Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News January 21-27, 2021

🕒 9 min read

Trying to track down new restaurants while ordered to stay home is one of the many unique challenges of lockdown (others include months of temporary closures and papered up windows).  

So unearthing a whopping 26(!) this week feels like a serious win. One which I’m celebrating with copious takeout from both old and new establishments. How ‘bout you?

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Preordering for the inaugural The Bajan Kitchen Popup happening next weekend starts now. Sink your teeth into Black Pudding & Souse ($22), Bajan Curry Chicken & Potato Roti ($13), and The Speightstown Special ($25) boasting Bajan stew beef, macaroni pie, rice and peas, four fish cakes and small side salad. Curbside pickup is available in Scarborough and Mississauga. 

Beignet Shoppe at the Street Eats Market (9350 Yonge St.) in Richmond Hill whips up the eponymous fried dessert, but also covers all your lockdown cravings in a single item with the New Orleans Chick ($11.30): fried chicken tossed in Hot Cheetos sandwiched between two beignets. Just undo your pants now.

I informed you of The Bullger touching down on the Danforth last fall. Since then, it’s garnered quite the following. So the arrival at Queen and Parliament (348 Queen St. E.) should excite fans.

Doughnuts on weekends is basically a given these days. But COPS Cop Up at Baddies Café
 (679 Landsdowne Ave.) has the right idea - downing them Friday, Saturday and Sunday night is where it’s at. 

Destined to be one of the biggest debuts of the year, Crosley's (214 Ossington Ave.) launches tomorrow. Mark your calendar (if you’re still doing that) and Get. On. It.

Chef Noel Cunningham’s new Caribbean-fusion spot, Cuisine by Noel (300 College St.) at College & Spadina features sumptuous dishes made for days like these such as Braised Oxtail ($14), Curried Goat Pasta ($18), and Island Fried Chicken & Waffles ($16). 

Hop tip: Hot Black Coffee’s midtown branch (1993 Yonge St.) is home to an exclusive DaiLo popup every Thursday to Sunday (5:30pm-9:30pm), currently featuring four noodle dishes (one vegan) and Chef Nick Liu’s Hand Pulled Spicy Lamb Noodles.

The Dapper Doughnut out of the U.S. was set to make a splash in Mississauga last year, but then all of this. While you wait, check out the Thornhill satellite (8020 Bathurst St.).

In the mood for sushi? Maki and sashimi are no-brainers. Flame Sushi (204 Queen St. W.) takes it up a notch with selections including Wasabi Octopus Taco ($5.49) with premium seaweed, Scallop Carpaccio ($11.49), and Butterfish Oshi ($12.99). 

Forest Café (56 Forest Manor Rd., Unit 5) at Sheppard and Don Mills entered the scene a few months ago. Snacks, both savoury and sweet (Cinnamon Cake $3.55, Custard Cream Soboro $4.45, Kimchi Croquette $4.45, Garlic Sausage $4.95) and drinks (Lotus Biscoff Frappe! $5.95) are particularly noteworthy.

The Hummussiah softly launched at Supermarket (268 Augusta Ave.) in Kensington Market a few weeks ago. It’s the second chickpea-centric eatery to land in the area in a matter of months: Abu Hummus arrived in July. 

Pizza and wings are the focus at Hungry Jacks (820 St Clair Ave. W.), replacing Stazione Centrale in Hillcrest Village.

Kung Fu Tea has been an Open/Closed frequent flyer for the last few years, so an early 2021appearance is not surprising. Their latest venue: Yonge & Wellesley (584 Yonge St.), where renowned Eliot’s Bookshop stood for +20 years. 

Don’t sleep on the Kusinera Popup by Keanu Francisco happening this Sunday and Monday.

Toronto Korean tea shop Merchant of Seoul debuts tomorrow. 

Fried chicken is everywhere right now – including Queen and Dovercourt, thanks to PG Clucks (1112 Queen St. W.). 

Give a warm welcome to Kensington Market’s newest occupant:  Pizzeria da Mario (253 Augusta Ave.). Doors opened December 20.

In the Yonge & Dundas area? Check out Rahmi Shawarma N' Kebab  (132 Dundas St. E.), just east of Church.

Rico Burrito doesn’t mess around. The new takeout/delivery only burrito and taco concept just launched four locations - Woodbridge, Mississauga, Yonge & Eglinton, and Leslie & York Mills.

Turkish eatery Sehzade Kebab House (78 Wellesley St. E.) settled in the Village a few months ago. On the menu: kebab, doner, and pide.

Shawarma 6ix recently secured a spot eastside at Queen and Parliament (179 Parliament St.).

I would have told you about Sherm’s Bagels a few weeks back, but they keep selling out. (I am not here to disappoint, only celebrate and encourage.) So listen up and act fast: They’re taking orders again on Monday February 1.  

Sohmers Pizza is another buzzy spot amongst the fooderati that can’t keep up with orders. Currently there are three selections - Cheese, Pepperoni, Half Pep/Half Cheese ($30 ea.). – available for pickup on Saturdays.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS 

The Fry near Wellesley moved down the street from 544 Yonge St. to 528 Yonge St.

CLOSED 

Bacon Nation (249 Augusta Ave.) in Kensington Market called it quits.

Chamsine (132 Dundas St. E.) at Church and Dundas has already been replaced.

NEWS

Chef Scott Savoie of Toronto Food Tours, a familiar face to many in the industry as well as those who took his tours, has passed away.

The CaféTO program is getting a lot of attention due to a recent press release by the City outlining how it will help restaurants: “The first approved CaféTO curb lane closure locations for 2021 could be in installed as early as May – almost two months earlier than last year.” What would actually help: allowing patios throughout the fall and winter (see: NYC) and as soon as the warmer weather hits (April, not May. Canucks have no problem sitting outside in a parka, as long as there’s good food and drinks within reach). 

How To Eat With One Hand by Christine Flynn - iQ Food Co.’s partner and executive chef - drops April 13, but is currently available for preorder.

ICYMI 

Sick of grocery shopping? Miss restaurant food? Discover how to supplement your supermarket purchases with standout fare from local restaurants without breaking the bank. 

Kevin Le of The Little Jerry has worked at some of the top restaurants in Toronto and Copenhagen. Discover his biggest influences, favourite bars, latest cookbook purchase + much more in this week’s At The Pass.

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