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

🕒 10 min read

The time has come and indoor dining finally returns after being shuttered for +400 days! Find out what to expect in Step 3 and please remember to be patient, courteous, safe, and tip well.

Should you wish to expand your dining options this weekend, I’ve discovered 22 mostly casual spots across the GTA. If you’re looking for finer dining, look to this power-packed edition.

And stay tuned for more news in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. 

In the meantime, here’s the very latest:

OPEN 

The Abibiman Project’s Abibiman Chop Bar is popping up at Escape Goat Bar (1510 Queen St. W.) this weekend in support of Afri-Can Food Basket. Dig into in an array of delicacies including Kelewele ($4/$6), Okra Salad ($7), Jollof ($7/$9), Red Red ($9), Suya ($12), and Prawns ($15).

Abu Hummus debuted in Kensington Market last July, followed by an outpost in Thornhill (10 Disera Dr., Unit 120) almost exactly one year later.

Taiwanese tea co. The Alley is (9100 Jane St.) is celebrating the soft opening of their 14th location in the GTA with 10 per cent off drinks until July 16.

How cool is this? New Middle Eastern eatery Bait Sitty Restaurant (3145 Dundas St. W., Unit 1) in Mississauga is helmed by husband-and-wife chefs Alaa Damaa (Executive Chef) and Lama Daama (Sous Chef). Industry vets for over 20 years, the Palestinian couple believe "good food is a foundation of genuine happiness." 

Bean Wise - “Canada’a largest coffee and tea tasting emporium” - has taken over the expansive space formerly home to modern furniture store West Elm (2434 Yonge St.) at Yonge and Eglinton.

Bespoke Butchers specialize in local, ethical and sustainable meat. Visit their fourth shop located in Greektown (458 Danforth Ave.) near Logan.

Doors open at 11:30am on Monday at Burger Brothers’ newest location (1316 Bloor St. W.) at Bloor and Landsdowne. Pro tip: Go early. The first 100 people get a free cheeseburger.

Chicking, a fast food chain of Halal fried chicken restaurants from Dubai, started out in 2000. Now in +23 countries, the first Canadian location, ChickQueen (5130 Dixie Rd., Unit 4) debuts in Mississauga tomorrow at 11am. Stay tuned:19 more are on the way. Psst. The first 100 customers receive a free tumblr water bottle.

Speaking of fried chicken, Church’s Texas Chicken (2241 Bloor St. W.) took over Pizza Pizza’s old spot in Bloor West Village, on a block bookended by Popeyes.

The Crave 6ix Charcuterie Bistro has been operating online for some time, but the luxury charcuterie biz recently unveiled a brick-and-mortar spot in The Beaches (2220A Queen St. E.) near Beech Ave.

Knockout Ice Cream Collective has a new place in Parkdale to call home: Ready Go Convenience (1153 Queen St. W.).

Across the street, the Labora @ Cold Tea Summer Pop-Up (1186 Queen St. W.) brings together two heavyweights – Cold Tea and Labora – under one roof, er patio. Soft opening was over the weekend, with official launch yesterday.

Let’s Do Summer (621 Richmond St.), the latest outdoor food and wine bar pop-up from the folks of previous seasonal-themed outdoor experiences Fall N’ Leaves and Sweaters N’ Snowflakes opens tomorrow. Expect full-on garden picnic vibes this time round. Think pink flowers, greenery everywhere, a misting station to cool off, sangria for days, and flower pot date night paint nights (say that ten times fast), for starters.

“Authentic Mediterranean seafood and steaks” are the name of the game at Etobicoke’s new Meza Resto Bar (664 The Queensway). Mains are served a la carte, with seafood ranging from $45 (Grilled Shrimp) to Market Price (Grilled Branzino), and steaks from $52 (Canadian Angus Striploin, 24oz for two) to $190 (Tomahawk). 

Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar (1498 Queen St. W.), sibling resto to Little Tibet (1449A Queen St. W.) across the street, is serving up an array of momos and bubble tea in Parkdale.

Fast casual Neapolitan-style pizza chain Pi Co. landed in Richmond Hill (10785 Leslie St.).

Scallywags (11 St. Clair Ave. W.) was a mainstay at Yonge and St. Clair for 23 years before it shuttered last July. In its stead: Shenanigans Pub + Patio (11 St. Clair Ave. W.) by O&B, the restaurant group behind +15 restaurants in Toronto including bistros, pubs, and fine dining destinations including  Auberge du Pommier, Canoe, and Jump. 

New favourite shop alert: The Source Bulk Foods out of Australia is a plastic-free, zero waste shop carrying +400 whole foods and household supplies (cacao butter to epsom salt), available to purchase in whatever quantity you like. Find the first Canadian outpost in Roncy (213 Roncesvalles Ave.), with more to come.

Prefer your slice of handmade cake topped with slow batch ice cream? Your waffle to cater to your chocoholic tendencies? Your ice cream to have not one or two, but three toppings, because you’re anything if not extra? Head to Sugarhill Desserts (9100 Jane St.) in Vaughan.

The new TP Tea North York  store at Yonge and Finch (5619 Yonge St.) softly launching Saturday comes hot on the heels of the Scarborough branch that debuted two weeks ago. The brand first arrived in Toronto last summer.

Toronto-based Village Juicery is making it easier for you to reach your #healthgoals with two new retail locations: one inside Eataly (Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St. W.) and Oakville (487 Cornwall Rd.).

CLOSED  

I reported the opening of tapas eatery Barsa Taberna (26 Market St.) in May 2014.* Seven years later, they’re changing things up. Stay tuned for what’s to come. (*Check out what a busy week used to look like. Sigh.)

Glass Onion Bistro (1316 Bloor St. W.) has been replaced by The Burger Brothers. See above.

Award-winning full service Spanish restaurant and bar Labora has vacated the buzzy King & Spadina digs (433 King St. W.) for Queen West for the summer (details above). The King West destination debuted in 2017.

Matcha and hojicha destination Matcha Cafe Maiko began its journey in Hawaii. The location in Pacific Mall, however, is set to close in a few weeks. Or was – see below. Stay tuned.

Pacific Mall (4300 Steeles Ave. E.) has shut down due to Monday’s fire. See below for more info.

EVENTS

Black Restaurant Week Toronto is on until Sunday. Participating businesses in the inaugural event include: Allana's Kitchen, Boukan, Cheesekaekes, Creole Jamaican Kitchen + Bar, Flame & Smoke, Hoyos Restaurant, JNC Jerk Hut, Kejjis, Laine’s Marinades, Lucky’s Chicken N’ Waffles, Ralph's West Indian Delights Inc., RotiVybz, Stars Fusion Eats, What a Jerk Restaurant & Bar.

NEWS

Fire broke out on the roof of Pacific Mall on Monday. No injuries were reported.

The groceraunt meal kit experiment at Loblaws is dunzo.

ROADRUNNER: A Film About Anthony Bourdain by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) hits theatres tomorrow, but you can watch the trailer now.

ICYMI

EXCITING NEWS! Birria Balam, the wildly popular Tijuana style birria taco pop-up restaurant by chefs Matty Matheson, Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo, is moving to more permanent digs. Their new casual dine-in Mexican eatery, Fonda Balam, opens in September. On the menu: An array of enticing dishes, and rest assured - the renowned Birria isn’t going anywhere. In this week’s At The Pass, the partners in life and business share their current cooking obsessions, hidden talents, favourite local haunts + much more.

Toronto’s historic Little Italy boasts +40 patio destinations for cocktail enthusiasts, gourmands and sports fans alike. Get the complete Little Italy Patio Guide now.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

 Life moves fast. (I wrote about +100 new arrivals in June 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.

Need staff? Help promoting your menu, bottle shop, patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.