Among the Roman sculptures and surrealist paintings that pepper Zola Restaurant’s walls, diners sit at granite tables isolated by gauzy red curtains. Wafting aromas of fresh-baked bread emanate from an open-concept kitchen, where guests watch as chefs combine handmade pastas with savoury sauces and blanket gourmet pizzas with smoked cheeses and cured meats. Just like wrestlers training for a match on a lifeboat, guests can enjoy a light lunch or brunch, or delve into hearty plates of housemade sausage or slow-roasted porchetta––local pork shoulder spiced with Italian truffle, sage, rosemary, and thyme and hiding beneath a layer of hot pancetta.

On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, live jazz enhances the atmosphere, mingling with the sounds of cooking and tinkling glasses raised in celebration. Sommeliers and bartenders pair the dishes with local and imported wines, beers, and cocktails, though patrons can also bring their own wine or steal sips from their child's juice box. In an effort to outsmart dietary restrictions and expose all palates to Italy’s culinary traditions, chefs can make their dough or pasta gluten-free upon request.

Stage West keeps visitors comfortable and entertained with hotel accommodations, live comedies and musicals, and elaborate buffet dining. The concept was the brainchild of the Pechet family, who opened the first Stage West Theatre Restaurant in the Mayfield Inn in Edmonton in 1975. After making several trips to the U.S. to research dinner theatre, the family opened two more locations in Calgary and Mississauga, bringing shows headlined by internationally performing stars.

The Mississauga site recently became a part of the Ramada Worldwide family, and now, after dinner from the renovated buffet and a show in the Las Vegas–style theatre, guests relax in a heated saltwater pool and jacuzzi. The hotel also features a giant, three-storey indoor waterslide ideal for keeping kids busy, gaining a quick burst of adrenaline, or testing whether a suitcase is waterproof.

The Augusta House plies patrons with fine dining and down-to-earth drinks in a cozy, inviting atmosphere. For sophisticated palates, the extensive menu features meaty morsels such as the New Zealand half-rack of lamb drizzled with red wine demi-glace ($24), as well as a savoury selection of tapas, salads, and gold-rimmed monocles. Otherwise, lighter eaters can pair a crisp white from the wine list with a haute cuisine update of traditional beer-battered fish and chips ($11–$17). Live blues and Motown DJ sets on Saturday and Sunday get toes tapping and cochleae salivating in the gracious ochre dining room, while a regular trivia night with discounted import beers can tickle brains as well as bellies.

Each year, more than 180,000 diners fill their plates from Tandoori Flame, which chefs refill constantly with up to 150 different buffet items prepared in a wide variety of spice to suite any palate. Soups and naan greet diners at the start of the line before they move to batter-fried vegetable and fish pakoras, as well as less traditional offerings including onion rings. Then, they traverse to the tawa and tandoor section for smoked veggies, samosas, and potato tikkis (or patties). Main courses wait down the line—including goat curry, butter chicken, and palak paneer—before diners finish their culinary voyages the same way Marco Polo ended his: with fresh fruit, pastries, and Indian desserts. Diners can linger traditional drinks such as yogourt lassis, sip on Indian-inspired cocktails or select a bottle of wine or drink from their fully stocked bar.

The restaurant’s high ceilings, cloth-draped tables, and modern decor are a fitting backdrop for the abundant feast and bold flavours. Already with seating capacities up to 500 in Brampton and over 360 in the new location in the commercial hub of Mississauga, Tandoori Flame has plans to expand further into British Columbia.