While everyone is away for summer vacation, Toronto restaurateurs have been busy. Check it out: 13 openings in mid-August. Whoa.

The only question remains, where to start?

OPENINGS

Charcoal ice cream is so basic, so get on up on the next wave – nitrogen ice cream – at CoolN2 (412 Queen St. W.).

It looks like you won’t go home hungry at Dampa Videoke and Grill (168 Eglinton Ave. E.) with Filipino-style BBQ, all-day breakfast, noodles, soups and massive platter The Rumble in the Jungle ($21.99).

Jackson’s Burger (38 Elm St.) had to relocate due to rising rents. So head on over to their new spot on Elm St. for antibiotic- and hormone-free, free-range burgers.

Two Filipino restos next to one another? You’re not dreaming. Kanto by Tito Flips (168B Eglinton Ave. E.) is right beside new Dampa Videoke and Grill. You’ll know Kanto from their Market 707 location. Now you can dig into Arroz Caldo (Filipino congee), Dinuguan (blood pudding) and Palabok (thick round cornstarch noodles in special sauce, topped with hard-boiled eggs, shrimp, crushed pork rinds, tofu and minced green onions without leaving uptown.

Kensington Market’s newest health food store Little Green Planet (28 St. Andrew St.) carries an extensive range of organic herbs, spices, seasonings, teas and other pantry essentials, in addition to vitamins and supplements.

Ramen lovers unite! Menya Fuji (3 Finch Ave. E.) has opened right near Finch station. Choose from Shio, Shoyu, Spicy Miso, Cold Soba and Maze Soba. Also available: apps, rice dishes and desserts.

Get your fill of poké bowls, sushi burritos and sushi tacos at Mi'hito Sushi Lab’s newest location (4 Edward St.) near Yonge and Dundas.

French street food has finally landed eastside at Mister Frenchy (675 Danforth Ave.). What does that encompass exactly? According to Monsieur Frenchy: French tacos and roulé, Croque Monsieurs, and salads.

One Zo Tapioca (399 Spadina Ave.) isn’t your typical bubble tea joint, thanks to items including Cactus Tapioca and Sesame Tapioca Green Latte. That, and NBA player Kyrie Irving is a fan.

Yonge and Eglinton has been busy this week. The Pan Seared Inc. (2038 Yonge St.) opened yesterday. On the menu: Veal Chop Schnitzel Style, Gnocchi alla Bolognese, Shrimps (sic) Cocktail, and “Date with Booze” selections including Fish and Chips and Classic Bruschetta.

Beloved Jamaican-Chinese hot spot Patois (794 Dundas St. W.) is back!!!! Closed 13 months after a fire next door, they reopened Tuesday. I’ll have a sneak peek for you soon. In the meantime, get yourself there for Jerk Chicken Chow Mein ($19), OG Fried Chicken and Watermelon Pickle (half $13, whole $19), and the Whole Shebang ($114.95).

Eastside should be called Beerside now that so many breweries and tasting rooms have landed. The latest arrival is Saulter Street Brewery (1-31 Saulter St.), complete with tasting room featuring Riverside Pilsner.

Authentic Syrian food will be available at Soufi’s (676 Queen St. W.) starting tomorrow at 8 am. Stay tuned.

CLOSINGS

Bareburger (111 Dundas St. W.) is all papered up.

NEWS

Congrats to all the Toronto restaurants nominated for Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2017 by Air Canada enRoute:  Brothers Food & Wine, Canis, Grey Gardens, Jackpot Chicken Rice, La Banane, Lake Inez, and Montgomery’s. Winners will be announced in October.

Kudos to Toronto’s own Eamon Clark (1st place) and David Burns, (3rd place), winners of The Canadian Oyster Shucking Championship.

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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Let me know.

https://www.yellowpages.ca/articles/openclosed-week-of-august-10-16-2017