Critique my "must try" list for Toronto!

Pizza: I've tried Libretto, and STILL hold that Queen Margarita Pizza is better

Japanese: Sub category of sushi...(needs to be mentioned I think) : Asuka in Yorkville is bar none the most consistently good and generous sushi meals I've had in Toronto.

Greek: Avli on the Danforth rocks (however never been to Pantheon, so can't challenge that one too much) However I live close to greektown where all native greeks in my area swear by Avli..

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

New on Queen East??? - Ruby Eats, Tavern, Olive & Olive

Ruby eats - excellent local, sustainable food store. Also, cooking demos are great. They take all produce from store itself, as if they were shopping, then bringing food home to cook. Clever idea!

Eadry Foods: Try their chipotle chicken sandwich - very tasty/fresh.

Goods and Provisions: Still waiting for my first visit, but I went by it yesterday and it was already packed - on 2nd day or opening...good sign!

Le Canard Mort - Very good, authentic, moderately priced french food. Been there a few times for dinner. They are no also open fo brunch sat. sun!

Have fun dining in the east my friends!

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Hammersmiths

best dish there? any musts? I want to hit it up this weekend

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Traditional French bistro in Toronto: some names?

I would suggest several options (being from montreal myself where we have copious top notch bistro fare..)
Biff's bistro.. the bouillabaisse is one of the best i've had
Selecte bistro...ok but perhaps a little overpriced
Rossignol...Great steak frites but atmosphere's a little blah
Batifole...haven't tried but i've heard great things...only thing is location is quite unfortunate being in far east china town
La Palette & Lucien: 2 places I have not tried either but have heard some great feedback from peeps.
Enjoy the french cuisine!

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La Palette
492 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V, CA

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Bouillabaisse recommendations in Toronto area please

biff's bistro serves a killer bouillabaisse! generous portion and I love how they pore the broth over the seafood right in front of you in order to prevent it from getting overcooked...give it a try..

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Biff's Bistro
4 Front St. E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B2, CA

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Distillery District - Best Bet for Dinner?

I would definitely try Pure Spirits. I have only been there for lunch but whenever my parents are in town they request to go there as they love the ambiance...very cool and modern atmosphere,,food is quite original and consistently good and wine list is very reliable with a decent amount of choice. I highly recommend the hawaiiwan ahi tuna tartar.
Enjoy your dinner in the DD...

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Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill
55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A3C4, CA

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Lola's Commissary

also went today. had the egg white frittata..so delish. Brother god the eggs lola. also great. very inviting but unnassuming restaurant. Doesn't hurt that servisc is friendly,inviting. love the decor..and bathrooms! (one of my selling points for restaurants)

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best pizza in Toronto?

trust me, if you're a real pizza fanatic as I am, you must must find a way to get yourself to Queen Marguarita. It is worth it! I am very picky with pizza..and this place is the best ive tried outside Europe!

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best pizza in Toronto?

Queen margherita pizza is definitely the best in the city. I am quite picky with my pizza and will usually judge by the crust - texture and taste...and i can tell you the sweet, doughy crust is quite orgasmic. I came to leslieville being told that Lil Baci was the top of the town and was pretty disapointed...Then this place came along...Just speaking with John, the owner, you can tell he is super passionate about his resto, as well as pleasing his clientele.. Just make sure you make a reso if you want to eat there...unless you're as lucky as i am and live in the neighbourhood for easy pickup!

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Queen Margherita Pizza
1402 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4L, CA

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

Summerlicious 2010 edition

I went to Byzantium Saturday night and had a very pleasant experience for summerlicious.

Although the appetizers were just fine, the mains were defintely the highlights.

My friend and I shared all 3 services (bonus of going with someone who has the same food tastes as you..which I highly reccomend for these kind of menus)

We started off with the fried calamari, nothing extraordinary but simply good and well cooked, and most importantly, not too coated in batter, which is always my biggest criticism with calamari in restaurants. The mussels as appetizers were also very nice in a white wine, garlic and leek sauce I believe. Not huge portions but just fine as we had the mains on the way :)

We shared the ribs and lamb burger. I am always afraid of geting ribs in restaurants where it is not their speciality dish as I've had too many experiences with dry, rough, tasteless meat that is so hard to get off the bone. These ones were quite tender, and the sweet mango but spicy marinade was also a great choice and had a side of tiny crispy sweet potato fries with them.
But even better was the lamb burger. It was perfectly cooked, as in not overcooked, and tender as all, which again, is another concern with lambburgers. It was filled with a generous amount of goat chees and caramalized onions mmm...Nice portion!

i'd say check it out folks,...cuz this is perhaps the only decent restaurant in the village and it is actually quite tasty. On top of it they have a few featured wines on their menu for the event at very decent prices- around 24$. We had a very nice Italia pinot grigio/chardonnay from Italy for that price!
Summerlicious may be the chance to give this a place a try for your first visit...

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Byzantium
499 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y2C6, CA

jrex in Ontario (including Toronto)

SALAD A LA GO-GO!!!

I agree. I have been a big fad of Java U's salad bar but i believe this has way more variety and so original..makes super good salads. And lI as well love how they are made to order...even more how you can personally order your salad ahead of time online. Only ever been to the location on Laurier actually. Should check out their other locale..

jrex in Quebec (including Montreal)

Fries in Montreal

Chalet BBQ fries are amazzzz!

jrex in Quebec (including Montreal)

BEST LUNCH TABLE D'HOTE AROUND.. Montreal

For great value...and delicious food of course- Mas Cuisine on Wellingtion in Verdun. 15$ for a 2 course meal including coffee or tea. Pretty much an amazing chef behind all the dishes..and i have tried many there... And I mention this regardless of the good deal..it is indeed a great experience!

jrex in Quebec (including Montreal)

middle to high end restaurants with good value table d'hote for dinner

i know Chez Leveque on Laurier has an after 9pm 21$ table d'hote. Pretty good french bistro. otherwise, if you're willing to wait the extra hour, across the street is Lemeac, which has an amazing after 10pm 22$ table d'hote. Both worth a try but i must admit i'm quite the fan of Lemeac..amazing food always...
Let me know if you want any suggestions if you do decide to hit up Lemeac. I've been there a bunch of times and know the menu pretty much by heart ;) its a favorite of me and my family

jrex in Quebec (including Montreal)

Pho 21

so i had heard all this great stuff about Pho Viet. about it being a great vietnamese BWOW in the village. so i tried it out...several times..and it was pretty good. got used to it at least. then Pride came around and i called to make a reservation just to find out that it was closed for the "holidays" so i knew there was another place across the street that was not known at all but also had the title of Vietnamese BYOW called PHO 21....and all i can say it was delic!!! the grilled chicken and beef are yummy..and so is the tonkinoise soup (you can ask for them to make a seafood one even if it's not on the menu) and most of all the owner/waiter is the cutest and nicest guy you've ever met ready to do anything to make your evening more delightful. just letting you all know to try it..and i'd love to get your feedback on it. i'd like to give this little family place more exposure because i've tried a lot of our montreal BWOWs and this one is definitely up there. enjoy..and give me some feedback..for his sake!

jrex in Quebec (including Montreal)