Best TO restaurants

LGigolo · Comandante

RE: Best TO restaurants

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

miguel wrote:

i think el bodegon is pretty crappy myself... overpriced and the food is just not that great people keep talking about el rincon criollo though, i want to check that one out

Where is el rincon criollo?

miguel · TOP Guru

hey julie what about french? any recommendations?

the one french restaurant that i like is le paradis (166 bedford road)..

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

LGigolo wrote:

Salsera de Corazon wrote: And the occassion was? a one night stand *jokes* It was just a dinner with my special girl (sortta like belated v.day)

that is nice, I thought it was for mothers day

miguel · TOP Guru

i think el bodegon is pretty crappy myself... overpriced and the food is just not that great

people keep talking about el rincon criollo though, i want to check that one out

LGigolo · Comandante

Salsera de Corazon wrote:

And the occassion was?

a one night stand

*jokes*

It was just a dinner with my special girl (sortta like belated v.day)

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

LGigolo wrote:

My most recent fine dining experience was at GAMELLE RESTAURANT. Gamelle Restaurant 468 College St. West, Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A1 (College and Bathurst area) Telephone: 416 923 6254 Website: http://www.gamelle.com/ If you enjoy French cuisine, you will enjoy this little joint. The dinning room is small and cozy – probably seats 30-40 people but for the summer apparently they have a patio at the back of the restaurant as well. As an appetizer I had Pan Seared Foie Gras with Cave Spring’s Indian Summer Riesling Wine Reduction and Pain d’Epices (duck liver – ok – you have to try it before making faces… it’s delicious, but not necessarily for everyone) I must say the Foie Gras was great, it just melted in the mouth along with this rich tasty sauce Since there was nothing in the appetizers that appealed my gf’s taste, they were very glad to do something out of the menu for as, at our request. Some nice grilled shrimps with some salad and potatoes avec un sauce… tres delicoso!!! In keeping with my craving for duck that evening, I followed up with duck breast for my main course: Magret of Muscovy Duck with Gamelle’s Potatoes, Orange Juice Gastrique, and Sage Sauce I must say that I had some kind of internal orgasm with this (medium rare) magret of duck – they really know how to mix flavour with this sweet orangy cause. Another great thing is that they offer half-bottles of wine (375 ml bottles) which was great for me, since she doesn’t drink wine… so I had it all for myself. I must also add that the waiter and waitress were very friendly, professional and provided excellent service… being provided with the (typically French) baguette and some tasty creamy/buttery sauce to go along with it. And just to top it off, we were sent an extra appetizer of sorts “compliments of the cheff”! Check out their website and if you enjoy French food, pay them a visit sometime – I highly recommend it! :thumpsup:

And the occassion was?

LGigolo · Comandante

My most recent fine dining experience was at GAMELLE RESTAURANT.

Gamelle Restaurant

468 College St. West,

Toronto, Ontario M6G 1A1

(College and Bathurst area)

Telephone: 416 923 6254

Website: http://www.gamelle.com/

If you enjoy French cuisine, you will enjoy this little joint. The dinning room is small and cozy – probably seats 30-40 people but for the summer apparently they have a patio at the back of the restaurant as well.

As an appetizer I had

Pan Seared Foie Gras with Cave Spring’s Indian Summer Riesling Wine Reduction and Pain d’Epices

(duck liver – ok – you have to try it before making faces… it’s delicious, but not necessarily for everyone) I must say the Foie Gras was great, it just melted in the mouth along with this rich tasty sauce

Since there was nothing in the appetizers that appealed my gf’s taste, they were very glad to do something out of the menu for as, at our request. Some nice grilled shrimps with some salad and potatoes avec un sauce… tres delicoso!!!

In keeping with my craving for duck that evening, I followed up with duck breast for my main course:

Magret of Muscovy Duck with Gamelle’s Potatoes, Orange Juice Gastrique, and Sage Sauce

I must say that I had some kind of internal orgasm with this (medium rare) magret of duck – they really know how to mix flavour with this sweet orangy cause.

Another great thing is that they offer half-bottles of wine (375 ml bottles) which was great for me, since she doesn’t drink wine… so I had it all for myself.

I must also add that the waiter and waitress were very friendly, professional and provided excellent service… being provided with the (typically French) baguette and some tasty creamy/buttery sauce to go along with it. And just to top it off, we were sent an extra appetizer of sorts “compliments of the cheff”!

Check out their website and if you enjoy French food, pay them a visit sometime – I highly recommend it! :thumpsup:

LGigolo · Comandante

Salsera de Corazon wrote:

LGigolo wrote: TV Buff wrote: LGigolo wrote: I've been to EL BODEGON several time - good experiences everytime... great food, good portions, good taste, great service...thumbs up . Iw ould think that they didn't take a reservation of 10 cause maybe they were fully booked? or perhaps they don't work with reservations (there are restaurants that take no reservations, weird as it may sound) GiGi, I have too, and that's why I recommended this place to her. El Bodegón is one of my favouritest restaurants in Toronto, but that wasn't nice. And there are ways to say "no, we don't take reservations" to people. But I guess enough people go there que se pueden dar el lujo de negarle reservaciones to some people. No good (cc Nash) though. @ Salse: I did like La Cocina de Doña Luz; loved the papas a la huancaina plate. Also, has anyone been to La Rancheta's buffet? It was yummy!!! I'm not sure if it was - I think it may have been - El Bodegon, that I tried to make a reservation (for 4) at one time a couple of years ago - they were polite to me in saying they didn't take reservations... so, I just showed up and thankfully they had room. Maybe it's one of those one in a blue moon bad experience from them... can't be perfect all the time @Salsera del Cucharon: what? Just joking with you, and they are call Choros a la Chiclayana what you had :biggrin:

ok, whatever they were called, estaban buenos... Corona washes it down great too!

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

LGigolo wrote:

TV Buff wrote: LGigolo wrote: I've been to EL BODEGON several time - good experiences everytime... great food, good portions, good taste, great service...thumbs up . Iw ould think that they didn't take a reservation of 10 cause maybe they were fully booked? or perhaps they don't work with reservations (there are restaurants that take no reservations, weird as it may sound) GiGi, I have too, and that's why I recommended this place to her. El Bodegón is one of my favouritest restaurants in Toronto, but that wasn't nice. And there are ways to say "no, we don't take reservations" to people. But I guess enough people go there que se pueden dar el lujo de negarle reservaciones to some people. No good (cc Nash) though. @ Salse: I did like La Cocina de Doña Luz; loved the papas a la huancaina plate. Also, has anyone been to La Rancheta's buffet? It was yummy!!! I'm not sure if it was - I think it may have been - El Bodegon, that I tried to make a reservation (for 4) at one time a couple of years ago - they were polite to me in saying they didn't take reservations... so, I just showed up and thankfully they had room. Maybe it's one of those one in a blue moon bad experience from them... can't be perfect all the time @Salsera del Cucharon: what?

Just joking with you, and they are call Choros a la Chiclayana what you had

LGigolo · Comandante

TV Buff wrote:

LGigolo wrote: I've been to EL BODEGON several time - good experiences everytime... great food, good portions, good taste, great service...thumbs up . Iw ould think that they didn't take a reservation of 10 cause maybe they were fully booked? or perhaps they don't work with reservations (there are restaurants that take no reservations, weird as it may sound) GiGi, I have too, and that's why I recommended this place to her. El Bodegón is one of my favouritest restaurants in Toronto, but that wasn't nice. And there are ways to say "no, we don't take reservations" to people. But I guess enough people go there que se pueden dar el lujo de negarle reservaciones to some people. No good (cc Nash) though. @ Salse: I did like La Cocina de Doña Luz; loved the papas a la huancaina plate. Also, has anyone been to La Rancheta's buffet? It was yummy!!!

I'm not sure if it was - I think it may have been - El Bodegon, that I tried to make a reservation (for 4) at one time a couple of years ago - they were polite to me in saying they didn't take reservations... so, I just showed up and thankfully they had room. Maybe it's one of those one in a blue moon bad experience from them... can't be perfect all the time

@Salsera del Cucharon: what?

TV Buff · TOP Guru

LGigolo wrote:

I've been to EL BODEGON several time - good experiences everytime... great food, good portions, good taste, great service...thumbs up . Iw ould think that they didn't take a reservation of 10 cause maybe they were fully booked? or perhaps they don't work with reservations (there are restaurants that take no reservations, weird as it may sound)

GiGi, I have too, and that's why I recommended this place to her. El Bodegón is one of my favouritest restaurants in Toronto, but that wasn't nice. And there are ways to say "no, we don't take reservations" to people. But I guess enough people go there que se pueden dar el lujo de negarle reservaciones to some people. No good (cc Nash) though.

@ Salse: I did like La Cocina de Doña Luz; loved the papas a la huancaina plate. Also, has anyone been to La Rancheta's buffet? It was yummy!!!

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

LGigolo wrote:

Salsera de Corazon wrote: Peru-----.. Plebeyo: ? Been here you should go and try the soup called Parihuela is the best in town and also El Ceviche is pretty good Been there once - only had a little snack of some spicy mariscos - taba hueno!... Need to go for real dinner sometime... small and cozy place.

really

LGigolo · Comandante

Salsera de Corazon wrote:

Peru-----..

Plebeyo: ? Been here you should go and try the soup called Parihuela is the best in town and also El Ceviche is pretty good

Been there once - only had a little snack of some spicy mariscos - taba hueno!... Need to go for real dinner sometime... small and cozy place.

Salsera de Corazon · TOP Guru

Peru
-----
Boulevard Cafe: Nice environment. The food was nice, though not as much as I would have liked. A bit new-ageish. Never been there

El Bodegón: Good food in reasonable portions, but lousy hours. They close pretty early. I don't like it too much anymore, years ago used to be better now is different

Plebeyo: ? Been here you should go and try the soup called Parihuela is the best in town and also El Ceviche is pretty good

La cocina de Doña Luz: ? NO COMMENT, JUST DON'T BOTHER WITH THIS ONE

AND ALSO I BEEN AT EL TIPICO ON ST. CLAIR IS REALLY GOOD, AND IS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE, IN GENERAL I GUESS ALL RESTAURANT HAS COPULE OF PLATES THAT STAND OUT,

LGigolo · Comandante

TV Buff wrote:

Julie wrote: Plaza Garibaldi Tendran carnes com en las de "Carnes Garibaldi" because if so yummiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii I've been to Plaza Garibaldi and we used to like it a lot before. The food was excellent, but the service sucked. The last time we went we weren't too impressed. I think they changed cooks or something. And the service still sucked. As for Nicaraguan, there's a restaurant on Bloor that we've been to only once, because (surprise, surprise) the service sucked. Plus we get our antojos from a lady that sells nacatamales and such from her home on Saturdays, so we don't really go to a nica restaurant, per se. As for pupusas, I agree with Bonita. The restaurant on Kennedy is pretty good. We likes. I used to love El Bodegón too, but my niece just told me a story about it. Apparently she wanted to go there with a group of ten friends, and she called them to make reservations and when the owner heard the number of people that were coming, he told her "too many people" and didn't want to take her reservation. WTF???

I've been to EL BODEGON several time - good experiences everytime... great food, good portions, good taste, great service...thumbs up . Iw ould think that they didn't take a reservation of 10 cause maybe they were fully booked? or perhaps they don't work with reservations (there are restaurants that take no reservations, weird as it may sound)

Julie · Comandante

TV Buff wrote:

I used to love El Bodegón too, but my niece just told me a story about it. Apparently she wanted to go there with a group of ten friends, and she called them to make reservations and when the owner heard the number of people that were coming, he told her "too many people" and didn't want to take her reservation. WTF???

QEF (cc Lahtina) ???? I can't believe it, and pple complain that bizz are running slow ? Well, with that kind of attitude, I am not surprised.

TV Buff · TOP Guru

Julie wrote:

Plaza Garibaldi Tendran carnes com en las de "Carnes Garibaldi" because if so yummiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

I've been to Plaza Garibaldi and we used to like it a lot before. The food was excellent, but the service sucked. The last time we went we weren't too impressed. I think they changed cooks or something. And the service still sucked.

As for Nicaraguan, there's a restaurant on Bloor that we've been to only once, because (surprise, surprise) the service sucked. Plus we get our antojos from a lady that sells nacatamales and such from her home on Saturdays, so we don't really go to a nica restaurant, per se.

As for pupusas, I agree with Bonita. The restaurant on Kennedy is pretty good. We likes.

I used to love El Bodegón too, but my niece just told me a story about it. Apparently she wanted to go there with a group of ten friends, and she called them to make reservations and when the owner heard the number of people that were coming, he told her "too many people" and didn't want to take her reservation. WTF???

LGigolo · Comandante

Danny416 wrote:

the ecuadorian one on keele y sheppard is good..in side that plaza...tipico ecuatoriano is a mehhhhhh..ok i guess...mi linda managua, from nica...la pupusa loca on steels from ES....mi tierra from colombia....el bodegon on college from peru ..theres another peruvian restaurant on bathurst and st clair i forget the name...the mexican restaurant by ossington and bloor i also forgot the name lol asador something like that...the friendly dominican..was good...hmmm from costa rican..pura vida?? on lasndowne lol? does that count..those r all i can think of at the moment

I was just there on Saturday afternoon - I think it's called HORNADO something or other...

I must say you get good value for your buck un plato de hornado, arroz, papas y ensalada for $ 10, or seco de chivo with salad, platano frito and rice for the same = GREAT VALUE... Manzana pop en botella $2 buckaroos... THAT's A BARGAIN... it was not just cheap, food tasted good (I had the seco de chivo.... heard the hornado is great too - afterall it's their "specialty".

However, the place doesn't look too great or elegant... not the kind of place I would take a date to... You have to pick up your plate and bring it to the table yourself, paying beforehand... not anywhere near fine dining.

Overall, Yes, I will go back there.

As for the TIPICO ECUATORIANO - the one on Keele and Lawrence... I have been there a total of three times - first was to try it out... I must say I hated it... the food was terrible, ... I had a "ceviche mixto" that was so f_ing sour, I had a spoonfull and returned the rest (YES, They did charge me for that shiet too)... their portions are HUMONGONOUS - but to me, it tastes like crap... I preffer QUALITY over QUANTITY... I've also had their arroz con menestra (beans) and salad - not very tender... meat was rough... Other times went cause other people really wanted to go there... EACH TIME I went I didn't like Will not go back!

Bonita · Guru

i think the best place for pupusas is "El Paladar Latino". its this little restaurant in scarborough on kennedy road.....ummmmmm best pupusas ive ever tried!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

McOSIRIS · Comandante

bistor wrote:

Why wouldn't I?:) You are hispanics, being part of Spain for four centuries, overwhelmingly catholic, and (for the most part) with spanish surnames. Granted, the language didn't penetrate much, but four centuries is a long time. I wouldn't include Spain's african ex-colonies in that list (Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, etc.).-- Edited by bistor at 15:14, 2006-05-06

bistor · Guru

Marky Mark wrote:

Mexico: Dos Amigos (Bathurst & Eglinton) Quaint atmosphere, great food... the owners are Mexican and went back to Mexico to study culinary arts to bring back to Canada... pretty good IMO. (Note: no one has mastered tacos el pastor in Canada)

Phillippines: haha, you had to include it.. I haven't eaten in a PI restaurant (why pay for something you get at home ALL the time?) I can give u the number of some good caterers tho!!! -- Edited by Marky Mark at 12:56, 2006-05-06

Why wouldn't I?:) You are hispanics, being part of Spain for four centuries, overwhelmingly catholic, and (for the most part) with spanish surnames.

Granted, the language didn't penetrate much, but four centuries is a long time.

I wouldn't include Spain's african ex-colonies in that list (Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, etc.).

-- Edited by bistor at 15:14, 2006-05-06

Julie · Comandante

Lahtina wrote:

For the best Mexican food... right here, baby, Chef Lahtina! If you want something done right, gotta do it yourself! Modestia aparte... qué digo aparte: inexistente!

Cuando hacemos rajas pues ?

Lahtina · Foro Master

For the best Mexican food... right here, baby, Chef Lahtina! If you want something done right, gotta do it yourself! Modestia aparte... qué digo aparte: inexistente!

Marky Mark · Foro Master

Mexico: Dos Amigos (Bathurst & Eglinton) Quaint atmosphere, great food... the owners are Mexican and went back to Mexico to study culinary arts to bring back to Canada... pretty good IMO. (Note: no one has mastered tacos el pastor in Canada)

Phillippines: haha, you had to include it.. I haven't eaten in a PI restaurant (why pay for something you get at home ALL the time?) I can give u the number of some good caterers tho!!!

-- Edited by Marky Mark at 12:56, 2006-05-06

McOSIRIS · Comandante

bistor wrote:

So! What do you guys think?

I think ur nuts......

I've gone to "El Trompo" (mexican't) in Kensington Mkt and I liked the food... but the dishes are small and the bill was waaaaay too big...

we should burn that place down....

Mc

over...

-- Edited by McOSIRIS at 13:09, 2006-05-06

Cocotaso · Guru

Jaime Cruz wrote:

Mexico - Taco Bell

That was FUNNY!!!!!! TACO BELLL!!! yeah best mexican food restuarant in Toronto!

Jaime Cruz · Foro Master

Mexico - Taco Bell

bistor · Guru

Julie wrote:

Plaza Garibaldi
Tendran carnes com en las de "Carnes Garibaldi" because if so yummiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

No recuerdo, la verdad. Pero no me pareció nada del otro mundo... está en danforth.

Danny416 · TOP Guru

the ecuadorian one on keele y sheppard is good..in side that plaza...tipico ecuatoriano is a mehhhhhh..ok i guess...mi linda managua, from nica...la pupusa loca on steels from ES....mi tierra from colombia....el bodegon on college from peru ..theres another peruvian restaurant on bathurst and st clair i forget the name...the mexican restaurant by ossington and bloor i also forgot the name lol asador something like that...the friendly dominican..was good...hmmm from costa rican..pura vida?? on lasndowne lol? does that count..those r all i can think of at the moment

Julie · Comandante

Plaza Garibaldi

Tendran carnes com en las de "Carnes Garibaldi" because if so yummiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

bistor · Guru

Danny mentioned the other day that he had been trying to go to restaurants from each hispanic country, which I thought was a great idea.

So, I was wondering what the foro membership thought were the best hispanic restaurants they had gone to, by country.

I'll start off myself:

Mexico:
---------
Plaza Garibaldi: Didn't think much of it, but it's the only one I've gone to in Toronto.

Cuba
------
None.

Domincan Republic
----------------------
None

Puerto Rico
-------------
None.

Guatemala
-------------
None.

El Salvador
-------------
Tacos "El Asador"(?) : It was OK. Didn't like the service.

Honduras
-----------
None.

Nicaragua
------------
None.

Panama
---------
None.

Colombia
-----------
Los Arrieros: I thought it was pretty good. Well priced too.

Venezuela
------------
None.

Ecuador
---------
None.

Peru
-----
Boulevard Cafe: Nice environment. The food was nice, though not as much as I would have liked. A bit new-ageish.

El Bodegón: Good food in reasonable portions, but lousy hours. They close pretty early.

Plebeyo: ?

La cocina de Doña Luz: ?

Bolivia
--------
None.

Paraguay
-----------
None.

Chile
------
Jumbo Empanadas :) : Good, if limited, menu :D.

Argentina
-----------
None.

Uruguay
---------
None.

Philippines
------------
None.

Spain
-------
Taste of Spain: For my taste, the best in Toronto, though many (most) disagree with me. The owners are gashegos from Buenos Aires.

Segovia: The oldest spanish restaurant in Toronto. I find the paella a little dry. The setting is nice.

So! What do you guys think?