This week brings news of well-known Toronto restaurants opening new locations around the city.
Cinnaholic will be introducing its signature cinnamon buns to High Park. Nava Social opened a cafe at St. Clair West this weekend and partnered with a local food bank to provide free coffee in exchange for canned goods. Chat Bar will be opening its first downtown location in Chinatown.
Food spots are also reopening to the public after indoor renovations. General Assembly Pizza reopened its dining lounge on December 2 after revamping its eating area and opening a bodega. Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! launched its King West location that’s open five days a week after extensive renovation as well.
Meanwhile, Madras Kaapi officially opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe to the public on December 3.
Here are the Toronto restaurants that announced openings and closings for the week of December 1-6.
Toronto restaurants that closed
Tich
The modern Indian cuisine restaurant in Mimico announced via Instagram that they were closing down. “We are excited to announce that a new restaurant, Kosha, will be opening soon,” the message reads. “We ask all customers to show their love and support to the new establishment.”
Meat & Pie Co.
The casual barbecue brisket and rib joint announced on Instagram that they are closing their original 212 King West location in Toronto, after having uncertainties with the site renovating into a 79-storey tower. Meat & Pie Co. will be focusing on their Mississauga location in the meantime.
Thirsty and Miserable
After 10 years, this Kensington Market beer bar will be closing down come the new year. “This building is crumbling and Covid is still lurking so it feels like the perfect opportunity to take a little break from bar ownership,” writes owner Katie Whittaker in an announcement on Instagram.
Toronto restaurants that opened
Madras Kaapi
The one-of-a-kind south Indian coffee shop officially opened its doors on December 3. Expect coffee with chicory included in the blends served in brass davaras. Food items will also be available, including authentic south Indian treats. Check out our full story to see how the shop came to be and what makes south Indian coffee especially unique.
870 College, instagram.com/madraskaapi
Nava Social
This specialty cafe opened its St. Clair West location on December 3 and 4. On opening weekend, the business partnered with St. Michael & All Angels Church’s Beeton Cupboard Food Bank to provide free coffee in exchange for protein-based canned goods donations.
744 St. Clair West, instagram.com/nava.social
Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!
After months of renovation, this southwestern cantina finally has a permanent home. Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! says in an email to NOW that they will accept guests indoors at their King West location – right next to their original patio spot. The team says to expect dishes like the kabocha squash chili con ‘queso,’ grilled adobo chicken and pineapple coconut tres leches.
461 King West, instagram.com/rabbitrabbitrabbitto
Cinnaholic
High Park is welcoming another bakery to its neighbourhood. Cinnaholic recently announced they will be opening a new location on December 17. Like its other locations, the bakery will feature their signature cinnamon rolls as well as cookie dough, brownies and coffee. Cinnamon rolls will be offered at $1 per roll on opening day.
2190 Bloor West, instagram.com/cinnaholic.highpark
General Assembly Pizza
With new renovations, the pizza shop that launched gourmet frozen pizzas in 2020 is re-opening their original dining location on Adelaide West. The renovated space comes with a new bodega where customers can buy merch and other products. Chef Nicholas Morra will be taking over the location, with new pizzas on the menu in addition to the classic favourites, like the Mila Margherita and King Shroom.
331 Adelaide West, instagram.com/ga_pizza
Chat Bar
The izakaya team tells NOW that they’ve opened their first downtown location in Chinatown. This will be the fourth location to open in the GTA. Chat Bar specializes in northeastern Chinese meat skewers.
307 Spadina Avenue, instagram.com/chatbarto
Avoca Chocolates
This family-run chocolate shop opened its third location on December 4 on Ossington. The team tells us that the new location is currently selling handmade chocolate Santas, Christmas trees, stars of David and other goodies. In-person chocolate making classes will also take place in 2022.
148 Ossington, avocachocolates.com
More Toronto food news
SuLee keeps hinting about their brick-and-mortar spot, SuLee Dosirak, opening soon via Instagram. We wrote a story about their kimchi delivery service, which you can check out here.
In an email to NOW, Food Dudes announced that it is expanding its catering business to Miami, Florida, starting January 2022. Originally founded in 2007, the food service company aims to cater for all kinds of private events across cities.
Community Fridges Toronto is getting closer to reaching their target for their Winterization 2021 campaign. The fundraiser is to create “weather-resistant, eye-pleasing sheds.” You can read more about it here.
Precious Achiuwa of the Toronto Raptors bought bagged milk in Canada for the first time and it was quite – dare we say it – precious. Watch here at the 12:40 mark.
