2008 - Great Toronto Restaurant Thread

[james t kirk]

It's been a long time since I've read a "Great Restaurant" thread so here goes.

These are my choices based on my experience

Steak / Old School
1. Harbour Sixty
2. The Octagon
3. Ruth Chris

Sushi
1. Kaji (Hands down, the best sushi in Toronto)
2. Blow Fish (you gotta have the Ebbi Shooter to start - lots of pretty people)
3. Japanese Steak House on Eglinton West / west of Renforth (believe it or not, the sushi at this place is top nothch.

Over the top Expensive (but farking excellent)
1. Suser
2. Scaramouche

New Age / Modern Funk

1. Globe Bistro on the Danforth (one of my personal fav's for great food at an ok price)
2. Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar (on Church and Esplanade -Tappas Style - everyone shares)
3. Via Allegra (in a strip mall across from Sherway Gardens in Etobicoke - most amazing food and one of the most extensive wine lists in Toronto.
4. Thuet on King West at Bathurst (pricier, but the food is excellent.)
5. Lee (Suser's other restaurant - the brazed beef is fantastic.)
6. Xacutti (600 some odd College St. - great place to take a date, food sunk in quality a while back, but it seems to have bounced back)
7. Colborne Lane (45 Colborne Street - come hungry, you'll leave hungry but the tiny portions they do give you will be great - stop off for pizza on your way home to take care of that hunger thing.)
8. Sauvignon - Corner of Queen and Rainsford, 1 west of Woodbine. - not some pub / trendy beaches place. Food is excellent as is the wine list.

Italian

1. Sotto Sotto or Sotto in the village
2. Take your pick - I like Rocco's Plum Tomato on the Queensway actually.

Brunch
1. Mitzi's on Sauraran and Pearson (if that's how you spell it - north of Queen st. Be prepared to wait, it's in a residential neighbourhood - but the food is great. Young hippy crowd.)


Miscellaneous / middle of the road fare

1. The Keg - you know what you're going to get and it's going to be pretty good.
2. Cafe Polenez - for your polish food fix at about 20 bucks a head, this place can't be beat.
3. Mamma Martinos on the Queensway - every day dining, but food is good, very reasonably priced, and some the waitresses are quite nicely endowed.

 

[Dick Starbuck]

Steak:

#1. Hy's, hands down.

#2. Bigliardi's. (NEVER busy, not the best 'hood, though...)

#3. Tom Jones. (Next to King Eddy hotel)

 

[SupahotGavin]

japan

Fav Sushi-Asian Fusion

Ki - At King and Bay
Nami - on Adelaide and Toronto St.


Love
Gavin.

 

[Robio]

John Anderson Burgers

Steak Queen

Whimpys

 

[RTRD]

My thoughts...

Steak: Morton's. I've been to every other place mentioned that is as highly rated (some mentioned have been rated in various magazines as not on the same level, such as Hy's) and they aren't as good. In particular Harbor 60, which used to be my favorite in Toronto, is no longer up to snuff. Honorable mention to La Castille, which is DAMN good for SIGNIFICANTLY less...go for lunch and you can get a damn good steak for less than $30. Ruth Chris in Mississauga was the worse experience in recent steak memory from a "value" stand point

Sushi: Actually, the place around the corner from me is great according to my "friend". She has more experience at this than me - I just know that of the 3 or 4 places I've been so far I enjoy it the most. Don't know the name. I'll have to try some of the places mentioned.


Fine Dining: Splendido. I've been to several of the top places in Toronto (though not "Scaramouche", my "friend" likes it there so it will probably see a visit soon), and Splendido beats them all. Crazy expensive though...$500 to $600 for two with tip...and that is if you don't go for a really outrageous bottle of wine...

Italian: I've been to several places, none of them any good (but I've lived in Chicago and New York, and the soon 2BX is from Montreal). Plum Tomato on Queensway is decent though...have been back. I once went on a date to "Il Fornello" on King, voted by "Now Magazine" as the best Italian in Toronto. My date said it was the best she'd ever had as well. This experience confirmed for me the Torontoian's do not know food...or at least neither she nor the readers of "Now" do. Bad...almost horrific.

Ribs: Phil's on College and Ossignton. Only place in Toronto to get REAL ribs...every other place else I've been has been either bad (Purple Pig) or various versions of "Swiss Chalet" ribs...amusing, mind you, but not actual Bar-B-Q. New place "Cluck Grunt & Low" on Bloor isn't bad...but is not as good as Phil's. Took "friend" to Phil's...her reaction was "ohmigawd, so THIS is what Bar-B-Q is supposed to taste like".

General comment about "The Keg" - I've been on a handful of occasions, each time on someone else's dime (business lunch or dinner) This is my other confirmation that Torontoian's do not know anything about food. You'd have to pay me to eat there - a free meal wouldn't even be enough incentive. Worse +$20 steaks ANYWHERE...hell, worse than some +$10 steaks I have had. And the rest of the menu is not much better.

 

[Dani]

http://thebookofjnsq.com/jd005a.php

Just what I have found to be above average in Toronto

 

[Sabiha]

has anyone eaten at modo? i have tried a couple times to get there for a meal but my plans always fell through.

for brunch my first stop was always swan on queen west. if i woke up too late (which would invariably happen) i would often find myself at the stem at queen/spadina, not quite fine dining but super charming and best potatoes yummmmm

i would also mention coca; their tapas is everchanging and amazing! never ate cactus before.

 

[newguy27]

Ah crap, now i gotta print this thread out and spend a hell of a lot of dough checking a lot of these places out!

 

[K Douglas]

I'm trying out that new steak house in Windsor Arms hotel this weekend. Can't seem to find any info on it. Has anyone been and if so how was it? My favourite steakhouse in city is Morton's followed by Black Angus.

 

[Tiffany_69]

Great thread

Nice post MLAM. Now concerning Italian food and the fact I have Italian in the Family from ST Leonard in Montreal where the best Italian food in the city is. I have not dinned much in T.O. Other then Remy’s and CN Tower. (But that whole other post). I think you’ll fine some very Italian food in Hamilton if your ever out this way. Might have something to do with population here but good Portugaise and Italian cuisine is in abundance.

 

[luv4lust]

i second Morton's it's a awesome place food is great so is the Park Hyatt very upscale hotel
http://www.mortons.com/location_detail.php?pageid=location_detail&idlocation=78

 

[zedzed77]

General comment about "The Keg" - I've been a handful of times, each time on someone else's dime (business lunch or dinner) This is my other confirmation that Torontoian's do not know anything about food. You'd have to pay me to eat there - a free meal wouldn't even be enough incentive. Worse +$20 steaks ANYWHERE...hell, worse than some $10 steaks I have had. And the rest of the menu is not much better.

Personally, I like Keg if only for their prime rib which is one of the only few steaks I will eat. Their other steaks are not that great but personally, the prime rib there is quite decent. Sure, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Le Biftheque are much better (but also quite expensive) in the Prime Rib department, but you'll get no complaints from me regarding Keg Prime Rib.

Another restaurant I'd like to throw in there is Peter's Steak House on Highway 7 west of Markham Road. Service is quite nice with older distinguished gentlemen as waiters. Even better if you take a girl there for her birthday. They will bellow a very nice baritone "Happy Birthday" for the gal.

And then there's Susur. Ridiculously expensive (to me) but eating there is like going to an art exhibition and eating the exhibits themselves. Carefully sculpted dishes with a great taste to boot. As well as the service. Mention a special occaision to them and they'll take you to a private VIP lounge for your dinner. If you are impressed by the dishes chefs make in Iron Chef America, then you'll be equally impressed here. (In case you didn't know, Susur himself took on Iron Chef Bobby Flay in a match and came out in a tie)

 

[chuckparker]

Steak: Barbarians , La Castile

Itallian: both are not fancy but great food Deserts plus in Woodbridge and Mama Mias in Niagara Falls. If you love a really nice wine and some good pasta Via Allegro on Queensway.

Shniztel : Cafe Polenez on Roncensvalles

Thai : Golden Thai and Young Tailand

Jamaican: Alberts

Late night take out eats : Commisso's bakery on eddystone in toronto


Honorable mention to Il Fornello on King and Aristotles in Mississauga

 

[spatial_k]

anyone ever been to Turf?

Turf is I think the sister resto to jump. IMO Jump is better.

 

[gdog]

Indian: Tandoor Flame (Dixie & 407), may be not 100% autthentic but great food.
Lamb Chops; Zorro's
Chinese: China Garden especially Haka Style

 

[RTRD]

I've

http://thebookofjnsq.com/jd005a.php

Just what I have found to be above average in Toronto

...been to EPIC...try Splendido.

 

[RTRD]

Barbarians...

Steak: Barbarians , La Castile

...is pretty good as well. Its my "fall back" in the city when I can't get in to Morton's or just want a change. If I'm on a date I'll go to Morton's because it is a bit brighter / nicer / lady friendly (plus it impresses chicks when the Host / Martire D greets me by name...a guy has to have every edge he can...LOL). If I am by myself and get an urge for steak I might do Barbarians instead...more likely to get in without a reservation, quieter, a bit less expensive, can stubble to the strip clubs up the street on Yonge...LOL

Concur on Barbarians...good steak...just very "old school"...

 

[james t kirk]

Note to self to try out Mortons and Phil's.

I'm looking for some new places to try actually.

 

[jimmyt]

Im old school and Italian mostly, so two categories for me;

Steak/Seafood;

1. Harbour 60...best in the GTA
2. Olivers' Steakhouse in Oakville....if you are GTA oriented with your restaurants, try this one..not too far out of town, and FANTASTIC service, food, and one of the great wine lists in the GTA.
3. Ruths' Chris.....cant go wrong

Italian

1. Via Allegro on the Queensway....dont be fooled by the fact it is in a strip mall
2. Resturant Latina on Queensway.....directly across the street from HOL1...great food and piano bar...sat beside Charlie Sheen and a nice girl from HOL1 there once a few years ago.
3. Sotto Sotto on Avenue Road...love the open kitchen...always these great smells of garlic and marinara in the air

 

[red]

General comment about "The Keg" - I've been on a handful of occasions, each time on someone else's dime (business lunch or dinner) This is my other confirmation that Torontoian's do not know anything about food. You'd have to pay me to eat there - a free meal wouldn't even be enough incentive. Worse +$20 steaks ANYWHERE...hell, worse than some +$10 steaks I have had. And the rest of the menu is not much better.

i agree on the keg- can't stand it. I don't understand people lining up to get into the keg.