Exciting news for Toronto foodies! Actor, chef, and restaurateur Matty Matheson is bringing a new restaurant concept to the city. This announcement comes hot on the heels of the closure of one of Matheson’s other restaurants, Fonda Balam, after a successful three-year run.
While details about the new restaurant are scarce, Matheson is known for his diverse range of eateries. We can only imagine this will be a completely new concept, unlike anything he’s done before. Let’s take a look at his current and past concepts to see what we can possibly cross off the list.
In 2015, Matheson launched Maker Pizza to revolutionize delivery pizza in Toronto with premium ingredients and creative toppings, which was a resounding hit. In 2020, he introduced two new food concepts: Matty Matheson’s Meat + Three, a pop-up focused on American barbecue inspired by the traditional “meat and three” concept, which operated until 2022, and Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club,  located across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.
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In 2021, Matheson ventured into Mexican cuisine with the launch of Fonda Balam, the reincarnation of Birria Balam. The term “fonda” refers to a family-run restaurant in Mexico, making it an ideal name for this concept inspired by Matheson’s love for travel and authentic Mexican cuisine and culture. Unfortunately, the restaurant recently announced its closure, with the last day of service being June 8.
Just one year later, Matheson joined forces with his mentor and close friend, Rang Nguyen, to introduce Cà Phê Rang an exciting Vietnamese restaurant. Situated in the previous Chinatown pop-up location of Birria Balam, Toronto, Ca Phe Rang specializes in serving delicious pho and bánh mì.
In 2022, Matheson had a big year. Not only did he open Prime Seafood Palace, which earned high praise from The Michelin Guide’s “Recommended Restaurants” section, but he also launched Rizzo’s House of Parm in his hometown of Fort Erie, Ontario. This cozy spot serves up classic Italian dishes in a welcoming, family-friendly setting, paying tribute to Matheson’s wife Patricia’s Italian roots and his daughter, also named Rizzo.
With Matheson’s ventures spanning Italian, Mexican, burgers, pizza and Vietnamese cuisine, the possibilities for his next endeavour are wide open. Perhaps he’ll explore Japanese izakaya, Middle Eastern street food, or even a fusion concept blending global flavours. Whatever it may be, it’s sure to be bold, flavourful, and uniquely Matty Matheson.
