The weather is warm, patios are starting to open and restaurateurs are scrambling to open before everyone heads to the cottage for the summer.
Just Opened
- As we reported back in January, former Market 707 vendor Bombay Street Food has moved into more permanent digs (open this week) on Bay Street.
- Apparently the boil-in-a-bag seafood concept of Captain’s Boil has struck enough of a chord that they now have two more locations open, four total since November 2015. The recently opened additions are at 865 York Mills Rd. and 1620 Bayview Ave. in Leaside.
- Remember the uproar last fall when news came out that Sam James would have to close his Ossington coffee bar because Shinola was moving in? Well, this week they opened a new bar at 917 Queen St. W. Apparently, there will also be an SJ-operated popup at Yorkville’s Club Monaco this summer.
Coming Soon
- The Kensington location has been popular enough that Dirty Bird has plans for a second fried chicken dispensary on Bloor in the Annex.
- This weekend, Mascot Brewery will be adding Mascot Eatery, a main-floor restaurant, to their existing operation at 31 Mercer St.
Restaurant Coverage
- From Jamie Kennedy to Susur Lee, we managed to track down some old snapshots for a look back at Toronto’s culinary history.
- The torta trend is building — this week’s lunch pick was the iconic Mexican sandwich from Fonda Lola.
- Toronto’s love for central Texas barbecue also seems to be growing and we found out about plans for J&J Bar-B-Que in Kensington.
- We got a First Look at Cresta, the Market Street restaurant with an impressive space and a wine list from a single California winery.
Changes and Other News
- We knew that Bar Volo’s days were numbered, but this week Ben’s Beer Blog broke the story that has about 100 left before wrecking balls replace the rye pale ales.
- One of Toronto’s fancier Italian restaurants (at least based on the prices), Noce, has closed.
- Even though Valdez is closed for a move to a new location, chef Steve Gonzalez doesn’t seem to be taking a “summer of George.” He’ll be at Figo on May 24 for a Latin X Italian pizza party with their exec chef, Anna Chen.
- Bull Dog Coffee doing colour latte art