Visiting advice

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DTECanada

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Apr 13, 2013
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I will be visiting Toronto and staying downtown and would like some tips on finding
1. A good pizza place (not fancy or trendy, just good). Maybe a mom and pop type place.
2. Some good rock n roll or blues bars, and/or Irish pubs
3. A decent restaurant that serves a good steak and/or succulent chicken
Any insight on these or anything else to do would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
J

james t kirk

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2001
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1. Good Pizza does not really exist in Toronto

2. Can't help you as I'm not a bar type.

3. Good steak restaurant? Habour 60 - though not for the faint of wallet. There are tons of excellent restaurants out there, though it can be expensive.

Toronto is the greatest City in Canada IMHO - if you want to get to know it, you need to know its neighbourhoods.

I would suggest:

1. Explore "Little Italy" = College Street west from Bathurst
2. "The Annex" = Bloor Street and Bathurst
3. "The Beaches" = Queen Street east from Woodbine
4. "Queen West" = Queen Street westwards from University all the way to Roncessvalles and up Roncessvalles
5. "The Danforth" = Broadview east to Pape
6. "Chinatown" = Spadina and Dundas
7. St. Lawrence Market = best market in the world
8. Bloor West Village / High Park = Bloor Street from Keele westwards to Jane Street.


Plenty to see. But if you want to know a city, you need to learn it on foot. Driving is not a way to see the streetscape
 
D

DTECanada

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Apr 13, 2013
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Thanks James. I enjoy a good walk, so that works. May be able to find a decent pizza in Little Italy? Last time in Toronto I only made it to the Hockey HoF, the LCBO on Spadina, and the Rogers Centre. And some guy I met at Jack Astor's brought me to a SC. He said it was the one ARod had an incident at. I was not impressed by the SC.
I'm looking forward to seeing more of the city.
 
T

tar503

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Jan 2, 2013
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As far as pizza goes I love Libretto. Yes it's trendy, and it's Neapolitan style, and I'm sure you can get better in other places like New York but as far as Toronto goes, i've not had better.

If you want to go possibly outside your comfort zone a bit (I'm assuming this might be but I may be wrong) you could also look into some Asian restaurants, Toronto has a fairly large Chinese and Korean population so there's lots of great choices for that style of food.

For chicken, there's also a sizeable Portuguese population so you should be able to find some good churrasco chicken in Little Portugal (Dundas & Ossington area).

Steak, not too sure, I tend to save my steak eating for home and like the previous poster I'm not a bar guy so I can't be of any help there either ;)
 
D

DTECanada

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Apr 13, 2013
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I appreciate your insight tar503. Libretto and Little Portugal sound good. You had me pegged correctly regarding my comfort zone. The only time I've ever eaten Chinese was in the old days after having had a few (too many). Teriyaki and a scorpion bowl...oh the memories.
Someone recommended the Reservoir for blues. Still wonering about maybe a nice pub with some good classic rock-flavored bands or music.
Thanks again.
 
B

Butler1000

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2011
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A classic R and R dive bar would be the Horseshoe tavern at Queen and Spadina. I storied history there.
Steak try Hy's. Upscale but nice.
If you go to King and John sts and walk west on the south side there are a string of restaurants there as well. I like Kit Kat personally.
Decent chain for steaks as well is the Keg. The Location at Richmond and York st has an excellent back patio as well.

Welcome back!
 
F

fmahovalich

Active member
Aug 21, 2009
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For sports....the oldest tavern in Toronto.... the Wheat Sheaf Tavern....nothing fancy..but for nostalgia!

Don't waste time on SC.

There is live music at McVeighs Irish Pub...I think it's at Church..north of Adelaide??? Church for sure..just not sure on cross street. It's usually a one or two piece music group..traditional Irish venue and mood. Real nice. There is also the Irish Embassy for food on Yonge St....and another Irish pub on e south side of the King Eddie..not sure the name. All walkable
 
D

DTECanada

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Apr 13, 2013
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Truly appreciate the tips! Almost went to the Keg in Montreal but the SP I met wanted to go to one of those serious foodie places. Spent 500 on food I did not like (duck liver - really?!). Why do SPs always choose places like that? Although the SP I met last time in Toronto met me at Jack Astor's (it was right by my hotel on Front) and didn't bat an eye. Most, especially indies, would have run for the hills I think.
Thanks fred, fmaholovich, and bulter.
p.s. I take it I would not meet ant women at whoisyourdaddy's reco?
 
Y

yolosohobby

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Dec 25, 2012
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for music go to the Dakota Tavern at Ossington and Dundas . its near Libretto, which is ok for pizza.
sometimes Painted Lady across from Libretto has good music too.
 
N

nut goodie

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Jan 15, 2004
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Beyond Belief
Apologies to the OP for the slight hijack...

Any recommendations for jazz clubs near the financial district, or elsewhere in the downtown core? Not interested in much more than good music and drinks.

Also, any good indy coffee houses, within *walking distance* of Yonge & Queen. Not anything further east than St. Lawrence Mkt.

I know there is a thread about coffee houses; my recollection is they're mostly outside of walking distance from where I will be staying.

N.G.
 
AllisonElm

AllisonElm

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Feb 2, 2013
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www.allisonelm.com
nut goodie said:
Apologies to the OP for the slight hijack...
Also, any good indy coffee houses, within *walking distance* of Yonge & Queen. Not anything further east than St. Lawrence Mkt.

I know there is a thread about coffee houses; my recollection is they're mostly outside of walking distance from where I will be staying.

N.G.
Click to expand...
COFFEE:

10 min walk from Yonge and Queen
122 Bond Street
http://www.balzacs.com/locations/ryerson-image-arts/

15 min walk from Yonge and Queen
http://www.darkhorseespresso.com/
125 john street

For the OP

STEAK:

http://www.barberians.com

http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_steakhouses_in_toronto

The Keg gets a bad rap, but I think the food is consistent and good. And the waitresses are pretty. I was at Earl's the other day (http://www.earls.ca) and the waitresses were pretty and half naked. And it was chilly! I bet they get more naked in the summer.

If anyone needs company while eating a steak I am happy to help. :D
 
D

DTECanada

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Apr 13, 2013
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It's all good nut goodie. I've heard the Reservoir is blues/jazz.

Allison, thanks for the tips - and I may just take you up on that! Maybe we could bring one of those waitresses home with us. ;-)

Thanks to yolo too. Appreciating the terbites help.
 
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yolosohobby

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Dec 25, 2012
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i second Barberians though my fave is Jacob's on Brant Street . i personally think harbour60 is over rated

bulldog coffee just south of carlton, east side of church, near oasis is great coffee. the gaberdine on bay is good too

for pizza try ilgusto101 on portland just north of king, great scene, great food maybe the best kale salad you'll ever try
 
L

Luton

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Jun 7, 2012
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As far as pizza goes Pizzeria Libretto, as mentioned, is good. Two locations, Danforth at Carlaw and Dundas and Ossington. For coffee there is a new place at Yonge and Temperance called "Dineens" that is good. For a reasonably priced steak I also agree that the Keg is value for money and the wine is not exhorbitantly marked up. The best pub food in the city in my opinion is the House on Parliament at Parliament and Carlton. A hidden gem. Enjoy TO.
 
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