OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News February 23-March 1, 2023
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
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This week’s arrivals - a whopping 25 - include heaps of expansions (many right next door or steps away) and offer an array of cuisines and concepts, accompanied by some big closures.
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Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Beat the winter blahs with brunch and board games at A Corner Café’s new outpost in North York (5193 Yonge St.).
Scarborough halal burger joint The Burger Alley (51 Lebovic Ave., Unit B104) broadens its horizons with the addition of nearby Alleys Paratha Rolls & Chai (41 Lebovic Ave., Unit A110). Discover Karachi style paratha rolls, doodh patti chai, and Pakistani desserts with a twist. Fun fact: They’re neighbours with new arrival Fish & Loaf.
In addition to titular dishes, Aristos Souvlaki & Gyros (265 Queen St. W.) offers Hellenic specialities such as roast lamb and spanakopita and fun-for-all-ages fare: fish n’ chips, chicken fingers and the like.
Go ahead and call it a comeback. After reporting Bar Wellington (520 Wellington St. W.) was up for lease last summer (naturally TR Newsletter subscribers got word first), I’m happy to report doors reopened yesterday in its original location by owner and founder Richard Parrott. New additions include “a top to bottom freshen up,” more sharable items joining fan favourites, and Nick Heels heading up the kitchen.
Satisfying your cravings since ’74, The Belly Buster Submarines spent the pandemic rapidly expanding, and is far from done. The sub shop debuted not one, but two locations: last week in the Annex (380 Bloor St. W.) in Soundscapes old spot, and this week in Etobicoke (3371 Bloor St W. ) where Little Nature's Market was.
I broke the news of the end of Café Belong late last year. For those still wanting in on chef Brad Long’s creations, head outta town to Belong Sharbot Lake (1004 Medical Center Rd.) for current ‘grab-and-go’ items.
Brochettes Nomads has taken up residence at Chefs Hall (111 Richmond St. W.). Their speciality? Grilled skewers using Canadian ingredients and global flavours. Psst. Award-winning Grandma Loves You arrives next month.
Butter Baker (120 Dundas St. W.) set up a new shop - right next door. Adjacent to the original bakery, find a sit-down café to enjoy Avocado Croffle Toast and S’mores Waffles, and retail space stocked with kitchen items, sustainable beauty, wellness and lifestyle products - because you can never have too many reusable bamboo cups, incense holders, and hair scrunchies.
North Riverdale’s Carlaw Pastry & Café (525 Carlaw Ave.) boasts a bevy of baked goods including beignets, croissants, danishes, cookies, cakes, and cupcakes.
Cool Cats Hot Dogs’ slip of a place at Dundas and Bathurst (755 Dundas St. W.) offers a focused lineup of dawgs. Sure, the Classic ($6.95) and Brat ($8.95) are great go-tos, but All Day Breakfast (2 eggs, 2 breakfast sausages, big cat mayo, fried onion bits, chives $6.95) and Banger & Mash (English banger sausage, mashed potatoes, gravy, caramelized onion, and chives $8.95) are portable meals that go the distance. Did you know? It’s the same addy where onigiri-focused Oniguy recently came and went.
Fat Fork in Mississauga (2200 Dundas St. E.) offers an array of burgers, steaks, souvlaki, and more.
K-food chain Galleria Supermarket set up an Express outpost in Mad Radish’s former digs at Yonge & Eglinton (2293 Yonge St.) outfitted with Korean fare, groceries and prepared dishes.
Hong Kong style baked spaghetti, seafood combos, and noodle soups are just part of the lineup at Good So Good Chinese Cuisine in Richmond Hill (10610 Bayview Ave., Unit 2-3).
Last November I let you in on Goûter Patisserie previewing their new space in Etobicoke (34 Six Point Rd.) with Saturday pop-ups. Status update: Doors are now fully open.
Get your hands on Holy Chuck Burgers’ signature hand-rolled steak patties “ground fresh every hour” at Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St., Food Court). In the game since 2011, this marks the third lcoation for the local chain.
Jason Jiang and Seng Luong, formerly of Sabai Sabai, debut their hot new venture, Lao Lao Bar (5 St Joseph St.). The “contemporary expressions of authentic Lao culture viewed through the lens of Toronto” has already captivated the crowd during soft opening.
Popular food truck Los Vietnamita Taqueria has come off the road to set up shop, brick-and-mortar this time, in East York. Head to St. Clair and O’Connor (2644 St. Clair Ave E.) to get your fix of Vietnamese-meets-Mexican fare including Mexicano Beef Egg Rolls, Banh Mi Tacos, Fries Supremes, and Junion Sammies - Fried Chicken (Chipotle Honey, LVY Hot) and Braised Pork Belly.
Midnight Cookie’s new Leaside digs (3 Manor Rd. E.) aren’t far from the previous setup at East York Eats (858 Eglinton Ave. E.), home since Fall 2021, so sweet selections of Cookie & Crème, Kinder, Red Velvet, White Chocolate Fudge, and Just the Dough are still within reach.
I’ve been tailing Midori Ramen since the get-go. Good thing. Home of “Toronto's creamiest tori paitan ramen” just added Richmond Hill (9625 Yonge St, Unit 6) to the roster. Grand opening takes place February 25 with BOGO offers, games, prizes and more. Hot tip: Next up, Vaughan.
From the owners of Long Branch’s popular Simon Sushi (3399 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) comes MJM Supermarket just steps away (3391 Lake Shore Blvd. W.), full of fresh flowers, produce and household essentials.
Pocha 1989’s second outpost featuring K-food best sellers of Spicy Creamy Udon, Army Base Stew, and Deep-Fried Boneless Chicken with Soy Sauce just touched down in North York (4852 Yonge St.).
I’ve been tracking robotic barista RC Coffee Robo Café’s movements across the city since the pilot location debuted Fall 2020. Find the latest iteration of Canada’s first coffee automat in St Joseph’s Health Centre (30 The Queensway, First Floor, Barnicke Wing, Cafeteria).
Get in on Nanchang noodles, cuttlefish soup, pork ear with chili sauce, spicy lamb spine and other delicacies at Slurpnoodle’s new digs downtown at Dundas and University (189 Dundas St. W.).
Local chain Thairoom brings their signature Thai and Malaysian fare to Little Italy (719 College St.).
CLOSED
After debuting Summer 2020, the Danforth branch of Beach Hill Smokehouse (429 Danforth Ave.) has come to a close, however two locations remain to satisfy your ‘cue cravings: Main/Danforth (172 Main St.), Bloor West Village/High Park (2190C Bloor St. W.).
At a time when groceries reign supreme, the sudden closure yesterday of Fresh City Farms’ first store on the Ossington strip (111 Ossington Ave.) came as a shock to many. The city farm and food retailer founded by Ran Goel in 2011 debuted a second shop (695 Bay St.) boasting local and organic products and prepared food across 5,500 sq. ft. in April 2020, steps from five Toronto hospitals. “ At this unprecedented time, we want to make it easier for hospital workers and nearby residents to have safe access to food,” Goel said via press release. “…Opening now is one way that we can thank he hospital staff for everything they are doing." Fresh City Bottle Shop followed June 2021. Despite receiving an “injection of capital,” both shuttered. Luckily, you can still shop online and pick up items at the local businesses they acquired - Mabel’s Bakery (2018) and The Healthy Butcher i2019).
The last day to enjoy Beaches mainstay for 43 years Honey Bee Chinese Restaurant (1976 Queen St. E.) is February 28. Beach Metro Community News reports the neighbourhood stalwart is closing due to the retirement of owner Michael Lau.
Bao and bowl eatery Makan (265 Queen St. W.) announced temporary closure starting November 21, 2022 until further notice “due to unforeseen circumstances,” however ended on an optimistic note about “reopening in the near future.” This goes for on-site mini donut and ice cream destination Fugo Desserts as well. In the meantime, for what’s opened in the space, see above.
Canadian sub shop Mr.Sub was a constant at the corner of College and Spadina (267 College St.). The space will soon be “healthy” restaurant chain GoGrill, where you “choose it, weigh it, and we grill it,” scheduled to open this spring.
Home of East York fish and chip stop Ocean Halibut (2644 St. Clair Ave E.) has become something else entirely. Details above.
Pakistani and Indian cuisine by way of Taza Kabab in Little Italy (719 College St.) has come to an end.
CHANGES
It’s been Verdi (1566 Bayview Ave.) for as long as you can remember, and as recently as last week. The Leaside constant has reworked a few things including the name, kitchen, and dining room. Introducing: Buono Ristorante.
NEWS
Is olive oil coffee on its way to Canada?
Food recalls continue with certain models of Cosori Air Fryers recalled due to potential fire hazard, Deena Falooda Drinks recalled due to undeclared milk, and Sherbon Falooda Drinks recalled due to undeclared milk.
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