Open/Closed for the week of August 4-10
Summer in the city brings with it tons of openings and festivals. This week there is so much to do, you’re going to need to get a bigger calendar. And just the weekend alone offers enough to keep you occupied (and full!) until Monday morning!
Toronto is one of the best cities in the world and this week is proof of that!
Check out all of the exciting news below:
Open:
DaiLo
503 College St.
Chef Nick Liu and Sommelier Anton Potvin have set up shop in Grace's beautiful old spot. Opening to the public starting tonight, DaiLo previewed a tasting menu for the media last night, serving up: Smoked Trout Betel Leaves, Eggnet Salad, Crispy Octopus Fresh Roll, Sweet & Sour Pork Hock, Singapore Curry Cauliflower, Whole Fried Giggi Trout, and for dessert - an Asian Banana Split that included a Thai banana and six-spice ice cream.
I’ll have a closer look for you soon. Stay tuned!
Pastizza
118 The Esplanade
Pastizza finally opened their gorgeous doors yesterday. I say finally, because I have been waiting to try their food in the hotel-like setting at the foot of Market Street on the Esplanade (the large space also features a lengthy patio, for those that can’t get enough of al fresco dining).
The only problem will be deciding what to get - the Bolgonese with broken meatballs, Nona Giuliana’s Lasagna made with beef, veal and pork meat sauce, or the fascinating pastas such as the Cauliori with Torchietti aglio e olio, fresh cauliflower, chilies, onions, golden raisins, pine nuts and parmesan.
Sea Witch Fish & Chips
636 St Clair Ave. W.
It’s not often I get to write about a new fish and chip place. Think about it - most of the ones you know and love are old places that have been around since before reality TV. So it’s with great excitement that Sea Witch has finally opened.
The menu offers a wide range of fish - Pacific Halibut, Lake Whitefish, Atlantic Haddock, Pacific Cod and Artic Char – with fish cakes, chowder, poutine and potato fritters also available.
You better believe I’ll be there soon. And I promise to tell you all about it.
Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossignton Ave.
With it being Taste of the Danforth and all this weekend (more info below), should you be craving Greek food but not want to battle the crowds, satiate your craving with homemade rustic pastries and dishes.
A little handmade spanakopita and all is right with the world. Opa!
The Well Bar & Café
121 Ossington Ave.
Also just opened on Ossington, if you're into a little board games and beer, this is your go-to spot for early on in the week. Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ spins all night. Now you’ve got plans for every night of the week.
Additions:
Mata Petisco Bar is now open for brunch. Try the Brunch Burger with cachaça caramelized onions, malagueta pepper aioli, catupiry cheese, fried egg, and lettuce , served cassava with frites! Or the Breakfast Poutine, Picanha Steak and Eggs or Yogurt with Acai Berry. And don’t forget the requisite Caesar with Cachaça.
p.s. Stop by and see Chef Tulio Lessa at the Pan American Food Fest this Sunday at 4pm! Details on the festival are below.
daishÅ adds the Shrimp Stack Burger to their lunch menu this week. The reason this matters? Chef David Chang debuted it as as part of Shake Shack's 10th Anniversary Menu and now you can try it in right here in the t-dot. A beef burger topped with a shrimp patty, American cheese, pickled, bibb lettuce, and hozon mayo might just tide us over until Shake Shack arrives north of the border. Ketchup-covered-fingers crossed.
Expanding:
Caplansky's second location opened this week at Toronto Pearson International Airport at Terminal 3. The airport franchise is the first of many to come, the next one happening in Terminal 1. I’ll keep you posted.
The Drake announced their Prince Edward County Inn, Drake Devonshire, will open September 15th. Which is soon. Like how-can-it-be-back-to-school-sale-time soon. Full-on deets coming your way in the next few weeks.
In how could this happen news:
With all the progress the city has made with food trucks, it’s with great sadness that King West Eats has been shut down after only two weeks. You can show your support for our food trucks at the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival this weekend (details below).
Events:
Taste of the Danforth is one of the city’s biggest festivals, attracting about 1.5 million of us each year. Because we know there’s a lot of ground to cover, we’ve created an entire guide to help you out, and I did a Best Of this week as well.
Two big-wigs in the city, DrakeOneFifty & Momofuku, have partnered for Twilight Tuesdays, a mini night-market, happening every Tuesday in August. The Gabardine and Richmond Station are a part of it too. Now that’s a party!
This Sunday, check out ¡A HUEVO! Brunch held by Alexander Stanojevic, a 4th year student at Ryerson University (in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program, natch). His second event, a taco pop up, brings food, street art and clothingall under one roof at the The Atlantic. How cool is that?
p.s. Want to know more about popups? Check out this week’s article.
The second Pan American Food Festival happens all weekend long and is a great introduction to the months-away Pan Am Games. Local chefs led by renowned Florida chef Norman Van Aken will be in attendance. Jamaican, Canadian, Colombian, Brazilian, Mexican, Venezuelan, American and Peruvian food demonstrations are sure to make your mouth water. Admission is free.
We’ll be at the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival this weekend, sipping all types of local beers and nibbling on food truck goodies while listening to indie bands rock the joint. Are you coming?
TUM brings brunch to the yard this Sunday with Station Cold Brew Coffee Co.'s debut, brunch cocktails and other goodies.
Should you be up in the north end of the city this Sun, check out the third-annual TO Food Fest. Grilled quail eggs and birthday cake popcorn are just two reasons to hustle your butt up there. Seriously, this is food junkie heaven.
Jerk Festival is happening this weekend in Etobicoke. With a Grace Jerk Seasoning Workshop and every kind of jerk food under the sun, you’d be wise to fit it into your calendar.
The CNE might not open until next week, but Bacon Nation is returning to the place where they started from and today, they’re announcing one of the new items debuting at the Ex this year! Hint? They’re taking inspiration from one of their old favourites, deep fried Coke and promise that the new menu item will be “sweet, salty, and BACON WRAPPED!!"
p.s. Other foods coming your way at the Ex this year? Chocolate Chicken, Banana Split Maple Toast Milkshake, Bacon Wrapped Corn on the Cob, and lots more. I’ll have the full round up for you next week, complete with drool-inducing pics!
Psst! Rumour has it that Bar Isabel’s Grant van Gameren is doing a new spot on College in the old Teatro location, next to new neighbour Dwailo. If it’s true, at least this means you’ll have a brand new place to line up to try and score a seat.
Lastly:
Weekends scream for a glass (or pitcher) of sangria, cold tasty treats and spending time out on a patio.
And be sure to vote for your favourite restaurants.
To make sure you don’t miss out on any news, sign up for our weekly newsletter, delivered straight into your inbox every Thursday. You’ll get Alan Vernon’s weekly review, the Best Of, daily news articles and a rotating roundup of drinks, chef profiles, #SummerMenuWatch and The Reveal (our inside look at new restaurants). It’s easy to be in the know - just click "sign up" on the top right-hand corner of our homepage.