A popular Italian restaurant at Yonge and St. Clair that quietly disappeared earlier this year appears to be on the verge of reopening. Cucina Buca, located at 2 St. Clair West, has reservations available on OpenTable starting October 19, according to Streets of Toronto.
The restaurant has been closed for several months after unexpected water damage earlier this year. Its sibling spot, Bar Buca, reopened at the same address in June, but Cucina Buca itself had remained dark, leaving neighbourhood diners guessing about its fate.
The closure first drew attention in May, when food writer Stephanie Dickison reported seeing a completely cleared-out dining room. Speculation about the restaurant's future has continued ever since.
A Midtown fixture since 2022
Cucina Buca opened in 2022 as a concept from the King Street Food Company, the restaurant group behind the Michelin-recommended Buca. The two-storey space — with high ceilings, terrazzo floors and oak accents — quickly became a destination for the neighbourhood, Streets of Toronto reported.
The restaurant was known for handmade pasta dishes, focaccia di Recco and dishes cooked in a charcoal and wood-fired oven.
No official announcement yet
There is a caveat for diners eager to book. The restaurant group has not posted a formal reopening announcement on its own channels, so the October 19 date could change. An OpenTable listing for the restaurant is live, with dinner reservations starting from 5:30 p.m. onward.
It is also not yet clear whether the restaurant will bring back its original menu or take a new culinary direction when it reopens.
Diners hoping to be among the first through the doors can check availability on OpenTable, though the final word will likely come from the restaurant's own website.
