But....
Captain Fantastic said:
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.
...my point is that my experience has been exactly the opposite.
At the high end, Toronto can hold its own. The best meal I have EVER had was at Splendio.
And at the low end I have a couple of favorites...like my favorite sushi place...more than hits the mark.
It is in the range that the OP is looking for that I am consistently disappointed. When you drop 100 to 150 bucks on a meal, you expect it to be GOOD. Not world class, but GOOD. At least *I* do.
In that space between $100 and 200 dollars I have dined at so many places in Toronto that were so unmemorable, other than to remember to not go back. An example would be that "intimate" place in the house near the corner of Spadina and Davenport near Casa Loma. I took the soon 2BX there once for a special meal. Absolutely perfect setting...you are dining is someone's home, very quiet, very romantic. The food? Lousy. Well reviewed though....
Or even below that range for certain things....like my ex-GF took me to a place claiming it was the best Mexican she had ever had....that it was just amazing. And she has good taste...she's one of the people I was speaking of who has traveled a bit and agrees the food is better in places like New York, Chicago and Montreal.
Anyway...we get to this place....and it was nothing special. Now...I'm thinking...ok...maybe the problem is that it isn't like Toronto is teaming with Mexicans who can call the ball of what is authentic and good, and what isn't.
Same with ribs...something that has been posted about several times here - there is ONE decent place for ribs in Toronto...and while they are good...yes they are...they are not GREAT. They are pretty much average for what you'd expect in Chicago, for example.
And this one restaurant...I can't remember the name, but it was supposed to be "Authentic Cajun". Praised from here to high heaven in Toronto magazine. We go, me and the soon 2BX....I cannot get over how bad the food is. Edible...but nothing more.
That said, yes, every once in awhile I do have a good meal. Last time was at "Swan"....good meal, fucking kick ass dessert. Worth the price of admission and then some.
Captain Fantastic 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...
This is the thing - like I said, I didn't set the tone for the board. So - once I saw it was fair game to insult people, then I decided to return the favor. You might think me an asshole...I think that about lots of other people. Clearly they don't care however, because they haven't stopped being assholes. And frankly, I am just not big enough man to rise above it. Hopefully that doesn't disappoint you too much...
