Over the past week in food there was plenty of important changes — especially Quince closing and a new chef for The Saint — and also several announcements about plans for upcoming restaurants.
Just Opened
- The owners of Pizza e Pazzi remodeled their Wychwood location and have reopened it as Rione XI.
- As they announced on their Instagram feed, Provo Food Bar has opened at 308 Dundas St. W. with an ecletic menu plus cocktails and craft beer.
Coming Soon
- As we reported today, Banh Mi Boys have set March 30 as the opening date for their third location at 2365 Yonge St., just north of Eglinton.
- Royal Meats, the popular west-end restaurant is bringing their chevaps downtown when they open at 88 Fort York Blvd. on March 1.
- Also in Condoland news, Citta is going TexMex and plans to be reopen by mid-March.
- Big Smoke, the burger chain formerly known as Craft Burger, is opening a new North York outpost at York Mills and Leslie.
- Nearby, Cucina 865 is moving into the space on York Mills Rd. that was Mexican Amigos.
- As Toronto Life reported in their profile on Jen Agg we now know more details about the Black Hoof owner's new restaurat plus wine and cider bar. Specifically, it will be called Grey Gardens and be located at 199 Augusta Ave.
Restaurant Coverage
- Jason Finestone got a first look at Rione XI, the new Roman-Jewish spot on St. Clair.
- For her lunch pick, Karolyne Ellacott found a carbonara light enough for lunch at Levetto.
- We talk to Jesse Vallins about his plans for the Maple Leaf Tavern when it opens this spring.
Changes and Other News
- Midtown favourite Quince is closing. Sort of. The owners are opening Noorden in its place, but only for the remaining two years of their lease on the space.
- The Steer Inn, one of Richmond Hill’s classic hamburger joints, closed last week. Commenters on the reddit thread were worried that this could be dark foreshadowing for the others.
- As mentioned, Jesse Vallins has left The Saint to become exec chef at Maple Leaf Tavern and they hope to be open this spring.
- Apparently, Matt Dean Pettit plans to close the original Rock Lobster location on Ossington at the beginning of March. It sounds from the blogTO article like he plans to move towards a fast-casual concept called Matty’s Seafood Co.
