yood is a thumping, sweaty scene of a restaurant that is about to splash onto Toronto's dining landscape. In the heart of the West Queen West action – that being the Beaconsfield, The Social and The Drake - this stylish, high-energy restaurant/nightspot takes on a modern edge with rich textures, gem tones and lounge-like accouterments.

Nyood (which rhymes with feud) is brought to us by owner Hanif Harji, and follows the success of his Kultura on King Street East. The notion of this restaurant space has been watched closely, with the apparent falling out between Harji and Chef Claudio Aprile.

You see, this was to be the boys' second teaming (the first was the alluring Colborne Lane), and when the two went their separate directions, many – including myself - thought this would be the end of what would eventually be Nyood. Alas, Harji quickly connected with Terry Tsianos (owner of Palais Royale, The Miller Tavern and The Wheat Sheaf Tavern), and progress continued apace in carving a scenester restaurant out of what was previously the DeLeon White Gallery.

And here it is. Open to the public February 15th (after the Valentine Day crush)

And here it is. Open to the public February 15th (after the Valentine Day crush), the glitzy new spot - whose boxy footprint occupies the prime location beside Spin Gallery - is indeed a gutsy endeavor, staking its reputation on a menu boldly punctuated by a Mediterranean melange of inventive small plates, but with a Caribbean twist.

Expecting normalcy from owner Harji (and interior design firm Commute Homes, who also designed Kultura) is a pointless endeavor, but anticipating brilliance isn't outlandish. Nyood's wildly original interior provides plenty of the latter and a little of the former.

Reconceived classicism is at the heart of all things Nyood, and references to the details are a clever validation of that tradition. Harji and the design team have thoroughly explored the area, giving regenerated vigor to their own square footage – polished tree stumps at the entrance, hand-crafted ceiling molding high above, custom wall design work that emulates tree bark, and expansive glass panels that roll up, garage-door style – to create a highly original dine/lounge/party space.

But at its core, its very life force is a centerpiece bar that is beyond cool. The design behind the bright, polished Cipollini marble bar, which runs the length of the front area, is more of an art installation, rather than the standard template bar. Gone is the unattractive bar rail, and it its place is a clean, streamlined slab of marble, acting as a beacon to attract crowds of seriously beautiful people. Behind that bar is a monstrous shelving unit that runs the length of bar area. Look closely, and you'll see that the back brick wall has been stenciled over, creating a graffiti effect.

Those amorphous qualities will extend to the food; Chef Roger Mooking has been brought over from Kultura, and although menu items are still being worked out, Mediterranean classics, much like what he has done with Asian dishes at Kultura. Actually, Nyood is a lot like Kultura except with a Queen West art gallery space substituting for King East art gallery space. Mooking's attitudes toward food and cooking are demonstrative of his passion for both and the path that he has taken to get to where he is now. And with Harji's considerable and loyal following certainly will help the Nyood buzz.

Manager Sacha El Wakeel, Sommelier Spencer Brown and Sous Chef Stuart Cameron are all restaurant veterans, and well-tuned for next week's opening. An emphasis on pushing the Champagne delivery and Mooking's tapas treats will make this a hip hang for restless area dwellers looking for a laid-back, irreverent scene. We'll raise a glass to that. D.E.