My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of 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. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕘 9.5 min read

Between the long weekend and various holidays and weather systems rolling in, a selection of dining options are in order. You’re in luck - my findings this week - nearly 20 arrivals - offer a little bit of this, that and the other. And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, available exclusively in the TR Newsletter. 

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Ali Baba's Middle Eastern Cuisine (682 Queen St. E.) just touched down in Riverside at Queen and Broadview. 

Blended For You (393 Danforth Ave.) in Greektown boasts a lineup of curated  vitamin-rich, frozen plant-based packs for smoothies, soups, chia bowls, and cleanses.

After expanding last fall, Brown Donkatsu And Ramen continues to grow across the GTA. Grand opening festivities for the Richmond Hill branch (9580 Yonge St.) take place this weekend. The “original Korean tonkatsu house”  is offering a walk-in special Saturday and Sunday of  BOGO Brown Katsu. Walk-in only, while quantities last, limit one promo per customer.

Also new to Richmond Hill, Café Broadway (9021 Leslie St., Unit 1). The HK style restaurant offers a host of soups, rice, pasta, hot pot and much more.

Local Indian street food chain Chaska (16 Richardson St., Unit 2) opened Tuesday just north of Sugar Beach.

Frosted Flavors (2198 Queen St. E.) in The Beach softly opens today, with a grand opening to follow Monday. On the menu: Sandwiches, desserts, custom cakes, coffee and other beverages, with more items to roll out. 

TR Newsletter subscribers got dibs. For those catching up: Good Behaviour's second outpost (874 Yonge St., just north of Bloor) kicks off tomorrow with subs, ice cream, and wait for it - ice cream doughnut sandos.

Find Hakka Bistro (398 Parliament St.) just debuted at the edge of Cabbagetown and Regent Park with an extensive menu. Think: Singapore Noodles, Manchurian Fish (dry or gravy), and Tandoori Chicken Chowmein.

Jeon Ju Hyang Korean Restaurant (5694 Highway 7, Unit 14) in Markham’s Sherwood Plaza has all your Korean cravings covered: KFC, Bibimbab, Bulgogi, Soon Tofu, Hot Pot, and Budae Jjigae for two, for instance.

North York’s Joong Hwa Ban Jum (5308 Yonge St.) offers both Korean and Chinese fare.

Jumbo Lobster Restaurant (7501 Woodbine Ave) in Markham softly opened Monday. The expansive Chinese eatery (13,000 sq. ft.) is currently open 10am-11pm seven days a week. Psst. It’s by the folks behind Fishman Lobster Clubhouse (4020 Finch Ave. E.). In addition to dim sum, pork items are available for dinner service, including BBQ pig.

Major’s Cookies is popping up at Square One’s The District Kitchen (100 City Centre Dr.) with vegan chocolate chip cookies until May 8.

Chef Aaron Julien is cooking up a storm at Bloordale’s new Monte Bianco Italian Cuisine (1201A Bloor St. W.): Antipasto Platter ($26), Trentino Goulasch ($19), Monte Bianco Burger ($16), Airline Chicken ($22), Lamb Risotto ($24), Lobster Pappardelle ($22) represents just a fraction of the menu, not to mention all the brunch offerings.

New Casa Abril Restaurant (475 Oakwood Ave.) at Oakwood and Vaughan is the new old Kapital Restaurant & Grill (1500 St. Clair Ave. W.). Customers can enjoy not only a larger space, there’s more parking to boot. Win-win.

A new hotspot debuted last night. Recette (1166 Queen St. W.) by restaurateur Naveen Chakravarti (Prohibition Pie, OddSeoul, Neon Tiger) boasts hip-hop and R&B and “new forward French cuisine” by Chef Milo Beaubien-Wright (Origin North Restaurant & Bar, Actinolite). p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers got the lowdown first, so get on it.

River 16 Restaurant and Lounge (234 Lakeshore Rd.) opened in downtown Oakville in mid-February with a variety of entrees, incuding Veggie Meatballs ($23), Maple Glazed Salmon ($39), and Filet Mignon 8oz. ($59).

Rize Custom Cakes (682 Oakwood Ave.) at Oakwood and Eglinton is brimming with cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, cookies and other sweet treats.  

Sansotei Ramen gets it – if you’re at the mall for a certain amount of time, hunger’s going to set in. After launching at the Eaton Centre in February, Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.) was next on the agenda. In the works for a while now, the soft opening takes place Monday 11am-8pm. 

Slowsouth Pizza (1588 Dundas St. W.) in Brockton Village specializes in the wood-fired variety.       

CLOSED

Up until very recently, 1166 Queen St. W. was home to Après Wine Bar – which evolved into Ikune by Après and other pop-ups throughout the pandemic .(And prior to that, award-winning Canis.) For what took its place, see above.

Black Jack BBQ (1044 Gerrard St. E.) served up BBQ fusion in Leslieville for four years. The outpost at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) remains open.

Cafe Naturalis (2198 Queen St. E.) in The Beach was known for its soups, sandwiches, Montreal bagels, vegan and gluten-free baked goods.

Fat Lamb Kouzina’s storefront at Yonge & Bloor (874 Yonge St.) is home to something completely different.

Kapital Restaurant & Grill (1500 St. Clair Ave. W.) embarked on a new journey after closing February 24. Details outlined above. 

Pho U (398 Parliament St.) may be gone, but some familiar dishes remain at the restaurant in its stead. See above.

On Thursday, owners Josh and Eric announced the closure of Riverside Kitchen (862 Danforth Ave.) after debuting last summer. Insider tip: Visit Josh at his other restaurant, The Riviera (102 Lakeshore Ave.) on Toronto’s Wards Island.

CHANGES

Eadry Foods (11129 Queen St. E.) moved a few doors west, merging with Leslieville’s pantry boutique The Side Kitchen (1093 Queen St. E.). The new digs went into effect Friday.

EVENTS

Canada’s first Filipino Restaurant Month is underway. Discover where to dine and dig in at restaurants across Toronto/GTA.

NEWS

Last week’s Kinder recall was just the beginning.

Select oysters were recalled this week.

Summerlicious is back on the books.

ICYMI

From creamy mushroom pasta and fluffy doughnuts to carefully crafted martinis and beer, local businesses have dreamed up mouth-watering ways to help Ukraine.

While Junelle Casalan’s resume boasts fine dining establishments in Canada (Scaramouche) and Michelin-starred restaurants abroad (Eleven Madison Park, Per Se, Le Bernadin in New York, Marcus at The Berkeley in London), it’s the desserts and pastries at her baked goods shop Castle & Coal - kouign amann, cannelé, tiramisu - that are truly swoon-worthy. Discover her biggest influences, must-have ingredients, favourite haunts around town and much more in this week’s At The Pass.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast: I wrote about +100 new arrivals in March alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.    

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.

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

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Need staff? Help promoting your menu, bottle shop, patio, private event space, gift cards but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.