Best Lunch on Mt. Pleasant

[Snarf]

Being fairly linear in my thinking, I've been looking for a good place for lunch on Mt. Pleasant mid-week. I've tried Lai Toh Heen many times, and while it's generally delicious, it seems to add up to more than I would normally like to spend on lunch (difficult to leave under 40$ per person). Not fond of the food at Granite, and want an option where a glass of wine might be an option, which takes out Thobors and Jules.

Tried Debu today and was pleasantly surprised. The lunch menu is much less fusion-y than the dinner, and offers a 20$ three course prix-fixe, changing daily. There's a daily Biryani, butter chicken, veg of the day, soup of the day, dessert of the day, and a good selection of appetizers and mains. Soup of the day was lentil with fresh veg, followed by a good sized portion of Goan fish curry with naan and rice (basmati and biryani geometrically arranged, and a mango mousse as the dessert. Despite the scaled-down menu, they still did the complimentary spoons with different chaats as an amuse. For my money, beats burger and fries.

Anywhere else recommended on that strip?

[Brain of J]

Enjoy a croque monsieur from Jules at 617 Mt. Pleasant.

[lowchen]

How about Homeway? On Mt. Pleasant 4 blocks north of Eg. Good lunch place. Like their sweet potato fries.

[Davwud]

I like this place too.

DT

[Davwud]

I had Penrose Fish and Chips a few weeks back. A good solid F&C. Owners have had it in the family for over 50 years.

Not on Mt. P. but I had lunch at Churasco Villa on Friday. It was excellent. It's on the north side of Eglinton, a few doors west of Mt. P.

DT

[jayt90]

Does anyone remember GoGo Burgers, near George's trains, in the 70's?
They had a great homeburger, better than Fire Pit.

[sherry f]

If you want a very casual Greek lunch, try Greece.

[jayt90]

where?

[JamieK]

You mean that place near Hillsdale? Are they licensed?

[sherry f]

They are on the east side, I think around Hillsdale. Blue and white sign.

[Snarf]

I liked Harry's in the 70's. I think Fire Pit (also known as Arm Pit) came about in the 80's, after Freckles closed.

[estufarian]

I go to Cafe Pleiade (which I think you already know).

[phoenikia]

Celestin has a nice lunch, and a pretty good wine list, if you're in the mood for French food. I liked the rose from Friuli that they were serving last time I was there.

[Ludivine]

We went to Celestin last night, and it was dreadful. Pretentiously tiny portions and a very limited menu. I know my way around French food, and there is nothing authentic about the place - not even the waiter's 'ennui' at having to serve dinner right in the middle of his budding acting career.

[atomeyes]

went there last weekend based on recommendations.
wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
ordered the butternut squash ravioli.
i kid not - 5 or 6 ravioli on the plate. everyone at the table kind of looked at it as if there was some kind of mistake.
taste-wise, it was pretty good. not amazing. but pretty good.
$15 for ravioli and to still be really hungry? no thanks.

[phoenikia]

Which fine dining establishment would you recommend where you can order a filling serving of ravioli for $15, atomeyes? ;)Those with inquiring minds would like to know ;)

[atomeyes]

clearly not Celestin.
no one at our table was satisfied with our meals.
but did i mention it was 5-6 ravioli? each the size of a quarter and the thickness of my pinky?

for more filling places, any italian resto would have a dish at that price with 3x the quantity and similar, if not better, quality.

[phoenikia]

Seriously, which Italian restaurants would you (or any other Chowhounds) recommend for good quality ravioli (or other pastas) that cost $15?

Most of the pastas I've ordered lately have been costing $18-$20, and places like L'Unita are charging $23 or more.

[Ludivine]

Phoenikia, I always enjoy the ravioli at Pizza Pazza on Eglinton (1007 Eglinton Avenue West at Bathurst); it's not fancy, and it doesn't qualify for "fine dining", but the beef-stuffed ravioli are excellent and the portions are generous.

[phoenikia]

Thanks Ludivine- I've never been to Pizza Pazza....actually, this is the first I've heard of it...do you recommend anything else on their menu besides the ravioli? I don't tend to be a beefeater:)

[blinknoodle]

Zucca's ravioli (no longer on their menu) was to-die-for but it was more like $20.

[phoenikia]

Good to know. Thanks blinknoodle.

[lamaranthe]

Thanks for your comments. It's exaxctly the feeling I got last time I was there, not long ago.

[TorontoJo]

If you don't mind going a bit North of Eglinton, you might try Dinah's Soup Kitchen. It's in the old Wanda's in the Kitchen with Dinah. I haven't visited yet, but I always enjoyed Dinah Koo's cooking when she had Tiger Lily on Queen St.