As a result of ongoing COVID-19 infection rates, St. Patrick’s Day festivities have been cancelled across Toronto, including the St. Patrick’s Day parade for the second year in a row. With restaurants still closed for indoor dining, it also means that the traditional St. Paddy’s pub crawls are also off the menu. Although you won’t … Continued
Ashish Sethi’s new venture, Sanjeev Masala Co., is a tribute to his late father. After emigrating to Canada in the 1980s from India, Sanjeev Sethi opened his first restaurant, the Host Fine Indian Cuisine, with his brother in 1996. The pair went on to launch five restaurants, including a much-loved outpost in Richmond Hill, and … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Mas Playas, the Mexican chain of eateries known for high-end tacos and cocktails, is opening another Toronto location this time in the Yonge and Eglinton area. Playa Cabana Bar Esquina will join the Mas Playas roster that includes the original Playa Cabana in the Annex, as well as Cantina in the Junction, Barrio Coreano in … Continued
By Ron Johnson
The GTA is finally getting its own Carlo’s Bakery. Yes, the city has had its Cake Boss vending machines for a while now, but soon the first outpost in Canada will open in Port Credit. Since 1910, Carlo’s Bakery has been serving up sweet treats for Hoboken, New Jersey, and the greater New York City … Continued
Summerhill cafe and wine bar Boxcar Social is expanding its footprint across the city thanks to a new partnership with local developer Fitzrovia. Boxcar Social co-owner John Baker says that they’re creating cafes for three of Fitzrovia’s purpose-built rental apartments, including the Waverly, which is set to open next month near Spadina and College. “It’s … Continued
De Mello Coffee is teaming up with Chocolat de Kat for a new shop set to open near St. Clair Avenue West and Atlas Avenue. Although this is the first co-branded storefront for the pair, Chocolat de Kat owner Kata Ambrus says the two have had a long-running partnership. Ambrus spent part of her early … Continued
By Ron Johnson
Toronto city council will soon consider a motion to extend restaurant and bar outdoor patio bylaws that make the CafeTO program possible until spring 2022. The current temporary use bylaws will expire on May 25, 2021. The motion requests that the city council extend temporary use by-laws that allow an increase to the maximum size … Continued
By lindsaylow
Parenting columnist Joanne Kates is an expert educator in the areas of conflict mediation, self-esteem and anti-bullying, and she is the director of Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park. I am spoiled. I have never operated a vacuum cleaner and seldom touched an iron. Forty-three years ago, when I moved in with my beloved, I left for a month to … Continued
Oliver & Bonacini, the restaurant group behind beloved Toronto restaurants like Auberge du Pommier and Canoe, is teaming up with Voilà by Sobeys to bring a gourmet experience to grocery home delivery. Voilà already features items from Safeway, Farm Boy and Well.ca in addition to Sobeys’ own products. It’s now set to add some of … Continued
A new doughnut shop has opened in Toronto’s Dundas West neighbourhood. Operating out of the Fourth Man and the Fire Pizzeria, which is known for its affordable, American-style pizzas, Harry and Heels Donuts sells a wide variety of doughnuts as singles, by the half-dozen or by the dozen. Described as a “California” doughnuts, Harry and … Continued
By lindsaylow
We sat down with chef Victor Barry of Piano Piano to talk about the launch his two new virtual restaurants and what he thinks the coming months have in store for the Toronto dining industry. What has the last year been like for you as a restaurant owner? It’s been tough. We’ve had our moments, … Continued
Midtown will soon have a new destination for flavourful Thai and Malaysian cuisine with the upcoming opening of Thai Room Grand at 288 Eglinton Ave. W. this spring. The new restaurant will be the second outpost of Thai Room Grand, which originally opened in York Mills in 2018, and sister restaurant to Thai Room, which … Continued
