Linny’s is an Ode to Old-World Charm in Toronto
On Ossington Avenue, a modern steakhouse opens its doors with mid-century flair
Linny’s was a labour of love right from the very start. Opening its doors this September, the modern steakhouse is a collaboration between designer Jack Lipson, founder of IPSO Studio, and owner David Schwartz—Michelin Young Chef award winner and Toronto culinary icon in his own right. The duo have a long history of collaboration, with the culinary hotspot Sunnys Chinese under their belts already. They also happen to be childhood friends.
“Friends and work shouldn’t go well together, yet somehow we’re still best buds after months and months,” shares Lipson.
At Linny’s in Toronto, every table offers a glimpse into the action, with cozy booths and an open kitchen framed by a grid window partition.
Located at 176 Ossington Avenue, the nearly 4000-square-foot dining and kitchen space was designed with three main principles in mind. First, the food. Deli-inspired, Eastern European cooking, the mouth-watering menu features a challah service, schnitzel and blintzes, and of course, its signature steak. Second, a distinct mid-century modern time-warp effect. To cultivate this nostalgic charm, Lipson played with materials and textures, mixing moody wood panelling with rich swatches of velvet and houndstooth patterned fabrics.
“David found this little mid-century phone—a small wooden box with a plastic phone inside. It’s like this little artifact. That find made me think, okay, we want to make this place feel like a jewel box, something very precious. So, whenever I had to make a design decision, I’d hold it next to the phone; if it worked with that, it worked with our vision.”
The restaurant bar sets the stage for crafted cocktails and a nostalgic mid-century vibe.
A nod to jazz legends like Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, Linny’s decor—complete with vintage touches like this radio—invites guests to step into a timeless, soulful atmosphere.
The dining room captures a mid-century dreamscape, where warm wood panelling, plush booths and iconic patterns set the stage for an elevated dining experience.
The third principal of the design—and the true heart of the project—is Linny’s namesake, Schwartz’s mother Linda. The restaurant’s menu was created with her cooking in mind, in keeping with a palette of Eastern European flavours that marked Schwartz’s young life. But the interior design, too, would feature flashes of her personality. Lipson asked himself: how do you honour someone’s memory without showing their face?
A basket of branded matchboxes offers guests a small keepsake, adding a personal touch to the restaurant’s nostalgic ambiance.
During the unfolding of this intimate design process, Lipson looked to elements of the Schwartz’s family home for inspiration. A leopard print chair became the catalyst for the expansive burl wood that covers the walls and ceilings of the interior. The plunging booths were modelled after the family’s uber-comfortable brown velvet couch and the feeling of sinking into it. The pages of Linda’s old recipe books were framed and mounted on the restaurant’s walls for all to see.
As an old family friend, Lipson was lucky enough to know this home—and Linda herself. “I sometimes saw the experience as providing a gift for my childhood friend. And I found that more motivating than debilitating, because it brought another dimension to the design which got me through other challenges.”
Glistening glassware and softly lit booths lend a warm glow to Linny’s, evoking the intimate elegance of classic mid-century lounges.
Every element of Linny’s interior—brought to life by Carbon Building Group—features these personal touches—even the very walls. Crafted by Stay Tough Drywall and Alkahest Plastering Arts, the plasterwork was modelled after the texture of icing from a particular chocolate cake recipe of Linda’s. For Lipson, seeing the family’s reaction was a great reward for his hard work. But even though these unique easter eggs may be fun conversation starters, Linny’s in Toronto certainly stands on its own as a high-design steakhouse with mid-century flair. So, when you’re planning your next dining-out visit, be sure to check out the exposed kitchen, infusing the space with playful theatrics—amplified by the mirrored baseboards and mounted mirrors—but don’t forget to also try the steak!
