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New Restaurants in Oakville & Burlington!

September 11, 2026 No Comments

The food scene in our area is constantly evolving, and we are thrilled to welcome several fabulous new restaurants. Here are a few to sample. Pay them a visit!

BAR ORIGIN
399 Elizabeth Street, Burlington | barorigin.ca

Bar origin opened in Downtown Burlington this summer, the latest venture of acclaimed chef and longtime Master Chef Canada judge Claudio Aprile. Origin originally opened in Toronto in 2010, and was quickly named the # 1 restaurant in the city. The new restaurant in Burlington has an evolved menu and a vibrant new space. For this venture, chef Claudio has partnered with Maria and Chris Pagonis, a husband-and-wife team who bring decades of entrepreneurial experience, hospitality leadership and community involvement to downtown Burlington. The restaurant will offer all day dining, with salads, sandwiches, charcuterie and coffee by day, and a sophisticated restaurant at night with 20-plus dishes designed for sharing, alongside classic cocktails and a curated global wine list.

CENTRO ON THE SQUARE
210 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville | centroonthesquare.ca

Centro on the Square opened this summer in the heart of Downtown Oakville in the space formerly occupied by Hexagon. The new restaurant offers an elevated fine dining experience in an atmosphere of elegance and refined luxury. Their menu features dishes from around the world using only the finest high-quality seasonal ingredients, coupled with original cocktails and an extensive international wine list. Centro invites guests to come together for a delicious meal, and to celebrate life, culinary excellence, and incredible hospitality.

MAI CAPHE
353 Brant Street, Burlington | maicaphe.ca

Mai CaPhe opened this summer on the 2nd floor of the building where owner and founder Deanna grew up in Downtown Burlington. The businesses on the main floor, Lugano Pizza and La Viva Hair salon, have been operated by her family for years. After her dad died in 2022, Deanna decided to visit Vietnam to reconnect with her roots, and she discovered the joy of Vietnamese coffee. Coffee in Vietnam is more than a drink – it’s an experience, encouraging you to take time to slow down, connect, and enjoy the moment. It inspired her to create a space back home to share Vietnamese culture in a way that’s bold and deeply rooted in tradition. You can also enjoy banh mi, savoury bites and desserts with your coffee!

CAFÉ PANCHITA
94 George Street, Oakville| cafepanchita.ca

Café Panchita opened at the beginning of the summer in the heart of downtown Oakville, downstairs in Towne Square. The café is the latest venture of chef Humberto Sanchez, who was born in Venezuela and has over 20 years of experience in restaurants around the world including Spain, Italy, France, Peru and Florida. Café Panchita is the best place to start your day or take a lunch break. The menu features an exciting selection of Latin American style eggs all day, omelettes, tostadas as well as burger and chicken lunch options. While there, be sure to pick up a pastry or a loaf of their handcrafted sourdough bread, baked daily in house! Stay tuned for news of Catalina, their Spanish restaurant opening soon upstairs!

BUDAPEST BAKESHOP
447 Brant Street, Burlington | budapestbakeshop.com

Budapest Bakeshop first opened in Niagara-on-the-Lake in 2019, and was so successful that founders Todd and Anett recently decided to expand, first to Port Dalhousie and now Burlington. The Burlington location is owned by Scott & Kim Gauld, who are originally from Burlington and watched the successful Niagara bakery grow and expand, and decided to bring it back home. Budapest Bakeshop bakes chimney cakes, a classic Hungarian delicacy. Imagine bread, a pretzel, a croissant and a doughnut all rolled into one, hand-rolled, and baked fresh in electric rotisserie-style ovens every day. With an extensive array of sweet and savoury options, there is something for everyone, sweet enough for breakfast, savoury and bold enough for lunch or dinner.

PII NONG THAI
266 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville | piinongthai.com

This restaurant is so new that it is currently operating as a “soft opening,” with a grand opening date to be announced soon. Pii Nong Thai offers a unique 3-in-1 Thai experience at their flagship location at Yonge and Lawrence in Toronto: Restaurant, Market and Massage, all under one roof. The restaurant was named one of Toronto Life’s best new restaurants for 2025!

Founder and Chef Pii Nong grew up in Bangkok selling street food with her mom. With the foundation of those recipes passed down from her mother, she creates dishes that bring the vibrant essence of Thailand to every bite. Guests will also be able to explore the Thai Market at the front of the restaurant, featuring imported snacks, drinks, and specialty products from Thailand. The Thai massage component is also planned for Oakville in the future.

In Articles

Time To Tee Up! A Guide to Local Golf Courses

May 19, 2023 No Comments

As Canadians, we reluctantly accept that we have long winters and too-short summers. And it means we all understand that we have to pack in as much outdoor activity as we can in the summer months. So as the first spring shoots poke through in the garden and the ice and snow finally melt away, we are READY….. to spend some time lingering in the sun on a patio, open the pool, clean up the yard, make the first trip to the cottage, and if you are a golfer, to dust off the clubs and get out there for the first round of the season.

We are fortunate in Halton to have an amazing selection of great public golf courses to choose from, all within a 45-minute drive of home. They offer a vast diversity of terrain and degree of difficulty, so you can choose to experience them all, or pick a couple of favourites and focus on those.

If you are planning to play a lot this season, then it will make sense to take advantage of a coupon book. For example, the Greens Fee Passport available from www.golfpassport.com offers savings at 170 golf facilities in Ontario and upstate New York. Golf Fore All is another program that offers savings at about 120 courses in Ontario (www.golfforeall.ca). You will find the savings from these programs usually pay for the upfront cost within a couple of rounds.

Most golf courses in Ontario offer discounts for seniors playing on weekdays. Make sure to call ahead or do your research online, and book your tee times early. The popularity of the game has surged since the pandemic, and it may be difficult to get the tee time of your choice at
many courses.

With so many great local courses to choose from, it is not easy to pick our favourites. But here are a few courses we recommend. You won’t be disappointed at any of them.

Tee it up and have fun this summer!

Carlisle Golf Club

523 Carlisle Road, Carlisle
Kaneffgolf.com/golf/courses/carlisle

Part of the Kaneff Golf group, in the beautiful area between Carlisle and Kilbride. A cozy collection of three nine-hole courses, with rolling greens, tall pine trees, and generous fairways. This is a shot-maker’s course, so accuracy is key. Watch out for the signature 6th hole on the North course, a par 5 with a dog leg to the right and a very narrow fairway. Lots of balls have been lost in the farmer’s field to the left of the fairway!

Lowville Golf Club

2662 Brittania Road, Burlington
Lowvillegolf.com

In the picturesque village of Lowville, locally owned and operated, this 18-hole course is built into the side of the Escarpment. It may be helpful to have one leg longer than the other as you will need to play lots of side of hill shots! You can drive a mile from the long downhill par 5’s, but be prepared for a good workout if you choose to walk this course. The sunset views across the valley on a summer evening are spectacular.

Mount Nemo Golf Club

5377 Walkers Line, Burlington
Mountnemogolfclub.ca

Formerly known as Indian Wells, this 18-hole championship course is in a spectacular setting beneath the towering cliffs of Mount Nemo, with beautiful views from many of the holes. This is a challenging course with water hazards on 6 of the holes on the front 9, and narrow fairways and mature forests on the back 9.

Hidden Lake Golf Club

1137 # 1 Side Road, Burlington
Hiddenlake.clublink.ca

Just north of Burlington, and now part of the Clublink family, Hidden Lake has been in operation for over 60 years, and offers two distinct 18-hole championship courses. The Old Course is a more traditional tree-lined course with small greens, that allows glimpses of the “hidden lake” on the 16th and 17th holes. The New Course has larger greens, more generous fairways, and plenty of water.

Burlington Springs Golf & Country Club

5235 Cedar Springs Road, Burlington
Burlingtonsprings.com

This is a great course to play early in the season. The gently rolling fairways drain well, and they pride themselves on offering great value and a challenging experience for novice and experienced golfers alike. The back 9 is a bit more challenging than the front.

Oakville Executive Golf Course

4414 Fourth Line, Oakville
Oakvillegolf.ca

Located just north of Oakville, Angel’s View is a 9-hole regulation length course, and Mystic Ridge is a shorter 18-hole par 63 course. Both are ideal to introduce new players to the game and the par 3 is perfect for kids just starting out. Choose your club carefully on the 9th hole heading back to the club house – the hydro wires cross the fairway and present an interesting additional hazard!

Mystic Golf Club

1707 Jerseyville Road West, Ancaster
Golfnorth.ca/mystic

Located not far off the 403, just beyond Ancaster, is this very different and special gem. Set in beautiful countryside with no houses to be seen, this Tom Pearson designed course offers a unique wide-open experience for the serious passionate golfer. Most notable is the 10th hole – a par 6 (not a typo) which requires you to hit over 3 ravines! Beautifully maintained, carts only.

King’s Forest Golf Club

100 Greenhill Avenue, Hamilton
Hamilton.ca/things-do/golf-hamilton

Owned and operated by the City of Hamilton, and located in the picturesque Red Hill Valley at the foot of the Escarpment, this municipal course is long and challenging. There are some terrific elevated tee shots, lots of interesting dogleg holes, and six holes requiring you to navigate the Red Hill Creek which traverses the course.

By David Mosley and Tim Root

In Articles

Don’t Let Love Get Lost in Translation: Valentine’s Gifts for Every Love Language

January 27, 2023 1 Comment

Romance, it’s the language of love. Though if you ask Dr. Gary Chapman, there are five “official” love languages: quality time, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Through years of counselling couples, Dr. Chapman analyzed the unique needs and communication styles within a relationship. Taking what he learned, he turned his observations into a best-selling book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts.

While many of us can relate to the five love languages above, understanding and acting on your partner’s love language can lead to a deeper connection. So, this Valentine’s Day, why not try a gift to resonate with your partner in a new way? Gift their love language.

Quality Time
If quality time is your partner’s love language, then the gift they really want is you! Book an evening at the Pearle Hotel and Spa to connect, unwind, and relax with views of Lake Ontario. Enjoy in-room dining, in-room soaker tubs, and luxurious amenities. Plus, their full-service spa on-site offers a 90-minutes couples’ massage. Another great way to spend quality time together is right at home! Order in from one of your favourite restaurants or make your own heart-shaped pizza with House Sauce and Pizza Dough from Son of a Peach Pizzeria. Once dinner is made, hop into your jammies (Bocana on Pearl has adorable Valentine’s jammies), throw on your favourite movie, or get competitive in a game of Scrabble.

Words of Affirmation
If words of affirmation aren’t your love language, coming up with verbal ways to connect with your partner may feel a bit daunting. But fear not, there’s at least one card on the planet to thoughtfully get your feelings across. People who seek verbal affirmations are looking for words of encouragement and compliments through cards, conversations, phone calls, or texts. In other words, say “I love you” in any number of ways. Burlington’s Waves in the Village has witty and hilarious cards for everyone. While Cards N’ Such in Oakville is a great spot for something a bit more classic and romantic. To step it up a notch, write a love letter (or two) in a beautiful journal from The Handmade House in Burlington.

Receiving Gifts
This is where you can go fairly traditional with classic, elegant, and timeless gifts. Jewellery and flowers may be an obvious choice, but adding a personal touch can really elevate a gift. Design custom jewellery or incorporate a family heirloom into a beautiful keepsake at Diamond Boutique in Hamilton or Avalon Jewellery in Oakville. With Brant Florist, you can create a floral arrangement featuring your loved one’s favourite colours and flowers, or select a pre-arranged bouquet. Shops like Pure Boutique, Bluboho, and Homebody have unique, modern gifts from jewellery to home décor perfect for any style and stage of life.

Acts of Service
Acts of service is the love language for people who believe actions speak louder than words. Things like a fresh cup of coffee (grab some fresh beans from Vereda Central and make a pot at home), prepping dinner (The Platter Company and Familia Fine Foods have incredible homecooked frozen meals), or tidying the house (Mint-Maids of Waterdown & Burlington offer plant-based eco-friendly cleans) will make your loved one feel seen and appreciated.

Physical Touch
Some people just love a good ole fashioned hug – and there’s nothing better than snuggling in something cozy. New from Joseph Tassoni is the JT Spa Collection, available for both men and women, so you can cocoon yourself in the softest dream robe. Or, turn the heat up with a little something from Goodnight Goodmorning in Oakville. Their silk robes are beautiful and sophisticated, available in a number of fun colours and patterns.

While speaking another love language may take some practice, with these gift ideas, there’s no doubt your partner will love what you’re trying to say.

In Articles

The Value Of What You Hold: Best Local Antique Shops

November 4, 2022 No Comments

Part adventure, part history lesson, part treasure hunt – whether you’re a long-time collector or the recipient of Granny’s china, there’s a subtle thrill that comes with the world of antiques.

Mainstream fascination with antiques was encouraged by a 1997 BBC documentary touring a West Country Auction House in England. With people’s heightened interest in placing a value on their treasures, whether collected, gifted, or inherited, the BBC recognized they had tapped into something special. Results of viewers’ letters and ratings indicated that Antique Roadshow was – and still is – a hit.

PBS took note of this phenomenon and modeled their Antique Roadshow after the British version. The popularity of that show spawned CBC’s Canadian Antiques Roadshow in 2004 and the Great Canadian Roadshow in 2010. Both shows are no longer running, but The Wayback Times has been publishing a free guide to antiques and collectibles since 1995, and is a good source of monthly local antique roadshows. The Vintage Seeker is another great resource for lovers of vintage items and collectibles, and provides up-to-date listings of local antique markets.

What You Should Know

Whether you need an appraisal for insurance purposes or you are thinking of selling an item, it’s important to know an object’s value before selling it. Verbal and written appraisals rely on current market trends and a professional appraiser’s knowledge of antiques — but note that these are only an opinion of value.

The appraisal should include the reason for the appraisal and the type of value. For example, are you interested in selling an object, or is the appraisal required for insurance purposes?

Where to Find Appraisers

The International Society of Appraisers Canada has a credible list of qualified appraisers. These days, appraisals can take place in-person, virtually, and even online – which is a much more affordable option (especially if you’re not completely convinced your item holds any value).

In Burlington, you can try Treasure Antique & Appraisers. They offer appraisals, consignment sales, support with estate sales or downsizing, and prop rentals. They even host appraisal shows at retirement homes and seniors’ centres. Think of them as a local Antiques Roadshow!

In Oakville, you’ll find AG Antiques & Appraisers in Bronte, and Turner Chapel Antiques and Appraisers, located in what was the historic African Methodist Episcopalian Church, established in 1890. AG Antiques purchases the best in artwork, fine English and continental furniture, porcelain, and china, while also offering appraisals and prop rentals. Turner Chapel offers consignment, auction evaluations, formal appraisals, antique repairs, and prop rentals.

Some of the Best Antique Shops that Oakville and Burlington have to offer

At Nagwa’s Antiques on Speers Road in Oakville, you can expect to find the truly elegant pieces of a time gone by, as well as friendly service.

My Back Shed recently moved from Bronte to Kerr Street in Oakville, and is the destination spot for all enthusiasts of French country, antiques, hand-painted furniture, and shabby chic home decor.

At AG Antiques & Appraisers in Bronte, proprietor Anna Gardner offers the best silver, artwork, porcelain, and furnishings.

Treasure Antique & Appraisers in Burlington is a great place for Royal Doulton, Dresden, and Hummel collectors. They host Antique Appraisal Days in various locations.

ODDSPOT in Burlington is where you’ll find more than 1,000 uniquely unexpected items like records to a clothes iron from the 1800s.

What’s Hot

Sometimes it just isn’t practical to keep older items around the house, even if they hold sentimental value. If you’re holding onto them and wondering when the best time to sell is, you can lean on your local experts to guide you. But, according to reputable antique bloggers, these are some of the most sought-after antiques for 2022:

Novelty barware, hunting decoys, depression glass, original paintings, old clocks, vintage typewriters, perfume bottles, leather books.

The important takeaway: do your research before you sell – you never know what that old treasure tucked away in the basement or the attic might be worth.

by Michele Bogle