Critically-acclaimed restaurant Brothers is closing its doors

Celebrated Yorkville restaurant Brothers Food & Wine announced yesterday that it will be permanently closing. The tiny restaurant located above Bay Station has received consistently glowing reviews since opening in 2016, becoming known for its unfussy but sublime seasonal menus.

“We have decided to close the restaurant. With the temporary closure this spring it was our intention to ride the waves of uncertainty with the hope that we would get back to regular service as soon as possible,” reads a post on the Brothers Instagram page.

 

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NOTHING ENDURES BUT CHANGE. AT THIS TIME, WE WOULD LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS SATURDAY’S DINNER WILL BE OUR LAST SERVICE AT BROTHERS. IT IS WITH HEAVY HEARTS THAT WE HAVE DECIDED TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT. WITH THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE THIS SPRING IT WAS OUR INTENTION TO RIDE THE WAVES OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE HOPE THAT WE WOULD GET BACK TO REGULAR SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. WE NOW FEEL IT IS NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE TO PLAN ON ANY FORM OF NORMAL OR MEANINGFUL DINING IN THE NEAR FUTURE. BROTHERS WAS PURPOSEFULLY BUILT AS A SMALL AND INTIMATE SPACE. THIS CONTRADICTS ANY REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF MOVING FORWARD GIVEN THE GUIDELINES FOR A SAFE REOPENING. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING.THE SINGLE HARDEST PART OF RUNNING BROTHERS HAS BEEN BUILDING A TEAM THAT SHARES OUR VISION AND INTEREST IN FOOD & HOSPITALITY. OUR TEAM IS THE MOST DEDICATED GROUP OF EMPLOYEES WE HAVE EVER WORKED WITH, MANY OF WHOM ARE READY TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR OWN VISIONS IN THIS CITY, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR SUCCESS. THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE BUILT WITH OUR GUESTS ARE TRULY BEYOND WORDS. ANY SUCCESS WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IS A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY & BROTHERS IS NOTHING WITHOUT IT. YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT HAS TRULY BEEN OVERWHELMING. THANK YOU, WE LOVE YOU. WE NEVER INTENDED FOR THIS TO BE FOREVER, ALWAYS UNDERSTANDING THIS WAS A STEPPING STONE IN OUR CAREERS. BROTHERS WAS INTENDED TO BE A VESSEL IN WHICH WE SHARED OUR THOUGHTS ON FOOD, WINE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOSPITALITY. WE ARE VERY PROUD THAT BROTHERS NEVER WAVERED IN ITS INTENTIONS. IT PAINS US GREATLY NOT BE ABLE TO HOST YOU HERE FOR A PROPER GOODBYE, BUT KNOW THAT WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF RE COMMITTING TO THIS WORK & FEEL WE HAVE A LOT LEFT TO CONTRIBUTE. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD. “THIS RIVER I STEP IN, IS NOT THE RIVER I STAND IN”

A post shared by BROTHERS FOOD & WINE (@brothers_toronto) on Jul 13, 2020 at 12:39pm PDT

After dining rooms were forced to close in March, Brothers began offering set menu takeout dinners in late May. Typically featuring four courses and available only on Saturday nights, the takeout meals were in high demand and sold out quickly each week.

With patios reopening in Toronto and indoor dining resuming across the rest of the province on July 17, space seems to be key to a restaurants’ safety and success in the world of post-COVID dining. Maintaining the necessary two-metres between tables makes it impossible for a close-quarters restaurant like Brothers to operate the same way it once did.

“Brothers was purposefully built as a small and intimate space,” reads the post. “This contradicts any reasonable expectations of moving forward given the guidelines for a safe reopening.”

The post also thanks Brothers’ staff and everyone who has dined there.

“We never intended for this to be forever, always understanding this was a stepping stone in our careers,” reads the post, adding that the team plans to continue sharing their vision for quality food, wine, and hospitality with the city.

“We have every intention of recommitting to this work and feel we have a lot left to contribute,” finishes the post. “Thanks for everything, see you down the road.”

Brothers’ last takeout service will be this Saturday, July 18.