Recipe Restaurant Group has opened a new Olive Garden restaurant at Vaughan Mills, marking the first Olive Garden location in Ontario and the first new Olive Garden in Eastern Canada under a national development agreement with Darden Restaurants, Inc. The opening, announced on June 29, 2026, is a key step in Recipe's plan to expand the Olive Garden brand across Canada.
New Restaurant Creates Jobs and Economic Opportunity
The Vaughan Mills location received over 6,000 job applications, allowing Recipe to build a team of more than 250 employees. Frank Hennessey, Chief Executive Officer for Recipe Restaurant Group, said: "The response from the community to the opening has been incredible. Receiving over 6,000 applications allowed us to build an outstanding team of more than 250 members, representing a fantastic economic opportunity for the region."
Part of a National Expansion Strategy
The opening follows Recipe's acquisition of existing Western Canadian Olive Garden restaurants earlier in 2026. Additional Olive Garden locations are planned across Ontario, with restaurants in Ottawa and Ajax currently in development. Bradley Smith, President of Darden Franchising, stated: "We are very excited to expand Olive Garden into Eastern Canada and open our first Toronto-area restaurant at Vaughan Mills. Recipe's deep experience in the Canadian restaurant industry will help us successfully deliver Olive Garden's signature Italian generosity to our guests."
Olive Garden's Commitment to Community
Olive Garden operates more than 920 restaurants and employs over 96,000 team members globally. The brand has donated more than 53 million pounds of food to local community food banks across the country. The Vaughan Mills restaurant offers Olive Garden's signature hospitality, generous portions, and menu favourites including freshly baked breadsticks, homemade soups and salads, and classic Italian-inspired dishes.
About Recipe Restaurant Group
Recipe Restaurant Group is Canada's largest full-service restaurant company, with nearly 1,100 restaurants across Canada and an international presence in the United States and the Middle East. Its portfolio includes Swiss Chalet, St-Hubert, Harvey's, Montana's, Olive Garden, New York Fries, Kelseys Original Roadhouse, East Side Mario's, Original Joe's, State & Main, Anejo, The Burger's Priest, The Landing Group, Elephant & Castle, Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar, The Pickle Barrel, Blanco Cantina, and Bier Markt.
