SMOG's Profile
Markham/Richmond Hills best sushi place for nigiri?
I would suggest Tomo on Yonge between 16th and Major Mac, or Kaori at Yonge/Hwy 7.
Can we revisit the PATH?
Tamarind added some new menu options recently, one of which is a vegetarian dosa stuffed with lentils and potatoes. Definitely worth a try, although I found the dosa itself overly salty.
Cava: What to order?
Has anyone tried the paella at Cava? Is it worth getting in place of tapas? Is it anything like true Spanish paella?
Can we revisit the PATH?
Where is the Bay Adelaide market? I didn't see it there last week (July 7). Is it Brickworks like it was last year?
Brick Street Bakery in FCP is open (finally)!
So what are the favourite lunch options? Tried the lamb kofta wrap, which was very nice, but I didn't enjoy the plain white flour tortilla.
The bread is good, as was the cheese twist. However, I was disappointed with the chocolate croissant, which I found mediocre.
Would like to try the pies, sausage rolls and the chili as well.
Birthday dinner for 2 suggestions
It's a good point. Perhaps I'll revisit some of our favourites and see if they're willing to do a tasting menu. The only thing I'd be afraid of was if the place were busy, I would imagine we could get lost in the jumble with the chef trying to make smaller plates for one table while also serving all the others. For example, in a place like Globe Earth that is also bustling, it may be a difficult thing for them to accommodate.
Birthday dinner for 2 suggestions
Yes, been to Buca and enjoyed it, but wanted something a little more special in terms of food. More of an experience that we don't get all the time, like a tasting menu, although I did find the food at Buca to be special. I'll read up on Campagnolo - that's one of the new places that popped up while we were in our stay-home-with-baby phase.
Colborne Lane had the atmosphere we're looking for and the food experience. I'm thinking this is a rarity in Toronto and we may have to accept a more sedate atmosphere for a tasting menu experience.
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Colborne Lane
45 Colborne Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1P8, CA
Buca
604 King St. West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M6, CA
Campagnolo
832 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON , CA
Birthday dinner for 2 suggestions
We're going to Origin a couple weeks after. Been there and love it, but it's not quite the special occasion spot I was looking for. That type of fun atmosphere is perfect, though.
Does Splendido's tasting menu change on a daily basis?
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Splendido
88 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, CA
Birthday dinner for 2 suggestions
So we've been out of the dining scene for a few months now after having a baby, but my wife's birthday is coming up and I want to take her out for a special dinner. It's just the two of us and there are no budget restrictions. I'm thinking a tasting menu or chef's table would be nice, but not absolutely necessary.
We've enjoyed Colborne Lane in the past, but want to try something different. Have a strong preference for an atmosphere and food that is more on the casual and fun side than formal. I'm leaning towards Splendido and considering George. Are there any other suggestions?
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Splendido
88 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, CA
Colborne Lane
45 Colborne Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1P8, CA
Sorrento North Ristorante - recently opened
I went for dinner a few weeks ago and enjoyed it. The atmosphere was nice, service was good and the owner walks around and talk to everyone. Very pleasant people. I would say that for Thornhill, it's very good. Compared to some of the Italian places in Toronto, I would say it's just decent. If you live near and want a nice place to go in the area without driving far, then it fits the bill.
Can we revisit the PATH?
While I love their sandwiches, I have noticed that sometimes the bread is not as fresh. I have a feeling that they sometimes carry over sandwiches from the previous day when they're not busy enough to sell out. Disappointing when that happens.
Access through the path: Another way is to walk as if you're going to the King subway. Just before the turnstyles to get into the subway, go up the staircase to the right, which takes you to the north-west corner of Yonge/King and directly to their door. You have to walk outside for 10 seconds basically. Doable without a jacket in the winter.
Where to find unrefined grapeseed oil?
I found an amazing source of pure, cold-pressed and unrefined grapeseed oil. It's from Niagara Vinegars in St Catherine (it's owned by a winery... and the name escapes me at the moment). If you email them and say you're looking for wholesale, you can get a 5 litre container (sealed bag in a box) for $40, which is a fantastic deal. They also wholesale their wine vinegars and other products for huge discounts to the smaller bottles they sell in the store. Quality is great.
If you email them, they will respond quickly and are very easy to deal with. Have to pick up in St Catherines, but worth the trip if you buy enough to last a while. Also a good excuse for a day trip to see some wineries :).
Malvasia Olive Oil from Riverdale Market
I buy it in the 5L containers, which stay sealed from air. I've had mine now for about 8 months and it's still fresh as new. Time for a refill soon. He brings fresh batches in once a year and the new ones are expected to come in this weekend (pressed in November, I believe). If stored properly and air tight, you should get at least a year out of it.
Steak outing dilemma - steakhouse or non-steakhouse?
That's good to know - definitely a good idea for next time!
Steak outing dilemma - steakhouse or non-steakhouse?
So I ended up going to Jacobs. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal. I really liked the steak. It was perfectly cooked and well seasoned. The salts and sauces they brought where nice, but I ended up only using the smoked salt on a few bites, otherwise felt they were unnecessary. The caesar salad was indeed excellent, as were the sides that we ordered.
While I think their prices of steaks were reasonable, the sides and wines were what really added heft to the bill. Fries were amazing, but $12? Rapini was also good, but $10 for about 8 stems? And the winelist doesn't allow you to get anything good for less than ~$85. You're really looking at a minimum of about $120 for a good bottle, which bothered me. It's nice to have some bottles in the $50 range available.
Overall, it was a good experience. Again, I'm not big eating steak when I go out, but if I get the urge in a couple years, I may return. But given the prices of the sides and wine, I may also just go to a Splendido or other restaurant and order steak.
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Splendido
88 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, CA
Rapini's
190 Main St S, Brampton, ON L6W, CA
Woodlot
I assume no reservation policy? Can anyone guess the approx wait time for a Fri or Sat night at primetime?
Where to buy a Kyocera or Benriner mandoline in Toronto?
I've been looking for one as well. I've seen them at Nella Cucina on Bathurst (just north of Bloor). Certainly not cheap (I think about $75 for the Super Benriner). I've seen them online for good prices and will probably end up going that route.
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Nella Cucina
876 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M6G, CA
Can we revisit the PATH?
Agreed. I hope they do well, as they're certainly trying hard and making an effort to expand the product line beyond just breakfast. It's a winning dish, but doesn't seem to be getting any attention.
Coppi White Truffle Festival
I was, but no truffle risotto. First course was maitake mushrooms, jerusalem artichoke puree and pancetta (and truffle, of course). Second course was seared foie on brioche with shaved truffles (this was an optional add-on). Third was a simple pappardelle with truffles on top. And fourth was a chicken supreme, with sausage and parsnip puree (and truffles on top, of course). The food was excellent. My only gripe was the service, which was scattered, unattentive and at least one course was placed on the table with no description.
Globe Earth
Sounds good. I've been a few times and enjoyed my meal each time, but to varying degrees. While the food has ranged from very good to excellent, the service has varied from extremely slow and unattentive (but friendly) to spot on. I'm willing to tolerate that though.
Looks like they recently changed their menu. Has anyone else tried the new items?
Coppi White Truffle Festival
As an alternate choice, Splendido has a truffle tasting menu - $90 for three courses. I wouldn't say they put a huge amount of truffles in each dish, but certainly an appropriate amount and I think the value is very good. When I was there, they had an optional foie gras addition for $28, which featured a very healthy piece of foie gras with shaved truffles over top.
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Splendido
88 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, CA
Can we revisit the PATH?
Plus one for the Cereal Bar's soba noodle dish. For $6, you get a full bowl of soba noodles, chicken, cucumbers and peppers. And like everyone says, it's very fresh. It's also healthy and fills you up without that gross overfull feeling. I'm surprised they're not more busy for lunch. This has been a weekly staple for me.
Steak outing dilemma - steakhouse or non-steakhouse?
Agree on the boring comment, but Jacobs & Co seems different. I'm only going with one other person and we're both on board for a great steak, so having other options shouldn't factor into the decision.
Steak outing dilemma - steakhouse or non-steakhouse?
I'm typically not one to go out for steak (I'm one of those "why would I spend $50 for steak that I can make at home for $15" people), but since I haven't actually been out for steak for about 2 years, I kinda feel like it. I don't want to go to an old school type steakhouse, though. I want a modern place, which is more my thing. Looks like Jacobs & Co fits the bill. (I'm a little turned off by the prices though - $12 for fries is stretching it, isn't it?). I'm also wondering whether it makes sense to go to a place like Nota Bene or Splendido that aren't necessarily steakhouses, but still known for good steak. I'm just looking for great steak with a good atmosphere - fun, lively, but not 'clubby' or pretentious. Appreciate your thoughts.
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Splendido
88 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 1G5, CA
Jacobs & Co
12 Brant Street, Toronto, ON M5V 2M1, CA
Nota Bene
180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2A1, CA
Looking for San Sebastian & Barcelona Suggestions
Hi folks, I'll be in Barcelona for the first time mid-Oct and am starting to plan my food outings. I would like to try at least one Michelin Star restaurant, perhaps two. I'm looking for a place that's more on the casual side (ie. would not feel out of place if I do not wear a jacket) and has a fun atmosphere. Would prefer to have one near my hotel, which is near the Diagonal subway stop. But here's perhaps the most difficult part: my wife does not eat pork or shellfish (fish is ok, only if it has scales), so would need a place that would accommodate such a dietary restriction.
I've been reading the suggestions here and have visited the websites, but there is limited information there. If you can suggest some options, it would be greatly appreciated.
Places to eat and foodie spots in Elora / Fergus
Going to Elora and Fergus this weekend. Will be at the farmer's market Sat morning, but also looking for other foodie suggestions in the area, including any shops worth visiting and places to eat.
For places to eat, looking for a casual lunch spot and a dinner spot where I won't feel out of place with jeans. For dinner, price is not an issue, but want a good atmosphere and a focus on local ingredients.
Origin or Foxley
I haven't been to Foxley, so can't compare. I actually did go once, but left because the wait for at least 1.5 hours for 2 people (we went around 8:15pm on a Sat night). Granted, they take your phone number and let you go get a drink anywhere you want while you wait, I was simply too hungry to wait so long.
I loved Origin and they take reservations. So if getting a seat with no uncertain wait is important, then that may be your answer.
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Foxley
207 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J2Z8, CA
Richmond Hill - favs and foodie finds?
2nd Tomo. Pleasant service and always good food. They also have a different creative presentation of dishes, which is nice.
hoof cafe review
Any day at 10 or 10:30 should not be a problem at all. I've usually gone around 8:30, which is the busiest time, and never had to wait more than 45 mins for a table for two. Seems to be a lot less busy in the summer, probably because people are away.
