Top New Restaurant Openings in 2018 in Oakville, Burlington, and Milton

Published March 22, 2018 at 6:37 pm

This year has been a great one in terms of new restaurant openings across Oakville, Burlington, and Milton.

While Halton isn’t necessarily the first area to come to mind when someone hears the term “food scene,” anyone who overlooks these not-so-sleepy suburbs is missing out on a truly unique, diverse and eclectic mix of food options.

There truly is something for everyone.

Here’s a look at some of the hottest new openings of 2018 so far.

West End Social

Oakville

This downtown Bronte spot means Oakville’s nightlife is about to get lit. Or at least slightly more legit. A new bar/restaurant has made its debut. West End Social is in the former Coach & Four location near the corner of Bronte Rd. and Lakeshore Rd. W. The legendary pub closed last October. Catch Hospitality Group – which owns many of Oakville’s top restos, including Cucci, Plank, Tavolo, and the Firehall – has taken over the location at 2432 Lakeshore Rd. W. The space was completely gutted. West End Social is currently taking shape and it’s being billed as a piano bar — this means there’s live music plus bites and cocktails. Aesthetics are important, so let’s talk looks: the lounge features a 25-foot bar, custom banquette seating, and gorgeous lighting. It’ll be open until 2 a.m., unlike most Oakville spots. In terms of tunes, live piano will be featured Thursday through Saturday with DJ’s spinning late into the night. As for bites, small, shareable plates are being served up. And while the resto has been undergoing its makeover, it’s been getting a lot of buzz locally. A visit here is a perfect way to simultaneously get your vitamin C-infused bevvies and shorten your Uber ride home.

Photos courtesy of West End Social

Boon Burger

Oakville

An Oakville burger war is about to going down. A hot-yet-casual dining experience just opened on March 9 … it’s creative and fun, much like a very nearby competitor. It started in Winnipeg, made its way to the west Greater Toronto Area (first in Burlington — Hamilton’s Ottawa St. location opened last month). Boon Burger Cafe – which proves you don’t necessarily need meat to create a phenomenally satisfying meal – is opening a location in the Fortino’s plaza at Dundas St. and Neyagawa Blvd. That’s in Vegebitez territory — this means the ever-popular vegan movement is only going to gain traction in town.

Boon Burger currently has a downtown Burlington location, where their Cowboy burger is the top seller. Dude, it’s beyond delicious. Made from scratch, burgers are handmade, grilled, baked, and served on a whole wheat bun. New items have recently been introduced to the menu, including a round – not square – bun, poutine, and pizza. This Canadian chain, or “world’s first vegan burger cafe,” has mastered selling plant-based junk food for the masses. Hot sauce and other (less important) condiments are already on the table, surrounded by a massive roll of brown paper towels.

Full of farm animals, the environment is quirky; friendly staff wear black T-shirts reading ‘boonivore’ on the back. Boon Burger has also scored bragging rights for Novemburger — that’s an annual burger festival which raises money for the United Way of Halton & Hamilton.It’s time to get your eat on, Oakville.

Goodfellas

Milton

The popular Streetsville Neapolitan wood oven pizza restaurant that’s known for its rustic-chic interior, homemade southern Italian dishes and exclusive Italian wine selection, officially opened its doors in Halton at 22 Ontario St. S., across from the Milton Mall, in a former Re/Max realty office. Finally. It’s an ideal place to break all of your new year’s resolutions. With authentic Neapolitan wood oven pizza, the menu focuses on authentic Southern Italian cuisine. A variety of legit Napoletana pizzas include the Margherita Pizza, topped with San Marzano sauce, mozzarella fiore di latte, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil. You’ll also find Romano pizza and homemade pastas, all made in-house. The Maccheroni alla Carbonara pasta dish includes pancetta, egg yolks, pecorino romano, and black pepper.

The menu also includes appetizers, fish and meat entrees, and desserts. The mozzarealla di bufala, and parmigiano-reggiano cheeses are some of the ingredients they use imported directly from Italy. Goodfellas boasts an extensive Italian wine selection which pairs beautifully with great eats. Meanwhile, the Georgetown location is now slated to open in summer 2018. It’ll be at 29 Main St. S. in the former TDCanada Trust branch. And you’ll definitely notice the financial influence in the design scheme. “We’re going to keep the safes there,” Rick Taddeo from Goodfellas’ head office operations previously told inhalton.com, adding “the vault will be a dining room, you know, six to eight people. It’ll be nice — nice decor.” The Georgetown resto will also see a rooftop patio “along with a convenient elevator” in addition to the main floor and basement dining areas. Goodfellas’ current locations are in Mississauga’s Streetsville and City Centre neighbourhoods, plus Toronto’s Old Mill. “We’re very familiar with the west end” of the Greater Toronto Area, said Taddeo. All menus – and price points – will be identical, said Taddeo.

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising