Due to requests from restauranteurs, and strong interest and registration across the city, the City of Toronto is extending the submission deadline for restaurants to participate in DineTOgether to September 7 at 11:59 p.m.
DineTOgether – part of ShowLoveTO, in association with Founding Sponsor American Express and in partnership with Destination Toronto – has been created to support the recovery of local restaurants and celebrate Toronto’s diverse culinary scene.
DineTOgether will run from Friday, September 17 to Sunday, October 3 to encourage residents to patronize local eateries through a feature menu available by takeout, delivery, patio dining and/or indoor dining.
Currently, registration includes many restaurants in neighbourhoods that have not participated in previous programs, and the extension is intended to build on this positive outcome. Restaurants wishing to benefit from the program must register before 11:59 p.m. on September 7 at DineTOgether
Participating restaurants will offer one or more two-course feature menus for lunch and/or dinner consisting of a main dish and an appetizer or dessert. Restaurant operators can choose the price of their feature menus from a range of $15 to $50 in $5 increments to accommodate as many restaurants as possible. Prices are per person and exclude beverages, taxes, and gratuity. The price of DineTOgether’s feature menus is not intended to be value-driven or discounted.
To ensure the program benefits as many restaurants as possible, there is no participation fee and minimal eligibility criteria, including:
• Be a full-service/table-service restaurant located in Toronto
• Possess a Toronto Public Health (TPH) Green DineSafe pass
• Possess a City Municipal Licensing & Standards Eating Establishment Licence (number starts with B71)
• Comply with provincial and municipal reopening guidelines, including TPH guidelines for food premises.
Restaurant listings and menus will be available September 14 at ShowLoveTO.
ShowLoveTO, in association with Founding Sponsor American Express and in partnership with Destination Toronto, was launched by the City to encourage local tourism and foster community engagement and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
American Express is the Founding Sponsor of DineTOgether, and the program is funded in part by the Government of Ontario.
Quotes:
“We understand how busy local restaurant owners are right now. This extended deadline will allow more restaurants to participate in DineTOgether, so that Torontonians can show our love to the restaurant industry in September while savouring a delicious feature menu.”
– Mayor John Tory
“Toronto’s world renowned hospitality industry is a key driver in our night economy. This initiative encourages everyone to enjoy the restaurant experience while supporting our local restaurants through takeout, delivery, patio or indoor dining.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“Small businesses shape our neighbourhoods, and restaurants in particular help define the flavour of our local communities. I can’t think of a better way for all of us to come together than to dine small in support of some of our local faves through the City’s DineTOgether initiative.”
– Kerri-Ann Santaguida, Vice President and General Manager of Merchant Services, American Express Canada
Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.