OPEN/CLOSED: Toronto Restaurant News August 19-25, 2021

Photo courtesy of Vintage Hotpot.

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

🕒 14 min read

Lately friends and colleagues who have moved out of the city (or are in the process) have told me how unequivocally horrible Toronto is. I couldn’t disagree more, especially considering my vocation. This last year-and-a-half has introduced hundreds of stellar options for takeout, delivery, patio and indoor dining, not to mention all the phenomenal food from neighbourhood stalwarts that have kept us going prior to and throughout this crisis. Find lots more in my 18 findings below. And please take a moment to remember all those that came before and visit older establishment as often as possible. As you can see, the closures are coming fast and furious.

Pro tip: Make sure you read all the way to the end. You’ll be glad you did.

Here’s the very latest: 

OPEN

Esteemed chef/restaurateur Stuart Cameron (Patria, Byblos, Mira, Azhar Kitchen + Bar) took Bocado* (252 Main St.), a seasonal, Spanish-inspired destination, north of the city to Prince Edward County. Doors open Wednesday, but you can book a table now.
*I let TR Newsletter subscribers in on the top chef’s newest venture last week.

Bottega Volo by Bar Volo welcomed guests to their shop stocked with beer, wine and Italian grocery items earlier this week. Find them inside Little Italy’s historic Royal Cinema (608 College St.), just steps away from their bar and bottle shop Birreria Volo (612 College St.).

Chick-fil-A premieres at Scarborough Town Centre (300 Borough Dr.) today. The first GTA location of the controversial chain touched down at Yonge & Bloor two years ago.

Canada's newest MasterChef Christopher Siu kicked off his third Daan Go Cake Lab in the province Saturday at Times Square Richmond Hill (550 Hwy 7 E, Building C - Unit 70), with notable guests Richmond Hill’s Acting Mayor and City Councillors in attendance.

Psst. David Rocco Bar Aperitivo (95 Cumberland St.) is already abuzz in Yorkville.* The titular Italian aperitivo bar by celebrity chef, cookbook author, television host, and winemaker David Rocco in a slip of a space (formerly occupied by Eastern European restaurant HÖM Café) is “not a restaurant” as stated across the website and social profiles, so come for the vine e spritz, stay for the cicchetti and stuzzichini. Note: No reservations. Walk-ins only.
* Naturally, newsletter subscribers got the head’s up months ago.

In Streetsville/Mississauga? Have a hankering for a bubble tea, fruit smoothie or milkshake? You’re in luck. Fruity Fruitea (241 Queen St. S.) is in soft launch mode, with the grand opening to follow tomorrow.

The Beaches continues to step up its restaurant game (recent newcomers include Mira Mira Diner, Tilfilsi, and Toronto Beach Club). From the folks of legendary Pho Phuong Fine Vietnamese Cuisine (1603 Dundas St. W.) at Dundas and Brock comes J'adore Fine Vietnamese Cuisine (2014 Queen St. E.) across from Kew Gardens in The Beaches. Choose from a wide selection of dishes including con tam (steamed broken rice) stir fries, soup, banh mi, congee, steamed rice flour rolls, sides, and drinks.

Looking to beat the heat this weekend? From-scratch ice cream by Juicy J’s Creamy Scoops is currently available at Ration: Beverley (335 Queen St. W.) on the patio, rooftop, and for takeaway. 

Prediction: The lunch boxes at Mississauga’s Keeping Koi Café (1145 Dundas St. E.) are the next menu item to blow up on TikTok. The bubble tea shop’s Vietnamese fare - banh xeo (savoury sizzling waffle), banh mi, skewers, fried spring rolls, fresh rolls, waffle fries - packed in a park/beach/picnic-ready bundle, were made for days/feeds like these.

Doors open tomorrow for the Leaside branch (1559 Bayview Ave.) of La Diperie, the ice cream chain famous for +30 dips made with real chocolate.

Lamhan Banh Mi (733 Bloor St. W.) isn’t your average banh mi shop. First, it’s in Koreatown (Christie & Bloor). Second, the menu includes Vietnamese street food in addition to the ubiquitous baguette sandos. Third, they’re making their own ingredients including hue beef sausage and jerky.

Alongside usual suspects of maki, udon, and aburi sushi, you’ll find sushi burritos and poké bowls at North York’s Misato Sushi (5460 Yonge St., Unit 102) near Finch Station.

Last week I informed you of the closure of one of the city’s top wine bars. Luckily, Paris Paris just moved ‘round the corner (146 Ossington Ave.).

The first  Pi Co. debuted at Bay and Bloor mid-May 2016*, and I’ve been tracking their new locations ever since. The latest outpost opens today at Church and Carlton (432 Church St.).
*What a week that was - Big arrivals and yet a short roundup. Seven openings a week used to be bonkers. Now my discoveries average 20-30.

The internet sure loves a hidden concept, be it bar or café. I’ll do it one better with secret gelato pop-up shop RJ Gelato, located inside Romeo & Juliet Dolce con Caffè (2721 Yonge St.) in Lawrence Park.

Terminal 3 (3337 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) softly opens Saturday in South Etobicoke’s Long Branch ‘hood. Pro tip: Get there early. To celebrate their debut, the first seven customers get a free drink every day for a month.

I told you all about Vera’s Burger Shack pop-up shop at King and Strachan (950 King St. W.) a few weeks back. Update: They’ve made it permanent and are looking to expand across the city. Fun fact #1: The burger shop started in 1977 on the beach at Dunderave Pier in West Vancouver. Fun fact # 2: There really was a Vera! Stay tuned.

Exciting news: Xian He Zhuang’s first overseas location has arrived in North York. The flagship Vintage Hotpot (3355 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 1) endorsed by Chinese celebs Chen He, Li Chen, and Zhu Zhen, is currently in soft open. Dishes have a “vintage taste with a trendy twist,” as per the website. The restaurant is currently accepting walk-ins only and a post on social media confirms all staff have received “first and second dose vaccines.”

CLOSED 

It wasn’t long ago that Birria Balam came on the scene. But a pop-up is not supposed to be forever (for exceptions, see above), so it came to a close after service on Sunday. However, you don’t have to wait long for their new restaurant Fonda Balam with chef Matty Matheson, as it arrives next month. In the meantime, get to know chefs Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo in my weekly chef series At The Pass.*
* Know someone in Toronto or GTA who should be featured? Submit their name for consideration. And yes, you can nominate yourself.    

Buena Copa (460 College St.) has been replaced by another Mexican restaurant. See last week’s OPEN/CLOSED for details. 

Ecuadorian eatery Cocina de Doña Julia (1545 Dupont St.) was a neighbourhood mainstay for 15 years before having to say a heartfelt adiós last week.

Again, a Mexican resto has taken the place of another, following the closure of Fiesta Garibaldi (1742 Jane St.) at Jane and Lawrence.

Known for their meat buns, peanut noodles, and fruit shakes, Fu Jia Le Bakery (360 Broadview Ave.) in Chinatown East has closed.

Toronto Public Health temporarily shut down Harbour 60 (60 Harbour St.) last Thursday due to staff testing positive for COVID-19. The luxe steakhouse posted a statement on social media they will reopen ten days later.

Hunger Point (2075 Danforth Ave.) at Woodbine and Danforth opened Fall 2019.

Greektown has lost another mainstay. Peter Hadjis debuted Palace Restaurant (722 Pape Ave.) in the early 80s.

The windows of Sushi Xtra (423 Queen St. W.) near Spadina have been papered over.

Peel Public Health temporarily closed &Company Resto Bar (295 Enfield Pl.) Tuesday due to possible COVID-19 exposure.

EVENTS 

Saturday’s BACKYARD @ stackt celebrates BIPOC.

Mixto Festival is happening this weekend.

The drive-thru edition of 2021 Oakville Family Ribfest kicks off tomorrow.

You’ve got two Food Truck N’ Curbside Markets to check out this weekend.

NEWS 

Proof of COVID-19 vaccines will be mandatory for staff and customers at many businesses and events including Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and Fall BeerFest T.O. 

New York City issued a mandate for vaccines for restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues to begin September 13, but not all restaurateurs are on board.

Head’s up: The largest increase in grocery prices in Canadian history is expected to hit in just a few months.

Any restaurants or food shop on Queen between Yonge and Bay and Yonge and Victoria Street will likely be on the move as the roads will be closed for up to five years starting 2023 due to construction for a new subway station.

Is U.S. pancake chain IHOP finally coming to Toronto?

WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS READ RIGHT TO THE END -> BREAKING: You know what is coming to Toronto? More Maker Pizza locations! While a Leaside destination isn’t set to launch ‘til next year, according to owner Shlomo Buchler, chef Matty Matheson is going to break the internet (the east side of it anyway) with his teaser posts and stories about an east side location with references to ‘South Riverside’ and ‘Jimmie Simpson.’ Scroll through the comments sections and you’ll see what I mean. People are losing their minds. STAY TUNED.

ICYMI

Executive chef Eric Chong is cooking up a storm at Skyflower.

Did you know there are +60 outdoor dining options along Queen East this season? Get the Complete Guide to Riverside and Leslieville Patios now.

Chef Ryan Baddeley of new smash hit Pizzeria Badiali is up to his eyes in orders, but took time out to answer all my burning questions for this week’s At The Pass. To discover his latest cookbook purchase (*adds to cart*), hidden talent (wish you had it in high school), guilty pleasures (*stocks freezer*), and much more, read the stellar interview.  

If you haven’t already subscribed to the newsletter, now’s the time. Get The Tip Off, a sneak peek at the upcoming Open/Closed (because who doesn’t want to be the first to know?), and fab deals and special offers from restaurants and local businesses (because who doesn’t want to save money?), all exclusive to subscribers. 

---

Please support local businesses whenever possible. 

Life moves fast - I wrote about +110 new arrivals in July 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. 

Need staff? Want to promote your menu/bottle shop/patio, but you’re on a budget? We can help. *Prices have been reduced to help local businesses during this time. Limited space available.