This is what’s opening in the old Cold Tea space on Queen West
Some of the industry’s biggest names are behind it
Robin Goodfellow (Czehoski, Bar Raval, PrettyUgly, Vela, Harry’s) and his business partner Aldo Pescatore (La Carnita, Sweet Jesus) have had their fingers on the pulse of Toronto’s hospitality scene for more than two decades. Post-pandemic, the two decided to join forces and create a space designed to serve the everyday needs of a neighbourhood.
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“We aren’t looking to compete with other bars and restaurants,” says Goodfellow. “We’re competing with people’s homes. We want to be the place that gets customers off the couch and through our doors—day or night—because it simply feels better to be here.”
The Dirty Laundry and Café Gigi open this March and aim to be just that. The dual-personality project takes up the 140-seat indoor-outdoor space on West Queen West that was, until last fall, the second home of Cold Tea. Part café and part bar, it promises something for everyone. “We recognize the need for a super-fun experience, solid food and playful cocktails,” says Goodfellow. “But we’re equally mindful of value. People want to feel good about where they’re spending their time—and their money.”
Gigi, the full-service café that anchors the front of the space, runs from morning to 5 p.m. Named for Goodfellow’s daughter, it serves all the coffee classics alongside spritzy daytime cocktails. The menu leans European and snacky—think baked goods, tinned fish on nice bread, cheese and an all-day breakfast sandwich, because duh.
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Then there’s Gigi’s other half: the Dirty Laundry. Helmed by former Sounds Good chef Renelle Joubert, it will function as a relaxed neighbourhood bar early in the week before turning up the tempo with DJs and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. The vibe stays chill with counter service, classic cocktails and a Tex-Mex–inspired menu that delivers unexpected spins on bar food. Gussied up nachos? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
Erin Hershberg is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience in the lifestyle sector. She currently lives in downtown Toronto with her husband and two children.
