fleisch's Profile
Romantic restaurant in North York
I'll second the rec for Paese. I haven't been there in a few years but it's pretty close to your geographical area and good option.
Not quite in the same league but nice enough for a mid-range pizza-pasta place, there's also Alegno, which is on Yonge between Sheppard and the 401.
kavod or Le Chateaubriand in Paris
Wanted to see if I could revive this topic and get some updated info from any one who has been to Paris recently. I understand Chateaubriand is closed (though there's another resto with the same name, so that was a bit confusing) and it looks like Izaaki and Kavod are the two "good" kosher restaurants still operating.
Has anyone had a recent experience at either or is there anywhere else worth looking at for a nice dinner?
Where can I get a vegetarian burger?
Worth noting that, like South Street, Licks cooks theirs on a separate grill with separate tongs etc.
Yonge/Steeles reco
I get the sense you're very locked into this "it's not like you can't get better elsewhere" vibe.
There's all sorts of things you can "get better elsewhere" depending where you are but the OP was asking what's decent around Yonge/Steeles.
As others have mentioned, there's some solid Korean in the area as well as Mid-Eastern and burgers aaand Cantonese. No doubt there are better burgers, falafel etc. all over the GTA but that's not really germane, is it?
recos close to the sound academy
I haven't eaten there but the Keating Channel Pub is a very short walk.
Last time I went to Sound Academy I ate at the Mill St. Pub. Anything in the Distillery is basically a 10 minute walk, which isn't so bad.
Yearning for Yellow Corn
Not too far from that, there's a farm on Bathurst @ Gamble (Front Step Farms) that sells their stuff out front.
I stopped yesterday and got the most amazing, sweet corn (but P&C). I think it was $5/dozen and they had some other things...peaches, raspberries, acorn squash.
favourite ice cream or gelato flavours and where to get them 2009
I'll second Ti Amo. Nice place, nice people, good gelato.
I know it was tight for them when the first opened because the new theatre was being built across the street but hopefully they're doing well now.
Joanne Kates' Top 100 Restaurants in Toronto
North Toronto Post is one of six magazines these guys publish - the others go as far north as Richmond Hill.
When you know that you can understand why they would want to make sure her list includes at least a "local" place or two for each publication. Hence, Big Mouth Kee and Me Va Me, among others.
I'm not saying any of these places are bad or undeserving but geography might have helped...Pastis being in North Toronto didn't hurt.
South Street Burger Co. ?
I can't swear to it but I'm pretty sure they were using a separate grill and tongs for the veggie burger.
Nathans Hot Dogs
They also have the mustard at the Kosher Sobey's in Thornhill.
It's perfectly fine brown mustard but, as embee says, nothing special.
Downtown AYCE sushi for large group
I'm helping put together a party with about 25 people and we're looking for somewhere in central downtown to camp out and dine on all the sushi we can eat. This seems to be the home of the AYCE experts and I thought y'all might have some ideas.
(I see Aji Sai on Queen seems to be a fave here but I'm wondering if they take reservations or can otherwise accomodate a group; especially given some comments about there being a time limit...)
If there's some kind of private room, that's even better but we're not being too picky.
Suggestions for a "dive" restaurant close to a movie theatre
Senator is a dinery/bistro place. Too nice to be a "dive."
Across from Silver City Yonge Eg is the Good Bite, which is a greasy spoon type place. Mars is there too which is sort of a faux greasy spoon :) There are definitely some veg items at Mars but I haven't eaten at Good Bite.
Burkie's Dog House (ACC gets new vendors and names one after Brian Burke)
Olde Spadina is still there as far as I know. I was at the ACC in the spring (May?) for a concert and it was open. Their website could be out of date but similarly says they're still there.
I now remember they had something I thought Embee might want to try: A "Coney Island" dog which has a casing. I was intrigued - but full. Next time I see it, I'm trying it.
Burkie's Dog House (ACC gets new vendors and names one after Brian Burke)
What will be most exciting for some of the people on this board is that they are using Nathan's dogs. (Actually - the way it's written implies they were already using Nathan's. Is that the case??)
There was a period of a couple of years when the ACC was using Hebrew National as the house hot dog. Alas, all good things...
Kosher dining downtown?
Just gonna add that Gladstones is called 398 West now. I haven't really heard anything about it. Despite the website, it is open, however...http://www.398west.ca/
Good places that deliever to Thornhill
I was gonna say Me Va Me but it got taken.
I THINK Shoom Shoom, which is the same kind of food and right around the corner from you, delivers, but I'm not sure.
Ginza Sushi (Yonge/Clark) is pretty good.
I'm sure there's other places but those are the ones coming to mind...
I've never used orderit.ca but they have a menu guide that lists a pretty wide array of places that will deliver.
http://www.orderit.ca/PDF/MenuGuide_RH.pdf
Niagara wine region
The wineries are relatively "fancy" lunch places.
If you're looking for something casual I'd strongly recommend Olson Foods @ Ravine Winery (in St. David's). Very fresh, homemade salads etc. and a lovely bakery too.
I got turned on to it and stopped in a few weeks ago and loved it.
My weekend in NOTL
Lessee....there was a beet salad, tempura-style vegetables, and one more thing which will occur to me shortly after I hit POST.
Oh, it was a slice of cheddar-style goat cheese with honey and crostini. (Chevre Noir, IIRC)
And for dessert we got the last cherry tart; a tough call there.
Both Olsons were there and everything was great.
My weekend in NOTL
I also just got back from a weekend there and, thanks largely to this board, stopped at Olson and Stone Road Grille.
Both were wonderful gems with great, fresh food and lovely service.
Both Olsons were present at their restaurant and had a great lunch there.
Hit Stone Road for dinner and was only able to get a late reservation at the bar but the owner asked us to wait four minutes and managed to produce a table.
We had some other dining options too but were very happy to have discovered these gems.
Best shakshuka in the GTA?
I've had the one on the menu at the What A Bagel restaurant in Thornhill (Bat @ New Westminister). I can't compare it to others but it certainly was yummy. They add goat cheese or feta for $1 and I had the goat cheese; came with some pita too.
I know the new Bagel World in Thornhill also has it on the menu but I haven't eaten or seen it...
Looking for well-raised Kosher meat ... any suggestions?
Take this with a grain of salt because I haven't been in there but The Butchers just opened a little while ago in Thornhill and they had a sign out front saying they had kosher meat...
The store sells all organic stuff and since they're not a kosher butcher they must be bringing it in and keeping it in a separate fridge or whatever. It's a smart move, given the 'hood they're in and I'll try to stop by soon and see what the deal is.
http://www.thornhilltowncentre.com/thebutchers/
Vegetarian Meals in Niagara-on-the-Lake
I haven't been there for dinner but I remember The Epicurean on Queen street having some great sandwiches, salads etc.
I eat fish but am otherwise in the same boat so thanks for posting the Q.
Chili's chain coming to Richmond Hill.
Source?
I hardly eat at any of those chains and I didn't even know Chili's was a real place because I knew it as the the hangout on The Office.
I saw it in Banff last year and I while I didn't try the food, they did make a yummy marguerita.
Passover Coke
Ha - the Star did a taste test on Passover vs normal coke...
http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/video/614533
The funniest parts are the two guys who think that the real sugar tastes like Aspartame and the one guy who actually can (apparently) taste HFCS.
Memories of deep fried McDonald's Apple Pies
Taco Bell also has one which I think is fried.
Mind you, being an authentic Mexican eatery they call it an Empanada.
Passover Shopping - Most Interesting Options
They're in at Sobey's in Thornhill for sure (4/$5) and I'd imagine any other grocery store with a decent kosher section (Metro @ Bat/Lawrence, Bayview Longo's etc)
Passover Shopping - Most Interesting Options
Actually, that LCBO is gone.
They just opened one of their new huge outlets just a 2 min drive west at the Promenade. It has a very large kosher wine selection - I'd guess larger than any other store in the province. They have a lot of new (albeit more expensive) wines in for the season.
And Cookoo's is awesome...it's just south on Bathurst at Chabad Gate.
Passover Shopping - Most Interesting Options
I just wannna echo all of Embee's comments.
Firstly, because my dad is from NYC so I've learned to stock up on U-Bet at pesach for my yearly egg cream needs. Nesquick, Hershey etc. is just not the same.
I also find Sobey's bakery amazingly mediocre. You'd think the biggest kosher store in the GTA could make an edible challah, but no dice.
If you go shopping there, say, next Sunday it will be unpleasant and crazy-busy but if you go when it's tolerable it ain't so bad. rbc is right about going on Saturday though, as Embee points out, the prepared foods won't be out. For staples you should be fine. I can't swear to it but I think the meat and cheese etc are not cleared out , they just aren't refreshed after Friday afternoon or whatever.
It actually seems there is a bit less of a selection this year...they don't have the lunch-size instant soups and mashed potatoes (ick, I know) which they have in past years.
Nyleve - you're right about the Bat/wilson No Frill's but the one on Centre Street in Thornhill is much better. The selection isn't quite as good at Sobey's but it can also serve as a one-stop-shop, I think.
Passover Coke
The Passover Coke finally showed up at Sobey's this week and it's much cheaper than Longo's: 4/$5.00.
They only do it here in the 2L bottles: Classic and Diet Coke.I think New York and some other places might have cans etc.
This sugar thing has been an ongoing question...I have to look at the ingredients for this year but I think embee is right that, at least for the last bit, it has NOT been sugar. It may be what is used in some places but I do recall "glucose/fructose" last year.
I think the taste is still a bit different but not much more than fountain vs. bottled or the differences you'd get across markets anyway. Who knows, maybe there's a placebo effect to having the Passover Coke and being taken back to your childhood before the recipe was corrputed :)
Kosher Toronto
Do you know where exactly? There might be one but I haven't seen it yet...
