Coworker Dinner

I'm in town for the week with some coworkers and would like a decent place downtown to eat for about 4-5 people. Personally, I'm adventurous but my colleagues not so much. Good value is essential as well as vegetarian friendly. Indian, Mexican, Japanese, French or Thai are suitable.

Any recommendations would be great.

Thanks,
Aaron

airsey in Quebec (including Montreal)

Late Weekday Lunch Downtown

It's a bit further east for you but Swish by Han is good. I think your best bet is Queen and Beav. It's great for that time of day and you have the choice of two patios (roof or street). I've been 3 times in the past few weeks after work for beer/dinner.

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Swish by Han
38 Wellington St E, Toronto, ON , CA

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Nicaragua rec's - Managua, San Juan del Sur, Corn Islands

Did you end up taking this trip? I am going for 8 days in April and am looking for recs in Managua, Granada, and San Juan del Sur. Thanks!

airsey in South & Central America & the Caribbean

Puerto Vallarta for New Years

Trying to find a fun restaurant with great food for a group of 30 something gay guys for NYE in PV.

Went to El Arryan last time we were there and enjoyed but looking for an alternative.

Would Trio be suitable? If not, suggestions are more than welcome!

airsey in Mexico

Late Night Grub

I will be partying it up in Boystown next weekend but will be a good boy and only go home with a full stomach (of food) at the end of the night.

Can anyone recommend any good late night eats in the area?

Many thanks.

airsey in Chicago Area

Weekend in Chicago

I am coming from the 27th - 30th and have planned the following stops. Please let me know if I've chosen wisely or where I should make a change. Thanks.

Friday:
Lunch: Hot dougs
Dinner: Publican or schwa

Saturday:
Brunch: Tweet or Lulas
Lunch: Uno/Due
Dinner (must be in boystown): Home Bistro

Sunday:
Brunch:Bongo Room
Dinner: Avec

Thanks!

airsey in Chicago Area

Midtown for Mommy

Went to 5 Doors North last night. It was completely dead but the food and service were great! I had the rack of venison with kale. Cooked perfectly. The involtini was typically great though we were less enthused by the avocado bruschetta and king crab cake (both not my choice).

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Midtown for Mommy

Thanks so much everyone!

I've went with mom to Cava and we really enjoyed it.

I've also been wanting to try Simple Bistro for awhile so that's a good rec. I completely forgot that Five Doors North reopened up there. Is it as good as it used to be? or as good as Gio Ranas on Queen/Leslie?

Tabule could also work. I forgot to include middle eastern in my "linear" definition.

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Five Doors North
2088 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S2A3, CA

Tabule
2009 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4S 1Z8, CA

Gio Rana's
1220 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M1L7, CA

Cava
1560 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4T 2S9, CA

Simple Bistro
619 Mount Pleasant Rd, Toronto, ON M4S2M5, CA

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best Babka?

Hazelnut Babka from Haymishe at Bathurst and Lawrence. Best. Babka. Ever.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Midtown for Mommy

It's my moms birthday and I am planning on taking her out for dinner. Unfortunately, she's so old she can no longer make it south of St. Clair so I have to travel up north for the occasion.

I'm looking for recs anywhere north of St. Clair and south of Sheppard between Bayview and Bathurst. Something reasonably priced and of pretty linear cuisine. Linear being... something of the european/north american ilk. Mom is a foodie (bro and sis are not) and likes a fun, hip environment even though I know that is basically impossible to find north of St. Clair.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

North Halstead

Thanks! How about Chilam Balam or Twist? Are they near Boystown and good?

airsey in Chicago Area

North Halstead

Boystown. Whatever area that encompasses.

airsey in Chicago Area

North Halstead

A couple friends and I will be visiting Chicago the last week of November.

We are looking for any great recs in the North Halstead area. We are open to pretty much any cuisine and price range... something hip and fun would be great. With great food of course.

Thanks!

airsey in Chicago Area

Bachelor Party

I am trying to arrange a bachelor party for a friend and am considering either:

1) Renting a private room in a restaurant

2) Having a caterer come to the house

or

3) Just having a fabulous dinner somewhere.

Would the chowhounders have any suggestions for either 1 or 2? Downtown please, any type of cuisine.

Number 3 is pretty much covered if we go that route.

Many thanks.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Planning a stag

I am planning a stag for a friend and we are thinking of doing an all you can eat meat idea like a Brazilian or Argentinian bbq.

Any suggestions?

The places I have heard about so far: Copacabana and Red Violin have seemed to be panned quite heavily.

We want somewhere fun and as delicious as possible. Preferably in the downtownish area.

Many thanks.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Iceland - Outside Rekjavik

Hello.

I will be visiting Iceland for 10 days in September.

We will be traveling the entire Ring Road and stopping in Vik, Hoffn, Myvatn and Akureyi.

I am looking for any recommendations in these areas or along the Ring Road. From my limited reading it doesn't seem like there is much to offer so any advice in any price range for any type of cuisine would be great. We will eat anything so long as it tastes good.

Many thanks.

Aaron

airsey in International

Sidecar, Harlem or Globe?

I'm throwing my vote in for Sidecar. Has become one of my favourite go to spots in the city and if you have a pleasant evening weather wise the back patio is fantastic. I haven't been to Globe, and Harlem is definitely lovely but I think Sidecar is definitely a step up in terms of atomosphere and at least on par with food. Good place to linger with friends over cocktails pre and post dinner.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Reykjavik Iceland Report

Would you be able to recommend anything from the west coast? I'm heading for a week in early September and am doing the entire ring road. Thanks!

airsey in Europe

Luminato - PC '1000 Tastes of Toronto'

Overall, the food and atmosphere were better at the One Table event last year in the Distillery. However, 1000 Tastes is still worth going to. For $5 the portion sizes are quite generous (5 oysters from Rodneys, 2 kobe hot dogs from Edo (the buns weren't the freshest but the japanese curry was great).

The pork belly from Globe was fantastic as was the chipotle and chocolate pulled pork sandwich (with optional scotch bonnet hot sauce to add) from Amuse Bouche. There were actually several vendors doing pulled pork: AB, Grace and a caterer who I forget though she claimed to have the best of the bunch. There were also a few Indian food vendors that served some healthy portioned stuff but I avoided due to yesterday's heat.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Woo Buffet Restaurant

I had the worst meal I've had in YEARS here. Truly awful stuff.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

She takes the cake..

The chocolate dome thing is called a bouchon and hers are out of this world!

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Unique Toronto Breakfast Recs.

How does Ethiopian brunch differ from the dinner offerings?

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Unique Toronto Breakfast Recs.

Not to rain on anyone's parade but I went to Brassaii last weekend and was not impressed. Service was less than stellar: when I asked for a description of the fritata I was met with a blank stare and then a rambling description that didn't get me excited in the least. I settled on the goat cheese, tomato omelette which was bland at best. The potatos were also quite greasy. Perhaps I chose wrong but I'm not eager to return.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

roti

It's not roti per se nor is it new; however, the paratha wraps at Eastern Twist at St. Clair and Bathurst do not receive anywhere near the attention that they should from the Chowhound community.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Unique Toronto Breakfast Recs.

For something completely NOT eggs and bacon. I believe Oyster Boy serves brunch.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Brunch at Delux?

In fact, they DO do brunch. Or at least they used to. Sundays only. I had brunch there soon after they opened at it was excellent. I'm sorry I can't recall what I ate since it was over a year ago but I remember enjoying it very much. The brunch up street at Levack Block is also yummy with a similar vibe.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Tuyen

Agreed on both counts. The martinis are the sweet variety with explicit names. Fun but not great or real. The pad thai is also quite bad.

There are a few items that are good including the soft shell crab.

The thing I like about Tuyen is that it has a "downtown" feel even though it is uptown and there ARE things on the menu that are worthwhile you just have to figure out which ones!

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

'Awesome' Chicken Liver Pate

okay I just has the BEST chicken liver pate i've ever had in my life last night from the Grain, Curd and Bean on Dundas just west of Dufferin. It's a recent opening fine foods take out place. My family was raving over this pate.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)

Tuyen

I don't think Tuyen and Spring Rolls are comparable. Whenever I've eaten at Spring Rolls it has been beyond bland without a hint of spicyness.

Tuyen CAN be hit and miss and has gone downhill but it is still far superior to that crap they serve at Spring Rolls.

airsey in Ontario (including Toronto)