Amac's Profile
Loving Hut on Eglinton? Vegan Organic is it too good to be true?
I am not a vegetarian and I was very pleasantly surprised by the green curried vegetable lunch special that I ate there about 5 months ago. Service is good and decor is acceptable, but do not expect a high end feel. I would definitely go back.
Butcher's Son on Yonge
Love it. I have tried some prepared food and also had lamb from the butcher's counter. The porchetta sandwich was delicious. In general I like porchetta better than pulled pork. The sandwich was basic and had no other ingredients besides the bun & the porchetta.
My neighbours got a rack of lamb from there and cooked it on the BBQ with fresh rosemary and salt & pepper. It was the best lamb I have had in years.
Hopefully your experience will be as good as mine have been.
I am so happy that the neighbourhood now has a great butcher and fish monger within walking distance.
Falasca - Avoid
As I live in the neighbouhood, I have eaten food from Falasca several times. I really enjoy their pizza that is served by weight during the day. I think my favourite is the "Numero Uno" that is a white pizza with zuccini. I have ordered pizza twice at night in the sit down restaurant and was not impressed. Both times the pizzas were much blander than what I can take-out during the day (note that I ordered totally different pizzas when I visited the restaurant.) I will now only buy their daily selection of pizzas and avoid the restaurant.
On a related note, I really enjoy both the gelato and espresso from their sister restaurant ".Gelato" across the street.
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Falasca
2057 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A2, CA
VIetnamese Stores/ Where do you shop
I have been to the Vietnamese grocery store on Finch near Weston that was mentioned by the earlier poster. It has an interesting variety of proteins, produce and other ingredients. Not knowing specifically what you are looking for it is hard to know whether they have it, but I would encourage you to check it out. It is in the same plaza as Pho Dau Bo which is my main reason for visiting this plaza. Try out a great bowl of Pho when looking for your vietnamese ingredients.
Need Rec - Bayview or Mt. Pleasant Restaurant strip
I second Zee Grill (also called Phebes.) They have some of the best seafood around and they do seasonal dishes. Their seafood succotash (usually available for a few weeks in Sept/Oct) is not to be missed.
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Zee Grill
641 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA
Chowhound's Own Top 10 Restaurants of GTA
Kudos to shekamoo - I love this thread. I agree with those who have suggested that this simply be your ten favourites without need to defend or explain as I believe was the original intent. In that spirit and not in order here are mine:
Oyster Boy
Opus
Joso's
5 Doors North
Buca
Barberian's
Guu
Black Hoof
Pho Dau Bo - Finch West location ( I cannot go more than 2 weeks without their Pho Tai)
Malena
Thanks again shekamoo.
As a frequent reader, but very infrequent poster I will also take this opportunity to thank a few other posters who I follow regularly. Charles Yu, Estufarian, T Long, Skyline R33, Googs, Snarf & Millygirl - I have followed each of your recommendations at some point in the past year or two. Thank you and keep posting.
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Oyster Boy
872 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J1G3, CA
Barberian's
7 Elm St, Toronto, ON M5G1H1, CA
Joso's
202 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON M5R1J2, CA
Guu
398 Church Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2A2, CA
Buca
604 King St. West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M6, CA
The Black Hoof
928 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
ISO: Testun al Barolo cheese
I have also bought it from the Alex locations at St. Lawrence market, Yonge St north of Eglinton and Bayview south of Eglinton. They don't always have it so call your nearest location to check on price and availability.
Dining at Yonge & Davisville this week. Is Tabule still the best of the bunch?
I live in the area and eat out regularly. Tabule is still great and a terrific value.
5 Doors North is probably the spot we eat at most. More expensive than Tabule obviously, but the price to quality ratio is still very good. The specials are uisually the best things in the menu.
Zucca is the most expensive, but also very good.
There are two new ice cream/gelato places within a 2 minute walk of all of these venues for your dessert. One (I think it is simply called Gelato) is owned by one of the guys from Il Gelatiere. It has an identical offering and quality as Il Gelatiere and I highly recommend it. Village Chill just opened up, but I have not tried any of their flavours from either this location or Forest Hill.
Enjoy!
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Tabule
2009 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 1Z8, CA
Il Gelatiere
647 Mt Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S, CA
Yonge and Eglinton fruits and vegetable store
I live in the area and visit all three regularly. I agree that the the one beside La Salumeria is generally the best quality and also the most expensive (but still comparable to supermarkets.) I would also recommend that one for flowers.
I do, however, get certain items from the other ones. I often get pre-peeled trays of garlic, chilies and pre-cut cauliflower from the one near Millwood. They will on occasion have good deals on cut flowers too, but they only have them sporadically.
It feels great to walk the neighbourhood and support the local merchants. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
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Salumeria
2021 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S, CA
Best place to get coffee beans near Yonge & Eglinton
Just wondering where the best place is to get whole roasted beans in this neighbourhood. I typically grind them and use them in a cone filter. Also, anyone out there have any comments on the Chemex brewer?
Thanks.
40th bday dinner/all guys weekend in Toronto, suggested alternatives to steak houses?
Turf Lounge would work. It has betting on horses too which suits a guy's dinner. Bay & Adelaide.
De La Mer fishmonger - Bayview
I stopped in over the weekend too as I had not seen it before. The guy behind the counter was very friendly. He said that they receive fresh fish every day but Sunday. Fish never stays out on display for more than two days. If it is not sold in the first two days it is cut into portions, frozen and sold at a discount from the freezer. Happy to have what appears to be a good fishmonger in the neighbourhood.
Toronto Restaurants With Large Private Rooms
Turf Lounge would work. I have seen many bank/law firm private receptions held there.
Best Fish Taco in Toronto?
I second everything that TorontoJo has to say. It does have a worn grungy atmosphere (leftover from a previous tenant?), but surprisingly good food and great tequila list.
Pho Dau Bo (Finch West location)
Thanks for the chow tips on Pho Dau Bo (Finch W location). I now go regularly for lunch and thoroughly enjoy their Pho. I have yet to try anything else on their menu. Does anybody familiar with this spot have any recommendations for other dishes? I am generally an adventurous eater and love spicy food.
Thanks.
Midtown Non-Pub With Television
5 Doors North at Yonge & Manor has a tv over the bar. Not big screen and no volume, but good enough to follow the game. Although I have always enjoyed the food there, it is now better than at any point in the past.
Good luck.
Best Jerk Chicken?
I love the sound of picking up some jerk there. I couldn't find anything on the web regarding Rap's hours of operation. Anyone know when it is open? Is it weather dependant?
Thanks,
Birthday Dessert - not cake
Thanks Currycue & Woodsey. Good suggestions and I am familar with the patisseries in the hood. I will survey their offerings and buy whatever looks best today. Thanks.
Birthday Dessert - not cake
Anybody have any recommendations on where to pick up a good dessert for a birthday party. The birthday girl is not partial to cakes of any kind and prefers fruit flans or other fruit based desserts. Nothing too extravagant or fancy - just good quality. Yonge & Eglinton area or near the 401 recommendations only please.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Today! Early lunch near Bay & Queen's Quay
Thanks Pescatarian,
We ended up going to Pearl based on the recommendation of a co-worker. Nice surroundings with a view of the lake, but the food was underwhelming. Not bad, but not great either.
I still like going to Il Fornello for drinks when the weather is nice.
Today! Early lunch near Bay & Queen's Quay
Looking to grab lunch early (11:30AM) with my girlfriend before heading to a meeting. Anything in the area with great food and quick service? I would like to be finished lunch within an hour. We love many different food types, but prefer to eat relatively healthy if possible.
Thanks in advance for all responses. I enjoy reading many of your posts!
Providenciales (Turks & Caicos) recs?
I have been going to Turks & Caicos every year for 12 years. No matter where you go it will be expensive.
My favourite experience on the island is Da Conch Shack & Rum Bar. The food is as good or better than any of the high end places and won't cost you as much. I prefer it, however, because of the casual setting and atmosphere. My fondest memories of T & C include sipping beer with my feet in the sand and dominoes in my hands while watching the staff at Da Conch Shack prepare my conch salad & fritters. For that moment, the effects of the harsh Canadian winter are instantly replaced by the casual warmth of island living.
Can't wait to get back there next week. Look for me with the dominoes!
Melitta Coffee Cone
Love my Melitta single cup cones. Makes great coffee and is especially convenient if you have an instant hot water faucet. Usually I buy the #2 filters at Fortino's, but I have seen them at several other big chains.
One problem I have is when making enough coffee for more than two of us. I don't have a coffee maker anymore and I don't usually care for the sediment that often comes with coffee from a bodum. Has anyone heard of a large size drip cone that could be placed over a coffee pot for multiple servings?
Thanks!
New to the area, looking for Trini-Indie food.
Simma's is near the airport at Goreway and Derry (3417 Derry Road East, Malton
905-677-3335) and serves great Trini-style Roti & Doubles. The owner, Roma, is from Trinidad and is very nice too. Very casual place with only a couple little tables - mostly for take-out.
wakame salad
When I get a sashimi craving and don't wan't to leave my neighbourhood I head to Sushi Supreme on Yonge north of Davisville. I ALWAYS upgrade my salad from the typical iceberg to wakame. The wakeme they serve is a large portion of what fits your description of seawood dressed with sesame oil. I love the slippery but crunchy texture and, for me, it is the best item on their menu. My girlfriend, on the other hand, finds it disgusting (although I don't think she would like any dish with seaweed in it - she likes sushi that has the least amount of nori in it.)
They do take out if you want to bring it home.
P.S. I have also seen it at Avenue Road Seafood, but I did not like their version as much.
Gelato
Might as well have been a Chowhound reunion last night. I too was there with my girlfriend sampling the Maria and the last of the Chocolate con Peperoncino. We were the ones with the black dog. This place is way too close to my home. A 5 minute walk can't possibly counteract a double-scoop cone. Oh well, I'll die fat and happy.
Fudge in Toronto
Thanks Sherry!
I called and they are selling their fudge in the Avaia Circus tent at Woodbine Racetrack which is easy for me to pick up from work. Many thanks.
Peterborough to Kawarthas: Food Finds?
I stopped by a funky little restaurant in Peterborough on my way up to the Kawarthas a couple of years ago - I think it was called "The Electric Banana"? Cool little place with quite good food and moderately priced from what I remember. Seemed like the type of place that would attract the student & faculty crowd looking for something better than pub grub.
