1907–1981
Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Section 39 Lot 69
Born in Greece, Steele Basil arrived in Toronto at just 14 years old. By age 17, his entrepreneurial spirit had led him to open his first restaurant, the Green Lantern Tea Room on Bloor Street West. This was only the beginning of a remarkable career in hospitality.
In 1936, Basil opened Steele’s Tavern at 349 Yonge Street. For the next 37 years, it became one of Toronto’s most popular dining spots and among the first licensed to serve cocktails. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, Steele’s Tavern was more than a restaurant – it was a cultural hub.
In 1960, Basil introduced live entertainment at the Tavern. One of his earliest performers was a young, unknown singer from Orillia: Gordon Lightfoot. Lightfoot’s debut at Steele’s Tavern helped launch his legendary career, thanks to connections made there with Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia Tyson and their manager Albert Grossman.
By the early 1960s, the Tavern’s upstairs Venetian Room became a hotspot for folk music, hosting acts like the Spokesmen and later Lightfoot himself. The venue stood out for its focus on folk at a time when other bars leaned toward country, rock or burlesque.
After decades of success, Basil retired in 1974, closing the Tavern. The space was soon taken over by Sam the Record Man, continuing the location’s legacy as a Toronto landmark.
Basil passed away on November 7, 1981, at the age of 74. His foundational contributions to Toronto’s dining and music scene remain influential.
Sources:
• Mount Pleasant Group – Steele Basil
• Heritage Toronto – Zanzibar & Steele’s Tavern
Photo: Gil Meslin
