OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News April 7-13, 2022
Bunny Milk Pudding. Photo courtesy of Mabu Cafe.
My iconic 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. #ifyouknowyouknow
🕘 11.5 min read
The through line to my 21 discoveries this week - the only constant is change. As you’ll see below, that goes for areas across the GTA, not just the city’s hotspots. Stay tuned – more news ahead in The Tip Off, available exclusively in the TR Newsletter. And to everyone celebrating, Ramadan Mubarak.
In the meantime, here’s the very latest:
OPEN
Beast (96 Tecumseth St.) by acclaimed chefs Scott Vivian and Nate Middleton has been closed and under renovation for some time now. I let you in on the Beast at Blood Brothers Brewing (165 Geary Ave.) drop at the beginning of the year. And now, the boys are back in full effect, this time as Beast Pizza. After a soft opening weekend, doors officially opened Wednesday for dine in and takeout, but you’d already know that if you were a TR Newsletter subscriber.
Etobicoke’s The Chaat-ter Box (127 Westmore Dr., Unit109) is “where great cooking and fantastic vibes meet.” It’s also where to get Indian street food: Indian style veggie hot dog, masala corn, assorted pani, masala, chaat and daal, for example. Bonus: Students enjoy 15 per cent off.
Word’s going to spread quickly on this one. Doors open tomorrow for Patria’s new sibling Chica (75 Portland St.). On the agenda for the li’l late night spot at King & Portland? “Elevated tapas, craft cocktails and wines.”
Courage Foods has moved on up. Down the street in fact. Open since May 2010, Karen O'Brien’s speciality shop has offered a host of fresh baked goods, prepared meals, fresh produce and pantry items in what was a cozy space (946 Kingston Rd.). Find the new more spacious digs a titch closer to Victoria Park (976 Kingston Rd.).
Curbside Dogs Diner (629 Pharmacy Ave.) certainly has franks and loaded links a plenty, but the extensive menu offers much more: Pork souvlaki, fish and chips, smash burgers, vegan tacos, sweet and sour fried chicken sando… Better order extra.
Breakfast, lunch and brunch chain Eggsmart boasts 45 locations across Canada. The latest branch just landed in Leaside at Laird and Eglinton (20 Brentcliffe Rd.).
Did you know? Asian grocery store Fresh Place Supermarket (4040 Creditview Rd.) in Etobicoke’s Deer Run Shopping Centre took over the space that was No Frills.
Chinese comfort fare has arrived at the corner of Yonge & Gerrard. Meet Jeneral’s (374A Yonge St.), home of “the original General Tso Chicken.”
Joy Food (666 Burnhamthorpe Rd.) in Etobicoke offers a bit of everything under one roof: breakfast, burgers, baked goods, pizza, and groceries, for starters.
Dawn Chapman’s Lazy Daisy’s Cafe (1515 Gerrard St.) at Coxwell and Gerrard has been closed for renovations for some time, undergoing a transformation courtesy of colour wheel personified, Tiffany Pratt. The home to all things brunch including Daisy’s Famous Buttermilk Biscuits reopened Tuesday.
From the folks behind Taiwanese fusion eateries MABU Generation, MABU Station and Hong Kong style café Good Luck Café comes Mabu Cafe (2361 Brimley Rd., Unit D2). Prefer your meals to have a major cute factor? Teddy Bear Lemon Tea and Bunny Milk Pudding (pictured above) do the trick. Soft opening celebrations were Monday.
Grand opening celebrations for dance nightclub NØMAD725 (725 Queen St. E) at Queen and Broadview take place Saturday with artists including Goldcap, Mihai Popoviciu
Morningside and Lawrence is brimming with food options. Add halal Mediterranean joint Paradise Shawarma (4352 Kingston Rd.) to the mix. Interestingly, in addition to a spot in Woodbridge, one sits pretty close, at McCowan (3103 Kingston Rd.).
Established in Daejeon, South Korea in 1982, Pelicana Chicken has since expanded to over 2,000 restaurants across the globe. The inception of the KFC (Korean fried chicken) chain in Ontario took place just south of Bloor (730 Yonge St, Unit 9.) in December.
Planet Boba touched down at Hillcrest Mall’s food court last month (9350 Yonge St., Unit B015). Discover “futuristic” smoothie bowls,” cold brews, milk teas, slushes, and “other-worldly” desserts at the Richmond Hill arrival.
After introducing you to Brazilian sushi last week, get ready for the Mexican variety, courtesy of Sinola Factory. The restaurant “dedicated to elaborate authentic dishes from the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico,” including tacos, tortas and quesadillas, added an to an outpost in Greektown (551 Danforth Ave.), where 8 Sushi and The Friendly Greek once stood.
Psst. Hidden inside West Queen West’s plant-based smoothie destination Bolt Fresh Bar (1170 Queen St. W.) is Snacc’s, a new sando shop by Jazmine de Borja and Sam Park. On the menu: ‘Karage Dawg’ aka karage chicken on a hot dog bun, ‘Which Came First’ featuring chicken adobo and egg salad, and ‘K Bang Mi’ with kalbi beef and kimchi mayo. ‘Toast Face Grilla’ delivers a heady umami bomb via truffle ricotta, old cheddar, parm chips, garlic miso butter, maple bacon and dried cranberries served on sourdough rye.
I was the first to let you in on Street Kitchen By Basil Box concept at the end of 2020. The soft opening for the stand alone comfort food with a Southeast Asian, Basil Box twist at Yonge Sheppard Centre (4841 Yonge St.) took place earlier this week. Bonus: Guests enjoy 20 per cent off dishes for “the next little while.” Walk-in only.
Toronto PHO launches in Woodbridge (5100 Rutherford Rd.) tomorrow, marking the fourth outpost for the local Vietnamese chain.
You can’t miss Vv Kakes Bakery & Café (2879 Kingston Rd.) in Scarborough. Just look for the bright pink façade just east of Brimley.
New year, new you. Scarborough’s Yogi’s Fresh Lobster has transformed into a full-fledged restaurant. Introducing Yogi’s Lobster Bar & Grill (4810 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 220).
CLOSED
Once buzzy Bar Buca (75 Portland St.) has become home to another destination altogether. See above for details.
TR Newsletter subscribers got the news first: After 43 years, Iconic French restaurant Jacques Bistro Du Parc (126A Cumberland St. 2nd Fl.) in Yorkville c’est fin. According to the owners: “Our lease has come to an end, and the new (non-financial) terms make it impossible for us to sign a new lease. Our landlord has made it very clear that he no longer wants us to use his space. We therefore cannot reopen our little “corner of France in Toronto.” Read the entire au revoir.
Construction has taken over the stretch of Bay in the Financial District (amongst others) including Locale Mercato (330 Bay St.).
The endless construction was a factor in Mad Radish’s permanent closure at Yonge and Eg (2293 Yonge St.). Branches remain open at Church and Bloor and First Canadian Place.
Nanashake (debuted in 2016, with a vegan ice cream alternative (aka “nice cream”) made with bananas, that has since taken the world by storm. The North York storefront (750 Yonge St., Unit 134) may have closed, but the frozen dessert lives on in their online store and retail stores across Canada.
Nightowl Riverside at Queen and Broadview (725 Queen St. E.) has shuttered. The space formerly home to Jasper Dandy, Riverside Public House and Boots & Bourbon Saloon has become another entertainment venue. Details above. Two things: 1. Nightowl’s College outpost is open. 2. They serve charcuterie now, thanks to a recent partnership with “charcuterie stylist” Le Createur.
Soufi’s launched in 2017. The family-owned and run Syrian café shut down operations for good on Sunday.
EVENTS
Ukrainian Arts TO organizes art workshops and events in Toronto to raise funds for Ukraine. On Sunday, learn how to decorate Easter eggs in the traditional Ukrainian style Pysanky for Ukraine Fundraising Workshop at Favourites Thai (141 Ossington Ave.). Tickets are on a sliding scale, with all proceeds donated to Help Us Help and Second Front Ukraine Foundation.
NEWS
Festive chocolates including Kinder eggs have been recalled, just in time for Easter.
ICYMI
Canada’s first Filipino Restaurant Month just debuted. Discover where to dine and dig in at Toronto/GTA restaurants.
Looking for ways you can help Ukraine? Discover fabulous fundraisers by local chefs and restaurants in this guide, complete with new additions.
Please support local businesses whenever possible.
Life moves fast: I wrote about +100 new arrivals in March alone. Catch up on previous editions of the OPEN/CLOSED.
Things change quickly. Follow Toronto Restaurants on Instagram and Facebook for breaking news, updates, interviews + more.
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