OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News February 15-21, 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
🕘 10 min read
While this week’s additions offer an exciting array of culinary delights, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do: With unprecedented movement happening across the GTA right now, closures outpace arrivals.
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
Executive chef Yash Patel’s North Indian and Hakka specialties have had a home at Angara Indian and Hakka Cuisine in Etobicoke (5555 Eglinton Ave. W., Unit 118) for some time now. Live/work downtown? Get in on the fun at the Queen and Bathurst outpost (536 Queen St. W.), where Osteria Du and offshoots Pizzeria Du and M!lk Dessert Bar were a fixture.
From the folks behind The Crane Express comes Battle Cafe inside Markham’s b-ball courts, Battle Arena (7261 Victoria Park Ave.). Fuel up pre-/post-game with milk teas, cookies, empanadas and other goodies.
Better Days Coffee & Donuts premiered earlier this week in Dovercourt Village (963 Dovercourt Rd.) with everything from Boston Cream to Cherry Stick on the roster. Grand opening to follow tomorrow.
Blue Claw Lobster Shack kicks off Saturday in a former dental office near Bay and Bloor (25 Charles St. W.) with an assortment of seafood including shrimp rolls, lobster burgers, and fish and chips. Bonus: Enjoy 20 per cent off all food items during grand opening week (Feb 17-23). TR Intel: The new venture shares a logo with finer dining seafood joint on King, Lobster Burger Bar.
Liberty Entertainment Group’s latest launch, Blue Bovine Steak + Sushi House at Union Station (65 Front St. W., Unit 108), makes its grand debut Tuesday, however some folks are getting a first look tomorrow night. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of the new luxe dining destination. Did you know? This marks the second steak-centric destination (Blue Blood) for the group behind Michelin-starred Don Alfonso 1890 and other restaurants (Cibo Wine Bar, DaNico, Paris Texas) and attractions (Casa Loma, Liberty Grand).
Flavurger (13 Elm St.) is all about '“burgers without borders.” Think Indian (coriander, Indian spices, chutney), Mexican (guac, salsa, jalapeno) Greek (Mediterranean herbs, Tzatziki-Feta sauce, and Lebanese (cumin, paprika, baba ganoush). Find it near Yonge and Dundas in Egg Bae’s former stomping grounds.
Italian espresso bar Fungo Cafe (800 King St. W.) touched down at King and Niagara with wellness drinks including coffee boosted with mushroom powders and collagen, Italian soda enhanced with chlorophyll, and hydrogen-infused water.
Grandma Loves You may be leaving Rosedale soon but not all is lost. Their beloved cold-cut sandos and hot dogs just dropped in North York (846 Sheppard Ave. W.).
Grand opening for Late Night Pizza’s Danforth digs (937 Danforth Ave.) is tonight. TR Trivia: The space at Donlands and Danforth has been home to a variety of cuisines over the years, including: Turkish (Doner Point), Filipino (Boodle Fight), Guyanese (Guyanese), Caribbean (Sunshine), Greek and Canadian (Faros By Night).
The merging of hospitality experts and real estate developers is a trend on the rise. (See: Daphne, 10 Dean.) Introducing Lisbon Hotel by Adam Hijazi (Eataly, King Street Food Company, Terroni Group) and David Wex, co-founder of Urban Capital. Ignore the misnomer - it’s neither a hotel nor in Portugal. Coffee, cocktails and tapas await in the Canary District (19 Lawren Harris Sq.).
Marquin just landed in the Financial District (First Canadian Place 100 King St. W., Mezzanine Level) with an irresistible lineup of Venezulan eats including arepas, tequeños, pastelito, and churros.
Psst. A new omakase spot dropped Tuesday. Get in on chef Kevin Li’s exclusive menu at Mizu Sushi in Scarborough (3720 Midland Ave., Unit 112).
Thai classics are the name of the game at North York’s Wai Thai Kitchen (850 Sheppard Ave. W.). In addition to Pad Thai, Pineapple Fried Rice, and Mango Salad, delve into the likes of Pad Woo Sen, Pad Kee Mao, Crab Fried Rice. Fun fact: Until recently, the company went by Bangkok 360 and had an outpost at 44 Victoria St.
CLOSED
Aroma Espresso Bar closures continue: Their cafe on College (540 College St., Unit 1) was a fixture in Little Italy forever. Insider tip: The space about to become Little Pebbles Cafe.
Athletes including Tobias Harris, Andrew Nicholson and Bone Collector have lent their support to The Crane Express over the years. The Crane Kitchen Grill House (850 Sheppard Ave. W.) and The Crane Express Dessert & Bar next door (846 Sheppard Ave. W.) were recent ventures. An outpost in Vaughan (1520 Steeles Ave. W.) has also permanently closed. However, it’s not the end of the road for the local brand. Details above.
Eggspectation was a booming chain around town for years. With the recent closure of the Church and Carlton location (45 Carlton St.) it appears only two remain in the province: downtown at Bell Trinity Square (483 Bay St., South Tower), and one in Ottawa.
Today marks the last day for Frisaca Bar. Doors opened at Queen and Bathurst (592 Queen St. W.) in Spring 2019.
Bubble tea chain Gong Cha made Ossington home (139 Ossington Ave.) for a spell. Insider tip: The spot’s about to become home to Sai Gon Snacks.
The vegan/vegetarian scene was very different when Hello 123 (1122 Queen St. W.) opened in 2017. Doors close for the Toronto operations on Sunday, however a Montreal location is still in effect.
Il Padrino debuted in Little Italy (579 College St.) August ‘22 and doors temporarily closed last fall due to fire.
Pusateri’s longstanding Yorkville location (57 Yorkville Ave.) is coming to an end next month. Opting not to renew the lease, the upscale grocer opened at the corner of Bay and Yorkville in 2003. Locations remain on Avenue Rd., in Bayview Village and CF Toronto Eaton Centre, with a store slated to launch in Little Italy (899 College St.) this year.
QueenBee’s home in Little Italy (680 College St.) was fleeting.
For the first time in decades, 387 King St . W. isn’t Thai-focused. Thai Princess’ iteration Thai and Sushi Bar at King and Spadina launched in 2022.
Trap Mart (702 Queen St. W.) claimed to have “Toronto's largest selection of rare and exotic snacks.”
Fine dining Canadian-inspired restaurant Tundra inside Hilton Toronto (145 Richmond St. W.) has been moved to the second floor and will be serving only breakfast until February 28. Stay tuned: Launching in its original digs on Feb 29 - bar and brasserie Frenchy.
A two-alarm fire broke out at East York’s Watan Pizza & Grill (62 Overlea Blvd. Unit 5) on Saturday causing “extensive damage” to the restaurant. No injuries have been reported.
NEWS
The Government of Ontario has frozen the Ontario Beer Basic Tax for at least two years. Will it extend beyond March 1, 2026? Stay tuned.
Speaking of alcohol, on Tuesday, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) issued a press release stating it was launching a “controlled entrance pilot” at six LCBO stores located in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout and Kenora, where patrons would be required to show photo ID “to help combat theft.” The project was nixed a day later.
Are you caught up on all the food recalls lately? Add Belazu Vegan Basil Pesto - Genovese Style recalled due to improperly declared pine nut, Red Tea RoomCookie recalled due to undeclared peanut. [UPDATE 16.02.24: Flamingo Chicken Burgers Gluten Free and Olymel Chicken Popcorn recalled due to pieces of metal.]
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