One of Toronto’s most recognizable supper club names has closed its doors once again, following a short-lived revival at Yonge and St. Clair in 2023.
Ultra Supper Club, the midtown dining and nightlife destination revived by restaurateur Charles Khabouth, permanently closed as of last Saturday, June 6.
“To our neighbourhood and every guest who has dined with us, whether for a spontaneous dinner, to ring in a special occasion, or for an exclusive dining experience, thank you,” the venue wrote in a farewell message on Instagram on Thursday. “We are grateful for your support and will never forget the late nights and bright days our team shared with you.”
The closure is especially notable given Ultra’s history in Toronto’s nightlife scene. As we previously reported, long before its midtown revival, Ultra was the place to be on a Saturday night on Queen West for early-2000s club-goers, before it shut down in 2012.
The concept returned more than a decade later in 2023, with INK Entertainment Group and Harlo Entertainment teaming up to reopen the venue at 12 St. Clair Ave E. The comeback was meant to be more of a mature, luxurious evolution of the original supper club, targeting diners just north of Bloor who wanted an elevated night out without heading downtown.
“Ultra is everything I’ve done through my journey in the hospitality industry,” Khabouth, CEO and founder of INK Entertainment Group, said at the time, adding that the venue was about delivering “the best” across food, service, music and entertainment.
The 2023 version of Ultra was big on design and atmosphere: in the Ochre Room, guests could dine while surrounded by dramatic gold décor and a chain-link chandelier stretching across the ceiling or perhaps enjoy drinks al fresco from the New York-style outdoor terrace.
Its menu also marked a shift from the original Ultra, with a focus on Pan-Asian cuisine, with dishes spanning from sushi and sashimi to robata-style mains.
But, true to its supper club roots, Ultra was never just a restaurant. For many Torontonians, the venue (both the OG Queen West spot and its midtown revival) became something of an icon. And while no reason was given for the closure, the news was met with huge disappointment from Insta users, with some describing it as “the end of an era.”
“Why, this place was special,” one user said, while another wrote, “Loved this place and food was amazing too bad not enough people appreciated this mid town gem.”
Another user remembered special celebrations at the lounge, noting, “I had such a great birthday party on the rooftop last summer. So sad to see you go. [T]hank you for the beautiful memories!”