Toronto Restaurant Tips by Grootpiet

Restaurant Name: Cafe Brussels

One of my all time favourites in Toronto, at the start of Danforth Avenue, before you hit Greektown. An awesome selection of Moulet & Frites (mussels & fries), and the obligatory Belgian beers (served in their respective glasses).

Favorite Dish: Any of the mussel dishes, and they have a great winelist as a bonus.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-465-7363
Address: 786 Broadview Ave
Directions: Danforth area

Restaurant Name: Le Papillon

An excellent place for a dinner for two. The food is great (especially the crêpes), and the prices reasonable (for Toronto at least). Tucked away downtown it's also an easy pre-theatre meet. Parking at Dominion's garage across the main intersection.

Favorite Dish: Favourite dish is the pepper steak, with their occasional oxtail a close second.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: about average

Phone: 416 363 3773
Address: 16 Church street at Church & Front.
Website: lepapillon.ca

Restaurant Name: Rex Saigon

Very good and affordable Thai/Vietnamese food off Yonge/Eglington. Great noodles and rice dishes, fast (most orders in under 10 minutes) and friendly service, with most dishes around CAD$ 10. Also has 10% discount on take-out.

Favorite Dish: Shanghai Fried Noodles... crispy noodles with options of chicken, shrimp seafood etc. Also the tiger prawn roll for a starter, 6 pieces and a very tasty side salad.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average

Phone: 416 489 0306
Address: 90 Eglington Ave. East
Directions: Two block east on Eglington from the Yonge/Eglington intersection

Restaurant Name: Steakfrites

Excellent place to go for some fine food and a good wine selection. Their food is exquisitely prepared, and the service some of the best I've had in Toronto.

Favorite Dish: The starter sampler of 3 and the lamb shank.

Leave a Comment

Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-486-0090
Address: 692 Mount Pleasant Rd
Directions: Subway: Yonge/Eglington
Website: Tordine.com

Restaurant Name: Mariachi's

Beyond the big flowery sign outside, is a cozy old-style backroom which doesn't look too glamorous on first impression.

The food though is excellent. Rightly spiced, and with sauces that add just the right amount of bite, it's definately not the Tex-Mex at the family steakhouses.

Favorite Dish: Tried the shared starter platter, and then had the steak strips with Tequila. Both excellent, and goes well with the cold beer.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Mexican
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (416) 481-7111
Address: 2084 Yonge
Directions: On Yonge between Davisville & Eglington subway stops.

Restaurant Name: Bangkok Garden

Good Thai food in an beautiful setting. The restaurant is on two levels, with a pond etc. adding loads of atmoshphere.

Favorite Dish: Massaman Curry

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-977-6748
Address: 18 Elm St
Directions: Next to the Delta Chelsea hotel

Leave a Comment

Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter

Restaurant Name: Samovar Barmalay

A cozy restaurant cluttered with Russian nicknacks and the Samovar's (tea urns) that give the restaurant its name. Slightly eccentric wait staff, and some live music weekends which includes the waiters rattling the glasses above the bar (was a bit surprising, yes).

Favorite Dish: Russian roulette, lamb mince in puff pastry

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-480-0048
Address: 505 Mt. Pleasant Road
Directions: Mt. Pleasant. Subway: Yonge/Eglington

Restaurant Name: Most of the restaurants on this strip

Most of the restaurants in Greektown... favourites are Ouzeri and Papa's.

Favorite Dish: The lamb...

Leave a Comment

Theme: Other

Directions: Take the Bloor-Danforth subway line to Pape, and you're right on it.

Restaurant Name: Marché

A market-type restaurant with everything available from steak, sushi, pasta, stirfry, you name it. Walk around with your tab in hand which gets stamped as soon as you order something. Also a small branch at the Eaton Center and at Bayview/York Mills.

Favorite Dish: The rosti with sour cream and the sushi platter. Their crépes are an excellent way to end the evening.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Grocery Store/Market
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 416-366-8986
Address: BCE Place, Yonge and Wellington Streets
Directions: Union subway, take the PATH to BCE place (Hockey Hall of Fame)