Opening
Haute dog shop Fancy Franks is opening a third location at 453 Queen West (at Spadina). The intersection continues its transformation into a hub for independently run fast food places like Burger’s Priest, P&L Burgers, Banh Mi Boys, Fresh Off the Boat, Rose City Kitchen and Saffron Spice Kitchen.
The cold-pressed juice trend flows on as Village Juicery comes to 540 College (at Euclid).
Vegetarian takeout hits the Ossington ‘hood. Veghed Bar (1199 Dundas West, at Ossington) offers soups, smoothies, salads and specials like pad thai with chia, hemp and pea shoots.
Mean Bao, the steamed bao shop (think pork belly and pulled pork, not char siu) popular with OCAD students getting lunch at Village by the Grange, is opening a second location at 167 Bathurst (at Queen West), once the home of the short-lived Burger Press. The signage is up, but according to its Twitter feed (@MeanBaoToronto), it’s having a few opening delays.
Supper club CC Lounge is debuting in the historic Beardmore Building in Old Town (45 Front East, at Church) this week. Playing with a speakeasy theme, it features life-sized birdcages and “North America’s first whiskey-tasting tunnel housing over 100 whiskeys from around the world.”
Changes
After eight and a half years, Cava chef and owner Chris McDonald is handing the restaurant (1560 Yonge, at St. Clair) over to former partner and co-chef Doug Penfold on December 1. The midtown restaurant is best known for its Spanish and tapas menu pioneered long before the trend hit the rest of the city.
Know of any openings, closings or Black Friday door-busters at Canoe or Scaramouche? Email food@nowtoronto.com.
