Where beer prices fluctuate like stocks.
The restaurant scene in Windsor-Essex hasn’t been entirely dormant these past few months. Some long-time institutions closed their doors, unfortunately, and a fair number changed hands. But don’t fret! For those of you who love all things new, there have been a few openings, too.
With help from our readers, we’ve compiled a hefty roundup of the latest openings and closings in local restaurants.
Have we missed any restaurants that opened in the past few months? Email bfantoni@windsorstar.com to let us know.
Open
Those of you who work in downtown Windsor have a new lunch joint to try out. Tune Ups opened a month ago. This Chatham Street spot styles itself as a burgers-and-wings place, with homemade wing sauce and fresh-cut fries.
And if you like to have a pint with your burger, keep an eye out for specials on domestic beers. 21 Chatham St., 519-254-6363 Speaking of beer, The Windsor Beer Exchange prices its beer a bit like the stock market — beer prices fluctuate depending on which are selling better and which ones are moving slowly. The roomy bar, which opened up in what used to be the Navy Club at University and Bruce avenues, has a live stock-ticker screen with up-to-the minute sale prices, so you can make your choice based on the going prices.
Bonus: Fans of craft beer will appreciate the fact that most of the brews on offer are made in southern Ontario. If you stick around late enough, you might even get to experience a “market crash” and see beer prices plummet.
And keep an ear out for live music gigs.
493 University Ave. W., 226-674-1212, facebook.com/ TheWindsorBeerExchange
A few new pubs have also opened up in the past few months. On the river side, the former Time restaurant has turned into R.J. Wrigley’s Sports Lounge and Grill. West-end residents who love sports can now watch the game with a pint and a plate of wings … and a view of the Detroit River.
1521 Riverside Dr. W., 519-973-8338, facebook.com /rjwrigleyssportslounge Towards the airport, a new Fox &
Fiddle franchise opened just before Christmas. Styled after a traditional English pub, it offers up standards like shepherd’s pie, bangers, beans and mash and curry.
There are no fewer than 13 beers on tap. 3560 Walker Rd., 519-915-9500 And in case you missed all the hype, Lone Star finally opened for business a little further down Walker Road. The Tex-Mex serves up hefty portions of its signature fajitas.
A little bit of trivia: The company, which runs more than 20 Lone Star locations all over Ontario, is run by three former Windsorites: Jack Cowin, Paul Newman and Whit Tucker.
4140 Walker Rd., 519-900-6063, lonestartexasgrill.com Near the university, Caribbean food is picking up steam. Island Spice opened up a few months ago and routinely sells out of jerk chicken.
The menu also features curry goat and oxtail. 1725 Wyandotte St. W., 519-915-5837 It’s been open just over a year, so it’s not exactly new, but we didn’t want to leave an Amherstburg restaurant off the list. One reader raved to us about Golden Gate Chinese Restaurant for its extensive menu, good prices and friendly service.
473 Sandwich St., Amherstburg, 519736-3088 A very different kind of sushi restaurant is coming to Erie Street this month. It’s not set to open until April 28, but it’s too intriguing to not talk about, especially if you love fish.
Local chef Ted Dimoglou, who worked for years in some of the city’s best-known sushi restaurants, is set to open Tiki Sushi. This South Pacific-inspired joint will specialize in fresh sushi, ramen noodles and dumplings made by hand daily, ceviche and oysters.
You won’t find tempura or teriyaki on the menu — this is not another all-you-can-eat place.
Plus: As much of the seafood as possible will be sourced in Canada by Mediterranean Seafood just around the corner on Parent Avenue. Locavore score!
900 Erie St. E., 519-980-8454
Shut
A slew of restaurants closed their doors in the past few months. Among them Phat Alberts Wok and Grill on Wyandotte Street East and, unexpectedly, Foia Restaurant and Lounge in Tecumseh. A sign in the window of Walkerville’s Old Town Sweet Shop suggests it will be replaced by a sushi restaurant. After decades in business, Mona’s Place in LaSalle is no more. A greeting on the restaurant’s voicemail tells callers that the owner is finally retiring and that the restaurant is up for sale. The restaurant closed in January. Around the same time, Rizzo’s Crossing in Essex closed after two generations of service. Also, a reader tells us the Essex location of Ya Ya’s Flame Broiled Chicken is shuttered. When we called, there was no answer.
Changeovers
These restaurants are still open for business, but you might have noticed a few differences.
The Italian Sandwich Shop recently came under new ownership and got an interior spruce-up. It’s now officially known as the Italian Panini Shop, though the menu is largely the same, with some new additions, like homemade arancini.
Speaking of homemade, the tomato sauce and meatballs are made in-house, too. Devotees of the Godfather veal sandwich and other menu staples can now enjoy lunch in the newly renovated interior, which features slate grey walls, chrome metal details and a very apropos hand- painted sandwich mural. 188 Erie St. E., 519-280-0654 Like fish but lack the confidence to cook it? Marina Fish and More (the former Al Jawad) on Wyandotte Street East can take care of it! This simple takeout place specializes in salt water fish such as sea bream and sea bass, and brings in new product twice a week. Just choose your fish and the cook will grill, fry or bake it for you.
1033 Wyandotte St. E., 519915-7070
After previous owners David Delville and Dee Dee De Santis retired in January, Other Place Catering is open again for business.
“We wanted to carry on their tradition,” said long-time manager Darren Trinca, who took over the business with a partner.
Other than new owners, the Other Place remains largely the same — same chef, same staff, same location, even the same phone number.
However, Trinca said, there are plans to update the menus and presentation by, for example, offering more artisan breads for sandwiches and using wooden sandwich platters instead of the standard plastic ones.
1395 Walker Rd., 519-969-6011, otherplacecatering.com.
Sunflower Organic Café is moving from its Drouillard Road location to Ottawa Street. Co-owner Patricia Julian said she expects to reopen May 1. The menu is also changing slightly to include more raw and vegan options, including fresh-made juices and a raw vegan taco.
1285 Ottawa St., 519-915-8898, sunflowerwindsor.com
Several readers have been asking what’s up with Motor City Tap and Grill. It’s open! A few months ago, a sign outside the restaurant announced it was for lease, but the owner has since decided to keep it.
The restaurant, which used to be Menard’s Fish Shack, also underwent a renovation to coincide with the name and concept change.
494 Riverdale Ave., 519-9156522, facebook.com /menardsfishshack