neighborguy's Profile
Natrel Dark Chocolate Milk
Thank you for the heads up. Better make room in the fridge...
Burger's Priest vs. Holy Chuck vs. Stockyards
PP, that is a really nice review of HC and it makes me want to try it.
As for BP I live close by but anytime I'm by there all I see is the lineup....which must mean they are really good and deserve the buzz. And good for them....but...I'm still disappointed there is such limited seating in there. I recall most reviewers who get take-out and by the time they get home everything's soggy.
Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
JB, it may not be at the level of places like Rol San or Dynasty etc, but aside from the decor, limited seating and the use of styrofoam IMO Har Gow does a great presentation. If you go further based on price it is a fantastic value -- I'm sure we've all had much worse dim sum that cost more. I know I have.
Haven't had the chive cake and generally don't do buns at a restaurant but I found the har gow, sui mai and bean curd wrap rolls as good as anywhere. I'm a little picky on lotus leaf wrapped sticky rice and theirs is most competent -- a good aromatic balanced amount of moist and flavourful rice with savoury filling -- as opposed to too much dry rice with few bits of meat.
Even their lunch specials sound good. Too bad I don't work in the area.
BTW, I only go to Pearl Court as a last resort, as I find their food generally greasy and whenever I come home from there have to do laundry to remove the strong frying smell from that day's clothes.
Little Coxwell Vietnamese/Thai review
I've made the broth the same way as your mother once and couldn't believe how easy it was. I agree that it was bland compared to the salty MSG water you get at restaurants but it was incredibly aromatic considering the few ingredients used.
tacos within walking distance of kensington market area
The food is great, the ambiance is pleasantly Mexican themed.
But the service is really slow, to say the least, and you need to go with a lot of patience and definitely don't go with an empty stomach.
tacos within walking distance of kensington market area
helenhelen,
Since you mention Rebozos, have you been to El Sol?
Timothy's Coffee issues
I had the BLANDEST dark roast at Timothy's today. I admit to being a Starbucks customer and am used to strong flavoured coffee, but not by any means am I a snob or expert. The coffee I make at home is thru a french press and that is the standard.
When I took the cup back to the counter I was given a replacement from the same dispenser, so it tasted no different. The server dude said something like they do not burn their coffee like Starbucks and the reason for the flavour (or lack thereof in my opinion) is that they source their beans from all over...he asked if I wanted an espresso instead. So the customer service, while not stellar, was not a complete fail.
Two bucks is not a big deal but if I am going to go into a coffee store for a cuppa I expect to get something with more taste than instant. I was really disappointed. Maybe like some of the others here have stated it's important to manage my expectations...
Somehow I don't think I'll be contacting Timothy's to comment on their coffee, never mind get some kind of response.
Any chow worthy cheap eats in Kensington Market since last year
helenhelen, thank you for the list. It's so great to be able to get good snacks that don't come from an anonymous far-off conveyor belt...
Morgans on Danforth
The food is good -- I've had the steak, curry, and a pappardele ragout -- tho, they could probably stand to knock off a few bux off each entree. For the same money, I prefer Melanie's.
matcha green tea powder
Anyone with an update for this thread? I'm newly interested in matcha and it seems there's all kinds of product out there at different grades it sounds like maybe price is not an indication of quality.
I will check out N-PIG's suggestion of Kono En if they have a retail presence. Otherwise, my easily accessible source would be the 50g bag ($14-ish) at the Big Carrot, which sounds to be a mid-grade and acceptable type.
Scarborough To-Do List - What have I missed? What SHOULD I miss?
Lin Garden at Pharmacy/Sheppard. I'm neither here nor there on the food, but if you eat there it's like you're taken back to the 60's with their unchanged but classically "oriental" dining room.
Chowfind: Kestrel Bakery
If you're in the area of Steeles West and Kipling, this is a Sri Lankan bakery with a hot table, in addition to breads and and snacks like samosas and paratha.
There's no sit-down. I took away a gi-normous thali with chicken. A bit salty, but I will go back.
The Works - coming to The Danforth
I hear you about the VERY valid parking feature. If they didn't have the lot right there would I stop in? Hmmm...I have to say I would...Don't forget it's not a chain and you don't get the cookie-cutter experience.
The Works - coming to The Danforth
What don't you get about Square Boy? I've never eaten in myself, but the food is what it's supposed to be. Great guys working there forever and their sandwiches/burgers/souvlaki are great go-tos on the way home a few times a year.
Cheap and Dirty: Thrifty Dive Bars of the GTA
One more:
Helen's Bar & Burger @Danforth/Coxwell
Homemade "Greek" Yogurt
That -- the different milk bases-- I would pay for.
Here in Toronto the stuff they sell as 'Greek yogurt' tastes like strained versions of the yogurt on the same shelf but they charge as much as double for it. Often a 750ml tub of plain yogurt can be purchased on sale for $2 and straining it will yield the same volume as a 500ml tub of 'Greek yogurt' which tends to be priced from $4-5. Today I heard what a fast-growing category Greek yogurt is. Gotta love the marketers...and their consumers...
Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
Was here for new years day lunch today and I'm very happy to have finally made it. Everything ordered off the dim sum menu was as good or better than what I've had downtown or in Markham or Scarborough. Fresh and not greasy/fatty like some of the items can get at times.
To address the naysayers and their blah-blah-blah about surviving while offering so much pork product in the particular area: while I was eating in, the few other tables were occupied and the counter seats facing the street were left available. There was a steady stream of walk-in/take-away customers. Aside from the dimsum and conventional Chinese-Canadian menu they offer a daily lunch specials that should work for the student clientele. It's a good set-up and it's great for the neighborhood.
I'm going back as often as possible.
Djerba la duce at Danforth+Coxwell is now Taste of Tunisia
Walked by and noticed the new signage...has anyone been? What's the 411?
Restaurant close to the AGO for lunch on Sunday?
Would you consider Korean? There's a Ka-Chi on Dundas almost kitty-corner to the AGO. I believe there's also an Owl of MInerva in the mall at Dundas and Spadina.
Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
If Bamboo is actually good I would imagine you'd want other people to find out so it stays open.
Sunny Food Mart
I like this place. Agreeing with the other posts -- good prices, selection and it's clean.
If there is a negative, I've never enjoyed the prepared food which I've found to be either greasy and/or salty.
Spot for a 40th Birthday party?
You're right -- that is a huge range. Let's start at 50.
The area can be close to downtown, on a weekend and a closed off space would be ideal. I've not hosted such an event before so I don't know the figures involved but I know I won't go to a cash bar -- not to offend anyone who does that...;)
From the parties I've been to I'd like to have food on hand that is fancy enough to be appetizers but substantial enough for people who show up who've not eaten and need a light meal.
I'm not sure if I've filled in the blanks...
Spot for a 40th Birthday party?
Looking for a place to host a large-ish (50-100 people) group celebration. There is only a moderate budget but would like to NOT have a cash bar with good nibbles.
Morgans on the Danforth
mariecollins, the Steak Frites was I think $27.
prima, thanks for the reminder about Rails and Ales. You're the sixth or seventh person who has recently passed on some good word of mouth. And now the new location is even closer to me. Will check it out.
Where to go for GOOD SOUP
I googled 'authentic pho recipe' and skimmed the top five or so hits -- which also appear on this list:
http://www.lovingpho.com/pho-ingredients-garnishes/ten-pho-recipes-on-the-web/
I used the listings as a guide since I'm kinda bad at measuring but the overall ingredients and proportions can be followed. I put the bones in a slow cooker and did it overnight. The next day I added the aromatics (star anise, coriander, etc) and a few hours later when I walked in the house it smelled just like going into a pho restaurants. It was delightful!!!
If you are close to an asian market I might suggest you use the fresh rice noodles rather than reconstituted rice stick. It was just like the soup I had in Vietnam.
Morgans on the Danforth
Opened just this weekend in what was formerly the location of Taps & Tales, now run by the people who own the Hot House. Can't say the one or two times visiting Taps & Tales if anything stood out, obviously not enough to return for a while. But last night...
Morgans I think has just as many draughts but has brought up the menu in terms of gastropub/culinary offerings -- in contrast to the meh ubiquitous foodservice found almost everywhere. Service was definitely a vast improvement over the former operators.
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Hot House
35 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1T3, CA
Taps & Tales
1282 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J, CA
Where to go for GOOD SOUP
I really enjoy pho as well and have not been able to find anywhere in Toronto where it's not a bowl full of MSG.
Made my own home made pho for the first time recently following a few recipes I found online. Remarkably easy. And good -- better than any of the restaurants here.
50's style Westernized Chinese Food
I would LOVE to find a place in Toronto like the Lingnan in Edmonton -- as seen on TV in the show Family Restaurant with the Quon family.
