The Carbon Bar Inches Closer, Agave y Agucate's Resys

QUEEN STREET WEST—The long-awaited expansion from the team at Nota Bene is finally coming to fruition. The Carbon Bar took to Twitter yesterday to share pictures of the restaurant's rustic interior, featuring exposed brickwork walls, marble countertops and modern lighting. The restaurant told Eater it plans to open imminently, so watch this space. [Twitter]

EXPANSIONS— Carlo Catallo, owner of The County General announced plans for two new restaurants in 2014 with chef Danai Hongwanishkul of Canoe. The duo will take over the Canadian Pie Company space on Queen and Boulton early next year to open a new restaurant and cafe serving coffee, light lunches, tapas, and cocktails. BlogTO also reports that they'll be opening a second, larger project later in the year in the restaurant space attached to the Paradise Cinema. [BlogTO]

DISCOVERY DISTRICT—Duke's Refresher Bar (Yonge & Gerrard) officially opened yesterday with a menu that features a sizable draught beer selection and an array of gut-busting entrees. The bar hopes to push its brunch menu by offering a discount to patrons who return baring their entry stamps from the night before – the racier the location, the higher the discount. [Twitter]

BALDWIN VILLAGE— Reservations are being taken at last for Franciso Alejandri's Agave y Agucate, which will begin dinner service on Thursday December 12. Although the menu is still under wraps, the long-awaited Mexican restaurant plans to serve "a little bit of old and a little bit of new". [NOW]
— Rachel Kenworthy