Mira Nabulsi at Myth Toronto. Right: Food from Myth's dinner menu.
Myth, one of Toronto's most popular Greek restaurants, has reopened after a major fire forced it to shut down for a few months, and its revival is quite impressive.
The restaurant's owner, Eileen Tsoumaris, told Narcity that while it was hard to shut down, she knew right away that they were committed to reopening. "Walking away was never an option because Myth is a second home, and our staff is family," Tsoumaris said.
In February, Myth caught fire and the outside was almost unrecognizable. With the patio fully gone and the walls scorched black, the loss was devastating to many.
@narcitytoronto Toronto restaurant Myth has officially reopened after a major 2-alarm fire caused the popular Mediterranean-inspired spot to close their doors in February 2023. After over three months of renovations, the dining destination is back and looks better than ever! 🍽️✨ #toronto #torontofoodies #mythtoronto #ontario #narcity #canada
The fire was categorized as a "2-alarm commercial/industrial fire," and no injuries were reported. However, the restaurant had to stop all operations due to the damage and the investigation.
"The entire team at Myth is reeling from the devastating news of a fire at our venue," a spokesperson told Narcity at the time.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday, I went to check out the new and improved Myth restaurant and was shocked by how it looked like nothing ever happened.
Exterior of Myth.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
You can still see the scaffolding covering the blackened and burnt exterior, but when I walked in, it felt like I was in Mykonos.
The restaurant is back to almost exactly what it was like before, with the same high-energy feeling and staff who are proud of their authentic Greek cuisine.
Myth's entrance.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Sometimes, when things like this happen, it's an opportunity for a restaurant to either shut down completely or reinvent itself, but that wasn't the case here.
"Myth is more than a restaurant to us. Hospitality is in our blood, and Myth is a part of my family's history. My father, John Tsoumaris' career in hospitality began on the Danforth when he opened Myth in 1994," Tsoumaris said. "Myth is an expression of both our cultural and family roots."
Although some menu items vary from what you might remember, others differ slightly. The reason is, Myth wanted to evolve with the culinary trends but still stick to its philosophy, which is to "incorporate new techniques with fresh and seasonal products while still maintaining the authenticity of Greek cuisine."
The bar at Myth.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
So what can you expect on your next visit to Myth? The answer is simple: it's the exact same experience.
I felt like not much had changed regarding the restaurant's decor, and when I asked if certain features were new from the fire, the answer was usually "No."
I was shocked by how the fire didn't seem to affect much of the interior, even though news reports from February made it look like a major blaze. Fire officials said at the time that the fire was on the patio and affected the back half of the building, per CTV Toronto. However, you won't see signs of the damage once you go inside.
Instead, you'll see that Myth and its menu have made a full comeback.
Magiatiko at Myth.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Some of my favourite menu items include the Magiatiko, a yellowtail sashimi topped with green olive tapenade, taramasalata, chilli, caviar and kritamo. It gets better — the sashimi is laid out on the plate in the positions of some Greek islands like Mykonos and Paros, which is visually beautiful.
Flaming Saganaki at Myth.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
The restaurant kept its famous flaming saganaki on the menu, which I thought was a pretty bold move given the news... but regardless, it tasted delicious.
This dish is fried graviera cheese, soaked in lemon and lit aflame when placed on the table, which gives the cheese a bit of a charred flavour and makes the guests yell "Opa!" at its appearance.
Of course, it's worth adding here that we still don't know the official cause of the fire, and there's nothing to suggest that it was a flaming saganaki.
Espresso martini tree at Myth.Mira Nabulsi | Narcity
Also, if you do go and enjoy seafood, make sure to order the Psari Sto Alati, which is salt-crushed sea bass with grilled lemon and lemon oil. If you don't like citrusy foods, this might not be for you, but if refreshing is your vibe, don't skip this dish.
Oh, and they have an espresso martini tree... it's a small olive tree brought to your table with floating espresso martinis for up to 10 guests to choose from, and it's so aesthetic.
Back and better than ever, Myth has reopened after the fire and is "excited to welcome our community back." So, check it out and let us know what you think about this Toronto restaurant's revival.