🕒 7 min read

A restaurant opening in December used to be a rare occurrence. In recent years however, the twelfth month has turned into an all-out frenzy.

Despite a global pandemic and indoor dining still prohibited, the days leading up to Christmas continue to boast a flurry of new destinations awaiting your takeout and delivery orders. Take a look.  

First, be sure to catch up on Part 1. And because I know you like to keep track, this edition features nearly 40 arrivals: 16 in the first instalment and 22 below. I know, right?

Here’s the very latest: 

OPEN

You’ll find the sixth edition of Eat BKK Thai Bar & Restaurant in the Annex (513 Bloor St. W.). 

Grillies (641 Bloor St. W.) has replaced The White Brick Kitchen in Koreatown on the corner of Bloor and Euclid. Grand opening was November 14. 

Knock Out Ice Cream debuted back in Summer ‘19. Since it’s never too cold for ice cream, check out their new popup at The Annex Food Hall (384 Bloor St. W.). This time ‘round, they’re slinging hot drinks and pints to go. 

A delectable handheld item that works any time of day and can be easily consumed whether you’re commuting or WFH? Komi Banh Mi Bar (1100 Bloor St. W.) at Bloor and Dufferin has got you. Grand opening was November 18.

The follow-up to Midtown’s Dutch-Indo food bar Little Sister (2031 Yonge St.) debuted Saturday at King and Portland (102 Portland St.).

Mumbai Tadka (1532 Dundas St. W.) in Brockton Village specializes in street fare from India’s largest city. Dig into delicacies including Pav Bhaji ($10.95-$13.95), Chinese Bhel ($9.95), and Dabeli (3 pcs/$9.95).

Nam Dae Moon Rice Cake, home of Korean-style rice cakes steamed to chewy perfection, supplemented their North York eatery with not one, but two outposts recently: one downtown at Yonge and Wellesley (628 Yonge St.), another in Scarborough (4186 Finch Ave. E., Unit 31).  

To celebrate their grand opening in the Annex, Namaste India Indian Cuisine (606 Bloor St. W.) is offering 15 per cent off takeout orders.

If you’re of the belief that happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast, brunch-centric Pasaj (1100 Queen St. E.) in Leslieville by the Simit & Chai Company folks is where you want to be.

At the heart of NODO Restaurant’s Piccolina Caffetteria e Fornetto (85 Portland St.) at King and Portland: Italian coffee, sandos, soup and other winter warm-ups.

Spencer Shields’ Food Cartel, operating out of Triple A Bar (138 Adelaide St. E.), will make every day feel like Sunday with a host of combos, platters, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadilla, nachos and dip.

Family-owned and run Red Tape Brewery (159 Main St.) at Main and Gerrard specializes in bespoke brews. 

Visit local vendors Dim Sum City, Song Cook’s, Taste Bender, and UrSpecialty at ResTO Kitchen (72 Steeles Ave. W. Unit 6B) in Thornhill.  

Sweat and Soda (1091 Queen St. E.) kicked off their The Side Kitchen (1093 Queen St. E.) next door with a collection of pantry items and gift ideas, all made by female chefs and entrepreneurs. 

Tenon Vegan Sushi from Markham  (8362 Kennedy Ave.) has set up shop where HuaJia Rice Noodle swiftly came and went in The Annex (487 Bloor St. W.).

Shook (77 Portland St.) launched last summer but had to close that September due to a kitchen fire. The vegetarian Middle Eastern kitchen, café, and marketplace reopened December 11. 

The third instalment of Watan Kabob launched in Mississauga (6986 Financial Dr.) a few weeks ago.

Leslieville’s Wei's Bar and Variety (1014 Queen St. E.), with its booze and snacks, is the epitome of WFH convenience.

Baked ziti, spag bol, fried artichokes, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, tiramisu… uh, YEAH. ALL OF IT. Get yours at Westside Maria’s, the new virtual resto from Bar Mordecai  (1272 Dundas St. W.). And read up on their talented pastry chef Melissa Valdez while yer at it.

Whatever your cup of tea - Grapefruit Yakult, Marble Boba Thai Ice Tea, Okinawa Milk Tea, Cheesy Maple Boba Latte, for example - Yang Teashop at Square One (100 City Centre Dr.) in Mississauga likely has it on the menu.

YoTea made its debut in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood in October, quickly following with a shop in Markham (7710 Kennedy Rd.) on December 5, and grand opening celebrations this weekend.

CLOSED

For closures, see Part 1.

EVENTS

Today’s the last day to shop crepe cakes, hot chocolate bombs and more at the Millie Desserts popup at The District Kitchen in The Food District at Square One.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year thanks to Cold Tea’s Cold T(ree) Packages.

The St. Lawrence Market Saturday Farmers' Market is back as of December 5.

Sweaters n’ Snowflakes holiday popup (621 Richmond St. W.) is on until December 27, including Christmas Day.

NEWS

Ordering booze with takeout and delivery is Here. To. Stay.

The LCBO/SkipTheDishes partnership isn’t canceled, just ‘paused’ for right now. So skip the LCBO and shop your local bottleshop instead.

CurbTO is back, thanks to lockdown life. 

ICYMI 

Forget Zoom. These are the calls you should be making. 

Shopping for booze? Support small and local businesses now + always.

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Life moves fast. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.   

Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook and subscribe to the TR Newsletter for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.

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