Grant van Gameren is one of the most influential names in Toronto’s restaurant industry. The force behind Bar Raval, El Rey Mezcal Bar, Martine’s Wine Bar and Harry’s Charbroiled has shaped the city’s dining culture in ways that are hard to overstate. Now, he’s doing something new — and the city’s food community is paying close attention, even if the destination is two hours away.
Rosetta, van Gameren’s next venture, is an Italian-inspired steakhouse taking root in Picton, Prince Edward County, in the former home of a beloved local spot at 279 Picton Main St. The project brings together van Gameren’s longtime collaborator Luke Haines — co-creator of Martine’s Wine Bar and Bar Raval — alongside Toronto expat and P.E.C. local Jesse Fader of Hank’s Lonesome. It’s a team that inspires immediate confidence.
Prince Edward County has become one of Ontario’s most exciting culinary destinations, attracting talented chefs and sophisticated diners willing to make the trip for exceptional food in a beautiful setting. Van Gameren’s arrival there signals both the county’s rising profile and his own appetite for new challenges beyond Toronto’s city limits.
Rosetta is expected to open imminently, with van Gameren’s Instagram activity suggesting the doors are close to swinging open. For Torontonians who’ve followed his career, this is the kind of project worth adding to the summer road trip list.
Make the drive to Picton, explore the County, and end the day at Rosetta. When someone with van Gameren’s track record says he’s opening something new, the only question is when to go — not whether.