Friday Restaurant Recap rounds up the week’s Toronto restaurant news. In this edition: a popular Middle Eastern restaurant expands, one Brazilian restaurant opens while another closes, a wine bar for the Junction and more.
Opening soon
- Popular Israeli-Iraqi restaurant Dr. Laffa is opening a new location at Bathurst and Lawrence. Owners are also looking to franchise the business, so there will soon be more Dr. Laffa for everyone.
- Fans of The Cupcake Girls take note: a Toronto location of Heather White and Lori Joyce’s cupcake franchise is coming to Leaside, most likely by early February of next year.
- A liquor license application sign for Bricco Kitchen and Wine Bar has gone up at 3047 Dundas West, in the Junction. [The Grid]
Newly opened
- Chef Eric Wood has opened Hawthorne Food and Drink near Richmond and Church.
- A new Brazilian restaurant and coffee shop, Cafuné, has opened in Cabbagetown. [Cafuné]
- Ossington gets even more interesting with two new additions: ODDSEOUL and Rock Lobster Food Co.
- Sang Kim has opened Yakitori Bar on Baldwin Street. Soon to come: Seoul Food Co., which will share a space with the aforementioned eatery. [Toronto Life]
Closing
- According to a press release, Queen West’s Cajú restaurant is closing on Dec. 22 after more than 10 years in business.
- Queen East’s Toucan Taco Bar has closed, but owner Richard Henry tells us that he has new plans for the space, though he’s not ready to reveal them just yet.
Change-ups
- Midtown’s People’s Chicken has a new name, again. This time around, it’s known as Seven44. For decades, the venue was known as Chick ‘n’ Deli.
- The team behind Terroni is opening a bakery adjacent to its Queen West restaurant. Details are scarce for now, but it will be called Il Forno del Sud, and it should be open by spring 2013. [The Grid]