OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News January 23-29, 2025
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
🕘 8 min read
Just what this time of year calls for: An abundance of pizza and comforting international eats.* And big closures are coming in fast. Luckily, the majority aren’t permanent.
*This hiatus from finer dining establishments lately? It’s about to wrap up in the next month or so. Watch this space.
NO ONE COVERS THE CITY LIKE THIS.
Psst. Want the inside track on what’s happening? Keep your eyes peeled on the website (the #TRrending section is a good place to start), listen to THE TIP OFF, a supplement to my OPEN/CLOSED featuring breaking exclusives, sneak peeks, hot tips + the week’s top stories and events like you’ve never seen - or heard - before in 3 minutes or less on the new TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST, follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and updates, and subscribe to the TR Newsletter.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Local pink pizza chain Blondies Pizza lands at Union Station (65 Front St.) with its signature lineup dubbed everything from Trouble at the Seance and Sophie Said So (SSS) to Cold Drink/Hot Girl and Drake Was Here.
Fusettes (407A Yonge St.) debuts at Yonge and Gerrard in a former drugstore of all places. Discover sandwiches, coffee and baked treats in a warm setting.
Etobicoke’s new The G.O.A.T Indian Kitchen (130 Westmore Dr.,Unit 3) is all about modern Indian flavours with “traditional roots.” Think halal fare including butter chicken, biryani, dosas and more.
Taiwanese bubble tea shop Gong Cha’s grand opening at Erin Mills Town Centre (5100 Erin Mills Pkwy) is happening Friday through ‘til Wednesday.
Grillies 24-hour haunt filled with burger, bowls, burritos and other grub softly opens today at 11am in Parkdale’s Little Tibet (1468 Queen St. W.), marking the 13th location for the local chain.
ISO halal Nashville hot chicken in the GTA? Look no further than Juicy Birds’ newest destination in Scarborough’s Wexford nabe (1877 Lawrence Ave. E.). Fun facts: It’s the third location in the GTA, fifth in the province.
Kebab & Co kicks off in East York (977 O'Connor Dr.) with a menu that extends beyond its namesake dish. Dig into fragrant fare such as Kunjid Palaw with Lamb Shank, Egg & Shaami Karahi, and KC Special Afghani Burger - which is not your typical burger: Crunchy fries topped with fried chicken sausage, boiled egg, cucumber, tomato, spices and sauce, wrapped in pita and “extra” grilled. Did you know? It takes over the space formerly occupied by Suma’s Egyptian Grill, which is on the move. Stay tuned.
Nutbar’s fourth* superfood and wellness cafe launches uptown on Saturday (2592 Yonge St.). *Fifth if you include the seasonal pop-up on Ossington.
Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) took to socials last week to announce the closure of one its vendors, Oswald’s Pizza. The Detroit-style eatery joined the food hall in 2023 following a launch on Dufferin in 2021. Psst. Hey pizza lovers, OP can be found at its original addy in North York (Encore Catering 5000 Dufferin St., Unit P).
Build-your-own pasta bar Pastable in York (1927 Weston Rd.) claims to offer “over 4500 possible combinations.” See for yourself at grand opening tomorrow for the downtown location (372 Yonge St.). Bonus: Enjoy Mac N’ Cheese with BBQ Chicken and pop for $5 (Opening day only).
Stone-fired pizza co. Score Pizza boasts over 10 pizzerias across the province, with more on the way. Just added to the roster: Scarborough (4525 Kingston Rd.).
Korean fusion destinations are on the rise. The latest to join the ranks? Tiger Blues at Queen and Niagara (811 Queen St. W.) in Three Monks and a Duck’s previous stomping grounds. Doors open tomorrow.
CLOSED
Popular Pan Asian resto Bar’kada commenced its journey on Queen (745 Queen St. W.) in 2020. On Tuesday co-owner Jordan Rulloda posted a heartfelt announcement on social earlier this week that doors have closed, however a search for a new space is on.* Rulloda, a DJ and photographer, is also owner/partner of No. 9 Hospitality Group, running two establishments in Schomberg - about an hour north of the city: The Schomberg Pub (226 Main St.) and a few doors over, Craft Kitchen & Beer Bar (214 Main St.) *A letter of “Immediate Termination of Commercial Lease and Lockout Notification” dated January 10 was posted to the front of the building at the time of writing.
Down the block, Banu’s owners Salome, Samira, and Amir Salar Mohyeddin took to social media yesterday to share after 20 years doors are closing (777 Queen St. W.) on February 28. Luckily, it’s not “goodbye” and catering is still available.
On Monday Bello Pizza shared it will not be renewing its lease inside European market style cafe and wine bar, Halycon Cafe (2196 Bloor St. W.). BP started in Bloor West Village back in 2021 and will continue operations at its flagship outside the city in Collingwood (72 First St.).
Bad News: Last chance to visit Mattachioni’s Gerrard India Bazaar (1501 Gerrard St. E.) is Sunday. Good news: The OG location in The Junction Triangle (1617 Dupont St.) is filled with pizze, panini, insalate, birra, and other foodstuffs.
The windows of Etobicoke’s Royal York Meat Market (392 Royal York Rd.) are papered over, the website is down, and the phone number is “not assigned.”
NEWS
ATTN Industry: Curb lane applications and renewals are now open for CaféTO ‘25.
Loblaw reports grocery prices will continue to rise faster than overall inflation.
Latest food recalls: Cape Breton Oatcake Society Oatcakes - English Toffee recalled due to undeclared almond. Little Gourmet Organic Fruit & Veggie Oat Bars recalled due to yeast, No Sugar Company Shellz Dark Chocolatey Peanut Crunch recalled due to improperly declared milk. [UPDATE 24.01.25: Century Flaked Light Tuna Hot & Spicy recalled due to undeclared wheat.]
ICYMI
THIS JUST IN: More changes in Midtown, an all-day destination lands east side, industry pros debut a fusion cocktail bar, and what was recently home to a Michelin-starred restaurant is something completely different now. Listen to the latest edition of THE TIP OFF, a supplement to my OPEN/CLOSED featuring breaking exclusives, sneak peeks, hot tips + the week’s top stories and events like you’ve never seen - or heard - before in 3 minutes or less. p.s. While some items may appear in the OPEN/CLOSED, others will be reported here exclusively for the first time.
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