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

🕘 8.5 min read

In addition to any holiday festivities you’ve got on the books, you’ve got a bevy of new spots to check out boasting comfort foods galore - perfect for this time of year - and a whack of closures and events to catch up on.

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

Here’s the very latest: 

OPEN

Women’s clothing destination Aritzia launched the first A-OK Café downtown back in 2019. The fits-and-lattes model worked so well, the Canuck chain debuted Aritzia Vaughan Mills (1 Bass Pro Mills Dr.) on December 18, 2021. Hot tip: A striking spot for coffee and treats while you shop bodysuits, tether sweaters, shackets and vegan leather pants just landed at CF Markville (5000 Highway 7 E).

Carlo's Bakery arrived in Toronto Winter ’19 and has been making moves across the GTA ever since. Find the latest express outpost right downtown. The Yorkville location (24 Bellair St.) opened Friday with Cake Boss - aka Buddy Valastro - signatures (cake slices, cannoli, sfogliatella lobster tail pastries) and coffee, with items specific to the tony address coming soon.

Oakville’s Flüf Soufflé Cheesecake (131 Lakeshore Rd. E.) specializes in pillowy cheesecakes in original or chocolate. Coffee, matcha latte, and sparkling teas and lemonades also on offer.

The wait for Haidilao Hot Pot’s first downtown location (237 Yonge St.)  is finally over. Doors opened Monday across from the Eaton Centre.

Uncle Betty’s Diner (2590 Yonge St.) is known for comfort food classics – burgers, poutine, mac and cheese, meatloaf. The daytime destination has a new concept come nighttime. Jane & Dick's Bistro offers fondue ($25+), tapas (Cauliflower Bites $9, Salmon Tartare $9, Pork Belly $12), mains (Spinach & Squash Lasagna $19, Fish & Chips $19, Steak Frites $28), sides and cocktails, with live jazz on Fridays.

Johnson Family Bakery’s pop-up bakery at Bar Hop Session (681 Danforth Ave.) launched last November, but a permanent home for the well-known sourdough loaves, Swedish knots, and other baked goods has been found. City Bakers Collective (1352 Danforth Ave.) launched last month after a successful Kickstarter campaign. 

Brampton’s Junction Indian Street Food brings its array of authentic street fare including chaat and puri  alongside mashups such as noodle burgers, bhakhri pizza, and masala fries to Etobicoke (6210 Finch Ave. W., Unit B107).

Smack dab in Koreatown, find Kanayama Sushi (686 Bloor St. W.) with an array of affordable fare and grand opening specials featuring maki, sushi and sashimi. 

Kung Fu Tea continues on a roll across the city, Get your boba fix at the latest addition in Mississauga (6750 Winston Churchill Blvd.), Bonus: To celebrate the soft opening, enjoy 20 per cent off all drinks and Large 38 Milk King for $4.88 at this location until October 22. Terms and conditions apply. 

Patties Express has been a part of the downtown landscape since 2014, first on Elm Street, followed by a spot on THE PATH (65 Queen St. W.). After the OG Elm location shuttered on January 31 thanks to condo development, the strip hasn’t been the same without the flaky fresh authentic patties. Insider tip: A new outpost just opened a few blocks south inside CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.) on Level 1 on the Queen side near Shoppers Drug Mart.

Peaches Sports Bar (1554 Queen St. W.) debuted in Parkdale last night. Your new favourite local takes over what was recently Tenny’s, following Gianna's debut in Summer ‘20 and Tennessee Tavern in 2017. Fun fact: Owners and BFFs award-winning cocktail bartender Veronica Saye - whose resume boasts top spots across town including The Harbord Room, Bar Begonia, Pretty Ugly, and Tennessee Tavern - and Anthony Fushell worked at The Merchant Tavern in downtown St. John’s with world-renowned chef Jeremy Charles and sommelier Jeremy Bonia.

Sprezzatura Spaghetti Disco debuted on Ossington around this time last year. Subterranean slip of a place no longer - they just moved into Grape Crush/SoSo Food Club/The Contender’s large space around corner. (1166 Dundas St. W.).

Wasted Youth Bar (834 Bloor St. W.) packed up at the end of August, to set up shop at Dundas and Ossington (1185 Dundas St. W.), across the street from SSD above. 

Wings Up touched down in the 6ix for the first time just four months ago. Yesterday, the poultry-centric chain debuted the 25th location in Vaughan (10019 Keele St.). Hot tip: Get in on the grand opening special: 15 per cent off all online orders with code VAUGHAN15 until October 25. Condition apply 

CLOSED  

Boutique Bar’s home in the Village (506 Church St.) is coming to an end. After 13 years, the stalwart party spot and watering hole has to move out and find new digs. Last day is October 31.

La Parisienne Crêperie (90 Bronte Rd.) in Oakville may have closed, but sibling Verlan (304 Barton St. E.) in Hamilton has your crepe cravings covered.

LGBTQ+ cocktail bar and resto Lavender Menace’s (1062 Gerrard St. E.) closure on October 1 was announced just days before.

The space where Korean eatery Lim Ga Ne Restaurant stood (686 Bloor St. W.) is already something else. Details above.

Sorry Coffee Co’s prime location in Yorkville tucked inside chic comfy clothing brand Kit and Ace (102 Bloor St. W.) has come to an end, but it’s not the end-end: “… look forward to sharing a cup of coffee with you again in future.”

Tenny’s (1554 Queen St. W.) had a short run. See what’s taken over above.

Wasted Youth left Bloor and Ossington (834 Bloor St. W.) to go further west. Details up top.

EVENTS

From fall feels to Halloween haunts, the TR October Fests + Events Calendar is your one-stop-shop for food and drink fetes in Toronto and across the GTA. Pro tip: Check back often – new events are added weekly.

NEWS

You may want to rethink how you pay for food now.

Food recalls continue with this week’s certain Nature's Best and Zavat Chalav Mozzarella Cheese products due to Listeria monocytogenes. 

Please support local businesses whenever possible. 

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

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