OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News October 19-25, 2023
The 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. #iykyk
🕘 9.5 min read
Think you know what’s happening? Think again. This edition, as with the majority these days, tracks the sheer volume of establishments setting up shop, with closures continuing to build momentum.
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OPEN
Long before the King Blue Hotel (355 King St. W.) came on the scene, the south east corner of King & Blue Jays Way was home to Indian Motorcycle Cafe & Lounge, with the iconic bikes serving as a backdrop to drinks and dancing. Fast forward 20-odd years: Introducing street level resto Abrielle by Ascari Hospitality Group, the folks behind Ascari Enoteca and Gare De L’Est to name a few - Ascari King a few blocks east, came to an end earlier this year. Heading up the coastal Mediterranean kitchen: Chef Olivier Le Calvez, recently of Casa Madera of the 1Hotel. p.s. TR Newsletter subscribers were the first to know.
Alice Restaurant & Bar (488 College Ave.) celebrates its grand opening this weekend. The new “upscale casual” resto and bar is doing modern American fare - burgers, tacos, steak, pasta - alongside wine and cocktails. Find them in Little Italy in what was home to Blackburn Social House until recently.
Columbus Café & Co, a chain from France that will be appearing in Indigo stores shortly, debuted a stand-alone destination earlier this week in the Entertainment District at Adelaide and John (283 Adelaide St. W.). This marks the first Toronto location.
“Italian-inspired” restaurant Contrada (537 College St.) kicks off in Little Italy on Tuesday, taking over from The Dog & Tiger.
Dahu Hotpot (47 Baldwin St.) has relocated to Baldwin Village, moving into the former digs of neighbourhood mainstay, Wah Sing Seafood Restaurant. The Chongqing hot pot restaurant states this is “the first and only flagship store in Canada,” and effective December 13, 2022, is “no longer affiliated or related with the business currently operating at 550 Hwy 7, Unit 280” in Richmond Hill.
Turkish delight, halva, baklava and other confections are what’s up at Funduk (330 Yonge St.) at Yonge and Dundas.
Boozy brunches. Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Dope fades. It’s all happening at Queen and Portland, courtesy of Good Company (498 Queen St. W.).
Noodle bowls abound at GunGun Rice Noodle (565 Yonge St.). The new arrival at Yonge and Wellesley replaces recently shuttered Como En Casa.
The latest outpost of the Ichiban Sushi House chain quietly debuted in The Beaches at Queen and Woodbine (1864 Queen St. E.), in what was most recently a weed shop.
Maverick's Donut Company lands in Oakville (152 Lakeshore Rd. E.) with rotating selections including Apple Caramel, Black Forest, Cherry Cheesecake and Pumpkin Spice. TR Insider tip: A Parkdale location is on the way.
I gave you the scoop on Opal Lounge above newly opened Zaad (124 Danforth Ave.) months back. Update: Head upstairs for burgers, shisha, patio and more.
Coffee’s on at Yonge and St. Clair thanks to Pilot Coffee (1 St. Clair Ave. E.). Did you know? Their latest shop fills the modern space first occupied by now defunct Prairie Boy Bread.
Renaissance Detroit Style Pizza at Palmerston and Dundas (809 Dundas St. W.) is the latest to ride the Motor City pan pizza wave. Dig into global flavours via Tandoori Paneer, Greek, and Duck Confit selections.
It’s opening weekend for Parkdale’s Three Dollar Bill (1592 Queen St. W.). The new queer bar by Castle, Maro (Maria’s Taverna and 2SLGBTQIA+ community focused Queer Wine Night) and Meaghan Murray aims to “create a welcoming and safe space that serves as a hub for Toronto’s Queer community.” Enjoy trivia nights, dance parties and other events in a completely reimagined setting.
Tiger Sugar, the Taiwanese boba pearl milk tea chain, continues to expand its footprint across the city. Discover the latest at Yonge and Eglinton (2391 Yonge St.) with grand opening BOGO free offers this weekend: Friday (3-10pm) and Saturday and Sunday (12-10pm).
Hailing from Kitchener, halal restaurant Turkish Flames set down roots in Mississauga at Dixie and Eglinton (5200 Dixie Rd.) with everything from kebabs and pides to mixed platters.
CLOSED
Egg Bae debuted in in Kensington (189 Augusta Ave.) in 2019. While the original “Eggs Before All Else” eatery has come to a close, Yonge and Dundas (13 Elm St.) remains open.
A kitchen fire occurred at Figo (295 Adelaide St. W.) on Friday. No injuries were reported. The restaurant is “temporarily closed until the near future.”
Figures (137 Avenue Rd.) has been quietly closed for some time, however it’s official now that Paros’ owners are coming through with 137 Avenue Road. Hands up if you remember when the space was Coco Lezzone and Vittorio's on Avenue.
Glory Hole Doughnuts’ announcement yesterday of the abrupt permanent closure of the Harbord location (130 Harbord St.) comes just over a year after opening. The reason? Owner and pastry chef Ashley Jacot De Boinod’s post reads in part: “We were not welcomed. From the moment we stepped foot in the area. Unfortunately, some neighborhoods do not want to embrace change. I get it.”
There goes another Beaches stalwart. Following the closure of former neighbour Honey Bee earlier this year, Green Eggplant (2024 Queen St. E.) has shut the doors.
Me Va Me Kitchen Express downtown outpost (240 Queen St. W.) debuted in 2014.
Neon Tiger has been on quite the journey (catch up here). The latest changes: Dupont (14 Dupont Ave.) is done, while Queen (1166 Queen St. W.) is closed temporarily, set to return with “a new menu food and drink along with a slight different interior.”
Submarine At Broadview (239 Broadview Ave.), a fixture at the corner of Dundas and Broadview for eons, will soon be switched out for King Bolzano Ristorante offering an array of pizza, pasta, and wings.
Ultimate Kitchens (461 Carlaw Ave.), the ghost kitchen food hall that debuted in the east end in 2020, was home at one time or another for Durty Dawgs, Fresh Kitchen, Harvey’s, New York Fries and Swiss Chalet. Currently, the rotisserie chain is the sole concept in the space. The other Toronto location (18 Banigan Dr.), also now closed, opened in 2020 and included more chains in the mix. A branch in Montreal, then Hamilton followed in 2021.
NEWS
George B. Sukornyk, Co-Founder of Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet, died peacefully at home at 96 years of age.
Is City of Toronto’s announcement of “program improvements for summer 2024 CaféTO patio season” too little too late?
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