Beaglesmuggler's Profile
Recco Needed ASAP! Work Lunch: Yonge & St. Clair
Hello Hounds!
I've got a new job at Yonge & St. Clair (Toronto). I don't know mid-town at all, I'm a Queen West girl. Boss has set a "welcome to the team" lunch for me and I'm supposed to choose the location.
One person on the team is vegetarian.
The office I work in is very health conscious (i.e. we work with public health people).
Location should not be too pricy. Should be able to do lunch for 4 people in 1 hour or not much more.
Help!
Thanks,
Sara.
Dave Cooked the Turkey (Marinade) - Anyone? How to Marinate a Turkey?
If you are a regular CBC listener then you probably know the Vinyl Cafe and Stuart MacLean's annual "Dave Cooked the Turkey".... which I love....
Anyways, one one of the annual episodes (Ferrets for Christmas) now that Dave has learned how to cook a Turkey he plans to marinate it in brine to make it more tender....
Anyone have an idea how this could / should (and tips on should not) be done? Links to websites would be helpful. Tried to find in recipes without luck.
Worst in Toronto
I'm proud of making it through this whole thread.
"New" Nominations
Taste of Tandoree (Queen W. & Dufferin) - Parkdale has been waiting for a good Indian restaurant for a long time. Even a good quick take away. This is NOT it. Dropped by to pick up some take away, walked it the half block home and unpacked. It was ALL cold. I don't mean not warm enough, I mean from the fridge cold. So cold I actually called them to see if they had made a mistake and pulled left overs from the fridge. They tell me "no, we serve all our food cold... that's a fridge in the front... just microwave it for 2 minutes and it will be fine." It was edible when we heated it up, but not very good, not to mention the fact that if I had wanted to heat stuff up in the microwave and use my own dishes I would have had some left overs! The good news is that no restaurant has lasted for more than two years in that location so I'm expecting a new restaurant in 18 months.
The Drake (Queen W & Beaconsfield) - admittedly I've only eaten here once, and I'm a big Gladstone fan. We stopped in for an early dinner before a show, I ordered the sashimi salad. There were 4 paper thin slices of sashimi with a mountain of the mixed greens you can buy at Metro and some very watery peanut dressing. All for the low low price of $15.
Medieval Times (Exhibition Place) - Go there for the show. Eat before you go. There isn't too much I can say that doesn't make chowhound liable.... lets just say I would pay money not to eat the food there.
2nd Nomiations - already mentioned here but I would like to give my agreement
Old Spaghetti Factory (Yonge & Esplanade) - Like everyone said it's chef-boy-r-dee. And I'm always nervous about restaurants that have bathrooms which look like they haven't been cleaned in quite some time.
East Side Mario's (Take your pick - chain) - The only Italian worse than the Old Spaghetti Factory. Seriously, how do you make pasta that bad?
Fresh (Trinity Bellwoods Park) - The juice bar is great - good thing because you'll need that juice to wash down the food. This is the vegetarian / vegan food that makes people think that all veggie food tasts like sawdust.
Why? I was really surprised to see these restaurants on the list:
Salad King (Yonge & Gould) - I won't say this should go into 'best' thai food, it's cheap student eats, but as cheap student eats go I'd say this is some of the best. Yes it's cafeteria sitting and always a bit understaffed, but they never got my order wrong, it was always hot and tasty.
Chippy's (Trinity Bellwoods) - Again not gourmet food, but as fish and chips go pretty good. I wouldn't want to drag it all the way home as I don't think any fried food stands up well to travel, but for a nice lunch across the street in the park it's a junky-tasty-treat.
Milestones (Queensway & Islington) - I don't normally like box restaurants, but seeing as the in-laws will go almost no place but... Milestone's is my pick. I'm not sure if all Milestone's have the local menu, but this one does, it has always been done exceptionally well with reasonable portion sizes. Service has been prompt and friendly.
Tasty lunch spots near Eaton Centre...willing to walk.
I'm struggling with this myself.
Salad King is at Yonge & Gould, just one block north of Yonge & Dundas - reasonable thai food... well I like it for quick anyways.
Chipolte is a chain but has decent food.
Freshii in the basement food court is not bad.
I'd really like to find a place that serves good healthy food without a pound of cheese, rice or dressing. But so far I've struck out on that wish.
ONTARIO Beers worth trying
Looks like most of my fav's have been mentioned so far including Mill Street, Muskoka, Neustadt, Black Oak, Cameron's, Nickle Brook, Robert Simpson (now Flying Monkey's - try their Hoptical Illusion), Great Lakes, Old Credit, Barley Days, Beau's...
Out in Ottawa Heritage brewing does a great dark beer.
Niagara's Brewing does a great classic Lager - Niagara's Best Blonde
If you are out in Toronto make sure to try Granite Brewery & Restaurant, they have a small on-site beer store so that you can bring some home with you.
Stratford makes a great Pilsner.
I haven't made it through all the new offerings from Railway City, but I hear they are doing quite well.
ONTARIO Beers worth trying
Walkerville unfortunately is under new ownership, they sold in 2007. It's looking like the new owners may go the volume discount route :( Hoping that's not the case.
