bangkok buri

The 10 most anticipated Toronto restaurant openings in 2016

Restaurant openings in Toronto are full of promise for 2016. The city is due for an influx of new eateries ranging from AYCE Italian and porchetta sandwich shops to upscale new steakhouses, Hungarian eats, and Thai street food. This city's food scene is a train with no brakes (well, kind of).

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in 2016.

Carver
The burgeoning eatery from Robert Bragagnolo has been operating as a lunch delivery service since summer but will open as a bricks and mortar sandwich shop at 101 Peter Street later this year.

Cafeteria
The newest addition to the Playa Cabana family of restaurants comes in the form of this diner at 974 College St. Expect all day service for brunch, lunch and dinner including tacos and tortas served in a no-reservations bar area and an expanded menu available in the reservations-required back room.

Bangkok Buri
The owner of Khao San Road has teamed up with the folks that grew Burger's Priest into a city-wide sensation to open what will be a chain of quick service, Thai street food joints. The first location will open at Union Station, but you should expect a scattering of outlets to follow.

Palinka Bar & Bisztro
Coming to 585 College St. this February, this 90-seat Hungarian bar and restaurant will specialize in fruit brandy, hard-to-find wines, and shareable dishes from Central Europe.

The Chicago Don
All you can eat Italian food will take over 901 Bloor Street West this April. The restaurant isn't your typical Italian buffet, but rather a Chicago-style tapas joint where servers will come around with a different main course every 10 minutes.

Recess
The massive project from Brad Moore (of Old School) has been in the works for nearly two years now. Due to open in early 2016 at the base of the the ART condos at Sudbury and Dovercourt, the project will include the 24-hour Recess Diner, Bar Bronson, the Oven Bakery, a grocery story, mini bar and more.

Gusto 501
Another project long in the works is this sister restaurant to Gusto 101. Slated to open at 501 King Street East, the much-hyped Italian restaurant promises dishes from a Tuscan grill, rotisserie spit, and a wood fired pizza oven.

STK Steakhouse
The chain of chop houses based in the U.S. is set to arrive in Toronto this year. Coming soon to 155 Yorkville Avenue, the massive restaurant will boast 8,880 square feet and uphold a strict dress code. In other words, no plaid - please.

Jen Agg's new wine bar
Few details are available now, but there's good reason to get excited about a new Kensington Market wine and cider bar from the restaurateur behind Black Hoof and Rhum Corner.

Whatever GVG does next
Finally on our radar, the Globe writes that Grant van Gameren (of Bar Isabel and Bar Raval) is set to open a Latin American cocktail bar.

Did I miss any? Add your suggestions to the comments.

Photo of STK.


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