In the previous edition of T.O. Tidbits, we mentioned a few scarce details about a new restaurant from the owners of Splendido, Yannick Bigourdan and David Lee, that is set to open near Queen and University. Two weeks later, and a lot more information is now available.

Named Nota Bene, the new spot is being opened by Bigourdan and Lee in partnership with Franco Prevedello, the legendary local restaurateur who was once a co-owner of Splendido himself. The concept is being described as “no tapas, no bistro, no molecular… just back to the basics”, with most mains to be in the $25 to $35 range. A bit spendy for Queen West, perhaps, but perfectly reasonable for the patrons of the nearby Four Seasons Centre that will likely make up a good chunk of their clientèle. If all goes as planned, the 160 seat restaurant will be opening in late June.

In Kensington Market, the months of renovation of the former XPACE gallery at 303 Augusta Avenue have come to an end with the opening of Waterfalls Indian Tapas Bar and Grill, a casual eatery that mixes up a traditional Indian menu with the addition of a few Mediterranean touches. A few doors south, a new café called Pennylicks (281 Augusta Avenue) will been opening soon in the spot previously occupied by furniture and decor shop Kensington Home, while a bit further down the road, Aspetta Café (207 Augusta Avenue) opened last week with a menu of fresh fare paired with great coffee and local microbrews. And over on the Market’s western fringe, the space vacated by take-out and coffee joint It’s All Good has been taken over by La Tortillaria (68 Wales Avenue), a traditional taquería complete with their own tortilla press.

Things are definitely booming on the foodie front up in the Junction. Two organic cafés/stores have opened in the last couple of months - The Beet (2945 Dundas Street West) and The Sweet Potato (2995 Dundas Street West) - and those still mourning the loss of The Vegetarian Restaurant are probably glad to see last week’s opening of raw food and vegan café Rawlicious (3092 Dundas Street West). Carnivores, meanwhile, can get their fix at Espresso Mi Vida (392 Pacific Avenue), a family-run South American eatery that offers Chilean and Ecuadorian empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, soups, salads and more.

French-Canadian restaurant Le Papillon closed the doors of their 16 Church Street location for good yesterday, but fans of their tourtière, crêpes and other classic dishes need not worry, as they’ll be reopening just around the corner in the former home of Izakaya at 69 Front Street East, and will also be adding a second location at 1001 Eastern Avenue in August.

The west end of Parkdale will soon be getting a little sweeter, as baker Morag Cleeveley will be opening a retail location for her five-year old cake and cookie business, Yummy Stuff (1660 Queen Street West), in June. And over in Leslieville, chef-owner Hai Luke of the popular Hanoi 3 Seasons in Chinatown East is converting his Queen & Logan furniture store Hanoi Chic into another restaurant, with an opening expected in June as well.

If you have a scoop to share about the local food & restaurant scene, please let us know so we can include it in a future edition of T.O. Tidbits.