Assuming a British passport, don't forget you need to do your ETA for Canada (like ESTA for the US).

As a Brit who is now not far from the airport, sure, go for dinner with friends somewhere - there are actually quite a lot of options within a 15 min or so drive, and I am sure your local friends will have their favourite places. There are lots of chain places that us locals now turn our noses up at, but I remember when I first moved to Canada I really enjoyed going to some of those chain places! They are different enough to the standard Nandos / Frankie & Bennies / Pizza Express in the UK that they are novel enough for a nice dinner.