OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News October 26-November 1, 2023
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
🕘 9 min read
With 23 arrivals and almost a third of that in closures, you’ve got a lot of planning to do.
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OPEN
Bar Prima (1136 Queen St W.), the latest venture by La Palma chefs Craig Harding and Julian D'Ippolito, opened last night with chef de cuisine Nicholas Iaboni and team doling out Italian fare in a striking setting by Future Studio.
Chicken Plus+, known for its Korean fried chicken, boneless chicken and tteokbokki across the GTA, has three new locations: East Chinatown (368 Broadview Ave.), Liberty Village (134 Atlantic Ave.), and softly opening Saturday, Vaughan Mills (3175 Rutherford Rd., Unit 81).
Hot tip: One of the city’s top dessert destinations just expanded. East York’s Circles & Squares Bakery (197 Bartley Dr.) found a second home at the corner of Yonge and Davisville (1909 Yonge St.). You’re going to need your stretchy pants for this one. See: Cruffins, butter tarts, cookies, brownies, danishes, et al. Grand opening is Saturday.
Tuck into “soulful Afro and Italian-inspired” victuals or toast to the weekend with bottle service at Cravin Kitchen + Lounge (5164 Dundas St. W.), the latest fine dining resto to touch down in Etobicoke.
Dhillon’s Karahi (1213 Bayview Avenue, Unit 4) just launched in Leaside and has already racked up rave reviews for their Tandoori Chicken, Lamb Curry, paneer butter masala, and cauliflower bites, amongst others.
Halal Turkish smokehouse Eat Meat in Mississauga (2273 Dundas St. W. Unit 6) was made for carnivores and protein-lovers alike. Discover an assortment of beef (brisket, kebabs, steak), lamb (shoulder, neck, ribs), and chicken (wings, fajitas, souvlaki) selections, alongside pizza, pasta, and veg-centric options.
Toronto’s newest craft brewery, Goldenfield Brewery (71 Sunrise Ave.), complete with bottle shop, tap and tasting room, boasts signature suds including Blonde Ale, IPA, Double IPA, and Witbier.
Grayson’s Rustic Bakery’s brick-and-mortar shop in Birchcliffe-Cliffside (1672 Kingston Rd.) has been in the works for years. Finally, GRB’s sourdough boules, baguettes, cinnamon buns, and breakfast sandos can now be yours.
Burger and taco joint Grillies is always adding to the fam. Find their most recent addition open 24/7 in Etobicoke at Royal York and Bloor (3075 Bloor St. W.).
Hakka Boyz/Dosa Boyz claims to have “Canada's largest South Indian and Indo-Chinese buffet.” See for yourself at their digs in Kennedy Commons (35 William Kitchen Rd.). Stay tuned: A Richmond Hill location is in the works.
TR readers got the scoop on Henderson Brewery @ YYZ back in June. For those just catching up, mark your calendars:The 28-seat bar at Toronto Pearson Airport by local brewery Henderson Brewing Company and iconic Canadian band Rush kicks off on Tuesday.
Dinner and a show? King Bolzano Ristorante (239 Broadview Ave.) - aka Bolzano Ristorante Pizzeria & Bar - opened yesterday, steps away from new arrival Hugh’s Room Live (296 Broadview Ave.). Grand opening spesh: Pepperoni Slice for $3.99.
Marusya’s Kitchen (2432 Bloor St. W.) in Bloor West Village is all about Eastern European comfort fare. Behind the new enterprise? Maria Janchenko of neighbouring Janchenko Bakery (2394 Bloor St. W.).
Craving Filipino food? Head to Max’s Restaurant in Vaughan (1520 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 121) for a stellar lineup including but not limited to: Kare-Kare, Sisig, Pancit Palabok, Bicol Express, Chicken Adobo Sa Gata, and made-to-order Whole Fried Chicken.
Montreal’s Mr Puffs has been setting up shop in the GTA since 2022 with their famed hot puffs finished in various glazes (think Strawberry, Hazelnut Chcooclate, Biscoff Bueno), speciality Illy coffees, and soft serve. Grand opening for the Scarborough store (3155 Markham Rd. Unit D-4) starts Saturday at 11am.
Celebrations for Neo Coffee Bar at King and Spadina (61 Spadina Ave.) takes place Saturday with a complimentary Matcha White Chocolate or Dark Chocolate mini cookie with every purchase and chance to win exciting prizes. This marks their third modern Japanese bakery and cafe in Toronto, with more in the pipeline.
Starting today, Prince St. Pizza’s Sicilian style pizza is available north of the border. The U.S. chain’s first location in Canada is one of the first concepts to debut at The Well (472 Front St. W.), the highly anticipated pedestrian village of sorts in the heart of downtown.
Suma's Egyptian Grill (977 O'Connor Dr.) is the spot for hawawshi, Egyptian pizza and smash burgers. And check out Chef Salah’s Cairo-style brekkie on weekends.
Pape Villages’s long-running Tzatziki opened a second branch at Mount Pleasant and Eglinton (758A Mt. Pleasant Rd.).
Tombik Shawarma at Oakwood and Eglinton (1639 Eglinton Ave. W.) is all about its namesake dish.
Find 68°C Stone + Grill (285 Dundas St. W.) across from the AGO with fish, meat and veg served sizzling atop hot stone.
CLOSED
Bad Blowfish Cafe (1595 Bayview Ave.) came and went in less than a year. It’s not the first to leave the space lately: The Leaside addy has been home to numerous concepts in the last few years, notably Charcoal Biryani, Bombay Snack Bar/Bom-Bay Snack Bar, Bombay Frankie, and Egg Bird.
Black Tulip Restaurant and Bar (807 St. Clair Ave. W.) came on the scene in early 2020. Last service for the Hungarian restaurant is Sunday.
Grand opening festivities for Chungchun Rice Dog’s Etobicoke location at Royal York and Bloor (3075 Bloor St. W.) took place July 7, 2021.
Cou Cou Bakery (988 St Clair Ave. W.) was a recent addition to Corso Italia.
After a four-year run in Riverside, Indian Spice Room (717 Queen St. E., Unit 1/2) has closed up shop.
Ma Maison on Bloor West (2432 Bloor St. W.) has come to an end. For what’s in its place, see above.
Earlier this week, Muddy York Brewing Co. announced the East York brewery (22 Cranfield Rd.) will permanently close at the end of the year. Plans to expand to Stouffville however, are still in effect.
Siam Square Hut was a Bayview staple for a long time - originally in what was once Sunnybrook Plaza (660 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit 120), followed by a move not far south at Bayview and Moore (1213 Bayview Ave., Unit 4).
Due to a fire in the landlord’s basement, Stop restaurant (1543 Dundas St. W.) is closed “unfortunately until further notice.”
NEWS
According to news reports, Merrick ‘Owen’ Aries, co-owner of Toronto Jamaican restaurant The Diner's Corner (678 Yonge St.), died in Salt River, Claredon in Jamaica.
Food recalls are on the rise again. The latest additions: Lavergne Meat & Deli Breakfast sausages recalled due to undeclared milk, and Lian Teng Enoki Mushrooms recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes, and Insignia Multi-Function Pressure Cookers recalled due to potential burn hazard. [UPDATE 27.10.23: Various brands of caffeinated energy drinks recalled due to caffeine content and labelling issues.]
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