Prolific Toronto chef opening one-of-a-kind restaurant this month

A Toronto chef and restaurateur behind dozens of local favourites is opening a brand-new concept this month, and it'll be unlike anything he's ever done before.

Whether the name Hemant Bhagwani strikes up immediate recognition for you or not at all, there's a very good chance that his numerous Toronto restaurant ventures, like Indian Street Food Company and Bar Goa, will.

Those are just two of the over 60 restaurants Chef Bhagwani has opened in Toronto, New York City and beyond over the years, and he's gearing up to add yet another feather to his cap with a brand new, truly one-of-a-kind venture.

It's called Oro Luxury Dining, and it's taking up a piece of prime real estate in Little Italy, which could perhaps be categorized as the epicentre of the city's food scene, replacing the long-standing original location of La Carnita.

Unsurprisingly, the food you can expect to find there will be a far cry from the casual tacos and guac that had been churned out of that kitchen for the past decade, but it'll also be a departure from Chef Bhagwani's Indian cuisine bread-and-butter.

Instead, the menu, Chef Bhagwani tells me, will gain influence from a variety of different cuisines, flavours and seasonal influences, but it'll be divided into "seasons" and "episodes", like you're streaming your meal on Netflix.

During Season 1, new menus — or "episodes" — will come out quarterly, drawing on seasonal ingredients and local vendors that align with the given season. Episode 1 will be a summer menu, followed by Episode 2: Fall and so on.

Come next spring, we'll be on to Season 2.

Fried chicken nuggets topped with caviar, a Wagyu Scotch egg, Iberico crispy pork with sambal aioli and zucchini flower tempura with eggplant chutney are all among the signature dishes on the menu that, according to Chef Bhagwani, are designed to "put a smile on your face and fill your heart with joy."

While the restaurant won't be exclusively serving Indian cuisine, Bhagwani notes, you can certainly expect Indian influences to creep their way into plenty of the dishes on the menu.

"Oro may have Indian roots, but the shoots have spread all over the world," he says.

On top of the food, the restaurant promises a top-notch bar and cocktail program, replete with unique and creative beverages, and a day-to-night vibe that amps up the party on weekend evenings with live DJs.

"Our mission is to spread love and happiness while creating a new kind of hospitality and lifestyle brand—one with a big heart," Chef Bhagwani tells me.

"We embrace mindful, sustainable living, with giving back and supporting our community at the core of everything we do."

The restaurant, whose interiors and experience promise to be just as unique as the menu structure, is set for its grand opening on May 27, and, with Bhagwani at the helm, it seems perfectly primed to be the city's latest hit.

Oro Luxury Dining will be located at 501 College St.