celebration lunch downtown T.O.?
My best friend's mom is coming into town from AB and wants to surprise her with a nice lunch to celebrate her finishing her grad degree. Any recs for a spot downtown for lunch that's not too expensive? I'd like to keep it to less than $60/pp with wine. They're meat and potatoes girls, and anything Asian is a no go.
Thanks.
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Rabbit
Aug 18, 2010 06:20 AM
You've got some good options going...
- I second the suggestions for Mercatto (I like the College Street location)
- I also like Nota Bene (although it has a slightly corporate feel)
- And I like Frank (although I am not a fan of the all-Canadian wine list)
- Le Select has a pretty patio this time of year, and it's a good place for lingering
- I think Canoe or George would be budget busters and perhaps overly fussy if they are meat and potatoes peopleAnd a few more thoughts:
- I have never been to Great Cooks on Eight, but it gets good reviews around here and it's a sort of "secret" place I'd like to try: www.greatcooks.ca
- I'm a big fan of Tutti Matti
- Starfish does a nice lunch (if they're into fish
)- I'm also curious about the new O&B Cafe Grill on Front, but again cannot vouch firsthand. Reviews seem a bit mixed.
- Jacques Bistro du Parc is a classic ladies who lunch spot-----
Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CALe Select
432 Wellington St W, Toronto, ON M5V1E3, CAMercatto
15 Toronto Street, Toronto, ON M5C 2E3, CANota Bene
180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2A1, CACollege Street Bar
574 College St, Toronto, ON M6G1B3, CA -
Hm... Some interesting suggestions so far. Thanks! I'm wondering if Loire or Le Paradis might be good options? I've never been to Loire, and haven't been to Paradis for lunch, but I like the idea of bistro.
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Le Paradis
166 Bedford Road, Toronto, ON M5R 2K9, CA›3 Replies-
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re: Sweet Pea
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re: T Long
If any of you are into art you could go to Frank at the AGO and combine lunch with a wander through the gallery. You could also consider Lucien or George, which are both very centrally located downtown. Globe on the Danforth could work, as could Adega on Elm Street.
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Adega
33 Elm Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1H1, CA
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Some ideas...? I guess my list skews a bit Italian, but it should work for picky people.
Terroni
Mercatto
BucaNota Bene
Biff's Bistro-----
Terroni
57 Adelaide St E, Toronto, ON M5C1K6, CANota Bene
180 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M5V 2A1, CABiff's Bistro
4 Front St. E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B2, CAMercatto- Mars location
101 College Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, CABuca
604 King St. West, Toronto, ON M5V 1M6, CA›5 Replies-
re: morefoodplz
ekim256
Aug 17, 2010 09:58 PM
I agree with the above list - great if you're not sure what their tastes are like since they have decent, simple variety.
Four would be a nice option as well. Fish, steak salads, etc. in a nice restaurant in the financial district.
If your friend did her grad studies at UofT, I think that Boulevard Cafe is a nice choice for a sunny lunch. It's less than $60pp, but the nice thing is that it's close to campus so you can walk around after around King's College Circle. That also reminds me that Hart House's Gallery Grill would be great. I've had dinner there, it's very nice and the building is quite lovely. Lunch menu: http://www.dine.to/profile_features.php?feature=menu&id=2817&menu_id=643Even if she didn't go to UofT, it might interest you to know that they also do free historic tours of the campus during the summer so if you do choose one of the above, maybe that'd be a nice addition to your day pre or post lunch.
Erin
http://cookiesandtomatoes.blogspot.com/-----
Gallery Grill
7 Hart House Cir, Toronto, ON M5S, CA-
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re: TorontoJo
ekim256
Aug 18, 2010 08:50 AM
Boo! Thanks for the note TJ. Have you been there for lunch? I usually have dinner there once a year, but I've never tried their lunch
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re: ekim256
TorontoJo
Aug 18, 2010 08:57 AM
Yep, it's one of my favourite lunch spots in the city. I find the menu just right for lunch, with a nice selection of entree salads (I love the hangar steak salad) and a few bigger items. As you know, the setting is beautiful and in the daytime, you get all the light streaming in through the windows. Really, really lovely.
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re: Sweet Pea
TorontoJo
Aug 17, 2010 08:32 PM
It kind of depends on what kind of food/atmosphere your friend's mom likes. But I've found the the Studio Cafe at the Four Seasons is a really good all-purpose mom/aunt/grandmother spot. Nice setting, excellent service, decent food (a bit pricey, but well within your lunch budget, which, to be honest would just about cover every place in town). It also has the benefit of being convenient to the Annex and the Bloor line.
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