3560 Bathurst St, North York ON 416.785.2500
This week, a friend of mine, whose 90+ year-old mother is a resident of Baycrest, told me when he asked his mother how she likes Baycrest, she replied, "...well, it's a nice building!" What's my point? Why would someone intentionally come to a hospital cafeteria? You're likely here to see a sick or dying relative or friend or you're an employee or a volunteer. So, what's my point again? I was finishing a visit with my not-so-well relative, and my mood wasn't perky. I wasn't looking for fine cuisine. It was Sunday at about noon, and the restaurant had just opened. What I got was a mixed bag. I ordered a mushroom quiche and side salad. The salad was fresh, but roughly hewn. Basic. The dressing was watery and tasteless. The quiche was rather disgusting -- over-microwaved, rubbery, lacking in taste and with few mushrooms. The crust was thin and soggy. The other person in my party ordered a salad with a dollop of mushed tuna. Same salad, and it's hard to go too wrong with tuna-salad. She enjoyed it.
The prices were very fair -- about $11.50 for both of us (no coffee).The servers were pleasant, but quite slow. Parking can be easy, if you're lucky enough to get a spot on the street or near by, otherwise, be prepared to pay between $5 to $11.50 for hospital parking lot.
The setting is pleasant. There is lots of seating near a large open-air atrium. So my friend's mother is right. It is a nice building. Just be careful of what you order.
I checked the DineSafe website, and found they have passed all inspections listed (from Dec. 2006 to Jan. 2008).
Monday, July 14, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
June 2008 - My Zaidy's Pizza
441 Clark Avenue West, Thornhill, ON L4J 6W7 905.731.3029
Another mediocre pizza & falafel joint. It's far from fine cuisine, but it's a good place to "grab a bite", if grabbing a bite is your thing. My friends and I went there at lunch time, and it was crowded, dirty and noisy. I had a falafel, which was mostly good, certainly not above that. The other people I was with had pizza slices and had praises such as "it's OK". My pizza was $4, so that's a bonus -- I guess you get what you pay for.
Parking is pretty good, as it is in the "Sobey's Plaza", with a large parking lot. There was no visible or easily accessible washroom.
Don't take someone here for a first date. It won't impress.
Another mediocre pizza & falafel joint. It's far from fine cuisine, but it's a good place to "grab a bite", if grabbing a bite is your thing. My friends and I went there at lunch time, and it was crowded, dirty and noisy. I had a falafel, which was mostly good, certainly not above that. The other people I was with had pizza slices and had praises such as "it's OK". My pizza was $4, so that's a bonus -- I guess you get what you pay for.
Parking is pretty good, as it is in the "Sobey's Plaza", with a large parking lot. There was no visible or easily accessible washroom.Don't take someone here for a first date. It won't impress.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
May 2008 - Marky's Deli
280 Wilson Ave., Toronto, ON, M3H 1S8 416.638.1081
In May, I was here three times for dinner. Marky's has been around for years -- it is a Toronto institution. It's the quintessential Toronto kosher deli. It's Ashkenazik comfort food. The service is adequate to good -- not great. The food is good -- not great. It's clean. It's got a very good selection -- from classic (tongue, fricassee, corned beef, pastrami), to veggie, to light (chicken breast salad).
When the owner is around, he walks around, is friendly, and schmoozes a bissel. The prices are fair. In the 3 times we were there, the total, including tax and tip (for four people) came to between $50-$60 (but that was just for a main courses, no drinks and no desserts).
It's casually comfortable and consistent. It's a place you can take a non-Jewish client without feeling embarrassed. I took a client there about a year ago for lunch, and he found a "BLT" (beef fry, lettuce and tomato) sandwich. He even ordered it on white bread with mayo. He liked it!
The washrooms are downstairs and reasonably clean. Parking in the less-than-inviting strip mall is sometimes difficult. I was lucky 3 of the 4 times, and found a spot in front of the restaurant. The others in my group found parking spots a few minutes away.
I checked the DineSafe website, and found they have passed all inspections listed (from Aug. 06 to Feb. 08).
In May, I was here three times for dinner. Marky's has been around for years -- it is a Toronto institution. It's the quintessential Toronto kosher deli. It's Ashkenazik comfort food. The service is adequate to good -- not great. The food is good -- not great. It's clean. It's got a very good selection -- from classic (tongue, fricassee, corned beef, pastrami), to veggie, to light (chicken breast salad).When the owner is around, he walks around, is friendly, and schmoozes a bissel. The prices are fair. In the 3 times we were there, the total, including tax and tip (for four people) came to between $50-$60 (but that was just for a main courses, no drinks and no desserts).
It's casually comfortable and consistent. It's a place you can take a non-Jewish client without feeling embarrassed. I took a client there about a year ago for lunch, and he found a "BLT" (beef fry, lettuce and tomato) sandwich. He even ordered it on white bread with mayo. He liked it!
The washrooms are downstairs and reasonably clean. Parking in the less-than-inviting strip mall is sometimes difficult. I was lucky 3 of the 4 times, and found a spot in front of the restaurant. The others in my group found parking spots a few minutes away.
I checked the DineSafe website, and found they have passed all inspections listed (from Aug. 06 to Feb. 08).
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Monday, Oct 22, 2007, 1:45 p.m. - Hakotel
3038 Steeles Ave W, Toronto, M2R 2S9 416.736.7227
Like the Israeli fruit, the sabra, this sit-down/takeout restaurant is rough on the outside, yet sweet on the inside. The establishment does not present well; it is hidden away in a darkish alcove, in a rather sketchy strip mall, with Russian hip-hop music blaring from the video store next door. Inside, there's a cheesy mural of Jerusalem on the entire west wall. (Shouldn't it be on the east wall!?).
But everything else is good. The servers are friendly, it's clean, the food is excellent, and an overall worthwhile experience. The washrooms are in the basement, past the supplies, but are clean and well maintained. The prices are reasonable. There is a good selection of Middle-Eastern-style food (falafel, shwarma, and the like in pita or lafa, great toppings, etc). It has the best shwarma I've tasted in Toronto (kosher, of course).
I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
Like the Israeli fruit, the sabra, this sit-down/takeout restaurant is rough on the outside, yet sweet on the inside. The establishment does not present well; it is hidden away in a darkish alcove, in a rather sketchy strip mall, with Russian hip-hop music blaring from the video store next door. Inside, there's a cheesy mural of Jerusalem on the entire west wall. (Shouldn't it be on the east wall!?).
But everything else is good. The servers are friendly, it's clean, the food is excellent, and an overall worthwhile experience. The washrooms are in the basement, past the supplies, but are clean and well maintained. The prices are reasonable. There is a good selection of Middle-Eastern-style food (falafel, shwarma, and the like in pita or lafa, great toppings, etc). It has the best shwarma I've tasted in Toronto (kosher, of course).I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Sun., Oct 14, 2007, 7:30 p.m. - Chicken Nest
3038 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, M6B 4K2 416.787.6378
The Chicken Nest is a good, basic restaurant. I found their food good and the service good. Parking is pretty easy (on-street, rear-parking lot, and an underground lot are available.) Based on the way people are packed in, perhaps a better name than Chicken Nest would be Sardine Can. The entertainment is the conversation of the people sitting next to you -- it's hard not to hear when you're sitting back-to-back.
No one at my table left unhappy -- but no one was raving. The chicken fingers were good. The shwarma plate was tasty. All the servings were ample. The chicken and ribs dinner was really big -- it could have been split between 2 average eaters! My main complaint about the chicken and ribs was the rib sauce was a little too sweet. Again, the service was good, for example, without asking, the waiter brought us extra napkins and moist towlettes, and the water jug was replaced by a full jug before it was empty.
The men's washroom was acceptable. That is, not dirty, not smelly, but a little disheveled (peeling paint, had to take the paper towels from the top of the dispenser, cubical looks like it was made by a graduate of woodworking 101).
Ultimately, if you like chicken, and are looking for something good, this establishment can work. If you don't like crowds and noise, stay away. And I don't recommend taking a client here for dinner on a Sunday night.
Dinner for 3 (three main courses, 1 pop, nothing else), including tax and tip was about $83.
I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
The Chicken Nest is a good, basic restaurant. I found their food good and the service good. Parking is pretty easy (on-street, rear-parking lot, and an underground lot are available.) Based on the way people are packed in, perhaps a better name than Chicken Nest would be Sardine Can. The entertainment is the conversation of the people sitting next to you -- it's hard not to hear when you're sitting back-to-back.
No one at my table left unhappy -- but no one was raving. The chicken fingers were good. The shwarma plate was tasty. All the servings were ample. The chicken and ribs dinner was really big -- it could have been split between 2 average eaters! My main complaint about the chicken and ribs was the rib sauce was a little too sweet. Again, the service was good, for example, without asking, the waiter brought us extra napkins and moist towlettes, and the water jug was replaced by a full jug before it was empty.
The men's washroom was acceptable. That is, not dirty, not smelly, but a little disheveled (peeling paint, had to take the paper towels from the top of the dispenser, cubical looks like it was made by a graduate of woodworking 101).
Ultimately, if you like chicken, and are looking for something good, this establishment can work. If you don't like crowds and noise, stay away. And I don't recommend taking a client here for dinner on a Sunday night.
Dinner for 3 (three main courses, 1 pop, nothing else), including tax and tip was about $83.
I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Sun., Sep. 2, 2007, 8:30 p.m. - Bistro Grande
1000 Eglinton Av W, Toronto, 416.782.3302
In my opinion, this is the most upscale kosher dairy restaurant in the city. Therefore, I have very high expectations.
Making reservations was easy. I live about 1 km from the restaurant, so I walked, but the parking in that area is generally easy. Upon entering, I enjoyed the the decor, the sumptuous aromas, the low-key hub-bub of activity. What I did not enjoy was that it took close to 20 minutes for someone to greet us (we were on time for our reservation). They were busy, but I expect my existence to be acknowledged -- I'm a guest, for goodness sake! A suggestion for the owner: As much as I like to see my friends and acquaintances, in a setting such as this, I would prefer not to have to see (or be seen) when waiting in line. I think it would be a little more private and comfortable if there was some kind of "mechitza" between the aisle where people are waiting and the dining area.
After we sit down, things get better. The table is nicely set. The menu has lots of selection, but not so full that you can't figure out what to get. We were three in our party, and one ordered the Sea Bass special, one pasta, and another selected pizza. On the table was lots of bread sticks, butter, and tasty bean spreads. That's good, because our food didn't arrive until a full hour after we arrived.
Our server was very good -- informative, knowledgeable, and caring, but not too chatty. One could see how hard he was working, but it never showed when he came to serve us or check out how we were doing.
When the food came, we had mostly very good reviews. The sea bass with fingerling potatoes and steamed vegetables was wonderful. The generous serving of pizza was very good. The soba noodle pasta was also tasty, but a bit heavy on the noodles, and light on the vegetables. The "New York Style" cheese cake with raspberry coulis was excellent -- fluffy, good sweetness, good size.
The washrooms were very clean and well stocked.
The price for dinner for 3, with main courses only, 1 glass of wine, 1 dessert, tax and tip was $115.
While it started out not great, I left feeling happy!
But everything isn't rosy. I checked the City of Toronto DineSafe inspections. They display the inspection results from Nov 2005 to April 2007. Mostly good. Back in March 2006 there were a few incidents that they corrected, such as:
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE / SANITATION OF NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES / EQUIPMENT Operator fail to provide accurate indicating thermometer(s)
Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms
INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL Operator fail to provide adequate pest control
In my opinion, this is the most upscale kosher dairy restaurant in the city. Therefore, I have very high expectations.
Making reservations was easy. I live about 1 km from the restaurant, so I walked, but the parking in that area is generally easy. Upon entering, I enjoyed the the decor, the sumptuous aromas, the low-key hub-bub of activity. What I did not enjoy was that it took close to 20 minutes for someone to greet us (we were on time for our reservation). They were busy, but I expect my existence to be acknowledged -- I'm a guest, for goodness sake! A suggestion for the owner: As much as I like to see my friends and acquaintances, in a setting such as this, I would prefer not to have to see (or be seen) when waiting in line. I think it would be a little more private and comfortable if there was some kind of "mechitza" between the aisle where people are waiting and the dining area.
After we sit down, things get better. The table is nicely set. The menu has lots of selection, but not so full that you can't figure out what to get. We were three in our party, and one ordered the Sea Bass special, one pasta, and another selected pizza. On the table was lots of bread sticks, butter, and tasty bean spreads. That's good, because our food didn't arrive until a full hour after we arrived.
Our server was very good -- informative, knowledgeable, and caring, but not too chatty. One could see how hard he was working, but it never showed when he came to serve us or check out how we were doing.
When the food came, we had mostly very good reviews. The sea bass with fingerling potatoes and steamed vegetables was wonderful. The generous serving of pizza was very good. The soba noodle pasta was also tasty, but a bit heavy on the noodles, and light on the vegetables. The "New York Style" cheese cake with raspberry coulis was excellent -- fluffy, good sweetness, good size.
The washrooms were very clean and well stocked.
The price for dinner for 3, with main courses only, 1 glass of wine, 1 dessert, tax and tip was $115.
While it started out not great, I left feeling happy!
But everything isn't rosy. I checked the City of Toronto DineSafe inspections. They display the inspection results from Nov 2005 to April 2007. Mostly good. Back in March 2006 there were a few incidents that they corrected, such as:
IMPROPER MAINTENANCE / SANITATION OF NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES / EQUIPMENT Operator fail to provide accurate indicating thermometer(s)
Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms
INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL Operator fail to provide adequate pest control
Sun., Sep. 2, 2007, 11:30 a.m. - King David Pizza (Bathurst)
3020 Bathurst St, ON M6B3B6 416.781.1326
Easy access. Pleasant to walk in. Friendly & prompt service. Very good pizza. A little pricey -- about $21 for an extra large with 2 toppings -- but in fairness, I think that's the going rate in this town for kosher pizza.
A quick general and not-too-related comment about pizzas in TO. A few months ago, I was in Manhattan & NJ, and tried a few pizzas there. I would have expected something a little better there . From my small sample, every one was either greasy or slimy or both. Even the worst pizza in Toronto was better than any pizza I had there. I'd love recommendations for the next time I am down south.
I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
Easy access. Pleasant to walk in. Friendly & prompt service. Very good pizza. A little pricey -- about $21 for an extra large with 2 toppings -- but in fairness, I think that's the going rate in this town for kosher pizza.
A quick general and not-too-related comment about pizzas in TO. A few months ago, I was in Manhattan & NJ, and tried a few pizzas there. I would have expected something a little better there . From my small sample, every one was either greasy or slimy or both. Even the worst pizza in Toronto was better than any pizza I had there. I'd love recommendations for the next time I am down south.
I checked the Toronto DineSafe inspections. No problems.
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