Year in Review: all 161 new restaurants, bars, food shops and food trucks we covered in 2012

The Annex:

• A look at DT Bistro’s chic new renovation and second floor
• Kitch, a new restaurant and club just north of the tracks at Dupont and Dufferin
• The Bristol Yard, a bit of Britain down by Christie Pits
• The White Brick Kitchen, a new spot for American comfort food (“Tater Tots” included)
• Barton Snacks, the Annex’s new spot for ice cream and specialty chips (together at last)
• Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, the Annex location of the pizza chain from out west
• Indian Rice Factory Chai Bar, a new offshoot of the Annex institution (with a great patio)
• Rose and Sons, the new Annex diner from Anthony Rose

The Beach:

• Tori’s Bakeshop, a pretty new vegan bakery café in the Beach
• Waffle Bar, serving Liège-style treats in the Upper Beach
• Moo Milk Bar, the Beach’s new spot for milk and cookies

Bloordale:

• Bar Neon, a new Bloordale watering hole with some ambitious grub
• Tallboys Craft Beer House, a new Bloorcourt den for beer geeks
• Introducing: Karelia Kitchen, Bloordale’s new Scandinavian café

College Street:

• Playful Grounds, the new kid-friendly coffee shop in Little Italy
• The Feasting Room, a carnivore’s delight of a pop-up on College (now closed)
• Bestellen, the new College West meat den from Top Chef Canada’s Rob Rossi
• La Carnita, the bricks-and-mortar incarnation of the pop-up taco sensation
• Easy Restaurant, the College Street outpost of the classic Parkdale breakfast joint
• The Hogtown Pub and Oysters, a revamp of Little Italy’s Auld Spot Pub
• Red Fish, a new West Coast–inspired seafood restaurant on College
• Hapa Izakaya, the Little Italy outpost of Vancouver’s popular Japanese pub
• Rebozos on College, a new downtown location for one of the city’s best taco joints
• Fancy Franks, the new College Street spot for haute dogs

Danforth:

• Pachuco, the new Danforth Mexican restaurant from the sisters behind Embrujo Flamenco
• The Fuzz Box, a new Danforth restaurant serving classic East Coast donairs
• 417, the Danforth’s newest resto-lounge (from a longtime Greektown family)
• The Works on the Danforth, the first Toronto location of the cult fave Ottawa burger chain
• Sauce on the Danforth, a new east end bar with classic cocktails and 17 craft beers on tap
• Slider Revolution, Toronto’s first restaurant devoted to tiny burgers

Downtown:

• DonDon Izakaya, downtown’s new spot for authentic Japanese bar food
• Stock, the glitzy new restaurant on the 31st floor of the Trump International Tower
• Sliced, a new grab-and-go sandwich shop on Bay Street
• Osteria 55, the rustic Italian successor to the short-lived Bowery (long closed “for renovations”)
• Arcadian, the classic event space at The Bay, revamped by Oliver and Bonacini
• The Chickery, the new roast chicken joint from David Adjey and Danny Farbman
• Sam James Coffee Bar’s new underground outpost in the Path
• Beer Academy, downtown’s new brewery, education centre and tasting room for hopheads
• Momofuku Noodle Bar, the Toronto outpost of David Chang’s New York original
• Shōtō, Momofuku Toronto’s 22-seat temple to the tasting menu
• Daishō, Momofuku Toronto’s home for “large-format” meals
• Nikai, the Momofuku complex’s new bar and lounge
• Momofuku Toronto, David Chang’s new four-in-one restaurant megaplex
• Richmond Station, the new downtown restaurant from Top Chef Canada champ Carl Heinrich
• Michael’s on Simcoe, a new downtown steakhouse from the old manager of Harbour Sixty
• Triple A Bar, a new Texas-style barbecue joint and saloon on Adelaide
• Reds Wine Tavern, a revamp of the Bay Street power lunch destination
• JaBistro, a foray into sushi from the owner of Guu
• Santouka Ramen, the new Dundas Street outpost of the Japanese noodle chain
• The Tilted Kilt opens its first Toronto location
• Ramen Raijin, the new Toronto outpost of a Vancouver ramen pioneer
• Hawthorne Food and Drink, a new downtown restaurant with a social mission
• Sabai Sabai, a new Northern Thai restaurant and bar on Church

Dundas West:

• The Federal Reserve, Dundas West’s new brunch spot (with late-night snacks to come)
• This End Up, Dundas West’s new sandwich shop and cocktail bar
• The Grove, Dundas West’s new spot for modern English cuisine
• Midfield Wine Bar, Dundas West’s laid-back spot for oenophiles
• Hoof Raw Bar, the new seafood addition to the Hoof family
• Le Dolci, Dundas West’s new cupcake studio
• Quinta, a fresh new Dundas West Portuguese restaurant on the site of an old one
• The Arrow Café, Dundas West’s newest coffee and ice cream shop
• Bent, the new Dundas West restaurant from Susur Lee’s sons Kai and Levi Bent-Lee
• Mr. Pong’s Bar, a new Little Portugal watering hole from the people behind Cold Tea
• Archive, a casual new wine bar on Dundas West

The Junction (and the Junction Triangle):

• Camp, a new camping-themed Junction café from the former owner of the Beaver
• Farmhouse Tavern, a showcase for Ontario products in the Junction Triangle
• Indie Ale House, the Junction’s long-awaited new brewpub
• Junction Craft Brewing opens a tap room and retail store

Kensington Market:

• Via Mercanti, Kensington’s new Neapolitan-style pizza parlour from a pair of Queen Margherita exiles
• Thirsty and Miserable, a new Kensington dive with a nice slate of craft beers
• Kinton, a new Baldwin Village ramen bar from the people behind Guu
• The Bellevue’s Monday night dinner series returns with a new name, @TheBellevue
• Le Ti Colibri, Kensington Market’s first French-Caribbean joint (complete with tiki hut)
• Handlebar, The Avro’s new big sister bar in Kensington Market
• The big new location of Sanagan’s Meat Locker, down the street from the old one
• Dr. Augusta’s Samitorium, Kensington’s newest gourmet sandwich and soda shop
• Yakitori Bar and Seoul Food Co., a pair of new restaurants on the corner of Baldwin and McCaul
• Hogtown Charcuterie, Kensington Market’s new spot for prepared meats

King East, Cabbagetown and Regent Park:

• Pacific Junction Hotel, a bright new island-themed bar from the owners of Betty’s
• Paintbox Bistro, Regent Park’s colourful new social enterprise restaurant
• Retsina, a new Greek restaurant down the street from Allan Gardens
• Kingyo Toronto, the Cabbagetown outpost of Vancouver’s celebrated izakaya

King West:

• Bloke and 4th, King West’s newest big, shiny resto-lounge
• Gusto 101, a new King West Italian joint that’s got wine on tap (from the basement winery)
• Edulis, Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth’s reinvention of Niagara Street Café
• SpiritHouse, King West’s new home for cocktail nerds
• Weslodge, the new King West “modern saloon” from Charles Khabouth and Hanif Harji
• Patria, the new King West spot for traditional Spanish food from Charles Khabouth and Hanif Harji

Leslieville and Riverside:

• McGugan’s, a friendly new Scottish pub on Gerrard Street East
• Toucan Taco Bar, Riverside’s new Mexican joint
• The Commissary, Leslieville’s new laid-back lunch spot
• The East Ender, Leslieville’s new spot for “stepped-up” comfort food
• Leslieville Pumps, Toronto’s only barbecue joint that’s also a gas station
• Paulette’s Original Donuts and Chicken, Leslieville’s new house of indulgence
• Riverside Public House, a new Queen East bar with Dustin Gallagher in the kitchen
• Glas Wine Bar, Leslieville’s latest spot for a drink and a local, seasonal bite
• Rakia Bar, a shiny new Queen East spot devoted to a traditional Balkan drink
• House of Moments, a new art gallery and fusion restaurant in Leslieville
• Bonne Journée, a new French bakery on Queen East with a Tunisian twist
• Rashers, the new Leslieville shop devoted to the bacon sandwich
• Skin and Bones, Leslieville’s latest restaurant and wine bar

Liberty Village:

• Origin Liberty Village, the new west-side outpost of Claudio Aprile’s growing empire
• Maizal Quesadilla Café, a Liberty Village spot serving Mexican street food that’s not tacos
• Monforte on Jefferson, the artisanal cheesemaker’s new Liberty Village shop

Midtown:

• Lil’ Baci Taverna, the midtown outpost of the Leslieville Italian spot
• Bazaar Global Food Bar, the Amaya empire’s new, family-friendly Mount Pleasant outpost
• Catch, the Rushton’s new seafood-themed sister restaurant on St. Clair
• L’Avenue, a new modern bistro on Bayview
• John and Sons, the new Summerhill oyster house from the owners of Rodney’s by Bay
• The Artisan Baker, a new bakery café at Yonge and St. Clair

No Fixed Address:

• Gourmet Bitches, a new Toronto food truck that’s a little healthier than most
• Lilly’s Lunches, a new bike-based brown bag delivery service
• Buster’s Sea Cove, Toronto’s first seafood-focused food truck
• Rome’n Chariot, a new truck serving Italian-Canadian comfort food
• Hogtown Smoke, Toronto’s first food truck with an on-board smoker
• Hidden Kitchen, a dinner series brought to you by a ghost chef, an ex-chef, a guest chef and a craft brewery
• Per Se Mobile, a Miami-inspired food truck serving Colombian fare
• Fidel Gastro’s new food truck, the roving home base of the rebel without a kitchen
• The Food Dudes’ new food truck
• Gourmet Gringos, a new food truck serving Latin American fare (including handmade empanadas)
• Pretty Sweet, the GTA’s newest cupcake truck

Ossington:

• Yours Truly, a new Ossington restaurant and bar with a chef whose resumé includes Per Se, Alinea and Noma (no, really)
• Actinolite, one couple’s labour of love on a quiet stretch of Ossington
• The Saint, Ossington’s long-awaited and oft-delayed contemporary tavern
• Bellwoods Brewery, Ossington’s new brewpub and snack bar
• Hawker Bar, Toronto’s first spot for Singapore-style street food
• Rock Lobster, the new Ossington incarnation of the popular pop-up restaurant
• OddSeoul, the new Ossington Korean restaurant from the brothers behind Swish by Han

Out of Town:

• Windows by Jamie Kennedy, the locavore chef’s new Niagara Falls venture

Parkdale:

• Maialino Enoteca Italiana, a bit of Sicily at the edge of Parkdale
• The Hot ’n Dog, Parkdale’s coolest new lunch spot for the under-18 set
• The Pinball Café, a bit of arcade nostalgia on Queen West (now closed due to licensing issues)
• Chantecler, Parkdale’s new place for “progressive Canadian cuisine”
• The Monday’s Dinner chef series at Chantecler
• Kanji Sushi and Sake Bar, Parkdale’s new Japanese fusion restaurant
• Glory Hole Doughnuts, Ashley Jacot De Boinod’s new crowdfunded Parkdale shop
• Go Lounge, Parkdale’s new board game café

Queen West:

• Ursa, a new Queen West restaurant serving modern Canadian cuisine (that’s secretly good for you too)
• Lucid, Moses McIntee’s molecularly inclined cocktail bar and restaurant on Queen West (now revamped as Lo Zingaro)
• Come and Get It, the very temporary Spadina pop-up resto that’ll turn into a condo before you know it (still alive and kicking)
• Church Aperitivo Bar, an Italian kitchen and bar in a (former) Queen West church
• Cube, Charles Khabouth’s newest incarnation of Ultra Supper Club
• Banh Mi Boys, Queen West’s shiny new Vietnamese sub counter (already sprouting a second location)
• The Big Fish, a new fish and chips shop on Queen West
• Lamesa, a contemporary spin on traditional Filipino cooking on Queen West
• The Dog and Bear, the traditional British pub that took over from The Social
• Feel Good Guru, a new vegan joint with its own green wall (and urban cultivator!)
• North of Brooklyn, a new thin-crust, by-the-slice pizzeria on Queen West
• Strada 241, a new rustic Italian restaurant and café from the Rubino brothers
• A-OK Foods, a new ramen and snack bar from the owners of Yours Truly

Roncesvalles

• Hopgood’s Foodliner, the new Roncesvalles restaurant from Hoof Café vet Geoff Hopgood
• Marcy, a Roncesvalles Polish restaurant reborn as a cocktail bar
• Smock Café, the new Roncesvalles spot for coffee, kids and crafting
• De la Mer, the Bayview fishmonger’s outpost on Roncesvalles

Uptown:

• The Burger’s Priest on Yonge, the much-anticipated second location of Shant Mardirosian’s all-American roadhouse
• Stack, uptown’s new barbecue restaurant (complete with a huge smoker)
• Dine on 3, the $35-million facelift to Yorkdale’s food offerings
• Urraca Resto Lounge, a new Korean tapas joint at Yonge and Finch

Yorkville:

• The Oxley, the new Yorkville British pub from the team behind the Queen and Beaver
• Museum Tavern, a classic American brasserie right across from the ROM
• Café Boulud, Daniel Boulud’s new casual fine-dining restaurant at the Four Seasons