Opening
The second location of $5 food emporium El Furniture Warehouse has opened in the former Everest restaurant at 232 Queen West (at McCaul), right across from the Bell Media building. The new 125-seat spot, with a side patio in warmer weather, serves up cheap plates like a kale Caesar, penne and sandwiches.
Another pizza spot has joined Pizzeria Defina and Pizza Flora on the Roncesvalles strip. Lambretta Pizzeria & Wine Bar opened just before Christmas in the former Hey! restaurant at 89 Roncesvalles (at Pearson), serving thin-crust red and white pizzas, pastas, salumi and cheese plates and classics like fried calamari, arancini and tiramisu for dessert.
A new bar called Porter House has opened in the former Brockton General spot in Brockton Village (1321 Dundas West, at Lisgar). Stocked with craft beers, the cozy little spot has a small vegetarian- and vegan-friendly menu (actually, it’s entirely meat-free). Plates include a barbecued jackfruit sandwich with fries, quinoa polenta with black kale and roasted beets, and lentil pie.
Citta, a new rustic Italian spot by restaurateur Hanif Harji, has opened at CityPlace (92 Fort York, at Bathurst) for brunch and dinner service. Try porchetta and fried eggs, a wood-fired frittata or duck eggs burrata at brunch. The dinner menu features pastas, white and red pizzas, and salumi and cheese plates.
Changes
After being served with an eviction notice, beloved fried meat spot Schnitzel Queen launched an online campaign to raise money to relocate. The owner has since signed a lease at 211 Queen East (at Sherbourne), just a few steps from Schnitzel Queen’s original address, and is in the process of renovating ahead of a February 1 opening.
A reminder that new rules are now in effect across the province banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios, sports fields and in playgrounds. We’d also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that e-cigarettes will never be cool and are the drug equivalent of a soul patch or a trilby.
Know of any openings, closings, or how many green smoothies you’ve chugged already? Email food@nowtoronto.com.
