Barberian's Steak House facts for kids
| Location | 7 Elm Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°39′27″N 79°22′56″W / 43.6576°N 79.3822°W |
| Owner | Helen Barbarian, Arron Barbarian |
| Type | Steak house Restaurant |
| Capacity | 150 |
| Opened | 1959 |
Barberian's Steak House is a very famous restaurant in downtown Toronto, Canada. It is located at 7 Elm Street, which is close to Yonge–Dundas Square. This well-known steakhouse first opened its doors in 1959.
The restaurant was started by Harry Barberian, and today his son, Arron Barberian, is the owner. Barberian's has two main dining areas and two private rooms for special events. It also has a huge underground wine cellar. This cellar holds over 20,000 bottles of wine!
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History of Barberian's
Harry Barberian, who founded the restaurant, was the youngest of four children. His parents were refugees from Armenia. Before opening his own place, Harry worked as a manager and chef at another steakhouse called Le Baron.
In 1959, Harry bought a small building at 7 Elm Street for $6,000. He then turned it into his very own restaurant, which became Barberian's Steak House.
Famous Visitors
Many famous people have eaten at Barberian's Steak House over the years. Some of these include actors like Robert Morley and Denzel Washington. Famous dancers like Rudolf Nureyev and Veronica Tennant have also visited. Even musicians like Mick Jagger and Eminem have enjoyed meals there.
It's also a popular spot for leaders! Every Canadian prime minister since John Diefenbaker has dined at Barberian's. In 1964, the famous actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor even got engaged at the restaurant.
Art and Collections
Inside the restaurant, you can find a special collection of Canadian art. This includes original paintings by a famous group of artists called the Group of Seven. These artworks add to the unique atmosphere of Barberian's.
Arron Barberian Today
Today, Arron Barberian runs the restaurant. He has become quite well-known, partly because of a few interesting events. Once, during a baseball game, a bat flew into the stands. Arron comically picked it up and held it. Another time, security cameras filmed him bravely chasing after someone who tried to rob him.
Arron is also known in Toronto for helping to improve Yonge–Dundas Square, which is near the restaurant. He also works hard to raise money for local hospitals and other good causes. Arron has been in charge of the restaurant since 1993. This was when his family bought back a large part of the business. His father, Harry, had sold most of it and retired twenty years earlier. Arron also made the restaurant bigger by adding the large wine cellar. This project cost $1.5 million.
TLP Sandwich Co.
In 2014, Barberian's opened a new, smaller restaurant nearby. It's called TLP Sandwich Co. and is located at 15 Elm Street. This shop focuses on take-out sandwiches. Their menu includes tasty steak sandwiches, peameal bacon sandwiches, and other delicious options like a chicken-thigh club.
