Open/Closed: Toronto Restaurant News March 18-24, 2021
🕒 10 min read
Are you still reeling from daylight savings? Or did you go all out for St. Paddy’s? I’ve got just the thing to make you feel better. Make that things.
Whether you’re in the mood to sink your teeth into unctuous comfort food or phenomenal finer fare, this week’s 22 arrivals offer something for everyone - and every palate. And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter.
In the meantime, here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Aunty Lucy’s Burgers launches today inside Leslieville’s The Dive Shop (1036 Gerrard St. E.) for a limited time.
It’s been a minute since the last popup by The Bajan Kitchen, so be ready Saturday for the new menu drop, dates, times and locations.
Church of Pizza (580 Church St.), Storm Crow Manor’s new delivery concept (and latest pizza enterprise with a hallowed name) comes with a signature move: Each pie is studded with a roasted head of garlic.
Add small-batch ice cream shop Creamery X (124 Jarvis St.) at Queen and Jarvis to your to-do list. Owners Bonnie and Melissa ditched their corporate gigs to start the biz, operating out of a rented commercial kitchen since fall. Good news: their new kitchen/pickup spot just landed downtown. Current flavours include, brown butter coffee, butterscotch custard infused with rosemary, and goat cheese with a hint of lemon and layers of sweet fig jam.
The GSpot’s provocative name might pique your interest, but it doesn’t indicate the type of food served. Too bad, because the halal certified spot at World Food Market (335 Yonge St.) boasts the food equivalent of a mic drop: Jerk Chicken, Shrimp & Lobster Bowl set atop a halved pineapple with pineapple fried rice. Grand opening took place January 15.
Gonzo Izakaya (940 College St.) moved into Faim de Loup’s former digs earlier this week with a selection of appetizers, donburi, teppanyaki, and udon.
Acclaimed chef Alyssa Figueira (Toronto’s Auberge du Pommier, Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, Amass in Copenhagen) and Owen Walker (bartender and co-owner of El Rey and Quetzal) just launched Guud Funk, a small batch fermentation company focusing on environmental consciousness and Canadian ingredients. The process that goes into each product is phenomenal (the work that goes into the Hot Sauce alone). And how have we gone this long without Carrot Vinegar in our lives? There are more products on the way. In the meantime, check out the fab pop up with sara Restaurant, available for pre-order Friday and Saturday.
Etobicoke’s Hotties Smashburgers (2324 Lakeshore Blvd. W., Unit 1) menu - smash burgers, hot dogs, cheese fries – pairs well with your current mood/wardrobe choices.
Pre-orders are finally open for Mama Akua’s Ghanaian Food (1566 Queen St. W.) latest popup: Fufu with Chicken Light Soup ($15), Jollof ($10), Red Red ($10), Spinach Stew with Yam ($15), and Bofrot/Beignets ($2/2 pcs). Pro tip: Avoid fomo and order the whole shebang.
Munchies second venue just dropped at Yonge and Dundas (World Food Market - 335 Yonge St.), and while the square footage may be small, their delivery menu is mighty. Burgers, tacos, pizza, and wings are always welcome, but zero in and you’ll find treasures of Lemon Pepper Wings, Mutton Poutine, and Brown Man Patty (coco bread, spicy mayonnaise, Jamaican patty, shredded butter chicken, topped with house coleslaw, and mango salsa, served with fries and pop), and Deep Fried McCain Cake.
The extensive menu at Mississauga’s Parathas n Rolls (2903 Derry Rd. E.) includes appetizers, kathi rolls, curries, and a whopping 24 parathas (18 vegetarian, 5 meat/poultry).
The sign at Pho Co Duong (854 Sheppard Ave. W.) near Dufferin reads, “The most famous Vietnamese beef noodle soup.” Enjoy 15 per cent off until April 3 during grand opening celebrations.
Parkdale’s speakeasy The Standard (1316 Queen St. W.) pulls back the curtain with not-so-secret pizzeria Prohibition Pie. Choose from eight pies including spinach leek pesto swathed Tommy Two-Shrooms, Dillinger Deluxe, vegetarian The Goat Father (Part 2), and uh, Sausage Fest.
Radar alert: Quito by Chef Diego Reyes (Noma, El Celler de Can Roca) is popping up Saturday at Viaggio (1727 Dundas St. W.) with an luscious Ecuadorian feast for pre-order. Prix Fixe For Two $100.
You don’t have to choose between sweet or savoury at Sharman's Proper Pies (160 Baldwin St.). The second shop debuted in Kensington Market March 6.
ISO a jolt of java? Head to Simple Coffee (1636B Queen St. E.) at Queen and Coxwell.
The extensive menu at Trattoria Di Parma (785 Danforth Ave.) ranges from comfort food (pizza, baked pastas) to elevated fare (Mushroom Carpaccio, Veal Marsala).
Upper East Food Club (5317 Yonge St.) in North York is switching things up again. Say hello to new additions The Good Goods, Patco Cafe and Torched Pressed Sushi.
You heard it here first: Chef Jon Klip’s new venture is the at home fine dining experience you’ve been waiting for. The CIA grad launched Toronto Bento this month after a trial run in November, followed by a New Year’s collab with Sakai Bar. Orders are taken a day in advance. Pickup only (Dundas/Ossington).
If you’re not snapping pics of fluffy eggs tucked in-between house baked milk bread for your feed, are you even alive? Wonder Egg (4893 Yonge St., 2nd Fl, above Kung Fu Tea) boosts their sandos with avocado, sweet shrimp, tuna, or bulgogi, finished with ubiquitous mayo drizzle.
CLOSED
Gone but not forgotten. I reminisce often about the stellar meal I had Summer ‘19 at Chef Jeff Yap’s Faim de Loup (940 College St.).
Tala’s last day at their current location (294 Dundas St. W.) is Monday. Stay tuned. I’ll have where they land next soon.
Torched Pressed Sushi’s eatery at 6026 Yonge St. is temporarily closed due to a nearby fire. They remain open at Upper East Food Club at 5317 Yonge St.
NEWS
Not on the list. Ontario restaurant workers will not get the COVID-19 vaccine in Phase 2.
Peel Region wants two changes made to the Red Zone Policy For Restaurants, ones that will benefit Toronto businesses, if approved.
Earlier this week, Peter Sanagan, owner of Sanagan's Meat Locker, shared that an employee tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kensington Market location. That same day, he shared an update and comprehensive breakdown of the situation.
Multiple employees at Pusateri’s Avenue Road store tested positive for COVID-19. A “detailed update” was emailed to newsletter subscribers.
Chef Jason Bangerter of Langdon Hall is a finalist for this year’s 100 Best Chef Awards.
Chef Noel Cunningham won The Black Foodie Battle last week with his rich Guinness-Braised Oxtail with Pan-Fried Spinners.
Toronto chef Luke Donato is the subject of new documentary, Until Further Notice.
In celebrity news: Jason Momoa stopped by Pai, Gwyneth Paltrow opened a Goop ghost kitchen in LA, and to “celebrate the final season of ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians,’” Joey Restaurants decided to “curate the ultimate Kardashian-inspired menu.”
ICYMI
Chef Marc-Elie Lissade, co-owner of French Creole restaurant Boukan and CEO of Black Apron Events, has an affinity for a timeless cocktail, is a whiz at a certain game, and shares wise words for all. Discover more in this week’s At The Pass.
Discover why free livestream concert series Wednesday Night Special is such an important event.
With so many ice cream arrivals lately, it’s hard to keep track of them all. I can help with that.
Industry Reminder: The first registration window will be closing soon, so get your applications in for this year’s CaféTO patio program.
____
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the Open/Closed.
Things change quickly these days. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook 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? Need help to spread the word about your business without spending a whack of dough? Get in touch.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
Reach foodies directly. Advertise in the next newsletter or Open/Closed. Space is limited.