OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto/GTA Restaurant News May 2-8, 2024
The OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of the latest 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
🕘 12 min read
This week’s whirlwind features 33 establishments - 20 arrivals, over half that in closures - and a whack of news you need to know. Pro tip: Grab a drink +/or snack. You’re going to be here a while.
Psst. Want the inside track on what’s happening? In addition to subscribing to the TR Newsletter, keep your eyes peeled on the website (the #TRrending section is a good place to start) and follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and updates.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Sorrel’s wine bar next door À Côté (1156 Yonge St.) has been on my watchlist for what feels like forever. Update: See you there. But first, get a glimpse inside.
Anima Romana Bakery lands at Main and Gerrard (149 Main St.) with scores of treats, from pizza and bread to viennoiserie.
The first North American Azkadenya arrived here in the 6ix in 2019. Nearly five years later, the Mediterranean eatery adds Mississauga (6111 Erin Mills Pkwy., Unit 3) to the roster.
Radical Road Brewing Co. (1177 Queen St. E.) has long been home to food pop-ups. Psst. Neil Foerster’s Cal’s Zone just took over the kitchen with a lineup of North American-inspired calzones.
Scarborough’s Charcoal Kebab House (3256 Lawrence Ave. E.) is serving up halal Urghur cuisine in the Garden District at Jarvis and Dundas.
Chris Jerk’s second eatery touches down in Markham just north of Steeles (7220 Kennedy Rd.) with an array of Caribbean comfort fare. Think Curried Goat, Oxtail, Callaloo, and their famous Jerk Chicken Shawarma Poutine, for starters.
Daisy Bakery and Cafe is satisfying sweet cravings in Hillcrest Village (689 St Clair Ave W.) with a lineup of homemade pastries including cookies, croissants, danishes and tarts, alongside savoury selections such as bread and sandwiches.
In addition to classic Indian fare, Dear Delhi has got you for international grub - burgers, pasta, even nachos - in Mississauga’s Silver Creek Plaza (680 Silver Creek Blvd., Unit 18).
U.S.-based Texas ‘cue HQ Dickey’s Barbecue Pit adds to its Canadian roots with a Markham outpost (8630 Woodbine Ave.) and more on the way. Did you know? Their first bbq joint in Toronto launched last year at Yonge and College (472 Yonge St.).
Mike Tam’s Ding-A-Wing (397 Roncesvalles Ave.) is on the move. In the meantime, find your favourite chicken sandos, smash burgers and other good stuff in-house at The Smith House Bar (171 College St.) across from U of T, and as of May 17, at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.). Hot tip: Stay tuned: The Stop’s new stomping grounds are almost ready.
Edna + Vita debuted at First Canadian Place (77 Adelaide St. W.) on Friday. The former REDS Wine Tavern was transformed into the Italian concept by SIR Corp, the parent co. behind other haunts around town including Duke’s Refresher Bar, Jack Astor’s, The Loose Moose, and Scaddabush. The focus here: Italian classics - Roasted Chicken Cacciatore, Veal Parmigiana, Cioppino, pizza, pasta, and the like. p.s. Looking for REDS? It appears there’s only one location of the former chain remaining in the province: Square One in Mississauga (100 City Centre Rd., Unit 2-815), with their bakery concept, Abbey's Bakehouse, right next door.
Pro tip: If you’re heading to Roy Thomson Hall (60 Simcoe St.), swing by the east lobby to check out The Grange of Prince Edward Winery wine bar. Bonus: You’ll also find the PEC tipples in the exclusive member’s lounges at Allied Music Centre’s (178 Victoria St.) Massey Hall and new TD Music Hall, part of a three-year partnership between the concert halls and winery.
Italian restaurants abound in Woodbridge. The latest addition, Il Forno (4000 Steeles Ave. W.), offers a lineup of crowd-pleasers, inlcuding: Fresh Burrata ($22), Margherita Pizza (sm $16, med $21), Shrimp Risotto ($26), Lasagna ($18), Branzino Filet ($32), Roasted Rack of Lamb ($45), and Tiramisu ($9).
Turkish restaurant chain Mado’s new retro jazz lounge, La Mouette (144 Yonge St., 2nd Fl.),, does Turkish fare accompanied by live jazz on weekends. Bonus: Mado’s downtown location is nestled right below.
La Patrona settles down in Little Italy (669 College St.) with a roster of drinks, eats, and entertainment, in The Mix 669’s former stomping grounds.
What to expect at North York’s Lá Sen Vietnamese Cuisine (155 Yorkland Blvd.)? According to the restaurant: “A taste of Vietnam in every bite.” See for yourself.
I broke the news of forthcoming MSSM Ossington (1221 Dundas St. W.) last July in an edition of the TR Newsletter. Reservations are now open, with service commencing Saturday for the second of chef Masaki Saito’s MSSM Yorkville (154 Cumberland St., 2nd Fl.) sibling to Sushi Masaki Saito - Toronto's only restaurant with a two-star Michelin rating. The west end MSSM continues to showcase chef Saito’s Edomae style of sushi (Dinner Omakase $98/pp) executed by students of Saito San in a casual, “immersive” environment on Dundas, one block west of Ossington.
Nosh Cafenio takes over Sweetie Pie’s Danforth digs (563 Danforth Ave.), however you can still shop SP’s baked goodies alongside NC creations.
In search of coffee and pastries in Etobicoke? Doors opened yesterday Suvari Coffee (3378 Lake Shore Blvd. W.), previously home to Empire Café.
Grand opening of Two Brothers Shawarma at Queen and Bathurst (604 Queen St. W.) took place yesterday. This marks this fourth store for the local chain.
CLOSED
Bakerrae x Chachalate (149 Main St.) debuted last summer. While the east end brick-and-mortar destination has wrapped up, both businesses are offering their sweets online.
On Monday Bare Market (1480 Danforth Ave.) announced it will be closing its stunning storefront on Sunday May 19, switching to an online model. The zero-waste, plastic-free shop opened January 2020.
Burger Delicious (820 Church St.) made its debut at Yonge and Davenport in 2022. It’s giving way to a 38-storey high-rise. Memory lane: The addy was previously longtime home to King Palace.
Mike Tam’s Ding-A-Wing (397 Roncesvalles Ave.) has a new home. Details above.
Robot chef-driven concept Lofi Wok landed on the Queen West strip (604 Queen St. W.) in 2021. What replaced it? Head up top for more.
One of the largest establishments on the Danforth has shuttered. After a decade in Greektown, Louis Cifer Brew Works (417 Danforth Ave.) has called it quits. The business has been sold and the website is no longer available. Patrons is search of a pint can visit their other spot in nearby Cabbagetown, Stout Irish Pub (221 Carlton St.).
Despite launching just last summer, Miss Aida (413 Roncesvalles Ave.) is upping sticks. The last service on Roncy was Saturday. Door are slated to reopen elsewhere in the city this summer.
“Canada’s first build-your-own pasta shop” has come to an end in the T-dot. Pastucci's launched in Etobicoke (759A The Queensway) in 2017. A rapid expansion started at College Park in 2020 (777 Bay St., Unit C204), followed by Yonge and St. Clair (55 St. Clair Ave. W., Unit 101) in 2021, and in 2022, Dundas and University (525 University Ave.). The Etobicoke store remains operational.
The announcement came in over the weekend: After nearly six years, Rosalinda Restaurant (133 Richmond St W.) is closing as of May 3. Originally opened Summer ‘18 by restaurateurs Jamie Cook, Grant van Gameren, and Max Rimaldi, the plant-based biz was later added to the portfolio of Toronto’s largest hospitality groups, Oliver & Bonacini (O&B).
It’s too late to say goodbye to Sweetie Pie’s Danforth location (563 Danforth Ave.), however you can still find their products at the new shop - see openings above - and eight remaining locations around town.
Trap Juice Bar stuck it out at Dundas and Jarvis (201 Dundas St. E.) for a while.
NEWS
On Tuesday, Shake Shack confirmed its addy on the northeast corner of Yonge & Dundas (The Tenor 10 Dundas St. E.). Canada’s first outpost of the wildly successful burger chain out of the U.S. is slated to open this summer. Stay tuned. In the meantime, guests can check out the art installation at the flagship location by Toronto artist Briony Douglas. Fun facts: 1. Shake Shack is putting a Canuck spin on the menu with exclusive offerings including a Maple Salted Pretzel Shake. 2. The iconic eatery popped up in the 6ix for one day back in 2017 - Read my exclusive interview with culinary director Mark Rosati.
The City says 90 per cent of CafeTO patios will be ready to go for Victoria Day weekend.
A tentative agreement between select food and beverage workers at Toronto Pearson Airport and its company Gate Gourmet has been reached.
American rapper Kendrick Lamar’s new track “Euphoria” isn’t just slighting Toronto’s own Drake: It’s making headlines and driving business to local Chinese restaurant, New Ho King in Chinatown (410 Spadina Ave.), thanks to the lyric, "I be at New Ho King eatin' fried rice with a dip sauce and a blammy, crodie.”
Food recalls ramp back up: Dried Conch recalled due to undeclared sulphites, Gift Chocolate recalled due to undeclared milk and soy, Juewei meat and vegetable products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes, Kingwuu and T&T Kitchen meat and vegetable products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes.
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