Allegro in Mississauga might fit your bill. Superb wine list, good upscale Italian food, and they have Kobe beef if that is your preference. Regardless enjoy your date.
Where to dine?
- Thread starter Shyguy*
- Start date
Via Allegro is nice - just a bit out of the way. (I think he was looking downtown.) http://www.viaallegroristorante.com/great bear said:
Take her to Ginger beside Brass Rail. They serve beer and have good Vietnamese foods under $10. If the date doesn't go well, you could just walk over to Brass Rail where there will be plenty of hot women waiting for you. Don't forget to be a gentlemen and call her a cab tho. 
Seriously, IMHO, a fancy restaurant is a place for special occasion where you want to go with girlfriends, close friends, and relatives.
Seriously, IMHO, a fancy restaurant is a place for special occasion where you want to go with girlfriends, close friends, and relatives.
Rodman said:
I love the Canyon Creek in Burlington... not sure if it's the same as the one in TO, as it depends on the chef(s) at each location, but if is they have great food/wine in your price range. Generally I don't like or recommend chains but for a first date it's a good spot. Also, you can dress up should you be so inclined.
The thing is Randy, that if she never wants to see me again after I footed the bill, then fuck her. You are right, Baton Rouge is nothing like some of these other places, but if a woman "needs" to go to one of these places, then I don't need her. The OPs date sounds like a goldigger. Heck, I've taken a girl to Lick's and gotten lucky afterwards. The point is you shouldn't have to spend so much on a first date to impress a chick. A movie and drinks should suffice. Women who aren't "impressed" can go elsewhere!RandyAndy2 said:
Toronto has plenty of fine restaurants in your price range. They come and go (just as pricey Avalon is no longer). One I am partial to these days is the JAM Cafe on Carlton in Cabbagetown. Touch of elegance, cosy, nice staff, and modest of price.
If she's "into" you it won't really matter where you take her (up to a point), but for something a bit different, try Pho 88 on Spadina.
Share some soup.
Share some soup.
I've enjoyed Joso's at Ave and Dav. Good fresh seafood, would likely fit in your budget.
http://www.josos.com/
http://www.josos.com/
Or....
There are of course some great restaurants here...and I wish I knew more of the "hidden gems". But the fact remains...in my experience...even if a place is well reviewed by WHOEVER...Now...Globe and Mail..Toronto magazine...unless it is top tier and offering world class dining (the Splendio, One, By Mark type experiences), the food will be mediocre at best, and more often disappointing.
Now, you don't have to agree with me...but I am still entitled to my opinion...and still allowed to not give a shit that you (or anyone else) might not like how I expressed it.
...it could be that the typical restaurant in Toronto is just shitty...which is the conclusion I reached, and I was sent to each those dining experiences by someone else, nor am i the only person I know of this opinion. The ex (who lived in Montreal until age 39) feels exactly the same way, and I have friends who travel a great deal who also feel the same way...food is better in known "foodie" cities than here.Captain Fantastic said:
There are of course some great restaurants here...and I wish I knew more of the "hidden gems". But the fact remains...in my experience...even if a place is well reviewed by WHOEVER...Now...Globe and Mail..Toronto magazine...unless it is top tier and offering world class dining (the Splendio, One, By Mark type experiences), the food will be mediocre at best, and more often disappointing.
Now, you don't have to agree with me...but I am still entitled to my opinion...and still allowed to not give a shit that you (or anyone else) might not like how I expressed it.
Ya but....
...i wasn't doing so drunk off my ass.
And again - I am not exactly sure what the standard is for what is ok to insult someone with and what is not...and why I seem to consistently catch the bad deal of both. Fortunately, I also do not care.
Macator2003 said:
...i wasn't doing so drunk off my ass.
And again - I am not exactly sure what the standard is for what is ok to insult someone with and what is not...and why I seem to consistently catch the bad deal of both. Fortunately, I also do not care.
Is that where Santa Claws goes for dinner?red said:
Another neat place is Lolitia's Lust on the Danforth near Logan. Great braised lamb shanks, funky and cool.
Exactly the reason to ignore the guy. Do you get into arguments with drunks in public? If you do, that says more about you than anything...MLAM said:
You could start by eliminating sweeping generalizations and ad hominen-type statements - like the one you made against everyone in Toronto having terrible taste. I'm pretty sure that most, even here on TERB, wouldn't find Il Fornello quality dining if you took the time to ask or took the time to scratch beneath the surface of bogus "Best Of" lists.MLAM said:
But I think that you enjoy constantly tweaking (and bullying wherever possible) TERBites and Torontonians for whatever reason... which begs the question, why do you spend so much time here if you have so little respect for everyone?
And your retort to rayfinkel was certainly over-the-top and, quite frankly, beneath you. Plus, he's your elder, and we're all taught to respect our elders... or ignore their mindless prattle.
I'm sure there are more high-end restaurants elsewhere (and I'm sure the service is better in other places), but there is plenty of good-to-very good restaurants out there in a variety of styles & ranges and a multitude of ethnicities (more than anywhere in the world, for that matter.) Honestly, what I like about T.O. dining is the lack of pretense (again, except for some of the wait staff) and the good value-for-money.MLAM said:
I'd share hidden gems with you, but I'm afraid you'd shit all over them (not really, I could care less.) Or show the ugly side of your TERB personality in places I frequent. Plus I'd like to get a table at places I like...MLAM said:
That goes both ways. But there should be a certain modicum of respect. Sometimes it's better just to let things go, or take the high road...MLAM said:
Honestly, I kind of like you - or parts of your TERB persona (no homo) - and share some of your values and sensibilities. But I would say the same sorts of things I've posted here to you to a friend of mine who was being an asshole for no reason. Take that for what you will...
With appetizer, main, dessert and wine for two? Not a chance. Figure $250+.bananaman said:
I like the Pho 88 idea. If she's a gold digger, she'll bolt before she even gets through the door. But if she's genuinely into the guy, she'll dine anywhere (and be rewarded with the city's best beef soup in the process).
