Third time is a charm for a handful of Toronto restaurants this week. Local chains with takeout-friendly menus are opening new locations in quick succession, but wine bars, game-themed bars and tapas-style spots are also making a comeback as Torontonians get used to indoor dining again.
Meanwhile, Scarborough’s food scene is welcoming a new Jamaican spot at Malvern Town Centre and a restaurant that boasts 100 different flavours of chicken wings. On the other side of the GTA, an upscale Indian bistro has chosen Square One as the site of its North American entrée.
We’ve got four closures to report this week, including a popular coffee pop-up opened by a yoga instructor in Bloorcourt during lockdown. Here is the Toronto restaurants openings and closings news for the week of October 6-12.
Toronto restaurants that closed
Hanabusa Cafe
The Kensington Market location of Japanese soufflé pancake chain has shuttered, according to a post on Instagram that does not cite a reason for the closure.
Simple Kitchen
The owners of health-food restaurant and shop Simple Kitchen shut down the Roncesvalles location over the weekend due to a rent increase. Writing on Instagram, the company said a new restaurant in First Canadian Place is opening soon.
Two Hot Babes Coffee
Yoga instructor-turned-cafe owner Nancy Silverman is closing her pandemic pivot business Two Hot Babes Coffee. The Bloorcourt pop-up shop’s last day was October 10. “Although it was never my intention to keep the shop open forever, it seems impossible to say goodbye,” she wrote on Instagram. “My greatest hope, is that 2HB encourages people to DO THE THING. If you’ve been waiting to make a change, DO IT NOW.”
Thindi
The Indian street food outfit is shutting down its World Food Market stall and moving all operations to the 400 College location that opened in December. Your last chance to sample the Mumbai sandwich at the Yonge and Gould location is October 27.
Toronto restaurants that opened
Track & Field
Two years after shuttering, lawn games bar Track & Field is returning to Little Italy. The owners have released very little information other than opening day is October 15.
582 College, instagram.com/trackandfieldbar
Egg Club
The breakfast sandwich spot that started at Yonge and Dundas is turning into a fast-growing chain. Egg Club recently launched a third location at Yonge and Finch.
5423 Yonge, eggclub.ca
Omni Palace
Chinese hand-pulled (and halal) noodle house Omni Palace has touched down at the Yonge Sheppard Centre in North York. It’s the restaurant’s third Toronto location.
4841 Yonge, Unit 118A, instagram.com/omnipalace
SuperChicken
Another local chain opening a third location this week is SuperChicken. Two months after the Markham fried-chicken-sandwich joint opened in North York, a new outpost is up and running downtown on Bay just north of Wellesley.
995 Bay, instagram.com/superchickennnnn
Tomyum Restaurant and Wine Bar
A little further south on Bay, Southeast Asian tapas and wine spot Tomyum opened a few weeks back and is in soft launch mode.
21 Grenville, tomyumwinebar.ca
Scotchiees Caribbean Cuisine
There’s a new option for Jamaican cuisine at Malvern Town Centre: Scotchiees hosted a grand opening earlier this month. It’s located inside Rubini West Indian grocery store.
31 Tapscott, instagram.com/scotchieesmalvern
Farzi Café
MasterChef India judge Zorawar Kalra is opening the first North American location of his bistro at Mississauga’s Square One Food District on October 22. The tapas-style restaurant is known for creating “culinary illusions with elements such as foam, smoke and bubbles,” according to a press release.
100 City Centre Drive, instagram.com/farzicanada
Brazilian Burger Bar
The city’s Brazilian street food options continue to expand. Brazil Burger Bar, which opened late in September, is offering up elaborate burger creations plus a selection of Brazilian snacks.
28 Logan, brazilianburgerbar.ca
Amano Trattoria
The owners of Union Station Italian spot Amano Pasta are opening another restaurant a few blocks away from the transit hub. Launching on October 19, Amano Trattoria will offer handmade pasta, traditional style pizzas, assaggini boards and more.
9 Church, instagram.com/amano.trattoria
Mac N’ Wings
File this one under “together at last”: Scarborough now has a dining option that boasts 20 flavours of mac n’ cheese and 100 different kinds of chicken wings.
448 Kennedy, macnwings.ca
