The first weekend in October is bringing a bumper crop of new Toronto restaurants. The seasons are changing, meaning summer pop-ups are winding down and the heaters are coming out on patios.
A few high-profile spots are entering the food scene fray this week, namely a new Mexican restaurant co-owned by Matty Matheson, a third location for the celebrity-endorsed Dave’s Hot Chicken franchise and new location for a high-end French dessert place that recently closed.
A popular fall-themed patio is also returning for a second year to Richmond and Bathurst. Meanwhile, one of the city’s most popular burger chains is down a location after a fire, and Labora chef Rob Bragagnolo is wrapping up his collaboration with Cold Tea.
Here are the Toronto restaurants that opened and closed for the week of September 22-28.
Toronto restaurants that closed
Labora pop-up at Cold Tea
Spanish restaurant Labora closed its sprawling location on King West during the pandemic and reinvented itself as a summer pop-up at Queen West bar Cold Tea. This weekend is your last chance to check it out: the pop-up is ending on October 2.
Rudy
It wasn’t a great week for burger chain Rudy, which suffered a fire at its 69 Duncan location in the Entertainment District over the weekend. No one was hurt, but the damage was “significant,” according to an Instagram post, so it’ll be closed for a while.
Vanta Coffee Club and Eatery
Scarborough coffee spot Vanta is calling it quits on September 29 after five years. However, the operators plan to reopen elsewhere. “We do have another location in the works, hopefully sooner rather than later,” reads a statement on Instagram. “Please keep an eye on our social media for announcements.”
Bar Ape
Gelato and ice cream pop-up Bar Ape has closed for the season but keep an eye on Instagram for online and in-store pop-ups over the fall and winter months.
Toronto restaurants that opened
Fonda Balam
Having packed up the popular summer taco pop-up Birria Balam, Matty Matheson, Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo are about to launch a new Mexican restaurant at the corner of Dundas West and Palmerston. Fonda Balam officially opens on September 29
802 Dundas West, fondabalam.com
Dave’s Hot Chicken
The buzzy chicken chain’s expansion continues. Fresh from snagging Drake as an investor, Raptors founder John Bitove’s fast-food franchise is opening a third Toronto location in Leslieville on October 1.
1130 Queen East. instagram.com/daveshotchicken
Calii Love
Another restaurant celebrating a grand opening this weekend is the new midtown location of Instagrammable healthy bowl spot Calii Love. The restaurant will be doing free food giveaways October 1-3.
2131 Yonge, caliilove.com
Fall n’ Leaves
The autumn-themed pop-up patio returns for a month-long run starting October 1. If you can’t make it out of town to some sort of quaint fall country experience, the wine bar and wood-fired pizza spot at the corner of Richmond and Bathurst will be decked out with 5,000 lbs of hay and 7,000 hanging leaves.
621 Richmond, fallnleavesto.com
Tea-n-Bannock
Toronto’s longest-running Indigenous restaurant reopened earlier this month after a temporary closure.
1294 Gerrard East, teanbannock.ca
Love Chix at High Park Brewery
Chicken is now on the menu at Lost Craft and High Park Brewery’s joint spot in the west end courtesy of Love Chix.
839 Runnymede, instagram.com/lovechixtoronto
Delysées Luxury Desserts
After closing down shop on King West, the French patisserie is back and in “very soft” launch mode at their new location on the Ossington strip.
131 Ossington, delysees.com
Prairie Boy Bread
It’s been a big couple of months for Prairie Boy Bread. After opening on Geary, the bakery is now operating a third location at Yonge and St. Clair.
1 St. Clair East, instagram.com/prairieboybread
Chatime Canada
Bubble tea shop Chatime is up and running in Liberty Village as of last week.
171 East Liberty, chatime.com
