OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News September 29-October 5, 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
🕘 11.5 min read
As predicted, autumn is intense with activity: 17 openings, and a slew of closures, events, and news you need to get up to speed on.
Note: Some businesses are closing for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, so double check with establishments before visiting.
And stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Bar Copa (230 Adelaide St. W.) replaces Casa Fuego beneath Copacabana. The extension of the Brazilian steakhouse above offers cocktails and separate “sharing-style” menu in the heart of the Entertainment District.
Nearly a year after touching down in Leslieville, The Belly Buster Submarines continues its expansion across the 6ix. Find the latest outpost in Little Italy (572 College St.) in Soundscapes’ former stead. Doors opened Saturday.
The motto at Betty’s Burger? “A burger your grandma would be proud of.” Nana must be a carnivore, ‘cause the namesake item boasts a beef triad - double patty, grilled salami, bacon - stacked amongst caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and ‘Betty’ sauce on a brioche bun. The burger joint joins 2021 arrival Brazilian Burger Bar and last month’s Logan Avenue Bodega & Cantina in the new Leslieville Street Food Market (28 Logan Ave.) housing the virtual concepts.
Black Lagoon Pop-Up is back. The award-winning bar and immersive experience by industry vets Kelsey Ramage and LA-based Erin Hayes is touring North America. Next stop: Bloor and Ossington upstairs at Third Space (875 Bloor St. W.), running October 1 until Hallows’ Eve.
2022 has proven to be a great success for bubble tea chain Cha Miao². The good times continue to roll with a shop at Dundas and University (201 Dundas St. W.), currently in soft opening.
Turkish Indian street food concept Charcoal Biryani debuted in Leaside a few months back. Don’t want to make the trek uptown? Get your fix inside Chef’s Hall (111 Richmond St. W.).
I let you in on ChickQueen’s entry into Canada Summer ‘21. A second location launches downtown (247 Queen St. W.) tomorrow. The first 100 customers receive a free drumstick and biscuit, with lots of other prizes to be won. Doors open at 11am.
From burgers and wings to chicken and goat biriyani, Fusion Kitchen (2344 Danforth Ave.) keeps true to its name.
TR Newsletter subscribers already know: There’s a new pop-up you need to get in on. Good Gang Ice Cream (852 Dundas St. W.) is here today and tomorrow 2-8pm with 12 rotating flavours available in scoop, bowl, sampler/flight or sando. The next level confections (Cà Phê Misu ~ mascarpone-marsala base, Vietnamese coffee syrup, savoiardi, cocoa; Uno Dos Tres Leches ~ three milks, layered with dulce de leche and cake pieces; Toast ~ Blackbird sourdough, housemade seasonal jam) debuted this summer and made an appearance at Smorgasburg Toronto earlier this month. Kat and Margaret Bolinas have made ice cream at home “for about ten years,” but also have plenty of professional experience to back it up: working at several ice cream shops and bakery over the years before establishing their company at the end of 2019, right before the pandemic hit. Fun fact: They took Penn State University's famed ice cream science course.
Insider tip: Don’t sleep on Maria’s Taverna collab with Paradise Grapevine at their new location on Geary (218 Geary Ave.). ‘My Big Fat Greek Gay BBQ’ kicks off Saturday at 3pm.
Psst. The “biggest izakaya in Markham” has softly opened. Ryu Izakaya (115 York Blvd., Unit 2) boasts “luxury fine dining” across 150 seats in 7,000 sq. ft. of swank. Head’s up: According to their Instagram bio, alcohol is being served “Thursday to Saturday (for now until we get our liquor license).”
“Ontario’s first stock market themed Indian restobar” The Sauga Bar X-Change (3920 Eglinton Ave. W.) opened Saturday. In addition to a Wall St. sign and wall featuring a bull charging a bear silhouette, the securities motif continues with fluctuating drink prices “based on real time demand.”
Sinjeon Food Sys boasts over 700 locations worldwide. Their first bunsik eatery in the GTA touched down in Thornhill (7051 Yonge St.) September 2020 with an array of tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and deep-fried fish cakes. Psst. "Korea's No.1 street food chain" just opened downtown at Church and Carleton (377 Church St., Unit 1). p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers got the scoop.
Today marks the launch of the Stuu Stuu pop-up at Upper East Foood Club (5317 Yonge St.). Try Chicken Curry and Wagyu Stew created by restaurateur, cookbook author and one of Japan’s most popular yoshoku chefs, Katsuo Omiya; and chef, cookbook author, and curry expert Monko Ichijyo official menu developer of S&B’s ubiquitous Golden Curry and Otsuka Foods Bon Curry and star of her own curry TV show, Monko of Curry. Pop-up ends October 13. Note: Limit one Chicken Curry and one Wagyu Stew per customer.
Triple O’s, known for its burgers, thick cut fries, hand-scooped shakes and Triple “O” sauce, debuted a fourth location at Ultramar gas station in Vaughan (2268 Rutherford Rd.).
Most board game cafes have worn-in, shared apartment living room vibes. Not Twilight Cafe’s downtown outpost (252 Victoria St.). It’s all clean lines and modern fixtures here. With 200+ games, extensive menu and bubble tea, TC might be your favourite new hangout.
Italian fare is the name of the game at Wood 900 (372 Queen St. E.). Find pizza, pasta, thick cut bruschetta, truffle fries, and wings at Queen and Parliament.
CLOSED
There’s a massive construction site next to where Asahi Restaurant (640 Church St.) served the community. Doors closed after 11 years.
Today marks the last day for Café Plenty’s PATH location (333 Bay St.). A spot nearby - Commerce Court West (199 Bay St.) - is set to launch next month.
Food Truck'n Events (1 Resurrection Rd.) wraps things up tomorrow.
Love Child Social House (69 Bathurst St.) is the latest destination to close due to an incoming Metrolinx station. Starting Saturday, enjoy farewell parties featuring weekly guest DJs and surprise guest performances up until doors close November 29. A permanent spot is in the works.
Momofuku Toronto (190 University Ave.), which includes Noodle Bar (first and second floors) and Kōjin (third floor), announced doors are closing December 23. A fixture in the downtown core for a decade that originally housed four concepts under one roof - Noodle Bar, Daisho, Nikai, Shoto - and Christina Tosi's Milk Bar for a time, the company founded by chef David Chang decided “not to renew our lease at this location.” During the pandemic, the iconic brand announced the permanent closure of Momofuku DC and Momofuku Nishi and Momofuku Ssäm Bar’s move to Bar Wayō in May 2020. Six months later, a former employee reported working conditions were anything but peachy. Note: Prior to the company’s announcement, local headlines declared Momofuku’s departure from the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. “Momofuku Toronto is not part of the hotel,” a Shangri-La Hotel spokesperson confirms. While guests can access the restaurants via an entrance at the hotel, it is “a separate entity” at a different address (188 University Ave.).
TR Newsletter subscribers heard it first. Nava Social launched two popular coffee destinations last year: Corktown (514 King St. E.) in springtime, followed by Hillcrest Village (744 St. Clair Ave. W.) in December. Both abruptly shuttered as of August 27. Still to come: A “blow out sale” on all retail items.
You’ve got until October 29 to visit Mississauga’s Ombretta Cucina + Vino (121 Lakeshore Rd. W.) as the business has been sold.
EVENTS
New events have been added to TR September Fests + Events Calendar. And stay tuned for the October edition dropping soon.
NEWS
Helen Papas, matriarch and co-owner of Patrician Grill, passed away.
Joseph Martyn, full-time chef at The Grover Pub (676 Kingston Rd.), passed away.
Today the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID-19 entry restrictions, including “testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada,” effective October 1.
Eataly’s been acquired for nearly $200 million.
Aegis Brands acquired St. Louis Bar And Grill for a cool $50M.
Dalhousie prof Sylvain Charlebois is calling on grocers to freeze food prices.
Pizza Hut Canada is testing new robot delivery in Vancouver. As for whether it will fly in the 6ix, Torontonians weren’t fans of machines delivering food around town recently.
Minimum wage increases 50 cents to $15.50 starting Saturday.
The recalls keep rolling in. This time it’s oysters.
ICYMI
Did you know the Michelin Guide includes hotels? Discover their “hand-picked selection” of boutique and luxury destinations across the 6ix that “meet every taste and budget.” And because food and drinks are always top of mind here at TR, find links to on-site restaurants, lounges, bars, bakeries, cafes +/or patios to help make your stay/cation complete.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
Life moves fast: I wrote about 100+ new arrivals in August alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
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