Toronto

Alison's Area

• Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta

St. Clair Avenue:

La Bruschetta, 1317 St. Clair West, Amy Pataki aug/02 says popular with film festival stars, warm welcome, no airs, gnocchi improbably light, veal medallions wonderful, she likes, nnn aug/02, upscale trattoria, old-school Italian home cooking, fettuccine Giuliana, jolly atmosphere, roguishly pungent pickled peppers arrive with the bread, pastas show best, bold garlic tomato three cheese sauce for delightful gnocchi grattinati and harmonious tomato cream for fusilli alla capriciosa, shrimp al vino have been correctly sautéed, chosen favourite by T.O. magazine, family run, restaurant is their life, don’t use machines, green fettuccine, capriciosi with Italian sausage, tomato sauce, whipped cream, Italian bacon, rosemary and black olives, mixed seafood platter with pasta, clams, mussels, shrimps and baby shark, excellent for children according to Joanne Kates and their move down the street considered worthy of mentioning in her article, Cynthia Wine may/01 says have the antipasto platter, mostly made on premises, otherwise stick to pastas

La Terrazza, 1331 St. Clair West, three stars in Metropolis, more relaxing than some, mixed crowd, North American like chicken wings or fish and chips and nine gourmet burgers, salad with homemade marinated artichokes, main events are desserts

The Big Ragu, 1338 St. Clair West, where Alison and her friends went in July 2007 when they came to see her house for the first time.

Frank’s Pizza House, 1352 St. Clair West, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, the real thing, 26 pizzas, pastas

O Farol Churrasqueira, 1474 St. Clair West, nnn may/02, family style Portuguese joint, for those who love meat, deft hand with grilled fish, simpler the better

Banh Cuon Pho Ga, 1772 St. Clair West, Now oct/03 talks about pho in Vietnamese restaurants in the area, next door is Pho Rua Vang, also Mi Gia Phung

Orlando's 2 for 1 Jerk Chicken, 1828 St. Clair Avenue West.

Garden Food Shawarma and Falafel, 1969 Davenport, there to get lunch in July 2007 when working on her house, it was okay.

Pub at Symington and Duport owned by former bandit

Bloor Village

north side is dry, only on south side can you have liquor

• Bloor West Village

Structube, 2100 Bloor West

Running Room, 2100 Bloor West, bought two tops july/93, shoes feb/96

Barada Delicatessen, 2116 Bloor West, for Middle Eastern spices, couscous, harissa, epicure story on couscous, looked in there but mostly dry goods it seems, not sure I would find anything interesting

Apricot Tree, 2180 Bloor West, Amy Pataki apr/02, she likes the ice cream

Green Mango, 2180 Bloor West

Rebel Chop House, 2197 Bloor West, Amy Pataki apr/02, offspring of one in Rosedale, upscale pub, food is laughable, she really finds food bad, was Mad Apples but closed mar/02

Santini’s Pub or something, 2199 Bloor West, was Future Bakery

Bloor West Village Bakery, 2202 Bloor West, goulash, cheese-potato perogi, mentioned by epicure

Bloor Village Flowers, 2208, the one I found had particularly interesting flowers in 97, went again in 98, they had rosemary Christmas trees, also cheap bonsai, see review in Toronto Life

Bread & Roses Bakery Café, 2232 Bloor West, Amy Pataki apr/02, says it stands out, great sandwiches, turkey breast, she loves Polish-style mushroom melt, she would relocate just to be close to this sandwich, there with Elizabeth feb/94

Going Places Travel Essentials, 2239A Bloor West, has watertech kit for purifying water when travelling

Blueberry Hill, 2241 Bloor West, voted runner-up best burgers in Now reader’s poll/95, bought yogurt with Elizabeth july/93

Crown Oyster, 2253 Bloor West, malpeques, also bistro fare having little to do with the sea

Queen's Pasta Cafe, 2263 Bloor West, Toronto Life $25 Gourmet 2003, 3 stars in eye, there since 1983, classic recipes perfected generations ago, pasta itself is high quality, Amy Pataki apr/02 says popular but appeal lost on her, flavour free dining, plain, homey, seasonal pastas, simple wines, cheap, epicure says caesar splendid, goat cheese agnolotti

La Cache, 2264 Bloor West, had April Cornell sweater

Queen's Pasta, 256 Beresford Ave, chosen by Toronto Life's great takeout ‘92 for takeout shop just across street from main restaurant, epicure likes penne carbonara, best is linguine-poached chicken breast in tomato cream which is as elegant as noodle plate can get

Village Deli, 258 Beresford Ave, creamy slaw, house cabbage rolls, sauerkraut stuffed perogi

Amber European, 2372 Bloor West, featured in Toronto Life in February 2007 story about best perogies in Toronto, beautifully thin, earthy, the real deal.

Nestings, 2274 Bloor West, lived-in comfort, saw with Elizabeth dec/02, good place to shop for presents for home including soaps and such.

Zsa Zsa, 2277 Bloor West, Amy Pataki apr/02, menu is a mishmash, popular, low prices, she says the worst food she found on the strip

Fiasco, 2279 Bloor West, nnn, recent and welcome, Mediterranean with lemon-ragged walls and tile-topped tables, comprehensive menu, primarily italian, avoids culinary experiments, extraordinary value, bruschetta, tapenade, salads are its forte, almost all around $5, grilled seasonal vegetables with goat cheese, grilled wild mushrooms, shrimp, jerk, promethean pasta, grilled chicken breast in penne, penne primavera, paella, veal medallions, Cajun seafood platter, pizza, litre pitchers of sangria, mentioned by epicure, expensively unpretentious, million dollars spent on renovating, large crowds, expensive, jerk shrimp, pad Thai, Cajun seafood, in main however has Italian theme, thinks not great for price

Bloor Meat Market, 2283 Bloor West, south side, sawdust on floor, immaculate, family owned since 1929, free range chicken, mentioned by epicure as place with accommodating service, fair price and high quality, barbecued chickens with roast potatoes, there dec/02, it really is great, bought ham for New Year’s Eve, D.L. Jardine’s Bronco Mustard, has good condiments like salsas and jams, and great looking meats, had that strange booth you pay in like buying a theatre ticket. See review in Toronto Life.

Book Barrel, 2284 Bloor West, good idiosyncratic book store, many boo

Dundas at Parkdale

Brazil Bakery and Pastry, 1566 Dundas West, Toronto Life oct/02 says good place to buy nana which is Portuguese tarts, these are Brazilian variation and very good

Hollywood Nights, 1585 Dundas West, where Parkdale held 25th anniversary dinner and dance nov/96

Mitzi’s Sister, 1600 Dundas West, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, forthright and casual

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St. Anne’s Church, 270 Gladstone, built in 1908, in 1922 J.E.H. MacDonald masterminded project to decorate interior, Byzantine style church, chancel ceiling painted ultramarine, with grape vines etc, church walls are yellow ochre, stencilled in red and green with 15 paintings by MacDonald, Franklin Carmichael and others, paintings dominated by reds, from crimson to dull rose, 8 sided dome holds stone medallions and paintings of F.H. Varley, difficult now to maintain, exterior is dilapidated brick hulk in Greek style of earlier in this century, glory is in its interior decoration, symphony of colour and design, Byzantine and Victorian gothic and art deco, held in magnificent coherence by ecclesiastical colour scheme of gold, crimson, Venetian red, ultramarine blue, umber and black and gem-like green, gold floods central dome, also paintings by Varley

Dundas and Lansdowne, railway underpass just south of Dundas, Dyan Marie’s 1993 public commission, small discs of terrazzo, grooved and incised metal and other materials pressed here and there into concrete surfaces of underpass, each disc an intense, hermetic moment, beautiful visual poem with terse and abstract eloquence of haiku, at sharp odds with motor traffic speeding under train tracks

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Genereux Gallery, 21 Morrow, there apr/95 to see, I think, Geoffrey Eakins photos of Frederick Law Olmstead parks, photos sold for $1,500 and up, Olga Korper Gallery there also

In December 1996 it was announced that Olga Korper had lost possession of the community of art galleries she had created 7 years earlier out of a group of dilapidated buildings on Morrow Avenue, her buildings apparently were 15-25 Morrow. Galleries include Christopher Cutts Gallery, MEG Gallery, Wave Gallery, Olga Korper Gallery, Restorart Inc., The Guilder, and some industrial designers.

Gazi Antep Salon, 2198 Dundas West, new fall/91, Turkish, nnnn, Turkish food has excess of oil and butter but rewards substantial, skewered grilled meat on bed of garlic yogurt and buttered toast, meat carefully marinated and yogurt and bread freshly homemade, genuine yogurt can’t be duplicated by commercial brands, doners are different than those along Danforth, half lamb with beef, spiced with garlic and cumin, pepper and allspice, meat in every dish, peynirli pide is feta laden calzone like appetizer with diced onion, green pepper and tomato, every day specials of moussaka and kidney beans, desserts are wonderful, all in all an affordable and tasty excursion

Ali Baba’s, 2202 Dundas West, at Roncesvalles, Star june/04 likes for take out, falafels, shawarma, tahini, eggplant

Blue Bay Cafe, 2243 Dundas West, nnn sept/02, Mauritian, liked daube of chicken, 2 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, good prices, breathtaking flavours, mostly fish or seafood, nnn, roast duckling in sauce of cinnamon and cloves, fish in ginger sauce, best restaurant dedicated to Creole cooking, tile fish, curried samosas, sneakily peppery sausage rougaille, nnnn, charm, warmth and inexpensive delightful food, currently most satisfying of restaurants serving Creole cooking, shrimp mascarenas, tile fish with eggplant or ginger, samosas, fish and ginger entrée and mango sherbet to finish off, closed at 10:00, there august/90, appetizer of fricasseed okra, shrimp mascarenas, beef with okra, rice and lots of little spices and chutney, again jan 16/91 and march/92, feb/93. There February 2007, see Diary

King Mid-West

Reasons to Come Here: Not many. Maybe the Niagara Street Cafe.

North Side

Open Studio, 468 King West, appears to have now moved to 401 Richmond, went there dec/97 to see print sale, but not terribly impressed, Now for 1998 lists in where to get stuff cheap, sells prints all year long at reasonable prices

Acton Leather, 522 King West

Genco Marine, 544 King West, the place for sailing supplies such as cleats, hooks and cable (which could be used for decorating), canvas, winches, ropes, moorings, bags, hammocks, Sperry top siders

Factory Sports, 548 King West

Ace Bakery, 548 King West, now gone

Century Room, 580 King West, posh post-dinner destination, part of hot new King strip, was the Mockingbird and were there mar/95, thought there was jazz but wasn’t, warehouse, played pool, later heard Andy Berman, Duncan Hopkins and Michael Occhipinti mar/95

Amsterdam/Rotterdam, 600 King West, according to this story it is now just the Amsterdam and it just sells beer.

Shannon Building, 600 King West, built 1900, neat compact composition typical of loft district, pillars at top suggest glazed loggia atop Tuscan palazzo

606, 606 King West, nnn, airy and funky, garage-door aesthetic, long open kitchen, pool tables, Asian-bent eclectic repertoire, all appetizers, Cajun chicken salad, waikiki salmon, for $24 per person

Blowfish, 668 King West, Joanne Kates may/03, splendid old brick bank building, more about the scene than the food, essentially Japanese menu

Scattered Crackers, 700 King West, food good but not spectacular, service tries hard, Metropolis rates two and half stars

CLEO, 700 King West

Mosaic, 720 King West, nnn,

Ydessa Hendeles Art Foundation, 778 King West, Lett-Smitt architects, originally uniform factory, first floor with three exhibition areas with dark granite floors fit for large conceptual art, upstairs five more interconnected rooms, minimally detailed with no baseboards, no decorative flourishes, no doors, repeated use of limited number of materials, granite, stainless steel, painted wood and steel, movement of light through glass that is alternately clear and opaque, art not for sale, only privately owned public gallery in Ontario, admission free, Wednesday to Saturday 1-5

Art Metropole, 788 King West, archive and store founded by general idea, artists’ editions, books and videos, occasional shows in corridor space always worth catching

Nomads, 936 King West, there with Elizabeth Halloween/98, had great chicken with berbere sauce, okay eggplants stuffed with grilled vegetables, both with couscous, nnn aug/98, friendly neighbourhood bistro, Eritrean, Egyptian, Sudanese and Moroccan to produce modern north American Mediterranean hybrid high in spice, innovation and finesse, lamb chops, hollowed out eggplant, sautéed okra bamia

South Side

DeLeon White Gallary, 455 King West, appears to now be on College, went there dec/97, supposed to have voodoo dolls of Mike Harris but seemed to be between shows, didn’t go in

Crush Wine Bar, 455 King West, west of Spadina, Amy Pataki january/07, quietly comfortable, generally likes food, Toronto Life reported February 2007 that they have Berkshire pigs, and Quebec Yorkshire piglets, which is great, Joanne Kates june/02, busy with young crowd, I think she liked the room but found the food and wine mediocre.

Brassali, 461 King West, Joanne Kates may/03, gorgeous place, stainless steel bar, not for the middle aged, watch a performance of the urban ultratrendy, food goes from horrendous to great,

461 King West, built 1901 as Toronto Lithograph Co., later Salada Tea, portal above door is Gibbs surround, alternating small and large blocks of stone named after James Gibbs (1682-1754), English arthitect and author of the book of architecture which was influentialin England and North America, interpreted Italian baroque, building designed by Toronto architects Gouinlock and Baker, both masters of mannered classical revival style taught at Ecole Beaux-Arts.

Rodney's Oyster House, 469 King West, 3 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, moved there in July 2001, Russell Smith says still good, nothing has changed.

Somewhere in May 1996 driving out of the city, I was struck by the light coming down through the newly leaved trees, and what a beautiful city this is. This was before that motel on the south side.

Vietnam Place Restaurant, 567 King West

Innocenti, 587 King West, n January 2005

Susur, 601 King West, 4 1/2 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, was Ciccones

Thuet, 609 King West, Marc Thued opened in December 2004, will offer specialties from his native Alksace

Ikebana Workspace, 647 King West, Japanese pottery

Wheat Sheaf Tavern, 667 KIng West, Pierre Berton and June Callwood are regulars, sat outside with Elizabeth July 1992.

705 King West, condominiums, Lisa August 1994 then Paula a lot

Mogul Garden, 725 King West, nnn, northern Indian

Jalapeno, 725 King West, 1 1/2 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide

Quasi Bistro, 725 King West, gone?

Gotham Lofts, 781 King West, story on these New York style lofts by John Bentley Mays in October 1995 makes them sound good

EAT, 803 King West, last supper march 2005

Niagara Street Cafe, 169 Niagara Street, nnn december 2004, Joanne Kates April 2003, favours seasonal and organic ingredients, she adores it, organic home cooking, plain-spoken and simple, do it so well, greasless fried chicken

Charles Hensen Building, 883 King West, art moderne

Inglis Plant, Strachan Avenue just south of King, Strachan runs by the CNE Princess Gates, John Bently Mays wrote about it, closed in 1989 putting about 650 workers out of work, operating for more than 100 years, now array of weedy gaps and unpeopled buildings, some vast and imposing, others mean and ramshakckle, excellent example of past industrial fashion from Victorian Romanesque, was once the centre of everyday life for thousands or workers, made gas operated Bren guns during World War Two.

Liberty Village

Globe nov/04 says artists that initiated the revitalization now being driven out by rising rents and residential projects. Developers renovating early 20th century warehouses. For most of 1900s was manufacturing centre, in 1980s was deindustrialized.

Lamport Stadium, 1151 King West

Interference Hologram Gallery, 1179A King

Island Foods, 1182 King West, best roti in eye's reader's choice awards 2002, fast food seating for 80 that’s clean, well lit and licensed.

Caffino, 1185 King West, Joanne Kates may/03, uninspiring, bad food and service, 2 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, hidden in back corner of warehouse courtyard, loft-like atmosphere, pastas are dynamic

O’Toole’s, 1189 King West, where had lunch with CRO sept/94

Mildred Pierce, 99 Sudbury, 3½ stars in Toronto Life's 2002-4 Restaurant Guide, theatrical, Joanne Kates feb/97, fusion food with moxie and style, adequately prepared with good ingredients and lower prices than others serving similar food, some items shine, including calamari, veal, Thai soup, ravioli, nnnn oct/96, light, gothic makeover integrating spruced-up, intimate bar, exposed kitchen, tiger-shrimp dumplings, Atlantic salmon, $35 per person, Toronto Life says in any other city would be most talked about place in town, campy, 40s diner-club style, makes you feel like on a film set and dome banquettes were used in 1990 film the freshman, Joanne Kates april/91, popular, offshoot of avant-gout cooking, reformed warehouse, California cuisine run amok, vegetables in pakoras not cooked, curry soup too thick and spicy, chicken pot pie combines mushy old pastry and dried out fowl, pasta like home cooking at worst, oriental duck soggy and so are noodles, special chicken and waffles overcooked, people lining up for this food, no reservations, there jan/94, had three appetizers, risotto, shrimp cakes, chèvre (twice) which was great and wonderful Australian wine I don’t know what it is

Liberty Street Cafe, 25 Liberty Street, still there nov/04 and getting face-lift courtesy of Restaurant Makeover television show, will lose homegrown vibe to gain steel and glass accents, a lounge and a martini bar, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, there with clinic resources people december/90, nnn, breezy patio, doubled interior, no starch or rice but needs to lighten up a bit, salads are dressed with an eyedropper, outdoor barbecue during day has jerk chicken, Italian sausage, Joanne Kates does not like, there with CRO people jan/95 and liked pasta with artichoke hearts, peppers, tomato

Maro, 135 Liberty Street (at Dufferin), global, inspired appetizers, see review in Toronto Life.

Casalife, 171 Liberty Street East, small-space affordable contemporary furniture

Atelier Thuet, 171 Liberty Street East, featured in Toronto Life's Best Takeout January 2007, menu constantly changing, might feature cassoulet, salmon, beef.

Liberty Market, 34 Hanna Avenue, opened in 2007, open Sundays, first market certified by Farmers' Markets Ontario, which means that it certifies that all food is grown locally by the presenting farmers and not brought in from somewhere else.

Warehouse Grill, 70 Fraser, still there nov/04, lunch-only spot, open kitchen with burgers, pastas, pizzas, soups, salads and sandwiches, there with provincial WCB january/91, good salads, nnnn, one of city’s best sidewalk cafés, counter served nouvelle americanadiana, large bowls of prepared salads, kidney beans with onion and snow peas, chick peas with wild rice and eggplant peas tomatoes simmered in oil and herbs, cheese tortellini with garlic pesto, fusili with leeks and fried eggplant, fluffy minimally topped pizza, daily pasta, Joanne Kates does not like

Liberty Village Café and Market Place, 65 Jefferson, fresh-baked goods, salads, sandwiches, homemade soups and small grocery section

Crazy Ates, 127 Jefferson, modest, just counter and open kitchen and few tables, epicure june/94, vegetarian burger, nutty, grainy, broiled, on tomatoey barbecue sauce with panetto, truly succulent, made by soy city foods, perfect for the barbecue, sept/94 had veggie burger, Thai noodles, other good sandwiches like chicken and avocado, all on panetto, great sandwiches

No Regrets Restaurant and Lounge, 219 Dufferin or 42 Mowat, is slick, two-level space with intimate dining on open-kitchen lower floor and an upstairs bar

Black Peter’s Buffet, 221 Dufferin, reviewed along with Mildred Pierce, Warehouse Grill and The Liberty, oct/92, this is the only one she likes because most honest, fine Hungarian food, schnitzel, goulash soup is sweet with good paprika and full of scent of beef, Salzburg soup is brimful with sauerkraut and smoked meat, perogies are light

Roastery, 8 Pardee Ave., coffee shop, low ceilings, exposed brick, unfinished floor, toasty fireplace

115 Tyndall, #709, Cassy, June 16/93

Tasty Restaurant, 1218 King, Sri Lankan

King and Dufferin is where bank of Montreal is that John Bentley Mays singled out as Greek temple, charmingly mongrelized by two leaded domes stuck atop it. King and Dufferin, where Michael Snow has his studio, just off King near Dufferin

1530 King West, dec/92

Dundas West

Bernard Callebout, 4242 Dundas West, in Kingsway Mill Plaza, Bruno’s is there also, this is at Royal York

Ma Maison, 4243 Dundas West, featured in Toronto Life's Best Takeout January 2007, breads, salads, quiches, ready to eat and vacuum packed entrees

Montgomery’s Inn, 4709 Dundas, fine example of Loyalist Georgian architecture, built 1832

Anatolia's, 5112 Dundas West, Joanne Kates june/03 likes, patlican kizartmast is compulsory, perfect dip for Turkish bread, hummus and baba ghannoush exemplary, domates esmesi she is partial to, she also likes Mediterranean salad, sigara boregi, beef kebabs, ground lamb and beef balls in phyllo is house specialty, likes manti, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, nnn dec/02, at Kipling, in strip mall, classic stews and starters that are tasty and healthy, mezes apparently can take away, 3 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, authentic Middle Eastern kebab, Toronto Life August/01, three stars, authentic Turkish food, lentil soup, good selection of cold appetizers, grilled lag of lamb, note that there is a take out menu or you can order take out from the regular menu. There dec/02 and only seemed to be one regular menu, which I have, and we got five appetizers,

• Domates Esmesi which is tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, and was to die for
• Patlican Kizartmasi which is fried eggplant with yogurt-garlic sauce, also to die for
• Pide, we got the feta cheese and it was very good
• Gozlemeler, we got the ground beef and it was good but almost too delicate, the cheese might be better next time
• Patlican Ezme, which was just so so, the only disappointment, so don’t get again.   

Miller’s County Fare, 5140 Dundas West, see Toronto West, delectable and fragrant clove scented tortière

Six Points Plaza, 5230 Dundas West

Lucky Dragon, 5347 Dundas, where Elizabeth and I went for New Year’s Eve in 1995 because we couldn’t get in anywhere else

Wild Birds Unlimited, 5468 Dundas West

McNie’s Fish and Chips, 315 Burnhamthorpe Road, Etobicoke, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, apparently has salmon. See review in Toronto Life

The Junction

A history of the Junction is in Wikipedia.

Belle Mare Cafe, 3345 Dundas West, second Mauritian restaurant, food is dynamic, tasty, balanced, homemade, fresh, nutritious, exotic, plentiful, not expensive, nnnn, luscious shrimps inside spicy deep fried crusts with two sauces, shrimp creole, boeuf ou chou-chou, beef and melon and fried noodle dishes, unusual restaurant that is fun, not licensed, now gone

Axis, 3048 Dundas West, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and pesto sandwich sounds delicious, nn jan/00, high park north gallery and grill, pub grub, not worth a special trip, seriously weird food, see review in Toronto Life

Curry Twist, 3034 Dundas West, 3 stars in eye apr/02, says this is in the Junction, liked less than Now, lacking in spices, also expensive, second time back food was a little more interesting, nnnn mar/02, charming Indian gem in Junction, startlingly tasty food, not busy now but will be lineups every night

Vesuvio Pizza and Spaghetti House, 3010 Dundas West, Amy Pataki in Star May/07 says was Toronto's first pizzeria in 1957, now not the city's best pizza, also spaghetti, chicken, etc. Lasagna is good.

*Young Thailand, 2907 Dundas West, Joanne Kates May, 2007, Wandee Young, other than bland Pad Thai, she loves everything. cold salad rolls superior to any other in town, shrimp rolls, mango salad, Thai fried rice, garlic shrimp, red curry duck with eggplant, all great.

West End Vegetarian Restaurant, 2849 Dundas West, nn, rotating cooks means inconsistent

El Camino, 2848 Dundas West, 3 stars in eye feb/02, Mexican and Salvadoran, new, takeout, tacos including spicy pork, shredded chicken, and green pepper with potatoes, pork and hominy soup is hearty, chile poblano rellano, pollo con mole, enchiladas, good idea to get takeout and enjoy at home, at Dundas and Keele above High Park, not easy to get to.

International Cheese, Mulock Avenue, mentioned in a Star story about the junction, says as cheese makers they are as good as anyone in the world.

Roncesvalles

• Roncesvalles Community Site shows merchants including restaurants

Vicky’s Fish and Chips/Sue’s Thai Food, 414 Roncesvalles, ignore Vicky, not the best Thai in town but certainly the cheapest, pad Thai, green curry with basil, Star june/04 says lacks spice

River, 413 Roncesvalles, reopening feb/05, relaxed chic, focus on helping kids but food probably pretty good, 3 stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, second chance training ground for youth, innovative, well-executed casual fusion cuisine, tapas-style dishes, eye mar/02 says three stars, well executed casual fusion food, located in gentrifying Roncesvalles Village, tapas as appetizers and outstanding beef stew, new world wines at decent prices, nn mar/99, across from the Revue, lacks decent menu

The Revue, 400 Roncesvalles, voted second best repertory movie theatre in Now reader’s poll/96/97

Boho, 392 Roncesvalles, three stars in Toronto Life nov/04, charming bistro, two stars in eye june/03, disappointing, strength is its appetizers, eggplant terrine, entrees mostly inadequate, 3 stars in Toronto Life’s 2003 Restaurant Guide, 3 stars in Toronto Life dec/02, says new, flavours are big, nnn oct/02, casual, family-style, not urban cool, medium priced mains, saw dec/02 and looks good, good for brunch

Shala-Mar, 391 Roncesvalles, nnn mar/97, north Indian and Pakistani, curries, vegetarian, $25/person, open at noon

Silver Spoon, 390 Roncesvalles, Amy Pataki mar/03 gives 4 stars, charming, best on the block, nice room, good service, classic Italian menu, daily soup, linguine al mare, great roast chicken with mashed potatoes, lamb, monkfish disappoints, later chose it as one of best of year, nnnn sept/02, funky luncheonette, all-day brunch, best is Huevos Divorciados, 2½ stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, main menu supplemented by full page of specials, pastas stick to the ribs, see review on Toronto Life

Coconut Village, 389 Roncesvalles, eye nov/02 says four stars, says is wonderful, nnn sept/02, low-key gem, familiar takes on Southeast Asian standards, but also more unusual Indonesian and Malaysian regional dishes, inexpensive, there dec/02 and got mee goreng, chicken rendang, Thai green curry chicken, and Thai basil fried rice, all wonderful, chicken rending and green curry chicken to die for.

Butler’s Pantry, 371 Roncesvalles, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, multicultural

Warszawianka, 363 Roncesvalles, traditional pastries and cakes, new owners 1995, moist, cakey poppy-seed cheesecake, glazed doughnuts stuffed with prune paste, cheese buns, fruit perogi in fridge

Intersteer, 361 Roncesvalles, genuine Polish food

Domani, 335 Roncesvalles, 2½ stars in Toronto Life's 2002 Restaurant Guide, gentrification continues with this styled eatery, pastas and pizzas are faithful read of Italian tradition, mains served down-home bistro style, brochette of seafood good, looked at dec/02 and looks very good, Star june/04 says best known for fish

Alternative Grounds, 333 Roncesvalles, coffee shop, roasts green beans, always something new and interesting to brew, also food from quiche to vegetarian soups

Iduro Wine Bar, 331 Roncesvalles, nnnov/04, delicious space, garden terrace in back, wine bar, short list of wines by the glass, Mediterranean idea of small plates, duck breast, sausage with truffle-oiled wild mushrooms, generally too small, Globe oct/03, candlelit antidote to area’s sport bars and pubs, tapas-style plates including lamb sausage with truffled wild mushroom ragout, curried salmon with mustard, for grazing, for people who want a glass of wine and a little bite.

Warmia Deli, 323 Roncesvalles, rich, sweet, still warm smoked bacon, kielbasa, swojska and polish ham

Staropolska, 299 Roncesvalles, Amy Pataki mar/03, she strongly recommends, 4½ stars in eye jan/03, perogies are one of the best meals eaten all year, extraordinary home-style, high-carb, high-meat, high-fat, primordially delicious, borscht, cabbage roll, Vienna schnitzel, goulash, perogy is the star, buy by dozen, forced meat, braised cabbage, or potato and cheese which are addictive, profound perfection, food is exquisite

Queen of Tarts, 283 Roncesvalles, have gingerbread hockey players, Alison would like, there dec/02 and bought two maple leaf hockey gingerbread men.

Ari’s Place, 229 Roncesvalles, pork souvlaki

122 Westminster, where Nicole and Gary lived and had wake april/97

Café Polonez, 195 Roncesvalles, Amy Pataki mar/03 does not recommend, Toronto Life's $25 Gourmet 2003, Polish veteran

Granowska's, 175 Roncesvalles, featured in Toronto Life's Best Takeout January 2007, pierogies to die for, also in Toronto Life story in February 2007 on the best perogies in Toronto.

Chopin Restaurant, 165 Roncesvalles, also featured in Toronto Life story on best perogies in Toronto.

Thin Blue Line, 93B Roncesvalles, mentioned in story in Star, July/07 as having wonderful cheese, also pates and other things.

Kensington

Augusta Avenue:

Jumbo Empanadas, 245 Augusta, featured in Toronto Life's Best Takeout January 2007, beef one with olives, raisins and onions sounds delicious. They are Chilean style. I bought one from the cart in April 1993. They may also have humita and boty.

Kingsway

Casa Barcelona, 2980 Bloor Street West, at Royal York, featured in Toronto Life's Best Takeout January 2007, includes beef tenderloin with carmalized vegetables, fish of the day, chicken with saffron, salmon in honey and brandy. This looks like it has exquisite food both in the restaurant and take-out. 3 stars in Toronto Life’s 2002-3 Restaurant Guides, tapas are mouth watering, includes seafood paella, red pepper and marinated salmon with asparagus in garlic aioli, portobello and wine sauce on buttery beef tenderloin, potatoes fried in olive oil with sauce, potato salad, Toronto Life $25 Gourmet 2003, Amy Pataki nov/02 really likes, come here for the tapas, authentic, Toronto Life july/99, standout tapas, don’t have paella fritter.