Richmond Station

Not too long ago, the idea of a “neighbourhood” restaurant in Toronto’s downtown core didn’t make too much sense. “You could roll a bowling ball down Yonge Street and not hit a single thing, that’s how quiet it was,” says Ryan Donovan, co-owner of Richmond Station. In the last decade, Toronto’s condo boom and renewed love for downtown living has given birth to bustling neighbourhoods, new communities and diners seeking good, friendly places to eat.

That’s the spirit behind Richmond Station, which aims to be a neighbourhood restaurant in the heart of the busy city. Of course, when you have two brilliant chefs, a wildly talented kitchen, a fresh ingredient manifesto and a rotating chalkboard menu, you’re dealing with a bit more than your average neighbourhood diner.