OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News March 25-31, 2021

My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 11.5 min read

Happy Nowruz to everyone celebrating!

Speaking of celebrations, as you can see below, there’s a lot to celebrate this week. With +25 destinations to add to your list, the only question is, Where to first?

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

Laura worked in hospitality for +20 years in FOH (front of house) - managing night clubs, restaurants, hotel outlets and event spaces - before launching Babeo's Bagels last week. Current lineup: Everything, Onion, Poppy (6/$8,12/$15).

Breakfast Club (303 King St. W.) is an all-day breakfast delivery pop-up. What more could you ask for?

Café on the Hill (916 Eglinton Ave. W.) at Bathurst and Eglinton really does have it all. The family-run coffee shop nestled in Forest Hill carries carbon neutral, fair trade, organic and recyclable items, French and Italian pastries, Nespresso coffee, Nunshen tea, bubble tea, and hand-crafted gift baskets. 

Shop a mix of pantry items, prepared foods, baked treats, and array of beverages at Plenty Market and Café (138 Danforth Ave.) by Cafe Plenty at Broadview and Danforth. It’s a six-month popup for now, but could be extended.

Radar alert: You’ve got to act fast to get in on CocoHOT’s next popup. The reward? Unforgettable halal Tamil fusion fare. Bonus: $1 from every sandwich sold is donated to FoodShare Toronto. Details to be announced soon.

Pesky bones getting in the way of your enjoyment of fried chicken? Craving Fried Chicken (369A Church St.) has a solution.

Dave's Genuine Jewish Deli (930 St. Clair Ave. W.) in Hillcrest Village offers housemade deli fare for take away; chef prepared meals, fresh meat and seafood for delivery.

The stunning new De Mello Coffee x Chocolat de Kat (824 St. Clair Ave. W.) is heeeeeere! Grand opening celebrations take place tomorrow and Saturday with free coffee and caramel bon bons.

Dolores is one of many new concepts by Chef Andrew Moore, formerly Executive Chef of Avling Kitchen and launch team at Momofuku. Named after Dolores Park in San Francisco, the delivery-only resto takes inspiration from the localized style of Mexican cuisine offered by the famed neighbourhood’s taquerias.

Flora’s Deli, Italian sando popup by Chef Jesse Mutch with partners Tommy Conrad and Ailbhe McMahon, at Mahjong Bar (1276 Dundas St. W.) is just what this week – and picnics - calls for.

Shauna Godfrey - CIA grad, former sous chef at Momofuku Kojin and cook at NYC’s two Michelin-starred Atera – runs a club you def want to be a part of. See: Godfrey’s Supper Club.

Good Burgers is built around the classic American Cheeseburger. Think: patty of ground chuck and brisket, topped with American cheese and all the fixins. You’ll also find a chicken sando, ball game cheese dog, grilled cheese, and sides.

Love natural wine? Local brews? You and Green Apple Bottle Shop (3324 Dundas St. W.) in The Junction were made for each other.

Impression 1915 (189 Dundas St. W.) offers a wide array of drool-inducing dishes. Lotus Seed Paste Bun, Shanxi Cold No-Wheat Noodles, Baked Osmanthus Bean Paste Patty, and Salty Chicken Slice with Rich Porridge, are just the beginning.

Kitchen Hub ,“Canada's first virtual food hall,” debuted in Cabbagetown (234 Parliament St.) yesterday. Choose offerings from Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen, Ben & Jerry’s, The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Daan Go Macarons, Greenhouse Juice Co., and S’More Convenience.

Meena Sharma of Meena’s Kitchen has been teaching Indian cooking at the Toronto District School Board since 2006 and private classes prior to the pandemic. Her Punjabi vegetarian fare such as Chota ($45) and Bhada ($66) Meals feed two or more and come with reheating instructions. Add-ons are also available.

Nile River Restaurant (598 College St.) in Little Italy “strives to be a pioneer in bringing rustic Mediterranean cuisine to a new level of elegance and sophistication.” Select from homestyle pita sandwiches, burgers, loaded fries, salads, and vegetarian /meat/seafood appetizers, sides and mains.

Say hello to your new shopping destination: Pepper’s Food & Drink (189 Wallace Ave.), a Korean bodega by the folks behind Hanmoto, Pinky’s Ca Phe, and Seoul Shakers. Pro tip: Be sure to load up on Umma’s while you’re there.

Renegade Chicken’s new virtual kitchens are everywhere: +20 virtual outposts across Ontario, including 11 located either downtown Toronto or surrounding areas, and a recent popup at the St. Lawrence Market (73 Front St. E.). Fun fact: The fried chicken concept uses free-run, antibiotic Canadian birds.

From the You-Need-This-In-Your-Life Dept: Chef Holger Schoorl worked in restaurants for +20 years, notably Enoteca Sociale and Bar Vendetta, so you know his handmade pasta are what dreams are made of. I’m talking Guitar String Spaghetti, Parsnip Agnolini, Stamppot Culurgiones, and Chicken Cacciatore Mezzaluna. Grab them all (and then some) at Rockwell Pasta, his new venture with wife Katie Swift.

Salad King’s long awaited second location debuted yesterday at Queen & McCaul (224 Queen St. W.).

The second outpost of Thai and Malaysian eatery thairoomgrand just landed at Avenue Road and Eglinton (288 Eglinton Ave. W.).

You’re spoiled for choice at Northern Chinese restaurant Tianjin Auntie's Steamed Bun (77 Huron St.) in the heart of Chinatown. I’ve got my eyes on Handmade jianbing with crispy filling and steamed pork buns, Chicken Feet with Pickled Peppers, and Tianjin Style Vinegar Pepper Soup.

Dat used to be a cook back in the day at JJ Mugs (winding staircase, dark wood, green carpet, riiiight?). He’s brought Chef Aron on board for his new healthy Asian noodle soup enterprise, Tong Mein in Riverside (639 Queen St. E., rear entrance behind Album Hair).

The menu at “Canada’s first organic vegan delivery-based restaurant” True Flavours (1311 Queen St. E., enter on Laing) in Leslieville includes Cabbage Rolls ($19.99), Garlic & Chive Gnocchi ($21.99), and Lentil & Vegetable Lasagna ($24.75). 

CLOSED

Better stock up. Godiva is shuttering all 128 brick-and-mortar stores in North America, including 11 in Canada on March 31.

Both locations of The Green Wood -1402 Queen St. E., 461 King St. W.- have closed, as the company focuses “on next steps of The Green Wood as a whole.”

EVENTS

To kick off the International Restaurant Popup series at Boukan, esteemed Chef Staël takes over the kitchen this weekend with mouth-watering Creole plant-based offerings.

The Cheat Day by Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken x Camp Smokehouse is a one-day-only wonder of Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich meets Smoked Beef Brisket named for Johnny L and his unbelievable culinary feats (I’m currently “in training”). They’re available for pre-order tomorrow until they sell out.   

NEWS

Ontario restaurant workers will receive priority COVID-19 vaccinations - after teachers, child care, food plant and agricultural workers.

Oliver's Steakhouse in Oakville temporarily closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Oakville News provided an update earlier this week.

Bunner’s Bake Shop’s Kensington location is temporarily closed due to an employee  testing positive for COVID-19. They hope to reopen on Tuesday.

Sanagan’s Meat Locker in Kensington had a second employee test positive for COVID-19. Owner Peter Sanagan posted a thorough breakdown of the experience including “learnings from Toronto Public Health” on the shop’s website “to help alleviate the general confusion, fear, and stress.” Via social media he said, “I think [it] may help our customers understand the Sanagan's Covid-19 best practices and policies, and may help other small businesses understand what to do if a worker becomes infected, and to prevent Covid-19 from spreading in a workplace. It is important to note that this information is our personal experience at Sanagan's, and small businesses should always contact Toronto Public Health when there is a Covid-19 case in the workplace. I truly believe that transparency and knowledge reduce anxiety at stressful times.”

Top Toronto chefs Justin Cournoyer, Adrian Forte, Jason Sheardown, and Craig Wong contributed to new zero-waste digital cookbook IKEA ScrapsBook. 

Here’s what’s gone down so far with Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shrimp Gate.

I’m not making this up. Miller Lite launched a line of candles called  Bar Smells.

What would it take for you to change your name to “Salmon”?

Are you down with eating leather?

INDUSTRY HEAD’S UP

The CEBA application period has been extended.

ICYMI 

Patios are back. Some, anyway. Stay tuned. More to come.

There are only a few weeks left to get in on Wednesday Night Special.

Chef Sam La of Mira Mira has a penchant for strong coffee, takeout from beloved Asian restaurants, and marine gastropods. Discover more in this week’s stellar At The Pass.

Inquiring minds want to know: Do grapes belong on pizza?

____ 

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 launch or just shuttered? 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.