kayehm's Profile
ANYTHING even remotely good in the Finch/Steeles - 400/Weston Road quadrant?
If you want to venture a bit further South-West - at Islington/Albion is Madras Dosa Hut.. I only go to there for their Thali or Dosas, but I know they have a buffet. The dosas have always been fantastic.
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Madras Dosa Hut
1123 Albion Rd, Toronto, ON M9V1A9, CA
Stout Irish Pub
A group of us ate there on March 10th - I'm not sure if we got the new menu or not - but the burger I had was $9.99 - it was massive and tasty. Moist, pink in the middle, good quality meat, fresh bun. Sweet potato fries were thin sliced, coated in egg batter and crispy.
The above commenter who remarked about the mustard - I was offered a wide selection of condiments, including mustard.
Service was quick, friendly and attentive. Both the owner and manager came over to talk to us and make sure everything was okay. We all agreed we would go back.
Didn't hurt that they gave us whiskey shots before we left.. on the house.
I'd say they are listening.. and trying.
Mai Xiang Yuan: 1084 Saint Laurent
I'm a big fan of Mothers Dumplings in Toronto and we stumbled upon this place this past weekend. We ended up eating here twice - we ordered the Pork Shrimp & Mushroom dumplings (boiled) and the Beef & Onion( Fried). Were a bit disappointed that we couldn't get anything steamed, but we were very impressed with the quality of what we did get - especially the Pork/Shrimp/Mushroom ones. Fillings were generous and tasty. The fried Beef-Onion ones provided a little soupy explosion in the mouth (or elsewhere) upon puncture.
Price was a bit higher than expected (compared to my only other experience, Mothers), but we were very satisfied, over-all and would go back if ever in the area again.
Buenos Aires for New Year's?
Agree with the above post. We arrived in BA at 6:30pm on December 31 from Ushuaia - with no dinner reservations anywhere. BA was like a ghost town - everything was closed. The only place we could find near our hotel was a Chinese restaurant buffet. Everything else was either closed or you needed reservations for an (expensive) fixed price dinner. Even the "25 hours" stores were closed.
Hart House Wedding?
I photographed a winter wedding there a few years ago - February 29. It was a cocktail party, not a sit-down dinner. The food was very good and plentiful with a lot of variety. It actually felt as if there was too much food. Service was attentive. The couple was very happy with what they received.
Opinions about Mengrai Thai?
Good choice - food, atmosphere.
But some think Sukhothai wins on food.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/737489
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/697937
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/451937
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/702469
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Sukhothai
274 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA
Buenos Aires for New Year's?
And we, too - will be in BA for NYE this year. Definitely appreciate all these recommendations and tips.
Sushi Recommendation needed!
You order off the menu and it's all made to order.
The wait staff does sometimes make you feel a bit rushed - they have an annoying tendency to take away the menus after your first order - but just hold onto it.
I've been many times and the sushi has always been good - I'd echo the 7.5/10 evaluation above
Negroni
Definitely a good choice. Good coffee and quiet - especially during the afternoons. I honestly spent close to 6 hours there with a friend one afternoon. Apps, Panini.. then dessert and coffee. They brought us complimentary ice cream and never once did we feel as if we were being a nuisance or rushed.
Good sushi - close to Airport
There are a few right near the airport
Sushi Ya (beside the Shell Gas station on Dixon)
Ginko (in the Doubletree Hotel near Airport Road/401)
If you want to drive a bit - and have a bit more to spend on spectacular food - one of the best Sushi restaurants in Toronto is a 10-15 minute drive south on the Queensway - Sushi Kaji
But please don't go to Sushi Dragon near the Congress Centre
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Sushi Kaji
860 The Queensway, Toronto, ON M8Z1N7, CA
Ginko Japanese Restaurant
655 Dixon Rd, Toronto, ON M9W1J3, CA
Breakfast near elizabeth bader theatre
I'm pretty sure it's Isabel Bader - on Charles Street across from the ROM.
Over Easy, on Bloor, across from the ROM is decent. I've had a few of their Eggs Benny - all good. We usually order 2 different ones and split them. And they give you a whole pot of coffee on the table so you don't have to ask for refills. There is usually a line-up on weekends around Brunch time.
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Over Easy
208 Bloor W, Toronto, ON M5S1T8, CA
Looking for O Noir reviews
We ate there last week - Thursday weeknight, 9pm service. Group of 4. There were maybe 15 or so other people at the dinner service.
Three of us ordered the calamari apps - which were all good and more plentiful than expected. One person ordered the "surprise" app. She did have food allergies and informed the staff about them. But we also came up with a sign for her to use if she did have a food allergy reaction in the dark - just in case. Her surprise app was disappointing - it seemed to be just a green salad. Definitely lacking compared to the calamari or other apps listed.
Main courses - three had the chicken, one had fillet mignon.
The filet mignon arrived already cut up - guess they don't want people using steak knives in the dark. The chicken was good and plentiful, albeit a bit dry. I may not have noticed the dryness if I'd been able to redistribute the sauce if I had been able to see. The roasted vegetables were plentiful and it was a bit of a "search and rescue" mission at the end to find all the veggies. Some did end up on my lap.
All in, the food was good, but not fantastic. You are paying for the experience. We all ordered the app and main course for $32. No desserts. One person left hungry (the surprise app + steak person). Service was pleasant and friendly.
The hardest and most interesting thing for all of us was not the eating in the dark - but communicating in the dark. You can't rely on facial expressions and gestures - everything has to be communicated verbally. We actually really enjoyed this aspect of the experience and stuck around for a full 30minutes (at least) after we'd finished eating just to talk in the dark.
Walper Hotel, Kitchener
What kind of venue are you looking for? The Walper has never really been known for it's food or ambiance. At least not in the past 10 years.
Which wineries are worth a visit in Prince Edward County?
Besides previously mentioned Waupoos, I also highly recommend Black Prince Winery. Great people, great wine.
http://blackprincewinery.com/
House on Parliament-going downhill???
We went back yesterday afternoon - just for snacks and drinks. We ordered the samosas to share - they were not horrible (after sopping up the grease with a few napkins). But service... it still kinda sucked. It seems like no one there cares. I think this will be the last visit.
House on Parliament-going downhill???
Sadly, I would have to agree. I also used to go there all the time but my last few visits have been really... bad. The service was absent-minded and formerly good food was mediocre.
On one visit there was a bug squished into the yolk of the boiled egg in my formerly favourite dish there - the spinach salad. I mentioned it to the aforementioned spaced-out server who told me it must have happened outside since I was eating on the patio. Bug squished into the yolk... like it committed suicide there. There was no offer of compensation of any kind and she just walked away. I have not been back since.
But that bathroom - it has always been tiny, albeit not completely disgusting :)
Any breakfast places in Toronto that make HOMEMADE PANCAKES from scratch?
I'm pretty sure that Fresh makes theirs from scratch.
Three locations, but nothing much further east than Bloor/Spadina.
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Fresh
326 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S1W5, CA
Fresh
147 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5V2L7, CA
COCONUT WATER - Where to get in GTA?
No Frills in the suburban neighbourhoods carry Coconut Water in Tetra Pack and cans. Always plenty of stock. I can speak for Black Creek, Etobicoke and Rexdale locations.
Good, relatively inexpensive restaurants in Etobicoke/Kingsway area?
I used to meet up with a group at Billy Bob's (Bistro and Saloon), which was/is located above The Fan sports bar at the North West corner of Bloor/Jane. The food is average, price very reasonable - and they have a rooftop patio.
If you go a bit East - The Yellow Griffin is near Runnymede. Pub-like, lots of burger varieties (combination of toppings) reasonably priced. Service is sometimes slow-ish. They have a patio out front facing Bloor.
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Yellow Griffin
2202 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6P, CA
Toronto Pizza Chains
Of all the chains, my favourite is also Panzerotto Pizza. They stopped delivering to my area a few years ago - but I still prefer their slices and pizzas to the other chains. Not greasy, they do not skimp on the toppings and quality ingredients combined with good delivery service (when last I ordered, 2+ years ago)
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Panzerotto Pizza
1446 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4T1Y5, CA
Weekend Trip from Downtown
To the East - Merrill Inn near Picton
http://www.merrillinn.com/
To the West - Langdon Hall in Cambridge
http://www.langdonhall.ca/
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Merrill Inn
343 Picton Main St, Prince Edward, ON K0K 2T0, CA
Langdon Hall
1 Langdon Drive, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8, Canada
Wings in south Etobicoke?
I know this thread has been quiet for a while - but I found it while looking for reviews of Duff's.
In case someone is looking for really good wings in South Etobicoke - there is a restaurant/bar/roadhouse in a strip mall at the corner of Evans and Browns Line called "Heads or Tails" - at 847 Browns Line. They had some of the best wings I've ever eaten. A group of us used to meet up there weekly about between 4-8 years ago.
I was dragged to Duff's on College last week and can't say that Duff's was any better.
food and drink after the symphony
You could always hop on the subway at St. Andrew and be at 7 West in less than 10 minutes.
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7 West
7 Charles St W, Toronto, ON M4Y1R4, CA
Dinner before a show at Massey Hall
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/696151
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/664185
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/602710
Fantasy Farm reviews
I photographed a wedding there in 2008. Everything ran very smoothly (almost military-like). There are many rules to be followed (which can get a bit frustrating as the photographer) and I was told that I would be kicked out if I broke certain rules regarding photographing in certain areas.
It was a rainy day so the wedding was moved indoors (maple leaf ballroom?). One thing I definitely remembered about the food was the quantity - everyone got salmon AND steak (all prepared medium) plus potatoes and veggies. Barely anyone finished the massive portions and they were not horrible as far as wedding food goes. The dessert was mediocre. The grounds are really quite beautiful after a rain and you can easily avoid the tacky stuff - as long as the bridal party's heels do not sink into the grass :)
Venue Suggestions for a Networking Event (Downtown Toronto)
C'est What has two private rooms off the main room, behind the bar. I've attended a few networking events in that space (both spaces combined).
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C'est What
67 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E1B5, CA
Salad King
presencegirl is referring to the gay village - Church / Wellesley area.
Although I've found the quality of food at Just Thai to be wildly variable in quality and taste.
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Just Thai
534 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y2E1, CA
Timothy’s Tikka House-any good?
We ate there tonight, first time I've ever sat in behind those dirty windows for a meal - I usually get take out (which I've never had issue with). There was a steady stream of people ordering take-out and deliveries being made while we ate and hung around but there were only 4 other people over 2 hours who also ate in.
We ordered all veggie food and could not finish the 2 dishes (veggie biryani, mattar paneer with naan) - but although plentiful, it all tasted average. The biryani seasoning was a bit different than previous times I've ordered it. A bit too much anise this time. It was almost over-powering.
Perhaps it tastes better when you eat it at home after the anticipation? Dunno. I'll probably continue to order take out - if only to not have to deal with their nasty, nasty bathrooms again :)
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Timothy Tikka House
556 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M4X1P6, CA
Where to go for a romantic birthday dinner?
Second for Sidecar or Negroni. Both have great (non fish) vegetarian options and are romantic. We had a lovely dinner at Negroni a few weeks ago - split the marinated olives, a delicious panini and arugula/fennel salad and a bottle of red wine between us. Then the peanut butter ice cream and a cafe au lait for dessert all over several candle-lit hours. Total was well under $100.
Mother Dumplings - new location
I did something perhaps crazy and made a reservation for tomorrow for a large group. Will report back. They have responded to and apologized for the shortages on their (finally updated) website.
