Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News October 8-14, 2020

🕒 9.5 min read

Pizza and sushi - both solid comfort foods for times like these - dominate this week’s 19 arrivals. 

Speaking of comfort food, as we head into Thanksgiving weekend, please do whatever you can to support restaurants, bars, and other food and drink businesses now and in the coming weeks. With recent legislation - and more to come - they are facing a devastating time and uncertain future.

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m missing precedented times.

Here’s the very latest: 

OPEN

Cake ATM Carlo’s Bakery Express has arrived at Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.). 

Back in the spring of ‘18, I told you about a new popup in Kensington focusing on pupusas and quesadillas. Visit Casamiento (787 Dupont St.) at their new digs at Dupont and Ossington.

CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice (2520 Eglinton Ave. W.) just added to its 4K stores worldwide with an outpost in Mississauga. Doors opened earlier this week.

Collective Arts Brewing (777 Dundas St. W.) nabbed the corner spot at Dundas and Markham, formerly The Six Brewhouse. The Trinity-Bellwoods brewery, taproom, kitchen and store debuted their retail portion yesterday, with beer, cider, gin and cocktails to go.

Consider yourself an insider now. Marked Restaurant comes with an added bonus: Corsair Bar.

Even though the website says the Unionville location is “coming soon,” it turns out Dagu Rice Noodle (8362 Kennedy Rd., Unit A05) opened in August.

Happy Eats (1316 Queen St. W.) from the folks behind Station Social House (866 Bloor St. W.) took over where Jerome Robinson’s The Heartbreak Chef was in Parkdale. Robinson is known for his chicken sandos (check out his new place in Trinity-Bellwoods). When Happy Eats also starting serving a fried chicken sando, there was considerable blowback. So much so, they had to address it on social.

For those still mourning the loss of Vesuvio’s, let me introduce you to Juniors (2243 Dundas St. W.) - owned and operated by Shane Lemieux, Jimy Chalmers, and Nestor Slobodovskyy, who all worked at Vesuvio’s since they were teenagers. The iconic New York-style pizzeria was “where we learned everything,” Lemieux told me. “[We’re] trying to carry on the legacy the best we can.” You’re crying.

Your new destination for caffeine and libations in Parkdale was worth the wait. Stephen Schweighardt’s labour of love, Larry’s Folly (1462 Queen St. W.), finally debuted Tuesday. 

Nozomi Fusion Kitchen (3415 Bathurst St.) at Lawrence and Bathurst offers an array of flavours via globally-influenced fare such as Pesto Maki ($12), Korean Chicken Sliders ($12.50), Jambalaya ($12.50), and Tori Karage ($11).

Fuelling up at Petro-Canada (9249 9th Line) in Markham? Grab some pizza 24/7 at contactless automated Pizza Forno.

Newsletter subscribers* were the first to know Pizzeria Via Mercanti (124 Danforth Ave.) moved into the colossal space that was forever Globe Bistro, despite recently shuttering two large locations in Midtown and Gerrard Indian Bazaar.

You know what would hit the spot right now? Stew Oxtail ($18.99), Boneless Curry Goat ($15.95), Jerk Chunkies (12 pcs/$11.95), or Curry Potato Roti ($7.50) from Smoke'n' Roti (3320 Keele St.) in North York.

Street Eats Market has a permanent home at Hillcrest Mall (9350 Yonge St.) in Richmond Hill. The new outdoor market will be open seven days a week starting Saturday.

Looking for an elevated dining experience - and excuse to get out of your sweats? Head to Scarborough’s Sushi Nishinokaze (2950 Kennedy Rd., Unit 4), a seven seater offering Edomae-style sushi. The menu consists of Omakase ($150): small appetizers, nigiri sushi, soup and dessert. Head’s up: At press time, they didn’t have their liquor license yet.

Sushi Umi (3621 Highway 7 E, Unit 104-105) in Markham also offers finer dining sushi via omakase (two appetizers, 12 pcs sushi, soup, handroll, tamago, dessert - $95), in a wood-lined, minimalist space. Soya sauce and vinegar are made in-house, and don’t be late - more than 15 minutes late for your reservation, and they won’t guarantee you’ll be served the full course. 

Topol Sandwich (8 Kingsdale Ave.) is celebrating their new North York location big time, with 50 per cent off on all subs until October 20.

A few weeks back, I mentioned  Zucca Trattoria left their longtime digs at 2150 Yonge St. They’re currently offering takeout and delivery out of their new space (2110 Yonge St.), which looks closed as they’ve got paper on the windows while they revamp the dining room.

8Mile Pizza (9 Charles St. W.) has replaced Ooshee Mediterranean Oven. The Detroit-style pizzeria is by the same owner and team as OMO. The menu switch up happened after Covid hit.

CHANGES

Beauty BBQ at Bayview Village (2901 Bayview Ave.) is now Beauty Eats, complete with pizza.

CLOSED

Bar Buca (101 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit 5) at Yonge and Eglinton has been temporarily closed due to COVID-19 for months, but they made the headlines this week thanks to a landlord’s notice posted on the door.

The Carlo’s Bakery Express cake ATM at College Park (444 Yonge St.) was removed on Monday.

The Elm Tree (1968 Queen St. E.) in the Beaches is done, but Limon Restaurant is in the works.

Twenty-six plus years. Today’s the last day for Wayne Gretzky's Toronto. Everything on the menu is $5 until they close tonight at 7pm. Note: While supplies last. Dine in only.

The Wickson Social (5 St Joseph St.) has shuttered, but will soon transform into an Italian-inspired eatery.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED

I launched this section last week because there’s just so much going on. This week, Lee was just one of the places that closed due to a staff member or members testing positive for COVID-19. It’s not just these last two weeks either. Prior to the recent surge in cases, Chubby’s closed last month and. Annette Food Market back in March. 

Sweaty Betty’s had a patron test positive but was assured by TPH that it was “low risk contact.”

And while I won’t be able to cover everyone shutting down their dining rooms just as a precaution, recently Chez Nous, CN Tower - home of 360 Restaurant, Pizzeria Libretto, and Viaggio have ceased indoor dining for now for the safety of both staff and public.

Dreyfus has closed just for now. Find them at Bernhardt’s later this week for Dreyfus x Bernhardt’s takeaway. 

It’s also important to note those who have reopened after deep cleans, etc.: Reyna on King is back!

EVENTS

Today until Sunday, Craig’s Cookies Popup is happening at The District Kitchen in The Food District at Square One.

The Festival of South Asia is on until Sunday.

AsialiciousTO continues until October 11.

NEWS

Booze with takeout and delivery is here to stay!

PAI Uptown (2335 Yonge St.) is opening later this year, above Rose & Crown, where 6 Degrees - and Berlin before that - used to be.

Welp. Detroit Eatery (389 Danforth Ave.) was ravaged by a fire in January 2019 and has been closed ever since. Their iconic sign has been removed.

Buh-bye single-use plastics.

I’ve been saying it for years, but now a court’s called it.

ICYMI

New temporary bylaws for restaurants and bars come into effect today.

Chef Louis Lim has an exciting new project. Find out more in this week’s At The Pass.

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