Eating out Toronto, Consistent Disappointment

[bluetors]

Go out to lunch or dinner, almost always, the server fucks up portion size, or maybe, it's their standard shrinkflation portion size, and not enough food to feed.

I walk out pretty hangry and unsure what to do. Any tips how ppl avoid this? Order 2 meals, eat 1, and a bit of 2nd and then have leftovers?

Also, why are all the Pizza chains in this city cardboard food? I finally found a decent non chain pizza place, had a bit, it was SOOOO GOOD, ate the served portion, 4 slices, 8", but guess what, wrong size! I needed 6 slices. Since I couldn't see the food before ordering, I got fucked again, and I started sweating profusely (body fat loss) and subsequently electrocuted in the brain. Not fun.

When I travel overseas, eating out is fun. They have the food laid out, like in Germany or Italy, even many UK/US places, you can visualize it, and order how much you want and are rarely disappointed.

Whether it's pizza slices or rice/chicken, pasta, whatever, it's right there in front of you, in the quantity you desire. You pick your own portion.

 

[unassuming]

Go out to lunch or dinner, almost always, the server fucks up portion size, or maybe, it's their standard shrinkflation portion size, and not enough food to feed.

I walk out pretty hangry and unsure what to do. Any tips how ppl avoid this?

Home cooked meals!

 

[Butler1000]

Go out to lunch or dinner, almost always, the server fucks up portion size, or maybe, it's their standard shrinkflation portion size, and not enough food to feed.

I walk out pretty hangry and unsure what to do. Any tips how ppl avoid this? Order 2 meals, eat 1, and a bit of 2nd and then have leftovers?

Also, why are all the Pizza chains in this city cardboard food? I finally found a decent non chain pizza place, had a bit, it was SOOOO GOOD, ate the served portion, 4 slices, 8", but guess what, wrong size! I needed 6 slices. Since I couldn't see the food before ordering, I got fucked again, and I started sweating profusely (body fat loss) and subsequently electrocuted in the brain. Not fun.

When I travel overseas, eating out is fun. They have the food laid out, like in Germany or Italy, even many UK/US places, you can visualize it, and order how much you want and are rarely disappointed.

Whether it's pizza slices or rice/chicken, pasta, whatever, it's right there in front of you, in the quantity you desire. You pick your own portion.

To start the server does not control the portion size. Its set by the owners. For a set price. There tends to be an accepted standard of food cost to price ratio, especially in chains/fast food, in NA so it is not just Toronto but continent wide.

So really its just about, as you did with pizza, finding good local places who have what you want.

The advantage to Toronto is due to its diversity the variety of ethnic food type is arguably the best in the world. And the quality is there. But you have to be willing pay for it.

 

[curr3n_c1000]

I mostly stick with middle eastern food now as I feel they give the best bang for your buck.

For pizza, try domino's I guess.

 

[yababy1]

Go to an all you can eat buffet, problem solved

 

[hamermill]

- click bait title I thought this thread was about eating pussy.

 

[canada-man]

you are eating at the wrong places

 

[bluetors]

I don't mind paying more. Just serve a damn satisfying meal. In my area, most places suck. I found one decent Italian and one decent middle eastern place. They're good food but small portions. The remaining options are just cardboard. For example, I tried a Thai place. It was pure cardboard. They didn't use any oils or sauces. I was basically eating plain rice with Thai seasoning. I finished 20%, the rest wouldn't go down, so I threw it out. 17 bucks.

I remember going to Thai express 15 years ago, it was so satisfying. None in my area. Same goes with Domino's, Mama Pizza, Pigiolo, and the remaining cardboard Pizza places. They're shy to use enough Oil or Sauces.

Places that DO serve good food, those places then serve a small portion. Which is fine if that's how they make money. But how am I suppose to know small portion ahead of ordering. If I could visualize it, then I would pay for 2 meals, eat 1, and some from 2nd, with leftovers.

That's one of my point/rants. When you go abroad, the food is there in front of you, you can visualize it before picking what and how much you want. Impossible to be unsatisfied. This order off the menu Toronto style, sit, wait, and be surprised by portion size is complete bullshit.

 

[Don Draper]

Don't do the chains. I certainly don't.

There are way too many independent "Mom & Pop" places in this city with quality service & food.

From bars to restaurants to coffee shops who truly value repeat clientele and want to see them return with family and friends.

Seek them out, it's work but it's FUN work. It's worth it.

 

[Spunky1]

Recall reading about a Xlarge pizza is the best value for your money when ordering. The article calculated the square inch of pizza for the dollar.

 

[Valcazar]

That's one of my point/rants. When you go abroad, the food is there in front of you, you can visualize it before picking what and how much you want.

Where is this?
Not in Europe in my experience.
A sit down restaurant that brings menus doesn't let you see the portion size and pick one.

 

[bluetors]

Where is this?
Not in Europe in my experience.
A sit down restaurant that brings menus doesn't let you see the portion size and pick one.

In Germany, Italy, and tons of places in the US, when you go out to eat, there are plates, you grab one, look at the many heated dishes, pick out what you want in the quantity you desire, weigh the food, and pay per weight. Sometimes, you want a small bite. It fits. Sometimes, you want more. It fits. No under eating, no left overs. Always perfect.

OR

They have other stuff like sandwiches, croissants, pancakes, etc. all laid out. Since you can visualize what it looks like, you pick out what you need, pay per item, have a seat, and enjoy.

Toronto: You order off menu, you're blind to what you'll get, sometimes it feeds, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, it could be too much (who eats leftover??). Everyone's appetite is different based on their activity level and size. Not 1 size fits all.

There's longo's that does it the way I mentioned, but it's only salads. Not a full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

 

[Alexis*]

I am no longer in the downtown area and am also unsure about restaurants to eat in when I visit. My bestie and I walked from Peter st to Ossington on Queen west, unable to find anything but fast food.

Soula's, Megas, and Square Boy on Danforth are good Greek restaurants, as is Authentic Greek in Scarborough (I've only had delivery, can't speak on the atmosphere)

I always enjoy Moxie's, Il Fornello and O&B. Some people dislike chains but I have always liked the food, ambiance and service.

Sushi can be hit and miss but I find Kibo consistent and reliable.

I have to say I'm not as adventurous with restaurants anymore because I've been burned enough times! Someone I know and trust has to recommend anything new these days.

 

[Butler1000]

In Germany, Italy, and tons of places in the US, when you go out to eat, there are plates, you grab one, look at the many heated dishes, pick out what you want in the quantity you desire, weigh the food, and pay per weight. Sometimes, you want a small bite. It fits. Sometimes, you want more. It fits. No under eating, no left overs. Always perfect.

OR

They have other stuff like sandwiches, croissants, pancakes, etc. all laid out. Since you can visualize what it looks like, you pick out what you need, pay per item, have a seat, and enjoy.

Toronto: You order off menu, you're blind to what you'll get, sometimes it feeds, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, it could be too much (who eats leftover??). Everyone's appetite is different based on their activity level and size. Not 1 size fits all.

There's longo's that does it the way I mentioned, but it's only salads. Not a full breakfast, lunch, dinner.

So places like Farm Boy used to have this. Then the Pandemic hit and they were all shut down. But essentially they are buffets and a loss leader depending on turn over as food gets tossed out not just at the end of the day but when it sits too long.

We probably have stricter health codes than some places you've eaten. And yes volume business comes into play. The profit margins, especially with food cost rising, are razor thin.

 

[Valcazar]

In Germany, Italy, and tons of places in the US, when you go out to eat, there are plates, you grab one, look at the many heated dishes, pick out what you want in the quantity you desire, weigh the food, and pay per weight. Sometimes, you want a small bite. It fits. Sometimes, you want more. It fits. No under eating, no left overs. Always perfect.

We have places like that in Montreal, too.
I'm sure they exist in Toronto.

I've never seen them be particularly popular, but like buffets, they have their place.

They have other stuff like sandwiches, croissants, pancakes, etc. all laid out. Since you can visualize what it looks like, you pick out what you need, pay per item, have a seat, and enjoy.

Lots of places like this in Montreal and I am sure all across Toronto as well.
Delis, sandwich places, most places that are set up in grocery stores are like this.

Toronto: You order off menu, you're blind to what you'll get, sometimes it feeds, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, it could be too much (who eats leftover??). Everyone's appetite is different based on their activity level and size. Not 1 size fits all.

I have never seen any menu place that doesn't do this, though. It's not a Toronto thing.
If you have a menu, you are ordering off the menu.
If you have a counter, you usually can see the food.

I find it really weird you can't find places like that in Toronto.

 

[bluetors]

I find it really weird you can't find places like that in Toronto.

There were 2 places. Longos and Farm Boy apparently as someone pointed out. It's not in my area. Also, it's only salads. Not a breakfast, lunch, dinner. I like to look at food before I order so I can get what I need. Like I said the other day I ordered a delicious pizza, it was 4 slices, then after I had the 4th slice I realized I needed 2 more and I got fucked so bad. That's a caloric deficit of 500 calories as a shock, unplanned (lt would be less painful if I was intentionally dieting) so I immediately got zapped in my head (for those who ever dieted bikini competition, and fucked up their diet, they know what I'm talking about).

It Fucking sucks.
Yes, Montreal I seen few places near Guy Concordia
It's near a university so the food moves fast.

 

[bluetors]

I have to say I'm not as adventurous with restaurants anymore because I've been burned enough times! Someone I know and trust has to recommend anything new these days.

To reduce your chances of being burned downtown is the Eaton center food court. I wish it was closer to my part of downtown, I'd go there for all my meals. Not many skimpy places there but still a small chance to be short, all though it wouldn't be short by much, and if it was, you can quickly run to tim Hortons after and grab a cookie. So maximum disappointment would be about 1 cookie worth of energy or 250 calories.

 

[Alexis*]

To reduce your chances of being burned downtown is the Eaton center food court. I wish it was closer to my part of downtown, I'd go there for all my meals. Not many skimpy places there but still a small chance to be short, all though it wouldn't be short by much, and if it was, you can quickly run to tim Hortons after and grab a cookie. So maximum disappointment would be about 1 cookie worth of energy or 250 calories.

Isn't the Eaton center mainly fast food chains too? Forgive my ignorance, I haven't been there since pre pandemic.

I'm confused as to what you mean by calling restaurants short and skimpy.

I neglected to mention I also like the Lahore Tikka House, the Broadview hotel restaurant, Shaheen's Pakistani all in the east end. The Roti Hut and Stone Cottage pub in Scarborough.

 

[bluetors]

Isn't the Eaton center mainly fast food chains too? Forgive my ignorance, I haven't been there since pre pandemic.

I'm confused as to what you mean by calling restaurants short and skimpy.

I neglected to mention I also like the Lahore Tikka House, the Broadview hotel restaurant, Shaheen's Pakistani all in the east end. The Roti Hut and Stone Cottage pub in Scarborough.

Eaton center is not typical fast food. There's a lot of variety. By short and skimpy, I meant all the crap places to eat that are either cardboard food (low calorie, they don't use fats/oils, pizza pizza for example); or the food is good but the portion is too small for one to be FED. When this happens, people usually run off pretty fast to the nearest tim hortons to make up for the skimpyness. If they wait too long, they would lose weight, unintentionally. That's not fun.

 

[Valcazar]

There were 2 places. Longos and Farm Boy apparently as someone pointed out. It's not in my area. Also, it's only salads. Not a breakfast, lunch, dinner. I like to look at food before I order so I can get what I need. Like I said the other day I ordered a delicious pizza, it was 4 slices, then after I had the 4th slice I realized I needed 2 more and I got fucked so bad. That's a caloric deficit of 500 calories as a shock, unplanned (lt would be less painful if I was intentionally dieting) so I immediately got zapped in my head (for those who ever dieted bikini competition, and fucked up their diet, they know what I'm talking about).

It Fucking sucks.
Yes, Montreal I seen few places near Guy Concordia
It's near a university so the food moves fast.

Just go to fast food places, maybe? A lot of them even put caloric intake on their menus now.

I don't understand your dilemma here. Fast food places or deli-style places have you pick the food out.
Sit down restaurants with menus don't.

It's always been like that and I've always been able to find lots of both style places everywhere I've ever been.