Old Spaghetti Factory

The Old Spaghetti Factory on The Esplanade is one of Toronto's most enduring family restaurants, and for good reason — it delivers a complete family dining experience that is hard to beat on value, atmosphere, and kid-friendliness.

The restaurant occupies a beautifully restored historic building in the heart of Old Town Toronto. The interior is filled with antiques, stained glass, Tiffany-style lamps, and vintage Canadian memorabilia that give the space a warm, eclectic character. But the centrepiece that kids will talk about for years is the vintage TTC streetcar sitting in the middle of the dining room.

You can actually eat your meal inside it, seated at tables in the restored car with the original windows and fixtures surrounding you. Request streetcar seating when you arrive — it fills up quickly and is by far the most memorable spot in the restaurant.

The menu is Italian-Canadian comfort food: spaghetti with meat sauce, baked lasagna, fettuccine alfredo, chicken parmesan, pizza, and other pasta dishes that form the foundation of reliable family dining. The food is not trying to win culinary awards — it is trying to feed your family well at a fair price, and it succeeds.

The pricing structure is what truly sets The Old Spaghetti Factory apart. Every adult entree ($16-25 CAD) includes fresh-baked bread with garlic butter, a choice of soup or salad, the pasta or entree, and a dessert (ice cream or brownie). The kids menu ($8-12 CAD) follows the same all-inclusive format.

A family of 4 can eat a complete three-course Italian meal for $70-100 CAD — exceptional value for a sit-down restaurant in downtown Toronto.

The kids menu features smaller portions of the most kid-friendly pastas, plus options like mac and cheese and cheese pizza. Portions are generous enough that younger children can share with a parent if needed. High chairs and booster seats are available.

The atmosphere is lively on weekends — this is a popular restaurant and you will be surrounded by other families, which is actually reassuring. The noise level is high enough that your toddler's shriek is barely noticed, and the staff is experienced with families and moves at a pace that works with children's attention spans. Food arrives quickly, bread is on the table immediately, and the included dessert gives kids something to look forward to.

The location on The Esplanade, between Front Street and the waterfront, is convenient for families exploring downtown Toronto. St. Lawrence Market is a 5-minute walk west, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a 5-minute walk north, and the Distillery District is a 10-minute walk east. The restaurant has a patio for warm-weather dining.