We're pleased to start this instalment with some fantastic news for local foodies: the threatened closure of Ruth Klahsen's Monforte Dairy Company has been averted!
An impending astronomical rent increase on the property in Millbank where she makes her renowned sheep's milk cheeses meant that she had spent the last few months expecting to be shutting down her operation next January. But this past week she managed to negotiate an additional year on her lease with a slightly more reasonable rent increase, and she'll be using the extra time to purchase a larger property closer to Stratford. If all goes as planned, Monforte will expand beyond the cheese into the growing of produce for jams, chutneys, and market sales; and in a move that will make local brewers happy, she also plans to grow hops, which is smart considering the current international shortage of the important beer ingredient.
It might be too much to hope the end is near for places that can't decide if they're a restaurant or a nightclub, but last week's closure of Satori Supper Club (735 Queen Street West) - complete with a bailiff's seizure notice in the window - must be a sign of something. Then again, the fact that it took barely a week for the "For Lease" signs in the window to be marked "Too Late" may prove that the trend isn't dead quite yet. I guess we'll have to wait and see what pops up there next.
No waiting is required for those wondering what'll be happening up at Dundas and Ossington in the space where the storied Lakeview Lunch (1132 Dundas Street West) recently got the boot. In yesterday's National Post, Adam McDowell profiled new owners Daniel Greaves, Fedi Hakim, Evan Johnsen and Alex Sengupta - the same team behind the nearby Chelsea Room (923 Dundas Street West) - and revealed that the restaurant will be reopening under the slightly modified name The Lakeview. The partners promise that the space will be restored to its original 1947 glory, and they'll be serving gussied-up takes on classic diner dishes 24/7, which should make the barflies on the Ossington strip happy. The exact date of relaunch hasn't been confirmed, but those looking for a preview can stop by for late night poutine and milkshakes during Nuit Blanche on October 4th.
Fans of footie, good beer, and better-than-average pub grub will want to set their sights on Bathurst and Richmond, where soccer-themed gastropub The Football Factory (164 Bathurst Street) recently opened for business. With an aim to be a couple of steps up from a typical sports bar, the owners have stocked the draught taps with imports and local craft brews, and offer a food menu ranging from pub favourites (fish & chips, bison burger, baby back ribs) to fancier fare (paella, Muscovy duck breast, mousaka). And of course, as a true temple of football, they open at 7am on Saturdays and Sundays to screen the UK games live.
Over at Queen and Shaw, the former home of Malaysian restaurant and bar Kei has reopened after a long renovation as Oddfellows (936 Queen Street West). Kei's owner and namesake Kei Ng is still involved, and he's worked with his partners in design firm Castor, Brian Richer and Ryan Taylor, to give the room a completely new look, dominated by a communal table that takes up most of the available floor space. The short but unique menu from chef Matthew James Matheson (ex-La Pallete) focusses on shareable dishes, including a banana split made with home-made ice cream.
Workers and residents in Liberty Village have a new lunch option with the opening of It'z A Wrap (129 Jefferson Ave). Despite the franchise-sounding name, it's (or should that be 'it'z'?) actually an independent joint specialising in wraps, sandwiches, salads and smoothies made from gourmet ingredients, including Ace Bakery bread. Still not quite ready to open in the area, however, is Mildred's Temple Kitchen (85 Hanna Avenue), where the previously promised late-September opening has now been pushed to late-October thanks to the ubiquitous construction delays.
Finally, a few quickies: Asian chain Ginger have opened a new location at 212 Queen Street West; Bloor and Jarvis is the latest location for pub chain Fionn MacCool's (235 Bloor Street East); trendy bistro Karuchie (924 College Street) has closed; and a few blocks east of there, the former home of Italian resto-lounge Cucina will soon be occupied by Italian resto-lounge Marinella (640 College Street). Which is funny, because just the other day I was thinking that if there's one thing College Street really needs, it's an Italian resto-lounge.
(Oh, by the way, I was being sarcastic.)
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.
Just a little tidbit about Marinella. We are not a resto lounge. We are a restaurant. Our old location at 31 Widmer Street was taken away from us in order to make way for phase two of festival tower condominium complex. We are happy to be in the Little Italy neighbourhood and look forward to serving our old regulars and hopefully new regulars with the same care and attention we have been doing for the past thirteen years.
Thanks for the update/correction, Pino. Having an actual, non-hyphenated restaurant opening in Little Italy is a refreshing change. :)