Toronto’s best dining under the sun
Joanne kates’ guide to restaurants with patios where the eats are as good as the seats
Category: Restaurants
Charles Khabouth’s new bistro, La Société, brings 1920s Parisian charm to Bloor Street
Toronto’s entertainment king Charles Khabouth threw a lavish party last night to celebrate the opening of his latest venture, La Société. Before it opened its doors to Toronto’s most stylish (we spotted Greta Constantine’s Kirk Pickersgill, National Post’s Shinan Govani and Fashion editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra, to name a few), we caught up with Khabouth and partner Danny Soberano on the sunny patio.
Coming Soon: The Legion, a Greco-Roman “ultra sports bar” on the Danforth
If the brotherhood of man had an official language, it would be sports talk. And if that brotherhood had a headquarters for ritualistic beer drinking and game-watching, it would be Danforth’s soon-to-open The Legion. With its high ceilings, fireplaces, shared tables, Greco-Roman architecture and charcoal-grilled steaks, the upcoming Greektown bar brings to mind a sort of Alexander the Great camaraderie.
To find Poetry, Kensington Market’s new jazz cafe, follow Miles Davis’ hand
Kensington Market is no stranger to experimental music, so it’s fitting that Poetry Jazz Café, a new bar dedicated entirely to live jazz, has set up shop on the market’s arterial avenue at 224 Augusta. Its outer facade emblazoned with a dynamic mural of Miles Davis’ hand, Poetry now opens its doors five nights a week —Wednesday to Sunday — to house an eclectic melange of young jazz musicians and soulful, jazz-oriented, vinyl-spinning DJs.
Here today, gone tomorrow: m:brgr closes its doors
When Montreal export m:brgr set up shop on King Street earlier this year, owner Jeff Dichter wasn’t too worried about the heap of competition nearby (nowhere else offers a $100 burger, after all). But the restaurant’s Toronto location has apparently bit the dust. Food blog It All Starts With Butter reported its closure today, and although we were unable to get a hold of Dichter immediately, m:brgr wasn’t open for service today and its Toronto phone line appears disconnected.
The Drake Hotel to host a series of seasonally changing pop-up restaurants. First stop: high school!
Move over Antiques Roadshow: there’s a new “tour” in town, and this one promises to be much tastier. The Drake Hotel has announced its Dining Roadshow, a “restaurant within a restaurant” concept that will see the dining room space changing seasonally in menu, theme, and decor. Executive chef Anthony Rose intends to create stylized menus that highlight the intrinsic attitude of each of The Drake’s restaurant incarnations.
McDonald’s rolls out free Wi-Fi across Canada; free smiles remain the best perk
We never thought we’d be able to think of another reason to spend inordinate amounts of time hanging out at McDonald’s, but now the fast food giant is rolling out free Wi-Fi at its Canadian locations. Apparently, more than 90 per cent of McDonald’s across the country will be equipped with the service by the end of May.
Coming Soon: Cuisine of India, re-opening at Yonge and Davisville after a year-long absence
Fans of Cuisine of India, rejoice! After a nearly year-long hiatus, the restaurant is re-opening this Friday, May 20, at a new location at Yonge and Davisville. After functioning in its previous space at 5222 Yonge Street for over 20 years, the original Cuisine of India was forced to close just over a year ago due to condo developments that no longer accommodated the restaurant.
The Big Chill gets a little sister with The Little Dog, a pocket-sized haven for hot dog connoisseurs on College
Since hot dogs are pretty much the only thing street vendors can legally sell in Toronto (still), our streets are flooded with them — usually Shopsy’s; always grilled. But according to Sam Santino, owner of The Big Chill and the newly-opened The Little Dog, a properly done hot dog is always steamed.
Duggan’s Brewery hits the road, isn’t coming back
Duggan’s Brewery near Victoria and Richmond is closed for good, Canadian Beer News reports. Apparently, a disagreement with the landlord resulted in an eviction notice, and despite initial hopes that the brewpub would eventually reopen, the closure looks to be permanent.
Langolino closes; Little Italy loses a hidden gem
Denizens of Little Italy may be surprised and a bit saddened to learn that Langolino, one of the only convenient (and some would say better) alternatives to Cafe Diplomatico’s sprawling, ever-packed patio, has closed. A “business for sale” sign currently hangs out front the restaurant, but a representative for ReMax has confirmed that Langolino isn’t just seeking new ownership, it’s closed.
Coming Soon: Uncle Betty’s diner, bringing ice cream, doughnuts and comfort food to Yonge and Eg
With its concentration of high-end restaurants like Centro, North 44 and Blue Zen, the Yonge Street strip just north of Eglinton isn’t exactly known as a haven for casual dining. Which is exactly why husband and wife entrepreneurs Robert Lewocz and Samara Melanson set up Uncle Betty’s diner, where enjoying food doesn’t mean having to get dressed up.