OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 2-8, 2022
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. #ifyouknowyouknow
🕘 14 min read
In case you haven’t heeded my words thus far, take note: This week’s RECORD-BREAKING ISSUE is just the latest example of the insanity happening.
And there’s lots more on the way. So follow on Insta and Facebook, subscribe to the TR Newsletter , catch up on previous editions (I uncovered 100+ new arrivals last month alone) and WATCH THIS SPACE.
In the meantime, here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Chef/owner Emily De Beus of Toronto-based Sausage Party Toronto has been creating vegan versions of classic comfort fare – think Herby Seitan Roast with Sourdough Stuffing, plant-based Fennel & Ale Sausage, Maple Fakin’ Bacon, and whole plant-based Salami – for years. The grand opening for her brick-and-mortar destination Aunty Em’s Deli & Coffee (1672 St Clair Ave. W.) is happening all weekend long.
Starting today, Azkadenya’s Middle Eastern and Arabian fare is available at Kitchen Hub’s newest outpost (1121 Castlefield Ave.).
Mercatino E Vini (1091 Queen St. E.) arrived in Leslieville last summer, just steps away from its Ascari sibling Ascari Enoteca (1111 Queen St. E.). FYI: There’s a secret new spot in back, Bar Ciccio.
Vegan bakery Bloomer’s new doughnut trailer is launching Saturday, June 4) in Liberty Village at 109 Atlantic Ave (behind West Elm). They'll be serving fresh, handcrafted vegan donuts and coffee daily (11am to 7pm, or until sold out) until October 31. Seasonal specials (Key Lime Pie, Lemon Poppyseed Campfire S’mores, and more) will be on hand in addition to bestsellers such as Birthday Cake!, Cinnamon Sugar, Rose Pistachio, and Vanilla Sprinkles.
Burger Delicious (820 Church St.) debuted earlier this week with a focused menu: five burgers, four salads, one side (fries) and drinks. Find them in King Palace Restaurant’s former digs at Yonge and Davenport.
Chatime is always on the move. Find their latest in Etobicoke (3812 Bloor St. W.). Grand opening festivities (including a BOGO promotion and early bird special) kick off tomorrow.
Cops Yorkdale (3011 Dufferin St.) has been open only a few months before a car crash shut things down for a while - no injuries were reported. They’re back in business slinging hot coffee and doughnuts.
Craig’s Cookies (1332 Queen St. W.) moved its Parkdale digs a few city blocks. Doors opened yesterday.
The Epicure Shop (473 Parliament St.) in Cabbagetown has reopened after being temporarily closed due to fire.
F.L.I.P. Kitchens (5210 Yonge St.) is a project by the City of Toronto run by nonprofit caterToronto. The new concept is intended for first time lease holding food businesses with a focus on newcomer, women, queer and BIPOC entrepreneurs. There are five restaurants (four currently open) complete with indoor and outdoor seating, takeout and delivery:
1. Bunhaus - Eastern European style stuffed buns
2. Chic Peas Veg – vegetarian/vegan grub
3. Da Endz - Jamaican comfort food
4. Teta’s Kitchen - Lebanese and Indonesian fare
5. caterToronto – opening soon.
Take a peek.
Goodfellas Wood Oven Pizza’s first spot in Streetsville debuted October 2013. Their “authentic Neapolitan-style wood oven pizzas” and other Italian fare has been making its way across the GTA ever since. The seventh outpost just debuted at Oakville Place (240 Leighland Ave.).
Indo Chinese restaurant The Hakka Club has been a part of Mississauga for some time now. The “blend of Desi Hakka inspiration from Delhi street hawkers” by the folks of Desi Bar & Grill just got another outpost (3021 Argentia Rd.).
Happy Sundae (85 Portland St.) is the 6ix’s newest ice cream shop. Doors softly opened yesterday for the latest venture by Toronto entrepreneur Angela Phung, owner of aka.THESTORE on Queen (711 Queen St. W.). Expect soft serve with an array of housemade toppings. Bonus: Get them in next-level brightly hued cones in lush flabours such as Lavender, Matcha, Orange Creamsicle, Red Velvet, and Salted Blue Corn.
Heading out of the city? Harry’s Charbroiled smash burgers have landed in Prince Edward County. Picton, be to exact (13633 HWY 33).
Oakville’s In and Out Convenience (108 Burnhamthorpe Rd. E.) has got you no matter when the munchies hit. They’re open 24 hours.
I introduced you to JABS (Just Another Burger Spot) last summer. Soft opening for the first permanent location (630 St. Clair Ave. W.) at St. Clair and Wychwood is happening Saturday and Sunday. In the meantime, get to know owner/chef Janrikk Millan in At The Pass. p.s. You would already be in the know if you got the TR Newsletter.
ISO of traditional Laotian fare? Check out the new Lao Food Co. shop inside Milkcow Cafe (2651 Yonge St.).
L'Watea Bubble Tea (635 Bloor St. W.) in Koreatown offers a variety of bevvies including teas (fruit, milk, cheese), slushes, smoothies and lattes.
Signature dishes at Mr. X Kitchen (394 Bloor St. W.) in The Annex include Black Pepper Tenderloin with Tiger Prawns, Thai Green Curry Chicken and Shrimp, X Chili Chicken, and XO Fried Rice.
Mumbai Frankie (formerly Bombay Frankie) has landed in Gerrard India Bazaar (1386 Gerrard Street, Unit 1) with frankies (Indian street food similar to a burrito made with a roti or chapati) and Irani Chai.
There’s more to Richmond Hill’s Pho Vinh (16 Vogell Rd., Unit 16B) than the signature Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Discover a variety of selections including vermicelli bowls, stir-fries, and curries.
Piano Piano The Pizzeria just arrived at Chef’s Hall (111 Richmond St. W.). Find the Brooklyn-style ‘za by Chef Victor Barry (Piano Piano, Piccolo Piano), next to Grateful Chicken by Chef Brandon Olsen that debuted last month.
Reliable Fish and Chips (954 Queen St. E.) has been around since 1930, but has seen its share of closures in later years. The Leslieville eatery shuttered suddenly in March 2017 before reopening five months later, and more recently what seemed to be for good in January. Doors softly reopened yesterday under new ownership.
Roll This Way landed at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St., Unit 3-120) May 20 with an array of sushi, sushi sandos, and mochi ice cream chopsticks. The shop will be on-site until the end of September.
Psst. There's a new hidden destination for fish and chips. Sailor’s Fish and Chips tucked inside Hooked Danforth (1246 Danforth Ave.) Brought to you by shop owners Laura Cleland and Sean Kinghan, the eatery just east of Greenwood is in soft launch, with a permanent location is in the works and markets (Sunnybrook Farmers' Market, East Lynn Night Market) soon. Fun fact: Hooked's owners Kristin and Dan Donovan and Laura and Sean all worked together for 15 years in the restaurant industry. TR Newsletter subscribers got dibs.
Shah's Halal Food began life as a food cart in Queens, New York back in 2005. A full-on restaurant followed in Long Island in 2016, and its been on a road to success ever since. PSA: The first Canadian location soft launches tomorrow.
It was just a month ago that Roses Cocina launched at Hotel X Toronto (111 Princes' Blvd., 2nd Fl). Introducing the he latest addition: Valerie encompassing the entire rooftop as well as the 27th and 28th floors.
Wings Up has been serving Southern Ontario since 1988. Now it’s Toronto’s turn to get a taste. The first branch in the 6ix - 21st in the province - just touched down near Fort York (22 Bathurst St.) with 18 flavours of wings in 18 flavours and other pub fare - jalapeno poppers, chicken fingers, perogies, poutine, etc.
Markham’s HK eatery Wonton Hut has touched down at Queen and Bathurst with a lineup of soups, noodles, beef brisket and more.
CLOSED
Asteria Souvlaki Place (292 Danforth Ave.), one of the last remaining Greek restaurants on the Danforth shuttered for good Saturday night. After 40 years, the owners are retiring to Greece.
Bar Wellington (520 Wellington St. W.) set in a striking Victorian, “carefully renovated” house, is available for lease. For what their neighbours are up to, see the ICYMI section below.
Nepali and Hakka restaurant Gorkha Durbar opened at the end of last summer.
Leslieville’s Lan Vietnamese Restaurant (755 Queen St. E.) has been closed for months and the space cleared out of furniture for almost as long, leaving diners wondering if or when it was ever to reopen. Answer: ‘For Lease’ signs have been posted in the windows.
Queen Margherita Pizza’s Dundas location/QMP Central (772 Dundas St. W. ), once an expansive restaurant, has closed to the public as its now the production space for their frozen product line.
Superfly (5 Brock Ave.) was a hidden gem in Parkdale. Doors closed what was hoped to be temporary in January, but an announcement of permanent closure followed in April.
CHANGES
Bombay Frankie chain, aka Bombay Frankie - The Original Bombay Roll, aka “An Irani Cafe with an Indian Heart“– changed to Mumbai Frankie, Note: A new concept, Bombay Frankies, is launching in the GTA this fall with celebrity chef Vikram Vij.
Meat & Pie Co. (10 Kingsbridge Garden Cir.) in Mississauga is now Smokey Sam's Barbecue.
NEWS
There’s been a staggering surge in recalls lately: candy including Lifesavers, Skittles and Starburst; oysters, even poppy seeds. This week’s discoveries include frozen bars, dried silver fish, spot prawns and refrigerators. When I inquired about the recent FreshKampo strawberries recall, a spokesperson for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the Public Health Agency of Canada “currently has an on-going investigation into FreshKampo strawberries,” but they are “no longer available for purchase in Canada. Currently, there are no food recall warnings associated with this outbreak.”
Do place your order at Tim Hortons via app? This might affect you.
Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls, a popular choice in many restaurants and available for sale in numerous stores across the GTA, has been making headlines lately.
ICYMI
Big news broke about Lee Restaurant this week. Of course, you had to know this would not be the end of the iconic restaurant. While the last service at the King West location will be December 31, 2022, a new location will launch around the corner in March 2023. As for the menu, a statement from Chef Susur Lee includes, “All of your favourite dishes (including the slaw, the cheeseburger spring rolls, and our chefs banquet menu) will also live on.”
Le Sélect Bistro (432 Wellington St. W.) is coming back, though in a different iteration, on June 24. Stay tuned for more details.
TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop first: W Toronto (90 Bloor St. E.) officially opens July 21, 2022.
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Life moves fast: I wrote about +100 new arrivals in May alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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