Toronto restaurant recommendation

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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sorry, I'n not going through this whole thread - what's the best big noisy dim sum place in town?

If you insist on gigantic banquet-hall style dim sum, I can't help you.
But best downtown Dim Sum is "Lai Wah Heen"
http://www.laiwahheen.com/

located on the second floor of the Metropolitan Hotel.

Quiet and upscale, and excellent food.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

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If you insist on gigantic banquet-hall style dim sum, I can't help you.
But best downtown Dim Sum is "Lai Wah Heen"
http://www.laiwahheen.com/

located on the second floor of the Metropolitan Hotel.

Quiet and upscale, and excellent food.

Bright Pearl is fun.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

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on account of the G20 summit.

Just hoping they don't bring back the stale hot dogs later - but seriously a few weeks in advance - maybe a vacation?

Originally Posted by globetrotter

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sorry, I'n not going through this whole thread - what's the best big noisy dim sum place in town?

How far are you willing to go? I'd try Ambassador @ 280 West Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill.

Otherwise the places in the various Chinatowns are pretty much dives. Lai Wah Heen is really really posh - I think you're taking kids there right? Don't get me wrong, though, you pay for some creative looking dim sum and ingredients.

In the city, I'd try Pearl Harbourfront - food is clean, might not be top notch but you get a great view of the waterfront as it's in the Queens Quay mall. I brought a little girl there once and the staff didn't seem to mind her running rampant. I remember in the other thread someone mentioned you'd be down there anyway so it's a nice place to stop by.

Pear Harbourfront would be my no. 2 choice. It has a really nice lake view in the summer, and if you were going to the island, it's located pretty close to the ferry.
But it's kinda upscale as well and you pay for the location, so for basic stuff (e.g., Har Gow), the price difference between PH and LWH is minimal.

At the end of the day it boils down to this. If you want good dim sum at a great location, go to Pearl Harbourfront. If you want the best dim sum money can buy, and probably the most-unique in Toronto or Chicago, at a boring location, go to Lai Wah Heen. I've seen small children at both, so that should not be a factor unless your kids like to start food fights or otherwise destroy restaurants.
Reservations are recommended for both, especially on weekends.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

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Pear Harbourfront would be my no. 2 choice. It has a really nice lake view in the summer, and if you were going to the island, it's located pretty close to the ferry.
But it's kinda upscale as well and you pay for the location, so for basic stuff (e.g., Har Gow), the price difference between PH and LWH is minimal.

At the end of the day it boils down to this. If you want good dim sum at a great location, go to Pearl Harbourfront. If you want the best dim sum money can buy, and probably the most-unique in Toronto or Chicago, at a boring location, go to Lai Wah Heen. I've seen small children at both, so that should not be a factor unless your kids like to start food fights or otherwise destroy restaurants.
Reservations are recommended for both, especially on weekends.

thanks - my kids won't enjoy the food as much as the "show", my wife and I will enjoy the food. pearl harbourfront sounds like a good fit. thanks

I went to Yuki Sushi near Chestnut/Dundas. I swear this used to be a diner - plastic tables and booths and everything. All you can eat for $11.99 - over a dozen sushi combinations made only with 3 fishes. Including one with mango. One with cream cheese. Okay, you get the point. It's not very good at all but then I didn't get sick either.

I asked for Chicken Karragge (probably spelt it wrong) appetizer and she brought out 3 pieces that each look like size of my fingernail. She actually laughed after bringing it out. If you didn't tell me it was from the kictchen, I almost thought it was from crumbs spilt on to the ground.

all you can eat sushi = bad idea.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

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all you can eat sushi = bad idea.

Yes yes...of course I know that. Drinks at Vertical again for business. Damn, I can't ever get out of here without an $80+ drink bill.

Will probably hit somewhere else tonight.

Ate at george a few weeks ago, very nice, would have been better if the weather had cooperated and we were able to sit in the courtyard. Also should have had the tasting menu, but our waiter did not explain things to us before we ordered.

Tempura fiddleheads were interesting, but they still taste like lawn clippings.
Best dish was the mango tasting desert, followed by teh chocolate. Everythign ewlse was well preared and well presented.

Will be going back,

This weekend: colborne lane for a the tasting menu.

I did brunch at Grapefruit Moon on Thursday morning. It seemed okay. The toilets are dodgy and an ant crawled out of a plant next to me into my hair but okay. The decor was eccentric. I can't imagine there is actually a pair of anything there. Breakfast was okay but nothing spectacular. They do have an interesting hot sauce you can use on eggs. Prices were around $9 each - total $30 for two meals and some drinks.

Then I went over to the patio at Old Mill Inn - had some mussels and calamari. Calamari was okay, mussels were so so. Patio service was not that great, although the waiter when he was around did try to make a few jokes. Liquor seemed to have a generous pour - my lunch date did not like her mojito though. $90+ tip.

Today was spent at Splendido doing the lunch tasting menu. $75/each for 5 courses. There is a chocolate cake at the end that tastes like (not my words but the waiter's) Snickers in a cake. I tried my best to eat 2/3 of it but felt stuffed at the end. Foie gras was okay, wasn't as good as I had it at Black Hoof. My lunch date liked her choices including a yummy looking trout, except for the cake she passed off on me - she had my lemon tart instead. I had about 4 or 5 martinis - $280+ tip in the end. They did indicate this would likely be the last time they do Friday lunch tasting menus during the spring or summer due to poor attendance. There were only 5 tables there. They said if they did it in December, the lunch is usually full. Service, as always, was impeccable and not rushed. Lunch did take 2 1/2+ hours and I didn't leave till 3pm.

Yeah, I felt bad for those protestors while eating there ...well actually no. But I did have some random bloke on the street ask me details on my suit and the fabric on my way back.

I'm out of the city for the weekend. I can't come to terms dressing like crap to fly under the radar so I figure I'll just leave.

Showed up at Hank's today for lunch - had to grab it to go. There's more devil pickles in their egg salad than I remembered, but the cappucino is still just as good.

I want to start trying Guu Izakaya now. Maybe the crowds have died down.

Originally Posted by fwiffo

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[...]
I want to start trying Guu Izakaya now. Maybe the crowds have died down.

very interested in that place.
I wish they had lunch.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

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very interested in that place.
I wish they had lunch.

Problem is finding someone who will actually queue for a restaurant without a bar. Not too many.

Although I did convince my family to queue for Vij's in Vancouver.

I ended up going to Mengrai Thai instead in a loooong walk (right through the Pride area too). Guu was full - about 15 or 20 people hanging outside. I didn't feel like waiting and their patio was full too. So I ended up moving east got a seat this Thai place. I loved how they needed to check if a table was free when it was clear they only did 1 1/2 sittings each night. The waitress was kind & friendly until the food was put on the table and then she promptly disappeared. Had a bottle of wine but service after the initial glass was self-served. I had a Thai Fried Rice. She had some glass noodle something. Some rolls to start. We were pretty full at the end. $74+tip. Mind you, they had fish but I hate it when you put a gaggle of spices on fish; what's the point in having it fresh.

I had always thought of going to this place in the winter but on second thought, I don't think it's worth it anymore. It's obvious out of the ways enough that at least two tables got up and had the hostess call a cab in for pickup.

Afterwards, we hit Reservoir Lounge for after dinner drinks and a raspberry tartufo which just tasted like very cold and icy raspberry ice cream. I think I'll skip having dessert there ever again.

Power failure in most of the city. Our fav restaurants were all dark. Stuck with Sassafraz, the darling of the celebs during the Film Festival. Meh.

Overcooked scallops. Poorly shucked oysters. Nice veg. Very good cheese. Tawse Pinot was excellent.

$180 for two appetizers, cheese plate, bottle of wine, tax and tip. Pleasant, unassuming service.