BRACAB's Profile
Signatures, - Intercontinental Bloor Street Avoid the pizza!
I recently had the worst lunch I can remember having in Toronto. I was a guest and therefore did not wish to make a scene by rejecting it. I had the braised beef pizza that was served with a pure white, barely cooked, cold crust, sliced jalepenos and barely roasted garlic. It appeared to be a bad frozen pizza, slightly warmed with a few pepers sliced on top. Certainly not worth $16.
Corbin Tomaszeski announced as new ROM Executive Chef, designing new menus for both C5 and the Food Studio Cafe
I was there earlier this week, service has deteriorated. An amuse of their truffle potato chips was amusing as there was barely one for everyone a the table. The new menu is interesting , prices are more reasonable but portions very small. Fries are served cold and limp. Desserts very nice. Too bad dinner is gone. Hopefully this is all a work in progress.
House on Parliament-going downhill???
I have been at the HOP a number of times over the last few months. Service has improved since the move, there seems to be less attitude and more professional/efficient service. The food, particularly the daily specials is very good, as good as you will get in a Toronto "pub". Alas as a pub it really isn't a neighbourhood place to hang out and drink as it is just to busy and the bar too small. Brunch, particularly on Sunday is a different matter. The food is still good but staff are too hung over/tired or simply don't care.
Special Occasion Dining, out of doors on a Monday
For many years I have taken the husband to the fabulous patio at George for his July birthday. Alas this year the birthday is on a Monday this year and George is closed. Suggestions would be appreciated.
One Night in Vienna - outdoors
Based on the above recommendation we went to Do&Co and have a most wonderful evening. The The terrace, the view the food and the service all were very good. Thank you
Bravo! Winchester Kitchen and bar
Had dinner on Friday evening at the recently opened restaurant upstairs at the corner of Winchster and parliament. The former Laurentian Room has had a couple of incarnations, this one should be a great sucess. The food was superb and the service equally fine. This is a major new addition to Cabbagetown dining. Check their web site for variations on menus and opening hours. Daily specials highly recommended and the three little piggy pork platter a highlight.
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Laurentian Room
51A Winchester St, Toronto, ON M4X1A8, CA
Winchester Kitchen & Bar
51-A Winchester St, Toronto, ON M4X 1A8, CA
one night in Prague and Budapest
I realize that I am on a whirl wind trip but... I recently asked for recommendations for one night in Vienna. Thanks to those that responded I am pleased to have a reservation. If I could ask the same question for Prague and Budapest and add that as it will be mid June if there is something out of doors it woul be a bonus.
One Night in Vienna - outdoors
We will be in Vienna for one night, our first, in the middle of June. Much of the rest of our trip will involve indoor dining and we would like a great experience and weather permitting prefer to be out of doors. Suggestions much appreciated
Dining this weekend in Washington
We are flying in from Toronto this weekend to see the Sunday matinee of Follies at the Kennedy Centre. There is time for one special/interesting dinner on Saturday evening and early brunch/lunch on Sunday. Would appreciate suggestions, where one could get a reservation at such short, that would be interesting for such a brief visit.
TOCA by tom brodie
I was there last week and left with mixed feelings. At 50, I do not feel that I fit into the staid, seniors category but I found it too dark and too loud. The food was good, portions are quite large and the wait staff competant. The lobster fish and chips is over rated. There is a class system in place ( not sure how one rates or doesn't) the famed cheese cave which does appear impressive had many visitors during the evening but despite the fact that two of us ordered cheese at $18 we were given no choice of the vast array of cheeses and told that only those guests of the management were invited to the cave. The chef was much in evidence and visited some of the tables while clearly ignoring many others. I considered this a pleasant but mixed experience.
Cabbagetown - Where to eat
As someone who really enjoys a "local" ie. a pub that provides that convivial atmosphere as well as good food and friendly service Cabbagetown does not have it right yet! The HOP is just too busy, food continues to be at a very high standard but, particularly when dining in the new space, the traffic feels like a picnic on the 401. The service can be very rude and abrupt.
Stout, a nice reno of the former Brass Taps has a great beeer list and is headed in the right direction but the food is overpriced - $17 burgers?????
The closest thing to a great pub is the Ben Wicks, great friendly service, lots of space at the bar and lots of locals. This is not a gastro pub but serves ok pub food at reasonable prices in a congenial atmsophere.
On a different note the Rashna on Wellesley is one of the hoods great bargains and delicious food. For something a little more special Provence on Amelia provides ok neighbourhood French in a pleasant atmosphere. Thai to Go on Gerrard at Sumac is also recommended.
Welcome to the neighbourhood.!
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Ben Wicks Restaurant
424 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M5A3A2, CA
House on Parliament temporarily closed while moving next door
They were closed for lunch on Tuesday and reopened next door Tuesday evening. Perhaps some growing pains but still the best pub food in Toronto!
Pubs 2011
I am fortunate that I live in Cabbagetown and we do have great neighbourhood pubs that provided something for most everyone.
The House on Parliament currently is too crowded to be considered a pub (a place where one could hang out and drink) linups and less than warm service hinder what I still believe could evolve into TO's Spotted Pig. The owners know their stuff and a move into larger premises in the spring may bing this place to the level it should be at.
The Ben Wicks has great staff, lots of bar space but very inconsistant food many attempts to change things but they have yet to get it right. Keep trying guys...
New is the Underdown in the former Pimbletts Bar another case of very good intentions and deserves to be patronized. Music most nights.
Stout on Carlton, in the former Brass Taps has a great beer menu, ok food and appears to be taking off with a younger, noisier crowd
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Ben Wicks Restaurant
424 Parliament St, Toronto, ON M5A3A2, CA
Pimblett's Restaurant
242 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5A2G2, CA
Spotted Pig
23 Augusta St, Hamilton, ON L8N1P6, CA
Stout Irish Pub
I too have been to Stout and likewhat they have done to the place. The owners are trying hard to make it work and deserve to be encouraged. That being said I am not sure that it will replace the HOP. It is a pub with a great beer list and typical pub food including great fries. They do still need to iron out some kinks but a great neighbourhood alternative. It will be interesting to see if the HOP can maintain its food standards and hopefully improve the attitude when they move to larger premises. meanwhile I wish the WICKS could get it together on the food front. There is room for more success in Cabbagetown
Niagara Eats
Had dinner at AG in Niagara Falls and enjoyed it very much. The service was excellent and the food quite delicious
American Thanksgiving Lunch
Where could one go on Thursday at noon for a traditional turkey dinner?
Gingerbread men where to buy
I need to purchase gingerbread men or perhpas more politically correct people for a large party.
Any suggestions of tasteful and tasty cookies would be appreciated.
Where can one buy Batali cookward in Toronto? nmi
I would like to buy the 6 litre dish
thank you
drinks near zucca
I am planning dinner at zucca and would like to meet for drinks somewhere prior. Rarely venture this far north so suggestions would be appreciated.
House on Parliament-going downhill???
I am very much a regular at the HOP and consider it to have the best pub food in Toronto - think Spotted Pig at half the price. It can be crowded and the service a bit abrupt but overall I believe the food and service to be consistantly good. A great neighbourhood pub..
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Spotted Pig
23 Augusta St, Hamilton, ON L8N1P6, CA
casual, special occasion lunch
I need to find a place for lunch that is casual, conversation possible without shouting at each other and as a one of lunch in NYC a real Manhatten feel.
Business dinner in San Antonio
I need to host a number of business associates for dinner in San Antonio, we will all be from out of town and interested in appropriate spots for group dinners.
Recommendations needed - best AYCE sushi downtown or midtown Toronto
Try Asahi on Carlton, just west of Parliament. It is small and quiet and everything made to order.
Dinner in Gravenhurst
It is a golf weekend in the area and the dinner is a birthday treat, I had something other than pizza in mind.
Dinner in Gravenhurst
I will be in Gravenhurst next weekend and looking for a good place for dinner. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
One lunch in Athens
We have exactly one day in Athens, and dinner is a scheduled business event.
Where should one go for a one off experience?
Lunch in Athens
We will have time for one lunch in Athens prior to embarking on a cruise. Having never been to Greece before I would like something memorable, view and quality of the food being the most important.
Al Fresco Dining in the loop
Will be visiting Chicago this weekend and looking for places with outside seating, preferably with a nice view. Not preference of cuisine or price, good food is assumed.
Thanks
One great dinner in Chicago
A couple from Toronto will be in Chicago the weekend of June15. We have one free evening for dinner and would like to do something great. It does not have to be the most glamourous, most in or most expensive just a really great restaurant. Many thanks for your recommendations.
Crush Wine Bar
Has anyone been there? Is it recommended? How are there private dining rooms?
