If Not Le Papillon, Then Where?

[Higgette]

So where do I take this picky and overly-sophisticated 14 year old niece of mine if Le Papillon is out? She loves seafood and we're attending a perfomance at the Theatre for Young Peiople at Jarvis and Front. Starfish doesn't serve lunch, she doesn't much care for the Hot House, she won't 'get' Jamie kennedy's wine bar, the Keg is too ordinary, and I'm flat out of ideas. Darn foodie kids.....

[Finnegan]

Depends on who's paying

[Googs]

I'll 2nd Toba & Ninth Gate. Both are very close, open for lunch, and have decent food & decor. Neither are haute, but you don't have to tell her that.

[Higgette]

Toba only has brunch on Saturday and she wouldn't be impressed with eggs. I checked out the meu there and this I know for a fact. I'm going to head out at lunch tomorrow and check out the Ninth Gate.

[DAB]

They do have other eggs than eggs. Had a great little duck crepes for a while for one, but yes, the majority of items I believe are eggs - it is, afterall, a brunch.

[redhead]

a little out of the way perhaps - but there is a new restaurant in Cabbagetown called the Stonehouse Grill (on Winchester in a lovely old building) that she may enjoy - haven't eaten there yet but have heard good things in the dogpark! It is in a "cool" neighbourhood and has a bit of a "fun" aspect to it as well (given the food prep)

[Googs]

Walked inside Stonehouse a coupla weeks ago. The menu looks fantastic and the room is quite pretty. Can't wait to try it.

Much too far for Higgette et Niece though.

[TorontoJo]

What about skipping lunch, and doing an early dinner after the show? Trevor opens at 4pm and Starfish opens at 5pm.

[rsvp7777]

The Lorraine Kimsa show is pretty short (about 75 minutes), so it would be over by 3:15.

[TorontoJo]

Darn. It was a thought!

[Higgette]

Yes, I thought of that too but what RSVP said.

[orangewasabi]

Since your niece is a foodie, and this is Saturday lunch i.e. relatively early, what about doing a walking lunch thru SLM (do you dress up for TYP?) You could do the north side and eat at Mustachios . . . not at all fancy, but a market experience. Maybe intro her to some cheeses and proscuitto and a little fish education on the South side?

Isn't it crazy that there is probably the biggest concentration of businesss lunches in that area, and so few choices.

[Higgette]

I love the market and shop there every week - one of the benefits of working in the area, but since it's her birthday I want to do something a bit fancier. I've walked her through there though and she loved it.

[Rabbit]

What about the Consort Bar at the King Eddie?

It's open for lunch, and it has that great, old-world hotel atmopshere. If she's already developing plush taste, she might find it interesting...

[Higgette]

I did think of that. I've eaten in 'The Restaurant' and it's very nice.

[Higgette]

Oh heck, Biff's isn't open on Saturdays. Darn, darn, darn. More suggestions people, please. I have two weeks to keep this from being a disaster.

[rsvp7777]

Why not add some time to your schedule, hop a short cab ride or take the streetcar and do Queen St. E. - Barrio, Joy, maybe a little further east to Sushi Marche. Show her a fun new neighbourhood. You can get down to Lorraine Kimsa in 10 minutes and about $8 cab ride from there.

[Higgette]

Not trying to be difficult, but I have to way over to Bloor West Village on the subway to pick the kid up and don't want to do anymore travelling than necessary. If she lived where I do I would definitely consider it.

[EPIcureanTO]

just an fyi to add to this thread-

Per the online website-

Biff's IS open SAT-5-10, and they do have late night show menu 10-11pm, natch!

I almost took Bifff's off my list of restos to consider due to it-.

..and there is something wrong with the online reservation (provided by opentable)- it seems to be booking for past years, as the day names do not align with the calender dates.

[Lotus Seedling]

Your niece is a future chowhounder... that's for certain.

Biff's is good... and depending on which day you're going to the theatre, you could try Hiro's. Romagna Mia on Front Street is a more than decent Italian restaurant. Ninth Gate is a Korean restaurant at Jarvis and Front... the food isn't all that spicy compared to real Korean, and the decor is lovely. They're always open for lunch.

She's right about the Hot House. I've only eaten there twice. The service is slow and the food is questionable. I keep hearing about how good brunch is there, but I find that hard to believe...

Hope this helps... unfortunately the St. Lawrence area has only a smattering of really good restaurants.

[Higgette]

It's true; there is a dearth of restaurants in the are. I've worked in the area for nearly ten years and I've never been too impressed with the offerings. I know she doesn't like spicy food so I'm kind of leery of Thai or Korean, though I myself love both. Biff's might be a good choice. I'll keep you posted.

[orangewasabi]

I vote for Izakaya -- for a foodie kidlet, it'll be fun.

A 14yo that loves seafood and knows to not care for Hot House sounds like a fun kid!

if you want to go pricey, you could go to Ki. Aqua's pretty good too, I have had great fish there. (both in BCE place).

There's also Golden Thai over at Church & Richmond. Biagio at King & Jarvis for great risotto.

[Higgette]

I do like Acqua, but it's location puts us a bit too far from the theatre. I'm not sure how she'd feel about Izakaya. I can't believe I have worked in that neighbourhood for as many years as I have and I don't know many restaurants in the are.

[obstructionist]

Biff's?
Izakaya?
Trevor?
The Senator?
HAL Burger (if you don't mind a longer walk)?

[Higgette]

I understood the Senator had closed, Izakayawould be too much for her but I will check out your other suggestions. thanks.

[downtown]

The Senator Diner is still open if you are willing to walk. It was the dining room and jazz club that closed.

[DAB]

Didn't say which day, but recommend Toba, Sherbourne/King East. They do lunch, but are closed on Mondays, brunch over the weekends.

[The Macallan 18]

Lol, sounds like your 'foodie' kid is stuck in 'foodie' warp time!
Perhaps Biffs? Try the St. Lawrence Seafood platter on ice...if they still have it.