OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News July 29-August 4, 2021

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel Toronto.

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

🕒 15 min read

30 arrivals and more closures than we can both handle in a single week? It’s INSANITY. See for yourself.

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Brasa Peruvian Kitchen (297 Campbell Ave.) debuted at Dupont and Landsdowne yesterday, with a starting lineup of warm bowls and filling salads.

Chef Alex Baracat launched his first restaurant Brazil Box (390 Queens Quay W., Unit 106) Tuesday. In the industry for seven years: Lobby, Hotel X Toronto by Library Hotel Collection, and others in Toronto, in addition to establishments across Brazil, his goal is to showcase the diversity of Brazilian cuisine while helping popularize it. The current menu consists of quick grab-and-go snacks and popular street food in Brazil: Pastel ($6), Tapioca ($6), Pão De Queijo ($4), Empanada ($4), Açai ($7-$12), Mini Churros ($6), and Brigadeiro ($1.50).

Vietnamese café Cactus Tea and Coffee (682 Bloor St. W.) touched down in The Annex June 12, complete with Vietnamese Bubble Tea.

Café de Hong Kong (11 Fairburn Dr., Unit 12-15) in Markham has an extensive menu from Hainanese Chicken Rice to Shrimp Toast with Molten Salted Egg York. Choose from all day breakfast sets, pineapple buns, noodles, rice dishes, snacks, afternoon tea specials, and signature drinks.

It’s been a minute since I told you about the last arrival of Dagu Rice Noodle. Despite the website indicating the eatery at Woodside Square (1571 Sandhurst Cir., Unit 203) at Finch and McCowan is “coming soon,” it’s very much open and the staff look forward to welcoming you.

Dak2Go Burger is the new food truck on the Entertainment District block. Find them daily at 11 Widmer St. ‘til late: 12am-3am depending on the day.

Pro tip: The Dusty Star Drive-In Diner Pop-Up in the Galleria Mall back parking lot (1245 Dupont St.) isn’t happening quite yet, but if I wait to tell you about it until August, tickets will be sold out, so get in on it while you can. You don’t want to miss roller skatin’ carhops (google it), bar by Hop City Brewery, great vendors, music and participating restaurants Super Empanada, Sapori, Tanto, and Uncle Mikey's.

ISO Mexican street food? Head to Cabbagetown’s weekend pop-up El Paisa located outside The Tilted Dog Pub + Kitchen (424 Parliament St.) for Elote ($6), Tacos ($4-$6), Shrimp Ceviche ($10), Mango Enchialdo ($5), and drinks to go ($6-$18).

Friggitello (181 Baldwin St.) just moved into Torteria San Cosme’s old digs in Kensington. Named after the sweet Italian chili pepper - aka pepperoncini in North America – the menu features shish kebab, beef doner and veggie soy plates  and rolls, sides and drinks. Currently open, grand opening celebrations take place Sunday, with a free chicken plate available from 2pm-6pm.

Doors opened last week for India Twist (2901 Markham Rd., Unit 17) in Scarborough. South Indian specialities include onion pakora, sambar vada, and masala dosa.

Indraprastha Indian Cuisine (3300 Lawrence Ave. E.) arrived in Scarborough a few months ago. Dive into an array of enticing fare such as Karivepaku Corn ($10.99), Lemon Pepper Chicken ($12.99), Guntur Chilli Fish ($13.99), Hariyali Paneer Tikka ($11.99), Bhindi Masala ($11.49), and Mutton Ghee Roast ($14.99), not to mention 20 vegetarian and 33 meat and seafood biryanis.

Kung Fu Tea just dropped not one, but two locations since last week’s edition: World on Yonge (7163 Yonge St., Unit 101) in Markham, and grand opening celebrations for Scarborough’s outpost at Chartwell Shopping Centre (2361 Brimley Rd., Unit D105A) begins tomorrow with a buy one get one free offer.

Psst. Sicilian-Levantine pizzeria Levant Pizza (899 Bloor St. W.) softly opens in Bloorcourt this weekend – Thursday to Saturday 4:30pm-10pm.

Did you know?! If you haven’t figured it out by the logo, the food at new Pan-Asian resto Lofi Wok (604 Queen St. W.) is prepared by robot chefs. While digital cooks and automatic AI-powered equipment may “improve accuracy and decrease wait times,” can they pull off Finger-Lickin’ Wings and Cantonese Chow Mein? You be the judge.

Gourmet soup maven Ma’s Best kicks off two new venues in the Financial District on Monday: First Canadian Place (100 King St. W. Concourse Level), and Brookfield Place (181 Bay St., Galleria Concourse C150) - just in time for all those heading back to the office in the coming weeks.

Siblings Mark and Ryan Lim are not trained chefs, but “have always gravitated towards regional American cuisine.” After a year of not being able to travel to the U.S. for their “favourite sandwiches,” they launched Marq’s Chicago Beef at Market 707 (707 Dundas St. W.) in May. Menu items are inspired by Italian Beef giants like Johnnie's, Portillo's, or Al's in Chicago, and comprised of Chicago Italian Beef shop classics. Their signature item, Italian Beef Sandwich boasts thinly sliced beef roasted in Italian seasonings, finished in beef jus set on a freshly-baked French roll, topped with hot giardiniera and/or sweet peppers, and a final dip in jus for added texture and flavour.  

Is there a taller soft serve in the GTA than The Milkman Creamery’s? Theirs is pretty hard to beat. The new ice cream shop’s grand opening takes place tomorrow at Markham’s Langham Square (8339 Kennedy Rd., Unit 2157) from 12pm-10pm. Enjoy 15 per cent off all orders until August 6.

Calling all crêpe lovers! O’Frenchy (212 King St. W.) is serving up a boatload of sweet and savoury concoctions. The ghost kitchen at King and Simcoe commenced July 1. Stay tuned, a brick-and-mortar location is opening soon.

Original Shawarma (750 Spadina Ave.) has set up shop in The Annex at Bloor and Spadina (where Pita Q was), about a year-and-a-half after their launch in Mississauga.

Ossington Stop left their long-time home at 1164 Dundas St. W. for greener pastures – just down the street. Doors at their new abode - 1543 Dundas St. W. – open Sunday. Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying owner/chef Denis Ganshonkov’s Khinkali, Pork Tongue… just get one of everything.

Patchmon's Homemade Thai Desserts has a sweet new home at Dundas and McCaul (283 Dundas St. W.) tucked in between two other stellar destinations: Sumac Kebab Kitchen and The Library Speciality Coffee.

Riverside Kitchen (862 Danforth Ave.) opened Tuesday in the old Motorama spot at the top of Jones. The new retail and bottle shop also boasts a sandwich bar, including breakfast sandos, some BBQ items and refrigerated and frozen prepared items including vegan and keto offerings.

Spasta Greek Cuisine (1650 Dundas St. E.) in Mississauga does Hellenic and Middle Eastern fare, often paired with shisha, live music, and belly dancer. 

Chef Brook Kavanagh and sommelier Lara Roberts, owners of Season Six (188 Ossington Ave., have created a unique gem with Sprezzatura Spaghetti Disco (216 Ossington Ave.). Housed in Season Six’s previous location, the slip of an Italian restaurant is part stand-up/pull up a stool to the counter eatery, part disco dance spot. You’ll see. Stay tuned.

Trailhead Place’s lakeside lounge and marketplace, complete with live entertainment, is located off Lakeshore Blvd. at Ontario Place (next to Inukshuk Park) and open until September 6.

After lengthy delays, Richmond Hill’s Yu Seafood finally kicks off their second location at Yorkdale (3401 Dufferin St.) tomorrow. Find them near RH Courtyard Restaurant.

Did you catch the sneak peek of 1 Hotel (550 Wellington St. W.) in Stories yesterday? The first new hotel of summer debuts Wednesday with indoor and outdoor casual all-day restaurant 1 Kitchen Toronto. More details coming soon.

Shop and support +60 local artists, makers, and entrepreneurs in one convenient spot in Kensington. In addition to the wonderful home décor, clothing, and wellness products at 6x8 Market (184 Baldwin St.), you’ll find fab food items and new cafe Madras Kaapi serving up South Indian coffee.  

CLOSED  

Amnesia Bar & Grill (526 Bloor St. W.) was a mainstay at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. Psst. The signs have already been switched out for incoming chain, Hey Noodles.

Barrio Coreano (642 Bloor St. W.) may have shuttered in Little Korea, but it’s not the end for the Mexican/Korean joint. Stay tuned.

The space formerly belonging to Brockton Bar & Sports (1543 Dundas St. W.) has already been snapped up. See above.

by CHLOE.’s first Canadian location debuted at Yorkdale October 16 2019, but the vegan chain shuttered before the brand could enjoy its new name Beatnic, announced earlier this week

Cup O House (682 Bloor St. W.)  - aka “Home of the big cups!” - closed up shop.

East Thirty-Six (36 Wellington St. E.) stuck it out in the St. Lawrence ‘hood for almost eight years.

There’s no more Mexican food and karaoke nights at La Burrita (735 Bloor St. W.).

Matcha and hojicha destination Matcha Cafe Maiko matcha, began its journey in Hawaii. The location in Pacific Mall, however, was set to close in a few weeks, but with the recent fire, has already come to an end.

Ossington Stop (1164 Dundas St. W.) has found a new home. Read all about it up top. 

Patchmon's Homemade Thai Desserts left Dupont and Spadina (258 Dupont St.) for Dundas and McCaul. See above.

Pho Tiên Restaurant (358 Bathurst St.) near Dundas held its grand opening December 12,2012. In its stead: fast food chain Popeyes.

EVENTS

Take part in Food Day Canada, founded by the late Anita Stewart, on July 31.

Toronto Caribbean Carnival’s Carnival Flavours takes place this weekend.

There’s a Cookie Scavenger Hunt on Sunday.

Get tix now for next week’s sweet market Sugar Rush before they sell out.

NEWS

An 18-year-old died after a fire at a Toronto restaurant.

Owners of a Oakville restaurant decided not to require proof of vaccination after all.

Oakwood Hardware is asking unvaccinated guests to dine outside.

The City launched a new dining program this week - DineTOgether - to take place this fall. Celebrity chef Mark McEwan is not a fan. Restaurants wishing to register for the program online, can do so starting Wednesday. 

Chef Nuit Regular, executive chef and co-owner of Kiin, Sabai Sabai, Sukthothai, PAI Northern Thai Kitchen, By Chef Nuit, has taken over the food program at The Fifth, available exclusively at RendezViews starting this week.

ICYMI

Chef Jose Balasico of Est Restaruant has a predilection for finer fare, savoury fridge necessities, and hidden talent that comes in handy at parties or karaoke. Discover more in this week’s At The Pass.

The Junction is one helluva great neighbourhood. You can shop for everything from home decor and organic groceries to books and vintage vinyl - even buy a motorcycle! - in a few short blocks. It also happens to be a fantastic destination for all things food + drink. Discover +30 outdoor dining options in The Junction Patio Guide. 

Meatball Thoughts invited me back on the pod this week. Topics include: Indoor dining, how to support businesses, the future of the industry, and much more. Listen now on Spotify and Apple.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the newsletter, now’s the time. Get The Tip Off, a sneak peek at the upcoming Open/Closed (because who doesn’t want to be the first to know?), and fab deals and special offers from restaurants and local businesses (because who doesn’t want to save money?), all exclusive to subscribers. 

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Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast - I wrote about +120 new arrivals in July alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

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