After $48-million and 14 months, the Eaton Centre’s swanky new Urban Eatery is now open, welcoming finicky foodies and junk-food-aholics alike. Here, five reasons to take a break from retail therapy and grab a bite to eat.
1. Forget 2011. At Urban Eatery, it’s 2050. Stepping into the upscale new joint, you’d think you had stumbled into the Jetson’s dining room. The silver globes that hang from the ceiling and bold red plastic chairs, courtesy of Danish designer Verner Panton, give the new cafeteria an eerily futuristic look. But no Rosie-like robot cleaning crews (yet).
2. It proves that Toronto is totally, un-ironically into the green movement. Now you can munch on french fries (almost) guilt-free. The entire eatery has done away with disposable cutlery and plates and replaced them with real reusable stuff in efforts to reduce waste. If you’re willing to tease the karma gods, consider this free kitchenware.
3. Some of the new food options are actually good. Local faves like Big Smoke Burger have brought in food court-sized over-the-counter joints. Also joining Urban Eatery is Urban Herbivore, which branched out from its Kensington Market hood to cater to the vegan crowd. Japanese resto Liberty Noodle and sandwich joint Fast Fresh Foods have also joined the food court ranks.
4. It’s big (yes, size does matter). Gone are the days of hunting and scavenging for a free table in the food court. The formerly cramped and crowded cafeteria has loads more space (and that isn’t just because the Hello Kitty shop is gone). Now, the court boasts 980-seats, with long tables, leather stools, high bar seats and banquettes. Bonus: there are plenty of purse hooks, ladies.
5. It makes junk food feel sophisticated. Even the quintessential fast food joints have jumped on the trendy train in all their greasy and deep-fried glory. New York Fries is now Poutinerie by NYF, and even McDonald’s got a new "European-designed" facelift. Nothing like feeling posh while chowing down a cheeseburger.