The 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

🕘 8.5 min read

My findings this week continue to illustrate the intense movement not only in the downtown core, but all over the GTA - and becoming increasingly more prevalent, at a singular address (details below), offering an expanse of options from casual coffee to Michelin style fare. And act quickly - closures will soon outpace arrivals. This week, they make up nearly half the openings.

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OPEN 

Specialty cafe The Brick Room kicks off Monday at Brookfield Place (181 St., Unit C060). In addition to getting your caffeine fix, fuel up with baked goods by Kensington Market micro bakery, Nassau Street Cafe.

Dinner and a show is now a reality at The Second City’s new digs at One York Street. Introducing on-site eatery The Bentwood (110 Harbour St., 3rd Fl.), operated by Oliver & Bonacini (O&B), the hospitality group behind Canoe, Jump, et al. Chose à la carte selections or the casual three-course pre fixe menu ($45) featuring salad to start, main such as spaghetti and meatballs or smash burger, and dessert.

Chai, Samosa & Chaat lands at Greenwood and Gerrard (1291 Gerrard St. E.) with namesake items in tow.

After opening a staggering 6,000+ shops in 28 countries in just over a year, the Cotti Coffee chain recently debuted the 6ix. It appears CC’s just getting started: A second outpost at Bay & Gerrard (700 Bay St., Unit 5), and third - the 6,000th store worldwide - at CF Fairview Mall (1800 Sheppard Ave. E.) swiftly followed.

Eataly expands its footprint across the GTA, opening today in Etobicoke at CF Sherway Gardens (25 The West Mall), with a third scheduled at CF Shops at Don Mills. The world-renowned Italian emporium debuted at Bay and Bloor (Manulife Centre 55 Bloor St. W.) in November 2019.

Luli and Ina Tare, the mother-daughter duo behind recently shuttered Cou Cou Bakery, have a new venture. Choose from an array of elevated, nutrient-dense salads, soup, and grain bowls at Greens and Grains (778 Dundas St. W.).

In need of winter warm-ups in the Gerrard and Jones vicinity? Hana Ramen (1024 Gerrard St. E.) replaces another noodle outfit in the east end nabe.

After making its mark in the GTA these last few years, Hazukido’s family continue to grow: Grand opening for their latest croissanterie at Union Station’s Union Market (65 Front St. W., Unit 420) is happening Friday and Saturday, complete with croffles, croissants, totes, and other goodies.

Master Pot brings its bao zai fan - aka claypot rice - to Chinatown’s Dragon City Mall (280 Spadina Ave., Unit C, 2nd Fl).

Pro tip: Put Alfred Siu’s Overpressure Club (815 Bloor St. W.) on your must-visit list. Project Gigglewater’s sister concept launched yesterday and I got a sneak peek (follow TR’s Insta for a closer look). What to expect: Sophisticated modernist cocktails on draught paired with stellar shareables (kitchen will be open late) in a sleek, yet laid back setting. Behind the bar: Beverage director Sasha Siegel and industry vet Troy Gilchrist. p.s. Want the inside track? OPEN/CLOSED readers got the head’s up back in April, with TR Newsletter subscribers getting the full deets back in July. Get on it.

Seeti Maarr is the spot for pressure cooked pulavs in Scarborough (41 Lebovic Ave., Unit A121). Grand opening celebrations take place tomorrow.

I’ve had my work cut out for me at the seemingly quiet intersection at Queen and Coxwell. After the wild happenings at 1606 Queen St. E. lately, the neighbouring space has proven just as eventful. In the span of two years it’s been home to: most recently Shawarma Factory, before that Amor Fusion Doner & Kebab, Amor Doner, and ZIBA Berlin Doner, and now Shawarma Day (1608 Queen St. E.).

An outpost of fry-centric Smoke’s Poutinerie landed in Greektown (588 Danforth Ave.) just prior to news about its founder. Details below.

Psst. Michelin-starred Enigma Yorkville’s new St. Thomas Restaurant & Wine Bar (23 St. Thomas St.) puts chef Quinton Bennett’s Spanish-inspired fare in the spotlight by way of pintxo hour and à la carte menu.

Supreme Juice Bar at the corner of Coxwell and Gerrard (10 Eastwood Rd.) is just steps from Harry’s Charbroiled (255 Coxwell Ave.), set to launch any day now, making for a sensational combo.

North York’s Vietnoms just dropped a second location in Thornhill (7000 Bathurst St.).

3 Eleven Indian Bar & Kitchen (1988 Avenue Rd. 2nd Fl.) takes over what was fine dining Italian restaurant Rossini’s until recently.

CLOSED 

BJ Supermarket (1449 Gerrard St. E.), a fixture for decades in Gerrard India Bazaar, has permanently closed.

The space that was home to GB Hand Pulled Noodle (1024 Gerrard St. E.) has already been filled. Details above. Note: A GB location remains at Dundas and Bay (66 Edward St.).

Harry’s Charbroiled in Little Italy (293 Palmerston Ave.) has come to a close after four years, however you’ll be able to find them in the east end soon (details above) with another westside location in the works. Did you know? The Palmerston addy was formerly home to Woodlot (rip).

Chef Michelle Bouzide’s Lebanese restaurant Little Sito (840 Bloor St. W.) featuring made-from-scratch fare has come to a close, however “future plans” are on the horizon.

Windows are papered over at what started out at Bombay Frankie, then changed to Mumbai Frankie (1386 Gerrard St. E., Unit 5).

My Bar & Restaurant (934 Gerrard St. E.) was up for rent for a hot second last spring before shutting down this fall.

Pickle Barrel had a 15 year run at CF Markville Mall (5000 Hwy 7). Operations continue in Toronto, North York and further afield.

Tandem Coffee (368 King St. E.) announced closure only days prior to the abrupt end of their decade-long Corktown cafe, however owners Michie Yamamoto and Eugene Fung did leave customers with a glimmer of hope with postscript “More to come!”

NEWS

Ryan Smolkin, Founder and CEO of Smoke's Poutinerie, died of “unexpected complications from a recent surgery” at the age of 50. Have a memory you’d like to share? Post it to the website.

Adding to the food recalls of late: President's Choice White Sliced Mushrooms recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes.

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