And sometimes the customer unwittingly asks for a vodka-based cocktail in a restaurant, and gets treated with contempt.

Jazz Bistro in the old Senator Steakhouse building on Victoria is now open for lunch, grand opening scheduled for April 3. Menus here: http://jazzbistro.ca/the-bistro/

According to Toronto Life, this episode airs tonight at 10 on Food Network Canada.

Agreed ... then there's the Café Boulud decor to consider, which can charitably be called whimsical, uncharitably a bit of a joke ...

Mangia & Bevi and Mengrai Thai are within walking distance.

The name of the restaurant is Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar, and they are indeed open today at 225 Church St. So far they don't have a website but they have a Facebook page.

Had dinner Saturday before a concert at the RCM and enjoyed it -- look forward to going back when in the neighbourhood. I quite enjoyed the crispy duck egg with mushrooms and confit duck app and the sea bream with romesco sauce main. I would rank it with Nota Bene or Bymark -- not spectacular, would not go out of my way to go there, but pleased with what they offer.

Sign on the window says they open Sunday.

I am very interested in details on the Jazz Bistro opening in the building previously well known as the Senator Steakhouse / Top of the Senator, then briefly as the Savoy Bistro ... http://www.jazzbistro.ca

Are you thinking of Café Boulud?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/812848

Grant van Gameren is planning to open Crown Cooks at College and Shaw in January. "The ingredient-driven menu at Crown Cooks will be tapas-style, along with four to six larger sharing plates. There will be offal, vegetable dishes, and his brand of cured meats." More details here: http://www.thegridto.com/blog-post/ch...

I see the menus are now online: http://www.fourseasons.com/toronto/di...
and they are now accepting reservations on Open Table.

Canoe -- had the tasting menu with local wine pairings. One of my all-time favourite Toronto restaurant experiences.

If you're in an Irish mood, PJ O'Brien's is worth a visit in the daytime.

Had dinner at Windows on Canada Day weekend and was disappointed. The Coq-au-vin was dried out and the pickerel underseasoned. Portions are much more generous than typical JK (the server said they tried the small plates concept initially but it didn't work for the tourists) but at $200 for two with cocktails and wine I found it a bit pricey.

And don't be fooled by the website photo -- the Horseshoe is a fair distance from the Sheraton (excellent view of the American Falls, however).

Down the Street is usually reliable. Reservations are well-advised this time of year.

+1 for Tournesol -- love the mussels starter. I believe they are participating in Summerlicious this year, if that makes a difference.

I doubt any CH regular will admit to having dined there in at least a decade, but it is a landmark of sorts .... http://www.thestar.com/business/artic...

I thought the same until I ate at Frontera Grill in Chicago a couple of years ago -- complexity and depth of flavour can definitely come in the form of a taco, with a range of spices and sauces that the home cook would find hard to replicate. I'm looking forward to trying GE (after the buzz dies down -- I won't line up) to find out how it compares with Rick Bayless's flagship.

Joey is affiliated with Earl's.

Saturday June 9 will be your last chance for à-la-carte dinner -- it will be opening in the evening as a "special event venue" thereafter.

Turns out she retired from the Globe, but will be writing for Postcity: http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/E...

There is a short note at the end of Joanne Kates' review of The Saint in today's Globe and Mail announcing that it will be her final review after 38 years as restaurant critic -- a farewell column is due next week.

Haven't been there for brunch, but I do like the Gilead Bistro as a pre-Soulpepper theatre alternative to the cartel that runs the Distillery District restaurants. Service at dinner has been attentive and professional and the food has been good if somewhat unexceptional.

I've had the burger a couple of times, with and without bacon/cheese -- prefer it without. For a $15 burger it's alright. They put a 1000-Islandish dressing on it that gets kind of sloppy. Fries are skinny and addictive.

Coming soon to Pearson International Airport: Claudio Aprile, Mark McEwan, Rocco Agostino, Hemant Bhagwani ...
http://bit.ly/HwaLyF

April issue of Toronto Life features their annual Best New Restaurants list -- this time by committee (no bylines on any of the reviews):

1. Yours Truly
2. Acadia
3. Aria
4. Keriwa
5. Ortolan
6. Barque
7. F'Amelia
8. Modus
9. Volos
10. Mideastro

As well, they've launched an iPhone/iPad app for which they're charging $1.99.

Tom Jones Steakhouse

Now open according to Kennedy's Twitter feed.

Panera Bread at Yonge & Edward