9 Restaurants Offering “To-Go Picnic Packages”
As the weather warms up and the sun begins to shine, there’s nothing quite like spending an afternoon outdoors enjoying a delicious meal with family and friends. Any occasions will do: a birthday to celebrate, lunch break from work, catching up with friends or just a nice break after a bike ride.
And what better way to make your outdoor lunch or dinner extra special than by indulging in a gourmet picnic? Fortunately, several restaurants across Canada are now offering to-go picnic packages, which provide a hassle-free way to enjoy a meal outside. Here are 9 restaurants offering to-go picnic packages across Canada.
Starting in early June 2023, Darna Bistroquet will be back with their take-away boxes, perfect for picnics. Offering a North African-inspired menu, these boxes consist of 3 to 8 small dishes, to be shared. Think bean or beet salad, eggplant zaalouk, buttered radishes, marinated zucchini and of course their traditional cumin rghaif bread. To make it even more enjoyable, they also offer the option of delivering these picnic boxes to one of the many nearby parks, including Père-Marquette Park.
Address: 1106 Beaubien E., Montreal (Qc) H2S 1T5
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The concept of the take-out box from Petit Sao, a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant, is just perfect to get a bite to eat. Although the box is available in their Old Montreal, Pointe-St-Charles, Atwater Market and Nuns’ Island locations (special order in Brossard), the place to go for a picnic is definitely the Atwater Market. Located on the banks of the Lachine Canal and its bike path, it’s the perfect place for a picnic, which can even be complemented with some food from the market. The box includes a Bahn Mi, a salad with chop suey, cucumber, mint and red cabbage, as well as shrimp chips or a daily dessert.
Address: Multiple Locations
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It’s fair to say that Triple Crown Dinette, which has been offering take-out picnics since its opening in 2012, is the pioneer of the concept in Quebec, if not in all of Canada. With the chef being from Kentucky, it was a natural fit to offer Southern American cuisine. Fried chicken, buttermilk cookies, gravy, pinto beans, hush puppies, mac and cheese, coleslaw and other southern cuisine delights are among the classics of the house. The weekly menu is posted on their website on Wednesday night for the next Thursday through Sunday. Although it is possible to order directly from the restaurant, it is always preferable to order in advance by phone. You can then enjoy your meal at the beautiful Parc Jarry located a few blocks away.
Address: 6700 rue Clark, Montreal (Qc) H2S 3E9
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In Centre-du-Québec, Miellerie King also offers a take-out picnic experience. More of an agritourism place – they produce honey, products derived from honey like spirits and mead – it is possible to visit the beekeepers facilities, do a tasting and above all indulge in one of their picnic baskets. Showcasing local products, the basket includes a nice assortment of cheeses, honey, smoked salmon, terrine, bread, vegetables and chocolates. Everything comes in a pretty wicker picnic basket for 2 people, with all the necessary cutlery, accompanied by a bottle of mead from the Miellerie. Head to Marie-Victorin Park, which looks like a botanical garden, to savor it all. Reservations need to be made 48 hours in advance.
Address: 15 Lajeunesse street, local 700, Kingsey Falls (Qc) J0A 1B0
Le Cosmos restaurant, which has locations in Quebec City, Sainte-Foy and Lebourgneuf, offers boxed lunches for take-out via its catering service. Perfect for picnics, they offer a wide variety of sandwiches and wraps, that come with salad and dessert. You need to order a minimum of 5 hours in advance and choose you pick-up location. All that remains is to select a picnic spot.
Multiple locations
Aviator Danforth in Toronto offers delicious picnic boxes filled with an assortment of sandwiches, salads and delectable desserts, perfect for enjoying an outdoor feast. They also offer afternoon tea picnics and when the weather warms up, they will have an expanding menu of take-out boxes with different themes such as Italian or French boxes. If you want to go big, Aviator Danforth offers the option to rent or purchase a picnic basket, starting at $50 (not including food). As a bonus, there are several parks nearby to choose as a picnic spot.
Address: 1458 Danforth Avenue, Toronto M4J 1N4
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The picnic boxes made by Take Another Bite feature a variety of locally sourced ingredients and offer an assortment of gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads and irresistible sweet treats. Heirloom tomato pie with ricotta and basil, tomato salad with mint melon, pressed Italian sandwich, lemon cake or caramel oatmeal square are just a few of the many options. Take Another Bite have two locations in Nepean and Manotick and deliver throughout Ottawa. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance and picnic box includes cutlery.
Multiple locations
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The Dirty Apron in Vancouver offers picnic boxes that showcase a symphony of flavors. From artisanal sandwiches to seasonal salads and delectable desserts, these thoughtful boxes are perfect for indulging in an outdoor dining experience in the heart of the city. You can also choose to upgrade your take-out boxes to add fresh fruit, charcuterie, hummus, cheese and more. Picnic for two includes two sandwiches, two salads, two cookies and two drinks, all packaged with biodegradable plates, napkins and cutlery, in a reusable Dirty Apron canvas tote bag. All orders must be placed by 3 pm the day before and picked up at the store.
Address: 540 Beatty Street, Crosstown, Vancouver (BC) V6B 2L3
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For a fun picnic by the water, stop by Rudy’s Catering to order one of their delicious take-out boxes. The original box includes 2 sandwiches, pastries, a salad and lots of extras like pita chips, munchies, spread, nuts, cheese and crackers, fruit, etc. There are also themed, gluten-free and vegan boxes. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance.
Address: 1681 Granville St, Halifax (NS) B3J 1X2
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