OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News January 11-17, 2024
The 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
🕘 9 min read
Baked goods and comfort foods dominate this week’s arrivals, pairing well with the current weather forecast, and zig zags all over the map, meaning you don’t have to travel far - if at all - to get in on good eats and drinks.
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
Indian resto-bar Baazigar (189 Augusta Ave.) takes over Egg Bae’s previous post in Kensington Market with “drinks, treats and Bollywood beats.” Fun fact: Baazigar - "gambler" or "player” in Hindi - is also the name of Abbas-Mustan's 1993 thriller.
Bread, bagels, and biscotti are just the beginning at Ale Cuervo and Clive Marquis’ new Bakery Café Cuervo y Marquis on the Ossington strip (132 Ossington Ave.).
Bao Box (755 Dundas St. W.) is dishing out all kinds of bao - classics (Pork Belly), fast food faves (Fried Chicken), and cozy comforts (Korean Kimchi Burger, Curry Croquette Cheese, Vegan Peanut Tofu) - in addition to winter essentials (Chicken Corn Soup, Soy Congee) at Dundas and Bathurst in the space formerly occupied by Cool Cats, Hot Dogs.
Bevvy’s booze-free bottle shop in Chinatown (398 Spadina Ave., Unit 1B) boasts a myriad of zero-proof cocktails, 0% ABV wine, sprits and beer, and other tipsy-free tipples, suitable for Dry January, the sober-curious, or simply stocking the fridge with fun new finds. Grand opening is Saturday.
Hey Parkdale, Dipped Donuts’ decadent concoctions (See: London Fog Creme Brulee, Cookies & Creme, Apple Fritters) just landed (1374 Queen St. W.). A fixture in Kensington Market (161 Baldwin St.) since 2018, this marks DD’s second outpost in the 6ix.
After being nestled inside Death In Venice Gelato (1418 Dundas St. W.) for three years, Parisian chef Hadrien Verrier’s eponymous bakery Hadrien Verrier Patisserie has a spot to call its very own in Etobicoke (709 The Queensway).
Hermie’s brought its signature Filipino and Canadian fare all the way from Orillia to Queen and Broadview in December ‘22. While doors shuttered a year later, it was brief. As I reported last month, Leaside is now home (1595 Bayview Ave.) at a location that has seen quite the activity in the last few years.
Hitotoki Japanese Bakery (25 Carlton St., Unit D) is in soft opening with an array of Japanese French baked goods. Get in on Egg Tarts, Palmiers, Shokupan, Japanese Croissant Tarts, and creamy coffees and lattes at Yonge and College.
King Place Restaurant has been a destination for authentic Pakistani and Indian curries, biryani, and other fragrant fare for decades. Check out their new digs at Dundas and Jarvis (203 Dundas St. E.), a few blocks away from the OG spot at Sherbourne (236 Sherbourne St., Unit 1), complete with the wall still covered with photos of their many dishes.
Calling all mochi donut lovers: Marry Me Mochi has touched down at Stock Yards Village (1980 St Clair Ave. W., Unit 127A). Grand opening festivities to follow January 20. (Note: Grand opening has been delayed to January 27.)
Paradise Chicken’s love of fried chicken runs deep, so they serve it all kinds of ways, including: nuggets, tenders, wings, wrap, and on a waffle. Find the fourth GTA branch in Mississauga (5618 Tenth Line W., Unit 4).
No need to pack your bags to get in on the self-serve Korean ramen bar experience with the arrival of The Self Ramen Bar (233 College St., Unit C). To place your instant noodle order: Choose your K-ramen ($6.99) or tteokbokki ($9.99) from the digital menu board, [optional: add custom toppings ($2) a/or assorted drinks (prices vary)], head to the hot water station, fill ‘er up, and enjoy a piping hot meal minutes later, tax included.
It’s never too cold for Korean shaved ice. The latest addition to the TR Ultimate Ice Cream Guide, Snow Day Bingsu, brings its signature coffees, croffles and titular treat to The Village (449 Church St.).
Spoon & Fork just debuted their sixth “all you can taste” Japanese Thai resto at Heartland Town Centre (6045 Mavis Rd.).
CLOSED
The Dirty Bird Chicken + Waffles in Mississauga (6415 Erin Mills Pkwy, Unit B5) has come to a halt. Locations in Kensington Market and at Pearson Airport remain.
District 28’s offerings over its ten year occupancy in Leslieville (28 Logan Ave.) included studio and event spaces, coworking spaces and eatery Bar Bistro.
After three decades, Trinity-Bellwoods stalwart Dundas St. Supermarket (878 Dundas St. W.) has come to an end.
King Place Restaurant (236 Sherbourne St., Unit 1) left its longtime spot for a place a few blocks away. Details above.
Opening six ventures is quite a feat. Launching them during a pandemic is a whole other story. Restaurateur Naveen Chakravarti spent 2020-2022 like this: Station Social House, Prohibition Pie (and subsequent summer popup) OddSeoul, Neon Tiger (14 Dupont St., then 1166 Queen St. W.) with Recette in between. Neon Tiger’s road in particular, was a complicated one that involved moves and temporary closures (I chronicled all of it. Catch up here.) After temporarily closing last fall set to return with a “new menu food and drink along with a slight different interior,” it turns out NT’s journey is coming to a close next month.
NEWS
The CEBA loan repayment deadline is on the quick approach. A group representing Canada’s foodservice industry is calling for an extension.
The cast of TV series ‘The Bear’ including Toronto celebrity chef Matty Matheson, took home three Golden Globes at last week’s award show.
Reservations are now open for Winterlicious 2024, taking place January 26-February 8.
Another class-action lawsuit over the recent cantaloupe salmonella outbreak has been filed in Canada.
Speaking of food recalls, they continue: Farm Boy Vegan Gluten Free Margherita Pizza recalled due to undeclared milk, Quaker granola bars and cereals and Cap'n Crunch brand Treat Bars – Berry Bar recalled due to Salmonella, (NEW) Various brands of caffeinated energy drinks may be unsafe due to caffeine content and labelling issues. [UPDATE: 12.01.24: Various parfait and yogurt bowls recalled due to Salmonella.]
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