The perfect neighbourhood patio restaurant — Grace's back garden patio on Grafton Ave behind Trinity Bellwoods is one of Toronto's best-kept outdoor dining secrets. The seasonal menu uses local Ontario produce, the patio is strung with lights and completely private from the street, and the room inside is one of the warmest and most intimate in the city.
Neighbourhood: Trinity Bellwoods · Address: 503 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A5 · Hours: Tue–Sun dinner from 5:30pm | Closed Monday
Why Visit
Grace is where you escape Trinity Bellwoods park chaos and slip into a string-lit backyard patio with a hyper-seasonal Ontario menu you won't find elsewhere.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike most patios in the area, Grace’s garden is completely shielded from street noise and foot traffic, feeling like a true retreat. The kitchen’s focus on local produce and a rotating tasting menu goes deeper than typical neighbourhood spots, making each visit different from the last. There's an almost residential calm, rare for such a central location.
Grace Restaurant sits on College Street at the edge of Trinity Bellwoods, one of Toronto's most desirable residential neighbourhoods, and has cultivated a reputation as the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that city residents discover quietly and protect selfishly. The back garden patio — strung with lights, surrounded by mature plants and greenery, completely invisible from the street — is the feature that inspires the most loyalty among regulars who have found it.
The cooking is seasonally driven and technically accomplished at a level above what the intimate room and unassuming exterior might suggest. Chef de cuisine preparations lean toward produce-forward compositions that change as Ontario's agricultural seasons move through spring asparagus, summer tomatoes and corn, autumn squash and mushrooms, and the preservation-dependent winter menus that challenge Toronto kitchens more than any other season. The pasta and risotto courses are consistently excellent — grains and noodles treated as vehicles for whatever is exceptional from the farm that week.
The restaurant seats approximately 35 inside and a comparable number in the back garden during warm months. The interior is warm in winter and the patio is the summer destination. Either season, Grace functions as the kind of restaurant that works for a date because it's quiet, warm, and the food is good enough to sustain a conversation that pauses when the plate arrives. The wine list covers Ontario and natural wine producers with more care than is typical for a room this size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grace Restaurant Toronto have a patio?
Yes — Grace has a back garden patio on Grafton Avenue behind the College Street restaurant, open in summer (typically May through October). The patio is strung with lights, surrounded by greenery, and completely private from the street — one of Toronto's most romantic outdoor dining spaces. Request the patio specifically when booking.
What type of food does Grace Restaurant serve?
Grace serves seasonally driven contemporary Canadian cuisine built on Ontario produce — the menu changes as agricultural seasons progress. Strong pasta and risotto courses are consistent anchors; the kitchen is particularly good with vegetable preparations and locally sourced proteins. The cooking style is technically accomplished without being theatrical.
Where is Grace Restaurant in Toronto?
Grace is at 503 College Street in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, accessible from both Dundas Station (Line 1) and Ossington Station (Line 2), each approximately a 10-minute walk. Street parking on College Street and nearby residential streets is available on evenings.
Does Grace Restaurant take reservations?
Yes — Grace takes reservations via their website or phone. Summer weekend evening reservations, particularly for the back garden patio, should be made 2–3 weeks in advance. Specify patio seating preference when booking. Weeknight dinners are more accessible with 1 week notice.