Here's this week's round-up of the latest local food and restaurant news...
Openings:
- Not sure if this one should be considered an opening, reopening, or just a correction: Despite the fact that the doors were locked and a "For Rent" sign was in the window a couple of weeks ago, it seems that Semolina Bakery (188 Ossington Avenue) was open again just a few days later.
- A few months later than expected, the second location of Ravisoups (1128 Queen Street West) finally opened last week.
- Equally delayed and anticipated, chef Paul Boehmer's self-titled Böhmer (93-95 Ossington Avenue) will have its public unveiling this coming Thursday, March 11th.
- A flashy new location of The Keg opened last week at 26 The Esplanade, and as we speculated previously, the nearby Church Street Keg has been shuttered to make way for it.
- Local grocery chain Longo's is continuing the expansion of their downtown-oriented The Market by Longo's brand, with a new store opening at 100 Bloor Street East last week.
- Denizens and workers in Liberty Village have a new spot for quick breakfasts and lunches with this week's opening of Mike's Liberty Grill (155 Liberty Street, Suite 101).
- And hey, look, it's another new coffee shop! Or in this case, two new coffee shops, as Lit Espresso Bar has just opened a second location at 810 College Street, while Crema Coffee Co. is around a week away from opening their first co-branded shop inside the Freshii at 53 Bloor Street East.
Coming Up:
- Lardon (390 Roncesvalles Avenue) will be opening soon in the old Silver Spoon space, with a menu featuring the now obligatory focus on local ingredients and "nose-to-tail" meats.
- Chefs and co-owners Howard Dubrovsky and Chris Scott are putting the finishing touches on L.A.B. (Live and Breathe) (651 College Street) and hope to be open by the end of the month. On his website, Dubrovsky says that "the food will focus on global trends with Molecular Gastronomy to add some flare."
- The third location of Smoke's Poutinerie - or fourth, if you count their mobile "Smoke's On Wheels" - will be opening March 26th at 578 Queen Street West.
- Café Florentin, a popular European-style bakery and café in the Beaches, is expanding to a second location at 948 Queen Street East in Leslieville, expected to open in May.
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.
