Best Restaurants in Toronto

[james t kirk]

Need to broaden my horizons here.

Looking for Great Restaurants to try out if anyone has any good suggestions, and i aint talking the keg, or Mother Tuckers either.

As a lead, here's some of mine.

Thai

Young Thailand on Church and Lombard
Green Mango on Younge St.

Two people, 60 to 80 bucks

Indian
Babur on Queen and John approx. 2 people 60 to 80 bucks

Italian
Vagbondos on Imperial, 1 block north of Davisville
Mama Martinos on the Queensway

Both of these have fantastic home made pastas, and two people can get out of there for around 40 bucks, with wine. Mama's is cheaper, and a different sort. Very GOOD familiar Italian food (they still have Spagetti and Meatballs on the Menu if you know what i mean.)

Steak

Lolita's Lust on the Danforth
Very good food, though the price is getting up there a bit
Two people $120 to 140

Honourable mention
The sushi place on Carleton by the Cinemas, great sushi, reasonable prices

Need a few other suggestion, maybe Vietnamese, or Polish.

[SamanthaJones]

there is a fairly extensive list on my website.Lots to enjoy around this area!

[jackel]

Villa Borhgehses on Bloor, Via Allegra on Queensway, La Castille, Canoe, Zsa Zsa on Bloor

[Remo]

For great and authentic Indian try Lahore Tikka on Gerrard at the west end of the Indian part of Gerrard.

[assman-cometh]

Id try Centro or North 44, both in the yonge eglington area or if your feeling really flush, Ruth Chris Steak house in the downtown Hilton. Canoe's a good place for a business lunch, better on clear days.

[luckyjackson]

JTK,

Like your first choice for Thai, but Green Mango???

If you like authentic Thai Shan food and don't mind bare bones furnishings, try out THAI SHAN INN on Eglinton just east of Caledonia on the south side. Cheap, and the closest I've had to the real thing in Toronto, but it's really about the food, not a place you'd take a date to impress her. I know you asked about Toronto, but if you are a Thai food aficionado, as I am, do yourself a favour and try Chao Phraya the next time you are in Montreal. It's on Laurier just west of St. Laurent. Excellent Thai food.

Other good Indian restaurants, The Host, formerly downtown now in Richmond Hill on East Beaver Creek, and if you like South Indian food (thalis, idlis, sambar) there's Madras Durbar on Gerrard.

For good pasta, Queen's Pasta in Bloor West Village.

For excellent Portuguese food, Chiado on College just west of little Italy.

[fiasco]

Hands down the best chef in toronto has to be Susur Lee and consequently night in and night out Susur is bar far the best upscale restaurant toronto has to offer. Admittedly I think he was just as good if not better when he cooked for Lotus (also cheaper) but since coming back from Hong Kong his prices have gone up at his place. You might be surprised but Barbarian steakhouse has one of the best wine cellars in toronto. Chiado also very nice if you are into fish. I also like Opus, Centro and Boba and not a fan of Canoe.

[upgrademe]

I agree w. Fiasco, Susur is definitely one of the best.
Also,
Jump
Harbour 60
David Duncan House

[easyrider]

Southern Accent is a little gem featuring Cajun food. Great service and a very cozy bar with smoking. In a Victorian mansion on Markham Street, just behind Honest Ed's. Great place to take a date -- even your favourite SP. They have a web page--www.southernaccent.com.

[Mr. Downtown]

Agree with Fiasco on Susur on King St West (across from the 606). Go for the pre-set dinner selection (6 course, if my recall is correct). Pricy but quite the experience.

If you want hip, where all the bp's are currently hanging - go to Gus on Bay Street (east side). On the ground level of Polo II condos, between Irwin and St. Joseph. Lots of smoozing there, baby.

[rolo514]

Travel in from Montreal often on business and the Toronto sinning scene is v.much improved and quite excellent..here are some favs..I will try aavoid the obvious like centro,canoe etc..
SUSUR-on King (As prviously mentioned)
BERTUCCIS on College-awesome small Italian place, WIne list is fantastic and all Italian with alot of hard to find vino
RAIN for the cockatils and the look
HIRO sushi-on King try eating OMAKASE style where the chef Hiro decides how much and what you eat-its not that scary
ROMANGA MIA-casual pizzeira and homemade pasta-awesome
Thanks,
ROLO

[Dr69]

Actually, if you are willing to drive up to N York, the best Indian restaurant in town is Cuisine of India. A few blocks north of the North York Performing Centre on Yonge. The tab will run anywhere from $20 to $40 a person, depending on whether you order appetizers, alcohol etc..
For the downtown scene, I would recommend The Host as well.

[Wooderson]

These are some of my favourite spots.

Best Food

SCARAMOUCHE
1 Benvenuto Pl. (Avenue Rd.) Toronto, ON (416) 961-8011
Expensive, but the food is among the very best the city has to offer. If you can get a window table you will get a remarkable view of the city to go with the serious French cuisine. They also have a pasta bar, it is a little cheaper.

NORTH 44°
2537 Yonge St. (Eglinton Ave.) Toronto, ON (416) 487-4897
I know this place is no secret, but it remain popular for good reason. The best Continental cuisine in the city.

AVALON
270 Adelaide St. W. (John St.) Toronto, ON (416) 979-9918
Original, creative meals plus an unbelievable wine list.

Susur
601 King St. W. (Bathurst St.) Toronto, ON (416) 603-2205
Toronto's celebrity Chef returns. His Asian-French fusion is impressive. The decor is cool too.

Style Over Substance (but still fun)

Brasserie Aix
584 College St. Toronto, ON (416) 588-7377
This place has a great scene, and looks fantastic. A great place to meet for drinks, before heading into their exquisite rear dinning room.

Rain
19 Mercer St. Toronto, ON (416) 599-7246
A great looking place, great to start a long night. Has that cool lounge ambiance. The food and service can be a little iffy.

Monsoon
100 Simcoe St. Toronto, ON (416) 979-7172
This place may be the best looking restaurant in the city. The food Asian in inspiration, is not always on the money, but the wine list is tops.

My Favourite Bang for the buck

Tempo
596 College St. Toronto ON (416) 531-2822
Great sushi, cool place, and well priced wine list.

[black panther]

Personally, I like to eat high up. The restaurant at the top of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel on Queen's Quay has great food, great service and is reasonalbly priced.

In addition, I have been frequenting the 360 restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. The view is spectacular of course and their is a special dinner package for $45 that includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert. It might be a little bit pricey for some, but the meal and the experience is worth it.

[fiasco]

Couple of places no one has mentioned but are a lot of fun and the food still isnt bad are Five Doors North, The Fifth and Rodney's Oyster House. Both these places are a little more casual and dont be surprised if you see women dancing on the bar before the night is out. Also, agree with rolo that Hiro is a great sushi place but I find Nami to always be good whereas Hiro has its good and bad days. As wooderson mentioned i believe the most romantic table in the city is the window seat at Scaramouche.

[steph@Hollywood]

One of my favourite things to do.....eat!

Favourites (in no particular order )

Barberians
Fabulous steak, casual or dressy, prices comparable to Harbour 60, best appetizer Coquille St Jaques...mmmmm.
7 Elm St @ Yonge 416-597-0335

Harbour 60
Again terrific steak, best appetizer Lobster Bisque....
60 Harbour St. 416-777-2111

Aberge du Pommier
Have to agree with Spiderman on this one, but forget the wine list try their "icewine-tini" it is sooooo goood!
4150 Yonge 416-222-2220

Other good choices are Canoe, 54th floor of the TD tower, great bar and interesting menu choices...like Caribou ( which I had at Centro once...not bad!). Jump on Wellington, great pasta and salmon dishes. Centro, great food, good wine list all in all a pretty safe bet. Downstairs has a great piano/wine/sushi bar...

Hope this helps!

Happy Munching!
Steph
:)

[Captain Bly]

Originally posted by johnny56
This place is the best. Dundas near the 427. VERY expensive. Excellent food and service. !!!

You have to be joking, the place is a pretentious dump and way overpriced.

[Captain Bly]

Originally posted by black panther
Personally, I like to eat high up. The restaurant at the top of the Westin Harbour Castle hotel on Queen's Quay has great food, great service and is reasonalbly priced.

In addition, I have been frequenting the 360 restaurant at the top of the CN Tower. The view is spectacular of course and their is a special dinner package for $45 that includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert. It might be a little bit pricey for some, but the meal and the experience is worth it.

Haven't been for a couple of years but the Wesin place was awful when I was there and the 360 is one of those places tourists and the people who think expensive is better go to. i have been three times and it got worse each time, and the cost is outrageius!!

[Captain Bly]

So you don't think I just criticise some great places are

Auberge du Pommier

The new place that the folks from the Mercer Street Grill opened on Adelaide (damned if I can remember the name, whoops I have YYZ)

Michael's Back Door in Oakville

north 44

Centro

[pussywillow]

For those lovers of North 44, they have opened a place called Terra.
It is 1 block south of 407 on Yonge St on the east side. Set back a little so you can miss it easily.
Great food.

[syn]

vietnamese - i recommend 'pho hung' on the west side of spadina north of dundas. they can also be found on bloor, west of avenue road.

chinese - not the fanciest decor, but great food - swatow on spadina north of dundas. they are open ridiculously late as well.

italian - i adore romagna mia, near the st. lawrence market.

thai - young thailand is fabulous for a dinner. green mango makes great quick and reasonably priced lunches.

indian - babur on queen (excellent lunch buffet). i love sheree punjab on the danforth (east of broadview). it is a great little family run restaraunt with great food.

syn

[rolo514]

hey all
forgot a couple worth menitoning:
BIFFS-classy bistro 4 Front St E(These are same guys as jump, and Auberge)
SPLENDIDO- 88 Harbord st
BAR ITALIA 582 College-some hate it, I always enjoy it
RODNEYS OYSTER HOUSE-Adelaide(I think they are moving)
Bon appetit
Rolo
ps anyone need recommendations for Montreal-if you ever get out of the clubs!

[syn]

rodney's moved to the theatre district ...

syn

[steph@Hollywood]

Pussywillow, I believe that Terra was around before North 44, I remember my husband took me there for dinner for my birthday the 1st year we were dating... back in 1996.... I remember the food was great! Definately worth mentioning in this thread...

Steph

[Captain Bly]

Appropriate to this Board is the Kit Kat Club on King, a fun place, food variable, but fun squeezing past the gals at the bar!!!

[Hepcat]

Bigliardi's on Church Street south of Wellesley not only has superb and relatively reasonably priced steaks but the vichysoisse is splendid there as well! Seniors on Yonge Street south of St. Clair is also great for steaks. I'd also recommend the surprisingly inexpensive Cornish game hens at the Astoria on Danforth Avenue at Chester in addition to the rest of the Astoria's traditional Greek cuisine. Both the sole and the gniocchi at the Colosseum Restaurant on Yonge Street north of Dundas and at Michelangelo's on Gerrard Street just west of Woodbine are very fine!

[Fine Wine]

....Pastis on Yonge just opposite the Davisville LCBO store. Georges Gurnon is an amazing host from the south of France that is famous for the licorice liqueur Pastis. Not for the 'thin wallets' but a wonderful romantic spot with your wife or mistress (but not at the same time!).

Strong runners up would be:

Biagio (King Street East) - best risotto in TO!

Barbarians - Harry's gone but they still produce the best steak in town.

North 44 - not the best value but the foie gras is to die for!

Scramouche - best view, very romantic!

Trappers (south elevation of Hog's Hollow) - was there Monday evening and it is one of the best kept secrets around for value and quality.

Fred's Not Here (King West) - most eclectic menu!

Auberge du Pommier - mentioned by others and have to agree about the list of FINE WINE!!! Great atmosphere.

Nevadas (The Beach) - The name would scare most people off but it remains one of my favourite Beach eateries with consistant food at a reasonable price.

Lastly, if you win the Lotto, try THE FIFTH on Richmond West for an unbelievable experience!

I should also add, for those members who I know are heading down to Vegas shortly, you must try Commodore's Palace across from Bellagio. It's the same Commodore's from New Orleans that gave the world Paul Pruhdomme and Emeril Lagasse. Best Bannas Foster you've ever tasted.


Enjoy and remember, if you include FINE WINE in your dining plans, you will not be disappointed (RSVP...!)

[Captain Bly]

Good news about the gniocch, it's not a common dish in most so-called Italian restaurants.i

[jelloman]

Fine Wine has produced a most agreeable list but what caught my attention was Captain Kirk's misplaced accolades for "Mama Martinos on the Queensway" Like women and wine, food taste is very subjective. However, to put this place on a best Italian list in Toronto is disrespectful to at least 500 Italian restaurants who make better pasta. Don't get me wrong, I like the place, have been their a dozen or more times since the beginning when it was a 1 room 12 table pizzeria. Nice, lively atmosphere and great pizza! But most everything else on the menu is non-edible. They use tomato paste and sugar in their tomato sauce. Even something as simple as a green salad is offensive . . . chopped head lettuce and all garlic. Perhaps it could be listed in a "best pizzeria listing" but it is nothing short of misleading to suggest it is among the best Italian restaurants in Toronto . . . subjective or otherwise.

If you want a real bowl of pasta try Sotto Sotto, Prego, Giancarlos, or Grazie . . . for more reasonable prices try Pazza on Eglinton, or Ferro and La Bruschetta on St. Clair, or even down the street from Mama's, a great bowl of pasta can be had at Posticino.

I might add my vote for best steak: The Black Angus.

Jelloman

[syn]

anyone been to il posto (near the 4 seasons) since it changed hands?

is it even in existence still?

and i LOVE biagio ...

syn

[SamanthaJones]

I was very fortunate this past week and went to Sotto Sotto and Scaramouche , both for the first time. Both were very romantic, the first in a cosy cave-like way, the latter in a sleek, modern way with an amazing view of the skyline.
But most of all the company was superb.

[james t kirk]

Jelloman,

I have been to several italian restaurants all over the city.

While i hear you on your comments re mama martinos, i like it alot.

It's simple and straight forward. It's an italian restaurant that still serves spegetti and meatballs if you want them. Nothing fancy, at a very reasonable cost. Always clean, quick service, and great looking waitresses.

I have taken many many of my friends there, including some of the most pretentuous souls you will ever meet. (My one friend loves Myth on the Danforth, she will spend 50 bucks because it has that eurotrash atmosphere. Me, i just want to hit swiss chalet on the way home because i am still hungry.) They all liked it.

In fact, it's usually a line up to get in the place on the weekends, which i know doesn't necessarily mean that a restaurant is great, but, if a restaurant is empty, it generally means something too.

I like to try a lot of places, but can be a creature of habit as well.

For me, a restaurant can be great without being over the top expensive.

I guess restaurants are like women.....one man's beauty.....

cheers

jtk

[Cave Carson]

Jelloman!

The Great Spaghetti Factory on the Esplanade probably serves more spaghetti than any other place in town! How would you rank its spaghetti relative to that of the more pretentious Italian restaurants? (Personally I've found that I like sugar in spaghetti sauce! When there's none added, I wonder why the sauce is somehow unsatisfying. Blame it on Chef Boy-Ar-Dee and Ragu!)

[torex]

Latinas(queensway by HOL),,,Splendidos,,,Portafinos,,,Hy's awsome prime rib,,,Ruths in the Sheraton,,,awsome prime rib!!
Oreganos,,,,and one of my regular restraunts Mad Apples,,,bloor and runnymede

[Fine Wine]

to mention Lotitas Lust on The Danforth. The name says it all and there is no more romantic place then on their back patio on a hot summer evening. The juices are flowing and then some...!


FINE WINE

[was_siobhan]

If you love Martinis...Monsoon has the best around imho.

Siobhan

[Duke]

Susur and Avalon are on my top lists.

The Fifth are very good too.

can anyone recommend any good Pub in T.O?

[fiasco]

If you are downtown ... Irish Embassy is pretty decent pub(yonge/wellington) .... Beir Market and Fin McCools on esplanade also nice with a lot more women.

[wty]

There's this hot dog cart on Front St, near the dome...nevermind :D

[Mr. Downtown]

Guys, guys, guys. All these places you are mentioning are fine and well established. But if you really want something that's really in and happening (where the babes make for major shwinging) go to GUS as I mentioned some time back. Its on Bay at St. Joseph (in the Polo II bldg, ground level). Ooooh the mix.

[iguana]

I like to take American visitors to The New York Cafe for Canadian bacon (thick peameal). Breaky will set you back about $5.95
Right at Broadview station.

I agree about Pho Hung for Vietnamese. The one on Spadina is much better than the one on Bloor.

For Korean I recommend "GuMi" corner of Pharmacy and Lawrence.

[Captain Bly]

Originally posted by fiasco
If you are downtown ... Irish Embassy is pretty decent pub(yonge/wellington) .... Beir Market and Fin McCools on esplanade also nice with a lot more women.

Those kilts on the girls at McCools in the summer get an old sea dog's blood pumping!! Always drop my utensils for a better view.

[Tease me]

If you are uptown try Terra or the Octogan, terra has better service and atmosphere but the octo has better food.

[shack]

Adega is a pretty good place.
You resurrect an almost 4 year old thread for a pretty good restaurant?

[PHNINE]

I had dinner recently at Luce. It is located in the lobby of the St. Germaine hotel in downtown Toronto. The food was decent, but not worth its price. Presentation was excellent. Decor was modern and very chic. The service however was cold and very amateur. I do not recommend.:cool:

[Jack Mioff]

Ema-tei for sushi got a good review by Cynthia Wine the other day. Anyone been?

Cheers,
Jack.

[goodtime]

Ema-tei for sushi got a good review by Cynthia Wine the other day. Anyone been?
Used to go be a regular. Fresh sushi and few cute Japanese waitess. Good lunch bento box @ good price. Checkout the large party room at the back if you get a chance. Can be on pricey side if a'la Carte. At night, J salarymen doing sake.