It’s that time of the month again, folks. Your go-to rundown of the updates, happenings, and the latest and greatest on TO’s restaurant scene. There are a few openings to note, a big switch for a Queen West favourite destination, and a new menu or two you should check out. Read on for the goods…
It looks like Chantecler on West Queen West, 1320 Queen Street West to be precise, has pushed back opening another week. The name comes from a breed of chicken native to Quebec, and the restaurant will serve French Canadian cuisine in a tiny bistro setting. Very tiny…we hear it’ll seat only 26. The Exec Chef has a pedigree that includes Woodlot and Colborne Lane so expect a fantastic dining experience.
Top Chef Canada runner-up Rob Rossi opened his restaurant Bestellen last Friday. The menu’s small but smart, featuring Italian and protein dishes that are sure to make even the most fickle diner salivate. The big star at Bestellen? A whole suckling pig that feeds about eight people, served with all the fixin’s, family-style. Find Bestellen at 972 College Street West.
The Owners of Queen East’s Le Canard Mort and Le Rossignol have moved the latter into the former for the time being, taking the Le Rossignol space and turning it into Toucan Taco Bar. (Le Rossignol will eventually re-open in a new location.) TTB has a selection of traditional and interesting tacos for any wayward tortilla lover, along with a selection of burritos, nachos, and enchiladas.
Lovers of Dark Horse Coffee can rejoice in the fourth location’s opening just this past Monday morning in the Entertainment District. This location is significantly smaller than the rest – it seats less than 20 – but has Dark Horse’s trademark ambiance and delightful espressos. Find the new location at 125 John Street.
The Drake Hotel‘s Chef Anthony Rose has decided to leave the ‘cultural hotbed’ as of April 1st. It’s an amicable split, with Rose leaving to pursue opening his own spot in the (hopefully) near future. It’ll be an interesting transition for the Drake to be sure; Chef Anthony has been in charge of the hotel’s kitchen for just over six years.
The Federal opened up last weekend on Dundas West, serving up an assortment of favourite sandwich combinations – a Cubano, for instance – dishes heavy on eggs, and even a Ploughman’s Lunch. For now they’re open for breakfast and lunch, and soon will be serving up dinner.
Things are moving along smoothly for the remodel of Little Anthony’s at Richmond and York Streets. The restaurant has been around for going on two decades. Owned by the same family behind Estiatorio Volos, Little Anthony’s has been completely gutted and the menu will see a drastic change too. We’re pumped, since Volos is such a great transformation of its previous incarnation Mediterra.
Annona in the Park Hyatt just launched their Spring Sharing Menu that serves 3-4 people. On it is a starter platter – with seared tuna nicoise, butternut squash and 1608 ravioli, lobster grilled cheese, and crab cakes – a risotto course, a sharing entree platter – with Chilean sea bass, rack of lamb, and filet mignon – and, of course, a dessert platter. It’s slated at $160 per table.
Niagara Street Cafe has new owners and a new name. Chefs Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth will take over the restaurant as of April 1st, and will rename the space Edulis.