An inaugural Toronto food festival left many waiting outside in the cold instead of enjoying some much-needed comfort food after the event was oversold by hundreds of tickets.

Close to two dozen local vendors served up soup and sandwiches at the Grilled Cheese Fest Friday night at Roy Thomson Hall.

Organizer Melissa Chien said the event however was oversold by roughly 700 tickets leaving many outside the venue waiting to get in as temperatures dipped to - 15 C with the windchill.  The capacity for the event is 1500 people.

"We're sorry that they're waiting but when they do come in hopefully just the scent of everything is going to put a smile to their face," Chien said.

Those locked out of the event took to Twitter to voice their frustration after paying $39.99 plus HST for the promise of all-you-can-eat grilled cheese, gourmet soups, and three beer samples.

Andrew Seawright and his friends told the CBC's Travis Dhanraj they waited in line for four hours only to receive "three-quarters of a grilled cheese."