Opening
Taking over the space in short-lived Ole Ole (and before that, Kultura) at 169 King East (at Jarvis) is the pizza place simply called One Pizza.
Also in Old Town, the former Nicholas Hoare bookstore has become a prohibition-themed cocktail bar (is there any other kind?) and dinner spot called CC Lounge (45 Front East, at Church). The food menu skews towards filling dishes like tourtiere, steak frites, foie gras poutine, charcuterie and cheese boards and devilled eggs.
In more pizza news, a new Neapolitan-style spot called 180 Secondi has opened at 21 St. Clair West (at Yonge). Diners can choose their own toppings or pick from the more classic selections.
Italian restaurant Mercatto has launched another location near the CN Tower at 120 Bremner (at York). Taverna Mercatto is open for lunch and dinner, serving pastas, pizzas and meat and seafood dishes.
Closing
Cozy English-style pub the Huntsman Tavern (890 College, at Delaware) closed just before Christmas. Any other restaurateur want to take a chance on this seemingly cursed corner spot?
Changes
The annual Winterlicious prix-fixe-athon runs January 30 to February 12. Best bets? Cafe Boulud, Lamesa Filipino Kitchen, Los Colibris (#9 on this year’s best eateries of 2014 list), Momofuku Daisho, Nota Bene and, of course, the one place everyone wants to score a table at every year: Canoe. Diners, happy eating. Food snobs, happy whining. toronto.ca.
To celebrate its seventh anniversary, the Harbord Room (89 Harbord, at Spadina) is serving a seven-course tasting menu for $77 through February. The restaurant is also holding a contest this month: people can post their favourite pics of the restaurant with the hashtag #TheHarbordRoom7 on Twitter or Instagram. The winner scores a private dinner for seven cooked personally by co-owner and chef Cory Vitiello.
On January 21, midtowns Quince Bistro (2110 Yonge, at Hillsdale) holds its regular Rijsttafel, an Indonesian feast that includes more than 20 dishes at $55 per person. The popularity of this always sold-out event led the owners to open their acclaimed Indonesian snack bar offshoot, Little Sister.
Know of any openings or closings, or want to tell us about your go-to winter soup? Email food@nowtoronto.com.
