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?

[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).

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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

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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.

[TexSquared]

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

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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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

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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

[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 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.

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

[Lefty]

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

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

[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

[zoohort2]

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

[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?

[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 ..

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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.

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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....

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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.

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

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

[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.

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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/

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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.

[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.

[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.

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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

[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...

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Hubby Santa]

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

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

[jennjen18]

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

[torontobound]

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

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[Dr Butcher]

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

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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....

[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!!!

[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

[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?

[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.)

[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.

[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.

[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.