Blaq's Profile
Cheap eats around bay and bloor
I'm sad to report that Arrabiatta is closed, its paper-covered windows announcing a new Pan-Asian place opening next month. Yeah, that's what Yonge/Bloor needs, more Pan-Asian. Arrabiatta, we'll miss you.
Cheap eats around bay and bloor
Here are three of our top neighbourhood picks:
- Camros: I second this amazing vegetarian place. Healthy, fresh and light, yet filling. Unlike anything else in the area.
- Natural Sushi (714 Yonge, south of Charles): Japanese restaurant offers all-you-can-eat lunch for $11.99. Our weekly pig-out (he sheepishly admits).
- Arrabiatta (692 Yonge, south of Charles): friendly Italian restaurant with superb pasta. A steal at lunch: $10 or so for pasta and salad. (Or pasta and soup, although the menu doesn't mention it.) My favourite, invisible at lunch but which can still be ordered off the menu, is the _old_version_ of the Trentino pasta. (Fettucine with veal; last year, they replaced the cream/demi-glaze sauce with a tomato/Brandy sauce. They can still make you the former if you specifically ask for it.)
Yonge/Bloor Asian joints
Second the recommendation for Natural Sushi. Their all-you-can-eat is more pleasing than Katsu Sushi on Danforth; my husband and I go once a week for lunch to gorge ourselves. (Sad, but honest.)
Cocina Lucero - service update?
It breaks my heart to say this, but Cocina Lucero is still struggling — so much so that we've sworn off it. (He says, wistfully turning his head to glance out the window at the restaurant, a mere 100m down, 100m east, and 100m south from his condo...)
The service is still iffy, and the food totally unreliable. We're still addicted to Lucero's Azteca soup, but have been burned by the food and service many times. She did open a side patio for the summer, and got her liquor license too. The extra money *may* enable her to get more/better help, both in the kitchen and on the floor, but we'll never know.
It's sad; the restaurant started off so promisingly.
Veg-friendly near King/University (takes reservations)?
My daughter-in-law is bringing her family to a Toronto outing at the Princess of Wales Theater. Their desired restaurant has to have some vegetarian options (that she can eat - so no milk products!), and take reservations on a Friday night. There will be 7 of them, so they would like to guarantee that we will eat before the show.
The restaurant would need to be close, so that they can easily walk from one to the other. And her small-town family is not used to walking the city blocks - or taking the subway (her mom doesn't really enjoy enclosed spaces).
Dear Chowhounds, what would you recommend? Thanks!
