Where to Dine in Toronto

[gr82bart]

There are just too many great places to eat in Toronto, so I am going to list some of the places I have been to and would recommend, grouped in some sort of fashion related to the conference.

Close to the Conference

• Marvellous Edibles - close to the conference, Western/American - http://www.marvellousedibles.ca/
• Mikado - close to the conference, Japanese - 114 Laird Dr

Around Yonge & Eglinton, where the Roehampton Inn is located

• North 44 - My GF and I LOVE this place, excellent service, fantastic food, great ambiance, Contemporary Fusion - http://www.north44restaurant.com/
• Grazie - Italian - http://www.grazie.ca/
• Granite Brewery - Pub Food - http://www.granitebrewery.ca/
• Seven Numbers - Italian - 345 Eglinton Ave W
• Jaipur Grille - South Indian - http://www.jaipurgrille.com/
• Sushi Supreme - Japanese - 1995 Yonge St
• Zucca Trattoria - Italian - http://www.zuccatrattoria.com/
• Transylvania - Romanian - http://www.thebans.com/transilvaniarestaurant/
• Quartier - French - 2112 Yonge St

On Bayview/Mt Pleasant - short drive from the Conference or Roehampton

• Celestin - French - Dead Link Removed
• Zee Grill - Seafood/Oyster Bar - Dead Link Removed
• Samovar Barmalay - Russian - 505 Mt Pleasant Ave
• Lemongrass/Riz - Vietnamese - http://www.lemongrass.ca/
• Chai - One of my favourite places to lunch, Asian/Vegitarian - 1575 Bayview
• Fukui Sushi - Japanese - Dead Link Removed

Downtown and near many of the Contact Festival Galleries

• Jump - Contemporary Fusion - http://www.jumpcafe.com/
• Susur - Asian Fusion - http://www.susur.com/
• Rodney's - Seafood - http://www.rodneysoysterhouse.com/
• San - Korean - Dead Link Removed
• Taro Grill - this is where we had lunch for this year's gallery tour, Contemporary Fusion - 492 Queen St W
• Rain - Asian Fusion - Dead Link Removed

If you are bringing your spouses and want to impress them...

• Canoe - 54 floor of the TD Center with a great view of the city, Contemporary Fusion - http://www.canoerestaurant.com/
• Scaramouche - Another breathtaking skyline view of Toronto from the north, Italian - http://www.scaramoucherestaurant.com/
• 360 - At the CN Tower, best during a thunderstorm with lightning, Contemporary Fusion - http://www.cntower.ca/
• Avalon - just amazing food, Contemporary Fusion - Dead Link Removed
• Goto Bill's Seafood on Gerrard St E at Broadview, pick out a good size lobster from the tank (or any other live sea creature you hunger for), have them bag it, cross the street over to Pearl Court Restaurant and have them cook it fresh with their mildly spicy ginger black bean sauce - she'll, ahem, pay you back later...

There are so many more restaurants I could list that I've been to and would recommend. Some noticeable absentees here are the excellent Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, and Ethiopian restaurants since the best places are in their respective neighbourhoods, not near the conference or the hotels.

Art.

 

[gr82bart]

Oh yeah, you'll notice, I'm kind of a food snob, so there will be no eating at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Ruth Chris' or Manadrin, but Swiss Chalet/Harvey's is acceptable.

Art. (It's my food or no food!)

 

[Bob Carnie]

Ambasador Art
Could I add in not such a proficient way some nice places near by

Danforth - Greek town
Gerrard- Pearl Court , 888 noodle house
Queens Quay- Pearl
Bayview - Kamasutra Indian Crusine
Yonge - Granos- wonderful calimari

five minutes walking from lab
Tim Hortons- on brentcliffe
Harveys in the Home Depot
Fox and Fiddle - pub fare and cold beer
Onassis Pizza - onassis deluxe is very good.
Thorne cliff Park- Ikballs(sp) tali lunch is amazing
Thorne cliff Park- Swiss Chalet
In the back parking lot - APUG burgers, dogs, chicken , wobbley pops, the best deal for a quick snack

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

One of my favorites is the Future Bakery on Bloor and Brunswick, for very authentic Polish/Ukrainian fare and a pleasant informal atmosphere.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Ambasador Art

I failed to mention that I think (hope) there is going to be a rather large group from Denmark coming over. The Viking Deli is less than 3 minutes away where one can take out very fine slices of Smoked Salmon and all the other oddities that our Viking Friends consume... Skaal

 

[gr82bart]

One of my favorites is the Future Bakery on Bloor and Brunswick, for very authentic Polish/Ukrainian fare and a pleasant informal atmosphere.

Future Bakery is a great place, for the food, beer patio and people watching! Across the street at By-The-Way Cafe, they serve great breakfasts and brunches.

Art.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

There's also good Hungarian food in that area. One place I used to go regularly was called The Blue Room.

 

[gr82bart]

There's also good Hungarian food in that area.

You know, I've never eaten at Country Style Hungarian Restaurant. I've passed that restaurant so many times, even dated a couple girls of Hungarian descent, to no avail. I hear it's good though.

One place I used to go regularly was called The Blue Room.

I think you mean the Green Room - http://www.dine.to/greenroom ?

Art.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

No, definitely The Blue Room, but it may not be there anymore.

 

[FrankB]

Try Brassai, 461 King St West. Reasonable prices for the area, open breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some (small) Brassai prints on the walls.

In particular I recommend the caramelised apple crumble tart with vanilla ice cream and cinnamon butterscotch sauce but, realistically, it's difficult to go wrong!

 

[rogueish]

The Cataract Inn is the restaurant within walking distance (100 meters) to the Forks of the Credit Prov. Park. For anyone considering joining this APUG outing, we will be having lunch there before heading back to ElevatorGallery. This is a fine dining establishment with a good wine list and excellent food.
I personally recommend the seared rainbow trout.

 

[GeneW]

I'm reluctant to admit it, but I've 'dined' often at the McDonalds at the corner of Church & Queen St E, next door to Henrys ... food is standard, but you can get Rodinal to go right next door

 

[Uncle Bill]

Ok,
My resteraunt picks for visiting APUGers and sponsors would be:
Rebel House: Yonge and Rosedale Subway- gourmet comfort food and microbrewed beer.
Bar Italia- Little Italy College and Clinton, Italian fare reasonable prices.
Bar Mecurio- French/Italian Bistro Bloor St. George in the MEdical Arts building
Terroni :Queen St. West/ Yonge Rosehill best pizza in town
Bedford Academy: Prince Arthur Street edge of Yorkville nice pub with decent kitchen and patio if its warm enough.
I have only scratched the surface so any Toronto APUGers want to add their favourite haunts, please feel free to. We are going to have a lot of guests coming.

Bill

 

[Jordan]

There are a billion restaurants near the Roehampton Hotel. (I live right around the corner.) There are about five or six very good Italian restaurants on Mount Pleasant, just down the street from the hotel. There are a few more on Yonge St., about 15 minutes' walk from the hotel.

Toronto is highly multicultural so there is GREAT ethnic food here. Too many Chinese restaurants to name -- go to one of the five or six Chinatowns. A trip to Little India is also worthwhile for people coming from places where there is no South Asian community. The Lahore Tikka House on Gerrard near Coxwell is a real experience.

 

[Will S]

Can someone recommend something close to the conference/roehampton that is friendly for kids (5 and 8)? Is there anything in Toronto that should not be missed if you have kids? Here we have Ella's Deli (http://www.ellas-deli.com/) for instance.

Thanks,

Will

 

[Bob Carnie]

Can someone recommend something close to the conference/roehampton that is friendly for kids (5 and 8)? Is there anything in Toronto that should not be missed if you have kids? Here we have Ella's Deli (http://www.ellas-deli.com/) for instance.

Thanks,

Will

Hi Will

At the corner of Laird and Eglington , 10min walk from the Lab and on the official route between the Roe Hampton and the lab is Onassis Pizza.
The kids will be well served with pizza or chicken fingers , fries and dipping sauce with some choc milk on the side. Adult beverages for mom and dad, Laura and I take our nephews and neices to this place all the time and they also serve great souvlaki , gyros, chicken and burgers . Great Greek Salad and all reasonably priced.
There are some very good family restaurants very close that are geared towards familys.
Also 10 min from the conference is Jawny Bakers, this is also geared for kids and parents. *very nice atmosphere*
All Attendees will be getting a Kit bag and inside we will give some locations.

 

[roteague]

I would like some good Indian food - it is something I can't get easily.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Robert.
There are two very good locations close to the site. and highly recommended by myself ..
Ikballs sp. has a great menu and I go there for the Tali Lunch special three times a month
Kamasutra on Bayview is also very good with lamb and prawn vindaloo to die for.

 

[canuhead]

Most of the Hungarian places on Bloor St. are gone with Country Style being the lone holdout. The Korona was a great place,live band and the older waitress who without fail, always pinched my cheeks<sigh>.

However, there are a TONNE, and I mean a TONNE of sushi joints between Spadina and Bathurst on Bloor and more if you head into Koreatown. Most are pretty good and it won't break the bank. Mikado ,gr82bart mentioned it, on Laird is awesome. Some of the best I've ever had. The itamae will even ask how adventurous you are when it comes to making up sashimi and nigiri for you. Gotta respect a place that brews their own shoyu.

If you crave wings, Duff's on Bayview Ave. is always packed although I have never eaten there, yet.

If you find yourself wandering the streets of downtown Toronto late at night, you do have to hit Frans. An instituition for downtowners and full of characters seeing how it's a stone's throw from Yonge and College.

 

[Craig]

Is there there anyplace to get good Montreal smoked meat in Toronto?

 

[Dinesh]

Craig, there is a Shopsy's deli downtown and a Katz's deli about 15 min. from the conference. Both have authentic Montreal smoked meat.

Robert, be careful what you wish for....I know of some excellent Indian places in the city.

I look forward to meeting all of you.

 

[canuhead]

Well there used tobe a place called Reubens, on King St. West but it closed up recently. Too bad, it was pretty good. In the same area, on Adelaide St. near Peter St. is Zupas. I'm always satisfied after a smoked meat sandwich from there. Small place, crowded but good, my fav downtown spot now for smoked meat. Dunn's Famous on King St. West in the theatre district would be your other choice. Been to other Dunn's and give it two thumbs up but haven't been to this one. Shopsys used to rule the roost back in the day when they were on Spadina but times change.

If you're mobile there are other options but they're up Bathurst/Steeles or Wilson area.

Forgot about Yitz's on Eglinton Ave. West near Avenue Rd.. Haven't eaten there in years so can't say ya or nay. It wouldn't be too far from the Roehampton though...

 

[canuhead]

15 minutes to Katz's ? Man you must drive fast

I hate the bottleneck on Dufferin St.. Unless of course, you're into astronomy of which there are two shops on Dufferin near Katz's.

 

[Craig]

I'll be staying with a friend oif mine who is on King between Jarvis and Church, and I will have wheels, But I'm not heading all the way up to Steeles for a sandwitch!

 

[las]

You know, I've never eaten at Country Style Hungarian Restaurant. I've passed that restaurant so many times, even dated a couple girls of Hungarian descent, to no avail. I hear it's good though.

I think you mean the Green Room - http://www.dine.to/greenroom ?

Art.

Country Style is great. Used to date a Hungarian man -- that's the only restaurant (Hungarian) that he went to and since he was born in Hungary I think that's probably a pretty good recommendation!