OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News January 20-26, 2022
Photo courtesy of D Spot Dessert Cafe.
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.
🕘 9.5 min read
If you thought Monday’s snowstorm was big (it was), it ain’t got nothing on today’s announcement of the return of Indoor dining later this month.
This week I’ve uncovered 21 destinations for comfort fare across the GTA, perfect for temps like these. And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter.
In the meantime, here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Bold Food Hub in Baldwin Village (5 Baldwin St.) boasts three concepts: A Bite of Sichuan with Sichuan street fare, modern tea shop Fortune Tea, and Three Kingdoms Pizza specializing in guokui - large oval crispy Chinese flatbread.
Burger Tribe (490 Bloor St. W.) softly opens today in the Annex, with grand opening celebrations to follow Saturday. In addition to burgers, fried chicken sandos and sides, dig into extreme eats including Sweet N’ Salty (Crusted fried mozza between two beef patties, beef bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, roasted garlic salted caramel aioli), Double Griller-Killer (Tripled grilled beef patties, Canadian cheese, grilled onion, and BT aioli, between two grilled cheese sandwiches), and Sunday Dinner (grilled beef patty, one fried chicken breast, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, pickles & roasted garlic rosemary aioli).
There’s a new vegan bakery in town smack-dab between Keele and Dundas West: Caked Coffee (1651 Bloor St. W.). Fun fact: Owners Raman Gill and Supreet Arora are vegan, married, and brokers on the side.
Times like these call for desserts – the more decadent, the better. Look no further than Canadian biz D Spot Dessert Café. The eighth destination in the GTA landed in Scarborough (2351A Kingston Rd.) last month.
Canuck pizza chain Famoso Pizzeria + Bar, known for authentic Neapolitan pizza and Italian fare, has landed at Heartland Town Centre (6045 Mavis Rd.) in Mississauga.
Hot tip: Markham’s IKON Sushi Bar softly opened a second venue on January 13. Check out their new spot in Vaughan (9100 St., Unit 50).
Kebab Queen (669 Queen St. W.) at Queen and Bathurst isn’t your typical meat on a skewer kind of joint. In fact, the menu is mostly meat sandwiches topped with veg stuffed into handcrafted buns. Also on offer: French tacos, salads, sides, and drinks.
Visit Sneaky Dees (431 College St.) sweet l’il takeout window - aka Little Sneaky Café - for espresso-based drinks and baked goods including vegan cupcakes and cookies.
Indulge in sweet Turkish lokma, mini donuts, ice cream, sundaes and milkshakes at Lokma Pastry (1950 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 3) in Scarborough’s Wexford Heights.
Stop by Palmer Coffee’s bright, charming spot tucked between Bloor West Village and High Park (2133 Bloor St. W.) for coffee, tea, sandos, and pastries. Doors opened in November.
Pattylicious (1089 Kingston Rd., Unit 7B) at Kingston Rd. and Victoria Park has a not-to-be-missed lineup: Baked patties (crispy chicken or beef) on their own or stuffed (The Original: Coleslaw, tomatoes, cheese, signature house sauce. The Pattylicious: Jerk chicken, coleslaw, cheese, house sauce), Jerk Chicken Wrap or Meal.
TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know: Toronto's award-winning Paris Paris debuted Poulette Bulles on Saturday. The new fried chicken and sparkling wine concept is available through Uber Eats.
The primary location of Canada’s first robotic café moved a few doors down a few weeks ago. Find RC Coffee Robo Cafe in their new automated home at Bay and Yorkville (1255 Bay St.).
Duck, duck, soup. Chef Zhang’s menu at Soya Mandarin Kitchen (31 Baldwin St.) features sumptuous Peking Duck dishes, seasonal winter specials such as Lamb Mix and Seared Pork Belly Stews, dim sum, soups, stir fries, rice and noodle dishes, and desserts.
Shop for healthy, organic items in the Queen and Coxwell nabe at Sunset Marketplace (1588 Queen St. E.).
Chinatown’s Ten Miles BBQ claims to have “the most authentic northeast China Chuan’r in GTA.” For those in Scarborough who want to get in on the skewered grilled meat action, you’re in luck - Check out their new digs at Finch and Midland (3250 Midland Ave., Unit G128).
From the fine folks behind Dreyfus and Taverne Bernhardts comes Vilda's (209 Dovercourt Rd.) with next-level fare. Think: Brown Butter Chicken Salad Sando, Roast Carrots Salad with Dandelion Walnut Pesto, Matzo Ball Soup, and sweet and savoury treats (Pecan Raisin Roll, Potato Knish, Quince Danish) with convenience offerings to follow. Doors opened yesterday. p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers heard it first, so get on it.
Woojoo Bunsik (6026 Yonge St.) in North York is already known for its comforting K-food including Rose Tteokbokki and Tuna Rice Balls.
6ix Pizzas landed on Queen West in the fall. Find the second location at the other end of Queen in The Beaches (2070 Queen St. E.). Psst. To celebrate the soft opening, the halal pizzeria is giving out free slices Saturday 3-6pm. Note: no other food will be available. Grand opening takes place on Monday.
CLOSED
Cinnamon Indian Bistro (1966 Queen St. E.) shuttered in The Beach, but a search for a new location is underway. Stay tuned.
Knockout Chicken’s Annex venue (490 Bloor St. W.) has come to a close, but two locations remain: Kensington Market (207 Augusta Ave.) and Mississauga (3015 Winston Churchill Blvd.). For what’s taken over the Bloor Street spot, see above.
Noble Coffee Co. (1421 Bloor St. W.) closed in November due to the death of owner/operator Elizabeth Rohrich. An announcement of permanent closure was made Monday. #dontblocktheintersection
Saturday’s the last day to visit Pablo Cheese Tart at Dundas and Bay (114 Dundas St. W.). A location in Markham is slated to open at the end of March
Reliable Fish & Chips (954 Queen St. E.) has been a fixture in Leslieville since 1930. Doors close for good tomorrow.
NEWS
Today the provincial government announced the return of Indoor dining as of January 31 at 50 per cent capacity.
A Toronto restaurant is hosting a vaccination clinic today offering first, second and third doses without an appointment, ID, or proof of address for food, restaurant and hospitality workers.
Applications are now open for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program.
Registration for the CafeTO pstio program has opened, with all application, transfer and permit fees are being waived.
ICYMI
Head to Toronto Restaurants on Instagram or Facebook and show your favourite breweries some love! #ShareTheLoveTO
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Life moves fast - I wrote about +100 new arrivals in December alone.
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*Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.