Introducing: Grasshopper, a new vegan restaurant near U of T where nothing costs more than $10
Name: Grasshopper
Neighbourhood: University
Contact Info: 310 College St., 647-340-3666, grasshopperrestaurant.ca
Owners: Roy Qian and Oliver Chen
Chef: Roy Qian
The Food: The mostly vegan menu specializes in hearty comfort food—minus the meat, dairy and at least some of the grease. The lineup includes faux pork and “chick-un” banh mi sandwiches (made with seitan), four different veggie burgers and a meat-, dairy-, soy- and gluten-free mac ‘n’ cheese.
The Drinks: A cocktail menu will make its debut once the liquor license comes in. For now, customers can enjoy healthy smoothies like the eponymous Grasshopper: a blend of spinach, celery, cucumber, mint, apple and lemon juice.
The Place: Chen and Qian recruited two OCAD students to help them redesign the former Mexican bodega. They lifted the ceiling, exposed a brick wall and filled the space with warm wooden touches.
The Numbers: • 600 square feet • 24 seats • 19 dangling hurricane lanterns • 15 burger patties sampled before four made the final cut • $9.50, the student-friendly price ceiling • 6 months to renovate • 4 burgers (classic “beef”, spicy black bean, veggie and tempeh sloppy joe)
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Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.
