A top local chef just opened the doors of a brand new restaurant in Toronto
Published September 30, 2025 at 3:19 pm
A top local chef who once found himself out of work due to the pandemic has just opened the doors to a brand new restaurant of his very own.
Marvin Palomo has just opened Liliana, a cute new restaurant with a loose Italian bistro feel he says is “dedicated to one of the most influential people who helped shape the way I cook.”
“I’m proud to announce that I have been working on a very special project, one that’s deeply personal and inspired by my journey as a chef. The goal was to create a reflection of experiences, cultures, flavours and moments that have shaped me. True hospitality isn’t just about the food, but more so about how we make people feel,” reads a social media post from Palomo.
“Dedicated to one of the most influential people who helped shape the way I cook and how I cook alongside the people around me. We can’t wait to welcome you into this space and share it with you.”
The menu at Liliana follows the traditional structure of a menu at a typical Italian restaurant, with antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni (sides) and dolce (sweets or dessert).
Options for antipasti include staples like bread, olives, a green salad and a tomato salad, bluefin tuna crudo and beef carpaccio. The primi are all pastas with options such as a pappardelle with a mushroom master stock, an agnolotti with corn, ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano, or a troffie (a short, rustic, twisted pasta shape) with oxtail ragu and gremolata.
For secondi, move on to a stuffed chicken wing, halibut, octopus or a strip loin. Contorni include veg like potatoes, broccolini and mushrooms, and for dolce options there’s a budino, panna cotta or millefoglie.
The space where Liliana now takes up residence where J’s Steak Frites used to be on Queen Street West, which quietly closed after opening their new location in Little Italy on College Street.
Palomo created his own brand XOXO Sauce back during lockdowns when he was out of work. He’s also worked at Vela, a highly regarded restaurant that has been temporarily closed for all of 2025 due to a fire on the premises.
“Nestled in a cozy end of Queen St West, our restaurant invites you to enjoy comforting Italian dishes with unexpected flavours. Here, we serve more than just food—we serve experiences,” reads the description of Liliana on Open Table.
“Come for the fun, stay for the stories, laughter, and the good vibes that fill the room. Wipe the day off your boots, fix your hair, and let us surprise you with something special.”
Liliana is now open at 1198 Queen St. W.