Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 2-8, 2020

OpenClosed Jan 2-8, 2020 Toronto Restaurants Stephanie DIckison.jpg

🕒 7.5 min read

The new decade is off to a rocky start when it comes to dining out. With 13 arrivals and eight closures, the industry’s instability is hard to miss.

But not all is bleak. There are exciting things to come. See below, for instance.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Aurora isn’t within my usual purview for resto launches, but when it’s authentic Texas BBQ kings Adamson Barbecue (15195 Yonge St.), you make an exception.

Cafe and tea bar Deer Cha (920 Queen St. W.) is located just west of Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Forbidden City (200 Princes' Blvd.), “Toronto’s newest nightlife and entertainment venue” has landed at Exhibition Place.

2019 saw an influx of arcade bar launches. The trend continues with newcomer Freeplay (300 College St.) at College and Spadina.

Indian Spice Room (717 Queen St. E.) at Queen and Broadview (where Animal Liberation Kitchen and Pulp Kitchen used to be), calls itself the “Only authentic Indian vegetarian restaurant in Toronto.”

Stop by Regent Park’s newest arrival, Le Beau Pâtisserie (665 Dundas St. E., Unit 7) by dynamic duo Chef Olga Spivak and Julia Merkulova, for coffee and pastries (Pro tip: Start with the Calamansi -pate sable with calamansi cremeux, vanilla namelaka truffle and tarragon powder - and go from there). Breakfast and lunch items are in the works.

Sansotei Ramen softly opened Sunday Dec 22 at Union Food Court (65 Front St. W.), approximately one month after launching on Adelaide.

Last month, Schnitzel Queen (211 Queen St. E.) announced doors were closing on December 27th, while they search for a larger space. They’ve decided to stick around awhile longer, currently until January 17th.

If you didn’t satiate your sweet tooth over the holidays, Soma Chocolatemaker Factory (77 Brock Ave.) is here for you, with a new spot in the heart of Parkdale - complete with factory tours and chocolate tastings. Happy New Year, indeed.

Also new to the Parkdale ‘hood, speakeasy The Standard Bar (1316 Queen St. W.). Hint: Follow the pink flamingo…

Scarborough just got its very own empanada destination, thanks to Taste of Empanada (3601 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit ).

Yang Teashop adds a third outpost to its roster, this time in Markham (3623 Hwy 7 E., Unit 106).

Psst. Korean finer dining spot Yeon Restaurant (465 Queen St. W.) just landed at Queen and Spadina, with Sinseollo (aka Royal Hotpot) on the menu.

CLOSED

Restaurateur Ed Ho’s “Think global. Eat local.” Globe Bistro (124 Danforth Ave.) closed after service on New Year’s Eve. The Danforth staple for 13 years was one of the first farm-to-table concepts in the city. Ho also opened Rosedale’s Globe Earth in 2009 and Earth Bloor West at Jane and Bloor in 2011 (both have since closed). What’s set to replace it? Stay tuned.

“Toronto's first ever Indian snack bar,” IST Eatery (1263 Queen St. W.) - originally called IST Snack Bar - shuttered New Year’s Eve, despite opening less than a year ago in Doomie’s old spot.

Did the Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction nightmare contribute to Maybes Restaurant (188 Eglinton Ave. E.) being papered up?

After a recent move across the street and shift in focus, vegan retaurant Mythology Diner’s last night was New Year’s Eve.

Authentic New Zealand meat pie HQ, North Shore Pie Co (107 Shorncliffe Rd.) in Etobicoke, closed on Christmas.

Tequila Bookworm (512 Queen St. W.) announced it’s closing at the end of January after 27 years due to a rent hike.

Thompson Diner‘s (51 Bathurst St.) celebration on New Year’s Eve was bittersweet as it marked the last night after nine years of service. The Thompson Hotel eatery was originally known as The Counter, open 24 hours.

Yesterday, one of the city’s oldest restaurants, The Tulip Steakhouse (1606 Queen St. E.), released a statement on Facebook that they have closed. It reads in part, “Unfortunately, business conditions have changed regarding our lease agreement in ways we can no longer accommodate, and we have been left with no choice.” The steakhouse and family restaurant debuted on October 1, 1929.

NEWS

Bold move. A B.C. restaurant reportedly turned away the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

In other celebrity news, TMZ posted a video of singer/songwriters Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello making out at Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen.

Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse is the first Canadian restaurant to sell Scotch Beef after a 24-year ban. You can also find it at amazing European grocer + eatery Denninger’s five locations.

As of yesterday, dogs may be allowed on bar and restaurant patios.

According to City TV News, arson’s suspected in a Woodbridge restaurant fire. Though the news update doesn’t name the establishment, the address listed is the same for Motorino Vaughan, which closed yesterday for renovations.

Just prior to Christmas day, a Burlington restaurant was raided and shut down.

The bread price-fixing saga continues.

ICYMI

If you make any cookies this month, make these: Tiny, Salty, Chocolatey Cookies from Alison Roman’s bestselling cookbook, ‪Nothing Fancy. You’ll see.

It turns out you don’t need a reso at Alo Restaurant to enjoy one of their top cocktails. Get the full recipe for Robin Kaufman’s ‘Threefold’ in the Toronto Restaurants Ultimate Cocktail Guide now.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.  

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help promoting your business? Get started now.

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