The County General has announced some major plans for 2014. Owner Carlo Catallo plans expansion into two new sites, with different themes riffing on the popular cocktails 'n' rustic food aesthetic that has soaked up so much of West Queen West's dining cognoscenti since it opened in 2011.

After two years of close affiliation with Splendido, County is branching out by itself with chef Danai Hongwanishkul (Canoe) taking the reins from Victor Barry for culinary direction. While the original location at Queen and Shaw will continue pumping out their famous buttermilk fried chicken thigh sandwiches, they'll be expanding in the new year to the east end of the city at Queen and Boulton in the former site of the Canadian Pie Company with a cocktail-focused spot.

Catallo's plans include more light lunches and coffee during the day, with a shared plates / tapas focused menu in the evening. Here's hoping the east end gets treated to more of Jeff Carroll's much loved Manhattans and Caesars.

Later in the year, the County brand will also be extending north by moving into the restaurant space attached to the Paradise Cinema in Bloorcourt (formerly the home of Beirut Palace). With plans for a sizeable patio, Catallo and Hongwanishkul hope to bring their locally-sourced product to a wider crowd. With the original site still experiencing lengthy wait lists for both brunch and dinner, the soon to open new locations should make it easier to grab a table for one of their indulgent KFC dinners.

For more Toronto restaurant openings, check out our weekly roundup post.