Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 23-29, 2020

🕒 6 min read

Looking for new ways to tantalize your tastebuds? This week’s +10 arrivals have got you covered, from classic French fare and old school Italian to healthy plant-based bowls and Japanese tapas.

And there’s some colossal closures.

What a week.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Zero waste grocery store bare market (1480 Danforth Ave.) has softly opened, with an official opening on February 1st.

Gamberoni (3249 Yonge St.) launches across the street from its fixed address for over thirty years on Monday. At the helm are original owners, brothers Mike and Nicola Colombaro, with new additions: Nicola’s sons Giancarlo and Alessandro (of now closed Pisco Restaurant). More info below.

Holy Cow Steakhouse (254 Queen St. W.) is the latest concept to move into the Queen and John spot, with pick-your-own steaks and Japanese tapas.

Look for Imanishi Basement Bar by Imanishi Japanese Kitchen (193 Carlton St., B1)  below Zakkushi on Carlton in Cabbagetown.

I told you ghost kitchens and virtual restaurants were on the rise. Say hello to Kitchen Hub (935 The Queensway), a “virtual food hall” (read: a bunch of restaurants you can order from from one site and/or platform) featuring Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, The Carbon Bar, Blondies Pizza, Kanga Aussie Meat Pies, Greenhouse Juice Co., and The Cheesecake Factory Bakery. There’s also a selection of snacks, ice cream and pop available.

The sixth Kung Fu Tea (287 College Street) has arrived. Stay tuned: the authentic Taiwanese bubble tea and fruit tea has three more locations planned for the GTA.

The Yonge-Eg ‘hood just got a new meatless and wheatless destination. The eighth Ontario outpost Kupfert and Kim (2313 Yonge St.) debuted earlier this week.

While Chantecler remains closed for renovations due to a fire in November, head to Le Phénix (1263 Queen St. W.) for fab food [i.e. French Onion Soup ($8/$14), Winter Salad ($12), Poached Halibut ($24/$40) and Duck (half $35/whole $66)] and drinks. The temporary eatery by Chantecler’s Jacob Wharton-Shukster is set to stick around until August.

Saving Mondays (1655 Dupont St, Unit 100) is all about cookies and coffee. What’s not to love?

Speaking of coffee, sleek new Third Wave Coffee (42 Church St., Unit 2A) at King and Church specializes in specialty coffee and premium tea.

CLOSED

Leslieville’s Brooklyn Tavern last day is Saturday.

3238 Yonge St. was Gamberoni’s home for 33 years until Saturday. The owners had to move (luckily just across the street –  see above) due to a 50 per cent increase in rent.

Kensington Market mainstay Hibiscus Café (238 Augusta Ave.) shuttered on Friday.

Cabbagetown’s Kanpai Snack Bar (252 Carlton St.) was shut down after failing an inspection on December 19, 2019. Now there’s a Notice of Distress posted on the front door due to “rent arrears.”

While Neruda Restaurant (1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E.) appears to be still up and running online (their website still touts “Toronto's Best Steak & Seafood”), the palatial building does not. For weeks now - they purported to be open for New Year's Eve celebrations, but left people stranded outside in the cold.

EVENTS

The International Vegan Film Festival World Tour kicks off tomorrow at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.

Reservations are now being accepted for this year’s Winterlicious, taking place Friday, January 31st to Thursday February 13th.

NEWS

Robin Goodfellow (Bar Raval, Pretty Ugly Bar, Paradise on Bloor, Little Bones Beverage) and Amanda Bradley (Alo) are opening Vela in May, with food by Chef Jeffrey Lapointe (Soho House, Piano Piano, Splendido).

Pay-it-forward at Sultan Shawarma (2558 Danforth Ave.).

Castro’s Lounge (2116E Queen St. E.) in the Beach has seen some drama in the last few days regarding their liquor licence.

Uh, Coca-Cola's single use plastic bottles may be here to stay.

If you think the number of meat recalls has dramatically increased lately, you’re right.

ICYMI

A number of Toronto restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries + cafes are helping to raise money for those affected by the devastating Australian wildfires. Check out the amazing new events happening around town.

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