Symposium Cafe

{{short description|Canadian restaurant franchise}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Symposium Cafe Inc.

| founders = {{ubl|Bill Argo|Terry Argo}}{{cite web|url=https://franchisecanada.cfa.ca/symposium-cafes-excellent-adventure/|title=Symposium Cafe's Excellent Adventure|date=11 August 2017|publisher=}}

| area_served = Ontario{{cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7464479-alliston-is-getting-a-symposium-caf-/|title=Alliston is getting a Symposium Café|first=Brad|last=Pritchard|date=21 July 2017|publisher=}}

}}

Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge is a restaurant chain in the Canadian province of Ontario,{{cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/7464479-alliston-is-getting-a-symposium-caf-/|title=Alliston is getting a Symposium Café|first=Brad|last=Pritchard|date=21 July 2017|publisher=}} which serves as an all-day restaurant, café, and bar.{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/living-story/7912729-symposium-sneak-peek-offers-small-taste-of-grand-opening-in-georgina/|title=Symposium sneak peek offers small taste of grand opening in Georgina|first=Heidi|last=Riedner|date=10 November 2017|publisher=}} The first restaurant was founded in 1996{{cite web|url=https://www.theifp.ca/shopping-story/5370899-symposium-cafe-restaurant-and-lounge-georgetown-your-special-place-located-at-235-guelph-street-georgetown/|title=Symposium Cafe Restaurant and Lounge Georgetown; Your Special Place located at 235 Guelph Street, Georgetown|date=8 November 2013|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/6981209-symposium-cafe-opens-in-barrie-s-north-end/|title=Symposium Cafe opens in Barrie's north end|first=Janis|last=Ramsay|date=23 November 2016|publisher=}} in the City of London by Bill and Terry Argo. They began franchising in 2004, and had thirty locations as of the end of 2017.{{cite web|url=https://franchisecanada.cfa.ca/symposium-cafes-excellent-adventure/|title=Symposium Cafe's Excellent Adventure|date=11 August 2017|publisher=}} That year the company received the Franchisor of the Year (Traditional Franchises) from the Canadian Franchise Association Awards of Excellence.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodserviceandhospitality.com/symposium-cafe-restaurant-lounge-wins-top-honour-at-franchise-awards/|title=Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge Wins Top Honour at Franchise Awards|date=19 April 2017|publisher=}} Services it provides include dine-in, take-out, and catering,{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkregion.com/shopping-story/4533181-markham-s-best-new-restaurant-with-breakfast-symposium-cafe-restaurant-lounge-at-kennedy-and-major-mackenzie/|title=Markham's best new restaurant with BREAKFAST! Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge, at Kennedy and Major Mackenzie|date=22 May 2014|publisher=}} focusing on continental and European food.{{cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/living-story/3879105-a-taste-for-everyone/|title=A taste for everyone|first=Dan|last=Kislenko|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |date=6 July 2013|publisher=}} The décor of locations also reflects the art and culture of the Mediterranean region.{{cite web|url=https://oakvillenews.org/symposium-cafe-restaurant-oakville-eats/|title=Symposium Cafe & Restaurant: Oakville Eats - Oakville News|date=2 March 2013|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/8588242-dining-out-save-room-for-dessert-at-symposium-caf-/|title=Dining Out: Save room for dessert at Symposium Café|first=Sandra|last=Walneck|date=4 May 2018|publisher=}}