Open/Closed for the week of March 23-29

Get ready, the openings this week are fast and furious. But that's a good thing right? Because now you've got a handful of new places to try this weekend!

Here's the very latest...

Open:

Annette Food Market
240 Annette St.

Nestled next door to The Good Neighbour Espresso Bar, this Italian restaurant in Baby Point softly opens, boasting a wood-fried pizza oven. We'll take you inside soon.

Buster Rhino's BBQ
838 College St.

We broke the news Tuesday afternoon that Buster Rhino's first Toronto location opened. Stay tuned.

Carl's Jr.
1431 Yonge St.

The American charbroiled burger chain opened this week with a second location at Queen and Beverley soon to follow. The menu includes everything from breakfast options to their famous charbroiled burgers, chicken sandwiches and salads, along with something called a green burrito. I'll have a closer look for you soon.

Fat City Blues
890 College St.

Tonight marks the grand opening of Fat City Blues, featuring music, hand-crafted cocktails and New Orleans food. Sounds like the perfect weekend.

The Merchant
181 University Ave.

If you've been watching a lot of UK shows on Netflix lately, you're probably hankering for some fish 'n chips and other British comfort foods. Longtime chef Niels Kjeldsen is Culinary Director.

Mr. Tonkatsu
520 Bloor St. W.

You know deep-fried food is bad for you. But you want it anyway. So go ahead and indulge in these panko-crusted dishes.

Uncle Tetsu Japanese Cheesecake 
598 Bay St.

The epic love for Uncle Tetsu’s Cheesecake began on Oyafukou Street in Hakata with a specialty Australian cheese. The Toronto location at Bay and Dundas features "super soft, rich and flavourful freshly baked cheesecake" that are famous throughout the world, and spurs lineups. From rusk to angel hat to cheesecake, this small bakery offers these sought-after Japanese delacacies to Canada for the first time.

Almost Open:

R&D ("Rebel & Demon") the new restaurant from MasterChef Canada's Alvin Leung and Eric Chong is set to open next week. Keep an eye on our social media for breaking news and announcements.

Reopening:

Starting tomorrow, you can eat at  Pancer's Deli again. The recently closed family business is reopening.

Closed:

Despite the craze for seafood in the city, Catch has closed.

News:

Spring is here! And to mark the occasion, Hogtown Smoke has officially opened their patio and Bang Bang Ice Cream has opened for the season.

Cam's Place launches a new food and drinks menu tonight. And a new menu is launching at The Thompson Hotel. next week, by newly appointed Chef Kevin Sinclair. We got a sneek peek at The Lobby Bar menu. With everything from Beef Cheek Sliders to Crab Crusted Prawns and Pear & Prosciutto Salad, you've got a whole new reason to visit The Thompson.

Just announced, chef and restaurateur Alida Solomon of Tutti Matti is opening a high-end boutique hotel and a restaurant in Tuscany "Tutti Matti Tuscany will be an exclusive restaurant, hotel and microbrewery in the heart of Italy's wine country," said Solomon. She has teamed up with Frank Heaps, one of Canada's leading craft brewing pioneers of Upper Canada and Steam Whistle Brewing to include an on-site artisanal (craft) brewery and brewpub, and James Estrin, a Toronto real estate professional and expert in the development of luxury resort properties, who helped source and secure the perfect location for this exclusive venture.

Fashion meets subs? SUBWAY Style, a fashion line by SUBWAY Restaurants and Canadian designer Sunny Fong debuted at World MasterCard Fashion Week on Tuesday. Fong’s collection, VAWK for SUBWAY included six custom creations inspired by the chain their ingredients and its "mission to encourage healthy active lifestyles."

Events:

This afternoon you can catch a free screening of Chef, starrring Jon Favreau,  at the Barbara Frum Library, at 2pm.

The Green Living Show takes places this weekend with lots of food and drink to nosh on and bring home. Shop local wineries such as Southbrook and Stanners Vineyard, crazy addictive fruit and nut blends from Jewels Under the Kilt (just try not to devour a packet of Maple Cranberry Holy Mole Pecan with pecans, cranberries, chipotle, chcoolate cocoa, and maple syrup) and for chocoholics, stop by Chocosol to satiate your sweet tooth.

The official launch party of the Bier Markt Music Program at Bier Markt Esplanade happens this Saturday with Poor Young Things, The Juliets (Formerly The Cardinals), Ready the Prince, BPM Krew and a DJ set by Grump, in Concert with 102.1 the Edge. This 19+ event is free and begins at 9pm.

Head to the One of a Kind Show this weekend where you can get items ranging from dinner and glassware to food and drink.

Learn Chocolate & Beer Pairing at the Gladstone Hotel’s Get School'd Series on Sunday night. The evening’s lesson includes five “hearty pairings” of chocolate and beer with accouterments. 

Sunday’s Interactive Culinary Taste of South India Hands-On Workshop by Doris Fin is both fun and informative.

And lastly:

Yesterday was International Waffle Day, so we celebrated with a round up of the very best waffles in the city.

Our new columnist Mario Fiorucci, co-founder of both The Healthy Butcher and RealFoodToronto.com wrote a fantastic piece on Meat Tenderness. Part 2 will be released this weekend.

Monday there is a fabulous cocktail competition that shouldn't be missed.

An east end restaurant is receiving a helping hand from local residents.

It's finally spring, so get outside and eat.

And tired of your usual fruit bowl offerings? These new Colombian fruits will excite your palate.