633657 Fri Jul 03 04:20:12 -0700 2009 21 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 4826687 I followed the link on the Farmer's Market thread below and stumbled upon this recent Toronto Life story. This is stunning news!!! For those of you who don't know, Guu is the name of a 3-chain izakaya restaurant in Vancouver. I've never been to Japan so I can't speak for authenticity but all I can tell you is Guu (with Garlic, the one on Robson, to be specific) is one of my favourite spots to eat. A subterranean bar/resto offering up AMAZING small plates of Japanese food (with Western twists), friendly young chefs and waiters, reasonably priced, long list of chalkboard specials and a very cool vibe. For those of you that have been there, you've no doubt been part of the chorus to try and get them to open a restaurant here. If they can maintain the quality and vibe of the restaurants in Vancouver, we are all in for a serious treat. Here are links to the Toronto Life article and part of the menu for Guu with Garlic to give you a "flavour" of what's in store. The article says they're scouting midtown locations and hoping to open by the end of this year - woo-hoo!!! http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2009/06/18/it%e2%80%99s-guu-for-you-toronto/#comment-2953 http://www.guu-izakaya.com/robson.html Fri Jul 03 04:20:12 -0700 2009 10196 peppermint pate 1 4827413 All of our prayers have been answered. I would literally beg them every time I was there. Forgot about the Ossington freeze - I actually think that would be a good neighbourhood for them - but really, any option is closer and better than a flight to Vancouver... Fri Jul 03 10:03:24 -0700 2009 4827384 10196 peppermint pate 2 4827475 I do hope we'll see as little raw fish as possible on the menu. Would asking for yakitori be too much? Fri Jul 03 10:32:18 -0700 2009 4827413 14629 aser 1 4826783 This is a great piece of news...I was there a little while ago and fell in love. A very rabid following, the lineup starts before it opens. I would expect the same in Toronto. Fri Jul 03 05:38:52 -0700 2009 4826687 157056 grandgourmand 1 4826789 Yay for good news! My favourite meal of late was at an izakaya in New York, so here's hoping for a great one in Toronto! Fri Jul 03 05:42:42 -0700 2009 4826687 12124 TorontoJo 2 4826836 Very very exciting! Thanks for passing this along. I go to Guu every time I'm in Vancouver -- love it! Fri Jul 03 06:09:06 -0700 2009 4826789 118181 EarlyDrive 1 4827020 Awesome! Just as I am off to Vancouver next week to go for a Izakaya pub crawl....they come here! Fri Jul 03 07:35:38 -0700 2009 4826687 156403 Sadistick 2 4827061 Guu is one of my must-go places when in Vancouver as well. I just don't get the midtown location search - I think downtown would be more suitable. Every time I've gone to Guu, I was struck with how young the clientele was, and how youthful the whole atmosphere was. Not sure midtown (whatever that means in Toronto) is the best area to reproduce that. Fri Jul 03 07:48:12 -0700 2009 4827020 17778 Kasia 3 4827088 Absolutely a must-go spot for me on every trip to Vancouver and I expect it will be the same here, no matter where they end up settling in. That said, I hope they don't end up at Yonge and Eglington as I think that's the wrong vibe. I could see them on College Street or Dundas/Queen West or the Ossington strip. That said, as someone who lives midtown (which I would probably define as Eglington south to Bloor), I will gladly welcome them in my 'hood!! Fri Jul 03 07:55:24 -0700 2009 4827061 10196 peppermint pate 4 4827318 I should have added that I will travel to wherever they end up as well:) Fri Jul 03 09:24:25 -0700 2009 4827088 17778 Kasia 4 4827387 It won't be on the Ossington strip as the city has imposed a moratorium on restaurant/bar licenses in the area. Fri Jul 03 09:53:00 -0700 2009 4827088 14629 aser 4 4834192 If it ends up on Ossington It will be bittersweet, as it is my neighbor hood, but like Pizza Libretto, you will NEVER EVER EVER be able to get a seat Mon Jul 06 13:59:44 -0700 2009 4827088 182736 Bobby Wham 5 4835286 It would be insane if guu was on Ossington because I would want to go everyday. I hope they're close by though. Mon Jul 06 20:40:58 -0700 2009 4834192 11667 cutehinano 1 4830403 YESSS! I want nankotsu! Sun Jul 05 00:06:38 -0700 2009 4826687 16363 mogo 1 4834186 I was hoping that Guu Toronto wasn't going to make it on this board. When it opens it's going to be impossible to get in as it is AMAZING. Mon Jul 06 13:58:29 -0700 2009 4826687 182736 Bobby Wham 1 4866898 Guu Izakaya will be opening at 398 Church Street (the old Sushi Plaza) which is at Church and Gerrard Streets. The place just got leased. The leasing agent kindly let me know who was moving in to the space. Fri Jul 17 07:05:43 -0700 2009 4826687 1094413 BrianToronto 2 4867870 Cool - thanks for the update. Interesting location choice - not quite the Village, not quite anywhere in particular - but still close enough for easy, frequent visits. Fri Jul 17 12:21:57 -0700 2009 4866898 10196 peppermint pate 3 4867998 It's pretty close to Ryerson, and also to Church & Wellesley. Targeting two big demographic, I'd say it's pretty smart. This is great news. Fri Jul 17 13:10:14 -0700 2009 4867870 14629 aser 4 4868110 Yes, it is close to the Village - but still a good few blocks south of the main stretch (without much in between). Forgot about Ryerson. I think I was imagining them in one of the more hipper or up and coming 'hoods but as I've said above, I'll go anywhere and everywhere they choose to settle themselves. And this is definitely a better spot than Y&E. Can't wait! Fri Jul 17 13:42:55 -0700 2009 4867998 10196 peppermint pate 2 4869464 398 Church is that weird little plaza with the not-so-great Pakistani restaurant where all the cabbies hang out (Mehran?). Could you ask for a worse location? Sat Jul 18 05:03:43 -0700 2009 4866898 247788 ChalkBoy 1 4867837 Good news. I had some really good izakaya food in B.C. recently and would love to repeat the experience. Fri Jul 17 12:07:56 -0700 2009 4826687 123543 Pincus 1 4868795 Booya! Love Guu! Can't wait, even though I'm not in Toronto right now :( Fri Jul 17 18:26:25 -0700 2009 4826687 240323 MeXx