As the City of Toronto opens its culinary doors again to in-person dining, the Rally For Restaurants program is helping make it easier and more enticing to eat at your favourite restaurant.
Backed by beer company Stella Artois, Rally for Restaurants was launched to help struggling restaurants welcome back patrons through a gift card program. Dozens of restaurants across Toronto have added their names to the program. Patrons are invited to buy gift cards for their favourite dining spot. Stella Artois then adds $10 to the value of the card letting customers enjoy their meal even more.
Liberty Entertainment Group, the driving force behind popular Toronto hot spots, BlueBlood Steakhouse at Casa Loma, Cibo Wine Bars and Xango were pleased to come on board with the project.
Vice-president and creative director Nadia Di Donato says the Liberty Entertainment Group has grown alongside the City of Toronto for more than 30 years. She says before the pandemic, Toronto had established itself as a global destination for sophisticated diners.
“(The city) was starting to play in the big leagues. We were receiving global recognition. There was amazing growth,” she says, adding the effects of the pandemic have been felt across the restaurant industry. “Our staff has been remarkable. It’s been a challenge and we are very fortunate to have staff that has held together.”
During the recent shutdown, Liberty Entertainment Group restaurants pivoted to take-out dining. She says they are now ready to welcome people back to their stunningly designed patios. “We are ready to pick up where we left off and are taking advantage of the early opening of patios.”
The BlueBlood Steakhouse award-winning patio has been transformed into a dining oasis with the upper-level patio now serving as a full steakhouse with additional seating for 120, socially distanced of course. Additional dining space has been added in the Gardens, with a new globally inspired menu, offering fresh summer fare ranging from intriguing starters and salads to grilled premium fish, seafood, pasta and meat entrees.
While sitting in the shadow of the awe-inspiring Casa Loma, diners can enjoy royally inspired cocktails or a choice of flavourful wines from the castle’s underground wine cellar.
Xango has also undergone a patio transformation, now serving as a patio nightclub. “It’s a little oasis in the middle of the city,” says Di Donato.
Before the pandemic, Di Donato says Toronto was becoming a destination city for food and tourism. As Toronto reopens, Liberty Entertainment Group is excited to be a part of the regrowth of the food and tourism industry.
Check out the many great Toronto restaurants taking part in Rally for Restaurants by visiting https://rallyforrestaurants.ca/