Little Italy restaurant Grace calls it quits after six years on College Street
When it opened in 2008, Grace stood out among Little Italy’s unremarkable collection of tired trattorias. Since then, the neighbourhood has experienced a restaurant renaissance. In 2011, Acadia moved in, followed shortly by La Carnita and Bar Isabel, turning the culinary dead zone into a dining destination on par with the busy Ossington strip. Now the pretty bistro at College and Palmerston is closing.
“The industry’s changed a lot since we opened,” says co-owner and sommelier Leslie Gibson. “We’ve had an amazing ride, but it felt like the right time to make a change.” During its six-year run, Grace helped propel the careers of a few prominent Toronto chefs, including former Acadia chef Dustin Gallagher and, most recently, executive chef Colin Moise. The restaurant’s final dinner service was last Saturday.
The closure is certainly a loss, but locals needn’t despair entirely. Rumour has it that a much-anticipated new restaurant will be moving into the space. Stay tuned for details.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/grace-restaurant-closed/&title=Little Italy restaurant Grace calls it quits after six years on College Street&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/171184_177585478946516_8220523_o-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_260743" align="aligncenter" width="656"] The Grace team in 2011 (Image: Grace/Facebook)[/caption]
When it opened in 2008, Grace stood out among Little Italy’s unremarkable collection of tired trattorias. Since then, the neighbourhood has experienced a restaurant renaissance. In 2011, Acadia moved in, followed shortly by La Carnita and Bar Isabel, turning the culinary dead zone into a dining destination on par with the busy Ossington strip. Now the pretty bistro at College and Palmerston is closing.
“The industry’s changed a lot since we opened,” says co-owner and sommelier Leslie Gibson. “We’ve had an amazing ride, but it felt like the right time to make a change.” During its six-year run, Grace helped propel the careers of a few prominent Toronto chefs, including former Acadia chef Dustin Gallagher and, most recently, executive chef Colin Moise. The restaurant’s final dinner service was last Saturday.
The closure is certainly a loss, but locals needn’t despair entirely. Rumour has it that a much-anticipated new restaurant will be moving into the space. Stay tuned for details.){kind=link}
Again, no mention of Frank’s Kitchen… .and always a mention of Acadia, which is closed. (because they didn’t have enough business, and just couldn’t make it) Also how about Woodlot… Are these 2 restaurants not part of the “restaurant renaissance”.
According to every top reviewer and every top 10 list they are…Kates, Chatto, Pataki and so on. How is it Toronto Life just keeps missing them.
Not to mention they made the TORONTO LIFE top 10 best new restaurant list when they opened, but somehow just always forgotten in every article about Little Italy.
Angela Fox you’re a cunt
Angela Fox you’re a super cunt
Angela Fox is a Cow
UGH this was one of my fav restaurants …. what a shock for them to close… Are they planning on opening a new place anywhere??
Bizarre comment by Guest about other commenter, if you don’t agree with someone’s opinion then say so. Also happa and Rioji were not mentioned and they are good and not typical little Italy crap. Also agree with Angela about franks and woodlot, they should be mentioned. There are so few good places in that area, and both are destinations places. Try getting a reso at either, yet acadia is CLOSED.
What has since opened in the same location? Looks busy and welcoming every time I ride by. But I can’t figure out its name.