OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News August 12-18, 2021

Photo courtesy of Beertown Public House.

My iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings (virtual/brick-and-mortar/popups/allll the things) and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #ifyouknowyouknow

🕒 12 min read

After months of extraordinarily long weekly editions, my OPEN/CLOSED containing 20-30 arrivals per week are just par for the course, so you’d better get caught up because if you think it’s full-on now, just wait.  And not just in the downtown core either. See all the madness in the 26 arrivals below.

And stay tuned. I’ve got more news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR Newsletter. 

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN

From chow mein to momos, Mississauga’s A1 Hakka House (660 Eglinton Ave. W., Unit 5B) at Mavis and Eglinton has all your Hakka cravings covered. Bonus: Enjoy 20 per cent off on the entire menu. Offer ends soon.

Taipei boba brand Baroness brings its famed brown sugar brews to the 6ix for the first time on Wednesday. Psst. The first 88 people will receive one free Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea and all drinks will be 50 per cent off. The bubble tea shop at Yonge and College (421 Yonge St.) is the first in Toronto, second in Canada.

Beertown Public House debuts today in the Financial District (125 Wellington St. W.). The chain has seven other venues across the province and a more extensive menu than just burgers and brews. Tuck into Wonton Nachos ($16.99-$23.99) BT Brisket Platter ($21.49), and Beertown Pad Thai ($17.99 -$19.99) with a beer paddle – four 5 oz. tasters ($10.29), cocktail, glass of wine, or booze-free options including a what’s-more-fun-than-a Root Beer Paddle ($11.99).

Toronto is home to dozens of styles of ‘za, but crunchy topped with “Onetwony Pepparoni” is not one of them. Until now, thanks to Burattino Brick Oven Pizza out of LA. The Junction’s newest pizzeria (3109 Dundas St. W.) softly opened weeks ago with fab options: Bianca (homemade white garlic sauce, mozzarella, feta, chopped basil),  Croatian (marinara, mozzarella, beef prosciutto, feta, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, fresh bell peppers, black olives, red onion), two featuring wild boar, one boasting bison chipotle sausage, and a White Clam pie - a rare sighting in Toronto. There are also a number of half-and-half’s (two pizzas in one) available, in addition to crowd pleaser Mercedes, a stellar trio of thirds of Croatian, Quattro Gusti, and Romana.

Reservations open tomorrow for Campechano’s second location (460 College St.). Campechano Restaurante at College and Bathurst  includes “favourites from the Campechano Taqueria menu and fun new additions for food and cocktails.” Enjoy dinner and drinks on the front/back patio or in the dining room.

Doors opened Friday for Taiwanese tea chain Chatime at Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr., Lower level, TASTE MRKT). Did you know? They have +1000 locations in 26 countries worldwide.

There are a boatload of reasons to head to Scarborough’s newest Vietnamese restaurant Choi (633 Silverstar Blvd., Unit 121) starting with: 1. Cook-your-own BBQ tables. 2. Goat Noodle Soup. 3. Chicken Cartilage. 4. Salted Egg Corn. 5. Mugwort Mungbean Slushie. 6. Coconut Kumquat Iced Tea.

Chung Chun Rice Dog doesn’t believe in sitting around. Oh no, there are places to be, apparently for the Korean style hot dog destination. Five, to be exact: 3075 Bloor St. W. in Etobicoke opened June 10; 181 Augusta Ave. in Kensington last month; 1177 Central Pkwy. W. in Mississauga and 5 Spring Garden Ave. in North York celebrate their grand opening today; and 60 Wilson Ave. in North York kicks off Wednesday.

Chronicling the multi-location expansion of CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice continues to be an almost full-time-job. Introducing this week’s soft opening in Scarborough (41 Lebovic Ave., Unit A111) and recent Mississauga arrival (60 Bristol Rd. E.).

The second El Sazón Mexicano debuted this weekend at Jane and Lawrence (1742 Jane St.). Joining the original in Corso Italia (1284 St Clair Ave. W.), the extensive menu includes tacos, yes, but there’s much more to discover: flautas, enmoladas, tortas, tamales, and array of tantalizing baked goods, for starters. 

Fuwa Fuwa Pancakes launches Sunday at Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.). The Japanese soufflé pancake chain will kick off the fifth location with $5 pancakes, drink specials and other festivities.

Gladiator Burger & Steak has arrived in Oakville (407 Iroquois Shore Rd.) with their signature extreme eats, including: General Maximus (3 beef patties, Canadian cheddar, caramelized onions, tomato, lettuce, pickles & Gladiator aioli  stuffed between two  grilled cheese buns), Chicken Mac (4 fried chicken tenders, macaroni n’ cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles & chipotle aioli), and for those who dare a 40-inch Philly Cheesesteak.*  This marks the fourth outpost in the GTA for the chain.
*Beating out the footlong soft serve I told you about last month by a LOT.

Waffles shaped like penises (yes you read that correctly) are attention-getters for sure, but are they tasty? See for yourself at Members Only Waffle House (592 Queen St. W.) at Queen and Bathurst.

Nickle Brook Brewing Co. debuted their new tap room and bottle shop in Etobicoke (1589 The Queensway) earlier this week.

Pick up their freshly bottled coffees and treats at Patco Cafe’s pop-up at The District Kitchen in Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) until September 2.

Grand opening celebrations for Petit Paris (1879 Gerrard St. E.) took place Monday. The boutique pastry shop in Beach Hill is home to authentic French pastries as well as prepared meals by chef Adam Foley, a George Brown Culinary Instructor whose résumé includes Osgoode Hall Restaurant at The Law Society, Rosewater, Splendido, and Jump.

Geary Avenue has been a great dining/drinking destination for some time now. it’s lined with standouts including Blood Brothers, The Greater Good, North of Brooklyn, and Parallel. Fitting right into the mix: new arrival Prairie Boy Bread (201 Geary Ave.). After a fun sneak peek via pop-up this weekend, doors officially open tomorrow at 10am.

Rabba Kitchen by Paramount has launched at Rabba Fine Foods in Regent Park (683 Dundas St. E.). The menu blends Paramount Lebanese Kitchen items (wraps and boxes) and Paramount Fine Foods’ latest cloud kitchen concept, Krispo Chicken.

What began last year as a pop-up is now here to stay. Skyflower and its stunning rooftop patio is back this season (and thanks to heating, long after), with indoor renos to begin this fall. Executive Chef Eric Chong (first MasterChef Canada, chef/partner of R&D ) has created an enticing menu. Stay tuned for a closer look.

 The Distillery District is home to two new food retailers in pop-up containers:
i) Tartistry (Trinity Square, Retail Container 2), home of all natural, organic, non-GMO gluten-free butter tarts. Also on offer: various vegan, zero sugar, and keto products.
ii) Greek-style market YK Marketta (Trinity Square, Retail Container 1) featuring Peter and Pauls pantry items, fresh and frozen fare, and fresh florals, arrangements and plant bbs.

CLOSED

Important update if you rely on subway station patties to keep you going: Bakery On The Go in Bathurst Station (819 Bathurst St.) is temporarily closed for renovations. Good news: Gateway Newstands directly across the hall is selling their patties ‘til they return.

Big Trouble Pizza (235 Spadina Ave., Unit 1) has moved on from its beloved Chinatown spot. Thankfully, a spot on Geary (I told you it was great – see above) is coming soon.

The Ritz-Carlton Toronto (181 Wellington St. W.) is changing things up. DEQ Terrace & Lounge will soon be replaced with EPOCH Bar & Kitchen Terrace. Keep your eyes locked here for updates.

Toronto's only Chicago-style deep dish pizzeria has shuttered. Double D’s Etobicoke location (2888 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) closed Sunday. It debuted November 2019. Their first location in Lesliveille shut down last May.

Greta Solomon’s Dining Room (1118 Queen St. E.) has closed temporarily due to needing kitchen staff.

I Deal Coffee made Kensington Market (84 Nassau St.) its home for two decades. Doors closed Tuesday, but two other locations remain: 162 Ossington Ave. and 221 Sorauren Ave. 

Paris Paris (1161 Dundas St. W.) has closed, but don’t panic - they’re moving around the corner and will reopen shortly. Watch. This. Space.

Another Kensington mainstay is gone. Sun Wah Fruit Market (227 Augusta Ave.) has closed for good.

Tzatziki (425 Jane St.) may be gone, but another Greek concept has moved into the Baby Point ‘hood.

EVENTS

Night Market Toronto’s The Taste of the Caribbean event is happening this weekend at Square One.

The Dusty Star Drive-In Diner Pop-Up in the Galleria Mall back parking lot (1245 Dupont St.) takes place this weekend with roller skatin’ carhops (google it), bar by Hop City Brewery, great vendors, music and participating restaurants Super Empanada, Sapori, Tanto, and Uncle Mikey's.

Sugar Rush is on until September 6.

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Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast - I wrote about +110 new arrivals in July alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED. 

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook 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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