August was a hot month for restaurant openings in Toronto, and while it may have seemed like every new one focused on poke, the real standouts are far more diverse. Toronto gained new spots for Moroccan street food, Filipino comfort food, pizza, South American standards and brunch.

Check out my picks for the top restaurant openings in Toronto this August.

Lena
The new O&B restaurant at Saks serves up Argentinian dishes inspired by chef Anthony Walsh's mother-in-law. Family recipes that made it onto the menu include salt cod fritters, pan di miga and a roasted chicken dish dubbed pollo dona aurora.

Lasa
Filipino food goes mainstream at this casual new St. Clair eatery from the folks behind Lamesa. Find lechon kawali, silog for one and halo halo on the menue.

Salt & Tobacco
Cabbagetown's new pizza joint serves thin crust pies from its takeout counter on Parliament. Nine signature pizzas are on offer, including the Cabbage Pizza topped with black Tuscan kale, fior di latte, onions, n'juja, spicy peppers and pecorino.

B'saha
This new eatery on College Street specializes in Moroccan street food from the souk. The menu offers merguez sausages on a bun dressed with harrisa mayo, mixed grill feasts and steaming tangine suppers.

Montgomery's
Chef Guy Rawlings and wife Kim Rawlings have opened this restaurant on Queen Street West where the eclectic menu boasts steamed artichoke with verjus butter, goose creton, and chicken backs with string beans.

The Dime
This new dive bar is the latest offering from the team behind El Furniture Warehouse and Queen Street Warehouse. The space is complete with a patio, while the $4.95 menu ensures you can afford to eat before your start drinking.

Pizzeria Via Mercanti Gerrard
This pizzeria already operates locations in Kensington Market and on Elm Street, but has now expanded to the east side. Pizzas are the main event, but the menu is also stocked with antipasti plates, fried seafood, fresh salads and more.

Dirty Food
This catering company turned bricks-and-mortar eatery in the Junction fixes up plates of gourmet comfort food for brunch. Grilled cheese sandwiches stacked with fried green tomatoes, peanut butter and bacon waffles, salmon Johnnycakes, and more are on the menu.

Bar Mar
Peruvian-Spanish food is the focus at this restaurant on Mount Pleasant Road. Hot and cold tapas are the way to start, followed by hearty Basque seafood stews and braised rice dishes topped with duck confit.

La Carnita
The fourth location landed on Eglinton West this month along with Sweet Jesus and a new bar, Good Fortune. Midtown can now skip the commute to dine on overloaded tacos, creative cocktails and souped up cones.

Photo from Pizzeria Via Mercanti by Jesse Milns.