Grocery stores in the Beaches that deliver the goods
Amble along the streets of the Beaches and pick up your groceries from independent purveyors of specialty goods or duck into a reliable chain store. Whatever you need, it’s all here.
Beach Fish House
1963 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1H9You’ll find an extensive range of sustainable seafood available, from party-sized orders down to single servings of house-made chowder to go. Wild or farmed, fresh or frozen, the variety of fish is huge. If you like to cook with shellfish, there are live lobsters and fresh oysters. You won’t get any marketing spiel from the staff members, although they do know their stuff. Just ask your questions and they’ll tell it like it is. The rest is up to you.
Carload On The Beach
Bus, 2054A Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1C9When you want that crisp smell of produce and those intriguing food finds for new recipes, drop into Carload with a sturdy and roomy shopping bag. Take a leisurely browse amidst mountains of brightly-coloured fruit and veg in this bustling little neighbourhood store that makes shopping a pleasure rather than a chore. Best of all, the prices are competitive and the produce is so fresh, you’d think it was picked this morning.
The Chopping Block
2256 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1G2There’s a little bit of everything at the wallet-friendly Chopping Block. A purveyor of meat products from Rowe Farms ̶ known for their naturally-raised livestock ̶ you can pick from a selection of no-nonsense cuts. More exotic fare includes Thai chicken breast and curried butterflied lamb legs, plus there’s a good choice of international sausages. If you want to add a little spice to dinner, you can pick up homemade salsa, barbecue sauce and salad dressing.
Foodland
2040 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1J4When you want to have all your shopping to happen under one roof and enjoy extras, such as carry-out service, this is the place. There are the standard produce, meat, dairy and bakery sections alongside favourite brands of dried and canned goods. To make your dollar go further, wait for the weekly specials. They do party platters and hot deli here, and it’s worth asking about delivery.
The Wholesome Market
2234 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1G2This Queen East green goods emporium sells an eclectic range of fresh and frozen products from well-known names and “best kept secret” brands. You can also stock up on eco cleaning supplies and personal care products. If you don’t see what you want on the shelves or in the freezer, they’ll find it for you. One of the best features of this place is the regular sale prices. They’re enough to make you want to go organic, if you haven’t already.
The Meat On The Beach
1860 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L 1H1A third generation family-run store with the butcher counter at its core, Meat on the Beach has grown over the years. You can now pick up flowers, homemade pasta and oranges, as well as prime cuts. Butcher Ernesto Monte is also a chef, so look for tips on how to serve your meat. His culinary skills are revealed in creations like Ice Wine Jam Miso Dressing and Vodka Pasta sauce, kept in stock here along with other homemade delights.
Pippins Tea Company
2098 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4E 1E1Here you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a tea aromatherapy chamber, full of the soothing scents of Pippins’ custom-tailored blends. Of course, a pleasant aroma from a cup of tea is part of the enjoyment, and here you have a large selection to savour, including Pippins’ own black flavoured teas, tisanes, green teas, white teas, and the ever popular rooibos loose leaf. They also stock branded teas and a small hand-picked choice of quality sweet goodies to accompany your cuppa.
