Table Talk: Q&A with Hamilton, Ontario’s MacTini Bar

Next up in our Table Talk series is Hamilton, Canada favorite MacTini Bar! 

The owner of MacTini bar has always been known for his delicious mac and cheese. So when one of his friends was diagnosed with celiac disease, he knew he had to find a way to make a gluten-free version every bit as tasty as his original. He went through batch after batch, trialing and testing, learning and iterating, until one day, he hit the jackpot. Upon his friend’s encouragement and urging, this heartfelt gesture soon transformed into an official catering company. In 2025, that dream expanded further with the opening of full-service gourmet comfort food restaurant MacTini Bar.

MacTini Bar transforms kid-friendly classics into elevated palate-pleasers for diners of any age. There are many inventive gourmet mac n' cheeses to choose from on their menu, and you can also pair your pasta with salad, rack of lamb, salmon, and more. Plus, there are a multitude of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic gluten-free drink options, including cocktails! With its great food and drinks, frequent entertainment and events, as well as a cozy and inclusive atmosphere, MacTini Bar is healing celiac hearts one cheesy bite at a time.

Ready to dive in further? Continue reading for our full Q&A with restaurateur Joseph Johnson, where we’ll discuss the origins, inclusive vision, expansion goals, safety precautions, and more of Hamilton, Ontario's MacTini Bar.

To kick things off, what do you want MacTini Bar to be known for? What’s your long-term vision?

We want MacTini Bar to be known as a safe haven for everyone. Whether you have celiac disease or not, our food is the perfect comfort food; mac and cheese, who doesn't love that on a wet, cold, and rainy day? We also want to be known for accepting people from all walks of life. I always say, MacTini Bar was made for the straights, the gays, and everyone in between. We all bleed red, and we can all love each other over an amazing bowl of gourmet mac and cheese.

We try to create an ambience of relaxation and comfort. We want you to feel like you are at a friend's house, just hanging out having some good food and cocktails. We have no TVs and do not give out the Wi-Fi password, as we want our guests to come in and share time with each other, rather than watching sports or texting. 

My goal for MacTini Bar is definitely to have more than one location, and we would love to have a food truck or two going to the different festivals around Ontario.

What inspired you to get into the restaurant business?

I actually got started in this business when I was about 15 years old. I wanted a job, and someone told me about a dishwasher position at a local restaurant. I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and wanted to be a part of it. Funnily enough, I was so shy as a kid, and now getting me to stop talking is the hardest task. I tried to leave the industry many times and kind of always beat myself up for “just being a server,” but now I know this was my destiny. 

You’ve made MacTini Bar a safe haven for those with celiac and gluten intolerances. What made you decide to open a dedicated gluten-free restaurant?

We actually made our start when a friend was diagnosed with celiac disease many years ago. I worked on a gluten-free recipe for over a year and a half, as I wanted to create mac and cheese that was just as good as "regular" mac and cheese. I was finally able to crack the code, putting a massive smile on my friend’s face, as she had not been able to eat my mac and cheese for almost two years at this point. She urged me to start a gluten-free mac and cheese catering company, and soon we were delivering it all over the greater Toronto area. 

Then, in the early hours of January 1, 2025, I felt like I was being told to open a restaurant. When I found the space where we are located now, I knew I was home; this was the base of MacTini Bar. 

When we first opened, I was not actually going to be 100% gluten free. And then after I sat down and started doing research on how many people actually have celiac disease and how hard it was for those with the disease, my mindset changed. I already made amazing gluten-free food, so why wouldn't I want to continue on with that legacy?

Tell us more about the precautions gluten-free diners can expect at MacTini Bar. How do you ensure the ingredients you source are safe for celiac diners? How are staff trained to avoid bringing gluten and cross-contact risk into the restaurant? Do you have any rules around patrons bringing in outside food that may contain gluten?

So much love and research went into this place. When opening the business, I had to probably make about 1,000 phone calls. Local breweries, distilleries, wineries — you name it, I called them. We also usually have test strips at the restaurant; so we can open a new jar of something, and the test strips will tell you if it is safe or not. 

My staff are very aware of the dangers of gluten. We recommend not eating gluten-filled products in the same clothes that you are working in.

We do not allow outside food in, even on our patio, if it has gluten in it. Some people try to sit on the patio tables and eat pizza from our neighbour, and we ask them to leave. The only time we allow outside food is if it is coming from a family or group that are all celiac, as we know that they put as much effort as we do into making sure their food is safe for their loved ones.

Can MacTini Bar accommodate other dietary restrictions and food allergies as well?

Currently, we are pretty good with a nut allergy. When we first opened, we used to put pecans on our salads, but after so many people with Celiac disease were also allergic to nuts/peanuts/tree nuts, we switched it up and now put pumpkin seeds on our salads. We do have peanut butter in the restaurant, though, as we have a lovely group of ladies that love my homemade peanut butter cookies. 

We also hope to release a vegan gluten-free mac and cheese in 2026.

Are there any particular dishes you would recommend to our readers?

My absolute favorite mac and cheese is the Maple Bacon Pickle Ranch. Our lamb rack is to die for as well. But honestly, all of our food is amazing…not to toot my own horn, lol. 

That’s exactly what we ordered during our visit, so we have to add our equally enthusiastic recommendation of it as well! Is there anything else you’d like to share with our community?

We love being here for those on the wheel of gluten free. We hope that more people, even those without intolerances or celiac disease, will come out and just have some fun. We have events (karaoke, holiday parties, comedy, drag and more) that are catered to every type of person.

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And there you have it, folks! We highly recommend you check out the scrumptious comfort food at MacTini Bar the next time your travels take you to Hamilton, Niagara Falls, or the greater Toronto area. You can find more on MacTini Bar — along with several other celiac-safe restaurants, grocery tips, and recommended tourist stops — in our full Hamilton and Burlington, Ontario, Canada guide. To stay up to date on MacTini Bar’s upcoming events, follow them on Instagram @mactinibar.