Restaurant Update: Uncle Tetsu Matcha Café opens, revamp for Café Boulud, Crush closes

This week’s restaurant news slanted more to closings (Crush Wine Bar) and significant changes (Café Boulud and Barsa) than to new restaurants opening.

Just Opened

Will Uncle Tetsu's new Matcha Cafe attract the crazy lineups the way that the original cheesecake stand did? Time will tell, but it sounds like the owners are also adding a new production facility to handle the outsized demand.
The Ontario Beer Network reported that the owners of Tall Boys have opened Wenona Craft Beer Lodge near Bloor and Dufferin.

Coming Soon

Kensington Market will soon have a Berlin-style snack and sandwich shop. Word is Otto's Berlin Döner is close to opening.

Restaurant Coverage

Ice cream is no longer just a truck thing. We take a look at all the businesses devoted to our go-to summer treat and have our expert taste test panel pick their favourite.
Karolyne Ellacott’s lunch picks aren‘t just burgers and brisket sandwiches — this week she went with a healthy option from Oats & Ivy.
Toronto’s options for good, southern-style BBQ have come a long way in the last few years and we had Joanne Kates taste nine of the best brisket options to crown a champion.
Morimoto (and his upcoming Toronto venture) may have been the headliner of this year’s Taste of Toronto event, but there were plenty of great options from existing Toronto restaurants and we had a guide to it all.
So, you’ve heard that Toronto has delicious food in the inner suburbs? Taste of Lawrence last weekend was a great crash course on exactly what this means.

Changes and Other News

At 13, Crush is probably Toronto’s oldest wine bar, but they announced on Twitter that June 26 was their last service. No word yet on who will take over the coveted King West space.
We broke the story this week that Chris McDonald (Cava, Avalon) is taking over as consulting chef at Barsa.
Feeling the same pinch as almost every other high-end restaurant owner in Toronto, Daniel Boulud is retooling Café Boulud to be less luxe and more upscale French bistro. The space will also get a facelift from a designer who doesn't happen to be married to the owner of the buildling. [Globe & Mail]