Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News November 29 – December 5, 2018
As November draws to a close, the rush to open before Christmas continues, with 15 openings this week.
Projected forecast: Expect a flurry of launches by year’s end.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Chi Chop is ready to serve you at their “softly” opened fourth location (2352 Yonge St.). On the menu: Taiwanese-inspired fried chicken and seafood.
Cinnaholic celebrates the grand opening of their Danforth location (319 Danforth Ave.) tomorrow with $1 cinnamon rolls from 10am-2pm (Limit one $1 bun per customer).
East Danforth folks, listen up - Cumin Kitchen, a traditional Indian restaurant has landed right in between Coxwell and Woodbine. (1820 Danforth Ave.) with fresh, made from scratch fare and sleek, colourful interior.
Decourses Café in Etobicoke (3232 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) does more than just coffee: expect bubble tea, fresh croissants, and dishes including Avo Maria (avocado, baked sweet potatoes, poached egg, pomegranate, drizzle of honey), to start.
Leave the cooking to Fleets Food (369 Church St.) from now on. The new eatery opening Monday specializes in gourmet prepared food for “urban dwellers and workers.”
Get in on Fuwa Fuwa’s Japanese soufflé pancakes at their new digs in Midtown (2471 Yonge St.). Bonus: their second venue comes with an exclusive chocolate menu.
Lush new Garrison Creek (760A College St.) launches Saturday. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of “traditional Italian cuisine, reimagined.”
Grand Bizarre (15 Saskatchewan Road) in Exhibition Place is a whole new kinda supper club - complete with an eclectic mix of cuisines, music, performance art, and “the world’s first food currency.” Doors open Saturday.
Attention Beach dwellers: plant-based comfort food has arrived via Grasshopper Salon (2252 Queen St. E.) near the Fox Theatre.
If you love DIY, then maybe crafting your own tea excites you. If so, head to Labothéry Inc’s second downtown spot, located in the PATH (Richmond-Adelaide Centre,120 Adelaide St. W., Unit R3).
After closing their Queen East location (898 Queen St. E.) mid-August, Lady Marmalade is baaaaack. And not too far from the original locale either. The stunning new destination at Broadview and Dundas (265 Broadview Ave.) designed by renowned Canadian architect Omar Gandhiat is easy to spot: Just look for the tall striking building with the lineup out front.
Tonight’s the opening of MARBL Restaurant (455 King St. W.) and Mademoiselle Toronto - a contemporary American eatery and champagne lounge, respectively, in the former home of Fring’s.
Dig into “upscale Pakistani karahi and barbeque” at MyKolachi (5120 DIxie Rd, Unit 4) in Mississauga.
Luxe new St. Regis Hotel Toronto (325 Bay St.) made its debut yesterday. p.s. Stay tuned for the opening date for its glam resto Louix Louis.
CLOSED
Can you remember a time before Sarah's Shawarma and Falafel (487 Bloor St. W.) was in the Annex? It was that long ago.
EVENTS
Nathan Phillips Square will be home to Holiday Fair in the Square on Saturday ‘til December 23.
Head to Parkdale this Sunday for the 2nd Annual Tennessee Tavern Pierogi Eating Contest.
George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts has two epic events this week: In Conversation with "Joe Beef" on Monday, and In Conversation with Dorie Greenspan on Wednesday. Pro tip: Go to both.
Food historian Laura Carlson is leading a fascinating - and free - tour on Wednesday. Register for Good Eats now.
Lot No. 40’s New Old Fashioned Night Market isn’t happening until next week, but register for this free event now. Because stellar Canadian whisky AND the one, the only Dave Mitton? #holidaygoals
NEWS
Bloordale’s Brock Sandwich (1260 Bloor St. W.) was gutted by a fire last March. You can help owner Dom Amaral rebuild and reopen by visiting his GoFundMe page.
Chef Marc Thuet’s new industrial bakery in Leslieville is apparently causing a raucous.
First PBR, and now Canadian breweries are in trouble.
Canstruction - a non-profit charity that creates structures out of full cans of food which is donated to local food banks - is calling for entries for the 20th Toronto edition.
Toronto chef Raquel Fox’s new cookbook Dining in Paradise is the “first Bahamian cookbook to be published in over 30 years,” and features over 150 authentic island recipes.
It’s safe to have Caesar salad again. Longo’s is bringing in romaine from Arizona, of all places.
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