OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 10-16, 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

🕒 10.5 min read

Patios! Patios! Patios! I know, everyone is extremely excited about the return of outdoor dining this weekend. Before you head out, get caught up on the regulations. And please be patient and kind with staff and remember to tip well.

Many outlets were quick to report a 2am last call time for patios this week, but according to a news release from the City today, it can be much earlier depending on where the patio is located. “When subject to no other regulations, most patios facing main streets may serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and must close by 2:45 a.m. Patios facing local side streets must close by 11 p.m., with last call for alcohol at 10:15 p.m.”

Also, keep in mind: The majority of bars, restaurants, cafés and breweries in Toronto and the GTA do not have patios, so please support these local businesses whenever possible.

As per usual, this week’s arrivals are insane – 23. In amongst them, you’ll find a few notable out of town destinations.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Trevor David’s Art of BBQ Smokehouse (2478 Kingston Rd.) in Scarborough is fairly new, but already legendary amongst barbecue enthusiasts. So how exciting to discover Art of Juicery (2466 Kingston Rd.) a few doors down. In addition to juices, smoothies and traditional Caribbean teas, find a selection of porridges, tropical fruit salads, and Caribbean snacks.

 Take your day up a notch with a creme brûlée topped bubble tea from Ba Cha at Markham’s Langham Square (8339 Kennedy Rd., Unit 1065). Doors opened May 16.

Capital B Cafe debuted at Applewood Village Shopping Centre (1077 N Service Rd., Unit 8) in Mississauga on June 4. On the menu: an array of trendy beverages (Dalgona Coffee, Fluffy Matcha Latte) and fun fare (Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with bacon).

You may know Conspiracy Pizza from its former spot on Wicksteed when it was a part of a certain barbecue resto. CP hasn’t been associated with that biz since 2019, but it’s been hard to shake, and after everything that went down, owner Dan Rios closed up shop December 2020.  The new spot launched in Leaside (858 Eglinton Ave E.) last week, not far from its original location. In addition to a selection of pies, find oven baked wings, a taco salad, stellar dips (Cilantro Sour Cream, Donair Sauce) and no charge vegan and gluten-free substitutions.

After years of operating out of other venues, The Collective’s first brick and mortar restaurant has landed at Main and Danforth. Say hello to bistro-style Easton’s (2408 Danforth Ave.), featuring local and sustainable fare. Reservations are open now, with space available starting Tuesday.

The menu at East York’s El Sazón de la Tía Flor (1549 O'Connor Dr.) is phenomenal and features a selection tacos for $1 each on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Firehouse Subs announced the grand opening of the second location in Oakville (2501 Hyde Park Gate) today.

Fresh Burrito has arrived in Oakville (2501 Third Line, Unit D3), currently offering $5 off your first order over $20.

Head to Uptown’s Fresh Fruits House (2628 Yonge St.) for fruit and veg, pantry essentials, plants and flowers.

Find HK style café Good Catch Café inside Markham’s Good Catch Boil House (179 Enterprise Blvd., Unit 109).

Ice Creamonology by chef Onur Yilmaz softly opens in Parkdale (1184 Queen St. W.) next to Chen Chen’s Hot Chicken on Saturday.

Kekou Gelato’s second location landed in North York last week at Yonge and Finch (5359 Yonge St.).

Chefs, siblings, and twins(!) Jason and Ryan Buising have worked at  top Toronto restaurants including Gusto 501, Estia, and currently can be found cooking up a storm at Enoteca Sociale on weekends. Their exciting new venture Kumain Kitchen features Filipino Canadian inspired dishes available for takeout and delivery. This week’s drool-inducing menu: Ube Pandesal, Pastel Buns, Bomboloni, Choco Crinkle Cookies, Taho and Sago Galaman.

Misty’s (490 Queen St. W.) moved into Maiz’s former digs with picnic essentials: Taiwanese popcorn chicken, hot dogs, sangria, and cocktails.

Mother Tongue (348 Adelaide St. W.) has expanded with a Blue Mountain outpost (166 Jozo Weider Blvd.) kicking off this weekend.

Palgong Tea really ramped up openings in the GTA in 2021. It continues with a spot in Richmond Hill (372 Hwy 7).

Prohibition Chef launches Sunday. The new ghost kitchen operating out of CC Lounge & Whisky Bar (45 Front St. E.) is a separate concept specializing in comfort fare – think New York and Detroit style pizza, burgers, wings, and fried chicken.

The first Demetres – est 1989 on the Danforth – featured their homemade ice cream. Since then, they’ve launched 13 locations across the GTA, and now their very own ice cream shop, Scooped By Demetres (113 Fort York Blvd.), steps away from historic Fort York.

My discoveries here are usually limited to Toronto and the GTA, but exceptions are occasionally made, especially when talented, accomplished Toronto chefs are involved, such as Jennifer Dewasha (apprenticed under Chef Joel Robuchon, was on opening team for Chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud in Toronto and Daniel Boulud Brasserie in Las Vegas, Chef de Cuisine ONE65 in San Francisco, Executive Chef Colette Grand Café) and Jane MacDonald (Regional Chef for Chase Hospitality Group, Chef de Cuisine ICONINK, Chef de Cuisine Origin). Check out their new roadside smokehouse The Smokin Birds (2229 Muskoka Road 3) in Muskoka.

Stock T.C (2388 Yonge St.), the impressive food mecca by Terroni, Cumbrae's and Sud Forno in Midtown, has had a bar in the works for a long time now. Doors/patio open Wednesday.

Sundae's Best Ice Cream debuted this week with showstoppers such as Lemon Fresh (lemon curd poppy seed, topped with blueberry compote and lemon cake crumb)  and Dulce De Leche, fnished with candied pecans, caramel sauce and churro donuts. Find them inside Wasted Youth (834 Bloor St W.).

Tokyo Hot Fried Chicken moved into Come See Me (656 College St.) in Little Italy last week.

Yonge Fresh Market (245 Eglinton Ave. E.) at the corner of Mount Pleasant and Eglinton has heaps of fresh produce and Asian groceries.

CLOSED

The Cumberland branch of Dessert Lady closed this weekend, but you can visit their other Yorkville spot tucked away near The Windsor Arms Hotel.

EVENTS

Attention crepe cake lovers: There’s a Mille Desserts x Oomomo Pop-Up happening throughout June and July, featuring exclusive desserts at their stores in Markham and North York: Rainbow Crepe Cake with Peaches & Cream Filling, Cream Puffs in a variety of flavours (Peach, Matcha, Vanilla, Coffee, Black Sesame, London Fog) and Popcorn.

NEWS

The City of Toronto’s temporary COVID-19 bylaws, set to expire yesterday, have been extended until the end of Council’s September 30 and October 1 meeting. This includes Chapter 545 - Licensing, specifically temporary amendments that require food and drink establishments to implement measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (i.e. through signage, capacity and table limits, etc.) and maintain customer logs.

The City’s “next steps” to reduce single-use and takeaway items includes a “Voluntary Measures Program.”

Industry alert: Applications are being accepted for the Ontario Restaurant & Bar Support Fund.

Looking for a job in hospitality? Now’s the time. A quick scroll through social and you’ll find a surplus of openings for both FOH and BOH.

Think Post Malone isn’t a rosé kinda guy? Think again.

ICYMI

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Two words. Boozy freezies.

Patios are back starting tomorrow. Before heading get caught up on the new rules and regulations.

Stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.   

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Life moves fast. (I wrote about +110 new arrivals in April alone.) Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Need help to spread the word about your menu, bottle shop, upcoming patio, drinks (below, for example), but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.