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Food & Drink

Tapas fracas

NOW might have declared Queen East the new Queen West back in the Rheostatic Age, but Leslieville is suddenly abuzz with new restaurants.

The hottest table east of DeGrassi these days is Bero (889 Queen East, at Logan, 416-477-3393, bero-restaurant.com, @BeroRestaurant), an actual bricks and mortar resto from pop-up self-promoter Matt Kantor. Expect smaller plates like gnocchi with bone marrow and snails or halibut escabeche with romesco sauce, but don’t call them tapas.

“We are not a Spanish restaurant,” explained Kantor in a recent Chowhound post. “While you might see something Spanish on the menu, you will also see garnishes that stray from the classics.”

Brussels mussels

Those of a certain age who still get a tear in their eye at the mere mention of the long-gone Café Brussels – whether the first incarnation on Broadview or the second in the theatrical space on Danforth that now houses the Globe – will be thrilled to learn that CB’s Roger Wils has resurfaced in the Beach with Brussels Bistro (1975A Queen East, at Waverley, 416-694-0004, brusselsbistro.ca). It opened last night, July 31, at the site of the former Amuse, with a moules-frites menu similar to that of yore and begins brunch service Sunday.

“It’s good to be back,” says Wils. “I missed it!”

Got some insider dish to share?

Contact stevend@nowtoronto.com

For the freshest Dish follow: @stevendaveynow

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