Your review was similar to mine. https://www.facebook.com/AsadaMexican... - I couldn't tell the guacamole was bland since the nachos were so salty. Compared to other central Toronto places it was good. The place in Kensington Market is coming along but I'm never overly optimistic about Mexican in Toronto. Glad you mentioned the salsa bar. Nice touch you don't see in Toronto as a rule. Well done for that. PS Asada Grill has not replied to my review. Thumbs down for that!

I call those sort of bagels 'bread doughnuts.' Not bagels at all.

I'll try it out. If they boil them and bake them in a wood fire oven, I'm willing to try them. :)

Well, it's all very well but I live downtown and don't drive. I would actually appreciate knowing what's good around here. I live in Chinatown and nothing knocks me out, to be honest. I just have mainstays.

Nookie cookies from Le Gourmand
Mary Brown's shortbread cookies with chocolate chunks
The cookie from Senators that has everything - nuts, chocolate and raisins in it - yum!
Fig and pistachio from Dark Horse, Spadina

It's been years but I went on a visit and was invited into the hall for lunch. It was completely vegetarian and simple and I loved it. I don't know if it's still the same.

I preferred Switzers over Shopy's. I loved their kishkas and knishes and always had those with a cream soda. Back in those days I would also get the hot dog on a steamed moon bun or whatever it was called. These days I can't stomach hot dogs.

I don't like Yitz's. Free Times has a good smoked meat sandwich that I like better than Caplansky's and I prefer their matzo ball soup too although occasionally it lacks flavour. Prices are just so high these days.

I went to Milagro (Queen W) tonight. My second time there and have been to the Mercer St one. Was not a stellar experience. I've had great Mexican food, having lived in LA for a while, returning there often, so I do have a good sense of the cuisine. Tonight was iffy.

Pluses and Minuses:
Reservation - I asked for a different table and was told the one I pointed to was reserved. In my opinion, I was there first and should have had my pick. Never mind
Too dark - I couldn't read the menu and I saw others using their cell phones to read them too, I couldn't see the food, or the bill or the machine they brought me to pay later either
Music too loud - Not easy to talk and the music was monotonous and relentless
No alcohol? - My son ordered a rum and Coke which arrived without alcohol. Since my Mojito was pretty weak we thought 'oh well' until the waiter hurried over with a measure of rum he said had been forgotten
Washroom stairs - oh so dark I was afraid to go down. Accident waiting to happen! Mildewy smelling too
Guacamole - OK but not quite ripe enough - a frequent Toronto mistake - and although I don't use ever use much salt, it could have used a bit more. The chips were a bit heavy/tough and over-fried, not the light pleasant Cali experience
Chicken mole - my son's came garnished with some very mild green chilies. We are both allergic to sweet peppers but have no problem with hot ones. These were mild enough to cause him to spit them out
Mole poblano with enchiladas - not bad. Waiter asked me if I've ever had mole before. I didn't like to say that mole wasn't just one thing. Best to just nod and say yes, I think. But someone in a Mexican restaurant should be a bit better informed...I'm being picky. I brought two of the enchiladas home. No need for three. I wish I could buy just one and perhaps a second different thing with it but Milagro doesn't do combos

Don't think I will bother again. It's OK but not OK enough, not for those prices - $70 for a half guac, two mains and two 'cheap' cocktails

I'm hoping one of you geographically smart Chowhounders can help. I've walked past a new restaurant west of King and Spadina on the north side. It has a large bar central-left and set back, high ceilings, big space, very modern and bright, big rectory table (it looked like) on the far left and other tables throughout - no crowding here. It's the ground floor of one of those old buildings and I think before Brant.Anyone know the name? I thought it might be Italian but am coming up empty!

Sad to see it so changed and - surprise surprise - empty or fairly so these days. I used to love their deli counter and would buy certain things religiously - the little smoked sausages, the Gypsy ham, the Christmas marzipan and chocolate goodies, the herring salad but mostly the perogies since the commercial ones are stodgy and awful. So does Prague have any deli area at all any more - I don't have the heart to step inside now.

Where can I get haggis - I only see fancy menus (such as at Cowbell) in a pub downtown on Robbie Burns night? Hope this wasn't already covered here.

Is the farmers market every week or just certain ones?

No one has mentioned the Jewish food stall. I like it.

I agree. I love Cobb's buns. Lots of choice and they have a wholewheat sesame.

Salsas on Augusta Avenue is my new favourite cheap place. http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/mex...

Dim sum at Kim Moon Bakery on Dundas, East of Spadina. Very very cheap and cozy.

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Kim Moon Bakery
438 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T, CA

Great centrally located veg. or veg.-friendly spots at reasonable prices, please. What do you recommend?

I love the Beigel Bake cheesecake but it's baked, not NY style. I've had good cheesecake everywhere - even Marks & Spencer or Tesco or Sainsbury have decent versions. Hummingbird sounds great. I have to try it one of these days.

search this board and also read http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/725542?tag=main_body;topic-725542 and
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7262...

there's a lot of bad indian food in london but a LOT of really good stuff too. i'm not a vegetarian but all indian restaurants have plenty of that.

Not that keen on Tayyabs myself but it would be an interesting experience for you. I prefer something rougher and more London style, like Sweet & Spicy on Brick Lane or Meraz (Hanbury St) - home style cooking, cheap, simple, no fuss - everywhere else on Brick Lane is awful really. http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/meraz-restaurant-review-7751.html and
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3007.htm

I admit to going to the chain places in Brunswick Square myself (opposte Russell Square tube station) - the GBK burger place has some great choices - I know...burgers but... I like the charcuterie plate and whatever yummy dessert I can find in Carluccios and they make a good risotto - most other things are ho hum. The Fiorentina thick chocolate, a coffee. There, I said it. Chain places are just fine when you're in a hurry and don't want any fuss. But not Giraffe (ugh) and only occasionally Nando's. LOL.

And please stay well away from any big chains or restaurants claiming to serve anything American. They'e wrong!

When in doubt, sausage and mash or ANY meat pie will be your best bet and what Britain does better than anyone, IMO. Oh and fish and chips, go to a local chippie and never order it from a pub or restaurant or you'll be mostly disappointed. I'm sure people can give you some names and addresses for good chippies in the Kensington area.

I used to think London was expensive for food but not any more. The pound being weaker is one reason but other places getting more pretentious is another.

Since you are staying in Kensington, what about Maggie Jones's - Maggie Jones's, 6 Old Court Place, London, W8 4PL (off Kensington Church St near Kensington High Street.
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/maggie-jones-review-3062.html

At lunch it's very cheap. At dinner it costs more. However, get ready for wholesome and large portions. And it's BRITISH.

Simpsons is a nice but very expensive experience. Be prepared for the stuffy, shabby interior but the service is top notch. I don't know if I'd bother going back, though. I've had just as good elsewhere for half the price. Shrug.

Also take a look at www.afternoontea.co.uk - this one is cheap http://www.afternoontea.co.uk/index.p.... You can't come to the UK without having at least one tea. My favourite has been The Cavendish.

My two pence.I'll think about more though.

Surely someone somewhere is making or has the recipe for the Nookie Cookie. I am devastated. Any clues?

You're right, Pho Hung is overrated but always packed. Meat in the soup is usually overcooked. Pho Pasteur I got once - higher price and didn't have that much more appeal tfor me. Ai My has nice chicken pho but I really don't like the beef. Xe Lua is consistent (Spadina branch) and my favourite is Kim on St Andrew Street - I also love their cold fish rolls. I really miss Hello/Miss Saigon. Where did the chef go? I thought he was some Vietnamese master chef or something. I also still miss the places on Dundas near Beverley - one on the north, one on the sout, both half a floor up. Awful when favourite places close.

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Pho Hung
350 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, ON , CA

Pho Pasteur
525 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M5T1H4, CA

Xe Lua Restaurant
625 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M1Y2, CA

I agree that Red Tea Box is a lovely experience. All the teas I have had in Toronto were too heavy on the sweets - the King Eddy being the worst or the best for that, depending on whether you can handle the sugar overload - I can't. Having had loads of teas in the UK, i guess I am jaded.

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Red Tea Box
696 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J1E7, CA

Can't think of any but I am really keen to hear your thoughts on Ruby Watchco. Did you or any other chowhounds try it yet? Also does anyone have the scoop on where the name came from?

I have yet to try Black Hoof or the Hoof Cafe but plan to shortly. If I had to choose one, which would it be? One thing - on a recent trip to Lille, I went to La Part des Anges http://auxplaisirsdesvignes.com/menu-la-part-des-anges-restaurant-bar-cave-vin-lille-59.php - seems the presentation is lot messier in Toronto and in Lille, the bread kept flowing. Someone talk up the Hoofs to me, please! http://www.flickr.com/photos/jan1ce/4... for my Lille experience - the MIXTE

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The Black Hoof
928 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA

Sorry but labneh is not like the greek yogurt I've had in the UK but who knows. I've never been to Greece. Maybe what they have in the UK isn't the real deal!

Oh I'd love to know. I get Greek yogurt all the time in the UK but can't find it here. Considering our Greek population, this is astounding! Astro's isn't close. A good Greek yogurt is like a very heavy cream - I use it instead of sour cream in fact. Pour a little maple syrup or honey on it and it's dessert!

Totally shocked the cupcake store concept hasn't caught on here as it has in many US cities Are there any west of Yonge Street? Queen Street West is crying out for good cupcakes!

Well, nothing comes close to the tea at Fortnum & Mason BUT I did have a charming tea at VIctorian Garden Tea in Etobicoke http://www.victoriangardentea.com/ The scone was the chunky Scottish type. I had tea at the King Eddy once but it was much too heavy on the sweets and the price was through the roof. I'd love to try The Red Tea Box but just never quite get to it. I make the best afternoon tea. Everyone over to my place!

Agreed, once you've had Mexican food in SW USA - or Mexico! - you can never again think any Mexican food in Toronto comes close. What we call a burrito would get laughed at down there. It's one of those things where if you have never had it, it doesn't matter but once you have, it's woeful. To be really honest, I think Sneaky Dee's does about the best job of a nice cheap and passable bunch of Tex-Mex food if you're desperate. Most places, even those with Mexican cooks, make muddy, stodgy messes of food.