The Wood Owl

What is The Wood Owl? Located at 1380 Danforth Avenue just east of Greenwood, The Wood Owl is the moody, wine-focused sibling to neighbourhood gastropub The Wren from Dennis Kimeda and Rhonda Sharon. Designed by Ali McQuaid of Future Studio, the intimate 45-seat dining room channels a sepia-toned living room aesthetic with amber lighting, warm wood-panelled walls, and a timber bar counter lined with vintage indie rock posters.

The Wood Owl Menu & What to Order Chef Tabitha Cranney runs a rotating chalkboard menu that pairs seasonal Ontario produce with smart French, Spanish, and Asian flavour accents. Begin with crisp za'atar eggplant frites dipped in herbal tahini or the zippy daily crudo before cutting into the signature skirt steak with roasted mushroom demi-glace and shoestring pommes allumettes. The drink program is guided by a dynamic list of low-intervention and classic Old World wines alongside thoughtfully constructed cocktails, with generous plant-forward options for vegetarian diners.

Know Before You Go Tables can be reserved online via Resy, though bar stools and a handful of dining room seats are kept available for walk-in guests every evening. Weekends fill up swiftly, so aim for an early 5:00 p.m. arrival or late-evening nightcap to avoid extended wait times. The restaurant sits two blocks east of Greenwood subway station on Line 2, with paid Green P street parking along Danforth Avenue.