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Brasiliano extends hours
Now that it’s moved across the street to more deluxe digs, Portuguese coffeehouse Caffé Brasiliano (849 Dundas West, at Euclid, 416-603-6607) stays open Monday to Saturday till 11 pm. Its lineup of inexpensive of home cooking – slow-roasted chicken with old-school potato salad, hefty lasagna ‘n’ salad combos – has long made it a cabbie favourite. It’s great takeout fare, too, coupled with a loaf of fresh-baked corn bread, all for under 10 bucks.
Elixir exits
The none-more-charming Firooz Jafari and Sabrina Chora have closed their Annex Persian palace, Elixir on Bloor West. Calling their six-year run “a roller coaster ride,” the very pooped pair plan to travel and possibly reopen here once they’ve secured a dependable property.
King’s renovates
One of Chinatown’s oldest late-night refuelling stops has closed for long-needed renovations. King’s Noodle House (296 Spadina, at Dundas, 416-598-1817) reopens November 16 with swanky new decor and a barbecue counter that will helpfully offset the legendary logjam at the front door.
Ta-ta, Jaja
Toronto’s only Algerian take-away, Jaja (858 Bloor West, at Roxton, 416-537-7334), has closed. Despite steady demand for his western Mediterranean menu of budget-priced tagines and grilled sardines, owner Cherif Berrachedi – who sold Forchetta on College a few years back to open this low-profile spot – wants to take some deserved time away from the resto biz. The new crew at the renamed Falafel Jarash are relatives of the Jordanian family that runs another popular west-side Middle Eastern eatery. That’s right, they’re Ali Baba’s cousins.