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 | Toronto Restaurants | Tips 1 - 10 of 926 |  |
 | |  |  | Richtree: And now for something completely different | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:   |  |  | |  |
First of all, this is a self-service restaurant. If you prefer to be served, this is not the place for you. This is a chain of restaurants, but I refer to the one on 42 Yonge Street in the BCE Place. I really was not expecting what I saw when I walked in: a huge market-like (hence the name) layout of different stand serving all kinds of food such as soup, fish, steaks, oysters, pasta and even sushi. The way it works is that you get a tray and walk around the different stands and pick what inspires you. Some things such as soups, salads, starters (olives, courgettes, etc) are ready to eat, but most of the other things you have to wait 10-15 minutes for. Let's say that you would like some mussels, just go over to the stand, order it and go get whatever else you want (drinks, etc). Everything is fresh and usually good. We went twice and had two quite different experiences: The first time we had Oysters (not very good), Sushi (quite good) and I personally had an excellent Shark fillet! It was served with stirfried rice that was delicious. Service was very good, almost all people at the stands were nice. The second time we went for lunch and I had a steak which was not very good as it was not very thick and, although I asked for it medium it was way overcooked. My girlfriends "fish stew" was much better. I also decided to take the chance with the pasta as everything here is made in the restaurant (including the actual pasta), but it was not great. What dissapointed me a lot was the service, people were generally rude. In any case, food is fresh and most of it tasty, but the "shopping around" is an experience on its own and I would recommend trying this restaurant. Hint: stay away from the Marguerita's as they are quite awful and the Oysters are not great either (try Rodney's Oyster Bar for that :)) Prices are reasonable, at about 25-30 CAD per person (of course depending on how much you eat). Service is automatically added (about 10%).
Shark fillet Fish stew Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 42 Yonge St., BCE PlacePhone: 416- 366-8986Directions: 42 Yonge St., BCE PlaceWebsite: http://www.richtree.ca/
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| | | | CN tower Revolving restaurant: Not a bad view | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
I had heard a lot about this restaurant, good and bad and did not really know what to expect. One thing everyone seemed to agree about was the great view. Our experience was rather good. This is a quite expensive restaurant, so I was expecting good service and hoping for appropriate food. You can go for a fixed-price menu or "a la carte", we went for the second option We started with a very nice rare seared tuna salad, served with beans, tomatoes and olives. We both love tuna and we were not dissapointed with this. I had the roast pork tenderloin with prunes and sage mashed potatoes. It was a bit to dry for my taste, but still good. I would not recommend it though as my girlfriend's dish was MUCH better. She had the "fish strak frites"... I know the name does not sound all that great, but it is actually "grilled swordfish with a cherry tomato, arugula, red onion salad, Yukon gold frites, Ni?oise olive aioli" and it was very good. To finish it off, we had the exquisite "Dark chocolate tower", you must try it if you like chocolate. This restaurant is renowned for having one of the best wine cellars (at over 300m height) in Canda, so if that is what you like, you will definetly find something here that will please you. There was one bottle priced at 15000 CAD... it was 8 liters though. A main course at the restaurant will entitle you to the free ride up to the observation deck (usually 19 CAD). Obviously and as the name indicates, it is a rotating restaurant, meaning that the view will change over the course of the meal. I was told it takes 72 minutes for a complete rotation. It is funny to see that you will loose your orientation if you are distracted. The washrooms that were just around the corner are suddenly on the other side... funny. Prices are what you could expect in this kind of "luxury" restaurant. We paid 150 CAD (2 people) including tip, but if you think that we saved 38 CAD on the ride (you can easily combine a sightseeing session with a meal), it was not too bad. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: CN TowerDirections: The CN TowerWebsite: http://www.cntower.ca/portal/SmartDefault.aspx?at=860
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| | | | Irish Embassy Pub Grill: Irish Pub/sports bar | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This restaurant/pub was just across the street from my hotel and since the hotel restaurant was being renovated, this place seemed appropriate for my Saturday Brunch. Being an Irish pub, it tries to to set the athmosphere by playing Irish music (some Chieftans, Van Morisson, etc) and it also has some Irish stews on the menu, but that is as far as it goes. There are TV's all over the place. I counted at least 15, personally I am not very fond of TV's while I am eating as I am easily distracted. As I mentioned, I came for the brunch and had a quite good Steak an Eggs. However, there was quite a bit of a draft and, although I was far away from the entrance, the food got cold in no time, which was a bit unpleasant. I guess there is not much you can do about it. I went back with some friends for drinks a few days later, we decided to have some fries that were, in my opinion, really awful. My friends seemed to have enjoyed them in any case. We wanted to order 2 servings, but the waitress was quite nice and told us that one should be enough as it was large and that we could order more later. It was in fact enough. Service was friendly and efficient, both times. Prices were also good at about 15-20 CAD per person for a meal and drink. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 49 Yonge Street (at Wellington)Phone: 416 866 8282Website: http://www.irishembassypub.com/
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| | | | Kama.: Indian buffet restaurant | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
Although it also serves "a la carte", I usually tend to go for buffet when available as it allows you to try a bit of everything and of course you can eat as much as you want. I went to this place with some friends that had recommended it and I think it is quite good value for money. The food is not excellent (being buffet it rarely is anyway), but you get to choose from several different dishes, according to their website, they have over 45, although it did not seem that many to me. As I mentioned, it is all you can eat and you although not strictly necessary, going with someone that has decent knowledge of Indian cuisine is recommended, as it was difficult for me to understand what each dish was. Don't forget to try the thin bread (it comes in several kinds), it is very good. If you go for the "a la carte" option, there are several, more appealing choices, but of course that comes at a price (although still very reasonable). At 10.95 CAD, I think it is a very good deal for a quick and substatntial lunch or even for dinner after theatre. (Lunch Buffet from Monday - Friday $10.95, Saturday & Sunday $11.95 Dinner Buffet from Monday-Thursday $16.95, Friday-Sunday $18.95) Leave a Comment Theme: IndianPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 214 King Street WestPhone: 416 599 5262Directions: Opposite Roy Thomson Hall, in the Theater DistrictWebsite: http://www.kamaindia.com/
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| | | | Rodney's Oyster House: Seafood heaven | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
I had heard about this place but not had the chance to visit it until the last day of our stay, when strolling back to the hotel, after going to the theater, I noticed it. Since my girlfriend is an avid seafood lover (I love fish, but usually stay away from seafood) we did not hesitate to go in. Before you enter the actual restaurant there is a room filled with aquariums where you have live lobsters, oysters, clams and all sorts of seafood. Apparently, this is a place where you can buy all this and take it home. Good start. We then got a "booth" to sit in and ordered a dose of oysters. After that we had a whole lobster and a very nice Halibut - Large portion, nicely cooked, tasty with good presentation (that's the way I like it). The waitress came by the table and showed us the live lobster - "Will this one do?". I guess that is as fresh as it gets. To finish in style, I had a very nice Belgian chocolate mousse. On top of this, the music was excellent (for my taste), they were playing a great mix of 70s-80s rock music (CCR, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, AC/DC etc). As if I really needed another reason to like this place :) Service was also very good and prices were reasonable for a seafood restaurantd. Oysters go for just over 2 CAD each (depending on the type, there are at least 5 types, all Canadian). Lobster was just under 30 CAD per pound, so an average lobster is about 50 CAD. The bill for 2 people was 130 CAD including tip, but if you stay away from the lobster, you can get a great meal for about 35-40 CAD per person. This place is definetly on my list for next time I visit Toronto! The website is really nice and gives you some good background information that will make you appreciate the place even more
As an oyster bar, you can't really go wrong with the oysters, but everything was just great. Leave a Comment Theme: SeafoodPrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 469 King St. W. Toronto, ON M5V1K4Phone: 416-363-8105 Reservations: #0Directions: It's on King St. W (west of Yonge) on the streets with all the Theatres. It is a bit of a walk from Yonge (about 10 min), but I would not miss it.Website: http://www.rodneysoysterhouse.com/
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| | | | Ruth's Chris Steak House: The best steak in town? | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
I wanted to go back to Barberians as I had enjoyed it so much last time, but when I discussed it with some locals, I was told Ruth's Chris was actually better. Who am I to doubt that? There are several of these restaurants around the United States (mainly) and Canada. This one is located right next to the Hilton hotel in Toronto. To access the actual restaurant, you must take the lift down, that will take you to a very dark room. It might not be of everyone's liking, but I find it quite "cozy". We had a quite delicious "Porterhouse steak for two" which, although quite large, left me wanting more as it was so tender and tasty... at 98.95 CAD, I was expecting it though. Also, contrary to what the waitress said, the potato side dish (fries, mashed, baked, etc) is NOT enough for two people. I also don't like the fact that they charge you for this (7.95 CAD) when you are already paying top-dollar for the meat. According to the waitress, all steaks are cooked in an infrared oven at 1800° F to preserve the flavour and the juices. It is then served on a heated plate that will keep it warm throughout the whole meal. Obviously, the steaks are aged to perfection (until recently, I had no idea that steaks should be aged - read this for more information) and hand-cut. There is a quite extensive (and expensive) wine list. Expect to pay at least 60 CAD per person (plus tip) for a meal. Service was great, friendly and efficient, just as I like it. I consider this restaurant to be better than Barberians (See my other tip).
I would not dare to try anything else than the steak - it's amazing! Some information from the website: "How Ruth’s Chris Got Its Name Ruth's Chris Steak House" is such a tongue-twister that one restaurant critic suggested it be used as a sobriety test: anyone who could say that name three times certainly couldn't be intoxicated. The restaurant Ruth Fertel bought in 1965 was named "Chris Steak House," and she acquired the right to use that name as long as the restaurant remained in the original location. But after a fire forced her to move, she needed a new name. Adding her name to the logo seemed the simplest solution and "Ruth's Chris Steak House" was born. It has proven to be effective as people remember the name because it's so unusual. It has also had an additional benefit. . . people stopped calling her Chris." Leave a Comment Theme: SteakhousePrice: US$41 and up » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: 145 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ONPhone: (416)955-1455Directions: In the Toronto HiltonWebsite: http://www.ruthschris-toronto.com/
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| | | | Saint Cinnamon: Cinnamon delight | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
Having grown up in Sweden, some of my earliest memories include cinnamon buns. Ever since I moved out of there it has become more and more difficult to get them as they are not very common in the rest of Europe. Canada, however, is a whole different story. You can find them quite easily, but still this place sells the best ones I have had outside Sweden. The name "Saint Cinnamon" says it all. Everything has cinnamon on it - which is nice. You can get small or large buns, cinnamon sticks and other stuff. I usually keep to the buns as they are the best. There seem to be more locations, but the one I know is on the bottom level of the Eaton Center, at the end by the food court. Buy 3 and get one for free! Wether it is for breakfast, dessert or just as a snack, they are highly recommended.
Cinnamon Buns Leave a Comment Theme: BakeryPrice: less than US$10 » Currency ConverterComparison: least expensiveAddress: Eaton Center, by the food courtDirections: Yonge and Dundas
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| | | | Senator Diner: Great burger!!! | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This diner was located just steps away from our second hotel (Bond Place) and faces the back of the Canon Theater. It is a place with tradition and apparently quite well-known in Toronto. The room is long and narrow, giving it a quite "tight" feeling, but nice at the same time. There are several 4-people booths and also stools at the bar. It might not be the ideal place for large parties, but suited us just fine. I had an absolutely amazing hamburger. It is a specialty of this restaurant and there is a warning on the menu (that the waiter also reminded us of it) about the fact it takes 20-25 minutes to prepare it as it is 100% ground beef (I know, McDonalds and Burger King also claim that) and quite thick, so in order to cook it properly it takes time - but it is well worth the wait. My girlfriend had a quite huge Cobb salad, which she also enjoyed. I also asked for some fries to go with the burger, but I came to regret it as they were awful and not worthy of being served with such a great burger. I have been told that almost everything on the menu is quite good and after our experience, I actually believe it. All this at a low price, only 9.95 CAD for the burger and overall 35 CAD for the complete meal (2 people) The service was mixed. We had a nice, polite waiter at first and towards the end we had a not-so-friendly waiter. Maybe he was having a bad day, but in any case bad service is not something I appreciate. Overall, we were quite satisfied and would go back.
The burger is great - don't miss it Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 253 Victoria St.Directions: In front of the rear entrance of the Canon Theater, very close to the main entrance of the Eaton Centre (behind Dundas Square). Just ask as it is easy to miss and always looks like it's closed.
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| | | | Shopsy's.: Great Diner for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
This place does not look very appealing from outside (look at the picture), but it had been recommended to us, so we wanted to give it a try. We went by, took a look at the menu and decided to go in. As often happens to me, I have difficulty choosing what to eat and being European, some of the things are not known to me. For instance, we asked what corned beef was and the waitress said she would get some for us, along with some smoked meat so that we could see the difference. When she came back, she had a plate filled with meat, I mean this would be a complete serving in many resataurants and it was only a sample!!! In the end, my girlfriend had a Corned beef Deli (which according to the waitress, is one of their most popular choices) and I had regular steak. We were both very satisfied with our choices. We came back a few days later for brunch and could confirm that the quality was consistently good. Prices were very reasonable, we paid 28 CAD for 2 people and on top of that, we had very friendly and efficient service. I would definetly go back. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 33 Yonge StreetPhone: 416 365 3333Directions: On Yonge and Front Street. Right opposite the Hockey Hall of FameWebsite: http://www.shopsys.ca/
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on November 23, 2005
Toronto
