Beach Eats: Let's Be Honest
Most Beachers I know (and respect) will admit that while the nabe is awesome when it comes to walks, coffee options, views and kid-friendly everything, the local restaurants aren't all that good. I would be curious to know what east-enders consider a GOOD restaurant in the hood. I wonder if this is an area packed with people who really don't care about quality chow or if we're missing decent eats by driving out of the area.
Your thoughts on this random mix of positions:
Why do the servers at Mersini try to behave as if they're serving a 5-star meal downtown? The food is over-priced and the coffee is HIDEOUS, yet Beachers continue to flock: same goes for the Beacher Cafe, where undercooked food is an ongoing (scary) problem...I will NEVER eat there again, especially since complaining about said scary meal was met with a shrug and zero attempt to make us return...They must just know they can count on the locals for brunch biz...We always head for Leslieville for brunch now.
Your vote for the best sushi place out this way: we now have LOTS but Akane-Ya was always my fave.
I have heard mixed reviews of Eric's Kitchen (jerk strudel appeals to my sensibilities), yet see it packed every week-end for breakfast. I've been told the front of house is problematic while the chef has his heart in the right place--his stomach! I have to admit that my dislike for too-crowded rooms with no apparent atmosphere prevents me from jumping in. I tend to hit The Goof because the staff there give me suggestions about what to have and I have never had a bad meal there: Jackie is bossy as hell but he's the menu-man for sure. OK: I lie: the non home-made burger there is truly awful...I hate to say so, as I eat there weekly...but I did say so to the owner so...
The West-Beach offerings, especially the over-rated, nasty-smelling Whitlocks amaze me when they remain in business. For some reason the mixed aromas of wet carpet and spilled VQA wine don't make me hungry...
Also: please direct me to a decent old-fashioned burger in the Beach if you can. I have never once eaten at Lick's without feeling ill (not sure why), so other options are what I'm after.
Anyone been brave enough to hit Happy Sailor for a burrito and if so, what's your opinion?
Thanks!
Marmalady
Feb 13, 2005 09:28PM
I watch this thread with interest because I feel the exact same way. Akane-Ya is the only restaurant my husband and I would risk getting a parking ticket for (and you always get one at the Beach -- it's a fact of life). To be fair, we have not tried Peppino's or that Ci V... whatever the name is where the old Wickerhead Cafe used to be (remember the Wickerhead? That was a nice place for lunch). I also miss Tejas -- the original before they turned tapas bar -- at the end of Queen St. near Neville Park.
My husband and I now head over to Leslieville for food -- brunch, lunch or dinner. Way more variety, imaginative menus and better quality.
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I totally hear you. The only place I have found to be truly parking-ticket worthy is the small Italian place on the north side beside Il Fornello which is usually packed with a line out the door. I love their pasta.
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I think it's closed. I walk past it on my way to work. Very sad.
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Not closed, but moved a couple of blocks west. It's called "Ci Vediamo", now at 1910 Queen St E.
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The best burger close to the Beach (or anywhere else in Toronto) is at the Tulip.
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I second that motion but wish they'd offer sour pickles for the burg...Proof that I do not have an overly sensitive stomach:)
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I second that motion but wish they'd offer sour pickles for the burg...Proof that I do not have an overly sensitive stomach:)
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Let us not forget Whyte Brothers Fish and Chips. The room isn't ideal but the fish is darned good and you can have it grilled or deep-fried, you health-conscious chow-folk.
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Ive lived in the Beach for almost a year now. I have yet to have a good meal. I have given-up on the idea of getting great food in the Beach. I search the streets for something, anything that resembles the quality of food available all over our great city. Yet each trip along the Queen strip leaves me wishing I had made the trek down town even for pizza.
If you find something, please be sure to let us all know.
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Like most others, I have to agree that most of the restaurants in the Beach are just awful. I have lived in the beach for three years now, and am always amazed by how all these truly mediocre resataurants stay in business. This being said, I have identified a handful of restaurants that offer consistent value with their offer.
This list includes Spiaggia, Queen & Kingswood: decent seafodd/pasta, Corvina: Stick to your ribs Hungarian cooking on Kingston Rd in a truly charming room, Sauvignon: Good French bistro food, even though the owner is a snotty so and so, and finally the Goof: great greasy breakfast.
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Lick's serves a pretty decent burger. If you become ill after eating one, I'd say you have an overly sensitive stomach. Aside from that, your remarks about the sad state of food in tbe beach is right on.
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There is one favourite: Corvina on Kingston Road at the top of Beech (across from the Y). It's Hungarian food so a little on the heavy side but great for cold winter nights when you need that stick to your ribs kinda meal. Everything on the menu is awesome, but do try the chicken paprika. Lots of vegetarian alternatives as well -- I love the stuffed eggplant and the spinach crepes, which I've had on two different occasions.
This place is awesome because you feel like you've gone out to dine. The decor is tasteful and the service, wonderful. Everything that is brought to your table is brought to you on a tray, not plopped down on your table like in diners. It's not formal, but there is an elegance about the place. They have linen tablecloths and napkins. Also, up until recently, they placed a fresh flower bud in a vase on every table (maybe if they get busier, they will ditch the fake flowers again). It's a great little place.
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gbsm
Does Corvina have a takeout menu. I work nights not too far from there and would enjoy a break from the traditional offerings. The chicken paprika sounds like a good place to start.
Is it expensive there?
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What about Antionette's? Havn't been in a couple of years but used to be good. Anyone tried Blu Lobster bistro?
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Found Antoinette's to be overrated in the classic "it's in the beach and it doesn't completely suck so it must be good" way. But I only went once and she seems to have her fans.
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I agree with the Antoinetta's reviews: it's VERY over-rated. I can make pasta like that myself, with half the salt:)
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I like Antoinette's a lot - the angelhair with black olives and feta is super. Yeah, I could make it at home, but why should I ;-)
Apart from that I totally agree with this thread; the Beach sucks for food.
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This is so sad. I live in the Beach, too, and the food is really bad. We do have Ed's Real Scoop, and the Tulip, I guess. Has anyone been to Lakeview Fish and Chips or the new Thai/Vietnamese place at Queen and Coxwell?
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I read all the replies and cannot believe Sauvignon was not mentioned. Easily the best place out here, Queen just west of Woodbine.
The place beside Il Fornello moved to where Wickerheads was and is called Ci Vediamo.
For sushi we like Aki Da, perhaps because it's so close, maybe because the owner is very friendly or just because they have good sushi.
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When Ci Vediamo was in its smaller locale, it could sometimes be called "good" and sometimes even wonderful. Our first visit to the new location was our last. It's packed, but that never means much in this hood. One must eat, so...
I do enjoy Sauvignon. We splash out there on rare occasions: why not more often come to think of it: six bad meals in the Beach or three very fine ones at Sauvignon? I think I'm too salt-freaky though, because I never cook with it and yet local chefs seem to lay it on.
I'm actually hooked on some of the dishes at Quigley's where the service is so mixed you can't know from one night to another if you're in the same place. I think they make a policy of hiring brassy mean brunettes who wish they were Demi Moore and then they throw in a sweet, attentive blond every so often to keep you coming back for the peppery farfalle which well, is like heroin for some of us:)
We live here because we love children and dogs in large packs, of course.
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Yeah - for a while I kept going back to Quigley's because once in a while I had something great there, even though it was more miss than hit. But the night we paid $12.95 or something for pub Pad Thai with two shrimps on top, I realized it was overpriced & ordinary. I've also moved out of the area though so I've really had no reason to go back.
Ed's Real Scoop is good ice cream.
I've heard from a young hound that the Indian Food at the former diner at Munro Park (?) and Queen is "okay". Anybody tried that place?
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I made it to this Indian place a few months ago and I thought it was good for the area. Open kitchen (a plus IMO), very basic decor. Consider this a qualified "if you're stuck in the Beaches and want to walk to dinner" rec!
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yep - we live very close and have had take out a few times -always good. I like sitting at the bar waiting for my food, watching them bake the naan!
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The Lions pub has a good prime rib that I'd recommend. Although, it has been a couple of years since I have eaten there.
I agree that Ci Vediamo used to be better quality before it moved locations. There aren't many good choices in the Beaches unfortunately. What a shame.
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Yah, actually one of my favourite things to order at pubs is the 'beef dip' sandwhich, and the LIons pub actually does a really good one, and their fries are good. but , alot of places have good fries haha.. I guess our standards are lower in the beach
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Sigh. The Lion has switched to frozen fries. I am saddened. I think they switched in the summer.
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Noooo.. i LOVED their fries. whyyyyy..
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The prime rib at the Lion is okay, I guess, but I've never had any luck in getting it served cooked any way but well-done. I prefer the Sunday dinner roast at Murphy's Law.
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oh dear, i just cannot handle prime rib done well. Its roast beef, it cannot be tough and dry. Really? See, I havent had their roast, I think when I went to Murphys Law I had fish and chips. Nothing wrong with it of course, just nothing that really stood out.
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Well, we do have Zane and Konditor, too. So, no reviews of Lakeview? Maybe this weekend I'll try it- but be warned, I like almost any Indian food and don't know much about how to tell quality stuff from junk- so the review might not mean much except 'it tasted good to me'.
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if beachies want to head a little bit West (ok, a lot west)..there is a great new brunch at Dominion on Queen (just west of River)...I also like Casa Digorgio on Queen across from the Alliance Atlantis movie theatre....Riverside (just east of Broadview) is also great for mussels (although a bit overpriced)
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What do you recommend at casa digorgio? I usually go to that theatre and wonder if that italian place is a gem, or just plain mediocre pasta
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I am going to chime in here and say I tried Casa diGorgio a few months ago for the first time and was impressed with the service, and the food was good. I had salad and pizza, can't remember the details (not the most AMAZING meal I have ever had) but definitely very good, and I will go back. Nice option for where to have a meal before/after movie, intead of Murphy's Law!
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definetly, I went to Murphys Law once, and never ever again. It wasnt BAD but it really was soooo mediocre
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Murphy's Law has the best pub food in the Beach(es), IMO.
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really? wow, I was not really that impressed. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing. I prefer Feathers (though not reallly beach), or even the lion in my experiences
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Feathers also gets my vote for best pub food in the Beaches.
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I used to dine at Casa DiGiorgio when it was on Lower Jarvis. In those days it was a gang o' friends favourite for a delivery Italian joint. You could get better than average pasta delivered to your door on evenings when you didn't feel like cooking or going out. I don't know if they still make is as well, but in the day their Tortellini alla Crema was to die for. It is just your basic, old-fashioned pasta place and I mean that in a good way.
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Back then they also had amazing garlic bread...do they still?
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Lissar--Yes to the Thai/Viet place. I was impressed, the pad thai is as good as I've ever had. Good size portions and great prices. Only been there at lunch.
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Has anyone ever been to Thai House Cuisine for thai food? Any good?
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I think the best Thai in the Beaches is the Urban Thai Bistro. It is on Queen across from Lick's. The decor is nothing great, but acceptable for a quick meal. The food is great, best I have had in the Beach and way better than a chain like Springrolls. They have fantastic jasmine and ginger teas as well. If you go try the mango chicken. I have friends who drive from North York to do take out for that dish alone!
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I must have gone on a bad night then because with the greatest of respect for your personal taste, I thought it was some of the worst Thai food I have ever had. Every dish was over-sauced and over seasoned, overly sweet or just plain bland. It was definitely not cooked by a Thai chef (I confirmed this when I went to the washroom and saw three Sri Lankans in the kitchen) and my comment to my husband was that it felt like it had beeen cooked for white people -i.e. - Beachers. If it compares more favourably to Spring Rolls that is because Spring Rolls is not real Thai either; it bills itself as 'Pan-Asian". There are other, better places. I haven't tried Bow Thai or Thai House but they look to be far more authentic and therfore possibly better.
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Bow Thai is actually pretty good. I've had it a couple times and no complaints from me. They are consistant, unlike Urban Thai across the street which is garbage. Bow Thai also has very good prices and a pretty authentic taste.
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That's good to know. When I'm ready to venture out again after my Balsam adventure I'll bear it in mind. Are they licensed? The last time I checked they did not appear to be.
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On Sunday, my wife and I just had a wonderful Brunch at Balsam.
Fresh squeezed orange juice, double smoked bacon (yum!), a delicious potato and carrot pie, spicy chorizo and egg, 2 pates (both delish!). Very reasonable prices and friendly staff. A much better and different breakfast than you'll get elsewhere in the Beaches.
Everyone there I spoke to enjoyed themselves very much! We didn't have room for dessert, but they choices were really tempting (three types of fresh baked cookies, cheesecake, and a key lime pie I think).
The chef is very creative. I would highly recommend Balsam (which you might accidentally pass unless you knew where it was).
I also liked the fish and chips shop near Willow St., run by a friendly European couple. Fresh seafood chowder. And heavenly home made tartar sauce for those yummy fries and delish fish. Very reliable.
I agree that the restaurant scene at the Beaches is pretty sparse.
One note: we tried a small Lebanese restaurant (looks a bit like a cafeteria + there is a sign with combo and lunch specials outside the place) and we were enjoying our food consisting of falafel and chicken shwarma (and my wife usually finds middle food a bit bland in Toronto) when suddenly the only employee there leaves the front of the restaurant to go to the kitchen. About 2 minutes later, the most horrific, noxious smell comes wafting out of it!
It was so incredibly horrendous. We had to stop eating immediately as we felt like throwing up - and would have run out of the restaurant if we'd already paid. We bolted to the cash and after holding our breaths for a minute the chef came up to us. We told him about the smell and he seemed surprised. He said he'd look into it. Horrors! A chef that can't smell putrid food (or something else) ... is not one I'd trust. He never apologized or offered to comp us. A totally ruined lunch! To me, it smelt like sewage. My wife thought it was putrid food. Not good in either case.
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It's true, good restaurants in the Beach are lacking...HOWEVER I have found two hidden gems...
#1-Pomegranate-located at Queen St E near Beech Ave
#2-Thai House Cuisine-on Queen St E, south side
The most horrible restaurants have to be:
#1-Yoga Spice and Rice-on Queen St. E, south side
#2-Nevada-Queen St. E, south side
#3-The Goof-Queen St.E, south side....disgusting!
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What do you recomend getting at thai house ?
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Starvin - ever been to Peppino's? Seems everyone goes everywhere else but. I hear great things.
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We had one dinner at Peppino's last year. It was very good, but also extremely expensive and not THAT good. They were also doing game dinners at that time, though we didn't try these.
They no longer have the same chef and may have lowered their ambitions and prices since then. I don't know whether they are better or worse, but there have been changes.
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I totally agree with all the above. Love the hood but I learned my lession when some Beach residents suggested Whitlock's as the "best" restaurant in the area. Unbelievably BAD food, surly service and $150 later we wondered why we just did not go to Lick's!
A good friend of mine went to Nevada's last month for a b'day and she told me easily the most horrid resto food she ever had.
Too bad but prime oportunity for a real restaranteur to come in and kill the competition.
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I've never been to Peppino's but I have been intrigued...what do you recommend there?
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I agree with most others that good food is hard to find in the Beach area. We have always preferred going a little bit west to Edward Levesque's Kitchen or Little India or even up to the Danforth to Gerrard Pizza or El Sol.
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We just tried the new restaurant Green Eggplant, and it was AMAZING. We tried the bbq butterflied chicken breasts and the night special, filet mignon shish kabobs, and they were incredible. The chicken was so tender, I wanted to ask them for the recipe! When you first arrive there is complimentary bread and 3 different dips, hummus and 2 others with an eggplant base. We didn't order appetizers because of this, but with our meals, a bottle of wine and a desert (banana split) our total came to $70 incl. tip. Great place, we'll definitely be going there again!
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I also tried it for the first time this week and while it was good, and fresh it was still average? The service was decent and the food was okay as well. I have lived down in the beaches all of my life and there have never been any good restaurants, even licks now that it has franchised out is not what it used to be. I remember when it open as a hole in the wall with 4 stools and 2-3 booths. The Neveda amazes me that it stays open, whitlocks is terrible, Michelles Brasserie is another flop. Does anyone know what evr happened to Amuse Cuisine that was supposed to open at Queen and Waverly? It was moving along doing wine tours last year and now it seems to have been abandoned.
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Have you ever eaten at Pomegranate? I had a wonderful brunch there awhile back.
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No i haven't yet but I will be trying it out now that the weather is nicer. I am just never up at a time for brunch, it goes with working nights for the last 18 or so years. If someone has 100K to spare I would be happy to help them open up a good restaurant in the Beaches.
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I tried Green Eggplant a couple of times and agree it's the usual mediocre Beach offering. I had some hope for ViVetha but you eat there and you can close your eyes and believe you're also at Nevada, Quigley's, Ci Vediamo ... I guess Beachers love homogenization. Ali's Tandoori House was great when they were small, then they moved into bigger quarters (where the always-empty Blue Lobster was) and immediately quality declined. Samosas that are cold in the middle? Soggy prrecooked papadums? C'mon guys...
Remember Loons? Now that was a gourmet destination. And the first Gio's the Nose, round behind the burger joint that is now ho-hum Whitlocks... I do not understand my neighbourhood.
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