OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News March 24-30, 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

🕘 10 min read

Spring has arrived, mask mandates were lifted, and the dining scene has already vastly changed from last week. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

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In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

They city’s newest hookah bar Armada Shisha Lounge (100 Bond St.). claims to be the “Best shisha in downtown.” Find it tucked behind historic Imperial Pub (54 Dundas St. E.), established 1944.

ISO meal options downtown? Discover three venues under one roof in a new food hall near Yonge and King: Bangkok 360 and Sultan's Mediterranean Grill (44 Victoria St.) and Box Market Jamaican Food (25 Adelaide St. E., Unit 101).

Bar Orwell (1595 Dundas St. W.) in Brockton Village is part bar, community space and venue boasting an array of events from live music to karaoke.

Saturday’s grand opening of the “first Caribbean infused pizzeria,” Caribbean Slice (1764 Eglinton Ave. W.) in York, was a resounding success.

Psst. Haitian soul food has arrived in Leslieville. Currently operating as a ghost kitchen for delivery, Chez Lynda (1374 Queen St. E.) will be opening for full on dine-in later this year. Get in on Plat Fritay ($10), a mixed platter of snack-sized street fare: plantain, akra, marinade and griot, served with Tati Lynda's pikliz; Poule Friz Ak Makaroni ($22.50) featuring two pieces of 12-spice fried chicken and five cheese macaroni; and vegan Legim ($13.50) hearty, aromatic eggplant stew served over white rice.

Calling all pastry lovers and and java fiends: Daily Dose Coffee Bar (125 John St.) has landed In the Entertainment District.

It was just last month I told you all about Daniel’s Chai Bar pop-up in Mississauga. Their Famous Lion Chais will be available at Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr. Entry 4 next to Legoland) until the summer.

Now that travel is back on the table for many, The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles Express at Pearson Airport (6301 Silver Dart Dr., past security in Terminal 1) will come in handy.

Don’s Caribbean Jerk debuted in North York (39 Abraham Welsh Rd., Unit 3) Saturday with an extensive menu covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Think: Peanut Porridge, Saltfish Fritters, Daily Lunch Specials, Brown Stew Chicken, Curry Goat, and Steam Snapper.

Mealtime is easier thanks to frozen dim sum wholesaler Fu Kee Bao Dim. (in Scarborough (21 Milliken Blvd., Unit C5). Check out their latest outpost in Markham (11 Fairburn Dr., Unit 9).

Japanese croissanterie Hazukido came on the scene in 2020 and has been on fire ever since. Don’t miss the two day grand opening at CF Shops at Don Mills (14 Clock Tower Rd., Unit B003) this weekend, starting Saturday at 11am. Promotions include: First 30 customers receive a box of three free croissants (Golden Cheese, White Chocolate & Honeycomb), with the next 50 customers receiving a BOGO croissant offer. *All promotions limited to one per customer.

Il Gatto e la Volpe (5451 Hwy 7) in Vaughan does pizza and pasta sure, but there are plenty of other options, including steak, veal scaloppini, salmon, cod, chicken, lamb.

JJ Fried Chicken (2539 Eglinton Ave. W.) has arrived at Keele and Eglinton with an array of fried chicken, wings, calamari and dumplings.

I introduced you to Kumain Kitchen last summer. Find the Filipino-inspired fare at The District Kitchen at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) until Sunday. And read all about twin chefs Jason and Ryan Buising in At The Pass.

Halal burger joint Masala Burgers softly opened in East York (2889 St Clair Ave. E.) yesterday. All items are prepared fresh daily with 100 per cent hand slaughtered halal meat.

Brunch reigns supreme in the 6ix, so it’s no surprise the arrival of Calgary import OEB Breakfast Co has already garnered buzz. The first Toronto outpost opens in Liberty Village (135 East Liberty St.) Monday.

Modern Mediterranean cuisine has arrived at Weston and Lawrence via Osmow’s (1979 Weston Rd., Unit 1).

Executive chef Nuit Regular and husband Jeff, co-owners of Kiin, Sabai Sabai, Sukthothai, PAI Northern Thai Kitchen, By Chef Nuit, and in charge of the culinary program at Selva Toronto, expand their empire with a PAI location in partnership with “Canada’s first virtual food hall” Kitchen Hub’s new Dufferin and Eglinton outpost (1121 Castlefield Ave.) that debuted earlier this month.

Taps Public House kicks off at Meadowvale Town Centre (6570 Meadowvale Town Centre Cir.) with grand opening celebrations on Monday. The “premium casual dining” destination in Mississauga will be open for lunch, dinner, late night and weekend brunch, with an array of comfort foods including pizza, pasta, burgers and steak.

For wok-dried tomato with leek brunch ‘biscones,’ Ben.To.Pan bread (inspired by shokupan), and brown butter cookies, head to new Taste Bender (409 College St.). The new venture, operated by restaurant brands ‘incubator’ Project Glyph (PG), shares space with Onkki B - newly launched sister brand of Onnki Donburi (see autumn 2017), and soon-to-open Turkish eatery LokumEats.

French taco eatery Brick'N'Cheese (678 College St.) arrived in Little Italy last summer. Fun fact: Their virtual lasagna bar concept Tito’s Kitchen was debuted last week.

CLOSED

The Annex Food Hall (384 Bloor St. W.) was home to outposts of Bar Superfresh, El Nahual Tacos, Masala Guys, Mean Bao, and Ramona’s Kitchen, in addition to numerous pop-ups, before officially closing January 8. Coming soon: “Asian night market concept” Superfresh by Annex Food Hall owner James Lee, chef Trevor Lui, Jae Pak and Dave Choi. The new venture showcasing Asian-owned and led businesses debuts next month.

Baddies Cafe (679 Lansdowne Ave.) is shutting down for good as of Wednesday. Owner Alex White posted a message on Instagram announcing the closure last week. Pro tip: Drown your sorrows with COPS doughnuts operating out of the space evenings “until further notice.”

After repeated delays, Calii Love (2131 Yonge St.) debuted a swanky new space at Yonge and Eglington last fall, but it wasn’t meant to be.

After six years, husband-and-wife team chef Angel Videaux and wife Michelle are closing El Habanero & Churrobar (4915 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 8) in Scarborough, home to “the world's only Cuban restaurant and Churro Dessert Bar specializing in Churro Cakes” and “the world's first Churro Charcuterie,” on March 31. New projects however, are underway. Stay tuned.

Another pool hall bites the dust. For what replaced Four Aces Snack Bar (1595 Dundas St. W.), see above.

Oriental City Chinese Restaurant (2539 Eglinton Ave. W.) has turned into a fried chicken joint. Details above

EVENTS

Food Truck’N Friday is back.

The Granite Brewery is hosting a fundraiser for Bob, a long-time employee, on April 3.

ICYMI

The province lifted mask mandates earlier this week, but not everyone’s ready to ditch them just yet.

Looking for ways you can help Ukraine? Discover fabulous fundraisers by local chefs and restaurants now.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast: I wrote about +100 new arrivals in February alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

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Need staff? Help promoting your menu, indoor dining, bottle shop, patio, private event space, takeout and delivery, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.