A sophisticated, low-lit bar area features deep tones and curved lines, evoking a midcentury-modern speakeasy. The bar front is clad in shimmering, small-scale copper mosaic tiles, topped by a ridged, metallic edge. A warm orange glow from the perimeter ceiling cove and a long, horizontal suspended light fixture creates a dramatic, intimate atmosphere, contrasted by structured dark wood floors and green leather booths.

A Retro-Modern Reinvention: North of Brooklyn Pizzeria’s Latest Toronto Outpost by MRDK

Words by Yatzer

Toronto, Canada

For over a decade, North of Brooklyn Pizzeria has been serving some of Toronto’s most beloved New York–style pizzas, earning a devoted local following for its artisanal craft and laid-back atmosphere. For its new Queensway location in Etobicoke, the Toronto-based chain has once again partnered with Montréal-based design studio MRDK to translate its unfussy, quality-driven ethos into a spatial form.

The result is a two-storey venue that not only redefines the brand’s architectural identity but also expands its hospitality offering: while the ground floor remains dedicated to North of Brooklyn’s signature takeout experience, the upper level introduces the Low Rise Bar, a new concept where patrons can enjoy craft beer, wine, and cocktails, alongside North of Brooklyn’s pizzas. Drawing from the aesthetics of New York slice shops, American diners, and 1960s Italian aesthetics, the design strikes a deft balance between nostalgia and modernity, bridging the concept of neighbourhood familiarity with a more refined sense of occasion.

A tightly framed shot focusing on the smooth, curvilinear details of the counter, clad in glossy ceramic tiles—dark brown on top and creamy white below. A recessed niche holds a row of branded sodas, subtly lit to showcase the products. This composition emphasizes the intentional use of reflective surfaces and rounded edges, achieving a sophisticated blend of minimalist form and playful midcentury-modern texture.

Photography by David Dworkind.

The corner of the counter features a seamless application of creamy and dark brown tiles, setting a strong vintage-retro tone. A wall-mounted menu board and small, integrated display niches for sodas and snacks maintain clean lines. The diffuse, grid-style ceiling lighting casts a warm, uniform hue over the smooth, light-colored terrazzo floor, promoting a sense of hygienic yet inviting minimalist design.

Photography by David Dworkind.

The entry space is defined by extensive glazing and a narrow, deep window aperture framed by the signature creamy tiling. The low-contrast, industrial aesthetic is softened by the warm overhead glow of the grid ceiling light and the matte texture of the terrazzo floor. Sunlight streams in, creating sharp geometric shadows that emphasize the room's controlled minimalist geometry and connection to the urban setting.

Photography by David Dworkind.

On the ground floor, the takeout counter channels 1980s fast-food interiors through a lens of contemporary minimalism. The space is wrapped in cream-coloured, high-gloss, three-dimensional tiles by Dutch brand DTILE, which bend around corners, recess into product displays, and even morph into hooks for hanging branded merchandise on. Overhead, a luminous grid ceiling that echoes the tiling’s geometry casts a warm amber glow, while large street-facing windows flood the interior with natural light, making the glossy surfaces gleam throughout the day. Encircling the space, a chocolate-coloured band alternates between tiles and cylindrical leather backrests lining the window, in what translates into an inventive gesture that doubles as both a visual anchor and casual perch, adding to the scheme’s playful precision.

This view captures the pizzeria's core design elements: a counter clad in high-gloss dark brown tile, a clean, retro-tiled wall with rounded corners, and a light terrazzo floor. The warm amber glow from the grid-like luminous ceiling softens the industrial materiality. The composition highlights the tension between the sanitary, mid-century-modern tile design and the functional necessity of the takeaway pizza boxes stacked behind the counter.

Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A close-up of branded t-shirts hanging on minimalist acrylic hooks against the wall of creamy subway tiles. The grid of the suspended luminous ceiling, radiating a soft, peachy light, dominates the upper frame, contrasting the precise tile lines. The image highlights the space's commitment to brand identity through simple, functional display against a clean, textural background.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A minimalist, high-contrast interior features creamy subway tiles offset by a dark brown horizontal stripe, evoking a retro diner feel. The smooth, rounded corners contrast with the grid-like, softly illuminated luminous ceiling. The terrazzo floor and stark white walls create a clean, gallery-like backdrop for displaying branded merchandise, emphasizing the space's authentic, stripped-back character.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A close-up of a recessed, rounded niche in the tiled wall, showcasing stacked jars of branded chili crisp next to a simple menu board. The surrounding creamy and dark brown tiles feature a thick grout line, emphasizing the nostalgic, sanitary, and functional vintage-retro detailing.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

A sophisticated, low-lit bar area features deep tones and curved lines, evoking a midcentury-modern speakeasy. The bar front is clad in shimmering, small-scale copper mosaic tiles, topped by a ridged, metallic edge. A warm orange glow from the perimeter ceiling cove and a long, horizontal suspended light fixture creates a dramatic, intimate atmosphere, contrasted by structured dark wood floors and green leather booths.

Photography by David Dworkind.

A close-up of the bar area highlights bespoke design elements: contoured wooden stools with white pedestal bases and subtle red leather inserts, lined up against the copper mosaic bar. The rich, dark red ceiling and cove lighting amplify the atmospheric glow. A long, diffused central light fixture illuminates the bar back's mirrored liquor display, emphasizing the space's elegant vintage-retro feel.

Photography by David Dworkind.

Upstairs, the mood in the Low Rise Bar’s 40-seat dining area shifts, embracing an atmosphere that brings together the familiarity of a diner with the intimacy of a 1960s cocktail lounge. Here, MRDK looked to mid-century design for cues, combining curving forms and rounded edges with a tactile palette of walnut panelling, dark timber flooring, leather, and brushed metal.

Anchoring the space is a bar counter clad in tumbled marble mosaic and capped with zinc, a material that will develop a rich patina over time. Curvaceous bar stools with cylindrical supports and a fluted pendant light by In Common With casting a soft golden hue reinforce the counter’s mid-century charm. Green leather banquettes with tubular backrests, inspired by Italian designer Joe Colombo’s iconic 1969 Tube Chair, and cream-painted folded steel feet, playfully extend this retro-modern dialogue.

A detail of the unique custom bar stools, featuring a molded walnut seat base and a light-tan leather cushion, supported by a twin-cylinder white pedestal. The stool sits on a tiered wooden step, contrasting against the textured copper mosaic bar front in this highly detailed midcentury-modern composition.

Photography by David Dworkind.

A detail shot focuses on the custom booth design: deep forest-green leather cushions and a cylindrical bolster supported by a sculptural, curved, pale-cream pedestal base. The strong curves and minimal support structure against the dark wood floor exemplify the refined balance of form and material in this midcentury-modern design.

Photography by David Dworkind.

A row of custom, dark green leather booths with rounded bolsters anchors this midcentury-modern dining space. The dark walnut flooring and glossy brown ceiling, dramatically lit by a hidden orange cove, create a moody atmosphere. Simple, pivoting black sconces highlight the vertical, creamy-colored wall paneling, contrasting the dark wood horizontal blinds that screen the exterior view.

Photography by David Dworkind.

This composition captures the blend of textures: ribbed, light-colored paneling contrasts with the dark, reflective ceiling and warm wood floor. The unique wooden stools stand on a tiered platform facing the mosaic-tiled bar. Venetian blinds filter the daylight, maintaining the space's sense of intimacy and providing a subtle Japandi-like emphasis on vertical lines and natural materials within the vintage-retro setting.

Photography by David Dworkind.

In what is a thoughtful approach to function MRDK’s deft sense of materiality is complemented by new side windows aligned with cantilevered walnut tables to maximise natural light, while mechanical systems are neatly concealed within a perimeter bulkhead whose integrated cove lighting accentuates the texture of the ceiling.

By merging the efficiency of a modern pizzeria with the material richness of mid-century design, the new Queensway location captures the evolution of both brand and typology in a space where restraint meets indulgence, expertly proving that even a neighbourhood pizzeria can become an exercise in crafted sophistication.

A symmetrical composition showcasing a single booth with its unique, cylindrical green leather bolster centered between two windows. The wood-slat window blinds regulate light, while the adjustable black sconces provide focused illumination against the neutral, ribbed paneling. The balanced arrangement embodies a refined minimalist-retro aesthetic.

Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A close-up of a cozy dining nook emphasizes texture and form. Dark wood framing encapsulates dual, rounded mirrors and a small table with a subtle green terrazzo-like top. The deep green leather booth and curved wooden chair establish a rich, vintage-retro palette, complemented by the soft, spherical glow of a wall sconce.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A detailed shot focusing on the juxtaposition of materials: rich walnut plank flooring, deep green leather, and a custom, thick walnut table with a fluid, organic shape. The upholstered booth features a sculptural, rounded bolster supported by a simple, cream-colored metal base, exemplifying the thoughtful balance of midcentury curves and strong materiality.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A close-up of the bar's liquor display, built into dark walnut cabinetry with vertical, rounded window panels. Interior backlighting illuminates the glassware and bottles, showcasing the intentional detailing and bespoke joinery that lend an elegant, curated, and speakeasy-influenced atmosphere to the space.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • A close-up shot of the bar area's central light fixture—an elongated, ribbed capsule pendant—glowing warmly against the deep red-brown, glossy ceiling. The dramatic orange glow of the perimeter cove light is visible above, highlighting the bespoke lighting design that creates a theatrical and sensual midcentury mood.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • An intensely immersive washroom features small, glossy, oxblood-red square tiles covering the walls and floor, wrapping the space in a continuous curve. A terracotta-colored pedestal sink is centered beneath a tall, arched mirror, creating a visually striking, monochromatic, and almost cinematic vintage-retro environment.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

  • The entrance to the washroom, clad in rich, dark red gloss. A terracotta pedestal sink and arched mirror are visible between two doors—one featuring a small porthole window. The low, warm lighting enhances the space's bold, monochromatic palette and sense of hidden, atmospheric midcentury drama.

    Photography by David Dworkind.

A sequence of tall, rounded mirrors in dark wood frames reflects the opposite side of the dining room, visually expanding the space. The lower walls are clad in ribbed, cream-colored paneling, setting a vintage stage for the dark green terrazzo tabletops. The image highlights the detailed joinery and the atmospheric, diffused lighting reflecting off the glossy ceiling.

Photography by David Dworkind.

This wide view captures the dramatic contrast between the dining room's dark, moody palette and the orange ceiling cove. Dark green booths and tables with dark green terrazzo tops fill the foreground, while the shimmering copper-tiled bar glows in the distance. The spatial composition brilliantly divides the space into a luminous, intimate speakeasy-style dining area and a focused bar.

Photography by David Dworkind.