OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News January 12-18, 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
🕘 13 min read
After last week’s banger you’d think it would slow down a titch. Think again. Introducing a whopping 25 destinations, alongside some notable closures and big comebacks.
Insider tip: Make sure to follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter because you won’t believe what’s coming next.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
The Abibiman Project pop-up at The Grapefruit Moon (968 Bathurst St.) should not be missed. Case in point: The current Benada Dinner Series featuring Fruits de Mer a la Vanilla ($13), Wings with sweet lime curry sauce or spicy pili pili sauce ($12), Poussin Mogo ($7), Githeri ($7), Chapati ($6), with Almond Coconut Massale ($8), Plantain & Chocolate ($9), and Ginga Malt ($9) for dessert. Pro tip: Level up your pantry with housemade Shito, a Ghananian chill paste available in Traditional ($7), or Green ($11.50), a lacto-fermented green chili and ginger hot sauce.
Run The Burbs, the runaway hit show about the Phams, a young Vietnamese-South Asian-Canadian family navigating daily life in the suburbs, launches Bubble Bae Pop-Up, a bubble tea truck cruising around the 6ix and across the GTA promoting the new season and handing out free boba. Bonus: The cast will be dropping in to dole out bevvies, with location deets dropped by co-writer and star Andrew Phung on the daily. The truck will be out and about starting today until January 21.
After kicking things off in 2011, Cafe Plenty has spent the last few years in expansion mode. Find the latest in the Financial District at Commerce Court (199 Bay St.).
From Bolton to Bloorcourt. Caramel Café’s first Toronto location (1059 Bloor St. W.) - and original in Caledon - is your destination for all things sweet: Cake, chocolate, ice cream and waffles, and caramel, natch.
Speaking of sweets, El Jefe De Pollo has got you covered. The new halal fried chicken and taco spot in North York (45 Four Winds Dr., Unit G) debuted new dessert destination Chino Scoopz next door (Unit E) with an array of treats, from jars of Upside Down Cheesecake and Vietnamese Tiramisu to Thai Rolled Ice Cream and hypebeast confection “Off-White.” Grand opening celebrations took place December 13. Coming soon: “Toronto’s first Thai ice cream macaron sandwiches.”
Halal eats by way of pide, tajine, tava and shawarma have arrived in Oakville, thanks to Finjan Restaurant (2520 Postmaster Dr., Unit 3)
Grand opening for Kinton Ramen’s Liberty Village outpost (153 Liberty St.) is happening Saturday with 50 per cent off all signature ramen. (Dine-in only).
Established in Turkey in the ‘80s, Halal Turkish charcoal eatery Koz Bingol Restaurant also has a presence in Hamburg, Germany. And now the 6ix. Head to Bathurst and Steeles (6255 Bathurst St.) to explore Anatolian cuisine by executive chef Halil ibrahim Uzunparmak.
Lazy Bear (387 King St. W.) at King and Spadina is all about “snackies,” “sharsies” and “drinkies.” On the focused menu: house and seasonal cocktails alongside international bites from labneh to okonomiyaki.
Back in May, I broke the news of Lee Restaurant leaving their King West digs (601 King St. W.) at the end of 2022, Last service was scheduled to be December 31, but as TR Newsletter subscribers already know, it’s been extended until March 11, before moving to: 505 Richmond St. W. As I reported at that time, chain restaurant Earls is set to take over the King & Portland space. Originally slated to launch this year, it's now projected to open closer to 2024.
Calling all Turkish delight lovers: Liu Loqum Atelier (533 College St.) just arrived in Little Italy with a staggering array of varieties of the classic sweet. Not a fan? Selections where rose petals, chocolate and hazelnut coalesce or the one-two combo of sour cherry and double pistachio might just sway you. Also in the shop: baklava, dried fruit, nuts, and coffee. Did you know? Turkish delight is one of the oldest confections in the world, said to have been popular since around the turn of the 19th century.
TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop on Megumi Mazesoba the “first dedicated brothless ramen in Toronto” months ago. Update: Doors are open at Yonge and St. Clair (46 St Clair Ave. E.), quickly following the launch of Toronto’s first “Jiro-style ramen” restaurant in Greektown last fall.
Dig into Tandoori Chicken, Chana Bhatura, Aloo Gobi Masala, Gravy Manchurian and other signature dishes at Mehfill Indian Cuisine (2120 Queen St. E.) in The Beach, where Green Basil stood until recently.
I gave you a head’s up last month that Morning Parade Coffee was opening a second location, taking over The Tampered Press’ recently shuttered space (256 Crawford St., Unit B). Doors opened Monday.
Mumbaikar launched in Bloorcourt (1063 Bloor St. W.) just over a year ago. The new Indian restaurant and bar didn’t waste time in adding another location, this time in the Yonge and Lawrence ‘hood (3393 Yonge St.). The Uptown location is currently open for takeout, with dine-in aiming to be available by February.
Parry Sohi’s captivating artisanal gelato has landed in Liberty Village. This marks the third Nani’s Gelato in the GTA.
Oliver Coffee Bar (852 Pape Ave., Unit 3) debuted yesterday in Pape Village with plenty of coffee and craic - aka good times, for those not familiar with the Irish term.
Philthy Philly’s famed cheesesteaks and poutine have landed in the Garden District at Dundas near Church (132 Dundas St. E.).
I broke the news last month that Picnic Café & Wine Shop (originally slated as Picnic Café, Restaurant & Wine Shop) was replacing Chef Brad Long’s Café Belong, a fixture at Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Ave.) since 2011. Doors are now open.
Toronto neighbourhood grocer open 24/7 Rabba Fine Foods just landed at the corner of Victoria and Richmond (85 Victoria St.). This location will also have a Rabba Kitchen, in partnership with local Middle Eastern chain restaurant Paramount Fine Foods.
Happy hour at “Korean dining pub” Seoul Pocha 72 (72 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 4) includes Brisket Bone Broth Soup, Pull Apart Sliders, and Rose Rice Cake.
Across from U of T’s St. George campus, The Smith House (171 College St.) has moved into O'Grady's Tap & Grill’s former digs, offering burgers, sandos, pizza and salads and events including pop culture trivia nights boasting ten categories and interactive games.
Feeling the pinch of inflation? Xin Yi Time at Markham’s King Square Shopping Centre (9390 Woodbine Ave., Unit 1CF3) offers all-day combos for $10-$11.
Halal gourmet burgers, brick-oven pizza and muhallebi (creamy Turkish custard) are the name of the game at Etobicoke’s Zula Pizza & Burger (225 The East Mall, Unit 3).
Stellar bottleshop 4th and 7 left Bloordale (1211 Bloor St. W.) last month, but has already reopened inside the new Society Clubhouse (973 College St.) with a impressive lineup of brews, cider, vino and seltzer.
CLOSED
It’s coming down to the wire. The last day for Lambretta’s Roncy location (89 Roncesvalles Ave.) is January 28. Owner Celina Blanchard cites issues with the landlord as the reason for the closure. Good news: Get your pizza/pasta fix at the Davenport Village location (1151 Davenport Rd.).
Across the city, businesses are being displaced by condo development. Recently at King and Sherbourne, South St. Burger Bar, Betty’s, and now Mangia & Bevi have had to up sticks to make room for towers of stacked living quarters. While Mangia & Bevi's OG site for all things pizza/pasta (260 King St. E.) is now a thing of the past, their “secret” 2.0 eatery M&B is coming to Riverside, taking over Lan Vietnamese’s former space at Queen and Saulter (755 Queen St. E.). p.s. Naturally TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know.
Otto's Bierhalle arrived at The Great Hall at Queen and Dovercourt (1087 Queen St. W.) six years ago. The “final farewell” is January 28, while their casual outpost in Kensington, Otto’s Berlin Döner (256 Augusta Ave.), will remain.
The space that was Saigon House (3393 Yonge St.) is home to a completely different concept now. Details above.
King and Spadina stalwart since the ‘90s Thai Princess (387 King St. W.) and last summer’s iteration Thai Sushi and Bar have come to an end. For who’s taken over, see above.
Woofdawg Hot Dog (1357 Dundas St. W.) has closed “for the foreseeable future” due to fire. No injuries were reported. A GoFundMe campaign has launched to help rebuild and reopen the shop.
CHANGES
Lori and Manon Feasson opened Bonjour Brioche (812 Queen St. E.) in 1997. After 25 years, the award-winning French bakery in Riverside has a new owner, Nathan, a former employee.
Food event space and co-working kitchen Mess Hall is now calling Leslie and Gerrard home (1125 Gerrard St. E.).
EVENTS
Reservations are now open for Winterlicious returning January 27- February 9.
Another culinary event offering prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus for a limited time, Taste of Oakville, is happening February 15 to March 10.
NEWS
Have you been shopping online at the LCBO lately? Their recent cybersecurity Incident might affect you. This follows last week’s announcement of the LCBO's partnership with Uber Eats.
René Redzepi, chef/co-owner of 3 Michelin-star fine dining restaurant Noma, announced it will close Winter 2024, followed by Noma 3.0. Hassel Aviles, Toronto industry vet, co-founder/executive director of Not 9 to 5, a non-profit specializing in mental health training for the foodservice sector, called the announcement a “PR move to cash in on the next 24 months, and position ‘hero’ narrative.”
Relief for salad lovers is in motion: Lettuce prices are finally on the way down.
Take your brunch fits to the next level with Nike Dunk Low ‘Montreal Bagel’ kicks.
For the first time in months, there are no food recalls this week. [UPDATE 14.01.23 Le Cendré de Notre-Dame brand Semi-soft Surface-ripened Cheese recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes.]
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Life moves fast: I wrote about 100+ new arrivals in December alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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