Need some restaurant recommendations? Read on for a serving of some of Newmarket’s tastiest spots to dine!
A Taste of the Islands
16700 Bayview Ave
www.atoti.net
If you’re craving Jamaican/Caribbean dishes, look no further than A Taste of the Islands. Located in the Baylock Plaza, the family-owned eatery serves up island favourites. Take their Jerk chicken which is marinated in house-made sauce and served with traditional rice and peas and your choice of coleslaw or fresh vegetables. Curry Goat Roti, another favourite, features meat seasoned in authentic West Indian curry spices nestled in a warm roti beside a side of your choice. Along with the traditional, look for delicious twists like Rasta Pasta and jerk pork wraps.
Photos by Dann Tardif
Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurant
16715 Yonge St. #18
www.cynthiaschinese.com
Featuring a fine dining atmosphere, Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurant has been serving up authentic Chinese cuisine in Newmarket since 1993. The expansive menu features oodles of veggie dishes—Baby Bok Choy with Garlic, Buddha Delight and Spicy Eggplant are just some of the choices. Enjoy duck, chicken, pork and beef mains as well as seafood. Prefer all you can eat? Be sure to check out its sister location—Cynthia’s Paradise—located in the same plaza.
Ground Burger Bar
352 Doug Duncan Drive #2
www.groundburgerbar.ca
Located at Riverwalk Commons behind Main St., Ground Burger Bar is the perfect place to extend your burger boundaries! Choose to Build-A-Burger or opt for a GBB masterpiece like the Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em which features a Thunder Ridge bison patty paired with smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, smoked cheddar, Texas BBQ sauce and more. Plus, there’s plenty of starters and shares to kick things off, and vegan and vegetarian options too.
Hungry Brew Hops
211 Main St. S. www.hbhgoodeats.com/hbh
Located in the heart of downtown Newmarket on historic Main Street, Hungry Brew Hops Public House & Eatery (HBH) first opened its doors in February 2014. The food menu includes delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-friendly and dairy-free options. There’s a variety of twists on handhelds like burgers and sandwiches, as well as pizza. Take their Ya Buddy pizza for example. It brings together smoked duck, goat cheese, arugula, roasted garlic butter, fig honey and mozzarella. There are plenty of adult bevvies to go with your meal, including microbrews and wines.
Luna Ristorante
16655 Yonge St. #9-10 | lunaristorante.ca
Featuring both a lunch and dinner menu, the selection at Luna is just expansive enough to provide a good amount of choice but not so much that it’s overwhelming. To begin your meal, choices include Fritto Misto, a dish of gently-fried calamari and shrimp with lemon and aioli, as well as Carpaccio, made from beef carpaccio, arugula, parmesan, olive oil. Indulge in a pasta dish (gluten-friendly options are available) like their Fettuccini Funghi, which blends wild mushrooms, herbs and porcini in a creamy parmesan sauce. Entrees include their Sea Bass featuring grilled Mediterranean sea bass with couscous, cherry tomatoes, olives, lemon and salsa verde.
Mercato on Main
47 Main St. S Unit 3 & 4
mercatoonmain.ca
Think of Mercato on Main as your one-stop shop for all things delicious. At the front of the store, you’ll find Italian groceries and goodies. At the back, there’s specialty cheeses and meats and a display of their signature cheesecakes, cannoli and more. There’s also a hot table filled with Italian favourites such as Arancini—deep fried rice balls filled with tomato sauce and mozzarella. Gnocchi in tomato sauce and chicken and veal cutlets (a family specialty) are just a few more things on the menu.
Olde Village Free House
196 Main St. S oldevillagefreehouse.com
A cozy neighbourhood pub located on Main St., at Olde Village Free House the food is all made fresh and in house. Drop by Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 5:30 for their classic prime rib dinner featuring a giant Yorkshire pudding, veg and mashed potatoes. Did we mention it’s smothered in gravy?! Talk about comfort food. Other meals on the menu include butter chicken, chili, and fish and chips. Want some great live music to go with your meal? Drop by Thursday through Saturday. Open mic is Wednesdays and Karaoke on Sunday!
Ristorante Orsini
16700 Bayview Ave. #1 ristoranteorsini.com
Whether you’re craving calamari or carpaccio, seafood or salad, Ristorante Orsini’s authentic Italian menu has got you covered. There’s both a lunch and dinner menu with variety between the two. In the afternoon, enjoy appetizers likes Cozze Tarantina, which features fresh cultivated steamed P.E.I. mussels in delicious white wine, herbs and tomato sauce. On the pasta side, you can enjoy a dish of penne, spaghetti, linguine or fettucine with a simple but flavourful tomato and basil sauce or indulge in the Linguine Seafood which boasts clams, tiger shrimp, calamari, mussels, scallops and crab leg in fresh basil tomato and a white wine sauce. The sleek yet cozy black and grey interior lends itself beautifully to nighttime dining. Indulge in dishes bursting with flavour like Gamberoni Celia, extra large tiger shrimp sautéed in a spicy arrabbiata sauce, and Vegetali Orsini, a platter of sauteed vegetables flavoured with olive oil, saffron, garlic and basil.
The Sociable Pub
17380 Yonge St. sociablepub.com
With a cozy historical home as its backdrop, the Sociable Pub is infused with a friendly east coast vibe. The recently revamped menu, while containing the best in pub grub also features a good selection of authentic Indian dishes. There’s Chicken Vindaloo, which boasts chicken smothered in a super spicy gravy over a bed of rice, and plenty of vegetable choices such as Shahi Paneer, cottage cheese cooked in creamy cashews nuts and tomato gravy. There’s also plenty of entertainment, from comedy to Karaoke and live music.
Zucca’s Ristorante
130 Davis Dr. #19
zuccas.ca
If the idea of a delicious football-sized panzerotti gets you running for the door, you’ll want to check out Zucca’s in the Giant Tiger plaza. Choose a simple cheese version, and add toppings like feta and sausage or opt for a Zucca’s fan favourite—their Yorkshire panzo. This filling dish brings together roast beef and gravy with mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. There’s also pizza, pastas, parmigianas and more.
