OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News April 21-27, 2022
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
🕘 11 min read
Prior to the pandemic, the industry comings and goings were rampant, then reached record numbers during the global crisis. These days (aka the Sixth Wave) they’re off the rails. There’s so much happening, I’m topping breaking news with breaking news. See for yourself. My astonishing findings this week: 24 arrivals and 11 closures.
Stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter, and exciting announcements and partnerships coming soon.
In the meantime, here’s the very latest:
OPEN
The Yorkville outpost of contemporary Adrak Indian Restaurant & Bar (15 Wertheim Ct.) in Richmond Hill has been under construction for some time. Adrak Yorkville (138 Avenue Rd.) opens Friday where EVOO Ristorante was.
Arsenio’s Kitchen (2889 St. Clair Ave. E., Unit 1) by chef/owner Arsenio Carino boasts an all-day Silog menu featuring 10 items ($12 ea.). In addition to Filipino breakfast, find an array of dishes including deep fried squid, shrimp sinigang, and beef pares.
Basil Box and I go back a long way – 2016, to be exact. The latest addition is a virtual one in Midtown. The vessel at Yonge & Davisville (1941 Yonge St.) offers both the healthier Southeast Asian fare of Basil Box alongside comfort foods of sister biz, Street Kitchen by Basil Box.
Beacon Social House (305 Lakeshore Rd. E.) brings American tavern vibes to downtown Oakville.
There’s more to Scarborough’s Boxy's Burrito (4286 Kingston Rd.) than its namesake. Dig into quesadillas, tostadas, nachos, churros, bowls and burritos near Lawrence and Morningside.
Chaiiwala of London’s launch in Mississauga (6435 Erin Mills Pkwy.) last month quickly follows the brand’s Ontario debut last fall. On the menu: Desi street food, snacks and chai.
In the mood for burgers and Philly cheesesteaks? Head to Grill Gate’s newest branch at Jarvis and Dundas (203 Dundas St. E.).
Hana Sushi (1049 Bloor St. W.) at Bloor and Dufferin offers a bevvy of options including special rolls, bento boxes, sushi pizza and noodle soups.
Following last summer’s pop-up, the first permanent location of Hielito Bits just launched in Roncesvalles Village (478 Roncesvalles Ave.). In addition to frozen treats such as paletas, they are the first Marquesitas shop in Toronto featuring the authentic dessert from Yucatan, Mexico: a variation on a rolled crepe stuffed with queso bola, with your choice of toppings - dulce de leche, condensed milk, walnuts, fruit, and more.
J’s Steak Frites (1198 Queen St. W.) moved into award-winning Dandylion’s old digs with a very specific menu: Steak Frites ($49 pp). That’s it. Her’s the breakdown: Every order comes with housemade bread, butter, unlimited frites and butter sauce. Drinks and desserts are extra, with desserts by chef/co-owner Tara Tang, a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef, showcased on a cart in the middle of the space.
The growth of Kung Fu Tea in recent years is staggering. The Taiwanese tea chain continues to expand with new branches on the Danforth (315 Danforth Ave.) and North York (1881 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 15A).
Leonidas Chocolate Café arrived in Mississauga (54 Lakeshore Rd. E. ) just in time for Easter.
Martin Espresso Bar (1421 Bloor St. W.) debuts Friday, in the former home of Noble Coffee. #dontblocktheintersection
The Momozone (979 O’ Connor Dr.) launched January 1. The family-owned biz boasts homemade Nepalese, Indian and Hakka fare including Tandoori Soya Chaap, Chili Momos, and Lamb Chow Mein.
Head to Mr Kebab Time (217 Roncesvalles Ave.) on Roncy for Mediterranean Turkish fare.
Psst. No Pain Gimbap is the new spot for takeout and snacks in back of Grape Crush (1166 Dundas St. W.). by the fine folks of Donna’s (827 Lansdowne Ave.).
Up until pretty recently, Onyx Chocolates was operating out of beloved Wong’s Ice Cream (617 Gerrard St. E.) in Chinatown East. After the shop closed, OC had to find new digs. Luckily, they didn’t have to go far. Find them a few doors west in iconic Rose's Vietnamese Sandwiches former digs (601 Gerrard St. E.). Doors open Saturday 11am.
There’s a new destination for Cheese Mousse Tea in North York. Head to Royaltea (5418 Yonge St., Unit 16) just south of Finch.
Tony and Nadia Soranno’s new restaurant in Port Credit, Soranno’s (341 Lakeshore Rd. E.) does Italian classics [Mozzarella Sticks ($10.99), Fried Calamari ($14.99), Veal Sandwich ($18.99), Pasta Bolognese ($20.99)] in addition to pub fare [Burgers ($14.99-$18.99), Chicken Wings ($12.99/$16.99), Chicken Fingers & Fries ($17.99)].
Chef's Hall (111 Richmond St. W.) latest addition, The Red Eye specializes in dishes inspired by the American diner. Think: smash burgers, chicken fried steak, disco fries and floats. Behind the new venture: Chef Adam Ryan (The Coup | Calgary, Spirit Tree Estate Cidery | Caledon) and Joshua Mott, owner of Her Father’s Cider Bar + Kitchen (119 Harbord St.).
In a rush? Tired of waiting around for your sushi to be prepared? The majority of Tobiko Sushi’s (67 Roncesvalles Ave.) menu is available ready-to-go using fresh ingredients.
It’s been quite a week for Tut’s Egyptian Street Food - see news section below. Check out the new spot in Mississauga at Square One (100 City Centre Dr., Food Court).
I’ve been chronicling the growth of Vivo Pizza+Pasta since 2016. Cut to present day: The Canadian chain boasts over ten locations. The latest just landed in Woodbridge (7540 Weston Rd.). Did you know? It’s the second outpost serving traditional Italian pizza and pasta in the Vaughan community.
CLOSED
Alchemy Restaurant & Bar (890 College St.) - aka Alchemy Food + Drink - debuted July 2017. Doors closed mid-March, but another location is in the works. Stay tuned.
Boland’s Open Kitchen (575 Mount Pleasant Rd.) was a fixture on the Mount Pleasant strip since May 2010.
Chacho’s Fine Dining Mexican Restaurant (234 Merton St.)
The Bloor & Dufferin location of COO Café Bread Or Rice (1049 Bloor St. W.) may have come to end, but there’s more to come.
A four-alarm fire Friday displaced 20 residents and affected the spaces of recently closed Hotmess Tex Mex, La Forchetta, Rudy, and Tut’s Egyptian Street Food. No injuries were reported. Rudy and Tut’s reopened, while La Forchetta (613 College St.) remains closed. See the News section below for ways to help.
That’s it for the Toronto outpost of “the largest locally-owned pizza franchise operating in Nova Scotia” Jessy’s Pizza (2200 Dundas St. W.).
You can order burgers at what replaced Jumbo Hamburger (629 Pharmacy Ave.).
After 23 years in Oakwood Village, the original New Casa Abril Restaurant (475 Oakwood Ave.) has come to an end. The name however, lives on thanks to a successor.
Shawarma's King (60 Queen St. E.) and neighbour TCJ Restaurant (64 Queen St. E.) at the corner of Queen and Church for forever, are being replaced by 57-storey condos by Bazis Inc. and Tridel.
After six years, Uncle Smoke BBQ (2285 Dundas St. W.) - originally Uncle Smoke Cookhouse – has concluded service
CHANGE
Madame Levant (821 Gerrard St. E.) is now Falafel Bar by Madame Levant.
EVENTS
T.O. Food and Drink Fest takes place this weekend.
Canada’s first Filipino Restaurant Month is underway. Discover where to dine and dig in at restaurants across Toronto/GTA.
NEWS
A four-alarm fire Friday displaced 20 residents and affected the spaces of recently closed Hotmess Tex Mex, La Forchetta, Rudy, and Tut’s Egyptian Street Food. No injuries were reported. Rudy and Tut’s reopened, while La Forchetta (613 College St.) remains closed. A GoFund Me campaign has launched to support the residents, and Bar Volo is donating $1 for every pint sold this week to help their neighbours.
After all of the recalls lately, you’d think it would be over. Nuh uh. Check your bagels honey.
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.
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