Toronto restaurant that’s served fish ‘n chips for almost a century shuts down

It’s officially the end of an era for the Leslieville fixture, Reliable Fish and Chips, which has permanently closed its doors after nearly a century in Toronto. 

The recently revamped restaurant has been serving up no-frills seafood dishes since 1930, and is well known for its freshly-battered fish, crispy fries, and tangy tartare sauce as well as appetizers like calamari, popcorn shrimp, onion rings, and chicken bites. 

Back in 2022, the restaurant caused a frenzy when it temporarily closed after the building was sold to new owners. To the delight of loyal patrons, the restaurant opened back up just a few months later with a modern new look. 

Rumours of the business’ closure began to swirl on a community Facebook page last week, when some local residents noticed that the restaurant had quietly closed without an official announcement. 

Staff at the restaurant confirmed to blogTO that the business officially shut down this month following nearly 100 years in business. 

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of our beloved location, a staple in the community for nearly a century,” staff explained. 

“Unfortunately, the rising costs of doing business, inflation, and a decline in consumer spending have made it increasingly difficult to continue operations. We are deeply grateful for the support of our loyal customers over the years and will always cherish the memories we’ve shared together.”

Reliable Fish and Chips was located at 954 Queen St. E.