Ahh, too many choices -- must eat many, many meals a day. Any thoughts on my list?
Hi fellow Chowhounds!
I have been planning (obsessively?) for my upcoming business trip to Toronto. Early August -- 4 nights -- me and a coworker (although I will be by myself for the 4th night.) We are staying at the Sheraton Centre and will not have a rental car.
I've put together a list of possibiities for dinners which makes me realize I need to stay in town an extra week just to have dinner!
here are the places on my list now: (the ones with stars next to them are my current favorites)
Nota Bene **
Auberge du Pommier **
George **
Loire restaurant
Truffles **
Tundra
Fifth Grill **
The Harbord Room
Pangea
The Rosebud
Chez victor
Silver Spoon **
Table 17
Cowbell
Lai Wah Heen for lunch the last day before I go to the airport.
I would love to do the following, but I think they are too pricey for my company's food per diem of $103 per person per day.
Canoe
Scaramouche
North 44
Bymark
What are your thoughts? Thank you for your help/suggestions/Information. I can't wait to go!
Disneyfreak
Jul 06, 2009 11:48AM
Hi Disneyfreak,
Your list looks pretty good! i'd be happy to have a meal at most of those places. That said, I agree with most of the ones you have a star next to, except for maybe Truffles (search the board) and I would probably choose The Harbord Room over The Fifth. I don't think Table 17, Cowbell or Tundra are particularly special.
If you don't think you can fit Canoe et al into your budget, I would at least suggest stopping into the bar at Canoe for a drink and some appetizers and check out the view. One of my favourite, favourite places to wind down after a long day.
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Skip the following:
Cowbell (consistently bad reviews)
Truffles (not good in my experience, inconsistent reviews by others)
There are a few other ones on there that are iffy, but my advice would be uninformed.
Replace with:
Black Hoof
Weezie's
Globe Restaurant
Table 17 was good. But if headed in that direction, I'd take Weezie's over it.
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I know you want more feedback but isn't this basically the same post you made a few weeks ago?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/628715
I think the advice from the last thread still stands. Your per diem is more than enough if you don't drink and eat an economical (under $10) lunch. If you do drink, at worst you can throw a little of your own money into the pot.
The most essential on your list is LWH for dim sum. Everything else on the list, while good, you can find better in Manhattan. Which I assume is accessible for you since you're in NJ.
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Yes you are right -- that was me. But you are also correct that I was looking for more information especially since I added to the list. (And because I am a foodie and my brain is thinking food, Food, FOOD all the time) And because perhaps new folks would see this post who didn't see the other one. Sorry if my posting semi duplicate posts is a problem.
I do live fairly close to NYC -- but in these days of tightening pockets I don't venture in to NYC for dinner very often and I want to get some bang for my companies buck when I am in Toronto. A girl has to eat and when she does she wants to do it well. :) Thanks for your help and information. I always enjoy reading these boards and hearing what the folks here have to say.
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LWH! Definitely.
And... Scaramouche might be worth the extra expenditure.
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You can probably get out of North 44 and Bymark for under $103, and Scaramouche has had set menus on under $60 most of the time as well.
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This is just me but I tend to like a little more ethnic variety in my eating; again, just me probably but I have a limited threshold for "fancy" restaurant eating. I need some middle eastern, Mexican or Indian thrown in to balance out the (forgive me) fancy white food. (I confess, I do the fancy white eat more infrequently so I haven't been to all the places on your list but I think the only one that's ethnic is LWH?) Anyway, just my 2 cents...
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Thanks for your input. Part of the reason I'm going very "fancy white food" is that I will be with a coworker who's not all that used to ethnic food. Also, since I am on the company dime I want to take advantage of the money but not go crazy. If that makes any sense.
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Oh yeah, that I get. I know quite a few people who are like that. It certainly does restrict things!
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If you're in town working where I think you're working (Yonge & College) I can tell you there's a dearth of good restos nearby. In other words, lunch will be in the cheap, but serviceable category. You should concentrate your efforts in finding great dinners and at $103 in pd's you should have no problem. Since you've already short-listed Nota Bene and George, I'd say take your less than adventurous friend to Scaramouche and Canoe. These two are rare Toronto finds as they offer great food and service with wonderful views of the cityscape.
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The hotel is on Queen Street West. I'm now thinking the George might be too expensive for my per diem of $103 a day. I would love to go to Scaramouche or Canoe, but they are also too pricey. Note Bene is on the short list though.
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Yeah, this is what I'm saying. You won't get much near where you're working so near the hotel is good. As far as not going too crazy on the company dime AND near your hotel AND likely to please your colleague AND likely to please you, you may also consider Starfish and Beer Bistro.
http://www.starfishoysterbed.com/
http://www.beerbistro.com/
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Your list is good. I would go to The Rosebud over Silver Spoon (been to both many times and find Rosebud more consistent, that being said both are very good).
Truffles is very expensive, if you can afford the food there Bymark should be affordable, Canoe is definitely a notch above price wise but is also a notch above in terms of service and consistently excellent food.
The Harbord Room would be on my list, Fifth Grill is okay but more flash than substance in my experience. Nota Bene is a great choice, at its price point the excellent food and service are hard to beat right now. I would also consider the restaurant Lee, it was Susur's small plates restaurant beside his flagship restaurant on King West. Susur may be gone but the food at Lee has maintained its excellence and the price point is good.
Have fun.
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