Daylight Grill: Carrying a Family Legacy Forward, One Breakfast at a Time

In a world of chains and quick stops, Daylight Grill offers something increasingly rare — a place that feels personal.

Locally owned and family run, the Burlington breakfast and lunch spot has quietly built its reputation around three simple things: great food, friendly service, and an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome. It’s the kind of place where regulars are greeted by name, coffee cups are topped up without asking, and the morning feels just a little brighter the moment you walk through the door.

For owner Grace Tabar, that feeling isn’t accidental — it’s the heart of everything.

“It’s not just about the meal,” she says. “It’s about how people feel when they’re here.”

Daylight Grill isn’t a chain or a franchise. It’s one of a kind — built on family, community, and care.

But the story behind it is much deeper than a restaurant opening.

After a brief illness, Grace’s father — the original owner of the first Daylight Grill in Mississauga — passed away. As the oldest of three daughters, Grace felt a responsibility to step in and support her family during an incredibly difficult time.

“It wasn’t a decision I made alone,” she explains. “It sort of fell in my lap. But I’m so grateful it did.”

Before the restaurant, Grace’s path looked very different. She studied Business at Western University and worked in the financial industry, expecting to build a career in finance. Entrepreneurship wasn’t always the plan — until life shifted her direction.

When her father became ill, carrying on his legacy simply felt right.

In April 2024, after learning the original Mississauga location would be torn down, Grace made a decision: the story of Daylight Grill wouldn’t end there. She would rebuild.

Opening fresh in Burlington came with its challenges, but it also brought new energy and opportunity. Even more meaningful was the team that stood behind her — many staff members chose to move from the original location to join her again.

“That loyalty carried me more than they know,” she says. “They are the heart and soul of this restaurant. It wouldn’t be the same without them.”

For Grace, food has always been about connection. Breakfast in particular feels special — it’s when people are most themselves, gathering with family, catching up with friends, or easing into the day.

She wanted to create a space where those moments could happen naturally.

A place that felt steady. Familiar. Comfortable.

And in many ways, the restaurant became something personal, too.

“Daylight Grill started during a time in my life when I needed healing myself,” she shares. “There were days it felt overwhelming, and days when the restaurant was the thing that kept me going.”

What she didn’t expect was how deeply the community would show up — the regulars whose orders are memorized, the families who grow up coming in for weekend breakfasts, the small daily conversations that turn into lasting relationships.

Those connections, she says, have become the biggest milestones of all.

Through it all, Grace has learned one clear lesson: people are everything.

“Entrepreneurship allows me to lead with intention and heart,” she says. “It’s challenging, but it lets me create a space where care, consistency, and kindness truly matter.”

Today, Daylight Grill stands as more than a restaurant. It’s a continuation of a family legacy, a gathering place for the neighbourhood, and a reflection of the values Grace brings to work every day.

And for anyone who walks through the doors, a place that feels like home.