Move over speakeasy bars, there’s a new secret spot in Toronto and this one is skipping the hush-hush cocktails and serving up Ukrainian classic comfort foods instead.
Heavenly Perogy is a small food shop in a church basement near Kensington Market.
With an indiscriminate blue sign on the side door of the building, it’s easy to overlook – or miss entirely – but you won’t regret hunting down this secret spot’s headquarters inside St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral at 400 Bathurst Street between College and Dundas West.
The small but mighty three-person team behind the Ukrainian delicacies including pierogis, cabbage rolls, borscht, schnitzel and sauerkraut is led by founder and head chef Tetyana Matkivska who arrived in Toronto 15 years ago from Ukraine and immediately found a sense of familiarity and community at the church.
She began selling her signature dish, soft and tangy pierogi, during church fundraisers and officially launched her small business three years ago while balancing a full-time job in marketing.
Fans of Ukrainian cuisine can buy the pierogi hot or frozen in addition to a slew of other menu items including coleslaw, schnitzel and pork and rice-filled cabbage rolls. There are even vegan and vegetarian spins on these classic Ukrainian comfort foods so everyone can get a taste of Eastern Europe.
You can order directly through their website for pick-up or place a delivery order through Uber, Doordash, SkipTheDishes or Ritual.