Smash Ping Pong Lounge

Smash Ping Pong Lounge is a new concept in Toronto that mixes table tennis with table service. A variety of home-cooked dishes – like straight-out-of-the-oven nachos and wings, grilled flatbread with tomato sauce, chicken, prosciutto, and cheese and parmesan – are available on the daily, whether you order a bucket of ping pong balls or not. “Everybody loves our food,” boasts co-owner George Aivalis, who has a background in food and knows a forehand counterfeit like the back of his hand.

George opened the Riverside lounge with his ping pong playing pal, Peter Scicos, in March 2016. He says Smash Ping Pong Lounge is basically an extension of their childhood basements. “I’m better than the average player, but I wouldn’t say I’m advanced,” he admits.

The two considered opening a rec room with darts, pinball and billiards, but they agreed ping pong would be the best activity out of them all. It turns out they were right. Pork and ping pong are a hit in Toronto, with a line-up at Smash most weekends. “There’s an hour wait, sometimes two hours,” says George.