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Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
Finally managed to get my all-time dim sum fave, the crispy taro, usually with pork inside, but curry chicken here - very very good version! The curry chicken with rice was great, a notch better than the beef brisket on rice that was not very tender tho tasty enough. And adults, kids all loved the thick noodles, as well as our usual dumplings and sticky rice orders. Apparently they have begun delivery in the 'hood but we just walked down and collected our takeout as usual, so can't comment on the former.
Very tasty food - Raby's 66 Overlea Blvd, Thorncliffe Toronto
Thanks for the tip. We ordered takeout, which they delivered reasonably promptly. Really good, well-spiced and tender bihari kabab and lamb chops - and yes, the yakhni pulao is awesomely tasty. A decent enough mutton handi dish and a baked spiced pomfret that was fresh enough but didn't come together as well as the other dishes. But then fish is always the weak point for North Indian/Pakistani food. 10 bucks for delivery above 3 kms. The standpoints for us were the kababs, the rice and very nice, huge tandoori rotis. Pakistani owners and cooks I would surmise, without having seen the actual resto. We've added it to our rotation now, esp since Makkah, while tasty, is way too hot for our little one and she actually managed a bit of the kabab from Rabys.
Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
Yup, I wish they would start delivery soon. I have liked everything we've tried: seafood and pork dumplings plus shu mai, the awesomely fresh and delish sticky rice with meat parcels (3 small instead of one big, which helps keep them from drying out), and the Singapore noodles. More next week, I expect.
Restaurant "Har Gow" on Danforth
This is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood, and I do hope they succeed in this previously benighted spot. I ordered pork dumplings (large order from the dinner menu) on Thursday - freshly made in front of me (NOT frozen as someone implied in a previous posting without having tried the place) - both my daughter and I liked them when we ate at home, an hour later. Even though they had cooled off, they were not congealed, and the quality of the meat and wrapping were both good. I chatted briefly with the young man who owns the place with his dad, who is an experienced chef and does most of the cooking. Very sensible menu for this area, with lots of chicken and veggie offerings, to balance the usual beef/pork/tofu offerings that we are used to from our forays to dim sum places in Scarborough/Markham/Richmond Hill. Another customer was eating the large sticky rice/meat dish while I waited, he said it was very tasty. Am looking forward to ordering more of the dim sum dishes as well as the lunch/dinner ones. I will do a fuller review next week after we have done so. They told me they have not even done publicity as yet - I can attest to that as have not got the usual flyers - but I can see a lot of us who want an alternative to Danforth Dragon opting for this as our quick and friendly neighbourhood Chinese takeway instead of driving to Gerrard/Broadview as we've usually done in the past. Btw, they told me for the moment they plan to keep it more as less as a takeaway joint, hence no highchairs etc.
new indian restaurant donlands & danforth
India Kitchen seems to have closed. Tried it once, very mediocre. Have not tried Aravind's yet, will do so soon, seems to be in a different, better league, we need more regional and non-generic South Asian foods esp in the downtown core
ISO : Fresh Duck Eggs
Have bought excellent and fresh duck eggs from Scheffler's (sp.?) at Sr Lawrence Mkt last few weeks - from Lac Broome ducks - very big, colourful and flavorful yolks - packs of six for $4.99, I think
Emerald Indian Restaurant at Woodbine & Danforth - Anyone been?
Does anyone have the phone number for this restaurant please? We are hoping to go there for lunch tomorrow Monday and want to make sure it is open, and if we can, to order in advance.
Hyderabad House - Scarborough find for regional South Asian cuisine in Toronto
After a long search for good Hyderabad food (a cuisine similar to North Indian 'Mughlai' cuisine but with specific regional dishes and variations from the famous courtly culture of South India, the Muslim princely state of Hyderabad), we finally hit lucky. We found mention of a take-out/catering place, Hyderabad House, at Unit 10, 4820 Sheppard East; Scarborough; through its website which was advertised on the Canadian Desi site which caters to Canadian South Asians.
http://www.hydhouse.com/default.html
We looked at the menu - lo and behold, there were a number of dishes I had last eaten in Hyderabad, India - such as bagare baigan (an eggplant dish), mirchi ka salan (peppers), and chaknaa (delicious offal stew), tala hua ghosht (stir-fried meat) - as well as more popular dishes such as chicken dum biryani, korma etc. Like all Muslim cuisines of South Asia, it had many more meat-based dishes.
Hardly believing it, we dialled the number provided - 416-289-7011 - the helpful gentleman who answered in very good English, suggested we send him an email since we wanted to pre-order a number of dishes for two days later when we were running errands in that area.
We did so, got a confirmation email in reply and picked up our food today at Scarborough - amazingly good food. Everything was freshly cooked, delicious, and authentic. The sauces were superb and distinctive for each and every dish, the rice in the biryani just as it should be with each grain separate, the meats tender and succulent, the eggplant soft and yielding on the inside, the prices very very low (it came to $27.65 for 5 dishes).
A couple of caveats - more oil than would be the case than if one cooked at home, but certainly not more than other South Asian restaurants; the spice level I would call medium, so if you cannot eat spicy food,I would desist. Also, although there are three bar-stools to sit and wait, you cannot eat there, there is just no space. I would recommend calling beforehand. They open 11.30 am to 11 pm.
But if you enjoy good South Asian food, and/or if like us, you have been seeking regional cuisines of South Asia, do sample Hyderabad House. We are already trying to find excuses to make another trip to Scarborough.
Emile Henry Tagine?
It is Sasmart, I got my Emile Henri tagine there. If he doesnt have it in stock, he will tell you when to expect it or even call you with the news. Great prices.
Colborne Lane--Loud?
We are deciding between Splendido and Colborne Lane for a friday night dinner (we could only get 6:30 reservations at both places). We are going with someone who tends to dislike louder places. I know that Splendido is wonderfully quiet, but I've heard that C.L. can get loud? What has been people's experience? How loud is C.L on an earlish Friday night? Close tables? Loud music?
Ethiopian/ N. African on the Danforth?
Rendezvous we feel is the best in terms of spicing and general food quality, far superior to Dukem and Blue Nile. We go there quite often. Blue Nile also once cheated us on our change!
Haven't tried Djerba l.d. but it looks interesting.
Phx Chow Going Home
I would skip Thai and concentrate on other Asian cuisines since Thai in Toronto is more or less like generic Thai anywhere else. Chinese by contrast is superb.
Toronto: best sweets in Little India?
Also, not at Little India, but in the Little Bangladesh area, Anondo, just opposite the big Leon's at Main/Danforth has great Bengali-style sweets. They make different kinds everyday, everything from rasagollas to phirni to pithas, about 6 bucks for a box and they are lovely and fresh. Usually sold out by late evening. Do a google search if you don't know what these sweets are. Their food is also very good home-made regional cuisine.
Toronto: best sweets in Little India?
Shalimar Sweets at the junction of Gerrard and Greenwood has very good carrot, turmeric, and another kind of halwa - you get a large amount for 5 bucks and it is delish - just make sure you get the fresh stuff which he keeps on the counter.
Best, inexpensive Indian in Mississauga or Oakville...
Nothing to bear Brar Sweets - 199 Advance Blvd (at Dixie), Brampton, 905-799-1625 - huge assortment, buffet-style - fresh homecooked style North Indian food.
For South Indian a good choice is Saravana Bhavan - 4553 HURONTARIO ST, MISSISSAUGA, ON L4Z 3L9
in between Elia & Kingsbridge Garden
(Cross Street: Hurontario ST and Kingsbridge Garden CIR)
Phone: 905-290-0769
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Scottish Food in Toronto?
Just to say that High Street now does a take-out Melton Mowbray pork pie alongside its exemplary fish and chips and sticky toffee puddings - man was it good - for our pie pig-fest last week we also got good steak pie and a different kind of pork pie from Butt n'Ben - also black pudding which I am saving for a fry-up weekend breakfast - we plan to try Mrs Bridges next!
Stringhoppers in the GTA
We usually get them from one of these 2 places. Very good and very cheap. I'm sure there are many places in Mississauga too.
Vallin Bakery
283 B Morningside Ave
Scarborough Ontario
Tel : 416-208-6037
(25 stringhoppers, sambol and chutney for some ridiculously low price, either 3 or 5 bucks)
Sooriyan Restaurant Take-Out &Catering
3785 LAWRENCE AVE E, SCARBOROUGH, ON M1G 1R2
in between Mossbank & Scarborough Golf Club
(Cross Street: Shoredale DR and Gracemount CRES)
Phone: 416-438-5333
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Both these places open after noon.
anyone know about Madras Dosa Hut?
Actually, we had the buffet at the Richmond Hill outlet and it was good - they were very assiduous in service too, bringing piping hot dosas from the kitchen, when I requested them - but then we went early before the families rush...
I've eaten at the Delhi outlet many times - they are always completely full all through the day there - and the Toronto ones are almost as good - almost, since there are more choices in India, and the sweets just cannot taste the same given the difference in ingredients here...
Choucroute at Le Select
I'm going (for work) to Le Select, my first time. Has anyone tried their choucroute?
Thursday lunch - Friday dinner, near the University
I would really strongly recommend Gallery Grill at Hart House for lunch - wonderful range of season-based dishes - reasonably priced and convenient location.
sample menu
http://www.dine.to/profile_features.php?feature=menu&id=2817
Niagara Street Cafe - help?
I can recommend it unreservedly. Wonderful food, nice quiet atmosphere, unpretentious and polite service.
Our friend (who is a major foodie) had the octopus and loved it. We had the milk-fed pork, which was perhaps the best pork I have ever eaten, and the lamb neck which was also very good. The cheese plate was spectacular. We also enjoyed our starters which were the lardons and the terrine. Its been a long time that I've been to a fine dining place in TO where we enjoyed all our courses and did not find it too loud or too pretentious or too expensive.
Too bad you could not get a reservation, it is a tiny place, but do go when you can.
cooking videos
My brother, an aspiring home cook with a great love of technique, is really interested in getting some dvds that can help teach fundamentals of cooking, of any number of cuisines. Can anyone make some suggestions? We're not looking for flash and bells and whistles, just good instruction for someone who knows the basics already, but also knows a lot about food itself.
Ethiopian Groceries in TO?
Desta Market - Danforth and Jones - groceries, ingera, fresh meat, and lately, some delish and unusual cooked food for take-out - I can recommend their beef dish and their sheep stomach.
East side eats (Broadview to Victoria Park)
Sorry, correction to earlier post - Anondo is 2891 Danforth, just opposite the huge Leon's.
Our dinner was fantastic, esp the beef rezala curry. 5 of us ate till we were stuffed, and I ordered 2 more dishes for tomorrow's dinner, and it still came to only 10 bucks a person...But as I said I think I'll post a separate chowfind about this place
East side eats (Broadview to Victoria Park)
There is a little strip of Bangladeshi eating places around Danforth and Vict Park/Main. Our current favourite is a new place - called Anondo (means joyful) - 2981 Danforth - ph number is 416-698-9166 - a very clean place run by a sweet Bengali family - they do lovely simple home style food - don't look for the curryhouse staples such as tandoori chicken - this place only does regional delicacies specific to Bengalis and Bengali Muslims in particular as its main customers so far are Bengali locals, but they deserve to be more widely known!
I recommend the combos with rice pulao (like pilaf), 1 meat dish, 1 veg dish and lentils all for 4.99 are excellent - you can also order wonderful breads on the side - such as mughlai parathas (big puffy soft breads lightly stuffed with minced meat and/or egg), or plain parathas, or samosas, or daal puris (small puffy breads stuffed with lentils)- we've had their food twice since we discovered them last week and are going for dinner again tonight with a bigger crowd - you can eat in or take out - they take a bit of time since things are made from scratch. Will post a full report tomorrow after tonight's dinner. A real chow find and really good value too.
Since you were looking for a North Indian resto, I would ask you to try this, since Bengali Muslim cuisine evolved through contact with North Indian carriers of 'Mughai' food into the Eastern India/Bangladesh area.
ORGANIC BULK everything?
We live on the Danforth, so I head out to Strictly Bulk (at Pape), then onto Grassroots and Big Carrot - between those I manage to get almost all my household needs in terms of grains, cereals, spices, cleaners etc without using chemicals and commercial packaging - just make sure you take plenty of empty containers, reusable spray bottles etc with you and yes, get them weighed - this avoids using those plastic bags - I wish these places supplied strong brown paper bags for rice etc as Rube's at St Lawrence does.
Simba Grill -- very 'hound worthy (long)
I'm glad more hounds have found Simba Grill. They are wonderful and the ugali with spinach is one of my veggie faves...Just be warned, and this is not a criticism but an explanation - they sometimes do just take-out in the evening when things are slow so it is always better to call before one goes, to check - after all the owners are elderly and it is clearly a labour of love with things being cooked pretty much from scratch...if you sit there, go slow and have a pleasant meal with family or friends as we do!
Swiss Cuisine?
Very bad undercooked rosti available at Richtree (formerly run by Movenpick) so stay away from it in case someone mentions it to you
"Calcutta Chinese" (Indian Hakka) in downtown Toronto?
My London UK based friend is from Calcutta and is doing a thesis on Calcutta Hakka people - earlier this summer she too recommended Yueh Tung so I am happy to see that other chowhounds concur on this. Lin Garden and Frederick's also claim to be from Calcutta but 1. are much further out and 2. have had mixed reports. Enjoy your food.
Sadly, do not know where you can get authentic kathi kababs in the GTA - I had some at Nizam's last month and am craving them again....they don't taste the same out of Calcutta
