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Guu Toronto - YES!!!!

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!!!



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    1. 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...

      1. re: peppermint pate

        I do hope we'll see as little raw fish as possible on the menu. Would asking for yakitori be too much?

    2. 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.

      1. 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!

        1 Reply
        1. re: TorontoJo

          Very very exciting! Thanks for passing this along. I go to Guu every time I'm in Vancouver -- love it!

        2. Awesome!

          Just as I am off to Vancouver next week to go for a Izakaya pub crawl....they come here!

          6 Replies
          1. re: Sadistick

            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.

            1. re: Kasia

              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!!

              1. re: peppermint pate

                I should have added that I will travel to wherever they end up as well:)

                1. re: peppermint pate

                  It won't be on the Ossington strip as the city has imposed a moratorium on restaurant/bar licenses in the area.

                  1. re: peppermint pate

                    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

                    1. re: Bobby Wham

                      It would be insane if guu was on Ossington because I would want to go everyday. I hope they're close by though.

              2. YESSS! I want nankotsu!