I'm taking my small-town kids, 11 and 13, to Toronto for a day--St. Lawrence Market, comic-book stores, etc. We'll probably TTC it from Yonge & Sheppard, so as we head back out of town, what interesting and affordable places would you suggest from there north e.g. Richmond Hill? I'm out of touch with that area, but I like to introduce the boys to foods they can't try around home. I know we probably can't get dim sum for dinner, although that would be cool, but I'd appreciate recommendations (not traditional kid-friendly, chicken-fingers-and-fries ones) for Chinese, Indian, Caribbean or great deli/burgers. Thanks!

Hey, sounds like we're both heading to see Maria Bamford--I'll be at the 8:00 show, too. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions here--much appreciated. I live out of town and it's such a drag when a night in Toronto defaults to a crappy roadhouse when there are other, better options nearby.

I don't know this part of town well at all, but have heard good things about Rikishi. Are there other good options within a few minutes walk from where a friend wants to meet at Bloor & Ossington? Open to just about anything except chains and faux-pubs. Thanks!

Great to hear--thanks so much, RYP!

Oh no...I can't believe the York Street Kitchen is gone--that's terrible news! Where do I get sandwiches for the post-matinee drive home now? And I'm sorry I never got the chance to try Simple Fish and Chips. Thanks for the other suggestions.

I'm heading to Stratford with a friend and our five boys, ages nine to 13. They're not picky, but obviously we want something reasonably priced with good, even interesting food. I usually go to Stratford with an older crowd, and tend to fall back on favourites like Cafe Ten, the York Street Kitchen and Balzac's. I'd appreciate suggestions for non-fine-dining but non-chain lunch, dinner and ice cream/dessert spots that would have wide appeal and enhance the kids' sense of having had a grown-up experience. I picked up Downie Street Burgers and Simple Fish and Chips from previous threads--others most welcome!

Thanks so much, everyone--I hadn't run into Cake and Loaf, let Them Eat cakes or Cafe Ola, so I really appreciate the suggestions. I didn't mean to imply I was focused on cupcakes, though; a great slice of pie is one of life's wonderful things! Or am I the only one getting less interested in whipped cream and cheesecake as I (ahem) age?

I'm not at all familiar with Hamilton, but I'm looking forward to trying some of the recommendations on other threads when I head there for a show on Saturday. Didn't see much on dessert places or patisseries, though -- any one have suggestions? If they have killer coffee, so much the better. And yes, I like a good cupcake, but it has to be worth the calories: moist, buttery and authentically flavoured. Thanks!

Anybody have reviews or tips of this Old Montreal resto? Heading there for a business dinner soon (someone else did the booking) and I'm curious as to what's good and what isn't.

Thanks!

Thanks so much--it helps to have a bit of a game plan. I love the sound of the fish fry and the Portuguese breads...something else I miss in a small community. And thanks for the advice on timing; I may wait until early afternoon.

Along with my two sons, 8 and 10, I'm planning to eat my way through the St. Jacobs/Kitchener/Waterloo farmers' market next Saturday. It can be a bit overwhelming though, so I'd appreciate any recommendations for bread, cheese, pastry and anything else we should know about. Thanks!

I'm finding our local Loblaws (Lindsay) very frustrating. It must be an attempt to control inventory better, but too much stuff is out of stock, even on big shopping days when it should be piled high, e.g. cheese listed in the flyer. After one particularly bad experience, I wrote the manager, and never got the courtesy of a reply. Sounds like others are finding the same indifference.

This is just what I was looking for in preparation for a trip with my two kids to St. Jacobs next week--affordable, good quality food. I remember liking Angie's Kitchen, too. Can anyone tell me if there's Vietnamese worth trying in the K-W area? I've been telling them about salad rolls you make yourself; coming from a small town, I like to expose them to more interesting flavours when I can.

Thanks--I didn't realize Aunties and Uncles was in that general area, so I think I'll give that a try. Much appreciated!

I'm not crazy enough to ask for recommendations of interesting, reasonably priced dinner options near Second City, where we're going tomorrow night--I'm thinking Beerbistro might be our least bad choice. But I'm holding out hope that someone might know of a tucked-away diner where we could have a truly awesome breakfast on Saturday morning. I used to work at the CBC broadcast centre, but am not in that area of Toronto much any more, so I can't think of much. Cora's on Wellington is a fallback position, but my husband's more of a greasy spoon guy, which is also fine with me. Anyone know of a great neighbourhood diner OR great, funky breakfast place with a reasonable walking distance of that area? Thanks!

Thanks to both of you for the tips--I wasn't aware of the coffee roaster or "the mushroom people," and we'll likely be around Selwyn. We might also check out those bakeries. And one from me to you...if you weren't already aware of it, Fresh Country produce at Fowlers Corners carries outstanding homemade pies fresh from the owner's oven, at very reasonable prices.

Thanks, Kaymanti--I haven't been there for a long time, but I remember it being wonderful, although difficult at times to separate the truly local growers from those trucking stuff in.

Although I live not far from the Lakefield-Peterborough area, I don't know a lot about local food producers in that neck of the woods. A friend and I are treating ourselves to a little tour to find out more, starting with lunch at Nuttshell Next Door, and definitely including a place that mills organic (I think) Red Fife wheat. Does anyone know the area and have other suggestions to offer? We both have our own eggs and access to hormone-free, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, but would be interested in artisan bakeries, cheesemakers, produce farmers/sellers doing neat things (I know it's too early for anything but rhubarb and asparagus). Thanks!

That's another new one to me--thanks again! I spent more time in Kingston as a student, which meant fish and chips at The Pilot House and morning-after breakfasts at the Toucan. Nice to hear about more grown-up options.

Thanks, JB--I'll look into Le Chien Noir, but the Brew Pub sounds promising too...just depends what kind of mood we're in!

My husband and I are taking a short getaway to Kingston this weekend. I used to be there a lot, but don't know much about the restaurant scene now. We both like funky, warm and independent over high-end. Reasonable prices, and, ideally, walkable in the downtown area. I'm looking at Pan Chancho or Aroma for lunch, but I'd appreciate other suggestions, as well as ideas for dinner spots and places with awesome coffee for lingering over the Saturday papers. Thanks!

I used to live in Ottawa, so I'm reasonably familiar with the scene, but I was really mad after taking my kids to the Elgin St. Dunn's location for breakfast on Saturday. (The Mayflower was busy, so we thought we'd give Dunn's a try.) The sign outside proclaimed a cheap breakfast, but did note it was Monday-Friday. When we were seated, I asked the very pleasant server about the special; she said it wasn't available on weekend. No problem, I said, but maybe they shouldn't put the sign out. "It says right there the special isn't available." Gotcha. Then the menus came--limited breakfast selection and your basic breakfast was a ridiculous $7.99. Three pancakes cost $7.49. Which I could have lived with if there was something distinctive about any of it, but there wasn't. Air bread for toast, run-of-the-mill sausages, pancakes from a mix, fake syrup. And the bathrooms were, while not dirty, clearly dingy and uncared-for. At least the server was nice. All I was hoping for was a good, solid diner breakfast, but do yourself a favour and go somewhere else on weekends!

Thanks for the suggestions. It's not "fine lunching" but I do like Jay Nutt's place in Lakefield, too. The driving conditions may end up dictating our choice anyway!

Never heard of it--thanks for the suggestion!

Despite living a short distance from Peterborough, I don't know much about fine dining options there. We tend to go for cozy/funky most of the time, e.g. Cosmic Charlie's, La Hacienda, Karma's Cafe, St. Veronus, Old Stone or that awesome Caribbean hole-in-the-wall on Hunter. I'd like to go for a really nice lunch with a friend, but am not sure which of the nicer places might be worth the splurge e.g. Parkhill on Hunter, 38 Degrees etc. Or are we better to stick with one of the usuals and just splash out a bit more than usual? Nothing makes me angrier than going to a place that purports to be fine dining, charges fine dining prices, but doesn't deliver on the food! Thanks for your ideas...

I'm looking for suggestions for reasonably priced, tasty lunch spots within a 10-minute walk of Mont-Royal and de Lorimier area. I've found a few I like when I'm there for work, but would love to expand my horizons. I love Caribbean/Indian/Thai and just about anything, really. There's a new egg place right near there on the north side...is it any good? What about La Bolduc? Anything tucked away in the residential areas that I've missed? Thanks in advance!

Now that you mention it, the breads and rolls did look quite nice...maybe if I hadn't needed a sugar fix I'd have paid more attention!

First of all, a huge thank-you to everyone who suggested reasonably priced dining options for my recent business trip to Edmonton. I thought I'd give a quick summary for others who may not have discovered some of these spots...I did actually find one on my own!

The Uppercrust Cafe: terrific food, starting with gorgeous warm funny little rolls and continuing strong; good prices, but the service was indifferent that night
Langano Skies: loved it, although I'm guessing you really don't get the full effect without a group. No problems with service, despite some other posts I've read.
Dadeo: So far above the usual hokey southern-style restaurant that it doesn't deserve to be smeared by their company. I just wish I'd had a chance to have dinner there, as well as lunch.
Sugar Bowl: Unbelievable giant cinnamon buns...and I know my cinnamon buns. Not too sticky or sweet, but with a crunchy brown sugar topping that has to be experienced.
Transcend Coffee: Best. Coffee. Ever. (Although not a particularly cozy spot to linger.)

Two big duds:
Rick and Alice's Grill on 109th for what I hoped would be a good greasy-spoon-type breakfast--crunchy air toast, okay sausage, underdone potatoes and overdone eggs, for an outrageous $7.95.
Italian Bakery (I may not have the name exactly right) on 97: it was very busy, but I found the pastries extremely disappointing...fake whipped cream--need I say more?

Anyway, I loved Edmonton, and thanks to you 'hounders, I was able to minimize the bad meals and maximize the good ones...and what else is a trip to a new city for, right?

Thanks again to everyone--this is so helpful! I never really trust the tourism material to pick an interesting restaurant, and it's unlikely I'd run across some of these places on my own, so I truly appreciate your suggestions. Any thoughts on Glenora Bistro?

Thank you both--I really appreciate it. I'm not familiar with Turkish food, so I especially like the sound of Sofra. I'm staying in the south central part of Edmonton next week, which looks to me like it might be verging on suburban sameness, but I guess I'll find out!