“The story of Lilly’s began in a small town named Chions, 6796 km away from Midland, Ontario in the Northern Italian Province of Pordenone. It was here that Lilly was born. Her parents, from neighbouring towns in Northern Italy, met in Canada before returning to Italy to start their family. ”

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In time, the family would make their way back to Canada, where they opened a bar with 300 seats, and a 60-seat bistro that they entrusted to Lilly. Here she learned the restauranteur business from the bottom up-from how to order beers and hiring incredible chefs, the very people that would inspire her passion for cooking. ”

“While operating her first business, Lilly had her two wonderful sons, Trevor and Cory, who each fell in love with different aspects of her industry. Trevor always knew he was passionate about cooking-insisting on jumping onto the line at 12 years old. He went on to study cooking in Niagara on the Lake. Cory would follow his own passion and go on to study to be a Sommelier.”

“Unfortunately, this first business would be lost in a fire, but Lilly pushed on, settling in the town of Midland, making this beautiful place her new home. It was here she was welcomed by the town and offered a great space on King Street. She took the last of her savings and put it all into her new space-and Lilly’s Italian Eatery was born! With Trevor as Chef and Cory as Front of House Manager and Sommelier, the family combined their skills to share their passion for exceptional dining experiences. ”

“It was here they established a reputation for freshness, handmaking every aspect of the menu in house; from daily fresh made pasta, to fresh sausage and luscious desserts made by Lilly herself. They focused on full-sized, loving portions, exciting flavour combinations and a warm atmosphere that celebrates ‘La Dolce Vita’ or ‘the sweet life’. Lilly’s is a place where people could come together and celebrate, making any evening a special occasion.”

“As the business grew, they started to look to the future of Lilly’s Italian Eatery, dreaming of owning their own permanent space, with room to grow. From the moment Lilly stepped into the new space at 264 King Street, she knew this was the place. Little did she know what the next few months would bring. ”

“When the shutdowns were announced, with two buildings and no dining service, Lilly was sure this would spell the end of everything her and her sons had built. That would be the last time she would underestimate the power of this community. That first night they opened for pickup, the order tickets were so many, that they would stretch three times across the restaurant. With every shutdown and re-opening, they were bolstered by the unfailing support and encouragement of the town. Through the small, quiet moments and the big celebrations.”

“Now they have nearly completed the first phase of their new opening, with a beautiful entryway planned before moving on to their second phase. They are thrilled to be opening a private dining area, with seating for 60, where they will host special events, weddings, private dining experiences and more!”