Nashville hot chicken; Cold Tea gets a revamp; and Grant vanย Gamerenย is on fire. There’s plenty to take a bite out of this spring in Toronto.
โHere areย the restaurants you need to check out.
Juanmoto
โDown a dimly lit hallway past two vintage stores is an unstaffed steel door: welcome to the marketโs Cold Tea bar. The 60 Kensington Ave. joint was fully renoed at the end of 2017 and reopened not just with high-concept lighting, but a whole new identity: AsianโSouth American snack bar. Juanmoto is the brainchild of fusion-obsessed chef Leemo Han (Hanmoto and more), and his new kitchenโs oysters topped with salsa, tobiko and roe confirm it: the market is now upmarket.
Barcelonaย Tavern
Our fair city has enough tapas bars to populate entire โbest ofโ lists, and it turns out love of Spanish eats is a cross-country affair. This month, Calgaryโs Barcelona Tavern comes to Liberty Village at 109 Atlantic Ave. to dole out its tiny delicioso morsels and signature paellas to hungry condo dwellers.
Frankieโs Italian
As Leslievillians mourn the loss of Lilโ Baci, owners Mark Bacci, Riyaz Somani and Suresh Singh have been busy planning an on-site resto rebirth. Frankie’s Italianย is their new baby coming soon at 892 Queen St. E. โ if babies were handmade-pasta filled and came with a Negroni bar. This new member of their family will be headed by Annabelle chef Brandyn Koester.
Quetzal
Grant van Gameren is on fire. And now his foodโs on fire too. Heโsย up to restaurant number seven,ย Quetzal (419 College St.), where chefs Kate Chomyshyn and Julio Guajardo (both of El Rey), and Owen Walker (the genius behind the bar)ย will cook traditional Mexican fare over a 28-foot-long open flame. Hot.
Paris Paris
Say yes to just โoneโ more glass at this unfussy all-day Dundas West wine bar.
Kay Pacha
Peruvian food gets its chance to shine on St. Clair W.
Five Points
Nashville hot chicken on Bloor: so hot, so delicious. Beware the Devilโs Breath.
Uncle Mikeyโs
Korean bar snacks are where itโs aton trendy Dundas West. Donโt forget the soju!
Bacchanal
Classic French flavours with a few new tweaks near Queen West. You butter check it out.
Eupin
We love the sliced beef in chili oil from this tiny Chinese takeout spot at Yonge and Sheppard.
