Acclaimed Toronto restaurant The Black Hoof to close this summer

Last call for horse tartare and foie gras-laced desserts.

“We’ll be going hard ‘til August 20th,” reads a post to Instagram announcing the impending closure of landmark Toronto restaurant The Black Hoof.

“The Hoof (now in its 10th year) is so special to me—it’s where I learned how to do what I do (so often the hard way)—but it’s time,” writes restaurateur Jen Agg in a post to Instagram. “I’ve never approved of closing a busy restaurant, (seems crazy, tbh) but we’ve said all we have to, and ten years in this business is a LONG FUCKING TIME.”

If you would like to sit on the patio at the hoof (which is always a good idea) this summer is the time to do it! TRUST! What a sweet little treehouse it is. Ok fuck it, like I always say what’s the point of a press release when I can just do this. The Hoof (now in its 10th year) is so special to me—it’s where I learned how to do what I do (so often the hard way)—but it’s time. I’ve never approved of closing a busy restaurant, (seems crazy, tbh) but we’ve said all we have to, and ten years in this business is a LONG FUCKING TIME. I’m so proud of what this place was and what it has become. Totally without hubris, it was a turning point for the restaurant scene in our town and has seen so many people come and go, but uncharacteristically, as so often with restaurants, it has seen many people stay, and they’ve become the heartbeat of my company—I love you all dearly you know who you are. We’ll be going hard ‘til August 20th. Come say hi/bye! ❤❤❤

A post shared by Battle Ready 🗡 (@theblackhoof) on May 17, 2018 at 3:03pm PDT

The restaurant was a pioneer on Dundas West when it first opened in 2008 with a menu of off-cuts spun into delectable charcuts, not to mention its no reservation policy.

Its popularity spurred the vibrant restaurant scene in the area including sister spots Cocktail and Rhum Corner, while alumni Hoof chefs, including Grant Van Gameren (Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, Harry’s Charbroiled, Tennessee Tavern, Victor Dries Catering), Colin Tooke (Grand Electric), and Brandon Olsen (La Banane) have gone on to open some of the city’s most lauded restaurants.

GREAT Q! Yes most def hanging on to the space but TRULY no plans for it for now. Focussed elsewhere, gonna let it lie fallow til the thing good enough to fill the shoes comes along. https://t.co/FsH4WHzX1X

— Jen Agg (@TheBlackHoof) May 17, 2018

Agg confirms via Twitter that she’s hanging onto the Dundas West address, though there are no immediate plans for its replacement.

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