Try a Taste of History at Mississauga’s Oldest Restaurants
With over 1,200 dining establishments, Mississauga is a foodie haven, blending modern trends and techniques with cultural traditions. Some of the most beloved of these have stood the test of time, serving delicious eats for decades, even before the villages that make up Mississauga were amalgamated into the city as we know it today.
Discover the historic eateries that have shaped our culinary heritage with our guide to some of the oldest restaurants still serving Mississauga.
Dairy Cream
Mississauga’s oldest operating restaurant, Dairy Cream has been serving the tastiest summer treats in the same location since 1958. More than 65 years later, the quality of its ice cream hasn’t wavered; it’s still made with real cream from the same supplier.
While the soft serve recipe has stayed the same, there’s always something new to try, with new flavours and creations continually added. One of its newest additions, Dunkin’ Cream, combines your choice of soft-serve flavour, sundae toppings and sauce, served with waffle cookies for a trendy dippable treat. Frozen yogurt and funnel cakes are also among the latest offerings. If you’re in the mood for a more classic treat, Dairy Cream still offers dozens of flavours of traditional ice cream, available by the scoop or in take-home litres, plus three soft-serve flavours and six standard dips.
Don’t be deterred if you encounter a long line – it’ll move faster than you think, and the nostalgic taste is worth the wait. Or, take advantage of one of Dairy Cream’s modern updates – online ordering and curbside pick-up.
Orchard Family Restaurant
In 1966, two friends from Greece opened The Orchard, as it’s lovingly dubbed by locals, to share their love of food. Today, it’s still family-owned and remains a staple for delicious comfort food. While it’s recently undergone a renovation, the space also retains its warmth and nostalgic, no-fuss charm.
The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. seven days a week, serving its famous all-day breakfast. The dinner menu includes popular items from decades past that are becoming more of a rarity on modern menus, including pork chops, grilled beef liver, and country-fried chicken. Beyond those classics, you can try one of the two dozen sandwiches available, pasta with homemade meat sauce, or burgers handmade with fresh ground chuck. In a nod to its roots, The Orchard also makes tasty traditional souvlaki, flavoured with a custom marinade.
Cooksville Fish And Chips
Fish and chips just taste better when they come from a traditional shop, and with over 60 years in business, Cooksville Fish and Chips has spent decades serving some of the freshest and most flavourful take-out. Like many of the best chippers, this spot is known as a hole-in-the-wall hidden gem, where the focus is on the food, not the frills. The somewhat streamlined menu includes all the classics – halibut, haddock, cod and basa meals, plus other seafood items like shrimp, scallops and fish-wiches.
As a small shop, the seating is limited – there’s just one small table for four – so plan to bring your catch elsewhere to enjoy if you can. During busy periods, you can avoid a crowded wait by ordering online for in-store pickup or delivery via Uber Eats.
Are you a true fish and chips aficionado? Grab your fish card and collect a stamp every visit to earn your 10th purchase free.
La Castille Steakhouse & Lounge
While the grand, castle-like La Castile steakhouse was established in 1971, its triple-tier dining room filled with wooden beams, stained glass, and plush velvet harkens back even further, drawing inspiration from the former Kingdom of Castile. With a business casual dress code and a traditional steakhouse menu, it’s long been a popular choice for special occasions. Popular dishes include the French onion soup, served in a suitably medieval-looking metal bowl, and the Chateaubriand (fillet mignon) for two. Wine enthusiasts can pair their meal with their choice from among dozens of options from the 15-page wine list.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, La Castile opens until 11 p.m., with live entertainment adding to the ambiance.
Other Timeless Classics
Along with these enduring eateries, Mississauga has some popular and longstanding restaurants in heritage buildings:
- The Tea Room, established in 1989, serves traditional afternoon tea in the Robinson-Bray house, an ornate Italianate-style building built in 1885 as a private family home.
- The Wilcox Gastropub, located downtown, is housed in a designated heritage building, the Wilcox House, constructed between 1844 and 1850, then converted to a restaurant in 1989.
- Culinaria Restaurant offers unique dining experiences and cooking classes in the historic Elliott House, a stone farmhouse built circa 1840.