OPEN/CLOSED: TORONTO/GTA Restaurant News September 26-October 2, 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
🕘 9 min read
This month has been a wild ride, and it doesn’t let up one iota this week. Introducing 21 new destinations of every kind - Seriously, it’s a real choose-your-own adventure kinda vibe right now - and a quarter of that in closures.
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
Johnnie and Aggie Fusco, the husband-and-wife team behind Baby Point’s popular plant-inspired Italian eatery Bellona Kitchen (276 Jane St.), are extending their vegan and vegetarian dining experience to Little Italy (680 College St.). Grand opening is Tuesday night. Hot tip: Make sure to follow on Instagram for a first look.
Bep Viet (738 Gerrard St. E.) takes over East Chinatown stalwart Bach Yen’s former digs with an array of Vietnamese fare. Grand opening kicks off tomorrow with 15 per cent off.
Cafe Montaigne is right in the mix at Queen and Richmond (394 Richmond St. W.), decked out with fresh pastries, sandos, and other refreshments.
Subsequent to a swanky revamp at Yorkdale, Delysees keeps the mall vibes going by bringing its luxe lineup of sweets to Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr.).
Dirty Birras is already receiving rave reviews for its Mexican grub at Queen and Coxwell (1610 Queen St. E.).
Levantine brunch is the name of the game at East Tea Can in Mississauga (3115 Winston Churchill Blvd.). For those in the T-dot, the “Middle Eastern canteen” is touching down at The Well’s subterranean food court Wellington Market (486 Front St. W., Lower Level, Unit 46-60) on Sunday.
Estiatorio Milos (330 Bay St.) debuts today, but you knew that already. And if you’re a TR Newsletter subscriber, you got the scoop first, back in 2021.
Healthy chain Impact Kitchen extends its reach to the Financial District (Brookfield Place 181 Bay St.) with food and drinks made with your gluten-free, no dairy, paleo, keto and/or vegan/vegetarian lifestyle in mind. Doors open Monday.
Thai gelato might be your new obsession thanks to Kati. The venture by Sweet Gotch and Michelin Recommended southern Thai restaurant Koh Lipe softly opened in Little Italy earlier this week (567 College St.). TR Fun Fact: It moved into Kiss My Pans old spot, now situated just down the street.
King Taps second location on King West - mere blocks from the original that arrived from B.C. back in 2017 - gets the party started at King and Portland (620 King St. W., Suite 101) on Tuesday, taking over the expansive footprint occupied recently by popular restos Ascari King West and vegan brunch outpost out of Montreal, LOV.
La Roma Piccola (1012 Queen St. E.) continues the tradition of serving Italian cuisine in Baldini’s former stomping grounds.
Letterbox Doughnuts will be doling out their alphabetical treats in Parkdale starting October 1 (1590 Queen St. W.). Did you know? The bakery lands where West End Comics was, which has since set up shop down the street (1716 Queen St. W.).
Manita set down roots on Ossington (210 Ossington Ave.) in 2020. A continuation of the triple threat - cafe/restaurant/bar - launches today at 8am on the other side of town in Rosedale (1164 Yonge St.), previously home to The Rosedale Diner.
Momo Coffee, a coffeeshop inspired by a ginger kitty named, you guessed it, Momo, is now open at Yonge and Sheppard (4714 Yonge St., 2nd Fl).
Marked Restaurant (132 John St.), known for its brunch, is shifting gears. As of tomorrow, it morphs into Runway 06 (132 John St.). What does that mean exactly? Apparently, expanded food and cocktail menus and a levelled up “entertainment experience.” Psst. I’m heading in before doors open to the public, so check TR’s Instagram Stories for a first look.
Sushi Hub’s new addy at College and Bathurst (74 Lippincott St.) may sound familiar - Aunties & Uncles called it home for over two decades, followed by a brief stint by Ma Maison recently. SH Backstory: It was previously running out of ghost kitchen food hall Junction Food Co. (545 Keele St.) - As illustrated on the JFC site, it’s had nearly 50 food and drink concepts come and go - before moving to a similar setup at Etobicoke Eats (20 Lockport Ave.) on September 1.
Home of French and Italian confections, The Sweet Crumble, traded in downtown for Parkdale (1556 Queen St. W.). Details below.
Halal Middleterranean fast food chain Tahini’s is now at the corner of Dundas and Church (215 Dundas St., Unit 4).
The West Cork Irish Pub (701 Queen St. E.) is the latest bar to settle in at Queen and Broadview. Doors open Saturday. TR History: Irish roots. Irish haunt An Sibin Pub held court steps away at the SW corner of Queen and Broadview from 2012-2016. [UPDATE: 27.09.24 - Opening has been delayed until Friday October 4 at 5pm.]
Yogo π (Pi)’s grand opening gets underway tomorrow. On the menu: Varieties at the yogurt bubble tea shop in North York (15 Northtown Way, Unit 22) include mochi yogurt, “teagurt” slush, and brown sugar bobo milk.
CLOSED
Butter Chicken Factory stuck it out at Queen and Coxwell (1610 Queen St. E.) for a while. For what’s there now, pop up top.
After 12 years, one of the city’s top cheesemongers is wrapping up service. Last day to visit Junction Fromagerie (3042 Dundas St. W.) is Saturday. Luckily, you can still get in on Jennifer Rashleigh and Jeff Brown’s artisanal chocolate and ice cream at their long-running store next door, Delight Chocolate (3040 Dundas St. W.).
Marked Restaurant (132 John St.) is something else now.
Kensington Market’s micro-bakery Nassau Street Cafe - aka 84 Nassau Street Cafe (84 Nassau St.) - has been marked as permanently closed on Google, the phone number is currently out of service, and items and equipment are being auctioned off next week.
The Sweet Crumble (122 St Patrick St., Unit 22) put in a ‘Change of Address’ notice. Details above.
“Based on faith in Jesus” tea shop TEAchoice Bubble Tea (394 Richmond St. W.) may have closed, however the catering arm of the biz continues.
NEWS
Toronto jazz musician Julia Cleveland died after being struck by car in The Junction.
As if restaurants aren’t struggling enough, new limits on temporary foreign worker program went into effect today.
Local food expert asks, “Is Bill C-293 Canada's ‘Vegan Act’?”
Food recall: Tetsujin Breaded Oyster recalled due to undeclared milk.
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