OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News August 22-28, 2024
The OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of the latest restaurant openings – virtual, brick-and-mortar, pop-ups, allll the things - and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #iykyk
🕘 10.5 min read
This week I uncover staggering activity across the GTA: 35 establishments - 23 arrivals (23), half (12) in closures, some of which may come as a shock. It’s a bracing reminder that it doesn’t matter how how buzzy the location/concept, businesses are struggling like never before.
Psst. Want the inside track on what’s happening? In addition to subscribing to the TR Newsletter, keep your eyes peeled on the website (the #TRrending section is a good place to start) and follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and updates.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Aloette arrived at Queen and Spadina (163 Spadina Ave.) in 2017, then became Michelin Recommended in 2022 and 2023. The second outpost kicks off today at Table Fare & Social, CIBC Square’s food hall (81 Bay St., 4th Fl.) that opened last summer.
East York Eats (858 Eglinton Ave. E.) has seen a lot of movement lately. This just in: Tacos have landed courtesy of Balam’s second branch.
Bubble tea chain Chica Sen Chen continues its expansion across the 6ix, this time finding a home on the (once again) buzzy Ossington strip (112 Ossington Ave.).
Cong Caphe caused a sensation - and serious lineups - when it launched in the Annex (424 Bloor St. W.) last winter. Psst. A second destination just premiered near Yonge & Dundas (3 Elm St.).
Tracking the comings and goings lately at Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.) has been dizzying to say the least. Delysees has been moving around as well. Head to their snazzy new digs in the west wing for haute desserts.
Mediterranean eatery Dopamina Restaurant (832 Bay St., Unit 3), currently in soft opening, brings fine dining to Bay and College with an array of luxe eats including foie gras, waygu, côte de boeuf, and caviar tasting.
As I’ve documented, Yonge between Wellesley and College has been wildly in transition lately. Case in point: Fast food chain Edo Japan (452 Yonge St.) just touched at Yonge and College, in what was forever home to Ritz Caribbean.
Discover the first international outpost of American chain The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill at Yonge and Eg (2171 Yonge St.).
From the folks behind Kissa, Baby’s Cabaret and their spot just down the street, Paros, Jade Yorkville (137 Avenue Rd.) officially opened yesterday with French-Asian fare - TR Newsletter subscribers got dibs on the intel last year followed by a shoutout in the OPEN/CLOSED when it was simply known as 137 Avenue Road. Memory lane: The addy was most recently secret(ish) resto Figures starting back in 2017. Coco Lezzone made it home in 2014 and it was Vittorio's on Avenue for a spell before that. TR Intel: You heard it here first. Stay tuned for Rosewood Group’s next Yorkville showstopper, “80-person cozy restaurant” Better Bar.
Toronto boasts just about every cuisine type, however Jersey Shore has not been one of them. Until now. Jersey Mike's Subs lineup featuring cold subs (In heavy rotation: Provolone, ham and capocollo), and over ten cheese steaks of the hot variety, is now available at the first location in the GTA - 8600 Woodbine Ave. in Markham. That’s not all: 300 are slated for the Great White North, adding to the current roster of 2905 locations worldwide.
It may be nearing the end of the season, but better late than never - especially when we’re talking about Ontario ice cream. Find Kawartha Dairy’s first Toronto location at Pape and Danforth (888 Danforth Ave.), teeming with milkshakes, cones, and tubs of the good stuff.
Krispy Kreme’s been hard at work to bring its signature doughnuts to a place near you. In the Etobicoke area? Their first production site with retail shop - aka Doughnut Factory - launches Tuesday in Mimico (2458 Lake Shore Blvd. W.). Fun facts: This marks the American chain’s sixteenth location in Canada. The first one opened in Mississauga on December 11, 2001.
The saying “When one door closes, another opens” certainly applies to Migente Cocina who left the east end (see below) for the west (823 Dundas St. W.). Luckily, they brought their patacones, empanadas, and other Colombian, Ecuadorian, Mexican, and Latin fusion essentials.
Grand opening for Miss Ivy at Queen and Portland (502 Queen St. W.) is tonight. What to expect? Asian-inspired fare and “elevated cocktails.”
Introducing the latest addition to the Beaches nabe: Montreal’s No. 900 Neapolitan Pizzeria (1987 Queen St. E.). Doors open tomorrow.
Perla Oyster Bar & Grill picked up and moved to Woodbridge (3580 Major Mackenzie Dr. W.) where they’ve got a whack more space - Dining for 100, 15 ft oyster bar, and 4000-bottle wine cellar, for starters.
I told you it was coming back. Randy’s Patties returns tomorrow. Pro tip: With guaranteed lineups this next while, go early if possible.
Sushi Momo, Montreal’s famed plant-based sushi resto by chef Christian Ventura, opened yesterday (1122 Queen St. W.) with Omakase Tasting Menu (4 courses/$65) and à la carte options. Did you know? The space has vegan roots as it was sibling to Kupfert & Kim’s former vegan spot Hello 123 which coincidentally had a location in Montreal before closing up for good. [UPDATE 12.09.24 - Hello 123 joined forces on the new project.]
Grand opening for St. Clair and Lansdowne’s Strawbella Cafe (95 Greenlaw Ave.) is happening Saturday. On the agenda: Everything from coffee and sandos to pizza, pasta and dessert.
It’s also grand opening weekend for Shawarma Royale at Pape and Danforth (671 Danforth Ave.). And searching for their chicken wraps, Royale fries and falafels downtown? Check out the new Yonge and Gerrard stomping grounds (366 Yonge St.), complete with board game cafe Pinochio upstairs.
Zzavia says they’ve “reimagined pizza” See for yourself at their new pizzera in Leaside (1597 Bayview Ave.).
CLOSED
Baldini Restaurant (1012 Queen St. E.) debuted in 2006. And like many businesses these days, was for sale long before doors closed. Stay tuned: La Roma Piccola Italian Kitchen & Bar is set to replace it as early as next week.
Big City Jerk and Green Destiny set up shop at Queen and Parliament (356 Queen St. E.) in 2022, closely followed by Migente Cocina. Moving in: Habibz Corner.
Celebrity chef David Adjey’s eponymous “French(ish)” joint Bouffe By Adjey (1173 Dundas St. W.) has been cleared out. Doors opened in 2022, swiftly following two-month stint La Nectarine on Dupont. TR Intel: It’s about to become cocktail bar Kensei Bar.
The Captain’s Boil windows at Yonge and College (476 Yonge St.) are papered over and the sign has been removed. Seven locations remain in the GTA.
Chasmine/New Chasmine has been at the corner of Queen and Sherbourne (235 Queen St. E.) since 2019. The building was previously home to Libertarian Public House and Black Irish Whiskey Bar & Oyster Saloon.
The space of recent arrival Frida’s Market (788 Broadview Ave.) has been cleared out.
Oddseoul (90 Ossington Ave.) is closed until further notice due to fire. No injuries were reported. Plans to reopen are underway.
Organic Boutique, the gourmet food and cocktail supply shop at the corner of Queen and Givins (970 Queen St. W.), launched in 2004.
Perla Oyster Bar & Grill moved on from its spot in Vaughan (3901 Highway 7) as of June 30. For those wanting in, the new digs are just a 15 minute drive away. Details above.
The Pusateri’s closures continue. Bankruptcy proceedings are underway and the big in-the-works Little Italy location is not moving forward, however Pusateri's flagship store on Avenue Road (1539 Avenue Rd.) and location inside Saks Food Hall (CF Toronto Eaton Centre 220 Yonge St.) remain open.
Ramona’s (1086 Queen St. W.) was just getting started. Truly. I was just talking about it.
NEWS
Are the trains running?
Online food ordering/delivery platforms SkipTheDishes and Just Eat cut jobs.
Food recalls continue: European Butcher back bacon recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
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