Carmelina Imola and Zachary Kolomeir, the powerhouse couple behind Dreyfus and Taverne Bernhardt’s, have announced their latest venture: N.L. Ginzburg, set to open in the heart of Little Italy at 548 College St.
The new restaurant will feature a dining room and menu inspired by the simplicity of a slow food trattoria, viewed through a “diasporic Jewish lens,” suggesting a potential focus on Italian cuisine, according to a recent announcement made on social media. The restaurant’s name honors Natalia and Leone Ginzburg, an Italian-Jewish couple known for their anti-fascist activism during the First and Second World Wars.
Like their previous restaurants, which were named after historical Jewish figures and events, N.L. Ginzburg follows this tradition with a name referencing these significant figures in Jewish and European history. The exact opening date for N.L. Ginzburg has not been revealed, but the restaurant is hiring, signaling the launch is approaching.
Imola and Kolomeir have already significantly impacted the city’s dining scene with their previous ventures. Their first restaurant, Dreyfus, opened in 2019 in Harbord Village and is a French bistro known for its modern take on classic French dishes. In 2020, they launched Taverne Bernhardt’s, a rustic French bistro specializing in rotisserie meats.
Most recently, in 2022, they opened Vilda’s, a sandwich shop and grocery-deli that combines deli provisions with a unique sandwich menu. These restaurants have earned recognition, including a Michelin recommendation for Dreyfus, and have helped establish Imola and Kolomeir as key figures in Toronto’s culinary landscape.
