Hothouse

What is Hothouse? Anchoring the corner of Church and Front Street since 1994, this sprawling Old Town institution brings reliable Mediterranean-Italian comfort and easy hospitality to the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. The multi-room interior features expansive main dining halls, intimate mezzanine perches, and a bustling central bar, flanked outside by a massive, sun-drenched sidewalk patio. It is a fiercely independent downtown workhorse where pre-theatre crowds, longtime regulars, and large family celebrations gather under one roof.

Hothouse Menu & What to Order The kitchen focuses on crowd-pleasing Mediterranean plates and generous pastas, led by the slow-simmered three-meat Rigatoni Bolognese and delicate four-cheese cappelletti tossed in rosé sauce. Kick things off with chickpea-crusted calamari with Calabrian chili-caper aioli or the house mezze platter with creamy labneh and hummus, washed down with a pitcher of signature sangria or a Tuesday half-price wine feature. Plant-forward diners are well accommodated with ancient grain tabbouleh bowls, while the iconic Sunday live jazz brunch buffet remains the definitive order for shakshuka, fresh carving stations, and Belgian waffles.

Know Before You Go Online reservations via their website are strongly recommended for the popular Sunday jazz brunch and peak pre-show weekend evenings, though spontaneous walk-ins can often snag a seat at the spacious bar or along the 150-seat patio. Located just a short stroll east from Union Station and King subway station, the venue is easily accessible by public transit, with Green P parking lots dotted along Church and Wellington Streets. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays for lunch and express into late-evening dinner service, transitioning to 10:00 a.m. for weekend brunch.