OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News November 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. #iykyk

 🕘 12.5 min read

This month has been a whirlwind. Right from the get-go, you can feel the city shift week to week to week. And the trend continues with this week’s 22 arrivals. As for the closures, there are many more to come, so whenever and whenever you can, support local businesses and order directly from establishments when ordering pickup and delivery.

Pro tip: 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

After a successful pop-up in Bloordale, Afrobeaet Kitchen has a spot to call its very own. Head to their new digs in Parkdale (1510 Queen St. W. - recently Escape Goat) for an array of new West African fare.

Canadian clothing co Aritzia knows fits and lattes go hand. Since 2019 they’ve been adding striking A-OK Cafés to select locations. As recently as last month, in fact. Hot tip: Grab a Greenwich Pant, River Jacket, matcha latte and pastry at the new outpost in Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.) opening today, just in time for Black Friday sales. 

French resto La Banane (227 Ossington Ave.) recently made the Michelin Guide Toronto Recommended Restaurants list. Debuting today: Bar Banane on the second floor. Did you know? The space was originally to be luxe fondue bar Man Ray Bar À Vin.

Get yourself to The Burrow Coffee at Victoria Park and St. Clair (1093 Victoria Park Ave). The new warm and welcoming coffeeshop offers a ‘sip and shop’ experience: grab coffee, baked goods and shop their carefully curated local market including handmade clothing, jewelry, soap and much more.

From the folks behind “Toronto's first space-themed storefront” and food truck The Hungry Moon comes Buwan (1275 Morningside Ave., Unit 7) . The Scarborough eatery is home to traditional Filipino fare – silogs galore – alongside concoctions with western influences such as Adobo Fried Chicken.

The ghost kitchens at 20 Lockport Ave. in Etobicoke continue to grow - Chef Mayo’s Grill Inc. softly opened with an array of African meals featuring suya, asun peppered gizzard, and spicy fried yam, and sides of jollof rice, fried plantain, spicy potatoes and coleslaw.

Chica’s Nashville Hot Chicken debuted in 2018 and made headlines two months ago when it made the Toronto Michelin Bib Gourmand list. The second venue softly opened today in The Annex (495 Bloor St. W.) Pro tip: Visit today and tomorrow 4pm-7pm for $8 sandos. The space was recently home to short-lived Hoagie Station and Tea 18.

ChiChop debuted at Yonge and Carlton back in 2017 and expanded to Koreatown in 2018. The Yonge St. store still exists under its other moniker Cheers Cut offering Taiwanese-inspired cuisine, best known for their signature 12-ounce XXL fried chicken. Steering away from fried fare, Chichop x Norigo - a poke concept out of Hamilton - just landed in Chinatown (460 Spadina Ave., Unit B). 

TR Newsletter subscribers already know. The latest addition to King Street Food Company’s Buca family was set to launch a few years back, but as with much of the world, those plans got put on hold. Joining Buca King (604 King St. W.) and Buca Yorkville (53 Scollard St.): Cucina Buca at Yonge & St. Clair (2 St Clair Ave. W., Suite 100). Doors opened Tuesday.

The Daughter (1560A Bayview Ave.) has been in the works for what feels like forever. PSA: Worth the wait. Doors finally opened yesterday. The natural wine bar, bottle shop and restaurant in Leaside is serving up sips and snacks all day. 

Dosa Boyz (551 Curran Pl.) has landed in Mississauga. Dig into Lamb Keema Poutine and James Bond inspired Chicken 007 and take part in the Gabbar Gol Gappa Challenge (latter available for dine-in only).        

TR Newsletter subscribers heard about it first: Donna's (827 Landsdowne Ave.) is at it again. Find “tasty drinks and snacks" at their new destination The Golden Peacock at Dundas near Roncesvalles (2102 Dundas St. W.), formerly neighbourhood stalwart Bar Graciosense.

Jerk Brothers owner/chef Collin Black has been cooking up a storm for Toronto and the GTA since the early 2000s with his catering and food truck. Head to the first brick-and-mortar outpost in Mississauga (4070 Living Arts Dr., Unit 2) for everything from Stuffed Patty and Jerk Chicken Poutine to Irie Burger and Curry Goat. Halal options available.

Find the latest Lazeez Sharwarma in Etobicoke at Kipling and Lake Shore (3260 Lake Shore Blvd. W.).

Acai berry lovers, Oakberry Acai Bowls & Smoothies is now open at Union Station., following the first Canadian outpost that opened this summer in Mississauga (219 Queen St. S.) .

The Historic Distillery District is home to many destinations for brews. Old Flame Brewing Company, which has locations in Port Perry and Newmarket, touched down in the heart of the tourist attraction (43 Tank House Lane) earlier this week.

ISO thin crust, NY style ‘za? Head east. Otherside Pizza just debuted in The Beach (1911 Queen St. E.) with a concentrated lineup: seven selections available whole (18”- $24-$29) or by the  slice ($5-$5.95). Expect sauce and cheese (The Kevin, Burrata), cheese and leaves (Ricotta & Greens), pepperoni (King Roni), meat lovers (Mikey). Korean bulgogi and kimchi aioli festoon The Nora while The Beach boasts three divisive toppings - pineapple, cilantro and spam. Fun facts: The space was formerly home to The Sweet Oven and Aki Da Japanese Seafood House, back in the day, a garage, and almost Alexandra Camila Boutique Patisserie.

Grand opening celebrations for Scarborough’s The Oven Fresh (3420 Sheppard Ave. E.) took place Saturday. The new Indian restaurant at Sheppard and Warden is serving up a bevy of fare including Gobi Manchurian ($10.99) Kappa Vevichathe and Fish Curry ($9.99) and Duck Masala ($14.99) with Vellayaapm ($0.99) and Portotta ($1.75), with a variety of dishes available weekends only including Pidi & Kozhi Curry ($14.99), Crab Roast ($18.49) and Mutton Stew ($15.49).

The fifth outpost of Scotty Bons Caribbean Grill has arrived. Head to Keele and Wilson (2737 Keele St.) in North York and load up on patties, jerk chicken, curry goat, Cajun fish and oxtail.

Grand opening festivities for Second City’s new digs take place Wednesday. The new home of numerous comedic geniuses (Best alumni  ever?) spans 28,700 square foot on the third floor of One York (1 York St.) boasting “multiple comedy theatres for live performance, the Toronto branch of its world-leading improvisation-based arts school, and a games-driven bar and restaurant.” bringing back “dinner and a show.” to full effect.

The first north of the border outpost of American chain Wingstop arrived earlier this summer, closely followed by a ghost kitchen. The latest takes over a former Pizza Pizza (780 Danforth Ave.), next door to Boukan Edible Bliss (774 Danforth Ave.) that arrived in September. Grand opening is happening Saturday. Head’s up: Get there early: First 100 guests receive a six-piece wing combo. Other happenings: 10 winners receive free wings for a year, art showcase and mural unveiling, DJ, food sampling and more. Doors open at 1pm. Terms and conditions apply.

CLOSED  

Caravan Café & Tea House (1165 Bloor St. W.) launched during the pandemic with eats by Afrobeat Kitchen (see above). Weeks later, Hotay's Mac & Cheese was added to the mix.

TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop first. GoodGood says bye bye. The pop-up/commerce company founded by Robert Kim and Kris Linney raised 6.5M to launch last winter. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to keep doors open. The café concept announced sudden closure of all cafes and their delivery network on their website and social media Sunday. The rapid expansion across the city – 5 cafes in less than a year - during a global crisis was ambitious to say the least. December 2021: Adelaide, Feb 2022: Esplanade. March 2022: St. Clair West  May 2022: Queen St. W. and new outpost for Adelaide on the same day. Queen St. delay announced shortly after. June 2022: Queen St. opens. August 2022: Yonge & Davisville.

The Hungry Moon (4190 Kingston Rd.) in Scarborough may have come to a close, but the team has cooked up something new. Details above.

News broke earlier this week of the impending closure of Leslieville stalwart Leslie Jones (1182 Queen St. E.). Doors first opened in 2006 and will close “in the new year.”

Notice of the last days of Love Child Social House at their current spot (69 Bathurst St.) came late September. You’ve got until Saturday to get your dance on until they find a new home.

NEWS

In addition to last week’s food recalls, Sélection du Pâtissier Lemon and Poppyseed Poundcake was recalled due to pieces of plastic, and Indigo Branded Papa Bear and Mama Bear Mugs recalled due to burn and laceration hazards. [UPDATE: 26.11.22 Lebby Dark Chocolate Chickpea Snacks recalled due to undeclared milk.]

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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