It’s hard to believe, but even in a global pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the hospitality industry, brave restaurateurs are still realizing their dreams and opening new restaurants all over the GTA. In no particular order, here are five of the most anticipated new additions to Toronto’s dining scene.
The Sky Flower
The Sky Flower is a pop-up restaurant born to safely serve food in a pandemic. The rooftop patio is open-air and socially distanced, while still providing the intimate feel of an exclusive boutique-style eatery.
Executive chef and MasterChef Canada season one winner Eric Chong has full reign over the menu, and he delivers with delicious “Asian-inspired flavours of Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai in the form of convenient barbecue comfort foods.” The Sky Flower is open for dine-in or takeout.
View this post on Instagram
Bubble Baby
With “bubble” being one of the buzzwords of the pandemic, it makes almost too much sense for Bubble Baby to be opening amidst these uncertain times.
And the restaurant seems to have one simple mission: put tapioca bubbles in absolutely everything.
From regular bubble teas to coffees to even waffles, Bubble Baby is here for anybody with a sweet tooth aching for some action.
View this post on Instagram
Gui Gui Korean BBQ
Gui Gui Korean BBQ in North York is not your typical Korean barbecue joint.
Forget figuring out whose meat is on the grill. Just take a skewer, load it up with curried pork, teriyaki chicken, or any one of the six seafood options Gui Gui Korean BBQ has listed on their menu, and throw it on!
Place the skewers on a 360-degree rotation machine. There, your meats are sure to be cooked evenly on all sides.
And the best part is you remain in complete control at every step in the process. Want your beef extra rare? Pull that skewer off early. Are you paranoid and cook everything to a char? Then sip on that Soju a little longer and leave it be. Either way, you can’t go wrong with Gui Gui.
View this post on Instagram
The Waffle House
You’ve heard of chicken and waffles, but how about shrimp and waffles?
The Waffle House is aiming to make this unique pairing commonplace. If you roll up on the Etobicoke location, expect a basket piled high with powdered sugar-covered waffles, a bountiful portion of chicken, and yes, some breaded shrimp.
On happy hour Fridays, a live DJ will supply the soundtrack for munching on The Waffle House’s combo specials.
If shrimp and waffles isn’t your speed, fear not. The Waffle House also has more mainstream waffle varieties, with their strawberry shortcake ice cream waffle and Oreo cookie waffle ice cream bowl being two of their greatest hits.
View this post on Instagram
Dova
The team behind Ardo is back, this time with a more sentimental twist.
From a menu that features the quintessential tastes of Italy to a kitchen that evokes images of the Bel Paese, Dova is fully tailored to chef Roberto Marotta. A native of Milazzo in Sicily, Marotta is exploring Sicilian and Mediterranean flavours through modern techniques and seasonal ingredients.
After you’re done at DOVA, there’s even more to see and eat in Cabbagetown.
Rick Matthews, the Cabbagetown BIA executive director, and coordinator Shivon Yim have partnered with CaféTO on an art and food-based walking tour through the neighbourhood.
“At seven of our local restaurants, we have designed wooden patios, featuring the work of seven emerging artists,” says Yim. They’ve even set up a site to map out the art installations for visitors.
View this post on Instagram
