Chef Claudio Aprile is bringing back Origin
But it won’t be in Toronto
Forget the pivot and the rebrand—chef Claudio Aprile is going right back to his roots.
If you were a fine diner in Toronto circa 2010, you’ll remember the original Origin at King and Church, which was more than just a restaurant: it launched the high-energy, small-plates fever dream we’ve been living in ever since.
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Now, the man who brought us the edible architecture of Colborne Lane and spent years judging cooking competitions on MasterChef Canada is staging a comeback that feels less like a corporate rollout and more like an analog reset. Opening this June in Burlington, right by the waterfront and across the street from the swish Pearle Hotel, Bar Origin will trade the frantic buzz of downtown Toronto for the bedroom-community charm of the burbs. “I just felt a real yearning for this restaurant,” says Aprile, who was previously doing a lot of consulting work.
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The new Bar Origin will feature a shifting all-day dining experience. By day, it will sling salads, sandwiches, charcuterie, pastries and coffee. At night, it will morph into a sit-down restaurant, with 20-plus dishes designed for sharing and four desserts alongside classic cocktails and a globetrotting wine program. While the menu won’t exactly be an ode to the OG Origin, Aprile will bring back his greatest hits. So anyone who still dreams about the crispy calamari with caramelized peanut sauce or the iconic spicy Japanese hand rolls is in luck—they’re on the menu alongside Aprile’s signature duck pancakes with sesame brittle.
As for the vibes, according to Aprile, this will be a grown-up Origin. The 80-seat space (plus a 30-seat patio) by Solid Design features bold arches, herringbone floors and a pair of vintage JBL speakers Aprile had been eyeing since he was 15. And it’s a family affair: his daughter will be on the floor, his son will be working the socials and his 81-year-old mother’s advice to “use your hands” to stay out of trouble is baked into the ethos.
While Aprile will be continuing as the culinary director of the Evolv Group (Via Allegro Ristorante, Di Mario’s Trattoria, Mademoiselle Raw Bar and Grill), this is the first time the celebrity chef will be back at the burners since Copetin shuttered in 2019.
“My life is so good; everyone is saying, Why are you doing this to yourself?” says Aprile. “I just love restaurants. I think about food every day. It’s always on my mind. And I like surprising people.”
Leah Rumack has worked as the deputy editor of Today’s Parent and the features director of Fashion and has contributed as a writer to a long list of Canadian brands including Toronto Life, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Chatelaine, Elle Canada, Zoomer, the National Post, EnRoute and Re:porter. Her work focuses on travel, food, pop culture, beauty and fashion.
