Gerrard and Jones suggestions?

[hungrystudent257]

So I am finally moving back home to Toronto and it appears that I am going to be living in the Gerrard and Jones area. I've never gotten a chance to explore that area, so could you guys give me some ideas of what to expect, food-wise/suggestions? Thank you so much

[2 cents]

Pizza Pide (as already mentioned)
Batifole (Gerrard & Howland, just west of Logan) - very good French (Brittany) food
Hanoi 3 Seasons (588 Gerrard East [I think it's still there] and 1135 Queen East @ Larchmount)
Peach Garden (Gerrard & Pape) - Vietnamese (my dad swears by it)

[grandgourmand]

If you've got a hankering for Caribbean food, the Tropical Joe's in the Gerrard Square food court is pretty good. the rotis are good.

[szw]

I tried Sushi Marche (delivery/takeout place) after reading about it a few times and it was excellent. They are in leslieville and will take care of your sushi needs delivered to your apt!

[embee]

Little India is a very short walk. There are several places worth trying, with the caveat that they none still achieve their past glories.

Lahore Tikka, once one of the best restaurants in Toronto, continues along with its seemingly unending construction project. It's now just okay, but you won't get food dumbed down to "Western tastes" here. Great patio in summer. Trailers in winter until they finish their building - IF they ever finish it.

786 Halal (across the street) has somewhat better food, but does dumb it down for unknown westerners. Mobbed by cab drivers at times,

Both of the above places are Pakistani.

For Indian, Siddartha (the meat one) can have wonderful food one day and awful the next. Haandi and Skylark are nicer than the norm, but most people just order the AYCE buffets. Moti Mahal looks like a fast food place but is very popular with Indian families. Udupi Palace is the most popular of the pure veg places. My experiences there have been mixed.

[childofthestorm]

That's interesting that you feel that 786 dumbs it down, I wondered about that. We get consistently excellent takeout from there, but then my wife calls and orders in Urdu. They always seem a little surprised when white boy shows up to pick it up.

[embee]

Unequivocally - they admitted it to me. I was told that even white people who ask for very hot food complain about any heat. I tell them to make it as they would make it for themselves, whether very mild or incendiary hot. Sometimes they listen; sometimes not. I'm more likely to end up at Lahore Tikka because of this, though 786 is usually empty and Lahore Tikka mobbed at times I tend to go. The food at 786 is only better when they don't dumb it down.

[Full tummy]

What about Moti Mahal? Great, flavourful take-out.

I don't recommend the Siddartha buffet, as last time I went (a couple of months ago), everything tasted so bland and mild. Ordering off the menu may be a different matter, though.

[embee]

I think I mentioned MotiMahal.... I wouldn't have the Siddartha buffet either.

[Full tummy]

Oh yes, sorry! I was skimming too fast...

[cfmcgrath18]

I'm at Gerrard and Jones.... while there's interesting stuff along Gerrard East in Little India.. there's not much nearby here... except Pizza Pide at Gerrard and Pape. But Queen East is just a 7 minute walk away with tons of great options... great restos, super coffee shops, Meating on Queen (a great butcher shop). Can't go wrong in this end of the city!

[thegory]

Collegiate lunch is sad and the burgers didn't justify the CBC best of toronto hype. It looks like the place PT Anderson would shoot a scene in. All wood paneling.

Pizza Pide is amazing, however. Don't forget First Break Coffee on Carlaw south of Gerrard.

And (my current obsession) Chino Loco's burritos at Queen and Greenwood.

[embee]

Unsurprisingly for Toronto, Pizza Pide has slipped a few notches since they were first discovered, but they are still damn good. Stick to the pides, though. I especially like the roasted lamb and the one that has a bite of almost everything. The actual pizzas are awful.They occasionally have some nice pastries.

Chino Locos is worth trying, since the food is unusual and the guys are great. However, I've found most things I've tried there have one or more jarring elements that just don't work.

[JamieK]

I don't know about wine rack but it may be more useful for you to do a search on "store locater" on lcbo.ca than google -
http://www.lcbo.com/main/en.shtml

[hungrystudent257]

thanks for the help all! much appreciated

also, does anyone know if there is an LCBO/wine rack anywhere in that realm? According to google maps, there is not, and that may just be enough for me to give up a great apartment with low rent...

[Apple]

I think the closest LCBO is at coxwell and queen.

[foodyDudey]

There is an LCBO on Gerrard, just west of Pape. Give up an apartment with low rent because the LCBO isn't close enough? That seems odd to me.

[RoraCraving]

LCBO and Beer Store on Danforth, just west of Greenwood.

[JennaBean]

There is an LCBO on Gerrard just before Carlaw on the north side.

[woodsey]

Danforth Pizza House on Danforth just east of Jones is very old and dingy, but has great pizza for take-out.

Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen has fab thai veggie cuisine for good prices on Danforth just east of Greenwood. I've never tried it (still need to) but Rendez-Vous on Danforth and Monarch Park apparently has good Ethiopian. Enjoy.

[julesrules]

Dukem Ethiopian is on Danforth just east of Donlands and is good. Of course there are many other options on the Danforth east of Jones (Zorba's, Three's Company, Akropoli pastries).

[ChalkBoy]

There's a Chinese noodle/barbecue spot on Gerrard just west of Jones on the north side that's OK and cheap. Can't remember the name. Just a block or so east, Collegiate Lunch is OK as a diner (the high school kids hate it — full of old people). Just west in Little India, check out Lahore Tikka, a weird Pakistani place that's been under construction for ages.

Tango Palace is a cool coffeehouse at Jones & Queen. The Only Cafe at Jones and Danforth is one of the hipper bars in the area.

[embee]

The noodle shop is the Sum Kee Noodle House. I can't speak for or against it, as there are new owners since I was last there. I know a few people who love it.

[eller]

I used to eat there a lot prior to the change in ownership but am interested in hearing whether or not it is still good.

[YummyYummy]

Sum Kee Noodle House is not as good as when it was under the old owners of the restaurant. They used to make the best beef fried rice of all the restaurants I've tried in the GTA. Anyway, it's still okay considering it is still the most affordable Chinese food you can get in the neighborhood.

Recently, I started getting take-out food from them again and will definitely be returning. I'll be back to the restaurant because I've noticed they have a huge variety of dishes for lunch specials on Monday to Fridays until 4pm. Here's the best thing, the prices for these lunch specials are only $2.99 plus taxes. That is $3.38 taxes all in for a lunch special.

The return of good tasting Chinese food for an affordable price in these tough economic times if you're in the neighborhood. ;)

[jayt90]

I like Collegiate, for a real 60's diner atmosphere and good food at value prices.

-----
Collegiate Lunch
1024 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M4M1Z5, CA

[aveivy]

Expect a good walk to get to interesting restaurants.

Suggest you avoid the places that cater to high school kids on lunch break. Pizza Pizza is there, with the usual caveats (it ain't brilliant, but sometimes, coming home in the wee hours, it's just right).

Head west several blocks to get to Gerrard/Broadview and you'll be rewarded with a few good Chinese and Vietnamese places. My favourites right now are Pearl Court (C) and Pho Mi Gia Phung (a mix, but predominantly Vietnamese). PC is on the south side, and Pho Mi is on the north side; both are east of Broadview.

And along the way you'll pass a pho place called Peach Garden (?) on the north side, just before Home Depot that I've never tried, but I've seen good comments here about it.

East of Jones, the few blocks before Coxwell is Little India, with several good spots, including Udupi Palace (strict vegetarian), Siddhartha (mixed buffet), BBQ Hut (they deliver!) and several others worth trying.

Walking south to Queen puts you in an increasingly interesting neighbourhood, with some new pubs, restaurants and a number of bakeries.

Hope you find good things.