Opening
Portuguese restaurant Quinta has reopened as Essen (1282 Dundas West at Dovercourt), playing to owner-chef Leor Zimerman’s Jewish upbringing, with Middle Eastern plates like za’atar-rubbed tuna loin, roasted duck breast with potato and onion pierogi, and ramen with matzo balls and brisket kreplach. The lunch menu even has a “Jewish banh mi” of chopped chicken liver and fried beef salami.
Vancouver-based Caffè Artigiano coffee chain has opened its first Toronto location in the financial district at 67 Yonge (at King West), serving espresso-based drinks and selling its own line of beans. Finally, a place to get coffee in the downtown core.
Popular northern Thai restaurant Sukhothai has opened a third location, this time in the at 1442 Dundas West (at Dovercourt) where the Guild was previously. For now it’s open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and dinner on Sunday. Delivery is not available yet.
Closing
West Queen West’s eclectic restaurant Ursa (924 Queen West at Shaw) is closing after almost three years. It’s best known for using unusual Canadian ingredients like elk velvet, the fuzz on the animal’s antlers. In a Facebook post, owner-chef Jacob Sharkey Pearce writes that Ursa is looking to the future. “When we surface from our slumber we will continue the task of discovery – finding better ways to eat and to live.”
