The Month That Was: the Toronto restaurants and bars that opened and closed in May
Openings
THR & Co.—The owners of The Harbord Room opened a new restaurant in the spot where Harbord Street fixture Messis used to be. Read our Introducing post »
Ardor Bistro—The latest addition to the Ossington strip serves Peruvian food and cocktails made with house-brewed bitters. Read our Introducing post »
Switch—Hanij Harji, who opened King West hotspots Patria and Weslodge alongside Charles Khabouth, opened a clubby new rec-room-and-lounge in Colborne Lane’s former digs. Read our Introducing post »
Marky and Sparky’s Smokehouse—The southern BBQ joint (literally) rose from the ashes of owner Frank “Sparky” DiGenova’s former butcher shop Butcher by Nature. Read our Introducing post »
Woods—Former Modus and Brassai chef Bruce Woods’s new restaurant has an eclectic menu and a farm-to-table ethos. Read our Introducing post »
Osteria dei Ganzi—A casual Italian eatery moved into the historical Gooderham House on Jarvis Street. Read our Introducing post »
Sagra—The owners of the Slow Room espresso shop in Little Italy opened a rustic Italian restaurant in the Junction. A matching food truck named Bestia is coming soon. Read our story »
Fika Café—A coffee shop and bakery from Splendido chef and owner Victor Barry and partner Nikki Leigh McKean. Read our Introducing post »
Craft Dogs—The former co-owners of Beerbistro are getting in on the artisanal street-food trend with a new shop selling haute hot dogs and condiments made from scratch. [PostCity]
Dineen Coffee. Co.—A new indie coffeehouse in the historic Dineen building at Yonge and Temperance. Read our story »
Senisi Fine Foods—A tiny store on College selling food and sundries, inspired by Latin America bodegas. Read our story »
Tabülè—The popular Middle Eastern restaurant expanded south with a new location on Queen East in Leslieville. Read our story »
Belmonte Raw—The Leslieville raw-food purveyor expanded north with a second outpost at the 889 Yoga studio in Rosedale. [Twitter]
Live Market—An organic café in Liberty Village from the owners of Live Organic Food Bar in the Annex and Ezra’s Pound on Dundas West. Read our story »
Valentina—The newest addition to Kensington’s growing taqueria contingent. [Now]
Rooster Coffee House—A second location on King Street East for the beloved Riverdale café. Read our story »
Hot Bunzz—The popular TUM startup found a permanent home inside the Urban Bistro food court at Yonge and St. Clair. Read our story »
Big Al’s Delish—A new takeout and catering business serving deli sandwiches and homemade prepared foods, like knishes and kishka. [YellowPages]
Pisco—The second traditional Peruvian restaurant to open in May. [PostCity]
Man Ramen & Izakaya—Another izakaya in the city’s north end. [Yelp]
Lightweight Mini-Donuts—Doughnuts dusted with sugar and cinnamon sold from a stand in the El Gordo food court in Kensington. [BlogTO]
Beach Boys—The new surf-themed food truck serves classic American greasy spoon dishes. Read our story »
Templeton’s—Burgers and bar snacks are on the menu at the tiny new restaurant in Kensington Market. [BlogTO]
Butter Chicken Roti—A casual snack shop serving sixteen different kinds of Indian roti. [BlogTO]
Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co.—The popular artisanal cheese-maker reopened its retail store under new management. [The Globe and Mail]
Superfood Eateries—A new takeout spot on Adelaide offering a range of organic smoothies, salads and vegan snacks. [Superfood Eateries]
Chocolate Brunette Pastry Co.—Cupcakes, truffles and Italian sweets from a new boutique food shop at Ave and Dav. Read our story »
Shawarmama—Another new Kensington eatery. This one serving inexpensive Middle Eastern food, like shawarma and falafel. [BlogTO]
The Wren—A low-key pub on Danforth East for southern comfort food. [Twitter]
Azarias—The new restaurant on Bloor West has an eclectic menu and craft beer. [Facebook]
Forest Hill Pizza—A new spot for takeout and delivery pizza at Bathurst and Eglinton. [Chowhound]
Kathi Roll Express—Grab ‘n go kathi rolls and Mumbai-style sandwiches from the city’s latest ethnic street food shop. Read our story »
Sam’s Philly Cheesesteak—A new hole-in-the-wall sandwich counter at the corner of Dundas and Church. Read our story »
Minuet Café—A new European bakery and café on the Danforth. [Chowhound]
Amani Earls—Another new indie coffeehouse in the Junction. Read our story »
Haisai—Michael Stadtländer reopened his Singhampton, Ontario restaurant with a new chef and a dramatic menu make-under. Read our story »
Closings
Le Canard Mort—The gastro pub closed after less than two years in the east end. [PostCity]
Le Commensal—The country’s largest vegetarian chain closes its Toronto location. [CBC]
Xococava—The midtown gourmet chocolate shop will be replaced by a wine store. [PostCity]
Gold Diamond Chinese Restaurant—The cavernous dim sum spot is rumoured to have closed down after a short stint in the space formerly occupied by Chinatown fixture Bright Pearl. [Chowhound]
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-restaurants-opened-closed-may/&title=The Month That Was: the Toronto restaurants and bars that opened and closed in May&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Woods-624x395.jpeg&description=[caption id="attachment_218033" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Seared Quebec foie gras (Image: Megan Leahy)[/caption]
Openings
THR & Co.—The owners of The Harbord Room opened a new restaurant in the spot where Harbord Street fixture Messis used to be. Read our Introducing post »
Ardor Bistro—The latest addition to the Ossington strip serves Peruvian food and cocktails made with house-brewed bitters. Read our Introducing post »
Switch—Hanij Harji, who opened King West hotspots Patria and Weslodge alongside Charles Khabouth, opened a clubby new rec-room-and-lounge in Colborne Lane’s former digs. Read our Introducing post »
Marky and Sparky’s Smokehouse—The southern BBQ joint (literally) rose from the ashes of owner Frank “Sparky” DiGenova’s former butcher shop Butcher by Nature. Read our Introducing post »
Woods—Former Modus and Brassai chef Bruce Woods’s new restaurant has an eclectic menu and a farm-to-table ethos. Read our Introducing post »
Osteria dei Ganzi—A casual Italian eatery moved into the historical Gooderham House on Jarvis Street. Read our Introducing post »
Sagra—The owners of the Slow Room espresso shop in Little Italy opened a rustic Italian restaurant in the Junction. A matching food truck named Bestia is coming soon. Read our story »
Fika Café—A coffee shop and bakery from Splendido chef and owner Victor Barry and partner Nikki Leigh McKean. Read our Introducing post »
Craft Dogs—The former co-owners of Beerbistro are getting in on the artisanal street-food trend with a new shop selling haute hot dogs and condiments made from scratch. [PostCity]
Dineen Coffee. Co.—A new indie coffeehouse in the historic Dineen building at Yonge and Temperance. Read our story »
Senisi Fine Foods—A tiny store on College selling food and sundries, inspired by Latin America bodegas. Read our story »
Tabülè—The popular Middle Eastern restaurant expanded south with a new location on Queen East in Leslieville. Read our story »
Belmonte Raw—The Leslieville raw-food purveyor expanded north with a second outpost at the 889 Yoga studio in Rosedale. [Twitter]
Live Market—An organic café in Liberty Village from the owners of Live Organic Food Bar in the Annex and Ezra’s Pound on Dundas West. Read our story »
Valentina—The newest addition to Kensington’s growing taqueria contingent. [Now]
Rooster Coffee House—A second location on King Street East for the beloved Riverdale café. Read our story »
Hot Bunzz—The popular TUM startup found a permanent home inside the Urban Bistro food court at Yonge and St. Clair. Read our story »
Big Al’s Delish—A new takeout and catering business serving deli sandwiches and homemade prepared foods, like knishes and kishka. [YellowPages]
Pisco—The second traditional Peruvian restaurant to open in May. [PostCity]
Man Ramen & Izakaya—Another izakaya in the city’s north end. [Yelp]
Lightweight Mini-Donuts—Doughnuts dusted with sugar and cinnamon sold from a stand in the El Gordo food court in Kensington. [BlogTO]
Beach Boys—The new surf-themed food truck serves classic American greasy spoon dishes. Read our story »
Templeton’s—Burgers and bar snacks are on the menu at the tiny new restaurant in Kensington Market. [BlogTO]
Butter Chicken Roti—A casual snack shop serving sixteen different kinds of Indian roti. [BlogTO]
Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Co.—The popular artisanal cheese-maker reopened its retail store under new management. [The Globe and Mail]
Superfood Eateries—A new takeout spot on Adelaide offering a range of organic smoothies, salads and vegan snacks. [Superfood Eateries]
Chocolate Brunette Pastry Co.—Cupcakes, truffles and Italian sweets from a new boutique food shop at Ave and Dav. Read our story »
Shawarmama—Another new Kensington eatery. This one serving inexpensive Middle Eastern food, like shawarma and falafel. [BlogTO]
The Wren—A low-key pub on Danforth East for southern comfort food. [Twitter]
Azarias—The new restaurant on Bloor West has an eclectic menu and craft beer. [Facebook]
Forest Hill Pizza—A new spot for takeout and delivery pizza at Bathurst and Eglinton. [Chowhound]
Kathi Roll Express—Grab ‘n go kathi rolls and Mumbai-style sandwiches from the city’s latest ethnic street food shop. Read our story »
Sam’s Philly Cheesesteak—A new hole-in-the-wall sandwich counter at the corner of Dundas and Church. Read our story »
Minuet Café—A new European bakery and café on the Danforth. [Chowhound]
Amani Earls—Another new indie coffeehouse in the Junction. Read our story »
Haisai—Michael Stadtländer reopened his Singhampton, Ontario restaurant with a new chef and a dramatic menu make-under. Read our story »
Closings
Le Canard Mort—The gastro pub closed after less than two years in the east end. [PostCity]
Le Commensal—The country’s largest vegetarian chain closes its Toronto location. [CBC]
Xococava—The midtown gourmet chocolate shop will be replaced by a wine store. [PostCity]
Gold Diamond Chinese Restaurant—The cavernous dim sum spot is rumoured to have closed down after a short stint in the space formerly occupied by Chinatown fixture Bright Pearl. [Chowhound]
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