Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News July 4-10, 2019

From Aperol Spritzes and ice cream to Nashville Hot Chicken with a twist, I’ve got a dizzying 14 options for you this week for all your summertime cravings.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN 

Bar Aperol (1030 Queen St. W.) launches tonight. The Italian aperitivo pop-up bar and patio features Aperol Spritzes ($9 ea.), charcuterie curated by Cheese Boutique’s Afrim Pristine, Lavazza espressos until July 28th.

Montreal chain Bergham (formerly known as Centrale Bergham) - known for their Halal burgers, sandos, poutines and desserts –celebrates their first Toronto eatery (584 Yonge St.) with with free sandwiches at their grand opening on Saturday. 

The Cat’s Cradle (1245 St Clair Ave. W.), a neighbourhood sports bar nestled in Corso Italia, softly opened yesterday. Psst: there’s a patio out back. 

A second Cirillo’s Culinary Academy (118 The Esplanade) has settled in across from the St. Lawrence Market.

Crème Et Miel (2075 Lawrence Ave. E.) debuted in Scarborough earlier this week with coffee, cakes, pastries, and gelato.

Two words: Macarons. Ice Cream. Go get ‘em now at Dainties Macaron (235 Spadina Ave., Unit 2) and enjoy 10% off.

Fine dining Jamaican food has arrived at Yonge and Charles via The Diner's Corner (714 Yonge St.). Menu items include Festivals ($5.25), Ackee & Saltfish ($16.75), Callaloo ($14.75), Escovitched Fish ($21.50), and Oxtail ($19.25).

Elayna’s Joint (18 Dupont St.) is a “one-of-a-kind sandwich shop/café” at Ave and Dav (former home of Atlas) open for lunch and dinner. Dig into dishes such as Bao Bun Trio: pulled pork, jerk chicken, beef brisket ($15), Fire Cracker Infused Calamari ($15), and Oven Baked Chicken Wings ($16). 

PSA: Knockout Ice Cream (342 Westmoreland Ave N.) is now open. The frozen dessert spot is by Bang Bang Ice Cream’s creator Arthur Pezzelli. Flavours vary, but this past weekend included London Fog, Yuzu Sorbet, Matcha Oreo, Ube, Mango Sticky Rice, Nocciola, Milk n’ Cookies, and Sweet Cream. Soft opening hours this week: Today 1-9pm, Friday & Saturday 1-10pm, and Sunday 1-9pm. 

Stop in Le Conciliabule at eastside’s The Redwood Theatre (1300 Gerrard St. E.)  for coffee, pastries, bread, natural wine and weekend brunch.

From the “Why didn’t we think of this” department: Introducing Miss Pippa’s (1158 College St.), Toronto’s first flower shop and wine bar.

Mini golf is back! Doors opened Tuesday for Par-Tee Putt (26 Duncan St., Unit 100) with 27 themed holes (Sharks! Skee-Ball!), drinks and eats, set smack-dab in the Entertainment District.

Rain Sushi (1353 St Clair Ave. W.) offers a little bit of everything including aburi sushi, hand rolls, a range of sushi pizzas, don rice, and sushi combos. 

The unification of Nashville hot chicken and Japanese street food can be found at King and Spadina’s Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken (365 King St. W., 5th Fl.).

CLOSED

That was fast. Tsujiri Patisserie (596 Yonge St.) debuted in March, but shuttered over the weekend.

**Change of plans: Last week Relish Bar & Grill (2152 Danforth Ave.) was scheduled to close. but they’ve decided to stay put until next week. I’ll have all the deets including their new location next week.

EVENTS 

Summerlicious starts tomorrow.

Wine Fest takes over CF Shops at Don Mills this weekend. 

NEWS 

Congrats Opus Restaurant and Via Allegro Ristorante, the only Toronto restaurants to make Wine Spectator's ‘100 Grand Award Winners’ list, for their “extraordinary commitment to wine service.”

Uber Eats is testing out a “dine-in” features in select areas in the U.S. Could the “order-your-food-in-advance-of-getting-to-the-restaurant” option reach north of the border? Stay tuned.

ICYMI

Toronto’s cocktail culture is phenomenal. And it keeps getting better. But it’s so damn hard to keep up with everything. So I created the @toronto_restaurants ULTIMATE COCKTAIL GUIDE!

July’s instalment of At The Pass features the fabulous Meghan Robbins of Superpoint. Read the riveting interview RN.

FYI

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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 – writerscramp@stephaniedickison.com.