Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News March 11-17, 2021

🕒 9 min read

This week’s 22 discoveries are largely burger joints and popups. Which is not a bad thing. However, I’m particularly elated by all the talented chefs who are breaking out and launching exciting ventures of their own. So stay tuned. There are many, many, many more to come.

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Asukal by pastry chef Caroline Marquez has one helluva sweet menu including Ube Macarons, Milk Chocolate Pecan Butter Tarts, and are you ready for it? Filipino Sio-Baos.  

Black Sheep Burger Co. just launched five ghost kitchens across the GTA. Alongside the customary lineup of patties, poutines and chicken sandos, you’ll find sliders - an item that was everywhere in the early to mid 2000s, so pairs well with your crop tops, baby tees, and flared jeans.

Chef Miriam Echeverria’s stellar new popup Cheffing launched earlier this week with a ‘Flavours of Mexico’ prix fixe menu ($35pp – min order of two) featuring Appetizer Trio, Pescado a la Veracruzana (Sea Bass with tomato, banana pepper and olive sauce, served with white rice) and Tres Leches Cake for dessert. Pro tip: Be sure to nab pantry essential Birria Paste ($15) before it sells out.

Distinguishing itself from the mass of recent chicken arrivals, The Chicken Cartel popup (25 Planchet Rd., Unit 6) in Vaughan shakes things up with poultry doused with international flavours - Tikka Chika ($12), El Jefe ($12), Thai green curry pie Chicksplosion ($12), and Smoking Barrel ($12) boasting roll of jerk chicken, grilled pineapple, creamy slaw, pepper sauce, scallion mayo, plantain and roti.

Chung Chun Rice Dogs launches tomorrow in Scarborough (3250 Midland Ave., Unit G112). To celebrate, their Korean-style franks will be available for $2.99 across select locations.

North York is the latest recipient of Fresh Burger (3355 Steeles Ave. E., Unit C-4), a GTA chain specializing in 100 per cent Canadian Angus beef burgers. 

Eva’s Original Chimneys in Toronto (454 Bloor St. W.) and Port Credit (53 Lakeshore Rd. E.) has been home to a number of popups recently. Guerrilla Burger’s vegan menu - Beyond Meat burgers, salads, mac and ‘cheeze’, and chili – is available for a limited time.

Chef Onur Yilma spent time in kitchens as far flung as Antalya, Turkey, and just south of the border in Leland, Michigan before cooking up a storm at Toronto’s own Four Seasons, Cafe Boulud and Cactus Club. For the last three years, he’s focused on making his dream a reality: Ice Creamonology (390 Queens Quay W., Unit 106A). Current flavours include Turkish Coffee, Pistachio, Almond & Caramel, and White Chocolate & Blueberry Cheesecake. 

Dreaming of Mexico? Since a trip is out of the question, taco and ceviche popup La Perla Cevicheria by Milagro on Mercer (5 Mercer St.) in the Entertainment District is the next best thing.

Lonzo’s Kitchen (80 Nashdene Rd.) in Scarborough open tomorrow tomorrow. What to expect: Mains of chicken, beef, and falafel served atop rice, fries or salad.

Restaurants are in Danny Joo’s veins. The veteran server (Terroni) grew up in the biz – his parents owned Korean eateries in Koreatown in Toronto and New York. Ode to his mum ‘Mama Joo,’ micro-batched MaMa Joo’s Hot Sauce has been in the works for awhile: “I’ve always toyed with fun hot sauces and my friends and family loved them.” Created using original recipes as well as ones passed down, the current lineup includes next-level hot sauces (Burning Berries, Charlie Sauce Hot Mustard, O.G., Manic Mango, Piss Hot Pineapple) and hot relish (Sizzling Cilantro, Raging Relish).

Hot tip: Do not sleep on Mamaliga Romanian Kitchen by talented chef Haan Palcu-Chang. Stock up on items including Sarmale ($20) - three cabbage rolls served with sour cream and mamaliga (polenta), Salata De Ardei Copți Cu Castraveți/Roasted Pepper & Cucumber Salad ($6), and Papanași ($11) - Romanian cheese donut with homemade Ontario sour cherry compote and organic sour cream. Pick up at the side entrance of Sam James Coffee (141 Ossington Ave.).

M&CO. Burgers set up shop in Mississauga (812 Britannia Rd., Unit 101), the third outpost for the 100 per cent Halal brand.

Doors opened January 8 for Naeb Restaurant (10165 Yonge St.) in Richmond Hill. Choose from an enticing array of Persian kebabs, stews and platters.

Narenj (131 Kerr St.) in Oakville has softly opened, with a grand opening to follow next week. On the menu: a host of housemade pastries including éclairs in Saffron White Chocolate or Pistachio and Date Jam. 

Korean bubble tea chain Palgong Tea has popped up at North York General Hospital (4001 Leslie St.).

Macarons are a delight on their own. Rois Cream Bake Shop (382 Keele St.) cream-filled macarons - Red Bean Butter (red bean cream, gourmet butter) Black Sesame Latte (Black sesame cream, coffee cream) Lotus Caramel (Lotus crumble and cookie, caramel cream) and Cheese Burger (cheddar cheese cream, Ritz, cream cheese) – are worth saving room for.

The first brick-and-mortar Runner Market moved into what was back in the day Playa Cabana’s Cocina Economica (141 Berkeley St.) with an assortment of items, including fresh coffee and items from local restaurants.

CLOSED

Chocolat De Kat may have closed up shop (881 St. Clair Ave. W.), but more is on the horizon.

Ditto for their roomie Lion Coffee (881 St. Clair Ave. W.).

Leslieville’s Yard Sale Bar (1062 Gerrard St. E.) has come to an end, but a new project is in the works. Stay tuned.

EVENTS

An exhilarating new concert series featuring local artists + top Toronto restaurants is underway.

NEWS

OPSEU wasn’t having it with 7-Eleven before. Now they’ve taken action.

Restaurant and food service workers want to be on Ontario's Phase 2 Vaccination List.

The Ontario Restaurant and Bar Support Fund has a Grant Program available for select hospitality businesses who qualify.

What won’t Nathen Mazri do? First Garfield, now Scooby Doo.

Hank Daddy’s Barbecue in Vaughan nabbed second place for their Nashville Hot Sauce at the National Barbecue & Grilling Association (NBBQA) Awards of Excellence. And they have Cheerwine! #ifyouknowyouknow

There’s a certain brunch box going viral on TikTok. Pfft. I was onto it last summer. #beintheknow

ICYMI

Michael Lam, chef de cuisine of Ascari King St, just launched Good Behaviour Ice Cream with Eric Chow. Discover his biggest influences, favourite spots around town, hidden talent + much more in this week’s At The Pass.

Support your neighbourhood haunts and favourite spots by purchasing their merch - tees, totes + other covetable items. Shop +40 restaurants, bars, breweries, and cafes and *add to cart* now.

The ice cream arrivals above got you craving something sweet? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Ice Cream + Frozen Treats for +140 destinations across the GTA.

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