30 am – 8:30 pm
Sophie’s Noodle House is ready to serve you more than just noodles. They have yummy dumplings, homemade chili oil, and mango pudding. With great portion sizes and a welcoming atmosphere, this restaurant is dedicated to serving high-quality, genuine Asian and Chinese dishes. Sophie’s opened in early 2020, giving you another reason to wander Princess Street sometime soon.
Must-try: BBQ duck hand-pulled noodles
2 Princess Street
Open daily. Hours available on their website.
At the recently renovated Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront you’ll find one of the newest restaurants in Kingston – and the city’s largest waterfront dining patio. Wharf & Feather is a gastropub bar and patio serving elevated Pub-Gastronomy using local ingredients made from scratch. They also partner with local Ontario producers like Kelly’s Mushrooms and Seed to Sausage. You can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner here and indulge in fresh cocktails and craft beers and ciders. This is a gorgeous place to settle into Kingston’s sparkling waterfront views, either on the patio or in the glass-enclosed dining area.
Must-try: Pear, bacon, and brie sandwich (artisan rye, house-smoked bacon, caramelized pears, baby arugula, melted brie, garlic aioli, and your choice of side)
306 Bagot St
Tuesday – Friday: 11 am – 4 pm
Careful, this might become your new weekly errand that you can’t live without. The Nosh is a locally owned, small-batch bakery that makes fresh Montreal-style bagels. They’re serious about giving you fresh, chewy bagels served warm straight from the oven.
You can choose from everything, poppy, sesame, plain, or assorted bagels, but full custom ordering options are also available by adding a note during online checkout. It’s the perfect set-up for those of us who prefer a certain variety in our assorted dozen or prefer our bagels well-done. While pre-ordering is encouraged, you can walk in too.
Each bagel is made from scratch, hand-cut, and hand-rolled before being boiled in honey water, seeded on both sides, and baked to perfection. One of the best parts? Every bagel is dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and vegan.
225 King Street East
Thursday – Monday: 4 – 9:30 pm
Most locals know about The Frontenac Club because of their luxurious accommodation, but did you also know that their lounge is open to the public? The Bank is an upscale lounge where guests and neighbours can relax, connect with friends, and indulge in some exciting flavours.
You can settle into the vibrant atmosphere with hand-crafted cocktails and unique whiskeys and wines. Check out some of their club cocktails like their twist on the classic negroni or “Sophia in Ireland,” Jameson whiskey infused with honey chai, coffee, cherry, orange, lemon, and egg white. You can enjoy several amazing starters and shareables, salads, and mains here.
Must-try: Seared Nabulsi cheese (served in a cast-iron pan with street corn salad, green chili vinaigrette, and charred scallion aioli with flatbread and blue corn tortilla chips)
With these restaurants – and many others not mentioned – you can experience some new local eats and satisfy the cravings you didn’t know you had. It seems like some good things did come out of 2020!
More vegetarian and vegan culinary options are available in Kingston. Be sure to visit this diverse selection of vegetarian friendly restaurants offering plant-based dishes with a modern twist.
