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St. Lawrence Market
Categories: Food Farmers Market Food Grocery Farmers Market, Grocery
92 Front Street EToronto, ON M5E 1C4
Neighbourhoods: St. Lawrence, Downtown Core
(416) 392-7219
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 8 am - 6 pm
Fri 8 am - 7 pm
Sat 5 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for St. Lawrence Market
Review Highlights
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"If you love fresh produce, they got it." In 10 reviews -
"Carousel Bakery - Best place for croissant." In 9 reviews -
"Carousel's Peameal Bacon Sandwich." In 4 reviews
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126 reviews in English
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Review from Zoe C.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2012
Let me start off with saying that I LOVE St. Lawrence Market. They always have neat and unique venders and not to mention the food is fantastic (you can find me here grabbing lunch quite often!). Being a foodie at heart, one of my favourite things about the market is the variety of fresh food they have. From local fruits and veggies to the fresh meat and fish there is always something I am tempted to pick up...and I usually do.
On another note, to anyone with a gluten allergy: they have these gluten free brownies that are out of this world! My sister has a gluten intolerance and has not found a better brownie to date! You will defiantly NOT be disappointed.
Personally, one of my favourtie go-to lunch spots in the market is the Carousel Bakery. Here you can find amazing Canadian peameal bacon sandwiches. So warm and delicious I am craving one just talking about it! LOL
Overall the market is one of my favourite Toronto hot spots and one of the places I always bring out of town friends and family. St. Lawrence Market is sure to please as there is always something for everyone! -
Review from Janelle W.
Toronto, ON
4/24/2012
They deliver now!
I love going to St.Lawrence Market for the fresh and abundant seafood, St.Urbain bagels, Kozlick's mustard, and solid produce. I don't get out there more than once every few months, though--it's far from the most practical option (and as other reviewers have remarked, it's not the cheapest choice either).
That's why I was eager to try their new online delivery service. It's a flat $10 fee, so I decided to stock up and buy a week's worth of food. You select a timeslot (I picked Friday 6:30-9pm), choose your food (a good but not comprehensive selection of vendors is available on the site), and when the time comes, they'll wheelycart in your food in bins right into your apartment. The delivery man was friendly, and for the most part I was pleased with the food (a few items (oranges, a cucumber) didn't keep past the next day). Definitely something to try if you're sick of carting unduly large quantities of groceries!
On an IRL visit to St.Lawrence, I recommend trying to go any time other than 12-3 on Saturdays. Although I admit it's touristy, and for a little more civil Toronto-resident experience, Kensington may be a better bet--but it's still got a ton of great options and it'd be sad to eliminate the Market from your grocery repertoire on those grounds.
The surrounding neighbourhood is a great one to walk around in before or after a trip, and it's home to a lot of fun restaurants and summer festivals. -
Review from Shiona R.
4/24/2012
I feel the need to review the market as a whole as it is easily my favourite food shopping place in Toronto. Saturday morning will always find me (regardless how heavy a Friday night I have had) heading to the market. In my opinion the best things about the market are:
Super fresh food: All that fresh fish, meat, fruit and veg under one roof. I love it! Having a bbq...definitely the place to go. I have tried a few different butchers there and I like Brown Bros. Fish, I just walk around and see what the best bargains are. Never disappointed! I also this it is better value for money as you get more for your buck!
Farmers Market (every Saturday until 2pm): Want super cheap fruit and veg then this is the place to go! There is a huge variety, and a woman who makes the BEST gluten free chocolate brownies. As a regular customer I should really learn people's name instead of referring to them as 'amazing brownie woman', 'British Pie Man', 'Apple Cider Guy' etc. The British pie man also makes rather tasty gluten free products. A definite must is his GF pizza bases. I could rant about the farmers market forever. It is just too good!
Buster's Sea Cove: I have reviewed this independently but they deserve a second shout out for their amazing fishy fast food.
Carousel Bakery: Pre GF days I was partial to a peameal bacon sandwich from here. Apparently hailed a must do in Toronto...it's true, it is a must do!
The sweet treats place on the ground floor: Pies, brownies of various flavors, beautiful cakes and key lime pie to die for!
Kozliks Mustard: At $6 a jar, it's not the cheapest mustard you can buy but damn it is worth every cent. What I love is on a Saturday they cook up a lot of bacon, put out pretzels and a sample of every mustard they make (of which there are many) and you can try away until your heart is content. I love the fig and date, smoked, maple, triple crunch, extra hot and Dijon mustard's.
Really friendly people, great buzz but always busy (unless you go during the week or just before closing time). -
Review from Corey D.
5/20/2012
On a recent trip to Toronto, friends told me STLM was rated the best market in the word by National Geographic. Now I'm not certain what they know about worldly things like farmers markets, but one thing I noticed is that Torontonians didn't really agree with the rating and wondered where the love was for Ontario pride! The place is sort of insane... two levels of closely packed together sellers of goods. The day I was there it wasn't too busy, but I can see this place being a disaster to navigate. Even though it can be a jumble to twist and wind through the crowd, I think it's worth it. The sand out for me was the bulk grain woman who had pretty much everything you'd want/need (spelt, potato flour, coconut flour. grits...). She also mentioned with enough community interest she'd look into expanding their offerings, so that's cool! The raw restaurant also caught my eye, it's nice to see these offerings gaining in popularity. It's lovely to sit outside with your lunch when the weather is nice, but the standout for me will always be the incredible selection of fish. Whether your eying some to take home or a fresh catch to lunch on, the place has incredible offerings!
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Review from Kwoky L.
5/13/2012
St Lawrence Market is one of my favourite markets in North America. The size is unbelievably huge and during farmer's market days, they expand to the north market as well. I love coming here in the summer and get my fresh bagel fix, fresh berries and currants and maple syrup. The meats and seafood selections are excellent as well. It reminds me of Granville Public Market in Vancouver but the market atmosphere at St Lawrence in the summer definitely wins me over.
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Review from Juliana H.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2012
I have a love-hate relationship with the Market. I've been shopping here regularly for close to a decade and I can say with certainty, things at the corner of Front and Jarvis have their good and bad points.
The plus... any random ingredient you need for a recipe will most likely be found despite the season. If you are trying to one-up your friends at your next dinner party with something a little more exotic such as ostrich steaks or kangaroo sliders, you're in luck here. Also, a lot of the counter staff remember you if you're a regular and you get better service.
The downside... lots of stuff is priced at a premium. But then again, I can overlook that for the convenience of getting everything I need more or less in one building. The biggest downside is when it's easiest for me to shop here, the same goes for every other person in the world. Exhibit A - Saturdays. Clearly the worst. I understand it's a tourist spot, but it's pretty damn frustrating when you're trying to quickly grab a few items and you can't get past all the gawking tire kickers marveling at the wares. Or worse, you finally make it past the hordes and the noob ordering ahead of you can't make up his/her mind regarding which cheese to purchase, hence frustrating the help and keeping me waiting while the noob makes this earth shattering decision.
Just go on a weekday before the lunch rush and you'll be fine. I went today around 10 am and even though it's March Break, the place was civil. -
Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is one of the closest things Toronto has to how actually most of the world operates/sells food while at the same time using the actual, real, historical use of the word 'market.' As such, I am not surprised how here in Toronto it is used as some sort of touristy gimmick than an actual market.
In reality, markets like this and in most parts of the world are meant to be affordable, a place where people would haggle and trade goods and services. So 1 out of 3 is not really all that good.
Yes, this place has some history but in reality it is a shadow of it's former self and I very much doubt anyone would actually come here and buy their entire grocery list week in and week out since most people could not afford it at their ridiculous, high way robbery prices.
Sure, the farmers market is not bad and a great place to "support" our local farmers but that is one day out of the week. Also... they are not bad for "odd item" shoppers who would come and get the odd fish, sausage, olive oil or maybe cheese. However, I have seen a lot of people who really just come here to then be able to tell everyone that they bought this xyz item "at St. Lawrence Market!" Silly hipsters.
Yup, basically this is the 'market' version of that club everyone wants to get into so they can tell their friends they were there.
Last time I was there with my Russian friend who laughed out loud at the again ridiculous prices of caviar while commenting that it would be cheaper to have the Beluga shipped from Russia than pay what this one particular vendor was trying to con out of customers with his "Canadian caviar." Sadly, I have seen a number of specialty vendors try to pull the same stunt on less educated shoppers.
Which really boils down to this, it is not a bad market per se, there are a few produce places and quick food joints that are quite good an coming here can be quite fun. The unfortunate thing is that St. Lawrence market as a whole seems at times to be slightly more concerned with being a tourist attraction than an actual market.
If you really want that 'market vibe,' then one would be better served at Kesington Market where you can actually purchase all of your groceries, albeit not as glamorously as St. Lawrence tries to make it and also, not under one roof.Listed in: My Reviews
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/5/2012
Best Saturday ever.
Farmers market in north side- free sample extravaganza on the south side.
i love doing my grocery shopping here- so affordable and buying (mostly) local.
Don't forget that on sundays there is the flea market aka, what I call the Junkyard.
it's a great day out and an amazing date idea to boot.Listed in: Financial District/St.Lawrence…, February Food-Free Yelping…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/31/2009
Absolute best place to get fresh foods and spent an afternoon. NOT as nice as other farmer's… Read more »
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Review from Jay M.
Toronto, ON
3/15/2012
Oh St Lawrence Market, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...
1) Yip's Kitchen - you fed me tasty chinese food on the cheap, and for that I thank you.
2) The Stonemill Bakehouse - pastries and strudel to die for.
3) Brown Brothers Meats - aka sausage central! the tomato basil sausage, lamb sausages, lemon pepper sausage, jerk sausage, get the hint?
4) Carousel Bakery - peameal bacon sandwiches! oh yeah!
5) Uno Mustachio - deepfried veal and eggplant sandwiches (just be ready for a post-meal coma).
6) Yianni's Kitchen - get your greek on! souvlaki, gyros, falafel, all that ish.
Seriously, this place has something for everyone and is a good way to kill some time if nothing else. If you haven't been yet, I'd advise getting off of Yelp and go exploring right now! -
Review from Maheen M.
1/21/2012
I love love food markets. I have been to St Lawrence numerous times and every time I visit I have a great food adventure. You can get fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, cheese and bread all under one roof. Go early in the more if you want the best selection but beware of the crowds. Today, we ended up going closer to the closing time and there were limited selection on bagels from St Urbain Bagels BUT descent deals on end of day seafood deals.
Stop downstairs to the Italian sandwich place for their famous veal parmigiana sandwiches, they are soo good and filling. Order with the foccacia bread, your mind will be blown and stomach full at the same time. My SO and I split a sandwich and we were both full.
Stonemill Bakery is downstairs for your fresh bread cravings.
Stop by St Lawrence Market to spend the morning or afternoon. Make sure you come hungry there are lots of place to try out and sample food at.Listed in: St Lawrence Market Area, Food Markets
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
2/18/2012
St. Lawrence Market is the perfect Saturday morning activity. It's always bustling and plus, there's food. Fresh Food! Fresh produce! Nom to the nom.
VIBE
Busy. Lots of families. Lots of retailers trying to sell you their goods. There's also an antique market across the street. Just go. It's amazing. In the summer, this is a great spot to picnic outside.
FAVOURITES
Chris Cheesemongers - say hi to Len. He is wonderful! (and a friend of mine since High School).
Mustachios - for veal sammies
Carousel Bakery - best pemeal bacon sandwiches on earth plus a fresh bun. Mmmm!
Tons of fruit stands in the front.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Who is St. Lawrence anyways? But seriously, I'm a market girl through and through and this is a wonderful Toronto landmark. Take your goods and walk along the Harbourfront in the summer.
PS did you know a liquor store opened across the street? Sweet! -
Review from Elvis A.
2/17/2012
I usually visit this market more in summer on weekday as it has a lot of hustle and bustle on the weekends (surprise surprise I have seen prices go up for some items on the weekends!) Prices are high and some shops are charging a ridiculous premium specially for cheese and seafood.
An interesting concept with all the food related items under one roof. Lots of butchers ,coffee beans, some seafood spots, cheese mongers and some produce shops etc.
There are plenty of food spots which offer a variety of food like sandwiches, seafood, vegan and even Japanese.
Now having tried a lot of places I find them to be mostly touristy stuff and would skip as one can have better food elsewhere for less, even some sit in places charge less what you pay here.
I guess one can bring people visiting here as it does have its novelty factor for regular shopping I would look elsewhere. -
Review from Sophie T.
2/24/2012
Love walking through this place. It reminded me of markets in Florence Italy. Lots of specialty food shops from wine, cheese, bakery to clothing!
I could have spent all day there!
There is def somthing for everyone to enjoy. -
Review from Kim M.
4/10/2012
A must-see for Toronto visitors who like to eat. Consider it a walking buffet with interesting sights and frequent musical artists. If it is nice take your snacks outside to the benches and picnic tables upstairs. If you have a refrigerator buy snacks for later.
Carousel upstairs - peameal bacon sandwich, get one to share, check out the variety of mustards to add.
Yip's downstairs - get a few dumplings (add some hot sauce and mustard from Carousel though it is upstairs).
Juice bar downstairs - the kids are happy here. Get a large smoothie.
Bakery that catches your eye - get a couple cinnamon rolls, croissants or anything really. Stow a couple in your bag for later.
Wander through the import markets.
Enjoy the music. -
Review from M P.
3/19/2012
One of the worlds great markets.Yes a little touresty, but still fun to go to. It still enlivens all the senses, with its sights, smells, sounds ,touch and tastes.Pemeal Bacon Sandwich from the Carousel bakery is a must have.
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Review from Yibing Q.
12/31/2011
This Market was all right ... it had a sort of grimness in its atmosphere.
This was one of my foodie pit-stops in my visit to Toronto. I tried a Peameal bacon on a bun from Carousel Bakery ... as we saw a decent queue forming at its counter.
The bun was all right. Bacon were nicely marinated and fried. Buns were nicely toasted. But nothing special really. -
Review from Jason B.
8/29/2011
I love the St. Lawrence market! Its such a fun place to explore and eat while you grocery shop! There are two floors of varied cultural vendors, including butchers, fresh produce, seafood, unique home-made and natural products - most of which offer something prepared that you can eat right away!
The best day to go is on Saturday. The market exemplifies Toronto's busy bustling culture at its best - live jazz and blues music vibrates throughout the market - there are free food samples galore: delicious cheeses, pasta & sauces, bacon & mustards, bagels & cream cheeses, jams, salsa's and more!
The vendors are hand picked based on the naturalness and quality of their product. The vendors are all so friendly... my gorgeous gal and I have a cheese guy!
You can get anything from the wildest game meats such as kangaroo, or a custom cut Porterhouse steak from some of the butchers. You can even get a whole slew of oysters shucked right in front of you and they are ready to eat.
I highly (edit: very highly) recommend getting yourself the following:
1) some freshly made pasta from the upstairs pasta location ( and get the "expensive but worth it" spicy pesto/alredo/tomato sauce);
2) some Raspberry beer soaked Sartori cheese (another favourite is the Buffalo Parmesan cheese); and,
3) of course Kozlik's Bordeaux mustard - you even get to try sizzling back bacon while trying his mustard's!
I've been told that this is the number one place for a date in Toronto, even a first date... and I can see that! -
Review from Lilliane G.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2011
I cannot tell you how much I love this place. I look forward to my weekly Saturday morning trek to this neighbourhood institution.
It's my go to for fresh seafood, meats, vegetables and cheese. Oh and let's not forget that it's a great place to bring out of town guests. My family absolutely loves this place when they visit and it's a must-see EVERYTIME they visit.
If you visit the market you must try the peameal sandwich at Carousel Bakery, or sample the latest cheese offering at Olympic Cheese, and do not forget to sample the prosciutto at Scheffler's Deli and Cheese. If you're feeling the urge to splurge, then pick up a little something for yourself and your guests at Caviar Direct, the guy there is extremely knowledgeable, and beyond helpful.
I cannot recommend this place enough. -
Review from Samantha R.
Corbyville, ON
2/27/2012
Awesome! Everything you need for great cooking! I found Halumi cheese which apparently is not sold anywhere else in the city.. :)
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Review from Jenn G.
Scarborough, ON
7/12/2011
So, I have a love/hate relationship with St.Lawrence Market.
LOVE
-European Delight: Just the thought of their perogies and the spinach/cheese crepe makes me drool..
-Yingying Soy Food: the CURRY and black bean tofu are the best flavors in my opinion.
-Carousel Bakery: The first thing my boyfriend gets is the Peameal Bacon sandwich. He drools at the thought of it!
-Also, i love how their is live entertainment!!!BIG BONUS!!!
HATE
-I was so excited to try Buster's Sea Cove because I'm a HUGE seafood person, HOWEVER, they use PEANUT OIL, which i'm allergic to =( and also the guy I asked was EXTREMELY RUDE and told me "IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO PEANUTS, DON'T EAT HERE!!"
-Every time I leave here, my wallet is somehow empty =P -
Review from Julia B.
8/1/2011
One of the highlights when I visited my two girlfriends in Toronto!
On one of my last nights in Toronto, we decided to have a girls night in (to watch a Bollywood movie) and cook dinner together so we came here to shop for goodies. Walking around is an experience - mingling with locals as well as tourists.
On the bottom floor is stalls full of handmade souvenirs and the top/main floor is just produce. We bought some amazing squid ink pasta and oh my, it made our dinner memorable! -
Review from Aaron C.
Victoria, BC
8/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Working in the neighborhood, I overlook how much of an institution the St. Lawrence Market is in Toronto.
There is nothing to dislike about this place, in my opinion. If you're looking for great produce or meats, a delicious variety of lunch options or some great eye candy, the Market can't be beat.
Anyone who lives in, or is visiting Toronto NEEDS to come here. -
Review from Eric L.
Come here for not only actual shopping, but for fun too!
There is so much cool stuff to check out. Just walk around and browse for an hour. There will always be something to catch your attention and keep you entertained.
Fun factor aside, this place has some of the best meat, fish, and bakeries in the city.
Come here for lunch and you have all sorts of great selections to choose from. You gotta try the Peameal sandwich from one of the sandwich bars. It's just killer. -
Review from Daniel H.
Mississauga, ON
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Venison Rack, 1 lb of Pork Belly for $3, Hand made Mole and Tortillas.. I am a kid in a candy store every single time I am here.. St Lawrence Market never gets old
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Review from Ander R.
Toronto, ON
2/22/2012
hands down one of the best places in Toronto period
Great experience shopping, and you seriously can find the most exotic and rare ingredients a real amazing experience if you havent been -
Review from Nick P.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2012
My wife and I recently met a bunch of couples that have never been to St.Lawrence and most of them have lived here their whole adult lives. If you are coming to Toronto or are currently iving in Toronto you need to visit St.Lawrence Market at least once. The fresh food/produce is incredible. The little food booths they have are very tasty. Busters Sea Cove is amazing! By far one of Toronto's best seafood diner/booth.
From enjoying some sweet pastries to grabbing a tbone steak for dinner, St.Lawrence Market is an experience you really can't afford to miss out on. So what are you waiting for? -
Review from Meghan M.
1/20/2012
I love visiting markets in new places. It gives you a great flavor for the city and culture. This market is hopping. It is packed full of all sorts of vendors, from raw meats and fish to prepared meals, to booze, to cheese, to fresh breads, to clothing, to bulk, to...well you get the point. It's packed full of people and options. It's a great Toronto activity, and you can eat your way through it. Highly recommend!
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Review from Lauren M.
4/24/2011 17 Check-ins Here
Gahhh I love this place so much that I feel the need to review it, even though it already has 94 other reviews which clearly outline how awesome St Lawrence Market really is.
Visiting on Saturdays is a MUST as this is the only day the North Market area is open. My favourite vendors at the North Market:
El Gaucho Chorizos - WOW...total sausage fest. This vendor has over 50 kinds of sausages. The honey garlic ones are delicious and I've also tried some of their lamb ones. I keep trying something new each time.
Best BAA (lamb products, obviously) This place claims to have the best Ontario lamb around. I bought my lamb chops here for Easter dinner and they were lovely. They also do a lot of goats/ewe cheese varieties.
Grainfields - delicious baked goods, many gluten-free cakes, cookies and bread.
The south market is awesome too, but it is mostly meat, seafood and specialty items there. Not as much produce, although there are a few fruit & veg vendors there too.
This place puts other farmers markets to shame. Bravo, Toronto -
Review from Linh N.
Calgary, AB
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
This market is very much like a flea market. There's accessories, fresh vegetables and meats. Upstair boasts a cafeteria packed with cheese, wine, seafood, sandwiches and delicious fresh oysters chucked and served on top of shaved ice for you.
It's never a good idea to go to a place with such variety on an empty stomach. We wanted to try everything! We ordered some seafood rice pasta and clam chowder. The sauce for the seafood was tomato base and had just the right amount of seasoning. The clam chowder too was quite tasty, although more clams would of brought it up a notch.
We stumbled across bacon on a bun, as advertised on Emeril and eaten by various famous celebrities. How could we not try right? How good could this be? They we're thick pieces of pork (not so much bacon) slapped between a soft ciabatta. It was rather plain and the bun was dying for some mayo. The bacon slices didn't have much flavor and I wish it was loaded with more condiments and a special sauce would of gave it a more distinct taste.
This market was interesting and would make a good first date. -
Review from Hideki K.
7/1/2011
St Lawrence Customer Appreciation Night on 4/7 is a great event! Free food and performances galore! Each stand is open to a limited amount of guests (you need a ticket to enter). Luckily my local friend hooked it up. He received tickets from one of the vendors.
My favourite stands were:
- Churrasco St Lawrence (Portuguese)
- The Macedonian sausage place across from Churrasco.
St Lawrence is a landmark in Toronto, and is worth a visit. There's also Kensington Market near Chinatown on the other side of town.Listed in: Best of T.O
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Review from jocelyn l.
5/28/2011
Wow.
I love this place more than The Ferry Building in SF and THAT's saying a lot coming from me.
Although the Ferry Building is gorgeous and has more 'gourmet' stuff, it's not very affordable and not really patronizable by everyone. Additionally, it has a small selection of shops except on Saturday when it goes NUTS. But even then, i can't find too many things to purchase...it's really quite expensive.
St Lawrence Mkt on the other hand is a working farmers market with a huge array of affordable produce. Cowgirl Creamery in SF? This place has no less than 5 huge cheese-stands/ shops. And sausages. And olive bars. And 3-4 fish markets. And...the list is endless.
I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around even if i didn't buy anything this time around. I will be back though, when i throw a dinner party. Stay tuned!Listed in: Faves in TO
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Review from Jackie P.
Toronto, ON
1/15/2011 ROTD 10/7/2011
I've been lucky enough to break five of my friends St Lawrence Market virginity.
Why take pride on such a bizarre moment? I don't think there's any better way to get to know a place by taking people through it. You tend to buy more and discover nooks you've never stumbled upon. I can confidently say I've seen every curve this regal market has to share. In stead of going through every stand I'll list the must not miss highlights.
WARNING - If you like the bustle and electricity of crowds the best day to go is Saturday. If you get irritated by it avoid at all costs. There's no room to walk. You'd be better to check it out during the weekday.
MUST NOT MISS HIGHLIGHTS
** If you're going to St Lawrence Market on a Saturday check out the North Market across the street. All the farmers from Ontario come and sell their fresh produce, cheese, breads and meats by hand. If you go an hour before they close you'll be able to get a better bargain***
1.Top Restaurant: Busters Sea Cove.( upstairs) Fresh seafood, grilled right in front of you and accompanied by a fresh mixed greens and coleslaw- can't get much better. (more info check out my review on Busters)
2. For cheese: (upstairs) Chris's Cheesemongers by a landside. The staff are very knowledgeable and I've yet to be disappointed by what they've helped me pick.
3. For seafood: Domenic's Fish Market. (upstairs) I buy everything pertaining to seafood and fish here. Everything is over priced at St Lawrence but the quality is deserving at this place. Make sure to to tell them exactly what you want. I've had a few people try to up sell me without my permission.
4. For meat: I don't eat red meat but my friend Liz swears by the Back Bacon sandwich's at Mano's Deli Meat. (upstairs)
5. For fresh produce: (downstairs) Although I buy a lot at Family Foods upstairs. Phil's Place, downstairs has obscure and by season selections.
6. For bread: (upstairs) St Urbain Bagels -Montreal Bagels!!! They make them fresh out of a stone oven. The two other bread are for the most part miss. Just skip it.
7. For carbs: (upstairs) St Lawrence Pizza & Ice-cream - Look for the stand that's sampling pasta and sauces at the back of the building. Take a free sample and then buy a plate full. Get the mixed pesto, tomato and Alfredo sauce..mmmm!
8. Something sweet: (downstairs) Eve's Temptations. Great selection of brownies.
9. Sandwich: It's a toss up between Carousal Bakery's famous peamel or egg sandwich upstairs or Mustachio veal or chicken parmegiano with fried eggplant. Carousel's sandwiches have made a name for themselves across the globe and they always have lineups. I love their egg, tomato sandwich on a warm, chewy kaiser. Mustachio's has an equally long line up at lunch. My only complaint is sometimes they are not made fresh to order. You must try both.
10. Wild Card (A): Schefler's Deli & Cheese (upstairs) - on the top floor. They have a great selection of olives and incredible sauces and spreads. I love their pesto.
11. Wild Card (B): Rubi's Rice (downstairs) - A sweet old man has been operating this stand for years. He has every possible rice you could dream of.
I love this market but over time I've found other markets (Wychwood or Brickworks) they are a little less chaotic and fit my weekend mood. Although I may pick them over St Lawrence in the summer I'll never turn my back on this historic joint. IT's a great place for lunch, to stock up on food or even just to chill with a book or friend. -
Review from Alison B.
2/27/2011
Love this place. It's a great place to go with out of towners or to pick up some groceries for the week. The area and the building are fun to check out, especially on a summer day.
The bf was visiting from NYC and is dead set on the idea that everything is better there. Cue Steve Martin: "Toronto is like New York, but without all the stuff". St Lawrence Market showed him up big time. There is NO market like this in NYC.
Being the meat loving man he is, he went absolutely wild. The peameal sandy was had, and loved. He then went and salivated over the meat counters for about an hour. I was slightly grossed out, but he did walk away with some impressive deals. The best was the skewers in the middle of the market, a dollar each and all different types of meat. Also, as a former McGill boy, he was beyond excited that there were montreal style bagels complete with the stone oven.
For my fairer and more womanly tastes, I head downstairs. There are great deals on fresh veggies, way cheaper than at the grocery store and better quality produce. I walked away with 2 full bags of produce for 16 bucks - AMAZING! I also love the fruit containers, 2 bucks for a good sized portion of fresh fruit - that shit would be like 6 bucks at whole foods.
St Lawrence Market is a must see/do for both Torontonians and Tourists.
Oh, and most (if not all) stalls are cash only. There is an ATM in the lower level in case you forget.Listed in: Bang for your buck, DT Grocery Store
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Review from Yvonne T.
2/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The St. Lawrence Market is one of my favourite places to peruse for sweets, snacks, and... dangit just about everything! My favourites include:
Scheffler's Deli - Parma Prosciutto, Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Turkey Slices and other yummy deli meats!
Carousel Bakery - Best place for croissant! Home of the famous Peameal Bacon Sandwich, what?!
Stonemill Bakehouse - Love their breads, my personal favourite is the Cranberry Walnut! Good on its own - who needs peanut butter or jam?
I love the market feel to it and it sure beats going to the boring ol' grocery store all the time. A great place to discover new ingredients, exotic meats, and imported goodies all around!
If only I could afford the real estate around this area, I would be in heaven. My new ambition is to strike a gold mine, buy some luxury property located at the St. Lawrence Market, and do nothing but cook and eat all day at home... Oh, and of course, blog about it too!
The only bad thing I have to say about it is that some of the fruit/vegetable stands carry exactly the same produce as your local grocery store, but they charge a premium for it... I guess in their defense, I'm sure rent in this building ain't cheap!Listed in: Cheap Date
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Review from Annie C.
Kingston, ON
12/22/2010
Alright. Maybe not your mother's cute organic market. There's definitely a wee bit of grit here that's not for everyone. As someone who's done their fair share of market work, this place certainly weeds out the weak quickly.
The top has a mix of different fruit/veggie vendors (most of which appear to be truck farmers/non-producers), some cheese places, lots of different meats and seafood and some great little bakery type places in the mix. The best in my opinion is the bagel place in the back left corner. Montreal bagels!!! Weeee! Down below is more crafty/arty land, but there's also a place with lots of dried foods and goodies. Beware though. I've seen many a kid launch a hand in to the open bins only to fondle the dried apples or candies within.
Great to stop by on a late Sunday or Saturday morning and grab some bagels, fruit and other snacks for breakfast and then wander over to the sculpture garden or a nearby park and lazily start your day.
Producer/non-producer withstanding, the St Lawrence Market is a must if you're visiting Toronto. Just don't fool yourself into thinking its a farmer's market. Let me tell you it ain't. -
Review from Lola L.
3/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've lived next door to the market for a little over a year now. No matter how many times I go it never seems like enough--there's always something new to discover: some new Quebec artisan cheese, a new variety of mustard, a new jam, a new vegetable, a new spice, a new kind of fresh seafood to take home and try new recipes on.
I'll try to list some of my favourite spots...
Kozlik's Mustard. They're about $8 a jar but they're worth it. Often they'll have a basket of pretzel sticks out so you can sample the different varieties. If you get there at the right time, you might be able to catch them frying up bits of pork to spear with a toothpick and dip into mustards. My favourites so far are the Old Smokey and the Sweet Russian.
On the downstairs level, there's a jam stand with all sorts of unique, delectable jellies. I like the lime and mango, myself.
One of the downstairs spice/nut/etc shops often has two brothers working the cash registers, and ladies, I do recommend the eye candy. Get your oats, granolas, and spices here in bulk, for sure.
If you've never had an Italian sandwich from Uno Mustachio (lower level), make sure you grab one. I recommend the veal and eggplant with peppers. Amazing. You won't be able to finish it but I bet you'll make a great effort to do so!
In terms of vegetables, make sure to shop around. Often the prices at the stands near the doors on the upper level will be higher than the shops downstairs.
You'll probably find better prices for some items at discount grocers like No Frills, but then, you won't find the quality, selection, and environment that you will here. -
Review from Alison C.
2/1/2011 4 photos
As my business flight descended into the Toronto area, I asked my manager if he knew of any markets in the city. Being a foodie, I love to see what fresh goods the local producers have to offer. Unfortunately, he was not aware of any of these facilities, but I vowed to look into the matter as soon as we landed.
After a morning meal at one of the city's luxury hotels, we presented our inquiry to the concierge. He pointed us in the direction of the nearby St. Lawrence Market, and we headed there immediately. Breakfast buffet be damned! We were ready to reopen our stomachs for additional goodies!
We walked down the street and located the indoor marketplace, complete with 2 large floors of vendors. While many farmers' markets offer only ripe ingredients that need to be transported home for incorporation into other dishes, about one-third of the stalls here were selling snacks that could be enjoyed within the building. Prepared foods, pastries, chocolates, and more offered prime meal options. In addition, there was a wide selection of fresh produce and fish for the benefit of the local residents. The sprawling facility also included a large shop of standard and creative cooking utensils, as well as a school that provided culinary classes.
The St. Lawrence Market was a full-service delight for locals and visitors alike. Foodies should definitely include this as a stop on their Toronto itineraries. -
Review from David C.
Toronto, ON
12/22/2010
It was my first time here, it was such a live spot; full of both grocery and hungry customers. The main floor was basically a flea market, and I say flea market with the utmost respect. People selling meat, diary, wheat, fruit products. It's like having a Price Choppers, or Longos if you're in the Woodbridge area, all in one spot.
The downstairs is where the fun begins. Food varying from seafood, chinese, italian, Ukranian food, sushi...the whole nine yards.
I'll definitely explore more during my breaks. Cheers -
Review from Doris L.
Toronto, ON
6/2/2011
This is a follow up comment to the last review from our fellow yelper. I live in Toronto, St Lawrence Market is our year round market it's great to have, it's our staple, but I have to say the pop-up farmers' market in the local neighbourhoods are more exciting from May - Oct.
You live in SF. Are you kidding me? I'm jealous. You have the most exciting food trucks at the Ferry Building that is much better than our prepared food at St Lawrence Market. -
Review from Fabiano P.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just love this place, I wish I could live near to come more often. hmmm that's a good idea actually as I'll move soon.
As a public market, you can have an awesome food experience there and in all ways, if you're a cooker you can find all kinds of ingredients and ideas from there, if you're just a good food lover, walk around a little to feel all the smells and good-looking booths and then go for it on what you've most enjoyed, it is fun for several hours there.
Last time I've been there, my girl and I had eaten before getting to the place, what a mistake! But we still walked around for a while and had some tries at some free snacks. We bought a spinach pasta from one Italian store at the bottom of the market which was just amaaaaazing!
Need to get back there soon...
