Sustainable Downtown Dining at Richmond Station

Restaurant: Richmond Station at 1 Richmond Street West, Toronto Ontario, M5H 3W4.

Price Point for lunch for three: $90 plus tax. (Tipping is discouraged!)

As a self-proclaimed “neighborhood restaurant,” Richmond Station has firmly established itself as a must-visit destination in Toronto. Known for its commitment to high-quality ingredients and seasonally inspired dishes, the restaurant also prioritizes sustainability. They even operate their own garden at the New Farm Centre in Creemore, Ontario, a one-acre plot of regenerative organic soil that supplies fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers throughout the spring, summer, and fall months.

Curious to experience it for ourselves, my dining partners and I visited Richmond Station for lunch. The space, located at Richmond St. and Yonge St, is cozy and bustling, with natural light streaming through the restaurant’s signature circular window. True to its name, the interior takes inspiration from transit systems, featuring white subway tiles and TTC-inspired signage and prints.

Seated toward the back, we had a great view into the open kitchen. At one point, we were so focused on our meals that we barely noticed the arrival of an entire cow, brought in for butchering as part of their whole-animal approach. Richmond Station prides itself on sourcing responsibly and minimizing waste. In an interview with Toronto Life, head chef Carl Heinrich explained, “We make charcuterie because we buy the animals whole; we make mortadella because it’s a great way to use up wild boar fat, or salami because it uses up beef trimmings.” It is refreshing to see a restaurant take sustainability seriously, incorporating thoughtful practices into every aspect of their kitchen.

For our meal, we ordered the Stn. Burger, the Grilled Leek and Chickpea Burger, and the Pumpkin Mac n’ Cheese. The Stn. Burger is a house favorite, featuring a pasture-raised beef patty, garlic aioli, beet chutney, pickled onions, aged cheddar, iceberg lettuce, and a side of rosemary fries. For a vegetarian option, the Grilled Leek and Chickpea Burger is an eye-catching dish, with its vibrant green patty topped with beet chutney, aged cheddar, green chili and coriander mayo, iceberg lettuce, and rosemary fries. The Pumpkin Mac n’ Cheese, made with garden squash, Stonetown artisan cheese mornay, parmesan chips, and sage, was a perfect balance of nutty sweetness and rich, aged cheese flavor. While this seasonal dish is no longer on the menu, Richmond Station’s website mentions that their chefs are happy to recreate past favorites upon request, a thoughtful touch that speaks to their dedication to hospitality.

One of the most surprising parts of our experience came at the end of the meal when it was time to pay. Richmond Station is proud to be a restaurant where hospitality is included (HI) in the prices on the menu (which means no tipping!). Their website explains the benefits of this program by stating that “With HI in place, restaurant staff across the team can be allocated fair compensation that is predictable from day to day, insurable insofar as it increases an employee’s government entitlements such as employment insurance, vacation pay and contributions to the Canada Pension Plan.” Instead of leaving a tip, the restaurant just asks that you leave a kind review, or make sure to visit them again. I thought this was a lovely sentiment to end the meal with. 

Richmond Station is more than just a restaurant. It is an experience that blends quality, sustainability, and creativity in every dish. The thoughtful approach to sourcing, the commitment to reducing food waste, and the hospitality-included pricing model set it apart from many other dining establishments in the city. Every detail, from the carefully curated menu to the welcoming atmosphere, reflects a deep respect for food and the people who make it.

Hungry for more? Read Holly’s review of Antler, a restaurant for conscientious meat-lovers.