OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News June 15-21, 2023
The iconic OPEN/CLOSED is THE most comprehensive resource of restaurant openings – virtual, brick-and-mortar, pop-ups, allll the things - and food/drink news in the city. No one does it bigger or better. Watch for the drop every Thursday. #iykyk
🕘 11.5 min read
Despite doing this column for eons, it’s still astonishing how unique each edition is. Take this week’s discoveries, for example. 25 new arrivals that are all over the map - geographically, cuisine wise, and in terms of settings - and include a number of firsts. Say what you will about our fair city and surrounding areas. One thing they definitely aren’t? Boring. See for yourself.
Insider tip: Want to be the first to know? Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter for breaking news and updates.
Here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Was Black Pearl (184 Pearl St.) scrapped less than nine months after its debut? The hidden bar/music venue/billiards room by resto conglomerate Scale Hospitality Group appears to have given way to The Pearl, a “performance and event venue.” Grand opening festivities took place this weekend. TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know.
Hot tip: Blue Collar Bakery just debuted a brick-and-mortar destination. Your new go-to for bread, baked goods and coffee is in full effect in Bloordale (1230 Bloor St. W.), brought to you by executive chef Katy Chan and Niki Tsourounakis, the dream team and real life partners behind Neon Food Group, home of Café Neon, Bar Neon, Neon Bread & Wine, and Neon Commissary.
Baldwin Village continues to transform with the recent arrival of Butter and Blue (7 Baldwin Ave.). Fun fact: The cafe and bakery set up shop in a space previously home to a bed and breakfast.
Mexican eatery Casa Mezcal launched their three-floor venture in the heart of the Entertainment District (291 King St. W.) Summer 2020. Discover a similar iteration with the bonus of Mexican brunch at their second location in the heart of The Village (553 Church St.) where Smith stood until recently.
ISO plant-based fare outside the city? “Toronto's original vegan restaurant,” Fresh Kitchen + Juice Bar, kicks off the ninth location in the province on June 20 in Oakville (215 Lakeshore Rd. E.).
The mission of new all-you-can-eat (AYCE) Japanese hot pot Haru Shabu Shabu? To “immerse you you in the warm feelings of a spring day.” ‘Haru’ means ‘spring’ after all. Find it in North York at Empress Walk (5095 Yonge St., Unit B1).
I reported in April Jimbu Himalayan Thakali Kitchen was on the approach. Update: It’s go time for their thalis, momos, chow mein, fried rice, and other good stuff in Parkdale (1508 Queen St. W.).
Coffee shops and cafes abound these days. Lokum (75 Nassau St.) however, is not like the others. The latest addition to Kensington Market features sand brewed Turkish coffee. Between that and their Turkish delight, tea, halwa, baklava, and nutella bombs, it’s a must-visit.
Been living without Pork Volcanos in your life? That ends today, thanks to Lucky 79 Asian Street Food (5 Glen Cameron Rd., Unit 23A). This new spot in Thornhill is all about Leng Saap – aka pork bone soup - the aforementioned volcano, available in three sizes (one, two or five pounds), non-spicy or with heat, with rice or noodles. There are more snacks and mains to be had, paired with Thai Iced Tea and/or Soju, natch.
You heard it here first. Masa Deli (985 Dovercourt Rd.) opens June 17 with morning essentials (breakfast sandos, coffee), lunchtime fare (heldhelds and bowls) and what might just be THE item of summer: Choco Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwich.
MyMy Chicken claims to have “the best Korean fried chicken.” Run your own stats out at their new set up at Mississauga’s Square One (100 City Centre Dr.).
Swiftly following the launch of a new concept at Mr. Coco’s last week, there’s more news from the coconut king. Introducing a Mississauga location (265 Enfield Pl., Unit 100A) in soft opening June 17-18, with grand opening to follow June 24-25.
What a ride. I’ve been keeping you up-to-date on Neon Tiger’s movements since its debut back in 2021. Here’s a quick catch up: Moving out of 14 Dupont St. at the end of last year, then setting up shop in Recette’s former digs (1166 Queen St. W.) days later, the hotspot with “dope food, dope music, dope cocktails” and buzzy patio just added a second location. Plot twist: NT has returned to its original outpost at Avenue and Dupont! The now second destination - though still technically the first - softly (re)opened Friday night. p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers got word first. p.p.s. Chronicles such as this, which became extremely commonplace throughout the pandemic - and continue to be the norm - are why the landscape is now an intricate, tangled web that requires a lot of time, know-how, and patience to unravel. Hence why intrepid reporting remains vital – to deliver an up-to-date account of what’s happening in the industry and neighbourhoods across the city and GTA.
Want to take in the cityscape? Head to Pretty Boy Rooftop (335 Queen St. W.), cresting Sonder The Beverley’s fifth floor, with focused menu of snacks, ‘za, and roster of cocktails including Permanent Vacation, The Last Of Us, and Tequila Makes My Clothes Fall Off. Do you remember? Previous iterations of rooftop patios under the previous hotel include Charlotta Bar and Do Not Disturb.
For top notch conservas, charcuteria (Ibérico ham, cured meat, cheese, olives), and other Spanish pantry necessities (bomba rice), head to Roncesvalle’s new gourmet food shop, Spanish Pig (77 Roncesvalles Ave.).
Tacos Baby J touched down in Roncy (371 Roncesvalles Ave.) not long after award-winning comedian John Mulaney’s special of the same name minus the Mexican fare. Grand opening is Saturday.
Thay Bar Thai Food landed in Koreatown (690 Euclid Ave.) with an array of starters (Crab Rangoon on repeat), curries, noodles, fried rice, etc. Did you know? It replaces Playa Cabana’s Barrio Coreano that moved around the corner in March ‘22.
Wat Ah Jerk! Caribbean Grill has been making moves. Get in on halal eats - think Curry Goat, Oxtail, Jerk Chicken, Coco Patty Sandos, Chana Rotis - in Scarborough (Wexford Heights Plaza: 2072 Lawrence Ave. E.) and downtown in the Financial District (TD Centre Food Hall: 100 Wellington St.W.).
Cottage country is beyond the usual TR radius (Toronto, Scarborough, Markham, Vaughan, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, East York, North York, Mississauga, Oakville and all the nooks and crannies in between) but the return of historic Muskoka hotel and resort Windermere House on Lake Rousseau (2508 Windermere Rd.), is cause for celebration. The hotel, Rousseau Grill restaurant, pub and patio are now open under new ownership. Grand opening celebrations take place June 21.
They’ve been on-site in pop-up fashion for some time, and now Wvrst has joined Godspeed Brewery (242 Coxwell Ave.) in an official capacity, with the sausage halI in full force in the east end taproom. In addition to housemade pretzels, sausages and Belgian-style fries, discover burgers, schnitzels and salads that go hand-in-hand with the brewery’s stellar suds.
Cash strapped? Enjoy soft opening specials starting at $1 at Zaad’s striking second location at Broadview and Danforth (124 Danforth Ave.). Fresh halal Mediterranean fare (shawarma, falafel, and kebabs are just the beginning) in an gleaming expansive space. Insider tip: Coming soon, Opal Lounge Halal Bar on the second floor.
In the mood for a watering hole that looks and feels like you’re living in Blade Runner? Head to Zui Beer Bar in North York (5649 Yonge St.) for skewers, snacks and serious sippers such as “booze duels” and illuminated “joyful pitchers.”
CLOSED
Scarborough’s Greek eatery The Arkadia House (2007 Eglinton Ave. E.) has permanently closed.
Your one-stop shop for Italian and Chinese food has come to an end now that Leaside stalwart Big Man’s Pizza of 35 years and adjoining Kissing Bun debuted 2020 (1528 Bayview Ave.) have shuttered.
Recent arrival Black Pearl (184 Pearl St.) has already transformed into something else. Details above.
This week’s announcement of the impending closure of Country Style Hungarian Restaurant (450 Bloor St. W.) after six decades has resulted in a wave of customers sharing their stories. You’ve got until August 1 to get in your goodbyes alongside requisite orders of goulash, cabbage rolls, schnitzel and dumplings.
Manon Leparq and Rudy Mulenda of Franglish Gourmet Food (1317 Dundas St. W.) sent an email to subscribers on May 11 announcing abrupt closure. It reads: “Sorry - We are closing. It has been a lovely run to be part of this community. Unfortunately for us, it seems that we have to let it go.” Food and material inventory are for sale.
With the end of Naan & Chai’s downtown outpost (712 Queen St. W.), you’ll have to head to North York or Ajax to get yours hands on their 30+ kinds of stuffed naan. Comin’ in hot: Modern Indian resto Barkat.
NEWS
Fire broke out at Lahore Tikka House in Gerrard India Bazaar on Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
An SVU crashed through the front of Shawarma Daddy in Scarborough. No injuries were reported.
Food recall: Alasko IQF Whole Raspberries and IQF Antioxidant Blend recalled due to Norovirus.
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