The old photo studio located next to the Black Hoof just got a new lease on life, and Toronto diners will likely be overjoyed at news of the latest tenant. The source of some speculation when its windows were papered-up a while back, the mystery was revealed last night when the newest member of the Hoof family quietly opened its doors for business. Can Jen Agg do for seafood what she did for off-cuts? It sure looks that way.

Read my review of Hoof Raw Bar in the restaurants section.

86'd Mondays is a weekly gourmand event at the Drake Hotel hosted by local food-maven Ivy Knight. Although it doesn't get as much press as it once did — what with the pop-up trend taking off at hyperspeed — but it remains one of the most consistently enjoyable culinary events in the city. The booze isn't bad either.

This latest installment of 86'd showcased sliders by Fidel Gastro, wine by Sandbanks Winery, fresh oysters by Hooked, and an introduction to the Culinary Adventure Company (C.A.C.).

Lower Ossington's dining scene shows no signs of slowing down, as the area continues to attract line-up worthy restaurants at an almost startling pace. Doubling up on the trendiness factor, you can now add Singaporean-style street food to the mix of cuisines on offer here. But despite this restaurant's obvious "it-spot" elements, the well-executed and unique fare ensures that it'll have some staying power.

Read my review of Hawker Bar in the restaurants section.

Meet Nico. He's been shaking and stirring for over a decade. Currently tending bar at The Paddock, Nico's travels took him all over the world before he decided to return back to his hometown. Being the third oldest bar in Toronto, The Paddock is a natural match for Nico's seasoned history — there's a storied history to both. Lovingly restored to it's Art Deco grandeur, the bar has once again taken its place as a Toronto landmark — one which Nico has the gravitas to carry the torch for.

Grand Electric isn't the only restaurant generating buzz in Parkdale. You'll probably face a line-up to get into this cozy and reservation-free dining room, which is named after a Canadian heritage breed of chicken, but it's well worth the wait. Although it's difficult to describe the exact style of cuisine on offer, that's what makes it so exciting: the food here is genuinely unique.

Read my review of Chantecler in the restaurants section.

No Vietnamese-inspired restaurants have received as much hype in recent memory as this recently re-furbished sandwich shop near the corner of Queen and Spadina. Offering a contemporary take on the banh mi sandwich as well as cheap tacos and steamed bao, this media hyped newcomer is out to make the case that it's worth paying a bit more than the cheaper banh mi places up the street.

Read my review of Banh Mi Boys in the restaurants section.