Not every restaurant needs a grand entrance to make an impression. Mom’s Recipes, a quietly charming Ukrainian bakery and café tucked at 136 Avenue Rd. at the intersection of Yorkville, the Annex and Rosedale, opened just weeks ago and is already earning the kind of attention that most new restaurants take months to generate — including a visit from one of Canada’s most celebrated literary icons, Margaret Atwood.
Founded by Toronto-based baker Victoria Olshana, Mom’s Recipes is exactly what its name suggests: a deeply personal tribute to home cooking, warmth, and the universal comfort of food made with care. The Ukrainian restaurant and café has carved out its niche in one of Toronto’s most competitive dining corridors — situated between Osteria Giulia and Adrak — and it’s holding its own with an authenticity that neighbourhood regulars are clearly responding to.
Within just two weeks of opening, the restaurant had already accumulated a 4.8-star rating from dozens of reviewers — an impressive start for any new establishment. The food speaks for itself, but the atmosphere Olshana has cultivated, one defined by genuine hospitality and the feeling of being welcomed into someone’s home, is what seems to be making the real difference.
When Atwood dropped by for a visit, the restaurant shared the moment on Instagram with a caption that perfectly captured the spirit of the place: “Moments like these are exactly what Mom’s Recipes is all about — connection, warmth, and a feeling of home.”
If you’re looking for a new neighbourhood spot that offers something genuinely personal in a city full of concept-driven dining rooms, Mom’s Recipes deserves a visit. Head to 136 Avenue Rd. and experience one of Toronto’s most heartfelt new openings.