Introducing: Origin North, the new uptown tapas restaurant from Claudio Aprile
Name: Origin North
Neighborhood: Bayview Village
Contact Info: 2901 Bayview Ave , www.originnorth.com , 416-479-8833
Owner and Chef: Claudio Aprile (Colborne Lane)
The Food: The international menu of small plates veers Italian with dishes like mascarpone-sweet pea risotto, chorizo-and-smoked-tomato parpadelle, and a dedicated mozzarella bar (as at the King St. location) serving crostini topped with mozzarella di bufala and fiore de latte. Some staples appear on the menus of all three Origin restaurants (the original on King Street and the Liberty Village space), including chorizo-and-manchego fries, an Asian beef-and-glass-noodle salad, and the Origin burger . Doughnuts, pudding and cream soda floats for dessert.
The Drinks: An eclectic wine list with several bottles under $50, as well as beers on tap and by the bottle, and a short list of cocktails, like the French Martini, a mix of vodka, raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice.
The Space: Befitting the north-of-Bloor location, everything about the cavernous, 12,000-square-foot space is over-sized, including floor-to-ceiling windows and massive beams of wood suspended from the ceiling. Polished concrete floors and studded black leather banquettes give the room a masculine feel.
The Numbers:
• 875 doughnuts churned out per day
• 200 seats indoors
• 150 staff members
• 138 seats on the two patios
• 5 tonnes of Douglas fir bolted to the ceiling
• 3 years in development
• 2 floors: the top one will be rented out for events
219473 The whole second floor can be rented out for events (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-32-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-32.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-32.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-32/ origin-north-32 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219471 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-30-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-30.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-30.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-30/ origin-north-30 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219480 The silver Ducati by the entrance belongs to Claudio Aprile; he leaves it there when he's working at the restaurant (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-42-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-42.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-42.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-42/ origin-north-42 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219481 Five tonnes of Douglas fir are suspended from the restaurant's ceiling (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-intro.jpg 656 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-intro/ origin-north-intro 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219454 The private dining room (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-2/ origin-north-2 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219455 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-4.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-4/ origin-north-4 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219456 (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-5/ origin-north-5 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219457 One of two outdoor patios (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-6/ origin-north-6 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219458 The raw bar (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-7/ origin-north-7 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219460 Seafood platter, including lobster with salmon roe; chorizo-and-saffron steamed mussels; shrimp shooters with tomato water, horseradish and calamansi; raw oyster with celery juice and jalapeño mignonette; and steamed crab with green onion (MP) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-9/ origin-north-9 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219463 Sparta salad (inspired by Gerard Butler in the movie <em>300</em>) with shaved cucumber, sweet potato, sesame seeds and yuzu dressing ($12) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-14/ origin-north-14 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219468 Serrano ham with pepper marmalade and Parmesan reggiano ($15) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-26.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-26/ origin-north-26 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219476 Mozzarella di bufala with tomato confit, basil and preserved lemon ($17) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-36-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-36.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-36.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-36/ origin-north-36 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219470 Devilled eggs with bacon, herbs and souffletine ($7) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-29.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-29/ origin-north-29 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219479 Spicy tuna hand roll with apple, shiso and miso mayo ($9) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-41-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-41.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-41.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-41/ origin-north-41 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219467 Claudio Aprile preparing crispy Chinese broccoli with yuzu ($7) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-25.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-25/ origin-north-25 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219475 Chorizo-and-smoked-tomato parpadelle ($16) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-35-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-35.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-35.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-35/ origin-north-35 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219477 Origin Burger with smoked mayo, avocado and arugula ($17) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-37-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-37.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-37.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-37/ origin-north-37 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219462 Maple cotton candy, truffle, lemon cheesecake and cookie ($7) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-13/ origin-north-13 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219464 Tapioca and coconut pudding with glazed banana, mango ice and freeze-dried mango ($10) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-19/ origin-north-19 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
219466 Doughnut with calamansi curd, finger lime and meringue crumble ($6) (Image: Igor Yu) Introducing Origin North Introducing Origin North https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/origin-north-22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/origin-north-toronto-restaurants/slide/origin-north-22/ origin-north-22 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)