Franchising
Join the Famiglia: Franchise with Canada’s Most Trusted Italian Brand
Since 1987, East Side Mario’s has been more than just a restaurant; it’s a Canadian institution. We’ve built a legacy on the philosophy of "Mangia, Mangia!"—celebrating great food, high energy, and the kind of abundance with our All-You-Can-Eat Soup, Salad and Garlic Homeloaf promise that keeps guests coming back for generations.
When you franchise with us, you aren't just opening a kitchen; you’re joining the Most Trusted Italian Casual Restaurant in Canada, as voted by Canadians in the 2026 BrandSpark® Canadian Trust Study.
EAST SIDE MARIO’S IS PART OF THE RECIPE FAMILY OF BRANDS
That means franchisees get a competitive advantage in purchasing, real estate, construction, marketing, information technology and more.
Home of All-You-Can-Eat
60+ Locations
Fully Licensed Bar
Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated
Inspired by the lively spirit and bold flavours of New York’s Little Italy, East Side Mario’s has been serving up Italian classics since 1987
Contact Us
Real People. Real Success. Real Growth.
Our strength is our franchise partners.
Michelle & Mike Mulroy
Whitby, Oshawa Gibb, Oshawa Harmony & Pickering
Manny & Faraz Azar
London Fanshawe & St. Catharines
Janet McDonald
Sydney
"I chose to franchise with East Side Mario's because I was drawn to the energy of the brand, proven business model, and the incredible support they offer their franchisees. Over the last 10 years, the experience has been both rewarding and inspiring. The team provides the framework and the tools for every one to succeed and being part of a brand that guests love keeps me motivated every day."
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
No matter what you’re looking for, East Side Mario's offers a variety of franchise partnership opportunities for both new restaurants as well as existing restaurant sales.
If you’re looking to:
- Own and operate your own restaurant
- Operate with partners
- Grow into multi-unit operations
- Convert your current restaurant
- Become an investor
Let’s connect and we’ll share our application process and provide you more information about available and upcoming opportunities.
INQUIRE NOW
RESTAURANT CONVERSION OPPORTUNITIES
Let us help you unlock the value in your independent restaurant.
- Your choice of multiple banners to best suit your style and market conditions
- Being your own boss
- Access to a large support system of franchisees and corporate operations experts
- Higher sales and profitability potential alongside decreased expenses due to Recipe’s purchasing power
- The potential to sell your restaurant for a higher multiple
- Improve profitability through national purchasing power
- Increase long-term resale value
FRANCHISING OPPORTUNITIES
Chatham, ON - Opening 2027
St. Thomas, ON
Kitchener, ON
Waterdown , ON
Dartmouth, NS
Edmonton, AB
Owen Sound, ON
Orangeville, ON
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Saskatoon, SK
FRANCHISING INQUIRY
Phone: 905-760-2244, ext.2255 |
Toll-Free: 888-854-4402, ext.2255 |
Email: franchising@recipeunlimited.com
Have questions about franchising? Please fill out the form below to receive an email from our Franchising Team.
OUR PROMISE
We promise to bring families together through delicious meals that inspire memorable moments around the table
FAMILGIA
Providing family-focused hospitality to every kind of family.
MANGIA
Serving quality, New York Italian-inspried food made with pride and amore.
FUN
Creating a lively atmosphere that inspires togetherness and joy
FAQ
Since East Side Mario’s is a part of the Recipe family of brands, that means you as a franchisee get a competitive advantage when opening a restaurant with us. Recipe supports over 1,200 restaurants which ensures a franchisee will benefit from our economies of scale, exclusive partnerships and robust support system.
There are always franchising opportunities if you’re interested in opening an East Side Mario’s. Click here to see the current restaurant opportunities. You can also connect with the franchising team to learn if there are any existing franchises for sale. Don’t see any franchise opportunities in your market, let’s talk, we’re always exploring new markets.
The total investment for opening an East Side Mario’s is $1,400,000 - $1,600,000 with $560K -$640K cash required. Our franchising team can walk you through specifics to ensure you’re equipped with the right information to get started and on your way to opening a restaurant.
The first step in getting your restaurant franchise started would be to speak to a member of our team. When we connect, we’ll share what restaurant franchises are currently available and also get to learn more about you so that we can match you to the right franchise opportunity. We’re always on the lookout for franchise partners that demonstrate passion for the hospitality industry, are dedicated to providing the perfect guest experience, have strong leadership skills, excellent business acumen and someone who is motivated to be hands-on with the operations side of their restaurant. Restaurant experience is an asset, but not a prerequisite, our franchisees come from all walks of life. We like to talk to anybody who is interested in learning more about franchising, regardless of whether your inquiries are more exploratory or immediate. You can get in touch by clicking here.