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.

🕘 10 min read

If you thought it was busy before, just you wait. With spring just around the corner and restaurants back to full capacity, things are just ramping up. This week’s 20 arrivals and slew of closures are just the beginning. But don’t ditch your vaccine passport just yet.

And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter. 

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Pro tip: Add Alforat’s Iraqi street food at Victoria Park and Lawrence (1756 Victoria Park Ave.) to your to-do list.

858 Eglinton Ave. E. has been a real hotbed of culinary talent since its debut last summer. First with Conspiracy Pizza, then Churnt Up, and Phamilyeats. Midnight Cookie followed in October, with Southern Crown Caribbean Smokehouse added just last week. Bao Is Life marks the sixth venture to join the gang in Leaside. Woon Chung (Roger) Li started in six or seven years ago as a side catering hustle with a night’s pop-up once a year, it grew to pop-ups here and there, but nothing consistent. Until now. Li launched the Taiwanese eatery at the beginning of the month with the help of Conspiracy Pizza, where he’s been working since 2017. The menu - traditional Taiwanese and Chinese street food with “a unique twist” – is “in some way a reflection of Toronto's culture - the best of many cultures gathered in same place.” 

Chef Gunateet is cooking up a storm of Indian and Hakka fare at Bloor and Dundas West. Bawara (1570 Bloor St. W.) opened earlier this month.

Benny’s Barbecue (2409 Yonge St., Unit 106) by owner/executive chef Ben Slan and assistant pitmaster Andrew Golden specializes in ”traditional Texas style barbecue, with a craft smokehouse twist.” What does that mean exactly?  You’ll have to visit to find out. Doors open Wednesday.

Better Half Bar (663 Greenwood Ave.), the east end’s new destination for beer, wine, cocktails and pizza, launched last Tuesday, while North of Brooklyn Pizzeria arrived a little earlier.

Gastropub Blackburn Social House (488 College St.) debuted in Little Italy November 11. Armin Eftekhari, Mac Savage, Collin Wong, and Coulton Speight have banded together to recreate their time and memories in Sandy Hill, Ottawa. Chef Speight’s finer dining experience (London Steakhouse Company, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Victor Restaurant - Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer, Taboo Muskoka) gives the comfort food driven menu - Dirty Poutine ($16), Hennessey Garlic Shrimp ($16), Duck Confit Sandwich ($24), The Toronto Cheesesteak ($24), Vegan Gnocchi ($22), Truffle Lobsta Del Cheese ($30) - a sophisticated touch.

Monique and Jess are the mother-daughter duo behind uptown’s grounded. Coffeebar (3454 Yonge St.). Doors opened Tuesday.

A mighty trio - Asian tea bar Icha Tea, succulent shop Springer Garden, and fashion accessories by June Studio - has moved into what was Montgomery’s (996 Queen St. W.) that shuttered almost a year ago.

In the Dufferin and Eglinton ‘hood? Impact Kitchen’s new virtual kitchen at Kitchen Hub Food Hall Castlefield (1121 Castlefield Ave.) has got you for their signature power bowls, smoothies, soups, baked goods and other nutrient dense food.

Nashville hot chicken lovers in the east end are in luck: Juicy Birds just launched at Pape and Danforth (721 Pape Ave.).

The second GTA location of  Ottawa-based 24-hour chain Kettleman’s Bagel launched downtown today at Front and Niagara (33 Bathurst St.). Hot tip: If you’re all about St. Patrick’s Day festivities, you’ll want to get in on their hand-rolled Montreal green variety and Irish Cream cream cheese while you can. 

Khazana by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor has locations in Brampton and Milton, but the first Toronto outpost of the fine dining eatery just landed across from the Eaton Centre, next to CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in what was formerly Tim Hortons. Acclaimed chef Sanjeev Kapoor has published over 175 cookbooks, has more than 100 restaurants across the globe and is the recipient of the Padma-Shri Award for his “culinary contribution and for putting India on the world's culinary map.”

Kitchen Hub debuted right before the pandemic. The virtual food hall has since built up its roster, expanded with a second location and most recently, added a third outpost (1121 Castlefield Ave.) at Dufferin & Eglinton, with a new restaurant already in the mix. (See above.)

Soft vegan chocolate chip cookies are the name of the game at Major’s Cookies. Find them at their freshly baked pop-up at The District Kitchen at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) until March 13.

Maker Pizza has been making serious moves this last while. Store #4 kicks off at Bloor and Dovercourt (995 Bloor St. W.) tomorrow. FYI: If you were a TR Newsletter subscriber, you’d already be in the know.

Marquin (2523 Yonge St.) offers handcrafted, Venezuelan fare inspired by the area of Mérida.

In the mood for shawarma? Mr Eater (73 Queen St. E.) at Queen and Church has got you covered. 

This weather calls for ramen. The North Japanese Noodle Bar in Markham’s Langham Square (28 South Unionville Ave., Unit 1056 – Upper Floor) is currently offering 20 per cent off pick up orders until April 30 to celebrate the soft launch.

Psst. There's a new restaurant-discothèque in town. Pizza Wine Disco (788 King St. W.) debuted Saturday in what was formerly Ovest Cucina e Vineria. Call it dinner and dancing for the modern age. Fun facts:  1. It’s not the first (Sprezzatura Spaghetti Disco) and mark my words, not likely to be the last. 2. TR Newsletter subscribers got the intel first. 

Shop for a variety of fruit and veg at Season Fruit House (679 Mt Pleasant Rd.), next to the iconic Mount Pleasant Theatre.

CLOSED 

Arepatite (2523 Yonge St.) is “Closed until further notice” and the space is already occupied. See above.

The folks behind Spice and Aroma have closed the chapter on Aroma Food Hall (639 Yonge St.) at Yonge and Isabella for now.

The space that was Döner Express in Greektown (721 Pape Ave.) is already occupied. See above.

Old Bleu Café (73 Queen St. E.) has permanently closed after being a fixture at Queen and Church for what seemed like forever. 

Est. 1984, Orwell’s Pub (3373 Bloor St. W.) served the Etobicoke community for 37 years before closing for good earlier this week.

After four years, Lindsey Bevan and Jordan Williams of Sidenote in Mimico-by-the-Lake’s Seaway Plaza (2461 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) are “taking a step back from small business ownership to focus on new opportunities and our growing family.”

South China Restaurant (513 Mt. Pleasant Rd.) was a staple in the Davisville neighbourhood for over 65 years.

As of Monday, Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.) is partially closed for scheduled site maintenance until May. All Bathurst St. storefronts remain open during this time.⁠

Viva Napoli Pizzeria (679 Mt Pleasant Rd.) has been closed for some time. Psst. A new occupant just moved in. Details up top.

ICYMI 

Proof of vaccination is no longer required at bars, restaurants + other businesses in Ontario. Or is it? Discover why you shouldn’t delete your enhanced vaccination certificate with QR code just yet.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

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

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