OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News December 9-15, 2021

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

🕒 12 min read

After last week’s all-time record-breaking edition, you might expect a bit of a lull. Nope, as you can see by this week’s 22 arrivals

Pro tip: Read to the end for valuable news and FREE FRIES!

Here’s the very latest:

OPEN

Welcome back Adriano's Pizza (3329 Lakeshore Blvd.). The Etobicoke pizzeria reopened Tuesday after a fire broke out last week. 

Seafood City Supermarket’s Scarborough outpost (20 Lebovic Ave,) debuted Bakers Avenue, their in-store panaderia boasting pan de sal, ensaymada, biscocho, and sans rival, on November 18.

Basil Box launched a ghost kitchen at Victoria Park and Danforth (3003 Danforth Ave., behind Metro) earlier this week offering menu items from both their Southeast Asian street food lineup as well as comforting fare from their sister concept Street Kitchen by Basil Box. Attn night owls and shift workers: this location’s open ‘til 3am.

Breaking: Toronto just got a secret vegan restaurant inside a formerly secret bar! Discover Classico Vegano & Bodega under the same roof as Classico Taqueria (423 College St.) that popped up in May. Tuck into vegan Mexican comfort fare by head chef/co-owner Abel Páez such as Mushroom Tinga ($6), Seitan Gordita ($8), Sopa de Milpa ($8), QuesaBirra ($18), and Churros ($9). Items are available virtually and indoors at Hush Hush Bar that relocated this summer after launching in 2019.

Twice as nice. Sunday's the grand opening for FK Dulce Bakery, where you'll find a selection of Filipino-inspired donuts (Ube, Bavarian Creme, Leche Flan, Butternut), cakes, other confections, and get this - flavoured fries. Bonus: The family-owned spot in North York is hidden inside new Tropa Filipino Variety Store & Takeout (3418 Bathurst St.) featuring Filipino groceries, street food, and hot food to go. p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers got the intel first. Don’t miss out: subscribe now.

Sandra Danso-Boadi, self-taught baker and competitor on Food Network Canada’s Spring Baking Championship Season 6, debuted a stunning brick-and-mortar Fruitilicious Cakes bakery and luxury café in Mississauga (1365 Mid-Way Blvd., Unit 13)  last month.

Get Grill’s third outpost has landed at Heartland Town Centre (6045 Mavis Rd., Unit 8 - NE corner inside the Best Buy Plaza). Go get Chef Bab T’s Afro-Asian cuisine. Bonus: Until December 31 2021, enjoy BOGO on small wraps at all three locations, dine in and take out orders only. Conditions apply.

GoodGood (410 Adelaide St. W.) is a modern day convenience store. Think: local goods including coffee, beer and snacks available for pickup and/or “instant”delivery. The pop-up/commerce company founded by Robert Kim and Kris Linney recently raised 6.5M and will announce the opening of a series of café and wine bars in the 6ix early next year.

If you’ve been reading the OPEN/CLOSED lately, you’ll know Kensington’s been transforming this last while. Check out fab new butcher Kensington’s Caribbean Meat (147 Baldwin St.), with an array of meat, seafood and spices.

Chef John Placko's molecular techniques and creations have been on my radar for years (edible helium balloons, lipstick that looks good enough to eat, and is!). One of his signature chocolates, the aforementioned Strawberry Lipstick, along with Aussie sweets (Lamington Bon Bons!) and other unique delights (Chocolate Ice Cream Bomb: Milk chocolate shell, hot chocolate mix, freeze dried chocolate ice cream, mini marshmallows, topped with mini chocolate crispies) are available at his new KOCO Chocolate Company, popping up at Murphy's Ice Cream Parlour (9 Main St.) in Streetsville from December 14-23, in addition to online and other IRL locations including Good Behaviour.

Last week I uncovered the numerous ghost kitchens at 20 Lockport Ave. in Etobicoke. Add The Late Shift Diner (and Tut’s - see below) to the list. In addition to the usual suspects (hot dogs, burgers, and poutine) find Grilled Cheese on Rye ($4.95), Corn on the Cob ($2.95), and a half portion each of Fries and Onion Rings ($4.95) dubbed ‘My Girlfriend/Boyfriend is not Hungry’ on the menu.

Head to Madame Saigon (4002 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 101) in Scarborough for delicacies such as Thai Fried Rice with Soft Shell Crab ($18.95)a and Famous Phnom Penh Noodle ($14.95), and Lemongrass Tomato Beef Noodle Soup ($14.95). Fun factL Yes there really is a Madame Saigon. Her name is Trang and she’s showcasing her and her family's recipes at her new restaurant at Kennedy and Sheppard.

It’s all about new concepts at Awai Hospitality Group (Avelo, Pizzeria Du, M!LK). Last week I let you in on M!LK’s recent changes. This week marks the arrival of Osteria Du (536 Queen St. W.), a plant based Italian concept offering a four-course prix fixe (currently: starter, pizza, pasta, dessert $60 weekends/$50 weekdays), available in the garden-themed dining room.

SOI Snacks at Kings Square Mall (9390 Woodbine Ave., Unit 1FC15, Food Court) in Markham is the latest iteration of SOI Thai Street Food (later, new concept Shanee) that was once on College in Little Italy. This time ‘round, you’ll find Thai snacks (fish balls, pork bone curry with vermicelli) and Toronto’s “first” Thai Pizza.

Lawrence Park’s STACK Restaurant softly opened a second Southern BBQ joint at Oakville Place (240 Leighland Ave., Entrance 3). Fun fact: Pearl Chinese opened there in October, followed by The Joy of Pho.

Chef Oyy is cooking up a storm at Etobicoke’s Thammada Thai Cuisine (2888 Lake Shore Blvd. W.), with halal, gluten-free and vegan options available.

I discovered Tong Mein’s east end digs earlier this summer. For those looking for a more central location, head to the pop-up shop (207 McCaul St.). Doors opened Tuesday.

After securing a spot at King and Portland in 2020, Tut’s Egyptian Street Food has taken the city by storm: Little Italy in October, a virtual kitchen in Etobicoke (20 Lockport Ave.) three weeks ago, followed by a brick-and-mortar eatery in Mississauga (755 The Queensway E.) earlier this week.

ISO Hong Kong style noodles and congee? Head to aptly named Very Good Congee and Noodles (9390 Woodbine Ave, Unit 1CF8) in Markham.

Calling all boba lovers: Xing Fu Tang in Mississauga 22C-1177 Central Pkwy. W.) has softly opened. Grand opening celebrations take place Saturday and Sunday with BOGO deals.

CLOSED

Hong Shing (195 Dundas St. W.) is closed until further notice due to “a small kitchen fire” - as per a statement posted on their website - that occurred last week. No injuries have been reported.

Due to the pandemic, Mike Beck, chef/owner of The Kingston Social House (1427 Kingston Rd.) is packing it in and selling his eatery in Scarborough. Last service is December 18. 

The downtown location of Meat & Pie Co. (212 King St. W.) is kaput, thanks to a 79-storey structure on the books. The Mississauga outpost (10 Kingsbridge Garden Cir.) remains open.

CHANGES

Da Junkanuu Shak relocated on September 30 to 2878 Lake Shore Blvd. W. in Etobicoke.

EVENTS

IKEA Canada is hosting Julbord: a traditional Swedish holiday smörgåsbord on December 15. On the menu: Ham, turkey, meatballs, herring, marinated salmon, potatoes, eggs, crispbread, cheese, and much more. Tickets can be purchased in store only, at the cash desk in the Swedish Restaurant or Swedish Food Market. Limited tickets remain available. IKEA Family pricing: $19.99 (Reg Price: $24.99), kids $9.99 (12 and under).

In search of a holiday market, festive cocktails or winter wonderland? Check out the Toronto Restaurants Guide to fun food-filled festivities and holiday happenings in Toronto/GTA. New events just added!

NEWS

A vehicle crashed through the café seating area at Pusateri’s Yorkville. No injuries were reported and the rest of the store remains open while repairs are made.

No more on the dance floor. Capacity limits for nightclubs remain for now.

Pink delivery robots have been temporarily suspended in Toronto. 

Snap, crackle, is that popcorn chicken? The KFC 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog is baaaaack.

No doubt you’ve seen the numerous headlines about likely shortages at the LCBO. No worries, because you’ll be purchasing booze and supplies from local restaurants, bars and bottle shops, right?

TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know: Beast by acclaimed chefs Scott Vivian and Nate Middleton has been closed and under renovation for some time now. Psst. Starting January 1 , they're taking over the kitchen at stellar Toronto craft microbrewery Blood Brothers Brewing. Think old school Beast classics and NM’s greatest hits. Watch this space.

ICYMI

Despite the calendar’s insistence that it’s December, the unusually warm temps this weekend say otherwise. That’s exciting for many reasons including an excuse to dig into ice cream, gelato and other mouthwatering icy confections this week. Discover +150 destinations in The Ultimate Guide to Ice Cream + Frozen Treats in Toronto/GTA now. 

Please support local businesses whenever possible.

Stay tuned. More news ahead in The Tip Off, available exclusively in the TR Newsletter.  

Life moves fast - I wrote about +100 new arrivals in November 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.   

Hear of a place that’s about to open or just closed? Have an upcoming food or restaurant event? Get in touch.

Stand out from the crowd. Promote your holiday events, private and group dining options, entertaining essentials, gift cards + more to an exclusive foodie audience. Only a few spaces left, so act now. 

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