Open/Closed: week of January 4-10, 2018
Ahh, the new year in which to ease into gently. Uh, no. This insanity continues - I’ve got 25 openings from A to almost Z this week, and a slew of closures and news.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Get your fill of tantalizing curry goat, stew beef, oxtail, escovitch and ackee & salt fish at Ackee Tree at Queen and Parliament (372 Queen St. E.).
Alcove Coffee (34 Cawthra Ave.) an artisan cafe complete with photography studio, is serving up “electrifying” coffee, tea, and French pastries in the Junction.
Your new year’s resolution to lose weight is temporarily off the table, thanks to August 8 (331 Spadina Ave.), Chinatown’s latest AYCE sushi and Cantonese-style dim sum eatery.
Beach dwellers unite – Texas BBQ is now yours, thanks to Beach Hill Smokehouse (172 South Main St.). Warning: They sold out Tuesday, their first day, so get there early.
Bud’s Coffee Bar (1966 ½ Queen St. E.) has also set up shop in the Beaches, featuring coffee, beans, and baked goods.
Yonge Sheppard Centre Food Court (4841 Yonge St.) is now home to Butterchick, a fusion Indian spot. Choose your style (Soul Bowl $11.95, Wrap It Up $10.95, Half Moon $9.95), main (Amritsari Fish, Coconut Curry and more) and sides (Kachumber Salad, Tri-Colour Quinoa).
Craving Indian, but want it a bit closer to midtown? Chef of India (3187 Yonge St.) has debuted in Lawrence Park.
Ding Tea (3024 Hurontario St. Unit G8), the largest Taiwanese beverage brand in China, has landed Mississauga, with a selection of boba tea, milk tea, and fruit juice made fresh to order.
Kosher shoppers will be pleased to discover Dr. Laffa’s new venue at Promenade Mall (1 Promenade Circle) in Thornhill.
Filosophy Pastry and Espresso Bar (912 Bloor St. W.) just touched down at Bloor and Ossington.
In the Christie Pits ‘hood? Stop by Machino Cafe (823 Bloor St. W.) for an assortment of Italian sandwiches, pasta, freshly baked pastries + cookies, and gelato.
The second location of Mymy Chicken (394 Bloor St. W.) is now open in the Annex. The popular KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) spot is set to open two more stores across the country.
Kensington Market has a new burger destination- Ozzys Burgers (66 1/2 Nassau St.). In addition to fresh never frozen burgers, options include sandwiches, poutine, grilled cheese, and milkshakes.
Pi Co. (170 University Ave.) continues its expansion with a new location downtown at University and Adelaide.
Chef Ivana Raca’s (Ufficio) Resto Boemo opens Monday inside Assembly Chef’s Hall (111 Richmond St. W.).
Schnitzel Hub (402 Bloor St. W.) offers up four types of schnitzel - pan-fried breaded veal, chicken, pork, eggplant- available in seven varieties, including Holstein Schnitzel ($16.95) with a sunny-side up egg and smoked sprat, and Sesame Schnitzel ($17.95) featuring an eggplant schnitzel with tahini and za’atar.
For many, fries, gravy, and cheese curds are the ultimate winter comfort food. If you’re in this category, you’ll want to head to Smoke's Poutinerie (4032 Confederation Pkwy.) in Mississauga.
Union Chicken opened a full-service restaurant at Union Station (Front St. W. between Bay and Yok). It’s located across from their sister eatery, Amano Pasta.
Pizzas topped with drishil (vegetarian pepperoni), paneer (cottage cheese), yogurt, chutney, chaat, ginger and garlic are just some of the enticing offerings at new vegetarian Indian resto Veggie Planet (6985 Davand Dr., Unit 1) in Mississauga.
The Victory (440 Bloor St. W.) has found a new home in the Annex. Grand opening is tomorrow.
The Village Restaurant (3073 Hurontario St.) in Mississauga is serving up Pakistani and Hakka Chinese curries, noodles, and barbecue, for takeout and catering.
Vit Beo (858 Bloor St. W.) ain’t your typical Vietnamese resto. Stay tuned.
In the mood for Afghani food? Watan Kabob (2661 Dundas St. W.) in Mississauga has got you covered with kabobs, wraps, salads - including a salad bar – sides, naan and dessert.
West End Social (2432 Lakeshore Rd. W.) opens tomorrow in downtown Bronte. On the menu? Cocktails, cocktails, and more cocktails.
Woodfire Sandwich Co. (3797 Lakeshore Blvd. W.) launched New Year’s Day in Etobicoke.
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CLOSED
Chef Adrian Forte’s AF1 Caribbean Canteen (596 College St.) has shuttered.
Agra Fine Indian (4850 Yonge St.) is no more.
Campagnolo (832 Dundas St. W.) is closed for renos until the 10th.
Caplansky’s original location (356 College St.) closed yesterday.
After seven years, Cardinal Diner (5 Roncesvalles Ave.) has closed their doors.
HoSu Bistro (245 Queen St. W.) is up for lease. Their location at 2352 Yonge St.remains open.
Ji (760 St. Clair W.) has closed, but a new location is set for downtown.
Cabbagetown’s beloved MerryBerry Café + Bistro (559 Parliament St.) closed on Dec 30th after seven years.
Momofuku announced Daishō and Shōtō will close on February 25 to undergo renovations for a new concept opening in the spring, led by Executive Chef Paula Navarrete. Noodle Bar, Nikai, and Milk Bar, will remain open during the renovations.
Mutual Street Deli (103 Mutual St.) lasted a whopping 60 years before having to shutter.
Omaw (88 Ossington Ave.) is undergoing renovations.
Thirty-four years after opening, Owner Connie Ciccocioppo has closed Oro (45 Elm St).
Just up the block from Omaw, Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington) is also currently closed for renos.
Owners of Stasis Preserves (476 Roncesvalles Ave.) are “moving on” from their deli and pantry. They’ll continue to focus on their preserves.
NEWS
Kinton Ramen is holding a Mega Ramen Challenge on Tuesday.
Chase Hospitality Group is opening Colette Grand Cafés in five Holt Renfrew locations across Canada, including two in Toronto.
You can dine at +200 restaurants during this year’s Winterlicious, Toronto’s premier prix fixe food event, taking place January 26 to February 8. Reservations open January 11. In the meantime, Winterlicious Culinary Events are available for booking now.
You may not be able to order a salad with romaine in certain restaurants for awhile.
Minimum wage has gone up and some restaurants are cutting back to compensate including Tim Hortons, while others have hiked prices such as Kaboom Chicken.
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Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Let me know.