Scarpetta scoop
Only guests or residents of the Thompson Hotel have access to its ultra-exclusive Rooftop Bar, but the rest of us can dine al fresco at the boutique hotel’s flagship resto, Scarpetta (550 Wellington West, at Portland, 416-601-3590, scottconant.com), starting May 31. Try the super-rich mushroom polenta splashed with truffle oil.
Patio purgatory
Further downtown, Thai trat Khao San Road (326 Adelaide West, at Peter, 647-352-5773, khaosanroad.ca) is still waiting for city approval for its small curbside patio (although the room’s previous owners operated one for years), as are Black Skirt (974 College, at Rusholme, 416-532-7424, blackskirtrestaurant.com) and Campagnolo (832 Dundas West, at Euclid, 416-364-4785, campagnolotoronto.com).
Khabouth’s kingdom
Club king Charles Khabouth’s empire expands again with the launch early next month of La Société, a French bistro in the former Dynasty space in the Colonnade. Within walking distance of some of Toronto’s priciest shops, this second-storey Bloor West terrace is sure to be a hit with the fashion cognoscenti.
Biting the ban
Despite the city’s moratorium on backyard patios south of Bloor and the Danforth, both Zocalo (1426 Bloor West, at Sterling, 647-342-1567) and Caju (922 Queen West, at Shaw, 416-532-2550, caju.ca) have applied for deserved bylaw variances.
Lakeside potential
Down at the foot of Jarvis, the FAB Concepts group (Brazen Head, Pour House, et al.) is about to open Against the Grain on the lake side of the Corus complex (25 Dockside). The self-described gastropub launches May 24, after the long weekend.
Open your own
Ever wanted to own your own patio? The building at 90 Avenue Road that was once home to Boba and short-lived Zin’s fabulous curbside garden is up for sale. A cool $3.5 mill and it’s yours!
