The Black Hoof’s Jennifer Agg plays her cards close to her chest.
“I don’t like to talk about something until I actually do it,” says the blasé restaurateur. “I’m not big on buzz.”
She swears she didn’t tell a soul but that didn’t stop the new Hoof Raw Bar (926 Dundas W, at Gore Vale, 416-something or other but they never answer the phone so what difference does it make, theblackhoof.com) from being seriously slammed on its opening night.
The latest Hoof features a re-imagined retro seafood card – shrimp cocktail ($15), clam chowder ($11) – not all of it raw. The acclaimed Hoof Café Caesar – pink peppercorn vodka, Frank’s hot sauce, Worcestershire, Clamato and Marmite ($9) – also makes a deserved reappearance. And no, they don’t take reservations.
After the Black Hoof, the Hoof Café, the Black Hoof Cocktail Bar (923 Dundas W, at Gore Vale, 416-792-7511, theblackhoof.com) and the ill-fated BHCO, does Agg have plans for a fifth Hoof?
“Not unless it’s on the same block.”
Tuesday to Saturday 5:30 pm to midnight. Closed Sunday, Monday. Licensed. Access: two steps at door, three steps to washroom..