OT - Toronto restaurant recommendations?

[LeCras]

My DH and I are going to Toronto in a few weeks time, to check the place out with a view to possibly moving there in the future. We will be celebrating both my birthday and our wedding anniversary whilst in Toronto, and I was hoping one of you locals could recommend some good restaurants? We are considering 360 in the CN Tower, purely for the views, and also a place called Canoe. Any views on those two possibilities? We also love Chinese food - particularly dim sum - and would love some recommendations there as well.

We are quite happy to pay for good food, especially for special occasions, so cost isn't really an issue.

Many thanks,

Charlotte

 

[cabmom]

I haven't dined at either place you've suggested. Have you gone to www.toronto.com?

Enjoy your stay while here! It truly is a great place to live!

Le Bifteque is great for beef. The Indian food isn't as good as Indian in England! Sorry, I don't eat downtown very often, but I'm sure you'll get some suggestions!

Marilynn

 

[digskat]

I love Marche Movenpik's it's in the same building as the Hockey Hall of fame, on Younge st I think it is . They have just about every cuisine you can think of. We on occasion go to the Rain forest Cafe in the yorkdale mall. Good luck and enjoy Toronto it's a great city.

 

[tone.def]

King Street West Entertainment distract - N'awlins, Hey Lucy, Kit Kat, Fred's Not Here, Joe Mama's...

Queen Street West - Gypsy Co-op (just west of Bathurst), also try Squirley's, looks like a dive, but the food is fantastic, Terroni's is great too

Golden Thai at the corner of Jarvis and Richmond

Joe Badali's on Front Street by the CN Tower

I stay clear of the Chinatown around Spadina and Dundas, health code issues, I have eatten dim sum 3 times around there (all different places) and vomitted every time.

If I think of more great places, I'll post 'em, but those are my frequent haunts...

 

[disney funseeker]

The menu looks good at Canoe http://www.canoerestaurant.com/home_f.htm.

 

[solotraveler]

On our recent trip to Toronto, we fell in love with Crush bistro (455 King St. W). A little on the pricey side (especially wine...) but it was excellent. Lots of great restaurants in that area.

If you are looking for Chinese and don't want to venture into Chinatown there is supposedly a great place near the Metropolitain hotel (that i can't remember at this late hour) that is supposedly fantastic.

I'm ready to move there as well. In fact, I'm heading back in October to start looking at condos

Solotraveler

 

[LeCras]

Thanks for your help everyone, very much appreciated!

Charlotte

 

[MECH8T7]

If you were trying to choose between 360 at the CN Tower and Canoe, go with Canoe...no contest. Canoe is on the top of TD Bank tower (54th floor) and both the view and food is outstanding. Make sure you check the hours because they may be a little different from what you might expect because it is on top of an office tower. (I think they may not be open for dinner on Saturdays because they rent it out for private functions).

The proprietors of Canoe (Oliver and Bonochini) have a number of other upscale restaurants around town (Jump, Biff's, Auberge du Pommier, Oliver and Bonochini) but I have found that there is a bit of a similarity in the offerings. So, if you try one, you may want to avoid the others. If you like wine, you might want to check out Reds, which is at First Canadian Place at Adelaide between York St. and Bay St. Another top restaurant in town is Bymark, which is in the same building as Canoe, or the owner's other place, North 44, at Yonge St. North of Eglinton Ave.

I would also recommend the dim sum restaurant that an earlier poster mentioned. It is called Lai Wah Heen and it is in the Metropolitan Hotel near City Hall. There are lots of dim sum restaurants in Toronto but Lai Wah Heen is on a totally different level...both in terms of quality of food and price! Look to spend at least $30 to $35 a person (w/o alcohol). If you go, you absolutely have to start your meal with either the seafood hot and sour soup or the crabmeat and corn soup. If you've got room for dessert, they have this amazing sweet cold soup that has tapioca and mango. Also, their mango pudding is the best I've tried. I would also be a great choice for dinner but if you were deciding between dinner and dim sum, go for the dim sum. If you're looking for something that isn't as pricey but still very nice, I would recommend the Dynasty. It is at the top end of the downtown area in the Colonade on Bloor Street West between Bay Street and University Avenue (either the Bay St. or Museum subway stop).

Have fun.

 

[bunnyfoo]

I found Canoe to be so-so ... I liked it better for drinks and dessert than for the actual meal. The view is very nice though I would recommend Bymark, North 44 and Splendido. Truffles in the Four Seasons is also suppose to be nice as well. I've also heard that Lai Wah Heen is good for dim sum but I've never been myself.

 

[LeCras]

Ooh, thanks for that Mech8T7, sounds like Canoe is a definite on our list! Thanks also to Disney Funseeker for the link to the restaurant's web page - that menu looks gorgeous!

We do like wine, so we will definitely check out Reds! In fact, we will be going on a wine tour when we're in Niagara the following week. Can't wait!

Lai Wah Heen sounds good, and we would definitely go for the dim sum. Like I said, I am a dim sum fanatic (we can't get it at home) and like to have it whenever possible. DH and I were in Thailand a few years back, and we stayed in the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok for a few nights. The Chinese restaurant in the hotel had a lunchtime special: all the dim sum you could eat for a set price. Well, I've never had so much dim sum before (or after!) in my life! The waitress kept asking if I was ready for dessert, but I kept going! I'm actually surprised they are still in business... So, we might very well try a couple of different places - you just can't have too much dim sum!

Again, thank you all for your help!

Charlotte

 

[RedRuby]

I love Marche Movenpik's it's in the same building as the Hockey Hall of fame, on Younge st I think it is . They have just about every cuisine you can think of. We on occasion go to the Rain forest Cafe in the yorkdale mall. Good luck and enjoy Toronto it's a great city.

Just an FYI - the Movenpik name is gone from Toronto. The restaurant management company (something-Tree) now runs them independently, and they aren't "Movenpik" restaurants any more. I believe the concept of the Marche is still the same -- gourmet style food in a "food station"/cafeteria environment. It's a nice way to get good quality food quickly but a traditional restaurant. Fun for a quick lunch or if you're looking for "fast food" not of the McDonald's or Wimpey's variety

 

[RedRuby]

Joe Badali's on Front Street by the CN Tower

I stay clear of the Chinatown around Spadina and Dundas, health code issues, I have eatten dim sum 3 times around there (all different places) and vomitted every time.

If I think of more great places, I'll post 'em, but those are my frequent haunts...

I'd actually not recommend Joe Badali's; if you're looking for large entertainment district chain, I'd suggest the Loose Moose (pub), Armadillo (TexMex), Jack Astor's (tho it's loud!) and even East Side Mario's over Joe Badali's.

As for Chinatown the suggestion of the Metropolitian Hotel is a good one!

 

[RedRuby]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Bistro 990; their set menu at lunch is a 5 star meal at 2 star prices $25 including tax and tip (but not alcohol) for a three course fabulous, high end French cuisine lunch. (But I'm totally biased as it is my sentimental favourite restaurant in Toronto....and a favourite of the Yorkville/Hollywood North set.)

 

[yyzgurl]

My DH and I are blessed to live in Toronto because we LOVE eating. Toronto has such a great selection of restaurants that even from a shortened list of restaurants, you'll still find it hard to choose!

A few restaurants that we have tried recently that we both thoroughly enjoyed are:

Perigee (Distillery District. Tasting meu only but well worth it.)

Rain (Great food. One of the better asian fusion restaurants.)

Susur (The staple in Toronto for asian fusion. They have a la carte, but their tasting menu is great!) Susur also has a less expensive alternative named "Lee's". A fun inexpensive place for dinner but the decor is somewhat strange. Food is pretty good.

Lai Wah Heen (Metropolitan Hotel. One of the best dim sum in Toronto...but pricey for Dim Sum.)

Canoe is consistantly good but DH and I don't find it great. We eat here frequently for dinner as the view is wonderful.

Bymark is right in front of the building where Canoe is located. My DH had a highly marbelized steak here that he still raves about. (Note: Only get that if you are not concerned about your health!! )

 

[pollioni]

One of my favs and voted one of the Top 50 in Canada is Scaramouche. The food is Continental and French

You can find them on the web @ http://www.scaramoucherestaurant.com/

This is one of Toronto's hidden gems and many of TO's rich and famous dine there.

 

[LeCras]

Wow, so many suggestions! Thank goodness we're going for two weeks..!!

Charlotte

 

[Bee3]

I've got lots of ideas for you!

I'd like to echo Susur as a top restaurant choice (King and Bathurst). For tasting menus, also try Senses at the Soho Metropolitan hotel on Wellington. If you are in mid-town (Yonge and Eglinton) try 7 Numbers (on Eglinton) or 5 doors north (on Yonge), both have wonderful Italian food that is served family style.

Check out Greek Town along the Danforth and Little Italy on College - too many restaurants to name. And one more favourite is Boujadi on Eglinton for Moraccan food - it is to die for!

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Torontogal]

If you like fine dining - I would recommend Old Mill. It is pricy but food and service are really good.
The other one is Devonleigh's Place in Scarborough (Steeles and Warden).
Very good but pricey.

 

[yyzgurl]

Devonsleigh does not exist anymore. Another restaurant is there now. The new name slips my mind.

 

[SnowWhite]

Try the 360 restaurant at the CN Tower. It has been along time since I was there but I remember it being good food and you can't beat the view! I also like the armadillo on front st. It won't seem to matter which you choose from the extensive list here, one thing for sure. You will be well fed!!!!

Enjoy your celebrations!

Rob (snowwhite's dh)