No food shopping experience in Buffalo is complete without a trip up (and down, and possibly back again) along the breakfast cereal aisle. While there, seek out Quisp: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisp Hard to find, but worth the trouble, if only for the retro appeal. My wife describes it Cap'n Crunch without the roof-of-your-mouth damage.

Thanks, everyone. I did call Serra, and the answer was - as expected - no reservations. We couldn't really afford to leave it to chance. So I went with the By the Way - a little less exotic than Nepalese, which I plan to try some time (yum), and perhaps more to the liking of the less-than-adventurous in our crowd.

I did think about that. But we're having apps and munchies there afterwards, and I can't believe the kitchen is going to have that many options.

One more consideration: I'd prefer, though might not insist on, a place that takes reservations. Our group is coming from all over the city, and I want to make sure we've got a place that can take us.

Looking for something cheap and cheerful for a small staff gathering (5-6 people) before a larger social function at the Madison this coming Tuesday, November 25. Only parameters:

1) Decent food
2) At least some veggie options
3) Not hideously priced - $20-25 pp, w/o alcohol
4) Walking distance (in November, mind) to the Maddie.

Thoughts/opinions/ideas?

I'm happy to report that my second experience with the new owners was more successful than my first. The food was much more what I was expecting, and I am now thinking - tentatively, of course - of re-adding it to my lunch rotation. Any other experiences?

Bad news - maybe. I was at Coconut Grove last week. The old owners have sold and "retired" from the restaurant business. I feel terrible that I didn't get to see them and say goodbye, but such is life.

The place still looks the same, and the new owners - who also seem very nice - say they're committed to keeping the old customers happy. They even plan to reintroduce some long-lost dishes, such as fish. However, my roti was not up to the standards I'd come to expect - the channa were either over- or under-cooked and very hard, the wrapper lacked the same tangy essence that I've enjoyed, and the hot pepper sauce just seemed... different.

I'm willing to give the new crew a wide berth, and some time to perfect the art. Let's hope they're up to the challenge.

What's the price point at Takesushi? How much would you say for a decent meal for two, say with a glass of wine apiece?

I'm putting in a vote for Jean's Vegetarian (near Danforth and Coxwell). Amazing variety of freshly-made vegetarian food, unpretentious atmosphere (and prices!) and the nicest owners in the city.

Anything for the vegetarians in the crowd?

You could try It's Play Time, near Danforth and Coxwell (link below). It doesn't have any food of its own, but you could always order in pizza and a cake.

First birthdays are more for the adults anyway, right?

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It's Playtime
1425 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J, CA

We were just at Dhaba last night - the food was excellent, although the menu has changed substantially since the restaurant was made over. My wife's assessment was that it was trying to cater to a more meat-and-potatoes crowd, although there was still plenty of vegetarian fare to choose from.

The service was a bit wobbly at first, but improved as the evening wore on.

I do agree with the poster who cited the sameness of some of the sauces. But that's easily avoided.

We also special-ordered a drink that wasn't on the regular bar menu, but appeared as part of a prix-fixe deal - fresh mango juice with a shot of Islay single malt scotch. Worth the price of admission alone.

Bombay Palace? Meh. At best.

What about Seven Numbers at 307 Danforth Avenue? We've had very good luck with the food there. It's a pretty small space, though, so I'd make a rezzie for a group your size.

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7 Numbers Danforth
307 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K1N7, CA

Harry's the owner. Jean's his wife. And I believe that one or more of his/their children also wait tables, serve and generally help out.

We went to Pine Farms in King City (www.pinefarmsorchard.com) a couple of weeks ago, and had an excellent experience. The apples were plentiful and delicious, and the farm was just the right scale - it's about the apples, not the event. No hayrides or corn mazes, although there's a lovely little store that sells locally-made products (including wines and ciders).

It's about 45-50 minutes from downtown TO, on Keele north of Bloomington Side Road.

As have others, I would point out that it's getting late in the season for apples, this weekend's balmy weather notwithstanding.

We've had good experiences at both Dhaba (King and Peter) and Amaya (Bayview south of Eglinton). We also really like The Host on Prince Arthur.

Not sure whether these spots can accommodate a group your size, but worth checking.

For a long time, I've been an accolyte of Coconut Grove on Dundas. I still get down there when I can, which is not quite as often any more.

Because... I've discovered Ritz Caribbean Food (450 Yonge Street, and others). Good, solid vegetarian options, and the place is lined up out the door pretty much every day of the work week.

A warning: It's only open til about 2 pm, so don't plan on a late lunch.

You could also try some of the retro candy stores - Suckers, Sugar Mountain, etc. We were in one at Danforth and Pape earlier in the week and saw some real oddball varieties.

I know you've said "downtown," but if you're feeling at all adventurous - or mobile - you could also try Amaya (see the discussion thread at http://www.chowhound.com/topics/422101). It's at Bayview and Eglinton, but a world apart from most of what you'd find anywhere else in the city, at least in my opinion.

Others have had different experiences - as you'll see from the discussion - but ours was most enjoyable.

The two women who run Grumble's are also a pleasure to deal with. I think their choice of location was strategic - it's right next to the dance studio that many a young girl (and a few boys) in the city frequent. And while you can make all the eating disorder jokes you want, let me tell ya - on Saturday mornings, that "bakery" (as my girls call it) is packed.

For the vegetarians in the room - I asked once, and the staff confirmed my fear: the beans at Burrito House are made with lard.

We should probably take this off-line, lest we get upbraided by the mods.

What's the best way to do this? Can I email you from information in your profile?

Slightly o/t, but are you the Dean Tudor who used to teach at Ryerson?

Yeah. It's where Mark's (sp?) diner used to be. A real improvement, and certainly welcome in da hood.

And icky at Woodbine and Danforth? Totally describes my entire life.

There's Basil's Thai Kitchen, on the north side of the Danforth, just east of the ever-expanding Toronto Honda. But if you want real, never-going-anywhere-else-again PanAsian (especially if you want the widest and best humanely available selection of vegetarian options), I'd head over to Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen at Linnsmore (between Greenwood and Coxwell). Harry, Jean's husband, started what is now Basil's and claims to have trained the chef. Better to stick with the real deal, imho.

Ikki Sushi just opened about two weeks ago. It's on the south side, just east of Woodbine. It's a second location for this family - the first is on Kingston Road - and we had not-bad takeout from there shortly after it opened.

And lest we forget: Relish. North side at Cedarvale. Excellent, tapas-style menu and a solid wine list. Walk if you can. Parking is at a premium.

Apart from that, you're largely into the land of cardboard take-out pizza and Timmy's. Not bad in a pinch, but you can do much better.

I really like Coconut Grove, on Dundas near Chestnut. Good veggie roti, and nice owners. And cheap? You could afford a second lunch, if you had room.

Which you won't.

At the risk of sounding like a total snob, I agree with those who class the Lick the Road Festival (tm: Webdude) as a definite must-miss. The crowds become larger and more obnoxious year after year, the food's overpriced - and it's been baking in the sun all day.

If I wanted to be forced to eat cheek by jowl with slobbering strangers, I'd never have left high school.

And the good news? Ikki Sushi just opened a second location, on the south side of the Danforth, just east of Woodbine. We had take-out from there last week, and really enjoyed it. In fact, while I was waiting for our order, the server brought me a cup of green tea and half an orange. I thought that was a really nice touch.

And with miso gravy. It is to swoon.

I was not only a NOW reader, but a sometimes-writer back in the day (urban issues, provincial politics and the like). I think if you do some investigating - and a few have suggested this - what you'll find is that this contest is based on popularity, not quality. In other words, whichever resto *gets the most ballots* wins. These megacorps have armies of PR and marketing people - they get a couple dozen of their friends, flacks, and flunkies to write in, and voila! Instant notoriety.