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)
260681 <strong>Grasshopper</strong> is located at 310 College Street, west of Spadina (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-08/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260682 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-09/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260680 Owners Chen and Qian recruited two OCAD students to help them redesign the former Mexican bodega (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-07/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260684 They lifted the ceiling, exposed a brick wall and filled the space with warm wooden touches (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-11.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-11/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-11 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260683 Nineteen hurricane lanterns decorate the space (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-10/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260674 “Chick-un” nuggets: deep-fried seitan strips served with a barbeque dipping sauce ($4.50) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-01/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260675 Chili-dusted kale chips ($3) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-02/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260676 Kale and cabbage salad with toasted pumpkin seeds ($8) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-03/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260677 The pulled “pork” banh mi is filled with barbeque seitan, pickled daikon, carrots and cilantro ($8.50) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-04/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260678 Sautéed seitan skewers come with chimichurri sauce for dipping ($4.50) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-05/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260679 Sautéed cremini, king oyster and Portobello mushrooms are served over red rice and drizzled with tahini sauce ($9) (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-06/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
260685 (Image: Caroline Aksich) Introducing: Grasshopper Introducing: Grasshopper https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/grasshopper-toronto-restaurants/slide/grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-12/ grasshopper-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Caroline Aksich)
Always happy to see vegan places listed! I tried Grasshopper and really enjoyed it! Cute atmosphere, delicious food and good price! I’ll definitely go again.
Very excited to try Grasshopper! Equally as excited that I won’t be paying up the butt because I choose to eat compassionately! :D
We just ordered take out and it was amazing! Glad to see more places like this opening up with good prices to boot!