Vv Magazine’s Libby Roach fills us in on Toronto’s best new restaurants, those opening in July 2016 and the buzziest in-the-works hot spots.
July brings more than just heat to Toronto. There’s a bumper crop of events, parties, and new restaurants opening, so if all your friends are taking off backpacking through Europe, or floating somewhere on a lake in the Muskokas, you can still console yourself with some pretty entertaining options.
Everyone’s favourite discount dining event is back and Summerlicious will be setting your Instagram feed on fire. This year, Susur Lee’s Luckee is participating for the first time, as is Dundas West darling Ufficio, who will be featuring their stellar pastas and pescetarian plates. Book in early for this food fest, it runs from July 8-24th.
Seafood lovers can get their fill of oysters, lobster and microbrew at the 28th annual Ontario Oyster Festival hosted at Rodney’s Oyster House. Tickets include two drink tickets and one food ticket, and cost $35 per person.
Channel your inner Bavarian and check out Toronto’s Festival of Beer (aka BeerFest) down at Exhibition Place from July 22-24th. Friday will see the place jumping when House of Pain takes the stage, and the rumour mill has it that a certain classic Canadian rapper may be opening for them.
Farmers market fans will rejoice with the return of both Union Summer and Front Street Foods markets in the downtown core.
July Openings
Jamie’s Italian
The second of many locations planned in his expansion into the Canadian marketplace has just opened in the newly renovated Square One mall, with this location staying very similar to the Yorkdale spot in design and menu. One notable difference is the sunny patio Square One snagged right out front.
McCoy Burger Co
Yonge and Lawrence is soon to become burger central with the McCoy Burger Co opening across from Burger’s Priest, Burger Cellar and of course, the nearby Golden Arches. McCoy Burgers are all ground fresh daily from Ontario Beef and use unprocessed toppings and preservative free buns to ensure a high-quality hamburger.
Hidden Burger
Calling themselves the worst kept secret, Hidden Burger, tucked inside Bottom Line on Front Street boasts a no-nonsense menu with a straightforward approach – there are burgers or veggie burgers. No substitutions, no secret menu (yet).
Rudy
College Street is welcoming a new griddle,with Rudy on College opening in late June. Flat top burgers and chicken sammies will round out their menu.
LBS
Burgers are on the menu here too, but lobsters will be the main draw at LBS, which just recently opened downtown on Yonge Street. Items can be bought by the pound, hence the name.
Nügateau
Holt Renfrew in Yorkdale is getting in on the gourmet goods and we’re not talking the Gucci variety. The second shop from Nügateau, purveyor of the chicest eclairs is now open inside the luxury shop.
Love Chix
A new chicken shop has recently opened in the Junction Triangle on Dupont. While their name is a nod to their love of poultry, you may prefer to visit them in person instead of a google image search. Trust.
Yorkville Village
Hazelton Lanes saw a complete transformation and the changes keep coming, with the announcement of a new Food Hall stationed on the mall’s lower level. The sleek space will bring five new food vendors into the fold, with Corner, a new Thai restaurant; Freshii, the original green queen; Keboberie, a gourmet Lebanese concept; Pannizza, a custom pizza place and The Fresh Tea Shop, a perfect perch after a day of shopping.
Lavelle
Making a splash on King West is the newest and biggest patio of the summer has just launched. The concept by ex-Origin North and La Societe Chef Romain Avril will open to the public July 8th. Expect big crowds and many a scantily clad server.
Ricarda’s
Peter Street is almost ready for their big unveil. The restaurant/bakery and event space boasts a mostly Mediterranean menu including fish and fresh salads. Look for this concept to (hopefully) open sometime in July.
Guu Izakaya
This popular resto is making a comeback after a breakup resulted in a rebrand to the Kinka family. The original bad-boy beer hall will see Parkdale as a solid fit for their first official space, which should open later this month.
Leña
Set to open inside the new Saks at Yonge and Richmond is looking closer to opening this month. The stylish safe haven is part of the O&B empire and will see Chef Anthony Walsh, who currently oversees all O&B properties, manning the kitchen, adorably named after his mother-in-law.
La Carnita
The fourth iteration of this taco spot and its seductive sister shop Sweet Jesus are looking at a late July opening for their hugely anticipated Yonge and Eglinton domination, er I mean location.
Biggu Sushi
Yonge and Sheppard has its fill of sushi spots but it’s time to make room for one more. Setting up shop in the former home of Alegno, look for this to open later this summer.
Carters Landing
Ashbridge’s Bay will see more than just volleyball players and beach-goers this season, when Carters Landing opens in late July. Occupying the former Paralia space, Carters Landing is coming in hot off the heels of their recently opened location at the CF Shops at Don Mills dubbed Taylors Landing.
Other Notable News
Watson’s
A brand spanking new neighborhood bar is promising to liven up the Richmond and Spadina corridor. Look for them to open later this summer.
OMG Baked Goodness
The second location from this darling baker is inching closer to their summer launch. Their new outpost will boast picnic basket friendly savory finds, and yes, sweets too.
The Captain’s Boil
While most of us prefer not to eat with our hands out of a plastic bag, we’re apparently the minority. Hence the rapid expansion of The Captain’s Boil which just announced not only a soon to come College Street and Queen West locations but also more across the GTA and Canada. Look for College to open this July with Queen Street following soon after.
Oretta
From the makers of Capocaccia Trattoria on Yonge near St Clair, a sibling resto Oretta is nearing its grand opening on King West near Bathurst, and while there’s a lot of upscale Italian eats in the area, it’s a flavour no one ever tires of.
Khao San Road
After closing this winter and setting up shop in Nana, Khao San Road is almost ready to unveil its new digs on Charlotte Street. Look for KSR to open later this summer.
Baro
Top Chef Alum and general all around cool dude Steven Gonzalez may have just closed Valdez earlier this spring, but Baro will be bigger, with huge plans for elevating everything he did at Valdez into a more mature platform. Don’t worry, there will still be a ‘secret’ bar, here dubbed Escobar for late night shenanigans. Until then, catch Steve all summer long as he brings the heat with #GonzalezOnTour, ripping around Toronto in his new food trailer.
Porter House
Vegan tears are flowing with the announcement that Porter House on Dundas West is closing. The fan favourite known for their Yuba sandwiches will leave a huge hole in the ‘sorta bad for you but good for the planet’ eats, so I guess we’ll have to console ourselves over at Doomie’s now instead.
Parlor Foods & Co
And we’re pouring one out for my homies at Parlor Foods & Co on King West, who closed abruptly earlier this month after almost two years in business. If you want to read up on what you missed, you can read my first look here – good luck to the guys on their journey.
RELATED LINK: New Toronto Restaurants: June 2016
Did we miss any new Toronto restaurants? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below, or tweet us @ViewtheVibe.
