Newbie to DiningDateNight ...

Go for it Googs before you give yourself a quick kick in the behind as I'm doing right now. If only I had come across this thread before dinner last night....had a fabulous dinner at Beast....total pre-tip for four was $389 - it was my treat and I could have saved $115...guess who's just signed up!

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Tomasso's on Eastern Avenue

There was an article in The Grid yesterday:

http://www.thegridto.com/life/food-drink/where-everyone-knows-your-name/

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Tomasso's on Eastern Avenue

I think that's just his way of being friendly but I will agree with JennaBean in regards to being overly familiar - we go regularly and quite often he will pull up a chair and sit at our table to chat. Sometimes though he sits there a little longer than we care for!

That said, the food is consistently fantastic and we have yet to be disappointed. The wait staff is great too, always welcoming, genuinely friendly and attentive. Peter (who I think is 75!) is a hoot - very 'old-school' and charming... and Sarah, who would get my vote for the best server in Toronto - I think she's a mind reader.

Glad to hear the store is open - will have to check it out.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Goody’s Diner – Finally an Ontario candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives… and it’s in Scarborough

I went on Monday as well!

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Goody’s Diner – Finally an Ontario candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives… and it’s in Scarborough

I ordered the basic burger with lettuce, tomato, onions, ketchup, mustard and garlic mayo. Perhaps that particular batch of burgers had double the seasoning added in error? As I mentioned, it was perfectly cooked and the bun was great...just really unfortunate it was so salty as I was really looking forward to it.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Goody’s Diner – Finally an Ontario candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives… and it’s in Scarborough

After reading all the hype I decided to try the burger as I work in the area. It was cooked perfectly for my tastes and very moist. The bun was fantastic and the perfect size. However, there is definitely more than salt and pepper in the burger and I found that whatever extra spices were added were done so with a very heavy hand. My initial reaction after the very first bite was 'whoa, that's salty'. After a few more bites the spices seemed to overpower the burger to the point where I couldn't taste the beef. I ordered the burger with everything other than relish. I don't know if it was the garlic mayo or the burger itself but something repeated on me for hours - two bottles of water later I was still thirsty and left with a salty-garlicky taste coating my throat. I would have loved the fries that came with the burger - (probably) frozen shoestring that came out of the fryer hot and crispy but, unfortunately, tossed in too much salt before plating (and I like my salt!).

While I was waiting for my food they mentioned that their new menu was coming out today. I might go back to try some other items but I won't order the burger again.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

The Elusive Big Xtra in Toronto!

I've ordered it over the past year or so at different drive-thrus and they make it even though it's not on the menu.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

hot tables....

Tommaso's Trattoria on Eastern Ave just east of Broadview has a fabulous hot table. I think it's on until 4pm and then they switch to their dinner menu with table service.

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Tommaso's
400 Eastern Ave, Toronto, ON M4M, CA

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Help! Need Chinese resto rec for Saturday Feb 19th.

Thank you T & C. We went to Judy's Cuisine and it was pretty good. We had both dishes you recommended. The chicken was excellent with a generous portion of the ginger/green onion mixture. For an appetizer we ordered the soup with shrimp, crab and winter melon. it was really good with lots of shrimp and real crab meat. The melon could have been a little softer as it was just barely cooked. It was piping hot and enough to fill up each of our bowls 4 times. Unfortunately, they brought out the beef with broccoli when I was just starting bowl number two. Because the soup was so hot, by the time I finished it, the beef was lukewarm but tasty none the less. We added the deep fried spicy salt squid, shrimp and scallop which was disappointing....not much flavour, a bit on the greasy side and borderline soggy.

I was impressed with the table settings, quite fancy. We'll go back to try some other dishes and have the chicken again. Next time though, we'll try Maple Yip.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Help! Need Chinese resto rec for Saturday Feb 19th.

I'm taking my mom out for dinner tomorrow and am looking for a reasonably priced Chinese restaurant E of Leslie, W of Midland, N of the 401 and S of Hwy 7 (a few minutes north of 7 by car is fine too).
There will only be the two of us and we usually order around 3 dishes to share. I'm not sure what the types of chinese cuisine we enjoy are called but amongst the dishes that we usually order are steamed or deep fried 1/2 chicken, sometimes the 'running around' chicken (? i think), deep fried squid with the spicy salt, deep fried tofu cubes with the spicy salt, snow pea leaves (dow mieu? probably completely wrong lol), oysters or sometimes clams with the black bean sauce, beef with vegetables, fish pieces that are wok fried with a light garlicky sauce, lobster with green onion etc etc.

The restaurants that we have been to include Elegantview, Crown Princess, both Sam Woos, and a handful scattered around the area of which I have no clue of the names.

We won't be having any alcohol with our meal and I want to keep it under $45.00 all in. We'll probably eat between 6-7pm. I don't mind waiting in line for a short while but my mom is elderly so I don't want to wait too long or go to a really noisy place.

Thanks!

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Elegantview
3601 Victoria Park Ave, Toronto, ON M1W, CA

Sam Woo Restaurant
660 Eglinton Ave W, Mississauga, ON L5R3V2, CA

Crown Princess
1033 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3A5, CA

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Improbable location--any known place to eat (maybe brunch) near Eglinton & DVP (near Honda there)?

So where did you end up having lunch?

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

BEST PLACE FOR CHICKEN OR LAMB BIRYANI IN OR AROUND TORONTO?

Thank you @ssainani - I suggested this place to the op and couldn't remember the name. They had a fire in the kitchen a few months ago and renovated a bit...still a hole though lol.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Trying to replicate a dish from Ireland

Thank you so much! It was also suggested to me that I boil the cabbage with the 'bacon' and finish the bacon in the oven with a honey-dijon glaze. I've googled the parsley sauce recipe...off to my local butcher this weekend and hopefully we'll have this incredible dish soon!

Btw, the trip was fantastic, first trip to Ireland - what a beautiful country!

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Ireland national dish

Thank you!

TG101 in U.K./Ireland

Ireland national dish

I just returned from a two-week vacation in Ireland and loved the bacon and cabbage. I would like to make this at home here in Canada but am not sure which cut of meat to ask the butcher for. Unfortunately I don't know of any Irish butcher shops here in Toronto so any help would be greatly appreciated.

TG101 in U.K./Ireland

BEST PLACE FOR CHICKEN OR LAMB BIRYANI IN OR AROUND TORONTO?

There's a great little spot at the SE corner of Brimley Rd and Danforth. I can't remember the name but there's a Subway in the same strip plaza. The chicken biryani is only $4 but there are no tables - takeout only.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Trying to replicate a dish from Ireland

Hello...just got back from my first trip to Ireland where I was introduced to bacon and cabbage. I'd like to surprise my hubby and make this at home for him but have no idea what cut is used in the recipe. Someone suggested using a cottage roll but I don't think that's quite right. Would anyone know what it is or know of an Irish butcher in the GTA?

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Improbable location--any known place to eat (maybe brunch) near Eglinton & DVP (near Honda there)?

Are you having your car serviced at Honda by any chance? I used to work there and they have a fairly decent in-house cafe. About a block to the east there's a little strip plaza on the south side of Eglinton with a new Tim Horton's. Watt's at Eglinton square is a good half-hour walk....however not as far as Armenian Kitchen so that probably isn't a big deal for you. There's a Druxy's, I believe, across from the Real Canadian Superstore on Wynford Drive but I'm not sure if it's open on weekends as it's in an office building.

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Armenian Kitchen
1646 Victoria Park Ave, Toronto, ON M4A, CA

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Good Wings in Durham Region?

I had the wings at the Lion and Dragon a few weeks ago and they were probably the best wings I've had in a long time. Perfectly cooked and huge. There were quite a few options - I went for a dry garlic seasoning and side suicide for dipping....AWESOME. Nice pub too! The owner, Bruce, and staff were very friendly. I live in North York but now travel to the east end for my wing fix. The pub is in a little courtyard with a patio that looks like it will be great in the summer. Old Kingston Rd & Kingston Rd.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Sushi then U2

Does anyone know of any good sushi places within walking distance of or a short cab ride to the Rogers Centre? Price isn't really an issue.

Thanks for your help!

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Suggestions for girls' night out

Tonight!
Have been to Ki, we'd like to try something new and it doesn't necessarily have to be seafood. We usually don't arrive until 8-8:30 ish.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)

Suggestions for girls' night out

Does anyone have a suggestion for a happening spot for girls' night out? Looking to mingle/sit at the bar, have a few drinks and something to eat. Some of us are single, some attached. Downtown to northeast preferred. Open to all cuisine, seafood would be a bonus. Went to the Keg on York St. last week, nice crowd but looking for better food.

TG101 in Ontario (including Toronto)