Whitby/Durham restaurants that don't suck

[RealAle]

So I find myself moving back to Whitby, after 15 years away, during which time I came to the realisation that there's more to good eating than lousy roadhouse chains and dodgy sushi places.

And so my question, friends: are there any restaurants in Whitby Durham region that you can unreservedly recommend? I've heard Mexico Lindo is pretty good, and the Greek Tycoon used to be a decent choice for untaxing Greek. And Starr Burger is there of course. But other than that... There seems to be a real current of mediocrity and pretension flowing through a lot of restaurants out here -- any recommendations for reliably good restaurants would be gratefully appreciated.

Any thoughts?

[Torontotonto]

Visited KB today. This is the guy from Burb Bistro.
What a great new resto in Whitby.
Food was great service good and atmosphere fair.
We both ordered the specials......excellent Trout and Amazing Meatball pasta. We are going to come back for a second try..as a lifelong Toronto guy....I was pleased.....a kin to Batifole....great food simple.......

[Dr Butcher]

My wife and I went to KB a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed ourselves. The arancini appetizer was great, I had a steak that was unfortunately a little tough (the flavour was great) the side was some delicious scalloped potatoes. My wife had a braised chicken dish. I thought about a marrow app they had but couldn't bring myself to try it. I saw it at the table next to us and overheard the waiter say they are experimenting with it... Glad I wasn't a guinea pig (on my dime). The flourless chocolate cake I had for dessert was very nice. I will go back.

As an aside, Sushi Mountain in Ajax has updated their AYCE menu, added some dishes and have updated the sizing of their special rolls. Where you used to get 6 pieces filled with rice, they now serve 4 pieces with more fish. There are still many with tempura bits and spicy mayo, I kinda like 'em. I have only been for lunch so I can't say what has been updated for dinner.

[cwheeler]

Stay away from Pasta Tutti Giorni! Just opened at 259 Kingston Rd in Ajax (across from Wal-mart), I took my family there last night (Saturday, December 1) and it is one of the worst meals I've ever had in a restaurant.

First, I will give a pass to any service mistakes for a new restaurant. I know that going to a brand new place, the service staff is just getting their feet wet, so I will focus only on the meal quality.

Here is what we ordered:
Calamari fritti
Me: Osso bucco with linguini in tomato sauce and a Caesar salad
Wife: Veal del bosco with rigatoni in tomato sauce and Caesar salad
Daughter & Son: Linguine alfredo with chicken added
Son: Carnivore pizza

The calamari was passable, but not great. Instead of the light tempura batter that most places serve, this has a dark brown, almost breadcrumb batter. It is served with a terribly bland marinara sauce. Unfortunately, this calamari was the best part of the meal.

The alfredo dishes came and the 'added chicken' was 4 bite size pieces of white meat. Hardly a side of chicken. But, portion size aside, the alfredo had no flavour. If you have ever had those pastas that come in a pouch, the kind that come with a powdered sauce mix, you have had a better linguine alfredo than what is offered at Pasta Tutti Giorni. This tasted like...nothing! It was barely creamy and tasted like plain pasta. There was very little flavour to this dish.

The Caesar salads were no better. It has a couple of croutons, bacon bits, bagged romaine, and dressing. It tasted like wet lettuce. Even though it had a lot of dressing, the dressing had no garlic flavour, no creaminess. It tasted like thick water.

My wife's veal was a thin cutlet of veal dressed in a mushroom sauce. The mushroom sauce tastes *exactly* like watered down mushroom soup. The meat was salty. And the tomato pasta sauce on her pasta (and on mine) tasted like watered down tomato soup. There was no taste of herbs or spice. None at all.

The osso bucco was terrible. It was tender, I will give it that, but let me tell you, it must have been marinated in a salt bath, because it was overly salty and did not have a nice braised flavour. It came with inedible soggy carrots and large chunks of onion.

My other son's pizza was a thin crust meat pizza. He said he liked it (he's not a food sharer, so we didn't taste it) but it was crisp on the edges and soggy in the centre.

While waiting for our table, the bartender told us that PTG will be opening 10 restaurants and 10-20 mall food court locations. After having supper here, I can tell you that they are serving food that is low-end food court quality. I imagine they are sourcing all food from the same place and using the same recipes whether in a food court or a sit down.

And, the kicker - while eating, a waiter was walking to a table with a bread basket and one of the buns fell out of the basket. He reached down, picked it up, another waitress saw him, they both looked at the bun, and the waiter put it back in the basket and delivered it to a table!

The meal cost $110, we bought our drinks at the bar, so that doesn't include drink cost, just a really bad meal. We won't be going back.

[Breadcrumbs]

Thanks for taking one for the team cwheeler, your review is much appreciated. What a let down for your family.

[momwhocooks]

Well that's unfortunate cwheeler especially as a family outing to end up with sub standard food. The thing that used to baffle me was how all these restaurants seem to be busy until I spoke to a few friends and found out they would either go out, pick up or order in sometimes twice a week so the restaurants are getting away with serving average food for an above average price. So few people have time to cook anymore that it is guaranteed business and the restaurants don't even have to try. I love to cook and fortunately I have the time to do it therefore it is not common place for us to go out as a family when we do I am usually disappointed as is my husband obviously there are exceptions but for the most part the food is boring and the menus a predictable selection.The worst culprits seem to be the big chains because they can operate on a preceding good reputation, after being served undercooked chicken at a Montana's and being told it was normal for there to be pink at the bone I will never go back. East Side Mario's is the McDonalds of Italian food but at least you know what to expect and don't get me started on the Mandarine. The only recourse for the average income foodie is try those little places, you know, that tiny family run op using "momma's recipes" risky? sure but no more so than an untried chain, you don't have to pay through the nose and sometimes you find the odd treasure among the trash.

[RYP]

I'm not sure why all the crappy restaurants congregate in Durham region. Having just moved her from KW, where there was a decent selection of independent restaurants, we are so disappointed.

[Gormlaith]

I am convinced that most people in Durham accept and embrace mediocrity. There is no other reason why so many ho-hum places exist and thrive. This is why my husband and I would rather eat at Buster Rhino's--a casual place--than most any other restaurant, even when we are going for our fancy date night! I don't want pre-packaged garbage. I want to enjoy the work of a chef, not a teenager who is really good at boiling and microwaving! That being said, I do still like Nice Bistro. The family really cares about food. The new kb was OK, at least it was different.

Apparently we are left with only a very small selection of family or chef-run restaurants that care about quality and originality. Boo to that, I say. With so much great local produce around, Durham could far better. Keep your formulaic food. Give me something that challenges or inspires.

[sandymctyre]

RYP, welcome to the home of the BigBox, cookie cutter restaurants. It's hard to even get a good slice from a mom & pop joint.
I concur with Gormlaith with Nice Bistro, you get a real 'Old World' feel from it, the owners are very nice, and the food is very good.
Bella Notte in Whitby is another favourite of mine, we have always had good food, and excellent service.
You'll find a lot of good rec's in this thread, everything from burgers at Starr Ave. to pizza at Pino's, to steak on a kaiser at Massey's.
While we do swim in a sea of mediocrity (i liked that reference Gormlaith), there is the occasional outcrop of good eats...you just have to look a little harder to find them.

[RYP]

Great analogy Gormlaith! I have visited Buster Rhino's on many occasions since moving for similar reasons. I know I'm going to get a great meal.

I had a decent meal at Chatterpauls, but $13 for a starter salad was a little crazy! And we've eaten at Azian a few times with some success.

We live in Courtice, so I like to stay in the Oshawa/Bowmanville border for most meals. Can someone tell me a sushi place that's not AYCE?! Bonus points if it's good.

[BusterRhino]

Guys they will come, downtown is starting to build a reputation for small mom and pop run places, the bad ones will disappear and better ones will take their place. All I can say is keep visiting the small independants. I know my wife and I do all the time, try Jimmy Guacamole downtown Oshawa - amazing burrito's.

[cwheeler]

I've had a great meal at The Brock House. I agree with Buster Rhino - the Whitby core is starting to populate with decent eateries.

[jjmellon]

We need more good restaurants in Durham Region -- no debate there. But I think we are at least a match for KW except in one area -- expense account restaurants. KW has (or had) RIM, plus two big, established universities, and for that reason alone it has about ten expense account restaurants that Durham doesn't have. Six of those restaurants have the same ownership, so they don't really qualify as "independents". Leaving those restaurants aside, for variety, quality and price I would rather spend the next year eating in Durham Region restaurants than in KW.

Anyone who has just moved here should try some of the top recommendations on this page before they start despairing -- or better yet, go find a new, interesting place and tell us about it.

[RYP]

jjmellon, this board isn't about KW, but I will respectfully disagree with you. I can easily name six restaurants that would not be considered expense account or owned by the same company.

I'm looking for the places locally that interest me and that's why I read this board. I will happily report back on any interesting places that I find - first I need to find them.

[Dr Butcher]

Mancini's Cafe and Eatery - 223 Brock St N. A little confused with their identity. Looks nice inside, some sad looking 1/2 full display cases featuring a mishmash of cakes by the slice, muffins and pastries.

I have tried their veal sandwiches twice, the veal is dwarfed by the breading, however, it's a tasty sandwich, I really like their tomato sauce. I hate how Italian sandwich places nickle and dime you for every topping, $1 for cheese, $0.90 for peppers and mushrooms, and $0.50 for sauteed onions....

The Zen Hakka and Thai Cuisine - It's in the old Thai Wok N' Roll location at Baldwin & Broadleaf. Had a coupl eof lunch specials, the Bombay chicken was tasty as well as their chicken pakoras. The Cashew chicken left something to be desired. I was told the chef specializes in Hakka (apparently he owns Brampton Dragon). I would go back to try some more of the Hakka offerings but would avoid the Thai. It's nice to see another option than the Tangerine in the area.

http://www.thezen.ca/#!home/mainPage

[baderin]

I've always said there really aren't any good restaurants in Whitby, but last night I went to the Brock House. I can't speak to their regular menu, as I've never been before, but we arrived for the first night of their "Savour the Season" and everything was pretty good. Amongst my group of friends we tried all 3 starters. I didn't taste the salad but my friend said it was good, although underdressed. My husband had the carrot and juniper soup and it was very nice and creamy, although I felt it was a little undersalted. I had the corn fritters and they were definitely the best of the group, although they would have been better hot (they were more lukewarm).

For mains my husband and I both had the short ribs, which were very good - he finished mine and said his had been jucier, but I really enjoyed it. I especially enjoyed the mashed potatoes that accompanied it. My friend had the chicken and said it was really good also.

For dessert the rest of my group had the apple tart and seemed to enjoy it. I had the peach cobbler and practically licked the bowl - the peaches were fresh and delicious and the crumble was I think made with cornmeal - a nice crunchy texture. It could have used better ice cream (ever since I started making my own I've been kind of ruined for commercial stuff) but overall I really enjoyed it.

Also the fries that came with my Goddaughter's chicken fingers meal were DELICIOUS.

So I'd still go downtown if I wanted to be sure of a nice meal but the Brock House was probably the best meal I've eaten in Whitby since we moved.

[jennysv]

The Teriyaki House on lupin just off hwy 2 east of brock in Whitby is Fantastic! We went there on Saturday night. Everything was fresh made to order, delicious and affordable. Love their Japanese fare including the sushi. Sit down restaurant with classic decor. Quiet, classy and a great place to come as a couple or with friends. I highly recommend this hidden jewel of Whitby.

[Breadcrumbs]

Just bumping this thread w a question. Has anyone tried/heard anything about a place in Whitby called Marca Pizza Pasta? Is it worth checking out?

[RYP]

I'd be interesting in knowing too. I think it's about six months old. Let's hope someone has a report.

[RYP]

The owner of Buster Rhino's was telling me that they will be opening a new restaurant in downtown Oshawa - probably this week. It will be on King St./Celina (beside Patty Shack). Look forward to being able to eat in now.

[Dr Butcher]

They had their soft opening today according to Facebook. I had seen some You Tube updates via their Facebook Page as well. I had no I dea it was right next to the Patty Shack until I stopped in for a burger last Friday.

If you like shawarma, the best place I've found in Durham is Cyrus on Ritson just north of the 401. I'd say it rivals Shawarma Empire in Scarborough, more expensive however. They have some dinner plates I have been dying to try. Parking is pretty bad, the lot is behind the restaurant (a converted house) and is tiny. If you have a larger vehicle, you'd be better off parking across the street.

[momwhocooks]

Well hopefully you haven't starved by now! Mediocrity is right, there are some truly dismal places specifically in Oshawa however having said that there are those who rise above it all. Tokushima is a the top of my list for Sushi and a good assortment of asian dishes. The Tartan still cranks out some pretty good pub grub, as does the Waltzing Weasel. I haven't tried Jimmy Guaco's in the downtown area but have heard good things and just tried some pretty good disk for lunch from a little place on Hortop called C&V's Pizza and Pasta my eight year old gave it two thumbs up and this kid eats stuff most his age haven't heard of (dislikes fast food burgers) strange child of mine:) Had a burger from The Patty Shack, recommended from friends, right D.T. Oshawa good flavour, well cooked nice seasoning, and lotsa toppings to pick from but pricy for a burger joint. So hopefully you haven't moved away from the area again after being faced with a lack of good spots for good eats!

[cwheeler]

Well, here's a little secret - I generally don't enjoy chip truck fries, but there is a place in Ajax called Friar Truck, and I've got to tell you, his fries are magical! First, you get a tonne of fries - my family of 3 teens and my wife and I can eat two large with much leftover. The fries are crispy, hot, and creamy inside, and just plain delicious.

Friar Truck is located on Doric Street, two streets south of Hwy 2 and Harwood. You can't miss the yellow truck in the parking lot.

Oh, and not completely certain, but I think he's only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But I could be wrong.

[cwheeler]

Il Fornello opened up a new location in Ajax, on Kingston Rd., across the street from Chapters/The Keg, in the same plaza as McDonalds. Here's my advice - save your money and go to McDonalds.

My wife and I have tried Il Fornello in downtown Toronto twice, and both times left disappointed. Overpriced, bad, almost rude, service, and the food is simply substandard. But, we are always excited to see a new restaurant open in Ajax, so we thought we'd give it another try, and off we went on Friday for supper.

We arrived around 6:30pm, and had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. Not a long wait, so we went to the bar where I ordered a negroni and my wife had a bellini. I suspect my negroni had been made with a double shot, as it was overly gin-y and not bitter enough, and I began to feel it after I was around halfway through. But, hey, dinner was soon, so I'd endure a free double shot ;)

We got our table within 30 minutes. Opened with an order of calamari and we split a large Caesar salad with anchovy. Bread arrived - it is just plain white baguette, nothing to write home about. Then came our calamari and salad. The calamari was very greasy and became soggy after a while. The garlic aioli was nothing special - mayo and garlic. The Caesar salad was very disappointing - romaine, oily croutons, bottled dressing. And the anchovies? 5 canned anchovy filets thrown on the top of the salad. At $13, I was expecting a lot more. I can get a better Caesar at East Side Marios (so you get the idea how crummy this salad was).

The main entrees are weak - the menu isn't fully available yet. Basically, you can choose pizza or pasta. So I ordered a pizza with artichoke, prosciutto, red pepper, and mozzarella. My wife ordered chicken parmaggiano.

The pizza was terrible. Thin crust, but soggy in the centre. I could not hold a piece to eat it - I had to use a knife and fork. The cheese was sparse, the prosciutto plain and tasteless, the sauce almost non-existent. The only flavour came from the black olives. At $17, this was a waste of money.

The chicken parm was not any better. The pasta was overdone, the sauce had that over-salted from-a-can taste (almost like Ragu), and the chicken was a bit dry and overbreaded with little to no parm flavour. Again, $19 down the drain.

For dessert we split a slice of chocolate mousse cake. Blech! This was highly recommended by the server. Well, the cake was dry, and if you can believe it, the mousse was even more dry! The icing was over-sweet.

The service was alright. The wait staff are friendly, unlike the downtown location. But, aside from the Stella Artois I had with dinner, and the company I was with, this was a really bad way to spend my dining out dollars.

[TeacherFoodie]

For Italian, try Bella Notte on Brock Street in Whitby. I've only been once but it was delicious!

[sandymctyre]

Second the Bella Notte recommendation. I have been a few times, and always had a great experience. I particularly like the veal carpaccio and the grilled calamari is awesome!

[sandymctyre]

Just tried out Big Boy Burgers...relatively new (5 months) at the corner of Consumers and Thickson. A righteous burger...Had the Big Boy with all the trimmings. A tad expensive when you get it this way $9, but quite a good size(1/2 pound) and fresh ground, real cheese...etc. Looking forward to trying out the Philly, supposedly made from fresh prime rib. Anyone had it?

[TorontoTips]

Hey Sandy, I had a decent burger at Big Boy, too - they have 3 locations I think - Thickson, Kingston & Whites in the Lone Star Plaza and Kingston near St. Clair in Scarberia.

Even better burgers are to be found at Patty King in the 'Shwa. :-)

I'm personally a HUGE fan of Massey's on south Liverpool Rd in Pickering's Steak on a Kaiser - truly none better, in my opinion, with a pile of marinated and nicely grilled tender flank steak - and the fresh-cut fries w/ gravy can be quite good, if a little inconsistent.

Cheers,
.James.

[TorontoTips]

Massey's Steak-on-a-Kaiser, with fries & gravy pictured.
Cahr-grilled goodness, with just pickles, onions and HP sauce for me :-)

[TeacherFoodie]

I finally tried Pizza Pino in Ajax and it was very good. Everything was fresh and they were generous with the cheese. The crust was good but I thought the sauce could have been a bit more exciting. It was not the best pizza I ever ate, but it was certainly better than the other options in the area (mostly chains). I tried the "Pino" pizza - bacon, mushroom, onion, green pepper and pepperoni. Excited to try a different kind next time.

Any other good lunch places in that area (Westney/Harwood area)?

[sandymctyre]

Hey Teach! It's been a while, but Angelique's used to have a good breakfast...never tried their lunch, and the Bayly (I think now called Chef Tommy's was pretty good also.

[TeacherFoodie]

Thanks Sandy. I have been to Angelique's and they are a good lunch option for that area. Unfortunately it looks like Chef Tommy's has closed for the time-being and will reopen in a new location at some point.

http://www.cheftommys.com/

[TeacherFoodie]

Just had Angelique's the other day for lunch. Had a chicken parm sandwich and salad. The sandwich was terrible as the chicken was completely overcooked (so dry it was hard to chew). Hoping to find other good lunch options in the South Ajax area.

[RYP]

Moving to the area (courtice) and looking for a good Sushi restaurant. I don't want AYCE, but fresh, well prepared sushi. Sounds like Zen and Kobo are my picks. Can someone tell me where Zen is located?

Would either of these restaurants be appropriate to bring a toddler to?

[TexSquared]

Zen is at 2803 Eglinton Avenue East (at Danforth), Scarborough: zenjapaneserestaurant.com

Kobo is at 512 Kingston Road (at Rosebank), Pickering: http://kobogourmet.com/

As long as your toddler is well behaved, can't see a problem at either.

[Dr Butcher]

Has anyone tried the Patty Shack in Oshawa? The pics from it's site intrigue me, they recently had a WagJag ($20 dollars of food for $10) so I bit the bullet on a couple.....

http://thepattyshack.ca/

[scarberian]

Interesting pics on the site. The fries look home cut and even though the burger does look home made, it doesn't look like it's 100% beef but maybe with some filler like a meatloaf. I'm just saying just by the looks on the site. I could be wrong. However I prefer my burgers cooked on a griddle, smashed thin with cheese. Still I will give them a shot and report back.

[Torontotonto]

I can say that the Patty Shack is excellent. I was a fan of Starr and Rabble but this is far better.
Not great parking but great value. This is my new fave for burgers.

Any updates from Chowhounders on Sushi from the this thread. We have gone to Sushi Mountain for the last time. Food has nosedived, quality is hurting, service is dreadful. Any new Sushi places to recommend?

[sandymctyre]

I second (or third) on the Patty Shack. Burger artists! The topping selection is incredible, and follow them on Twitter for some excellent bargains!
Sushi Mountain in Whitby I find has declined since new management. I second the Sushi T&T in Ajax, but haven't been there in a while. Tokushima in The shwa is hit and miss, as is Go Believe.

[TexSquared]

If you want proper JAPANESE sushi (non-Chinese, non-Korean, non-AYCE) the only choice in Durham is Kobo:

http://kobogourmet.com/

[scarberian]

Seriously, you folks were getting your sushi from T&T and Sushi Mountain?! As Tex says, Kobo is really your only choice AFAIK in Durham. I may be mistaken, but very good quality sushi is hard to find in Durham and Kobo just does it right all the time. However, for even better sushi head west to Zen on Eglinton and Danforth Rd. in Scarborough right beside the bowling alley.

[cwheeler]

I don't want to start a bitter argument - hey, we are all food lovers, right? I agree with others here - Sushi Mountain is terrible. I happen to think they've always been terrible, but I know others used to enjoy them.

Sushi T&T is a recent discovery for me. I happen to like the service and the speed. For an AYCE, it's not terrible.

Now for the controversy. Perhaps I need to revisit, but the one time I went to Kobo, I didn't find it was much better than anything else I've had. A few friends said it was worlds better than anything else in Durham, but I disagree. It just didn't seem to be all that awesome. Maybe I need to give it a second chance.

[TexSquared]

If you didn't like Kobo go to Zen. If you don't like Zen you don't know sushi.

[wiggy.]

I actually gave up on SM some time ago when the food started to slip big time. Was okay in its day, but lost its edge. Never done T&T, but will look up Kobo. And Zen. Thx.

[sandymctyre]

The two Sushi Mountain restaurants used to be different. The one in Whitby was better than the one in Ajax IMHO. Also, is 2min from my house, so very convenient. Admittedly, it was never the best sushi, but was AYCE, and I have a big appetite Will definitely try Kobo and Zen. In Scarborough, I usually go to Ten-Ichi, Tora, or Niji. Thanks for the recs!

[TexSquared]

Ten-Ichi? Yuck....

http://eatherenext.blogspot.com/2011/...

[sandymctyre]

Really TEX? Used to be one of your faves! They have just expanded, took over what used to be Best Friends. Probably been a year or two since I've been there. Have you been lately?

[TexSquared]

I went there about a year ago (I'll have to find the post) and that was the final straw for me. Horrible food (with 3/4 of their dessert menu never in stock), and even worse service (they want to turn tables fast so when they want rid of you they ignore you for awhile, "forget" your orders... then 15 minutes later come and ask "what do you want for dessert"). But you know how it is - the restaurants with the long lineups can afford to slack off like that.

[Dr Butcher]

I've always preferred the Ajax location of Sushi Mountain, the pieces are massive and admittedly a lot of rice... I've just preferred the flavour there a little more.

Recently I've tended to go to Makimono in Ajax, the Pickering one although remodelled, isn't quite the same.....

I would say to stay away from Tatemono, the new one in the AMC plaza on Consumers, as both times I went I ended up with gastrointestinal issues. This has never been a problem with any other sushi place....

I have yet to try Kobo, but will soon, I haven't had sushi since my last bout of the Tatemonos at Christmas time. ;)

Thanks for the input on the Pattly Shack folks! I have a couple of WagJags burning a hole in my pocket...

[TexSquared]

"pieces are massive and admittedly a lot of rice"

In other words cut cost by using more rice (cheap ingredient) and less fish (expensive ingredient).

You haven't had genuine Japanese if all you go to are those Chinese-owned places (AYCE or otherwise). Post your findings when you've gone to Kobo or Zen, and avoid the gaijin rolls for an authentic experience.

[hidpage]

Sushi and Rolls in Ajax (no frills plaza) is always great if don't want to venture far.

[cwheeler]

Many good picks here, but I'll add a few updates:

1. Makimono was good a couple of years ago, but since the introduction of all-you-can-eat, they have gone downhill - poor service, fish quality is low

2. For an alternative, Sushi T&T, on Harwood, south of Hwy 2, is a good all-you-can-eat sushi. Fresh, fast service, I recommend it

3. Never had Mt. Everest for Indian, but right by Mt. Everest is Bombay Grill. Quite good.

4. Wings - You can't got wrong with St. Louis Grill on Harwood, south of Hwy 2. I know they are a chain gig, but the wings are pretty good. I also find Kelsey's at Harwood & Hwy 2 serve wings that are quite good.

5. My wife raves about Burb's Bistro. I've yet to go.

6. The Keg sucks. Major loss in quality

7. Costco hotdogs and fries - best quick lunch for value when shopping

8. There is a European deli in the plaza across from Costco in Ajax (same plaza as the McDonalds). Absolutely delicious schnitzel style sandwiches.

Off the top of my head, that's what I like in Ajax.

[scarberian]

Went to Buster Rhinos in Oshawa and the BBQ was solid as usual. The owner was friendly and when not busy would chat awhile. I had the brisket and it wasn't overly sauced and the meat was tender, not dry. However I had the medium sauce and although quite tasty, for me, I had expected to feel some heat but didn't. I will definitely go for the habanero sauce next time. I had fries and these were hand cut fries that were cooked well. My only complaint was that they were on the salty side (although I did keep eating them!). The baked beans were okay, not horrible, but nothing to write about. Overall I'd definitely go back for that brisket and get me a full rack of ribs. I would ask the owner to ease off on the salt for my order of fries, because the way they were cooked they are oh so tasty. BTW the owner did mention they were exploring at opening a Buster Rhinos in Toronto, maybe in the entertainment district. I say take small steps and open it in Scarborough first! Cheaper rents and people here are dying for real bbq without having to trek over to Whitby or the 'shwa.

Buster Rhinos
30 Taunton Rd. E., Unit 6
(Simcoe and Taunton Rd E.)

[gooditsall]

Just want to add a short note to thank all who recommended Buster Rhino's. Had to be in Whitby so had lunch at the Thickson Rd location--first taken back by the look of the place but quickly charmed by the server, delighted by the food and totally grateful to the hounds who lured me there. Wouldn't have wandered in there on my own but will be back--quite honestly, probably the Oshawa location which I'm told is a little nicer and has a bigger menu. Thanks everyone! Best barbecue ever!!

[Breadcrumbs]

I thought it may be worth mentioning in this thread that a 5 Guys Burgers & Fries is "Coming Soon" to the Smart Centre Plaza on Stevenson Road (near the 401) in Oshawa.

I've never eaten at this chain but I know it has its fans.

[sandymctyre]

Thanks Breadcrumbs. I don't get the attraction to 5 Guys. It's a decent burger, but pretty pricey, and I would take a Shake/Rabble/Roll or Starr burger over it. Or "The Mojo" at the Real McCoy in Scarberia. Perhaps I need a second taste?

[sandymctyre]

Just discovered this little gem...had seen the signs for a couple of years. If you're looking for a good deli sandwich, at a very respectable price, this is the place. Some of the items are available hot. Have tried a couple of different soups, and very happy with them. I have been back twice already, and plan on becoming a regular!

-----
Great Canadian Meat Company
1390 Hopkins St, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

[ShellMich]

Shake Rabble N'Roll on Hwy2 in Whitby has awesome burgers and fantasic hand-cut fries. Best burger I've had anywhere.

Bayly Restaurant in Ajax (Chef Tommy's) has spectacular Greek food.

And finally...Xenos has changed ownership and after boycotting for years we went last night - amazing pasta dishes at really reasonable prices!!!

[eatdrinklovelife]

I can recommend the following:

Milos Greek (PIckering). Great Souvlaki.
Mexico Lindo (Ajax and Whitby). In Ajax, the waiter treated me for one of their special spicy sauces.
Makimono & T&T (Ajax). Both serve decent food even though if my memory serves me correct, T&T is cheaper.
Odine. Decent Thai food. Rarely tasted their Japanese dishes.
Island Soul (Ajax). Great Jerk Chicken, particularly during the warmer months when they do it the traditional barrel-bbq way.

eatdrinklovelife.blogspot.com

-----
Mexico Lindo
1821 Scugog St, Scugog, ON L9L, CA

Mexico Lindo
915 Taunton Rd E, Oshawa, ON L1H7K5, CA

[TexSquared]

Sorry, have to disagree on your first two. Milos and all of the Lindo's are dreadful, and I'm not the only poster to have said it. Milos is a failed Friendly Greek, while the Lindo's are lame versions of what you could get in the U.S. for half the price and get twice the food.

[Breadcrumbs]

I 2nd TexSquared's concerns w Lindo. Our experiences were nothing better than just ok. Further comments in my post up-thread:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7137...

I haven't been to the other spots you've recommended.

[TexSquared]

When when the current Milos was still Friendly Greek, everything tasted "off" compared to every other FG (or Mr. Greek) I'd been to. Just tasted bad. We went once after the name change (since we always get their coupons in the junk mail) and it got WORSE. Never again.

No way to know if FG pulled the franchise from them (since clearly they weren't up to the quality of the rest of the chain) or if the owner quit paying the license fees, but either way, it was horrible.

Lindo's survive only for lack of competition. If La Galera (Niagara Falls, NY) or El Palenque (Buffalo, NY) opened in Durham the Lindo's would be out of business real fast. We have tried Los Cabos in Whitby, it's maybe slightly better than the Lindo's. At least it wasn't as depressing a place inside....

[munkdogg]

Driving through downtown Brooklin last night, I noticed the Fish & Chip place (one of them, anyway) has been updated as a Burger joint. Perfect!

http://www.baldwinstreetburger.com/

Haven't been yet, but they are indeed open. Might have to swing by this eve and report back :)

[Gormlaith]

Yes, it is KRISPY'S FISH AND CHIPS that have changed their format. I am looking forward to your review, munk!

[Torontotonto]

Visited the Baldwin Street Burger today. Menus is great....lots of interesting burger combinations, great toppings nice ambiance and friendly staff. Fries were exceptional with truffle aioli on the side. I had the Buffalo Wing burger with Hot Sauce, blue cheese and bacon, my wife had the nacho burger. We both agreed the toppings were great, the meat homemade BUT, the meat was burnt! There was another couple across from us that did not have the same issue so I rack it up to being open just a week now. We will go back and report back. This place has promise....

[kayia1]

not that it matters but was just wondering if it is the Krispey's owner that just changed formats? BTW a new "wine & beer" bar and resto will open just down the street across from the park on the east side, one of the partners of Corrados has some knowledge of the lady that is opening the resto and it does sound promising........could it be that the Brooklin/Whitby area is starting to UP te dining options???

[Torontotonto]

I really hope so. It is a different owner than Krispy's. Too bad that place didnt last but 3 F&C shops in Brooklin was 2 too many. They got rid of the wrong one.

[Dr Butcher]

That's a shame, I really enjoyed Krispy's. I thought you got great value for the money and it was top quality. One time I went in and a fish wasn't on their menu that day. The owner told me he didn't think the fish quality presented to him was up to par so he didn't buy it.

I didn't enjoy Stanley's nearly as much, and they seem to be expanding.

[Dimwit]

Try Daddy's Little Grill on Westney below Bayley in Ajax. It's in the Giant Tiger plaza at Westney and Lake Driveway. A limited menu but everything is made fresh and from scratch. Reasonable prices and great portions.
A great thing is that you can talk to George -- both the cook and the owner and he will modify (within reason) to your taste. Very cool guy.

[sandymctyre]

I have lived in Whitby for just a few years now, and moving from the Danforth area in Toronto, it was tough to go from all of that variety to mostly "big box" Whitby. If you're ever in the Coxwell/Gerrard area, try Sidhartha for some excellent indian, or Babu at Shepherd and Markham.
I have tried Nice Bistro only once, but had a most excellent experience. The food was very good, but the ambiance, and the owners were fantastic! Had a real "bistro" feel.
Bella Notte, we hav been there a few times and have never had a bad experience, food is always excellent (love the grilled calamari and the veal carpacchio), and the service has been outstanding.
Starr burger, as others have said, very good burger, reminiscent of the old "Johnny's" inScarborough (which is nowhere near the same now! :>( Beside the burger, try the Philly!
Pita Deli, now also at 5 points in Oshawa, excellent sandwich, monsterous portions, and I like that they slice your (warm) smoked meat to order. Not a fan of their shwarma (no spit){the upright kind}, but their falafel was good.
Like Sushi Mountain, and will try Kobo based on these reviews...especially from Tex Squared who mentioned J-Town and Ten-Ichi which are frequent stops of mine.
Take-out Chinese, Maple Garden has great chicken balls, and Jet Garden is good also.
The Prince used to be good greek, sad they went out of business. Los Cabos was ehhh. I have yet to find really good Mexican in Whitby.
The Sikorski Hall in Oshawa has excellent homemade Polish food every Sunday.

-----
Pita Deli
1600 Champlain Avenue, Whitby, ON L1N 9B2, CA

[TexSquared]

Great summary there! I can probably cut it down further:

Definites: Burbs Bistro, Buster Rhino, Pizza Pino, Kobo Gourmet, Sinatra's, Bellagio's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys (when they open in Scarborough it's worth the drive)

Avoids: Tim Horton's, anything named Lindo, 22 Church Steakhouse, Milos Greek, Mandarin, Thai One On, everything in the Whitby Entertainment Centrum complex, Wild Wing, South St.

Not bad but not great: Paul Wong's, Akashia, Great Wall, Makimono, Sushi Mountain, Waterfront Bistro, Red House (thai/malaysian), Lobster House

I'm sure others can add to these three simple categories for Durham Region chow, or disagree with some of my placements.

-----
Burbs Bistro
1900 Dixie Rd, Pickering, ON L1V6M4, CA

Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[trulibra]

No, no, no.....Red House is a fave. It has excellent food! Wild Wing however..not, won't go there ever again....

[TexSquared]

I like Red House too, it really was a coin toss whether it went to definite or not bad. Think of the three lists as Great (definites), Good ("not bad/not great"), and Never again ("avoids").

[ShellMich]

We love Makimono and 22 Church...although 22 Church is only good for special occasions...Pino's for sure...but also add to that Ginos Pizzeria and Pub on Church (not part of the Gino's chain),

[GlennScarborough]

In my quest for great veal sandwiches, I made a trip to Belaggios and had a very tasty sandwich. Nicely breaded and crisp with a tasty sauce I suspect they make in store. A delicious layer of mashed up jalapeno peppers on the bottom (unusual). Could have used more. I like extra hot. Dollar for dollar, I was impressed. Three layers of veal, BTW.

While it's not Whitby, I then went to Sinatra's in Oshawa. Fresh made with 4 layers of tender veal. Somehow the flavour wasn't as good as Belaggios or California's and seemed a bit dry. Maybe a bad day? But the sandwich was big! I didn't notice what peppers where in it but it may even have been crushed chili flakes. More sauce and jalapenos, please.

[kayia1]

For Mexican you might want to try El Dorado located on the south side of winchester just east of thcikson - part of a small 9 hole golf course. Chef is mexican tends to make everything fresh so can take a while. Not a big seating area and not open Mondays. Give it a try........

[Torontotonto]

I would second Kayia1. Great spot but slow. Try the specials...and the Chile Relenos.

[Dr Butcher]

Did a quick revier of Zeera By the Bay (Indian food) here:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/101489

[mississaugachow]

Try Maddy Pub in Bowmanvillle - a great place for lunch.

The menu is traditional Pub items but the food is fresh and homemade .

Sizeable plates at the good price.

[Shwagirl]

As I have lived in Durham for a number of years I understand that finding good places to eat can be difficult. Here is a list of my favourtie places;
Breakfast - Barnaby's in Courtice or Diamonds Grill in Oshawa
Lunch- La Cucina in Bowmanville (awesome veal or chicken parm on a bun)
Dinner - Corrado's in Brooklin, Brother's in Whitby for italian or Simcoe Jazz for Vindaloo chicken or Azian for sushi or yellow curry (both in Oshawa)

-----
La Cucina
130 Thomas St, Oakville, ON L6J3B1, CA

Diamonds Grill Restaurant
10 Bond St W, Oshawa, ON L1G1A2, CA

[Gormlaith]

Went to Arthur's on the 4th, Oshawa, this evening. Amazing meal. Best we have had in Durham in at least 4 years. It is on the 4th floor of the McLoughlin Gallery in downtown Oshawa. Parking is free and convenient...restaurant is top notch. Menu changes every couple of weeks, local and Canadian sourced-food, beautiful plates, friendly staff, friendly and knowledgeable chef. My husband and I had three courses, a bottle of wine, and two cups of tea for under $120. My meal included scallops and bacon jam, a prosciutto-wrapped chicken, and a sticky toffee pudding. My husband had a mushroom consomme (best mushroom soup he ever had), Lake Erie pickerel, and a lemon curd shortbread thingie. I cannot recommend this place enough. It is only open for dinner Thur-Sat nights. It also serves lunch. We checked out the lunch menu...it looks too amazing for the 'shwa.

Get out there, take your sweetie, and have a bargain gourmet meal. Get there before word gets out and you can no longer get a table.

[Gormlaith]

Arthur's is now closed for regular dining and will only be available for events. I now that some of you were not impressed, but my husband and I will miss the place. The food choices in Durham are very sad.

[MDMD]

Mexico Lindo and Cielito Lindo are disgusting. No one should ever eat "Mexican food" in Durham.
Shrimp Cocktail and Chatterpauls are also truly awful and overpriced.
That a Japanese restaurant is named "The Villa" should tell you everything you need to know.

Nice Bistro is good in downtown Whitby.
Sakura in Pickering has the best spicy tuna roll.

[torontobound]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/763888

[jennjen18]

FYI: http://www.groupon.com/deals/the-jasm...

[Hubby Santa]

Zack's friendly energy fills this small sandwich shop. The garlic chicken is scrumptious!

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Zack's Sandwiches
13 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1H1A1, CA

[jjmellon]

I've found a good Thai restaurant in downtown Whitby called I-Thai. Their web site is
www.ithairestaurant.com

It's been open for 18 months, the owner/chef is from Thailand, and the dishes we've tried so far seem to be unique and authentic. Standouts include the steamed Basa fish with ginger (we've had it twice); the mango salad that used sliced, not shredded, mangoes that were perfectly ripe; and the purple sticky rice.

I-Thai now replaces Odine as my favorite Thai restaurant in Durham. Odine's food is good, but it is more westernized than I-Thai.

[misslissa]

This place has the most amazing peanut currie ever! (iThai) I favour it to any Thai place in TO.

[munkdogg]

Tried the ginger garlic Basa based on this review, and holy was it ever good!! Definitely adding it to the list of favourites at i-Thai. Another is the peanut curry mentioned below....pretty much never miss a chance to order it.

[Breadcrumbs]

We decided to check this place out and were encouraged by the positive reviews here. We've had good and not-so-good dishes here and have concluded this is just ok Thai cuisine because the quality of the food isn't consistent.

Our first experience was mostly positive. On all visits we've been pleased with the friendly accommodating service and the prices are fair. The Ginger Garlic Basa mentioned above was lovely. Cubes of tender fish encrusted in a light, tasty batter with a flavourful sauce. The Pad Thai was ok, a little dry with only 4 small pieces of chicken and 3 pieces of tofu! Stir-fried Peanut Chicken was a good, simple dish. The Shrimp in the Peanut curry were overcooked and the sauce was good but nothing special in our books.

Next meal was mostly disappointing. Tempura (one order shrimp and one order veggie) was horrible. The vegetables were mushy, greasy and way over-done and the 4 pieces of shrimp were super-crunchy with way too much batter, they were super hard, as if they'd been double-fried. General Tao Chicken was horrible. The batter was mushy-mealy, the dish was over-sauced and cloyingly sweet. Although they smelled tasty, the stir-fried glass noodles were so greasy we ended up throwing them out after just a couple of bites. The purple sticky rice was the only hi-light.

We've concluded this isn't the place for us and have now moved on to another new (to us) Thai spot in Whitby. So far, we've been happy w Go For Thai (Glen Hill & Dundas) but I won't review until we've had a few more meals there.

[sandymctyre]

Thanks for the rec jjmellon! My wife and I just tried this place out. Aside from a little too much salt on the mango salad (IMHO, and I have been on a low sodium diet for the past 4 weeks so...), the food was excellent. We had the ginger garlic shrimp instead of trying the basa (not deep fried...diet...) and it was amazing, great ginger zing, and just enough heat. The green curry was also excellent, very flavourful, aromatic, and spiced just right. Also had the Tom Yum soup, which was very good. We will definitely be back!
We were comparing this to Go For Thai which just opened up on Dundas, just East of Thickson, and it was much better. At Go For Thai we had green curry chicken, which was good, but not great, and bami goreng, which was disappointing.

[scarberian]

Every time we go up to Fenelon Falls via hwy 7/12 we always pass by a resto called "Haugen's Chicken and Ribs". Been curious to try it, anyone ever tried this place? They seem to always have quite a few customers judging by the number of cars in their parking lot and once we saw this place packed with vintage cars during one summer night. I can't recall the exact location, but I think it's just north of Myrtle Station (is that still Durham?).

[jjmellon]

It's located just west of Port Perry. It closes every winter (December thru February/March). In summer it has a vintage car night once a week. You would go there because it is "an institution" or "a legend" on the way to the cottage, not because you want good food. If you like this type of food, Swiss Chalet is closer and arguably better.

[ToxicJungle]

My husband is one of those crazy motorcycle people, who will go any where just because, and we always go there for a short distance ride. Haugen's Chicken is more a gathering place for motorcycles and vintage cars. Food is very old school, more like "Country Kitchen" kind, green salad with kraft dressing, cold bun, watered down ketchup as BBQ sauce, but I do like the chicken when they are fresh(a couple times I got some which was a little dry), not over the top seasoning, just the basic salt and pepper, but the freshness makes up for it, and I usually get gravy(from the can) for my chicken instead of the "BBQ sauce". Or most the time we just order a whole chicken(around $14) to go and do my own sides at home.

[hal2010]

I'm working on a project in Oshawa and have recently discovered Viva Burrito - on Centre Street just North of King. A small place with about 16 seats, doing mostly takeout. Very good burritos and reasonably priced at $4.50 for a small, $6.00 for a large. They also serve Jarritos soft drinks.

[misslissa]

Sooooooooo many great choices here! I second Avanti in Oshawa for Italian, Stanley's in Brooklin for Fish & Chips and Odine in Ajax for good Japanese. The Brock House recently opened and has good atmosphere and appetisers and late night drinks.
I also have to say for burgers... I've been to Starr Burger and am just not loving it as much as I love Shake, Rabble and Roll on Dundas in Whitby. It is under new ownership in a location which I believe previously hosted an unsuccessful location. The combos are too big for one person. The burgers are great! I love this place! And, they have Kawartha Dairy products. Just keep in mind that everything is fresh to order so there is a little wait for your order. Poutine is also good there.
Corrado's in Brooklin is now open in place of Pepperberries Bistro but haven't tried it yet.
Check out my blog recently created just for this purpose... http://decadenceindurham.blogspot.com/

-----
Kawartha Dairy
304 Toronto St S, Uxbridge, ON L9P, CA

Pepperberries
38 Baldwin St, Whitby, ON L1M1A2, CA

[scarberian]

I've always passed by Shake, Rabble and Roll every time I'm out east in Whitby (on Hwy 2 aka Kingston Rd aka Dundas St. E.) and I've always wanted to see what it was like. Wife and I finally were able to try the place today and we enjoyed the food. First of all of their burgers with "Rabble" in the name are FRESH, they do serve a frozen patty burger which they refer to as a "regular" burger. The Rabble burgers are usually 6 oz, but there is an 8 oz as well. They are thin burgers but are wide in diameter and they are cooked over a grill (I'm assuming it's a gas grill). It's a good sized burger.

As for flavour, I liked the grilled taste and it was much more flavourful than South Street Burger. Now compared to Burger's Priest, the Rabble is drier, not totally dry, just drier (although it was slightly pink in the middle). I'm guessing due to it being thin and cooked over a grill whereas the BP burger is thin but cooked over a flat top so it cooks in it's own juices and stays juicy. Overall it was tasty and filling.

I ordered the combo so it came with fresh cut fries. I did find their fries a bit too thick for MY tastes, it may appeal to others. Being thick the texture didn't appeal to me as much, although they were lightly salted and they were okay in flavour. I prefer my fresh cut fries thinner. My wife ordered just a Rabble burger and shake and she enjoyed both especially the shake.

As for the resto itself, the cook (owner?) and cashier were very friendly. The place is clean and has the feel of a diner from the 50's with classic rock playing in the background and pictures of 50's icons on the walls. You order at the cashier and pick up your order when it's ready. They only have booths and it can be a squeeze for larger people. We paid ~$20 altogether for our meal and we'd go back again if in the area.

[BusterRhino]

Go back on Monday nights in the summer to Shake Rabble and Roll - it's car night and they are packed to the rafters with just beautiful older cars.

[Dr Butcher]

I recently tried this place after they posted a coupon on WagJag. A very solid burger and fries. They serve what I affectionately call a 'Greek' burger, similar to ones found at Shamrock, the Real McCoy, Big M Burgers etc. They are pre-seasoned with salt, pepper, onion and possibly oregano.

I've been twice, the first time the fries were a little undercooked, the second time a little overcooked. Overall though, a great little place. My SO had an order of poutine that was massive. I was jealous of my plain fries in comparison.

The burger was packed underneath the fries which squished the bun:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30...

[Gormlaith]

As I said above, Stanley's has changed ownership and is no longer the place it once was. Oh well. Back to Jasper's in Pickering for us!

[Breadcrumbs]

Good luck with this quest RA. While I can say a lot of good things about Durham, the restaurant scene here is sadly lacking. I do look forward to trying some of the spots folks have suggested here though so thanks for posting your question.

I've read through some of the suggestions in this thread. Here's what I can add:

Avanti Trattoria in Oshawa. I'd recommend for thin crust pizza, not because it's excellent but because its better than others we've had in Durham...and we've tried all the thin crust pizza spots we know of. For "wood oven" pizza it really doesn't have that flavour. Some items are purchased pre-made such as the bruschetta topping (dry oregano...blah!). We've had the pastas, they underwhelmed us in terms of their flavour and value.

Chatterpauls - This is the best quality dining experience we've had in Durham. The food is freshly prepared and Chef Chatterpaul has his own unique style (he used to be head chef at Shrimp Cocktail - they suffered from his departure). The pasta dishes at Chatterpauls can be over-sauced but are pretty good.

Mexico Lindo - We did eat there and it was ok. We will not be going back due to their repeated public health violations ( at more than one of their locations) Here's the most recent report FYI)

http://www.durham.ca/departments/heal...

Greek Tycoon - didn't impress us, nothing special. Food was bland, lukewarm and over-priced.

Buster Rhino's - good quality, tasty ribs, chicken and sauce

Bellagio's - I'd highly recommend the gelato and the arancini. The veal sandwiches have not impressed us. Veal is almost the same thickness as the breading and there was a seasoning in the breading that just didn't appeal to us and I couldn't put my finger on what it was. A dried herb not oregano, basil or thyme....it was quite overpowering we thought. The owners are very nice and the gelato alone is well worth the trip.

Starr Burger - see health violation report above

None of the Asian options here have compared to what you'd find in most other cities. Paul Wong's in Pickering (close to Bellagio's) is the best of the lot but nothing remarkable. We have not tried Kobo's but will do so now.

Fazio's failed to impress us. They have a pizza spot and it was disappointing. The crust wasn't terrific and I expected a better sauce from an Italian restaurant. The main restaurant has been around for quite a long time. We love Italian food but this place just failed to impress us.

Pita Deli does have great middle-eastern take-out. Sandwiches, fatoush are excellent.

Nolio's is a new Italian take-out spot in Whitby at the Kendalwood Plaza. Their chicken parm sandwich was excellent, good sized pieces of chicken breast, almost too much to eat. Their tomato sauce was fabulous, very authentic. Unfortunately they don't do veal or eggplant. The meatball sandwich didn't sit well with us at all. The owner is very hospitable.

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Fazio's
33 Simcoe St S, Oshawa, ON L1H4G1, CA

Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

Mexico Lindo
915 Taunton Rd E, Oshawa, ON L1H7K5, CA

Shrimp Cocktail
843 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1J2L4, CA

Chatterpauls
3500 Brock N, Whitby, ON L1R0G2, CA

Greek Tycoon Restaurant
1101 Brock St S, Whitby, ON L1N4M1, CA

Pita Deli
1600 Champlain Avenue, Whitby, ON L1N 9B2, CA

Avanti Trattoria
17 King St E, Oshawa, ON L1H1A8, CA

[Underdog Rally]

I agree with Chatterpauls. While the menu is similar to that of a stereotypical suburban big box restaurant, I found the food preparation to be several notches higher. It's still not great food or great value by GTA standards, but it's better than most of the other "let's just cover everything in bland cream sauce" or "here is a big piece of grilled meat" offerings in the area.

As I read this thread, I'm slowly coming to realize why we just cook at home when I visit my Whitby-dwelling parents. There really isn't much that interests me out there other than Buster Rhinos. Whitby isn't exactly a hamlet... you'd think that there would be some demand for more than burgers, steaks, Tim Hortons and Swiss Chalet (not that I don't appreciate Swiss Chalet). Someone needs to go open a good dim sum place, or a chain of sketchy Indian take-out counters and Pho dives.

-----
Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

Chatterpauls
3500 Brock N, Whitby, ON L1R0G2, CA

[Breadcrumbs]

A little update on my earlier post. After hearing some positive things about Signature Indian Cuisine in Whitby, we decided to give it a try today. We chose to get take-out so I can't comment on the dine-in experience but can say that we were generally, pleasantly surprised by the quality and authenticity of the food.

All dishes were made to order to accommodate a food allergy. The Naan was wonderful, pillowy-soft and freshly baked in an authentic tandoor. Butter Chicken was good. The sauce was delicious the chicken was a little over-cooked. The Malai Kofta was another highlight with a silky-smooth, rich tomato cream sauce. The Tandoori chicken was also delicious and perfectly cooked. The Palak Paneer was just ok, under-seasoned for our tastes and the Aloo Gobi was also a bit bland and the veggies were on the soft side. Overall though, we were quite happy with the meal and we'll definitely order again.

[Breadcrumbs]

Just an update to my earlier report on Chatterpauls. Based on our recent dining experience, I can no longer recommend this restaurant with confidence. On this visit we found the food to be over-priced, over-seasoned and most dishes were very oily.

I don't recall ever being charged $11.95 for Bruschetta at any restaurant so at that price, my expectations were high. Very, very disappointing. Tomatoes were under-ripe, pink and flavourless. Garlic was raw-tasting and overpowering. The "plum tomato cajun broth" on the Spicy Calamari appetizer was actually a spiced tomato "sauce" with a large pool of oil surrounding it - far too heavy and overpowering for the calamari. The tiger shrimp in the Tiger Shrimp and Boar pasta were over-cooked and, the whole dish was drowning in a thick and very oily tomato sauce. While the chicken in the chicken parmesan was ok, the sauce on the pasta was very bland and "gluey".

This experience was so disappointing, particularly in light of the absurdly high prices being charged for such poorly executed dishes, we won't be back and would not recommend.

-----
Chatterpauls
3500 Brock N, Whitby, ON L1R0G2, CA

[tuttebene]

A great lunch choice is 3 Steps Up Coffee House. Great for lattes, soups, and sandwhiches. All fresh, locally sourced, prepared on-site and focus is on organic.

840 Brock St., just south of Starr Burger.

[iheartpie]

Pizza Pino's has delicious pizza, IMO. Keep in mind its a big heavy pizza loaded with toppings and cheese. We usually need a knife and fork.

I have personally never had a bad meal at Mt Everest, either eat in or take out. I always enjoy the little buffet, and yes, the naan is great.

I like Halibut Time for fish and chips on Hwy 2 near Westney in the Sobey's plaza. I always get the halibut. Big portion, nice batter, nice fresh chips.

Not personally a fan of Tangerine, I prefer Federicks in Scarborough, but its ok.

Tried Tommy's on Bayly for souvlaki, NOT IMPRESSED. Over priced, oily pita bread and some of the worst calamari I've ever had.

I can always get a nice breakfast at Station st Grill.

-----
Mt Everest Restaurant
469 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S1X9, CA

Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[BamiaWruz]

Thanks for the pizza reviews, and pictures Dr Butcher.

I'm gonig to keep this place in mind.

Also I've always wondered if Halibut time was any good, will give it a try.

[torontodrummer]

Big thumbs up on Pino's, Mt. Everest, and Halibut Time! All great.

If you want Greek food, I think that Milos Greek restaurant on Kingston Rd. in Pickering is fantastic. Good, solid well-prepared basic Greek food, great service, HUGE portions (easily enough for lunch the next day). As good as or better than on the Danforth, I think.

[TexSquared]

Has Milos cleaned up its act? Remember, that used to be a Friendly Greek but lost the franchise because they couldn't match the quality of the rest of the chain, so they went on their own. (we were told this by someone at the Morningside/Kingston Friendly Greek) There was a noticeably difference (and not on the good side) between that location and Morningside/Kingston. Tried them once after they changed the name (since they always have coupons in the junk mail and local papers), haven't been back since, it was that bad.

[madtrini]

A franchisor would not release a franchisee on its own volition, unless they were doing irreparable harm to the brand, which was not the case. Who would turn away additional revenue?

Rather, the owners let their franchise agreement expire and opened up their own Greek restaurant. They're basically offering the exact same food, service, quality and atmosphere, without having to pay franchise royalties. They already established their core clientele - so why not go solo?

With that said, I don't find Milos' fare as good as the restaurants in Greek Town. It is certainly fine food, and offers good value. However, it's not the definitive Greek experience...

[TexSquared]

I agree. We avoid Milos no matter what. It's horrible.

[ToxicJungle]

We were there about a month ago, really disappointed. Lack of a lot of things to my taste.

[jo_jo_ba]

Halibut Time is AMAZING - used to live one street over from there and ate there regularly!! Tommy's has gone way downhill, sadly - when they first opened they were awesome. I don't know about Station St., but I know the chef there and, well... I'm in no hurry to patronize them...

Pizza Hunt is delicious and cheap in that area, and Kerry's was an old favourite (and another neighbour). Stay FAR away from Church 22 Steakhouse though. Trust me.

[BamiaWruz]

WOW I wish I knew about halibut time, so many times I found myself in that plaza and avoided it because I thought it was bad.

Yikes. I want fish and chips now!! Great that it's so close because then I can leave my SO at home since he's allergic to seafood.

[helenrist]

What reasoning would you have to stay away from 22 Church Steakhouse?

[sugarcube]

iheartpie, which pizza would you recommend getting at Pizza Pino`s?

Thanks in advance!
http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com/

-----
Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[TexSquared]

We usually get either the Pino Special or the Veggie (not the Veggie Special). IMHO, pick which one has your favorite combination of toppings, what you'd order anywhere else, and see how they make it for you. Unlike the chains, they don't apply toppings/sauce/cheese using a spray gun set to "fine mist". As I said earlier in this thread, notice they don't offer "extra cheese" or "double cheese" as an option... you won't need it.

http://www.pizzapino.ca/menu1.html

[sugarcube]

Thanks for your suggestions TexSquared. I look forward to trying this place.
Have you tried the garlic or pesto pizza before? Those have piqued my interest.
Also, I appreciate the heads up on the cheese. My instinct is to always order more of it! haha

I've been doing some more research on places to eat in this area. Do you have any thoughts on Masseys Restaurant, Hot Rocks Diner, Pete's Big Bite, and Red House?

Thanks in advance for your help!

http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com/

[BamiaWruz]

The ranch is very interesting. They gave me the wrong pizza but it was delicious.
The mistake was corrected and they delivered me a whole new pizza (the one I ordered) so they're very nice there.

Prices are a little high but it's worth it, the dough is great and there is tons of cheese like the other posters mentioned. It also tastes great leftover, not cardboard like at all.

[sugarcube]

Hi BamiaWruz,

Is it a ranch dipping sauce or used as a base on the pizza? If so, which one is it?
Thick crust pizzas are my favourite so this place sounds like it will fit the bill nicely.
Thanks for your help and comments on Pino's!

http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com/

[BamiaWruz]

It's the chicken and ranch, the ranch is the sauce on it and there is chicken and cheese I think. It was one major screw up and by time they got my pizza I already ate half of it.

It's called colonel something pizza.

[sugarcube]

Thank you! Hopefully I can convince my friend to eat here tomorrow even though she is requesting something "light" lol.

[sugarcube]

We were in the area the other night and tried the mammoth clamshell of a panzerotti at Pino's. It was filled to the brim with our 3 fillings of choice as well as tomato sauce, and what I suspect was a pound of mozzarella cheese. It tasted perfect with the crust which was so light, fluffy, and flavourful.

We also ordered a small garlic pizza, which was quite a letdown. The garlic base was much too light and I was quite a bit disappointed at how little flavour there was in general. The pizza crust here wasn't as thick either. It was flat and quite lifeless.
The panzerotti was the definite winner of the evening.

http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com/

[helenrist]

The Red House is actually called 22 Church Steakhouse which has amazing fresh food made to order.

[sugarcube]

Thanks for the information Helenrist. I'll make sure to try it next time I'm in the area.
Cheers!

http://theavidbaker.wordpress.com/

[TexSquared]

The poster you're replying to might have been referring to Red House at Whites and Kingston, a Thai/Malaysian restaurant:

http://www.theredhouse.ca/

[sandymctyre]

Thanks for the rec, "iheartpie"! I have been waiting to try this place for a while, and I was not disappointed! Had the Mediterranean Pino, truly a pizza pie, you weren't kidding when you said knife and fork! It was reminiscent of Columbo's on the Danforth that we used to frequent. I will definitely be going back.

[durham175]

We really liked the roast lamb and exohico at Greek Tycoon, we tried the souvlaki another time and were not impressed.

Pita Delite in Ajax is very good.

For sushi our favourite place is Akashia on Kingston road, the service is slow, the atmosphere is ok but the sushi is very good.

Still looking for a good pizza in durham ..

-----
Pita Delites
102 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S2H6, CA

Greek Tycoon Restaurant
1101 Brock St S, Whitby, ON L1N4M1, CA

[Torontotonto]

Have you tried Pizza Pino? It was in the top 5 for best pizza in Toronto from Breakfast Television. Took me 2 years to find a pizza joint in Durham. Thought it was very good.

-----
Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[durham175]

Thanks! will try it out for sure.

[Dr Butcher]

Had Pizza Pino for lunch, a very solid pie. It reminded me of Montreal style pizza, loaded with toppings and the cheese applied on top.

The cheese seemed a little rubbery to me, not sure if they're using real mozzarella or a cheese product however.... It's not overly expensive when compared to local chains and far better. Thanks for the rec!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/DrButcher/Food/Picture1015.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v308/DrButcher/Food/Picture1010.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v30...

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Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[TexSquared]

Third (or fourth?) recommendation for Pizza Pino. Amazing stuff.

I'm not familiar with Montreal style pizza so I can't agree or disagree with that assessment, but as Dr. Butcher said it's not significantly more expensive than chain pizza but blows them all away in quality. What was really telling is, "extra" or "double" cheese is not offered as an option. You won't need it....

-----
Pizza Pino
855 Westney Rd S, Ajax, ON L1S3M4, CA

[wiggy.]

+1 for Pita Delite. I've made several stops there on the way home to Brampton and have been consistently happy with whatever I order. I'm a hero at home when I show up with falafels, hummus and baba ganoush. Definitely worth a visit and I'm glad to have found the place listed here.

Wandered around that little strip mall to see what else there is and tried out House of China for takeout. That was a $60 disaster. Mushy food, lots of off flavours and low end ingredients. I won't be poking my nose in there again ever and would advise other folks to stay clear.

-----
House of China
100 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S2H6, CA

Pita Delites
102 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S2H6, CA

[Full tummy]

And just to add to your question, what's the latest word on Pepperberries Bistro in Brooklin?

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Pepperberries
38 Baldwin St, Whitby, ON L1M1A2, CA

[tuttebene]

Closed a while ago. Building is under construction and looks like another resto may be going in.

[Sacherboy]

Apparently it will be an Italian Restaurant, Corrodo's (sp?) sign says opening soon, which I guess means sometime in the next three months.....

[tuttebene]

As in Teddy Corrado?

[zoohort2]

Nice Bistro used to be my fave when I lived there...http://www.nicebistro.com/

[jo_jo_ba]

I third Buster Rhinos - and actually Azian in Oshawa is pretty decent too. For good Italian try either Fazios or Avanti Trattoria in Oshawa.

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Fazio's
33 Simcoe St S, Oshawa, ON L1H4G1, CA

Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

Avanti Trattoria
17 King St E, Oshawa, ON L1H1A8, CA

[Lefty]

We just had lunch at Odine-Japanese & Thai Fusion in Ajax (Salem and 2) and it was very good.

-----
Thai Fusion Restaurant
969 Coxwell Ave, Toronto, ON M4C3G4, CA

[Dr Butcher]

I have tried a couple of Indian places in Durham and wasn't a fan of either:

Mount Everest, I will admit that I have only had the buffet so I can't be too judgemental. They had a good naan.....

I also didn't like Signature Indain cuisine. I stopped in for their lunch specials a couple of times and I'm pretty positive I heard the microwave beeping as I sat at the bar waiting. Their vindaloo curry was grainy and somewhat off-putting. Again good naan though!

I stick to Cheetal at Kingston Rd and Miltary trail in Scarborough, it's cheap and delicious. Dishes average $2-$3 cheaper than most other places I've been.

-----
Mount Everest
611 Kingston Rd W, Ajax, ON L1S6L9, CA

[BamiaWruz]

Mount everest in pickering for indian?

[sweetie]

Yes, I really like the meal I had there. Apparently they do a buffet @ lunch or is it on the weekends? I can remember, I ordered a la carte, the bread is good and our family favorite butter chicken was solid. Personally though my favorite was deep fried cauliflower, I am not sure if this is Indian, but I would order this again (and again and again).

[Dr Butcher]

I didn't like Big Boys, the burgers were big but were full of filler. They tasted to me like a giant Harvey's burger. The fries were totally forgettable, they were dry and tasted like they'd been sitting in the fridge for a few days.

Greek tycoon was a total let down. I had gyros which came from a package, my SO had chicken souvlaki that was bland (although prepared well). We had an order of saganaki, no booze and left with a bill that was around $50 including tax and tip. Overpriced and underwhelming. I have not found good Greek in Durham yet.

Starr Burger is my choice for burgers. It's always packed, stick with the Starr burgers, and not the pre-made steakettes. Excellent fries and onion rings as well.

Sinatra's has decent veal sandwiches. They can get expensive if you add cheese or extra toppings though, they are $1 each IIRC....

I like Makimono, Sushi Mountain, and Oishi Maki in Ajax and Whitby, they are all solid but unspectacular sushi places. Steer clear of Sushi T&T, and Kyoto House which are sloppy and aren't up to the same standard as the others I mentioned.

Mexico Lindo is decent but never wowed me, I guess you could always go to Taco Bell for worse.

BR's for excellent BBQ without the need for 15 hours and a smoker. Bare bones dining but excellent food and service, probably the best order of fries in Durham.

Montreal Fries, is good but you can replicate the steamies at home pretty easily. Generous poutine, which uses a 'poutine sauce' not a brown gravy. Not exactly a 'destination' but in the area it's worth a stop. Confusing parking and one way streets make stopping a headache at times.

Krispy's in Brooklin, great fish and chips, excellent onion rings (some of the best I've had) and a decent value. A nice change from the ripoff prices some places try to gouge for pre-fab onion rings.....

I stay away from North End Burger, it's always busy because it's cheap. You get what you pay for, pre-fab steakettes, frozen fries..... I assume it's like the east end version of Johnny's.

Tangerine has a couple of good dishes but many are forgettable. I like their Pakoras, but most everything else I've tried was 'meh'.

Stanley's Fish and Chips is another good option (and a couple of doors down from Krispy's in Brooklin). I didn't think the fries were as good as Krispy's although the fish was very nice.

Chatterpaul's gets some good reviews but I have not been. I have heard mixed things about the new Brock House but again I haven't been.

If you like pita sandwiches, Pita Deli is awesome, good falafels and massive portions. Super friendly owners of both locations.

-----
Mexico Lindo
1821 Scugog St, Scugog, ON L9L, CA

Chatterpauls
3500 Brock N, Whitby, ON L1R0G2, CA

Pita Deli
1600 Champlain Avenue, Whitby, ON L1N 9B2, CA

North End Burgers
605 Brock N, Whitby, ON L1N8R2, CA

[Gormlaith]

Sorry to say, but Stanley's has changed owners/management recently (it is 29 June 2012) and the service and food is NOT the same. The fries were horrible, there were only two ladies working the entire place (this includes the kitchen) and, therefore, service was painfully slow. I saw at least one table walk out. Once the food arrived, it was OK, but definitely not the same. I think they are trying to use the same recipes, but it isn't working. We won't go back. I wonder if the Whitby location has suffered the same fate.

[Torontotonto]

We have recently eaten at Nice Bistro for lunch. It was very good...I think it has gotten lukewarm reviews in the past. I thought it was great Bistro food. Eldorado for Mexican, the chef is Mexican and he will prepare some nice things there. Service is dodgy but the food is very good. Teddy's is very good for deli sandwiches, Montreal Fries and Steamies for..you know. Crispy's for Fish and Chips.
Buster Rhino's for BBQ.

[Selleck Stache]

The Villa on Highway 2, west of Brock, is a reliable go to for sushi for me. I am also interested in some other Whitby options, I'm needing to expand my rotation of restaurants these days!

[BamiaWruz]

I like Makimono in Pickering and Ajax! Sushi, Sashimi and all you can eat is something I go for often.

It's right by pickering town centre on Liverpool.

There is some yummy lahmbajeen middle eastern pizza style and other foods at Open Sesame in Ajax on Bayly too.

I wasn't too impressed with hot rocks cafe in Whitby as it was kind of on the expensive side, but the food was delicious.

[TexSquared]

Have you been to Kobo Gourmet for sushi in Pickering? I keep driving by it but have never checked it out:

http://www.kobogourmet.com/

Looks like it's actually owned and operated by Japanese, unlike the sushi places you've listed. Don't get me wrong, Makimono and Sushi Mountain are OK for AYCE (as is Ten-Ichi in Scarborough which is my favorite AYCE place).

I'd like to try "authentic" but I'm not quite ready to splurge on the high-end places (Kaji, Zen, Hiro, the usual suspects) yet, so I'm hoping one of the sushi veterans here has tried Kobo and can tell me if it's a worthwhile choice.

[BamiaWruz]

Haven't tried it. However it may be the one I heard of at the Organic Expo in guelph while purchasing some organic miso paste, the man said he supplies it to a japanese restaurant in the area which is very popular.

I'll look into it next time I'm thinking sushi :) Thanks!

[scarberian]

Actually Zen is quite reasonable in price. Go at lunch and order their bento boxes, it's worth it.

[scarberian]

Just had dinner at Kobo's today for Fathers' Day and it was solid Japanese food. The sushi was very fresh and the wasabi had a good kick. The prices were very reasonable and they also offer omakase. My daughter had the breaded pork cutlet and it's by far the best version of a tonkatsu (?) I've tried -- succulent and not oily. My wife had the teriyaki salmon which was presented in a more Westernized way (it was served on rice, but came with small roasted potatoes and sauteed vegetables. It worked! The service was friendly and efficient and I left feeling very satisfied, but not heavy. The only very minor thing they may want to work on is the atmosphere. It seemed more diner like than say the atmosphere at Zen (Zen plays mellow Japanese music, whereas Kobo had a local radio station playing rock music -- it wasn't annoying, but seemed out of place).

[jayt90]

Thanks for this. I'll go. Never gave it much thought because of no reviews, and a thoroughly dull store front. Maybe I'll ask them to change the music.

[scarberian]

Forgot to mention, my wife ordered the California Roll and it seemed different from other places. It wasn't bad -- it tasted fresh, clean -- but lacked something that ,say the Cali Roll at Zen has. Everything else we ordered was very good. If I were to rank it, I'd say a good second to Zen, but definitely above places like Niji, Icki Sushi, etc.

[TexSquared]

Went there today for lunch finally. Wow.
I've never been to any of the high end places (the usual suspects, kaji, zen, hiro; it's getting repetitive to hear them recommended over and over and over again) but this place is definitely a step up from any other Japanese I've had so far.

Wife had the tonkatsu and said it was the best she's had, beats the one from the diner at J-town and blows away any of the AYCE versions including Ten-Ichi and Makimono. Like you said, succulent and not oily. I had the lunch sushi which was nice, I could definitely taste the difference in quality of the fish and especially the rice. The AYCE places go cheap/lazy on this and use plain white rice for their nigiri. but Kobo does not; could taste the vinegar dressing in there and the wasabi wasn't weak unlike most places.

Since your complain was the music, this time it was instrumental jazz music (which also didn't quite go with the food but oh well), don't know if it was off local radio, satellite radio, CD, online, or some other source as I never heard a DJ or commercials.

Long story short -- strong recommendation for this place especially if you've only had AYCE or "phony" sushi and want to step up. I will definitely return for dinner and try the omakase next time!

[jjmellon]

Tried Kobo last Saturday night because of the discussion here. The chef is Japanese, and the waitresses appear to be recently arrived from Japan. We ordered the house-smoked salmon salad, the sushi omakase, grilled sea bass and a mixed seafood grill. All of them were very good, and the prices are relatively low. Of high end Japanese restaurants I only know Solo Sushi Ya in Newmarket -- this is in the same league, but a notch lower in the standings. I'd say it's a very good choice for Japanese food in Durham region.

[MDMD]

Kobo has excellent food.

[xssnrg]

The Villa is my 'go to' for sushi. Love the maki set - tempura shrimp role for lunch. Yum Yum. Fresh. Fast. Great ambiance and the price is approx. $10.

[TexSquared]

Oh yes, definitely recommend Burbs Bistro and Bar in Pickering over any of the overrated "waterfront" choices at the foot of Liverpool.

-----
Burbs Bistro
1900 Dixie Rd, Pickering, ON L1V6M4, CA

[MDMD]

The Waterfront has redone the menu and seriously upgraded the food. You can get an excellent meal there now.

[trulibra]

I second that, for the Waterfront Bistro. Husband I and go there fairly regularly. At first, we hesitated, for we had been there before (several restaurant name changes) and we were pleasantly surprised this time! I even tried their Winterlicious menu, and it passed!

[TexSquared]

Buster Rhino's in Whitby for BBQ
Bellagio's in Pickering for Italian veal sandwiches
Big Boy's in Pickering (same plaza as Bellagio's) for burgers

Those are three of my go-to places in Durham, I'm sure others will chime in. I'm honestly not too impressed with the Lindo "chain". Overpriced for what you get (as far as quantity and quality).

-----
Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

[jayt90]

I haven't gone to Big Boy's, though I can walk there.
Reason: a review that they pre-cook their burgers. No chance of medium rare, or beef ground on site.

[crazee]

As a cook Jayt90 I have to tell you...legally we cannot serve a medium rare burger, due to the inherent contamination issues with ground meat. Safe food handler standards in Ontario require it to be cooked to 165 internal temperature. If I were to serve someone a med/rare burger and they got sick they could sue the restaurant, we could also be shut down. Where I work the burgers are cooked fresh and homemade, but must be med/well done.

These standards do not apply to steak/roast beef etc.

I am with you on liking my beef on the less cooked side, I hate well done meat of any kind. Sadly I have to save that for home where I can do what I want.

[BamiaWruz]

Big boys also has the battered and deep fried mars bars, I went there once for that. Not sure about the burgers or other foods on the menu as haven't tried.

[wontonfm]

Seconding Buster Rhino's! fabulous BBQ.

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.net

-----
Buster Rhino's
2001 Thickson Rd S, Whitby, ON L1N, CA

[sweetie]

I found the burgers @ big boy to be a little too pre fab as well. I didn't seem like they made any thing on the premises, it all looked and tasted like food service type stuff.

[TexSquared]

Just a heads-up for anybody planning on making the trip out to Pickering. Bellagio's is closed for renovations until Monday September 26.

[hidpage]

After 6 years of eating around Durham our faves are:

Breakfast-

#1 is Anjeliques in Ajax. (huge portions, unique and large menu, shredded hashbrowns, great coffee, peameal and egg sandwich is amazing and decent renovation)

#2 is Rainbow Restaurant in Oshawa (this place is unreal! Family run forever and large portions and great quality breakfast. )Also good for lunch. A virtual hole in the wall on Simcoe St S. but worth looking for.
#3 is Michaels Eatery in Ajax.( great standard fare, fast and fresh,super friendly, always get your order right)

Lunch/Dinner Casual

* Halibut Time in Ajax for fish and chips (Daddy's Little Grill a close 2nd)

* Sushi and Rolls in Ajax. Best all you can eat dinner options, the taste is very traditional Japanese, I recommend the tempura shrimp stuffed sushi rolls (Tokyo Maki)

*Island Mix in Ajax for West Indian (amazing quality and authentic Roti and fun menu)

*Mt.Everest in Ajax for Indian (spicy Vindaloo is wonderful as well as their butter chicken) (creepy interior but great for takeout.)

*Daddy's Little Grill in Ajax makes a mean homeade souvlaki platter. The best Tzatziki.

*Bobby C's in Bowmanville (blue cheese salad and a substantial seafood platter....heaven.)

*Pizza Pino's is the only place we will get pizza!

*Blossom Garden in Ajax for Chinese. Never fail hot and fresh delivery...and there is chicken in the chicken balls not just batter like House of China : (

Higher End

*Port at Frenchmans Bay ( portions are not huge but flavour is there, the menu has changed for the better recently) and presentation is A+ as well as atmoshphere.

*Bella Note in Whitby does Italian right (their mussels are superior and the marinara they are in is gently flavored with Jalepeno's, handmade gnocchi excellent)

Fails:
-Any Lindo Restaurant EXCEPT Cielito Lindo in Pickering, the owner is always the cook and makes a chicken pasole soup that is spectacular.
-Chatterpauls (overpriced and trying to hard to be pretentious instead of finding a great chef)
-Sauters Inn (I want to like it here but I find it weak compared to a made at home German feed)
-EggsCrepes chain, and most other chain breaky joints to be frank)
-Il Fornello just plain sucks unless you are going for wine on the patio
-wild wing, montana's, shoeless joe's etc etc. Ewwww.

What our choices have in common are that they are independent and NOT franchised. The people who run restaurants for their livelihood desire customer satisfaction and try harder to impress.

There is also a cute coffee shop called Debbie's on Harwood in Ajax that has some nice desserts which I find are hard to find out...anyone know anywhere to go for a beautiful cake that doesn't boast pretty over flavour?