OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News September 23-29, 2021
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
🕒 10.5 min read
It’s been a hectic week with proof of vaccination now in effect. That and the insane amount of arrivals (18) and events (10). The closures this week, not so much, but did you notice the onslaught last week? Brace yourself for more to come.
And stay tuned – exciting news ahead in The Tip Off, exclusively available in the TR newsletter. Don’t miss it!
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Tired of the same ol’ same ol’? Switch things up this week with enticing Egyptian fare from Aragoz (3456 Kingston Rd.). The Scarborough eatery has an extensive menu including vegetarian (Zucchini Bechamel $35), meat (Iskandarani Sausage $16) and seafood (Calamari $11) selections available for takeout and delivery. Pro tip: Plan your meals ahead of time as some of the dishes require advance prep time, such as the Hmamm Aragoz - roast Squab stuffed with aromatic rice and hint of cinnamon (72 hrs) – Boori - Black Mullet (12 hrs) – and Duck à l'orange (72 hrs).
bb.q Chicken, the worldwide chain known for its fried chicken in varying degrees of heat levels, just landed at Harbord and Spadina (652 Spadina Ave.). The company’s goal? “To operate 50,000 franchise stores around the world by 2025.”
Chatime brings its signature beverages of bubble tea, smoothies and milk tea to bustling Liberty Village (171 E Liberty St., Unit 143).
Delysees Luxury Dessert is back - bigger and better than ever. Soft opening’s this weekend (131 Ossington Ave.).
It’s not often you come across two vastly different concepts under one roof. Find time-honoured Canadian pub Gabby’s (est. 1989) and Thai/Malayasian resto Thairoomgrand huddled together in Mississauga (4096 Confederation Pkwy).
Last week I let you in on soon-to-open Gladstone House (1214 Queen St. W.). Bistro + Bar debuted yesterday as well. Breakfast selections include Harissa And Manchego Omelette ($16), Slow-Baked White Kidney Beans ($15) and Crispy French Toast ($18) with Nutella, bananas, and hazelnut brittle. Later in the day, tuck into Goat Cheese And Fig Flatbread ($15), Fire Roasted Eggplant ($22), Pan Roasted Kolapore Springs Trout ($24), and 8oz Grilled Flatiron Steak ($28).
The menu at imPerfect Fresh Eats by siblings May and Jeff Dang incorporates imperfect produce “to lower overall costs for customers without sacrificing nutrition or taste. This solution also helps save perfectly good food from going to waste and supports our local farmers and producers with an extra source of income.” Win-win. Visit their newest outpost opening Tuesday at the corner of Broadview at Danforth (106 Danforth Ave.) for signature bowls, wraps and smoothies.
Pastry Chef Akash Swar (Auberge du Pommier, Buca, Nugateau, Chase Hospitality Group) and sibling Tanvi - aka Little Sister Baking – were all set to debut at Market 707 (707 Dundas St. W.) September 7, but sudden repairs put the kibosh on that. The bakery known for Ras Malai Cake, puffs and buns finally opened yesterday. Hot tip: The Peach Shrikhand Choux and Gulab Jamun Cake should def be on your radar.
TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to hear: Award-winning Ontario craft brewery and the GTA's only certified B Corp Brewery, High Park Brewery and Lost Craft (839 Runnymede Rd.) has a new kitchen and menu courtesy of Love Chix. Tuck into fried chicken, flatbreads, signature dishes and snacks alongside local brews for lunch and dinner on the patio or take it to go.
Psst. The Noodle Bar (3603 Highway 7, Unit 106) opened in Markham last week.
‘ONO Poké Bar just opened their fifth branch in the GTA. The newest spot for their Hawaiian Asian-inspired poke bowls and sushi burritos? Mississauga (516 Curran Pl.).
Grant MacPherson hasn’t spent the pandemic lazing about. Just the opposite: Last month he added his Prairie Boy Bread to the hotness that is Geary (201 Geary Ave.), and a long-awaited outpost at Yonge & St. Clair (1 St. Clair Ave. E.) kicks off tomorrow at 7:30am.
Redpath Juicery (132 Redpath Ave.) is whipping up an array of goodness via organic juices and smoothies, and juices using fresh sugarcane and coconuts. Find them in Midtown between Yonge and Mount Pleasant, just off Eglinton.
Get your hands on crispy mutton and fusion rolls this weekend at the Reggie’s Rolls pop-up at The District Kitchen in Square One (100 City Centre Dr.).
Roncy Village’s Sake Sushi (20 Roncesvalles Ave.) offers a little bit of everything: Sake Keto Rolls, Hotate Sashimi, White Tune Pressed Sushi, Pork Gyoza, Chicken Karaage, and Mango Salad, for starters.
Craving Mexican fare? Check out Tres Compadres hidden inside Watson’s (388 Richmond St. W.) at Queen and Spadina.
From antipasti to pizza and pasta to dolci (if you’ve still got room), Vivo Pizza+Pasta has authentic Italian fare for dayyys. Visit their latest satellite in the Canary District near Corktown Common (460 Front St. E.).
CLOSED
Pop-ups aren’t forever. Thus, the Prohibition Pie Pop-Up (14 Dupont St. back patio) is terminato.
You’ve got until Saturday to visit Wise Bar/Bagel. While owner/operator Tamara Wise is closing after almost eight years, it looks like a new project’s in the works. Watch this space.
EVENTS
RendezBrews by Toronto Craft Beer Festival and RendezViews commences today.
Night Market Toronto’s Harvest Festival kicks off tomorrow at Square One (Lot P6).
Don’t miss The Abibiman Project Patisserie & Café Pop-Up at Leaf & Bone this weekend.
Fall Beerfest T.O. is on this weekend.
It’s the last weekend to explore Asian cuisines at 100+ participating venues with promotional deals for $10, $20, and $30 at this year’s AsialiciousTO.
New wine club pop-up series ‘Sabbatical Sundays’ by Lake Inez launches this weekend with K. Dinners.
Donna’s first Pop-Up Vintage Market is happening Sunday.
Big Trouble Pizza closed last month, but will reopen soon in a new location. Their legendary burger pop-up however, returns Monday, this time at Bar Ape.
Canada's largest four-day agricultural fair, Markham Fair, returns next weekend but you can buy tickets now.
And get tickets now for the Toronto Food Film Fest.
NEWS
Alo made The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 51-100 list, coming in at 98.
Toronto Raptors Scottie Barnes stopped by Scotty Bons Caribbean Grill earlier this week.
Chunkz, comedian Trey Richards and brother Jermaine Richards came thru Maha’s last week.
This week, Toronto’s Very Own Drake became one of the biggest investor's in the Dave's Hot Chicken chain. Drake said, “I tried the food, and it was amazing. After meeting the founders and hearing their story, I jumped at the opportunity to invest.” Stay tuned for news on their latest location.
ICYMI
As of yesterday, proof of vaccination is required in a number of settings including indoor seating at bars, restaurants and hotels. This compendium was created to help customers and hospitality professionals navigate this change and find relevant information with ease.
Think you have a lot on your plate? As newly appointed Corporate Head Chef of Scale Hospitality Group, Zachary Albertsen oversees some of the city’s top restaurants including new hotspot Toronto Beach Club and recently reopened Shook. That’s in addition to helming ICONINK standouts such as Byblos, Patria, new arrival Pink Sky and others. In the midst of launching two new restaurants, he shared his favourite spots around town (*adds to list*), go-to cocktail from the Midwest (soon to be yours), unusual guilty pleasures (likely to lead to serious cravings and late night “research”) and much more in this week’s not-to-be-missed At The Pass.
Don’t miss your chance to win a fabulous Gray Jay Deluxe Canadian Whisky Prize Pack! For details on how to enter, visit our Instagram.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
Life moves fast - I wrote about +110 new arrivals in August 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 help finding staff, 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.
