Drake spotted at new Susur Lee restaurant Fring's

Though the latest Susur Lee venture was kept under wraps in the lead-up to its launch, its Monday night unveiling won a ton of buzz thanks to an appearance by the "6 God" himself. 

Fring's is taking over what used to be Crush Wine Bar on King Street West near Spadina Avenue and is largely an undertaking by Lee's sons Kai and Levi Bent-Lee, the chef said.  

"Now is their time to strive. For me, it's helping them to succeed because they love the business," Lee told CBC News.

After a star-studded launch Monday night, which drew a large lineup outside, Drake took to Instagram with a photo of Lee, Lee's sons and OVO's Angelo Ferraro with the caption: "Them boys up to something." Jada Pinkett Smith and her son, Jaden, were also spotted at the launch.

Lee said they served burgers, salmon tartare with potato chips and chef Jamie Kennedy's fries.

In recent weeks, there were rumblings of a collaboration between Lee and Drake on social media.

In a brief phone interview Tuesday, Lee confirmed to The Canadian Press he is opening a new restaurant and that Drake is involved. But he was unsure of the restaurant's opening date, and the extent of Drake's involvement wasn't immediately clear.

Last week, Drake alluded to a new Lee venture on Instagram, saying he was "so excited for the opening of Fring's in Toronto!" Lee also posted an image of himself with Drake's "Hotline Bling" — which he released alongside "Charged up" in July — graphic in the background. 

But Levi Bent-Lee said the rapper is "a good friend of ours and he's a supporter of ours."

"Anything that Drake supports — especially when it has anything to do with Toronto —  it's amazing what he's done for the city," he said.

"Just being a friend of his and asking his opinion on certain things has been a blessing."

The rapper is no stranger to Lee's Toronto food scene. Last year, Drake rang in his birthday at Bent on Dundas West.

Kai Bent-Lee said they hope to open to the public in a couple of weeks.