Top 5 Biggest Restaurant Openings of 2017 in Mississauga
Published December 23, 2017 at 2:08 am
Every year, Mississauga welcomes hot new restaurants to its ever-growing food scene and there were some highly-anticipated new openings in 2017.
From stylish pho joints to massive and elegantly decorated Chinese restos to on-trend Toronto hotspots, the restaurant scene was as exciting as always.
Here’s a look at the most popular new openings of 2017, based on the amount of organic page views the opening stories generated on insauga.com.
5) Pho Ngoc Yen
Pho is a universally beloved food and one that’s common in Mississauga–that’s why it’s so exciting when someone new comes to town and makes it extra special. Although most Vietnamese places do pho justice, some produce astounding and exquisite noodle soup (and pork and mango salad and spring rolls, of course) and pair it with an absolutely unforgettable atmosphere.
One of those gems is the newly opened Pho Ngoc Yen, a beautifully decorated and stunningly tasty Vietnamese resto that just took shape on Kamato Road in the Tomken and 401 area in Mississauga. The steaming hot rare beef pho stands up against hearty, delicious soup served in Hanoi. So, too, do the crispy Vietnamese spring rolls, served with delicate, subtle fish sauce. Other commendable dishes include the flavourful and authentic pad Thai and the vermicelli with pork.
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Mississauga’s ever-evolving restaurant scene another big player this past spring—the highly-anticipated Ombretta – Cucina & Vino. The modern Italian restaurant and wine bar, which set up shop in the former Flip a Coin location on Lakeshore in Port Credit, is the first brick and mortar establishment of acclaimed chefs and owners Frank Mazzonetto and Anthony Maniccia. Mazzonetto and Maniccia are probably best known for their popular Frankie Fettuccine Food Truck, the mobile resto that was actually Canada’s very first gourmet pasta food truck. Since food trucks are decidedly casual (gourmet food notwithstanding), Ombretta feels like a distinct, bold and ambitious departure.
As far as food goes, the rustic modern restaurant offers a mix of traditional and unique dishes. The modern-classic menu features a vast selection of Cicchetti, including warm olives, polenta fritti, a bolognese spring roll, Sicilian roasted cauliflower and more.
When Reds opened up in December, it was already a well-oiled machine–and for good reason, it was opening in Square One in the midst of the year’s busiest shopping season. Reds Wine Tavern, an upscale-casual restaurant with two Toronto locations, offers a wealth of from-scratch menu items, including bread, ground-in-house burgers and homemade apple pie.
As far as food goes, the resto sets itself apart with an enticing brunch menu that features hibiscus bellinis, pancakes and lobster avocado toast. Those in the mood for libations can also create their very own gin and tonics. The restaurant also has a strong lunch and dinner game, offering diners lobster grilled cheese sandwiches, truffle fries, burgers, salmon bibimbap, butter chicken, roast chicken, 20 oz ribeye steaks, fresh fish and more. Reds also offers homemade butter tarts (delicious) and flaky, decadent apple pie.
2) Congee Queen
After months of waiting, a highly-anticipated (and massive) Asian restaurant officially opened its doors in Mississauga. The spacious, chic and tasty Congee Queen in Heartland Town Centre is a welcome addition to Mississauga’s thriving Asian food scene and it hit the ground running with its elegant interior and massive menu. The brand, which also operates locations in Thornhill, North York, Markham, Scarborough and a few other GTA neighbourhoods, is located right beside the newly opened Seafood City Supermarket on Boyer Blvd.
As far as food goes, the resto offers lobster super bowl congee, pumpkin hot pot congee with rock crab meat and vegetarian shark fins (which is perfect for shark fin fans who don’t feel comfortable eating the controversial and, in some cases, deeply unethical delicacy), sliced fish and blood jello congee, pork internal delicacy congee and more. As for what dishes are most worth trying, the house super bowl congee is a must.
After months of waiting, Mississauga residents were finally able to eat at celebrity Chef Massimo Capra’s casual dining resto Capra’s Kitchen–a spacious and modern restaurant that opened its doors in January 2017.
The new restaurant was exciting for a number of reasons, but the head chef was certainly one of the main ones. The jovial chef and Chopped Canada judge is known for his signature moustache and culinary prowess and Sauga residents were excited for him to set up shop in their neck of the woods. People who regularly travel to Niagara Falls have probably sampled his wares at The Rainbow Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, but make no mistake–Capra’s Kitchen isn’t a Rainbow Room clone. While one might expect a seasoned chef to open a high-end establishment, Capra was always careful to emphasize that his latest operation is very much a casual restaurant.
As far as the menu goes, it offers a little bit of everything. Diners can order lobster crocchette, cheese and salumi boards, tagliatelle bolognese with beef, veal, pancetta, wine and crushed tomatoes, nine varieties of gourmet pizza, fried cornish hen, tiramisu and more.
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