OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News April 1-7, 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

🕒 10 min read

First, if you haven’t already heard: Ontario’s going into lockdown as of Saturday, nixing patios and indoor dining for at least the next four weeks. With so much going on and crowds likely to be insane this weekend due to closures and the holidays, it’s the perfect time to skip big grocers and LCBO and shop your locals instead.

Life moves fast these days. And restaurants are opening at light speed – I should know. I wrote about +100 new destinations last month alone. (covering more than any outlet in the city.) You’d better get caught up.

Like most weeks lately, I’ve uncovered more launches than time permits, so get ready. Next week’s already a doozy… In the meantime, here are 20 that I managed to squeeze in before it got dark out.

Whatever you’re celebrating this week – Holi, Passover, Easter – I hope it’s a happy one.

And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. 

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Barbara and Elena cooked back home in Sicily, so launching Arancini Lovers last week to promote their “Sicilian culinary specialty,” was a natural next step. Their handmade rice balls are currently available in six varieties (two vegetarian) in North York for pick up.

Chefs Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajard head up Birria Balam (109 Spadina Ave., Unit 147) - a likely-to-break-the-internet popup restaurant with Matty Matheson, focusing mainly on Birria estilo Tijuana, but will also include many traditional dishes found in fondas (small, family-run eateries) in Mexico. Doors open this weekend, but pre-order asap.

New Greek café Boujee Pie is nestled inside Tzatziki Restaurant (873 Pape Ave.), but their takeout window makes it easy to grab Hellenic treats (baked-from-scratch spanakopita, ham & cheese pie, meat pie, desserts, drinks) without having to step indoors.

Buddy's Noodle Bar (3175 Rutherford Rd.) is a delivery-only, build-your-own-noodle bowl concept in Vaughan. Choose flat or round egg noodles, spice level, protein, toppings, and sauce (Sesame Paste, Peanut Butter, Japanese Wafu, Original).

After two years of popups and moving around, Chen Chen's Nashville Hot Chicken has finally settled into a permanent spot. Find them in Parkdale (1184 Queen St. W.) where Convenience Resto Bar once stood. Note: entrance is through the patio on the corner of Queen and Northcote.

The Carbon Bar’s new ghost kitchen, Concept Burger (99 Queen St E.) boasts 11 burgers and two desserts, with a branch at Kitchen Hub (935 The Queensway) in Etobicoke.

Popular plant-based chain Copper Branch has touched down in the Canary District (470 Front St. E.).

Newsletter subscribers got the scoop earlier this week that Craig’s Cookies fourth location (and second during the pandemic) kicks off tomorrow in Leslieville (908 Queen St. E.). Of particular note: Cadbury Crème Egg Cookies - a whole Cadbury Crème Egg enveloped in a Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie! Available for a limited time and likely to sell out in no time.

The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles debuted their fourth outpost today at Battleford Centre (6475 Erin Mills Pkwy) in Mississauga.

North York’s Food Fuse Taco & More (4750 Yonge St., Unit 140) offers a bit of everything: fusion tacos (Bulgogi, Banh Mi), beer battered fish and chips, friend chicken sandwich, and vegan selections including salads with fruit-forward vinaigrettes and housemade granola.

Amanda Huang’s latest project, Fresca Dining by Earth Made Kitchen is a popup restaurant with “Dinner-To-Go” 3-course restaurant-style meal kits made with local products (Couples $70, Family $140), available for pickup at Mess Hall (1386 Gerrard St. E.).

Pre-orders for premium Japanese style bread from Iki Shokupan By J. opened up yesterday. The online bakery in Markham specializes in the iconic soft milk bread made with only natural ingredients and without preservatives.

k.Market by Chef Ken Yau of k.Dinners and k.Dumps launched today. The online Asian marketplace offers an array of prepared foods and pantry items.

Boba lovers, rejoice. You’ve got another spot to get your fix: Kung Fu Tea (4 Greystone Walk Dr.) in Scarborough.

Munay (881 St. Clair Ave. W.) opened Tuesday. Pro tip: Stock up on as many of Tania Di Blasi’s salteñas as you can carry/will fit in the fridge. Her Bolivian hand-held pastries stuffed with beef, chicken, or mushroom (vegan) will be the highlight of your week.

You heard it here first. Add Nicky P’s Pizza Palace to your to-do list right now. Nick Phillips isn’t a chef. In fact, he’s a licensed electrician that owns and operates a general contracting company. But like many, he loves pizza, so he figured he should learn how to make it. “One little thing lead to an obsession, and now I find myself on the never-ending pursuit of the perfect pizza.” This lead to him making/selling naturally leavened Neapolitan-style pizza out of his backyard in the east end. His next menu (pick up only) drops next week.

Owl of Minerva’s second satellite in Mississauga (3024 Hurontario St.) is holding a grand opening event this weekend: Pork Bone Soup $5.99 and all menu items 20 per cent off , Friday to Sunday.

Canadian delivery-only chain Pie Eyed Pizza (1 Adelaide St. E.) boldly claims to be “the best damn pizza delivery.” Options include ten pies, with two Detroit-style selections.

Street Eats Market’s second location kicks off in Scarborough (520 Progress Ave.) Saturday.

The Wing Shop has taken over Schnitzel Queen’s old digs (211 Queen St. E.). Despite the name, wings aren’t the only thing on the menu. Find wraps, ribs, burgers, quesadillas, and fusion sides including Deep-Fried Cheese Curds, Cajun Perogies, and Smoked Bacon Cheeseburger Poutine.

CLOSED

Cafe Plenty at King and Yonge (1 King St. W.) has shuttered after seven years. Other venues remain, including a recent popup.

Chen Chen's Nashville Hot Chicken has moved on from their Harbourfront space (390 Queens Quay West, Unit 106A).

After seven years, The Citizen (522 King St. W.) is switching things up. Stay tuned.

Kinka Family (JaBistro, Kinka Izayaka, Kinton Ramen, Kintori Yakitori, Neo Coffee Bar) launched four virtual kitchens last fall. One of those concepts, JapaSando & Co., was “retired” at the end of the year.

Yesterday was the last day for three Mean Bao locations: Annex Food Hall, Queen & Broadview, and Village by the Grange. Don’t panic. Three more are on the way. In the meantime, you can visit their Queen & Bathurst venue, popup at Radical Road Brewing, and in May their spot at Bay Adelaide Centre.

EVENTS

The Mississauga Food Bank’s Spring Contactless Drive-Thru Food Drive is Saturday, 10am to 2pm.

NEWS

Kareema Beckles’ restaurant, Chef Kareema, was broken into over the weekend. Twice.

Last week I told you about the outbreak at Oliver's Steakhouse in Oakville. There’s another update.

ICYMI

Wesley Altuna is so damn inspiring. He shares his “magic” ingredients, favourite restaurants, sage advice + more in this week’s At The Pass.

Celebrating Easter this weekend? Or just in need a lot of chocolate to get through all *this*? Support small businesses and buy chocolate from local producers + purveyors. Bonus: Many of the 40 Toronto/GTA chocolatiers deliver.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

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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, but don’t want to spend a ton? Get in touch. 

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