Open/Closed for the week of October 5-11

ton of new restaurants and a long weekend ahead filled with a turkey and all the trimmings?

Not to mention all the very cool events (Free pizza! Free Thanksgiving burritos! Lunch for a good cause!)?

It doesn’t get much better than this.

Here’s the very latest:

Blaze Pizza
10 Dundas St. E.

Doors open to the public today on the first Canadian franchise of the popular fast casual American pizza chain (Investors include LeBron James and Maria Shriver). Psst - we got a sneak peak yesterday – check out our Instagram!

Super thin, crisp crust pizzas are available in signature and build-your-own-varieties (you can also get a gluten-free crust and vegan cheese). Salads, s’mores and two types of lemonades fill out the roster.

Tomorrow, to celebrate their arrival, they’re giving away free build-your-own pizzas on Friday, October 9th from 11am to midnight to anyone who follows Blaze on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.

Bobbie Sue’s Mac & Cheese
162 Ossington Ave.

A variety of mac and cheeses arrive just in time to get you through the colder months. Woo woo!

Impact Kitchen
573 King St. E.

One more reason to head to Corktown? Impact Kitchen opens today with a seriously healthy, yet not-boring-in-the-least menu, including Spiced Flank Steak ($8.95) with chimichurri sauce, Oven Roasted Chicken ($8.95), and Bison Meatballs ($8.95) for dinner.

Power Bowls will give you the boost you need, like the vegan Halo ($14.95) - Root vegetable mash, avocado smash, broccoli, kale, Brussels, roasted beets, micro sprouts, hemp seeds, and Green Supreme Dressing. There are also a host of salads, sides, breakfast options, full espresso bar, holistic teas, cold pressed juices, smoothies and fresh housemade chocolates.

Swoon.

Mi Taco Tacqueria
247 Queen St. W.

Mi Taco Taqueria’s menu includes tacos, burritos, bowls, Mexican street corn in a cup and a selection of sides.

The bonus here? All menu items are made, daily, including made-to-order flour tortillas and a variety of salsas and cremas, all free from added preservatives and additives.

PO Box 1192 Snack Bar
1192 Queen St. E.

Leslieville gets an awesome new snack bar that also features hip-hop DJs. Win-win. They open tomorrow at 10pm.

The Walton Café & Bar
607 College St.

Little Italy gets a brand new café and bar today. Say hello to cocktails, coffee and pastries and much more!

Changes:

The Grilled Cheese is now Om Grilled Cheese, with new ownership.

Closed:

Babur closed its doors on Saturday after more than 20 years.

Another long-standing restaurant has closed - Czehoski celebrated their 10th – and last anniversary - this past July.

Rock Lobster in Leslieville, featuring three patios, has closed. 

Papaya Hut on Yonge north of College has closed due to forthcoming condos. They will be relocating a block north. Stay tuned.

Events:

Thanksgiving is one of the greatest food-centric holidays of the year. Find out who’s got the best turkey offerings this long weekend.

Today from 11am-2pm, Second Harvest invites you to lunch at Yonge-Dundas Square. Join Second Harvest and more than 1,000 community members including Roger Mooking, to celebrate the launch of their Hero Campaign, an initiative that supports Second Harvest’s food rescue program. Food truck will serve items for $4-6, with proceeds raised supporting their food rescue program. For each dollar donated, Second Harvest provides two healthy meals to people experiencing hunger across Toronto.

Drink and eat at tonight's OktoberFEAST at Berkeley Church, all in the name of a good cause. 

Starting tonight and lasting until Saturday, head out to the first annual Oktoberfest at Mascot Brewery & Odd Thomas.

On Thanksgiving Monday between 12-4 (or until quantities last), Asada Mexican Grill will be giving away turkey burritos for their 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Burrito Giveaway at their St. Clair West location.

And lastly:

Eat to the Beat is one of the year’s best culinary events. Here are 10 reasons why.

The ACC is one of the best spots to eat in Toronto. Take a peek inside the 7 restaurants, various quick service outlets and concession stands. And then go eat there.

Craft beer events take over this month. Find one now.
 

Raffaele's Cantina Louie and Raffaele welcome you like family. And then feed you like it too.

Find out more about the recent vermouth comeback in this month's drinks column.

Happy Thanksgiving!