Serving the community since 1948.

The Senator is Toronto’s oldest restaurant in continuous operation at the same location.

The success and reputation of the restaurant has been the result of our commitment to sourcing the finest quality ingredients. We produce Royal Canadian Honey on our organic farm in Caledon and work with more than a dozen of the finest local purveyors to provide the products and ingredients we serve every day. Our menu is rooted in the classics that made our name with simple touches that modernize  inspire modern diners.

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Our History

1836 - 1929

Our story goes back to 1836 with the very first property survey prepared by the Town of York and Canada was a burgeoning mosaic of cultures and people. “Property #67” was then owned by the General Council of the Salvation Army and sat at the corner of Yonge and Dundas (then “Crookshank and Wilton Street”).

1929 - 1948

In the 1920’s, after the war and prior to the Great Depression, Toronto was the cultural centre of Canada. The restored Elgin/Wintergarden (1913) and Pantages/Ed Mirvish (1920) Theatres are the last vestiges of the vaudeville houses built in that golden era. Along with Massey Hall (1894), they formed the city’s Theatre District. Toronto had a thriving downtown where the community lived, worked and played. In 1929, Robert Angeloff converted “Property #67” to the Busy Bee Diner. The “B”’s open kitchen and dining counter started a tradition of serving hearty comfort food for the community.

1948 - 1984

In 1938, brothers Luke and Vangel Eftimoff purchased the Busy Bee, which they later sold to George Nicolau; a cook with a vision. Nicolau renovated and enlarged the Busy Bee in 1948, renaming it to The Senator. Designed and built by the renowned Toronto Refrigeration Company - whose trademark can still be seen on our back bar – the restaurant flourished.

The post war 1950’s building boom saw the unprecedented creation of new restaurants and nightclubs in downtown Toronto (including the now-shut Tops, Bassel’s, Silver Rail, Le Coq D’Or, and others). George retired in 1962 but the Senator stayed in the family: his son, Nick, worked the stoves while his nephew, Cecil Djambazis and their wives Merlyn and Triada took care of the customers.

1984 - Present

The Senator evolved to become a dining landmark synonymous with the city of Toronto. Purchased in 1984 by Robert Sniderman, The Senator has held family close to heart, bringing together the Nicolau’s, Sniderman’s, Hollyer’s, and new family that help shape our future. This beloved restaurant has served generations of Torontonians and visitors alike and now, approaching almost 100 years of continuous operation, we take pride in the tradition and longevity of this family business. The Senator began as a home and will forever remain one to our many valued suppliers, staff and customers.