Before-the-Fringe dinner

[voracious]

We're going to the Fringe and need to grab a bite to eat beforehand. Does anyone have suggestions for a casual dinner near the Factory Lab Theatre (Adelaide and Bathurst)?

[Rabbit]

I do like Tutti Matti... pretty space with good Tuscan fare. Great ricotta pie. It's east of Spadina, but still only a 10-15 minute walk from the theatre.

[pinstripeprincess]

how far are you willing to go? between bathurst and spadina there are many casual spots to drop into. even more if you go a touch more west.

my picks:
shanghai cowgirl (they can be a bit slow, i swear by the ghetto chicken with everything else as just ok.)
new york subs (preference to the lamb, unusual but fairly cheap and tasty)
jules (beware frozen fries, basic barely bistro fare)
fresh (veg/vegan but they do burgers amazingly, stay away from their thick and pungent miso)

other:
johny banana (haven't been since the menu change but i've always thought them to be perfectly tasty)
rosebud (may be a touch $$, i enjoy citizen yet haven't been to rosebud)

[voracious]

West of Bathurst is fine, though I'm hoping for something within a short walk of the theatre. The other day I drove past a tiny little restaurant on the north side of Adelaide, somewhere between Bathurst and Spadina, but I wasn't able to see the name. Does anyone know what it might be, and whether it's any good?

[dragonflygrl]

Is the place on Adelaide you are thinking of Tutti Matti?

[Rabbit]

I'm guessing it might be Sadie's Diner? Can't give you any feedback on that spot, but I can second the Rosebud rec - or perhaps the Paddock (great cocktails, and decent food... right at Queen on Bathurst, so very convenient).

[pinstripeprincess]

sadie's is the only place i know of that serves food on adelaide.. well that and the new coffee shop next door.

[voracious]

I'm not sure which of these it might be. I just flashed past in the night, but it looked like a tiny little well-lit place full of happy people. Any recs for either Tutti Matti or Sadie's?

[pinstripeprincess]

tutti matti is actually east of spadina... this seems out of your range.

as for sadie's, i refuse to patronize it after the cook scoffed at a veg burger order and wondered aloud why anyone would order it (at a veg/vegan restaurant no less). i wanted to wonder aloud why they would put something so processed and atrocious on their menu.

[pescatarian]

You could go to Blowfish at King and Bathurst, but it might not fit your criteria for "casual".