Any uptowner who is part of the brunch set is more than familiar with Emma’s Country Kitchen. After decamping from their original St. Clair West location, owners Rachel Pellett and Heather Mee have now set up shop in larger digs but a skip and a jump away at 810 St. Clair Ave. W. Tuck into comforting fare like spiced pumpkin flapjacks with roasted walnuts and toffee, the breakwich or the luscious biscuits and gravy. 

Derek Valleau and Harsh Chawla of St. Clair West’s Pukka are set to transform their French bistro Concession Road into Ji — an Indian sports pub. The new eatery, found at 760 St. Clair W., features a casual menu split into sharing plates (think Delhi-style chicken lollipops) buns (like a lamb seekh kebab sammy), bowls (try the navratam korma bowl with veg in a cashew curry) and more.

As poké reaches fever pitch in T.O., North Poké is one of the latest joiners. Located at 179 Baldwin St. in Kensington Market, this seafood shop dishes out the Hawaiian fave from a focused menu. Tuna meets a citrus ponzu dressing in one version; another sees octopus paired with potato and kale in a smoked lemon aïoli.

In further poké news, Calii Love is a Californian ode to the pescatarian meal. Found at 367 King St. W., the casual spot is dotted with communal tables where folks dig into bowls such as the signature offering: fresh tuna set atop rice along with wakame (a.k.a. seaweed), shoyu, sweet onions and wasabi aïoli. Smoothies — available in both bowl or cup — are also a draw.

Colaba Junction, a fast-casual Indian restaurant, is now open at 801 Bay St. Those who’ve been to Mumbai will get the reference to Colaba — a vibrant district where a hodgepodge of cuisines are repped (and where Leopold Cafe is located, for those who’ve read Shantaram). Against a vibrant backdrop, diners tuck into dishes like paneer lasagna, vada pau sammies and paani puri.