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. #iykyk

🕘 17 min read

In addition to the bustle of holiday festivities including Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, this week I bring you an exhaustive, astonishing 39 establishments.

As loyal readers know, my findings have been overwhelming new arrivals, with closures rapidly on the rise for some time now. This week however, the closures outweigh the openings by not only double: an unprecedented amount – 26 - the most closures I’ve uncovered at once in my career tracking the city’s happenings. This is alongside 13 arrivals, remarkable for this time of year, and indicates the sea change I forecasted for 2023.

That’s not all. There’s lots more - I just ran out of time and room. Which is why the OPEN/CLOSED will return in January, but stay tuned - lots to come still this week.

The takeaway from all this activity? Time is of the essence. Businesses are coming and going at lightning speed. Warning: 2023 is just as frenetic. Hang on tight. These next weeks/months will continue to be rocky. So whatever you can do to help small local businesses during this time, please do. Every purchase makes a difference.  And we’ve lost and continue to lose exemplary people. Reach out anytime.

I’ve got so much more to tell you, but it’s going to have to wait. In the meantime, happy holidays and thank you for your continued support of my unique one-woman independently-owned-and-operated restaurant news outlet.

And whatever you do, make sure to follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook, set your alarms and push notifications, and subscribe to the TR Newsletter because you don’t want to miss a single thing.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Alchemy debuted in Unionville in 2016. Their coffee, brunch items, and cold weather comforts such as carbonara, have found a second home in Richmond Hill (16 Vogell Rd., Unit F).

Opening on Christmas Eve? Why not. Mississauga’s newest arrival Alshami Restaurant (75 Dundas St. W.) specializes in halal Syrian fare by chef Abu Abdo Al-Shami. Bonus: Enjoy exclusive opening day specials – 50 per cent off Al Farooj and Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Saturday only.

This weather calls for a piping hot bowl of Vietnamese noodle soup. Head to The Art of Pho’s newest addition: Centerpoint Mall (6464 Yonge St.) in North York. Next up: Erin Mills Town Centre in Mississauga.

Bad Blowfish (1595 Bayview Ave.) brings coffee, sandos, salads and desserts to the popular Leaside strip. Of particular note: chalkboard tables and roast your own s’mores. Doors opened Monday.

Beijing brand Bingz’s signature dish - Chinese Crispy Burger - boasts spiced meat (e.g. Black Pepper Beef features “100 per cent local farm beef knuckle cut and oyster mushrooms”) stuffed inside a soft bun with a crunchy exterior. This and their other go-tos (Liangpi. Sizzling Chili Noodles, Wonton, Smokin’ Hot Shake Fries) landed at the first North American branch, First Markham Place in May 2021. The second outpost just debuted at Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.), with more mall locations to follow.

“Canada's fastest growing roti shop” Butter Chicken Roti continues its expansion across the GTA. Find the latest in Mississauga at Erin Mills Town Centre (5100 Erin Mills Pkwy, Food Court).

Calling all breadheads and cookie monsters: Midtown has a Cobs Bread to call its own at Yonge and Davisville (1969 Yonge St.). Did you know? The bakery chain is part of Bakers Delight, an Australian bakery franchise founded 1980, and boasts locations across the globe and Canada.

Psst. The third De Mello Coffee is in soft opening at The Well (8 Spadina Ave.).

Feed Scarborough, a non-profit is dedicated to improving dignified access to food for the community, unveiled Cliffside Food Bank (2229 Kingston Rd.) just in time for the holidays.

Halal Italian fare is the name of the game at Mississauga’s Mambo Italiano (660 Eglinton Ave. W., Unit 14) with 100+ pasta combinations available with “a large selection of vegetarian, meat, seafood, low-carb and gluten-free options.”

Midori Ramen came on the scene with creamy tori paitan back in 2021. After kicking off a Scarborough branch last month, a destination in Richmond Hill (9625 Yonge St. Unit 6) is currently in soft opening.

Mr. Puffs arrived in the GTA via Mississauga this summer. Apparently ‘Sauga can’t get enough: Another outpost just touched down, this time at Dundas and Dixie (1425 Dundas St. E., Unit 12).

Following the arrival of Phoenix Café in September, Phoenix Restaurant (6114 Yonge St.) has landed south of Steeles. The Hong Kong style fusion diner ranges from Hainanese Chicken to Malaysian Curry and Yunnan Vermicelli in Fish Broth.

CLOSED

You’ve got until Christmas Eve to raise your glass at Betty's on King (240 King St. E.). The decades-long Corktown fixture will soon be replaced by, what else, condos. Luckily, the party continues at Betty’s East in Leslieville (1301 Queen St. E.).

A Notice of Proposed Change has been posted in the window of Riverside’s The Cannonball Café, formerly F’Coffee (641 Queen St. E.). The coffee shop, temporarily closed since the end of 2020, is now the site of a proposed nine-storey residential building. According to the notice, the existing heritage buildings and street-level retail are “to be retained.”

Charcoal Biryiani (1595 Bayview Ave). was one of the many concepts that came through this addy in the last few years starting with Eggbird, followed by Bom-Bay Snack Bar, and Bombay Frankie). To check out the new concept and faces in its place, see above.

An email from ChefDrop’s Founder & CEO Adam Teolis arrived on Friday alerting customers the biz would be ceasing operations as of December 23. The “exclusive meal kits from top chefs and restaurants” delivery model featuring ingredients for dishes by Toronto chefs such as Rob Gentile, Haan Palcu-Chang and Nuit Regular, launched two years ago.

While Chef George Restaurant (1519 Birchmount Rd.) in Scarborough has been sold, it’s not the last you’ll see of Chef George Riveria. Last day for party tray orders however, is December 24.

Classico Macha popped up at Project Gigglewater (1369 Dundas St. W.) May ‘21 before transforming into Classico Vegano (423 College St.) a year ago. December 30 is the final day.

Tina Leckie and Alex Chong’s Fiorentina (463 Danforth Ave.) has been a fixture on the Danforth strip for 11.5 years, but the time has come “to focus on our family and other adventures.” While things wrap up on December 24 (holiday pickups only), their announcement includes, “This is not goodbye, just, see you in a while,” as catering and events will continue and future pop-ups and other events are in the works. Stay tuned.

The Grover Pub (676 Kingston Rd.), established in 1982, has come to an end following immense challenges brought on by the pandemic, sudden death of their chef in September, and cost of rent, of which the owners say, “‘The landlord is not willing to negotiate to keep us here.” Doors closed on December 16.

Back in May, I broke the news of Lee Restaurant leaving their King West digs (601 King St. W.). Of course, you had to know this would not be the end of the iconic restaurant. While the last service at the King West location will be December 31, 2022, a new location will launch just around the corner. As for the menu: According to a statement from chef Susur Lee, “All of your favourite dishes (including the slaw, the cheeseburger spring rolls, and our chefs banquet menu) will also live on.” Watch this space.

Restaurateur Jacob Wharton-Shukster’s Le Phénix (1263 Queen St. W.) arrived right before the pandemic but was always meant to temporary. At the time, it was projected to last just until summer, but it was a gem from the get-go, so the closure thankfully got extended. The finale, like many establishments this year, takes place December 31. Silver lining: The wait for the triumphant return of Chantecler won’t be long.

Head’s up: The final night to visit Chef George Wensley’s Leslie Jones Restaurant (1182 Queen. St. E.) is January 7, 2023.

The wild ride for the Toronto outpost of Momofuku (190 University Ave.) comes to an end tomorrow. Momofuku Toronto (190 University Ave.), which includes Noodle Bar (first and second floors) and Kōjin (third floor), announced doors are closing December 23. A fixture in the downtown core for a decade that originally housed four concepts under one roof - Noodle Bar, Daisho, Nikai, Shoto - and Christina Tosi's Milk Bar for a time, the company founded by chef David Chang decided “not to renew our lease at this location.” During the pandemic, the iconic brand announced the permanent closure of Momofuku DC and Momofuku Nishi and Momofuku Ssäm Bar’s move to Bar Wayō in May 2020. Six months later, a former employee reported working conditions were anything but peachy. Note: Prior to the company’s announcement, local headlines declared Momofuku’s departure from the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. “Momofuku Toronto is not part of the hotel,” a Shangri-La Hotel spokesperson confirms. While guests can access the restaurants via an entrance at the hotel, it is “a separate entity” at a different address (188 University Ave.).

After launching October 2021, Neon Tiger (14 Dupont St.) is on the move: New location will drop in the new year.

After a six-and-a-half year run, Bart and Lara Pocock have shuttered Nord Bistro (406 Dupont St.) due to “ongoing health challenges.”

Planta Burger (4 Temperance St.) in the Financial District has permanently closed. Sibling concept Planta Cocina next door (10 Temperance St., First Floor) remains open.

TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know: Alana Nogueda's stellar Port Light on Bloor (946 Bloor St. W.) closes tonight. The nautical-themed dive bar popped up October 2020 before launching at Ossington and Bloor in June 2021. Luckily her Shameful Tiki Room is here to stay, and Legal Tenders might just stick around too, finger’s crossed.

Old York Bar & Grill (167 Niagara St.), home of scratch-made fare, Mado’s Hot Pepper Sauce, trivia nights, and warm hospitality is coming to a close Friday. Doors opened in 1998.

Queen Margherita’s OG location in Leslieville (1402 Queen St E.) wraps up at the end of the year – last dinner service is December 31 – but another is set to debut still in the east end in the new year.

Rahmi Shawarma N'Kebab (132 Dundas St. E.) in the Garden District was a fairly recent arrival.

The Real McCoy may be moving on from its digs in Scarborough (1033 Markham Rd.) due to incoming condos, but George and wife Sophie Mihail plan to reopen elsewhere in the city TRMC’s called home for 53 years and counting. Final day is Christmas Eve.

New Year’s Eve is the last day for RGLR’s outpost in Runnymede (548 Annette St.) filled with coffee, sake and wine. but not the end of their “journey in the coffee universe.” Stay tuned.

Cabbagetown’s Tabi Ramen (568 Parliament St.) was short-lived, however Tibetan momos are on the way.

There’s still time to get in on coffee and pastries from The Tampered Press (256 Crawford St., Unit B) before doors close December 31. As I reported at the beginning of the month, Morning Parade Coffee is moving in.

Yaowarat Vegan Thai Restaurant (557 Mt Pleasant Rd.) arrived in Mount Pleasant Village last year.

4th and 7 may be leaving its Bloordale stomping grounds (1211 Bloor St. W.) but it’s not farewell: They’re setting up shop at new arrival Society Clubhouse (973 College St.) starting the first week of January.

Yonge and St. Clair’s 9 Bars Cafe Latino Bar (46 St Clair Ave. E.) offered a bit of everything. As for what’s taking over the space: TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop: Megumi Mazesoba, the “first dedicated brothless ramen in Toronto.”

NEWS

Long-time Toronto chef Alaric ‘Teddy’ Peris (Reverie At Weldon Park with chef Christopher Showalter) and frequent collaborator with chef Greg Couillard (Sarkis, The Spice Room) passed away. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.

David Doherty, co-owner of The Town Grill (243 Carlton St.) with Scott Turner in Cabbagetown during the late nineties to early 2000s, passed away. Did you know? The restaurant was the focus of an episode of hit show ‘Restaurant Makeover’ in 2005.

Ordering delivery in Peel Region? Police are warning residents of a scam.

Head’s up: Canada’s ban on single use plastics went to effect Tuesday.

Foodtastic, the company that owns restaurant chains including Milestones Grill + Bar, Shoeless Joe's Sports Grill, and Fionn MacCool's, is adding Freshii and Quesada Restaurants to its vast portfolio.

Think last week’s recalls were the last of the year? Think again. Venetian Meats Finocchiona Salami Sweet Fennel was recalled due to Salmonella. And while it’s not food related, given the time of year: select Christmas lights were recalled due to electric shock hazard.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

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

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