OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News July 6-12, 2023
The 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
🕘 11.5 min read
The month started off with a bang, and the momentum continues with this week’s 22 arrivals. Not just in the downtown core either. Discover what’s new in Mississauga, Vaughan, Scarborough, Oakville, and even Prince Edward County right now. And buckle up, closures are coming fast n’ furious.
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Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Aunty Lucy’s Burgers (325 Front St. W.) is baaack. Get in on their famous burgers, fried chicken sandos, and grilled cheese paired with fries and kelewele - aka Ghana-style fried plantains. Note: Open for delivery/pick-up for now.
Befikre Indian Resto Bar (295 Enfield Pl.) touched down in Mississauga this weekend with sleek banquettes, smoke-tinged cocktails and modern Indian fare.
Craving comfort food? Head to Butterchick to get your fix via curry bowls, samosa sliders, and butter chicken poutine at the new branch in Scarborough (1095 Ellesmere Rd.). Grand opening is tomorrow with BOGO curry bowls.
I was the first to report on Café Zuzu’s new digs in Regent Park (555 Dundas St. E.) in the TR Newsletter last summer. Update: Gelateria Zuzu has taken over the adjacent takeout window, formerly home of The Landsdowne Cone in Regent Park.
DoughBox Wood Fired Pizza & Pasta has been making moves across the GTA since its debut in Hamilton in 2019: Mississauga (Nov/21), Oakville (Jan/22), and Port Credit (Summer/22). Finally a downtown outpost has emerged, just north of Union Station (40 University Ave., Unit 7). Stay tuned: Etobicoke, Woodbridge and more further afield are launching “soon.”
Last month TR Readers got the scoop on The Goods’ second location. Newsflash: Vitamin-packed vegan grub by way of soups, salads, sandos, burgers, smoothies and juices await just east of Dufferin (1170 Queen St. W.).
Hem Social (1424 Dundas St. W.) softly opened this weekend, bringing traditional Vietnamese grub (phở, bún, bánh mì) to Little Portugal. TR Tip Off: “Secret creations” happen on weekends.
Immerse yourself in stellar soundscapes while kicking back with sophisticated cocktails and Japanese nibbles at listening bar Kissa (619 King St. W.). The city’s latest hi-fi haunt (See: The Little Jerry, 915 Dupont) - the brainchild of local restaurateurs Dan Gunam and Vito Tomasicchio behind many destinations across the 6ix including Soluna - opens July 12.
Il Vegano (502 Queen St. W.) kicked off this weekend. The Italian plant-based venture promises a “one-of-a-kind dining experience” via antipasti, salads, burgers and wraps, risotto of the day, and “meat”-based dishes including Spezzatino Di Agnello (IPA-braised “lamb” stew) and Scaloppine Di Pollo (“chicken breast”). Healthy sippers such as smoothies, shakes, and juices with cheeky names (The Vaxx, The 2 Dose, Booster) are just part of the beverage roster. The space, festooned with flowers, includes the requisite Instagram wall with floral background and pink neon sign, this time, with a bible quote: “Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14.”
Imperfect Eats - home of healthy bowls, wraps and drinks - joins The Food District in Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr.).
The Financial District is about to get a whole lot sweeter. Ladurée debuts Wednesday at the Exchange Tower (130 King St. W.) with Parisian-style tea room, afternoon tea, and French fare.
Vaughan is the latest stop for cooking school for the kiddos, Little Kitchen Academy (20 Jacob Keffer Pkwy). This marks the third location in the province in just over a year.
Mezcalero (509 Bloor St. W.) in The Annex has been a long time coming. Get in on tequila and tapas starting Sunday.
Giddy up. Paris Texas Grand Saloon (461 King St. W., Unit A) launches tomorrow. The “premier sports and country bar” courtesy of local hospitality co. Liberty Entertainment Group and Municipal Goods (of resto disco Pizza Wine Disco also on King) is bringing cowpoke party vibes to King & Brant, so saddle up buckaroo - it’s going to be a wild ride.
Pita Lite at Yonge & St. Clair (1440 Yonge St.) boasts a lineup of shawarma, falafel, kebabs, salads, sides and dessert. Grand opening took place Tuesday.
Friday marked the first day of Ramen Isshin’s new digs in Vaughan (3175 Rutherford Rd., Unit 47) - the third location in the GTA, sixth in Canada, for the Japanese noodle destination.
Think the Entertainment District is all pub fare and poppin’ bottles? Think again. The food of Guadeloupe has arrived in downtown Toronto, courtesy of Riko Bokito (254 Adelaide St. W.). Caribbean Creole French cuisine is just what your day needs. Hot tip: Their bokit - fried dough sandos - are game-changers.
Psst. Hot mini doughnuts are happening at Dundas and Ossington, thanks to Sugar Daddy Doughnuts (1221 Dundas St. W., Unit 3).
Bubble tea shop Teako at Gerrard and Greenwood (1279 Gerrard St. E.) gets underway July 8. A food menu is in the works.
Heading to the County? Pro tip: Make time for charming Theia (7 Elizabeth St.) in Picton, the latest project by Myles Harrison, co-founder of Crosley’s (RIP) and Margot Kenny.
Tikka Talks brings authentic Indian fare and Chinese delicacies to Upper Oakville Shopping Centre (1011 Upper Middle Rd. E., Unit C22).
In other Oakville news: Wared (438 Kerr St., Unit 5) has softly opened in Kerr Village. In addition to an array of Middle Eastern fare (shish tawouk, mutabel, kabobs), discover breakfast and brunch items (omelettes, s’mores french toast, smoked salmon benny) alongside a few international dishes (wings, chicken alfredo, tagine).
CLOSED
While Donut Hive’s shop at Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.) has shuttered, their dipped and filled creations are on offer in the food court at illy Caffe.
Approximately one year ago, Greenwood Smokehouse (673 Danforth Ave.) temporarily closed due to fire. According to owners Lina and Dustin Samuels, the damage was “quite extensive.” Furniture and surfaces have been shrouded in plastic for months. Google has marked the restaurant permanently closed. The popular barbecue restaurant debuted at Pape and Danforth in 2014 under then owner/pitmaster Warren DeSimone.
Bhojan Alley (1424 Dundas St. W.) opened Winter ‘22. Discover who’s moved in above.
Denise Soueidan-O'Leary’s purpose driven social enterprise The Landsdowne Cone in Regent Park (555 Dundas St. E.) – aka “A Scoop of Ice Cream, a Heap of Empowerment!” – was one of the most popular destinations in the neighbourhood, and not solely due to the dessert on hand either. It was a space that created jobs and training to youth with social and developmental barriers to employment that may not have found work elsewhere. The parlour has temporarily closed while seeking new locations and partnerships.
After 27 years, Maria and Michael Lim’s Indian style Hakka restaurant Lin Garden (1806 Pharmacy Ave.) has come to an end.
Following the sudden closure of The Annex Food Hall in January ‘22, James Lee, chef Trevor Lui, Jae Pak and Dave Choi announced their Asian food hall Superfresh (384 Bloor St. W.) featuring Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese chefs, restaurants and shops, was taking over. Doors opened four months later with eight enterprises under one roof: Auntie’s Supply, Bao Bird, Bar Superfresh, Big Beef Bowl, The Good Goods, Jajan, Katsupan, and Ssam Cha. The vendor roster changed a few times throughout its short stint and Kim Ng, owner of The Good Goods, shared in a candid newsletter less than a month after opening there, the initial buzz for the dining hall had waned. (She shut down her business completely in December.) Indonesian street food concept Kaki Lima was added to the lineup in May, just over a month before closure.
Zucchinis Cucina (438 Kerr St., Unit 5) in Oakville has shuttered. During the pandemic, the Italian eatery had its liquor licence suspended for allegedly serving unvaccinated diners. For what’s in its place, see above.
NEWS
The city’s restaurant event Summerlicious is back. From July 7 to uly 23 enjoy three-course prix fixe meals (Lunch $20-$55, Dinner $25-$75).
Black Restaurant Week returns to Toronto July 7-16.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
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