THE TIP OFF - EDITION 14
🎧 Listen to THE TIP OFF, a supplement to my OPEN/CLOSED featuring breaking exclusives, sneak peeks, hot tips + the week’s top stories and events like you’ve never seen - or heard - before in 3 minutes or less on TORONTO RESTAURANTS | THE PODCAST.
This week’s edition of THE TIP OFF features top 5 exclusive news stories and breaking news.
THIS JUST IN:
The fine dining boom is far from over. In fact, if you’ve been reading my OPEN/CLOSED and listening to THE TIP OFF lately, you’ll know the pace is only quickening. Keep your eyes peeled for Radici Project arriving in Little Italy this spring, featuring “farm-to-table dining, and “mix of Japanese and Italian cuisine with Canadian ingredients.” It’s moving to where Michelin-awarded La Bartola stood until mere days ago (588 College St.). At press time, it was slated to open April 16.
Speaking of fine dining, acclaimed chef Antonio Park boasts numerous award-winning restaurants throughout Quebec, in addition to a namesake eatery in the 6ix with Toronto group Scale Hospitality. AP debuted on the 51st floor of Bay & Bloor’s Manulife Centre (55 Bloor St. W.) in November of 2022. UPDATE: Doors are currently closed for renovations.
Standard Time (165 Geary Ave., 2nd Floor Unit A) is one of the city’s top spots for food, music, dancing, discourse and shopping for vinyl. The Geary hub is about to add ‘bar’ to its repertoire beginning April 3. No doubt it’s going to be one of THE places to be. See you there. TR Pro Tip: Watch/Listen to Episode One of the podcast for my onsite interview with two talented Toronto chefs who participated in Standard Time’s epic ‘Plates’ series.
Psst. Speaking of Geary, and just steps from Standard Time, the former footprint that was Toronto Brewing (they’re now on Chesswood in North York) will soon be home to Sana (211 Geary Ave.). Stay tuned for details.
BREAKING NEWS: The King West closures have been relentless lately, both temporary (Buca, Vela around the corner) and for good - often within steps of one another (See: Casa Mezcal, Dasha, and District Eatery). The latest to conclude service: Kissa that launched at King & Portland (619 King St W.) Summer 2023. Fashioned after Japanese speakeasy-style haunts, it was part of a wave of listening bars across the city offering small plates, cocktails, karaoke, and a place for audiophiles to commune. Last month I reported that the restaurant and karaoke side of things had come to an end. At that time, the dance/nightclub portion was still operational. The venture has since switched to an event space. If this all sounds vaguely familiar, it’s strikingly similar to my recent breaking news about Dasha across the street, that also wound up the resto and karaoke part of the biz, moving to solely private events.
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