First Toronto location of Calgary restaurant chain finally opening next month

The highly anticipated Toronto location of a popular Canadian bar and restaurant chain is finally opening next month.

It's been nearly a year since the stylish Calgary restaurant chain Central Taps announced that it'd be taking over the Ossington space that once housed the iconic Venezia Bakery, before going virtually silent.

The city wondered when, if ever, they'd get to experience it for themselves.

As time went on, the initially projected "early 2025" opening date became increasingly harder to believe in, until, finally, over halfway through 2025, the chain broke its silence on the Toronto location's developments, sharing an official opening date for Central Toronto Ossington.

Hey, nothing worth having ever arrives on time, does it? Just look at the Eglinton LRT. At least Central didn't make Toronto wait for quite so long.

At long last, Central Toronto Ossington is opening its doors to the public on Thursday, July 3, just in time to capitalize on the weekend warrior crowd that floods the neighbourhood year-round.

Taking over the corner of Ossington and Argyle, the stylish new bar will be anchored by a 360-degree bar at the centre of the space, surrounded by interiors that blend urban street style and vintage charm, featuring bold colours, industrial elements and lush greenery.

The bar will also be home to a spacious patio that's open year-round thanks to cozy firepits — because there's nothing Toronto collectively loves more than a patio, regardless of how frightful the weather outside may become.

As for what you'll be eating when you visit, you can expect a diverse menu that reflects a variety of global cuisines from Executive Chef Phil Allain, who has earned his stripes working in kitchens including Bar Isabel, Bar Piquette and at the Warm Welcome Hospitality Group, which covers spots like Saint John's Tavern and Piccolo Cafe.

In other words, the kitchen is in good hands.

Among the menu highlights will be the Mexican street chicken served atop smashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, the truffle mushroom and pork belly fettuccine, and pressed ahi tuna sushi topped with mango purée, ginger garlic vinaigrette and serrano pepper.

The food is accompanied by an equally extensive beverage program that includes favourites like the pineapple jalapeño margarita, which is served, as it should be, with a Tajín rim, and the zero-proof strawberry yuzu soda with popping strawberry pearls.

Just when it seemed like Ossington couldn't become any more popular, Central's arrival will almost certainly add another line to the sidewalk on a Friday night, but that's what the neighbourhood's about these days, so it'll be a perfect fit.

While Central doesn’t officially open until July 3, reservations are already open so you can avoid said dreaded Ossington lines.

Central Toronto Ossington will be located at 114 Ossington Ave.