At Delmanor Communities, we believe that retirement should mean living well, not stepping back, and every aspect of our dining service is shaped around that belief. Certified chefs prepare high-quality, elevated dishes, while residents play an active role in shaping the menu. This page explains exactly how residents take part in the dining experience, and what resident-led, chef-prepared dining actually looks like.
What Does Dining Include at Delmanor Communities?
Dining at Delmanor Communities includes:
- A main restaurant and a bookable private family dining room in every community. Some communities also have a pub, a bistro, or an additional dining room.
- An à la carte menu with 14 choices daily for lunch and dinner, rotating every five weeks
- Seasonal menus for spring-summer and fall-winter
- A chef’s daily creation, chosen based on resident feedback and requests
- Menus adapted for dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegetarian, diabetic, and texture-modified diets
How Dining Differs Between Communities, Based on Resident Choice
The menus at Delmanor Communities are not created in isolation. They are crafted to reflect both the culinary flair of each chef and the particular preferences of each community. This means that while chefs meet shared standards, each community’s menu can look very different.
The way meals are served can also vary between Delmanor communities, based on what residents want.
In every community, residents are greeted, seated, and given a menu that includes the chef’s daily creation, à la carte selections, always-available choices, and desserts. In six of the Delmanor communities, residents prefer a flexible schedule: they can come for dinner any time between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and sit wherever they like. The seventh community prefers a more traditional approach, with set seating times and assigned tables.
When the Delmanor team tried to move that community to a more flexible restaurant model, residents made it very clear that they preferred the way things were. Delmanor listened to the resident council and returned the community to scheduled seating.
As Sarah Wagner, Regional Chef at Delmanor Communities, says: If that is the choice the community wants, we should listen.
How Do Residents Help Shape the Menu?
Monthly Table Talks
Every month, each Delmanor community holds a Table Talk, a discussion between residents and the dining staff. Any interested resident is welcome to attend, and there is no limit on the number of people who can join.
During the talk, the group reviews concerns from previous meetings, discusses follow-ups, and identifies dishes residents would like to see on future menus. Resident suggestions then appear on the menu as the chef’s daily creation.
Favourite Five Dishes
Twice a year, Delmanor also asks residents to submit their five favourite dishes. The chefs use these to plan upcoming seasonal menus, so each season reflects what residents actually want.
Helping Residents Understand Menu Creation
Building a menu is a complex process with many factors to balance. To help residents see the care and time involved, the Delmanor team at one community invited residents to build their own five-week menu.
According to Sarah Wagner, the activity helped residents appreciate the complexity. They saw firsthand how many factors need to be considered, including proteins, soups, salads, side dishes, variety, and avoiding repetition between lunch and dinner.
What If I Can’t Find Anything on the Menu That I Like?
Delmanor Communities always ensures that each resident has something prepared that they would like to eat. As long as the ingredients are in house, it can be prepared, even if it’s grilled cheese or scrambled eggs.
Can a Family Member Drop In for a Meal?
Yes. While advance notice is appreciated, it is generally not necessary. All Delmanor locations can usually accommodate an extra family member who would like to stay for a meal.
What Options Are There for Dietary Restrictions?
Delmanor Communities always makes sure residents have plenty of dining choices, whatever their dietary needs. For example, there are gluten-free wraps and pastas, and any chicken dish can be made with Gardein plant-based chicken for vegetarian residents.
Taste It for Yourself at Delmanor Aurora
The best way to understand dining at Delmanor is to sit down for a meal. We would love to welcome you and your family to Delmanor Aurora for lunch and a personal tour. Enjoy a chef-prepared meal in our restaurant, see the private family dining room, meet the team, and experience the Delmanor difference for yourself.
Book a lunch and tour at Delmanor Aurora
About Delmanor Communities
Delmanor Communities is a proudly Canadian-owned and operated luxury retirement living provider with over 23 years in the industry, operating seven exceptional communities across the Greater Toronto Area as a member of the Tridel Group of Companies. Each community is designed around a simple belief: that retirement should feel meaningful, connected, and inspired. From chef-prepared dining and personalized care plans to curated lifestyle programming and warm, attentive staff, Delmanor Communities is built for seniors who want to live actively, independently, and well. To learn more or book a tour, visit delmanor.com
