Hexagon's gone, Centro takes over Oakville Michelin spot

Hexagon, the Michelin-starred Oakville restaurant once regarded as among the best in the country, has closed permanently after less than a year without its chef.

When Toronto's Michelin guide expanded beyond city limits last year, Hexagon's inclusion seemed inevitable. The restaurant, helmed by wunderkind Chef Rafa Covarrubias, was a singular culinary force. Situated in seemingly ordinary environs on Lakeshore Road East, Hexagon delivered dishes that were anything but ordinary—global cuisines and Canadian terroir in equal measure.

Then in December 2025, Covarrubias bid adieu to Oakville and took over the kitchen at the similarly one-starred 20 Victoria in downtown Toronto. With the chef's departure, Hexagon closed, initially appearing temporary. That changed in mid-June when Centro on the Square opened at the same Lakeshore Road East address.

Though Hexagon's unmistakable honeycomb-shaped chandeliers remain, Centro has taken a decided turn toward tradition. Where Hexagon's kitchen once turned out Hokkaido scallops with mole verde, brown butter and caviar, Centro's menu runs from hearty meat-forward dishes to seafood starters and pastas—still impressive but more familiar.

Whether Centro will earn the same notability as its predecessor remains uncertain. For now, if you find yourself yearning for Covarrubias' celebrated culinary tact, you can find it—for the time being—at 20 Victoria downtown.