Ontario — Food and Dining
Cuisine
You can enjoy international cuisine in all major towns. Toronto is rated as one of the best cities for dining out on the continent. Bars and restaurants offer an international selection of alcohol. Each autumn, the Niagara Wine Festival is held in St Catharines. Alcohol is sold in Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) outlets. Domestic beer is available at outlets known simply as The Beer Store and at some LCBO stores. Domestic wines are also sold through company stores.
Things to know: Liquor stores are run by the government; beer stores are run by a consortium of brewers. Licensing hours are daily 1100-0200 (although not all licensed premises are open for the full range of possible hours). It is illegal to consume alcohol unless you are in a residence or a licensed establishment.
Regional specialties:
• Maple syrup can accompany everything, from waffles and toast to pancakes and even baked beans!
• As well as a wide range of artisanal cheeses, Ontario producers make outstanding cheddars.
• Try one of the dazzling varieties of fish from the countless lakes and rivers.
Regional drinks:
• Icewine: a sweet nectar with a tantalizing complexity of flavors.
• Ontario has extensive vineyards providing much of Canada’s wine.
Legal drinking age: 19.
Tipping: It is customary to tip between 15% and 20% at bars and restaurants in Ontario.
Nightlife
Both main cities have establishments offering all forms of entertainment, from quiet clubs featuring a lone pianist, through Latin American combos to dance and rock bands and big-name international entertainers. Toronto is recognized as the third most important theater center after London and New York, and cabaret/dinner theaters are also especially popular in Toronto. Toronto is also known as a good jazz and blues town. Both Toronto and Ottawa host jazz festivals in the summer. Theaters with classical entertainment are also found in Ottawa.
