OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News July 11-17, 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
🕘 8.5 min read
Casual eats, heavy on the street food and authentic fare, coffee, pastries, and gelato are in full effect this week. In other words, exactly what this moment - and weather - calls for.
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
Fresh off of making ‘23 Michelin Bib Gourmand White Lily Diner’s secret-ish doughnuts and other addictive treats, Rachelle Cornish, debuts her own venture in the east end. Alice Marie Bakery & Coffee (807 Gerrard St. E.), named after her grandmother, whom she used to bake with growing up, and run alongside husband Aaron Hubley, is equipped with coffee and baked goods. Note: Doughnuts are not part of the lineup.
A cocktail bar with stage dancers - and pickle flight of all things? Baby’s Cabaret (563 Queen St. W.) takes over Daisy’s former digs on Queen near Portland.
Bistro and piano bar The Berczy Tavern (69 Front St. E.) by the team behind Amano Trattoria and Bar Notte (talk about keeping it hyperlocal - both are tucked round the corner) softly opens today with grand opening to follow Thursday.
Bingz brings its signature crispy Chinese burgers to the downtown core via CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St., Urban Eatery Food Court).
El Pacho Roasters lands at the base of University (40 University Ave.) with an array of coffee, croissanwiches and scones.
FIfty Lan dropped at Yonge and Sheppard (4750 Yonge St.) on Tuesday, marking the first Canadian location for the Taiwanese bubble tea chain.
Ice cream shops are frequently situated in unusual or unexpected settings. Take Gianni’s Gelato, for instance. Dicover the tiny gelateria in the front window of Queen and McCaul’s long-standing weed shop, Hollywood Hi (241 Queen St. W.). Don’t worry, menu items including gelato, sandos and espresso aren’t infused. However, should you wish to satiate your need for getting high and the munchies, this place has you covered.
“Unauthentic Mexican” joint Ghost Taco joins Kitchen Hub’s new Maple location (2810 Major MacKenzie Dr. W..).
Gongye Oriental Tea shop soft launched today at Yonge and Wellesley (2A Wellesley St. W.) with 12 percent off in-store items. Grand opening takes place tomorrow with giveaways and discounts happening this weekend.
Hazukido has been going hard lately. The latest offering by the Japanese croissanterie teams up with chef Christopher Siu’s Daan Go Cake Lab for Hazukido x Daan Go Café in its original spot at CF Shops at Don Mills (14 Clock Tower Rd., Unit B003). TR Trivia: Daan Go also moved in with some other great folks recently.
Authentic Hyperbadi cuisine is at the heart of Scarborough’s new Hyderabad Cafe at Brimley and Eglinton (2606 Eglinton Ave. E.).
ISO Tibetan dumplings in North Toronto? Discover Himalayan Momo House perched above The Captain’s Boil (2655 Yonge St., 2nd Fl.).
Bubble tea, sandwiches, graphic novels and Asian-style comic books come together under one roof at The One-Shot Manga Cafe near Greenwood (1344 Danforth Ave.).
I gave you the inside track to Mehfill Indian Cuisine’s new set up at Yonge and Eg (2590 Yonge St.) last winter. Newsflash: They just added to their presence in The Beaches.
For coffee, pastries and gelato - a popular triad these days - head to Midtown’s new Melange Patisserie (2354 Yonge St.), the latest addition to TR’s Ultimate Guide to Ice Cream + Frozen Treats.
Miss Doner Kebab claims to have “the best halal Turkish döner in Mississauga.” See for yourself: 2157 Royal Windsor Dr., Unit 3.
Monte Bakery (1571 Dupont St.) takes over Cafe Con Leche’s recently vacated space in the Junction Triangle. Their third outfit in the 6ix is filled with a serious roster including croissants (start with the Pistachio Raspberry Chocolate), Dulce de Leche Cruffin, Breakfast Egg & Bacon, Olive Cheese Twists, Apple Crème Brûlée, and Maple Glazed Bread Pudding. Note: Menu items subject to availability.
Tuck into saj, shawarma, samoon, manakeesh and other Middle Eastern eats at Maroosh in Vaughan (3175 Rutherford Rd., Unit 2).
Classics run the gamut from bánh mì to bún thịt nướng at North York’s My Saigon Vietnamese Eatery (5 Northtown Way, Unit 15).
Oakwood Village is now home to “Toronto’s first and only Nicaraguan café.” Introducing: Nicaroma Café (357 Oakwood Ave.).
Pho Cali arrives in a cozy, sunny setting in the Junction (2772 Dundas St. W.) brimming with banh mi, vermicelli, pho and other Vietnamese essentials.
Scarlet Door Café takes over HotBlack Coffee’s previous haunt at The Andore House (15 Charles St. E.).
Hot tip: at Yonge & Eglinton’s Yaffa Shawarma + Falafel (2313 Yonge St.) ain’t your typical shawarma shop. Behind the project: Rishika Bhansali, executive chef of Toronto’s new Pigeon Café & Bar. Did you know? YSF takes over where Kupert & Kim stood.
CLOSED
The Goods’ long-standing vegan destination on Queen West (1170 Queen St. W.) comes to a close July 19. The Roncy outpost (279 Roncesvalles Ave.) is staying put for now, but is up for sale.
Head’s up: Last day for Hale Coffee at Square One is Sunday July 28 with deals available exclusively at this location. The coffee co. set up shop at the Mississauga mall in 2019.
Leni Poki, the “first pig themed cafe in Canada,”, came and went at Gerrard ‘n Jones (1027 Gerrard St. E.). A Mississauga branch remains. As for Gerrard? Stay tuned: Cafe Xin Chao is moving in.
Osteria Rialto and counterpart Bar Biltmore premiered inside Paradise On Bloor (1006 Bloor St. W.) in January 2020, poised to be amongst the city’s latest hotspots. Two months later, the world interrupted those plans, and today they announced their immediate closure. The companu’s other ventures, conveniently located next door - Cafe Paradise and Blue Door Wine Shop - are open for business.
NEWS
Matteo (Matthew) Rumble was fatally stabbed outside Jane Subway Station. For roughly a decade, he could be found behind the stove at Annex institution, Insomnia Restaurant & Lounge.
Mato Krajinovic died. He launched his own restaurant in the ‘80s, Esplanade of Oshawa.
The LCBO is reopening five stores for bar and restaurant owners. Wait, scratch that.
The deposit-return program for booze-free bevvies is also a no-go.
Various Silk and Great Value plant based refrigerated beverages were recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes and five hospitalizations in Ontario have been linked to the recall. [UPDATE; 12.07.24: Al'Fez Natural Tahini recalled due to Salmonella, Nutrabolics Feed Me Vegan Real Food Protein & Oats – Frosted Blueberry Cobbler recalled due to undeclared milk.]
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