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🕘 9.5 min read

This month welcomed a smorgasbord of concepts and my findings this week - 14 arrivals, 7 closures - continue run the gamut in every aspect Including setting, price and cuisine. You’ll also discover lots of first time ventures mingled in with concepts by some of the biggest names in the world including a two-time Canadian Olympian.

Pro tip: Stay tuned. More news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter. And make sure to follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news and exciting announcements.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Back in May I gave you the scoop on AP. Psst. The first elevator for world-renowned chef Antonio Park’s restaurant (55 Bloor St. W.) with Scale Hospitality Group (Byblos, Lapinou, Toronto Beach Club and new addition Miss Likklemores are just a small sampling of their portfolio), complete with sweeping views of the city’s skyline, ascends to the 51st floor Monday at 5pm.

This week’s hidden destination comes in the form of a bakery tucked away in a laneway in Hillcrest Village. Rebecca Howard’s Becked Goods (684 St. Clair Ave. W., rear unit off Humewood Dr.) is brimming with cookies, bars and coffee. Just look for the pretty-in-pink-tinged extension, previously home to Jack and Lil's Commissary Kitchen that shuttered earlier this year. 

Canine-centric cafes have a trend for some time, but this is the first dedicated to loveable big lug Berners. Grand opening for Markham’s The Bernese Barista (6 Nipigon Ave.) in Markham was June 24.

Brown Donkatsu And Ramen spent the pandemic expanding the brand: first in 2021 to North York, and earlier this year in Richmond Hill. Grand opening celebrations for their first downtown Korean donkatsu house (138 Dundas St. W.) take place Sunday. Enjoy 30 per cent off Sunday 11:30am-9pm. Conditions apply. 

Two sisters from Armenia have launched a European fine dining restaurant in Midtown. Chandelier Fine Dine (1993 Yonge St.) offers classic dishes refined with modern techniques: Roasted Cauliflower stuffed and topped with herbs and housemade tahini sauce (shareable for two), Chicken in Bacon with Pistachios, and Lamb Shank Braised In Beer. Desserts such as a realistic Flower Pot (semisweet chocolate pot, mascarpone cream, cherries in brandy, chocolate cake) and molecular cocktails round out the selections.

From cakes to croissants to macarons, Delysées Luxury Desserts is a one-stop-shop for all things decadently modern and sweet. Insider tip: Doors to the Yorkville outpost (161 Yorkville Ave.) are now open. 

From records to restaurants. Florette (1168 Queen St. W.) may be the first hospitality venture for owner Jerry Zhang, but it’s been a long-time dream for the former record label exec. The concept? “Funky,” local and seasonal focused sharing plates and cocktails in a cozy space that Zhang tells me was designed to feel like “a cool, stylish auntie’s home.” Dishes are meant to remind you of home as well. At the stove: Chef Mann Bijlani  whose resume boasts posts in the 6ix - Vela and Bar Buca - and abroad: Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy and Thailand, and running an underground tasting menu destination in Mumbai. The small team is rounded out by GM/Beverage Director Matt Allinson, previously found behind the bar at Toronto hotspots including Mother, Marbl and Mamakas Taverna. Fun facts: 1. Allinson started in the industry in the kitchen. 2. The trio met during the pandemic. 3. Their age range? 26 and younger.

Goûter Patisserie lovers, you’re in for a treat: An Etobicoke location is in the works. Can’t wait to get in all that goodness? Rodney and Bianca are holding a pop-up at their new space (34 Six Point Rd.) every Saturday from 8am-noon, starting this weekend.

Karahi Point ‘s grand opening in Thorncliffe Park (60 Overlea Blvd.) is happening tomorrow from noon to 11pm. Enjoy 15 per cent off food and beverages. (Friday only.) The authentic Pakistani restaurant’s new digs take over the expansive space that was Swiss Chalet.

Artisanal Italian gelato has landed at the corner of Queen and John via Mizzica Gelateria & Café (307 Queen St. W.). Did you know? The space was home to Second Cup for what seems like forever, and in later years, joined by Pinkberry.

Mr. Sun, a “celebrity tea brand” in Taiwan founded in 1999, claims to be the first to introduce drinks including Heineken Green Tea and Cheese Milk Foam Oolong Tea and their homemade tapioca includes natural collagen and jelly powder and “contains 30 per cent less fat than the traditional tapioca.” Get your hands on this BBT in Oakville at Trafalgar and Dundas (380 Dundas St. E., Unit D6).

Napoleon pastries are the specialty at North York’s Soul Made Patisserie & Café at Yonge and Sheppard (4750 Yonge St., Unit 134).

Grand opening festivities for Taiwan's “famous brown sugar boba” chain Tiger Sugar’s new flagship on Yonge south of Carlton (439A Yonge St.) taking place this Saturday and Sunday. (BOGO free offer from 12pm-10pm. Conditions apply.). Their original location nearby (348A Yonge St.) debuted Summer ‘19 and closed January 27 of this year due to “city redevelopment.”

“Canada's first ever artisanal toast bar” has arrived at Stackt Market (28 Bathurst St.). We Love Toast Inc’s lineup includes sweet, savoury and classic selections. The concept is from two-time Canadian Olympian, Segun Makinde.

CLOSED

Escape Goat (1510 Queen St. W.) in Parkdale has come to an end. The neighbourhood watering hole celebrated four years on April 1.

Kim Ng is shutting down her mochi muffin and Basque cheesecake pop-up bakery The Good Goods, currently housed at Asian food hall Superfresh (384 Bloor St. W.) in the Annex. Her candid newsletters have documented the hardships of running a small business, from receiving bad reviews to her “mixed feelings” about being a part of the food hall. You’ve got until December 18 to visit.

Ramen is still available in the space that was Kenzo Ramen (138 Dundas St. W.). Details above. 

Gourmet food store Mason’s Fine Foods (692 Mt Pleasant Rd.) shuttered during the pandemic, the last closure of Peer To Peer Hospitality Group’s award-winning establishments Atlas, Cava, Chabrol, and Tanto.

Mizzzica Gelateria & Café’s artisanal Italian gelato may not be available at Queen and McCaul ((29 McCaul St.) anymore, but thankfully it’s not far away. Details above.

Today Hillcrest Village BIA announced the closure of Stockyards Smokehouse (699 St Clair Ave. W.) The popular smash burger, fried chicken and barbecue destination carried on after the tragic death of  founder/owner Thomas Davis last summer. Doors close Sunday.

“This isn’t goodbye forever, just goodbye for now,” has been a common refrain in the T.O. hospitality scene lately. The latest example: Urban Herbivore (64 Oxford St.). The plant-based eatery landed in Kensington Market 17 years ago and was instrumental in pioneering many trends and practices including biodegradable packaging for takeout.

CHANGES

Montreal bagel lovers, you’re in luck: Bagel Time in Greektown moved just one door over from 582 to 584 Danforth Ave. 

NEWS 

Yet another reason to support local, independent businesses.

The latest addition to local food recalls: Tim Hortons Soup Base Chicken Noodle recalled due to presence of insects.

Please support local businesses whenever possible. 

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

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter 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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