Open/Closed for the week of July 4-10
With nearly ten new openings and as many events this week, you’ve got a lot of scheduling to do.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Beerhive
Toronto Pearson Airport, Terminal 3
The new YYZ Craft Beer Bar seats just 29, but there’s almost 20 brews available (over half from Ontario breweries), and dishes including Sweet & Savory Pizza (smoked sausage, red apples goat cheese and rosemary) and Tandoori Chicken Sliders. With each seat equipped with USB and power outlets and iPads, waiting for your flight just got a lot easier.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
81 Church St.
Cook your own dinner at this new Japanese Yakiniku (barbeque) restaurant. With over 100 tapas-style food and drink options from Spicy Tofu Chigae ($7), Yaki-Shabu Beef ($5) and Duck Breast ($8), and 11 marinades to choose from, you could be here awhile. Good news though: Happy Hour takes place every day from 11:30am to 5pm.
Holy Chuck Burgers
586 Yonge St.
The second Toronto location (there’s also one in Woodbridge) just opened on Yonge north of Wellesley. While non-extreme burgers are available, HCB is famous for their more epic fare like The Farmers Threesome ($12.99 – 1 lamb patty, 1 beef patty, 1 all bacon patty, triple cheese, bacon and caramelized onions), You Fat Pig ($11.99 – 2 all bacon patties, triple cheese, crispy bacon, homemade creamy bacon dressing), and The Go Chuck Yourself ($21.99 – 6 patties, 6 cheese, triple bacon, caramelized onions, all stacked between 3 grilled cheese sandwiches).
Kanga Aussie Meat Pies
199 Bay St. (Commerce Court, PATH)
The second location of the iconic Australian meat pie shop opens tomorrow at 8am. Exclusive to this location: sweet pies (Tim Tam Slam, Sunshine Meringue, and Anzac Cookie Apple -all $6/slice) and Kanga Lunch Boxes ($10.50) that feature a pie, and your choice of simple salad, mashed potatoes or mushy pies. Drool. New menu items include two salads (Ayers Rock Chop, Bondi Slaw) and a breakfast pie (Ricotta & Bacon – butter puff pastry, chopped egg, bacon, fresh curry ricotta and cherry tomatoes $6.25). Food court eating has never been so good.
Lavelle
627 King St. W., 16th Floor
This rooftop has it all: 16,000 sq. ft. space with room for 500 people, 250 seated dining room and bar, a covered lounge, private event space, retractable glass walls that lead to the 155 ft. pool (one of the longest rooftop pools in North America), cabanas, beds and booths, poolside DJs, a garden and floating playground. It’s also open seven days a week starting at 10am. Stay tuned.
Roywoods
121 Fort York Blvd.
Jerk meats of chicken, pork, and shrimp, are available as sandwiches ($8.99) on freshly baked coco bread, or plates served with rice and coleslaw ($10.99-$14.99). There’s also fried, curried & BBQ chicken, king fish and oxtail. Fab feature: Meat available by the ½ lb. and 1 lb. ($7.99 - $17.99) – and they’re open until 4am Fridays and Saturdays.
Sorelle & Co.
1050 Rutherford Rd.
Sorelle & Co. specializes in gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, nut-free and preservative-free baked goods. There’s a lot to choose from from a loaf of Challah ($7.50) to Tiramisu Verrine ($4.50), savoury options (Hot & Sour Soup - $6.75) and a range of pantry items (Sundried Tomato Dip sm $6.50, lg $24). Doors open Monday.
Three Hands
1532 Dundas St. W.
The small bar menu sure boasts a lot of fascinating fare – Collard Green Poutine ($12), Jerk Octopus Salad ($16), and Watermelon-Wasabi Fried Chicken. I’ll have a closer look soon.
Watson's
388 Richmond St. W.
The new bar across from 401 Richmond opens today. Glug, glug.
CLOSING
Pisco 1641 has been sold, but will operate until August 15.
CLOSED
Parlor Foods & Co. is all papered up.
Rock Lobster Co's. last location on Ossington has closed.
NEWS
You can now pre-order your beer, accessible via The Beer Store App and website .
Hazelton Lanes is now called Yorkville Village and its new gourmet Food Hall opened this week. With upscale features and finishes, the Food Hall will feature ten specialty dining options including: Corner (Thai cuisine that can be ordered A La Carte or from their signature 'All You Can Taste' menu), Freshii, Keboberi gourmet Lebanese fare), Pannizza (fresh baked paninis and pizzas), and The Fresh Tea Shop.
EVENTS
Fresh Wednesdays and Tasty Thursdays return to Nathan Phillips Square for July and August.
Summerlicious starts Friday. The two-week long pre-fixe event ends on July 24.
Toronto Caribbean Carnival has begun a month long celebration.
Taste of Lawrence takes place Friday through Sunday.
Cultura Festival takes over Mel Lastman Square every Friday in July starting tomorrow.
Radio Mango’s Taste of Konkan food festival takes over Mississauga on Saturday.
Thrill of the Grill returns to the Danforth this Saturday.
Also happening this Saturday, Lovin’ Local Food Fest at Yonge & Dundas Square, where the reveal of Toronto’s Signature Dish happens at 5pm.
Head to Salsa On St. Clair Street Festival Saturday and Sunday.
Still hungry? TO Food Fest takes place this weekend.
And if that's not enough, check out the whole July calendar of events.
AND LASTLY
Get to know the chef of new Sicilian restaurant Ardo.
Feast on sticky buns + ice cream, and sample Muskoka wine and beer this weekend in Bala.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter 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 promoting your business? Get started now.
Enjoy this? Like, follow and comment on Instagram and Facebook. Forward and share using the icons below. #supportlocal