Okay, not to get you in a panic but the holidays are quickly approaching. To help get you through, I’ve got eight new spots for you to try this weekend.

And Happy Thanksgiving for those celebrating the U.S. holiday!

Here’s the very latest:

Open:

Basil Box 
441 Queen St. W.

Shopping in the Queen & Spadina ‘hood? You can now stop off for quick, build-your-own Southeast Asian fare in a eco-friendly bagasse (sugarcane fiber) box.

Bodega Henriette  
1801 Gerrard St. E.

Part restaurant/part grocery store, Bodega Henriette in the Upper Beaches opened Monday.

The one-stop shop offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with cocktails, wine and craft beer, and grocery items including eggs, dairy, produce and baked goods.

Coq of the Walk 
488 College St.

Consider your prayers answered - a modern French brasserie has arrived just in time for the cold weather.

Dishes include: Boudin Noir ($14) with apple compote, lardons, and microgreens; Bavette à l’Echalotte ($22) served with caramelized shallots, and confit potatoes; and Duck Burger ($19) boasting caramelized onions, pulled duck leg, comté cheese, pickled onions, and micro greens.

Little Sito Lebanese Food
840 Bloor St. W.

"Sito" means grandmother in Arabic. Dinner items here are made using recipes from a great-grandmother’s recipes. Dig into items such as Laban with Cucumbers ($5), Fattoush Salad ($8) Eggplant Stew ($10), and Kibbeh Saneeyeh ($15).

Lunch service will hopefully begin in January.

The Oakwood Hardware Food & Drink
337 Oakwood Ave.

Chef Anne Sorrenti (formerly of Morgan’s on the Danforth) is celebrating her first week of opening with a smaller "but still delicious" menu and limited hours. Tuesday’s menu for instance, featured Korean Fried Chicken Thigh ($16) with kimchi fried rice and bok choy; Lentil Sheperd’s Pie ($16) with green salad; and Short Rib ($18) on polenta with veg.

In addition to food made with special attention on local and seasonal ingredients, there’s craft beer, cider, cocktails and "snacks for later at the bar." 

Stay tuned. I’ll have a closer look for you soon.

Safehouse Coffee 
1615 Dundas St. W.

Get your fill of Pilot coffee at the corner of Dundas and Brock.

Taco.TO
170 Spadina Ave.

What used to be Bacon Nation is now Taco.TO. Same company, different concept (for Bacon Nation lovers, you can visit their shop in Kensington).

The new menu includes three meat tacos – chicken, shredded beef, and ground beef - and three vegetarian options.

3 Brewers 
2 Liberty St.
 
Resos are available starting Monday, November 28, for the latest microbrewery to arrive in LV.

In addition to on-site crafted beers and beer cocktails, there’s everything from plats brasserie to poutines for food options.

Closed:

Oh Boy! Burger Market in Cabbagetown closed.

Also shuttered, L’Ouvrier on Dundas West, which debuted in 2011.

News:

The LCBO is launching a one day only pop-up "bar" today. Without a lick of booze.

The Epicure Shop in Cabbagetown got a fabulous renovation. Now it's spacious and open (if you shopped there before, you know how cramped for space it was).

Tired of the poke bowls and sushi burrito trend already? Say hello to sushi cones, available now at Rolltation. Think of it as your winter cone.

And lastly:

Spend the weekend getting to know Toronto's amazing breweries.

A famed pugilist was known to have lunch at this long-standing sports bar.

Find out why Porcello Cantina isn’t your typical Italian restaurant in The Reveal.

Show off your mad cooking skills this season with cooking classes at local restaurants.