Goody’s Diner – Finally an Ontario candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives… and it’s in Scarborough

[Googs]

I haven’t had time to write a proper review, but I think it’s about time Goody’s Diner had it’s own post. It’ll give me a chance to answer some of the questions I’ve gotten so far.

Goody’s isn’t a gourmet burger restaurant. It’s a diner first with some mighty fine burgers. Those creations came about by customer demand. They add their own little signature twist to every dish they serve, but the burgers are their tour de force.

Yes, scarberian, the owner is a young guy. That older Santa Claus looking gent you probably saw mopping floors with a smile on his face is this guy: http://www.chefdb.com/nm/96/Neal-Noble He’s also dad. That apple must have fallen right next to the tree ‘cause those two are the Delicious Duo. It’s a father and son team with mom looking after their websites. Most restaurants create some sort of mythology to hook you. These guys are the real thing. Talented, nice, humble, happy to help you.

Get goin’ mom with that Twitter page. I want a tweet every time those two devise something new. I assure you I can be there in 5 minutes.

As to what they do well, I’d have to say everything I’ve had so far. I see the braised beef isn’t on the menu right now. That’s too bad. The one I had was lovely. Maybe a winter time comeback? Please? Served in a shallow bowl, the succulent chunks of beef were surrounded by tender-crisp root vegetables all served atop garlic mashed potatoes and swimming in braising liquid. Fab.

Salads, though not why people go there, come with house made dressing. And they’re good. C’mon you have to at least consider a little roughage if you’re going to take on their portions.

Their Reuben is a generous pile of pastrami perfectly Panini pressed and, of course, house made dressing and served with fries, or sweet potato frites, or salad. Scarberian may disagree, but I swear if those French fries have ever seen the inside of a freezer I’ll hang up my cast iron grill pan.

And you gotta try the steak sandwich. I’ve been looking for that exact composition and have had to be content with making it myself. Char-grilled steak served on garlic loaf with carmelized onions, jalapeno havarti (okay, I never thought of that) and sautéed mushrooms. Yay! 9 bucks and no dishes.

Now to the burgers. Start with 8 ounces of all beef deftly seasoned with just salt and pepper and handled lightly so it’s ever so tender, char-grilled to a moist interior and well, grill-marked exterior. Add to that perfectly matched bun selections (egg, pretzel, and more) and their creativity and every bite’s a winner. I hesitate to mention the varieties for fear of copycats. I will say that every composition makes perfect sense. It isn’t just about wow factor. Each topping they choose creates a harmony with the next it shares a bun with. The wow happens naturally. You really have to make the journey to the east side if you want to know.

Monday-Friday 9am-7pm only. Really. Their website hours are incorrect.

[TorontoTips]

As mentioned elsewhere, I've been to Goody's a number of times and was happy with what I received - good, but not great, burgers, topped with fun toppings.

Sadly most of the topping combos and even the photos used in the restaurant were "borrowed" from this website: http://www.cheeseandburger.com/

As mentioned above, Goody's burgers are the "fortified with seasonings & fillers" type of burgers that some have decided to call meatloaf burgers, which I think is a bit over-stated, but important to note if you favour the 'nothing-but-beef' style of burgers, as I personally do.

Overall, quite good, not great, and should give credit to the original authors for their signage, etc.

[BJC01]

From their Facebook page...

Great News! Goody's has been chosen to be featured on "You Gotta Eat Here". Sadly we will be closed on Thursday May 31st, all day for filming. We re-open friday the 1st of June where live filming will be taking place throughout the day, please be patient as this may cause some disruptions in service!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodys-...

[ragged25]

Who is down for a Highway Man Burger race on Friday?

[air621]

I finally made it to this place last week while I was on staycation. Word to the wise, don't walk in at 1:30PM. That's the end of their lunch rush, it took 35 minutes between sitting down to getting our food. No blame, we fully understood the folly of our ways and our server was very busy and very apologetic. I forgot that this place's specialty was burgers, so my wife and I split a Goody burger (with onion rings instead of fries and strip bacon instead of peameal) and a pulled pork burrito.
The burrito, though that wouldn't be a combination I would generally eat, was very good. Full of good stuff, with very tasty pulled pork. On the side, their 'frite-like' fries, were very good too. I don't know if they're frozen or handcut, but they were really great, seeming like they were twice-fried.
The burger deserves its own paragraph. Like others have reported, the Goody burger is a 8 oz. fresh ground daily sirloin patty topped with jalapeno havarti, pickled jalapenos, caramelized onions, mushrooms, tomato and lettuce. It's a big, messy burger but manageable, unlike some of their other burgers I saw. This burger is the best I've had. And like most of you, I imagine, I've had a bunch. The meat is delicious, seasoned but not overseasoned like meatloaf. The bun was very nice too.
Hopefully they'll find it worth their while to open on weekends more regularly. I'll be there almost every Saturday if they do

[Googs]

Rumour has it they're going to change their days to Tues-Sat this month. Watch this space for updates:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodys-...

[Herne]

I have been to Goody's 2-3 times and wish it was a weekly event. The burgers are great, the setting is remarkable and the staff first rate. Unfortunately I'm on the edge of diabetes and loosing wight is a priority so no visits in the immediate future.

I agree with the opening premise of this thread that it should be on 3D with the blond guy.

[scarberian]

Hey Googs see what ya started?! 328 posts from one review and Goody's is just slammed with business. Great for them, but I hope it doesn't get too much for them where the quality starts to dive. I haven't been back in awhile so I'll make it a priority during the March break when my little one and I are on vacay.

[Herne]

I haven't been to Goody's for several months but I've now lost 10+ lbs and its time to risk it all and celebrate--once.

Any change in the Goody's Burger and how is the current Lobster Bisque?

[Herne]

To answer my question the Burgers were fine. Same great stuff. Unfortunately the lids on both Bisque containers fell apart in the trunk and all I got was about 3-4 spoonfuls but it was great as well.

[Yongeman]

And a trunk that smells permanently like lobster bisque?

[Davwud]

Can't wait for the summer for that.

DT

[Yongeman]

Ha ha. At least it wasn't straight milk...that's the worst in a car.

[Herne]

Actually the plastic bag they were in was water tight and it went down the drain or into the green bin . Not bad stuff actually. Too bad I can't say the same for the containers.

[Yongeman]

It's a shame that you lost it all, but better in the bag than in the car.

[Herne]

All but about 3-4 spoonfuls. Don't recall what I paid for 2 but Goody's is going to lose a lot of my business before I go there again.

[TorontoJo]

Those soup containers suck. I lost most of my soup that way as well.

[Herne]

Good to hear that I'm not the only one who fell victim to bad containers. I think they look at this site periodically and there is a message here.

[Full tummy]

Maybe it's worth taking one's own containers... Which is not to say that absolves the restaurant, because if they're doing take-out, they should provide containers that can survive the drive home.

[Davwud]

I took two containers of Lobster Bisque home and had no trouble.

DT

[Yongeman]

How was the bisque, Davwud? By the way, did you see that Goodies has announced its new hours as 9 am to 7 pm Tuesday to SATURDAY? That'll be good news to lots of people.

[Davwud]

Fine. didn't notice any drop in quality. We did eat it that night.

Two tips. First of all, if you can't keep it from falling over, don't bother. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Even wraping a jacket or blanket around it so it doesn't tip will work.
Secondly, stack the containers and put in a plastic bag. Twist the top of the bag so that it holds the containers together and the top lid in place.

Alternately, as stated above, bring your own container.

DT

[Herne]

Good advice Davwud. I suggest the bringing of containers although I have no idea how that would be received. In my case I had the plastic bag firmly supported by some old towels and a Loblaws bag and no rocking was possible except when the tops disintegrated. The food was great as usual.

[DUH CAR]

You are correct sir! But it will be starting in March.

[Googs]

For the record, that's Ms and HALleLUjah!

[berbere]

oh my goody-ness, just tried their burger for the first time today. wow, thick, juicy, tender ball of meat with crisp lettuce, perfect squeezable buns.... within a couple hours after the meal I fell asleep - the most blissful, meal-induced nap I've probably had since a babe....if they said they put some fairy dust in their burgers I'd believe it.....most satisfying, glorious burger meal ever....can't do this too often for obvious reasons (i'd have to quit the day job). how do you all lunch here and return to work?? thank goodness I don't work close by....

[ragged25]

I don't know about others, but I usually only go on Friday so I can slack off after lunch and take off early. I've been to Goodys over 10 times and it gets better as you get more experienced handling the portion!!!

There are still quite a number of item I would still like to try, better start looking for pants a couple sizes larger!!!

[turntablejockey]

I also find having a garden salad instead of the fries helps with fending off food coma. That and a Starbucks pit stop will get you through the rest of the day.

[sumdumgoy]

Now open Saturday 'til 7:00.

I don't have to worry about nodding off at my desk!

Hope everybody doesn't show up at once.

[atomeyes]

I didn't realize that the Toronto Sun did a review on them.
Apparently, there's been a huge spike in business.
Good for them!

Went today with my wife and a friend. I had the Highwayman while my wife had the Philly cheesesteak burger special. Both were great. It was probably the tastiest patty i've had from them. everything was on today.

only complaint: felt like we were rushed out before the possible lunch rush hit. yeah, don't give us the bill while we eat. wait the 5 minutes, please.

[Googs]

I can't post a link to the Toronto Sun review since they still have the old fashioned notion that people want to pay for their online content. If they go to that level of protection, I assume quoting it would cause some sort of copyright infringement.

Given how liberally they quoted this thread without credit, I should be able to. Let's just say they gave it 4 stars and a glowing review.

They're gonna be slammed for a while I'd guess. Too bad for us, but nice for them. I wish them all the good things that come their way. Look at it this way: It guarantees they'll make enough money to stay in business for a good, long while to come. Amen to that.

[LearningHow]

This place has been on my radar for a while, but haven't been able to go due to their previous hours.

And Saturdays in December were crazy busy with holiday gatherings so I wasn't able to go then.

Any word if they're keeping the Saturday hours for 2012?

[Googs]

You can follow their week-to-week plans here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodys-...

They're pretty good at keeping it up-to-date.

[Googs]

They're now seriously considering opening on Saturday's. I, for one, say the sooner the better. Those of us who are filling the streets and parking lots holiday shopping nearby certainly could use a good place to go that serves family- and wallet-friendly food.

[chowbuds]

I spoke with the team a few weeks ago and they said this as well! They may have to close Monday's to open on Saturday's though, but they are seriously considering it!

Rejoice!

[JennaBean]

I'm chanting "Close Monday" in my mind right now.

[Googs]

Even if they just did it during the busy month of December and not again until the next big retail season, it'd be amazing.

[Aleta]

Hey T'O Hounds,

Thanks for this wonderful find! I read about it on Friday and we went there for dinner the same night. DS had the Farmer John (is that right?) burger with hash browns, fried onion rings and a delicious hamburger patty. I had the reuben and lobster bisque. The food quality is amazing. The side Caesar salad was really nice.

For dessert, I got a take-out of the Sticky Toffee Pudding and it was really good too.

The people who work there are unreal! So enthusiastic, friendly and efficient. The waiter was walking us around the diner and showing us the pictures of all the burgers. He wanted to know how we had found out. Of course, I told him, "Chowhound".

[DUH CAR]

Just might be news on this in their Facebook update tomorrow (wink wink).

[Googs]

That faint sound of a drum roll starting is me.

[chowbuds]

Anybody else been checking their Facebook for an update, only to be let down? :(

[ragged25]

Seems to work okay for me:

This weeks specials: (ending Fri. Dec. 2)
Soups: Roasted squash, apple n' onion &
Cream of Broccoli
Entrée: Chickpea falafel and soup combo
($10.95)
Burger: "The Polish" - Mustardkraut, grilled
kolbassa, onions, perogies, & garlic provolone
cheese
Pizza: Roasted lamb, tomato, onion, spinach,
black olives, feta cheese

[chowbuds]

I should have clarified that I was waiting for an update on their new hours (Saturday)!

[DUH CAR]

Sigh. Guess we have to wait another week.

[chowbuds]

KAPOW!

"Well, we promised an answer by monday! So here it is; Goody's will be open Sat. Dec. 10 & Sat. Dec. 17 2011 from 10am 'til 7pm! Depending upon turnout, we may revise our 2012 business hours to reflect saturdays as a normal business day!"

So I'm bringing like 19 people. See you all there!

[pakmode]

Great news. See you all there on the 10th.

[Googs]

I'm bringing at least 4.

[meathead2]

After reading all of these great postings, I was very glad to get out to the east end for business on Tuesday this week. As expected, Goody's did an exceptional job, even with the loss of their server for lunch that day and the subsitution of one of the cooks as the server, it only added to the charm and appeal of the experience. Corned beef hash was the right flavour, the right portion and the right price. My co-worker had what she described as the best tuna melt "ever" and after we had paid and left she let me know that when I had originally told her we were going to a diner for lunch she was not impressed, and was worried about what kind and quality of food she would encounter. I tell you what that lunch changed her mind big time, although she did say - that's not a diner, the food is way too good. And we were also glad we got there before noon as no less that 3 tables of 5-6 walked through the door within minutes of each other. All hail Goody's!

[Leslieville]

Decided to treat myself to a burger at Goody's yesterday, but when I got there they had braised shortribs on the menu! I could not resist those, especially on a cold windy day so that was what I ordered. They were fantastic!!!!! Served in a small enameled cassserole, big meaty chunks of shortribs over top of creamy mash potatoes and corn with grilled red and yellow peppers tucked down the side. On top were 3 onion rings. The meat was extrememly tender and tasty, probably the best shortribs I have had.
By the way, I always find the conversations about being located near the jail very funny. There is a very girly bead store right across the road from Goodys which has night classes that let out at 9:00 pm. So man up guys and stop being so proud of yourself for venturing in to such "dangerous territory"!

[Googs]

I've had those short ribs. They're un-be-LIEV-ably delicious. You're so very right that they're the perfect accompaniment to the cold weather. That and their fine, fine soups.

[ragged25]

Lamb Shank as special this week? Talk about beating the cold with this dish!! If anyone's tried this, please post and let me know how they are. Thanks.

[Googs]

Did anyone make it to their first ever evening opening? By the time I heard about it I already had a roast in the oven. Boooooooooo. Do over please.

"Goody's is testing out later hours tonight (monday Oct 24). By reservation only, last reservation for 9pm please call to reserve seats."

[JennaBean]

NNOOOOOoooooOOOOOOooo! I can't believe I missed my only chance so far! :-(

[atomeyes]

some friends went but I was working (a bunch of foodies from Twitter).
Haven't read official reviews, but i think they were pretty satisfied.

[red dragon]

Hi Googs, we went for lunch again today. Chef said they had a decent crowd in last night.

We had the Surf & Turf burger (quite good) and the braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and green beans.

[ragged25]

What is in the Surf and Turf Burger?

[wontonfm]

I was there. There was a large group of us from twitter and maybe another 3 or 4 tables.

It was my first time at Goody's. I had the Goody's burger and enjoyed it but thought the meat itself reminded me more of meatloaf. The texture was definitely a bit more mixed and you can taste that they use seasonings in their meat beyond salt and pepper. These aren't bad things, it just boils down to style.

WON
http://whatsonmyplate.net

[Googs]

I've never had, nor read or heard (it's by far the most popular lunch spot at my work) of anyone having a burger that could be described as meatloaf. It's always "beefy", though I concede there's more than salt & pepper going on in there. What made it loafy to you?

Does anyone know if they're going to have another night opening? Maybe with more notice? Perhaps this time we can rely on CH and not Twitter to deliver the info. I noticed a deleted post after the fact that might have led us all there had it not been, you know, deleted.

[wontonfm]

Mostly taste, I couldn't get past it reminding me of meatloaf. The patty also seemed very mixed vs just meat smashed together. Most recently I've been having burgers from the Priest and Chuck's and the texture and look of the meat is very different. Not better or worse just different.

WON

[Googs]

Well I notice you like short ribs. If you decide to give Goody's another shot, I recommend you try theirs.

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

How busy is Goody's at lunch nowadays?

[Googs]

I would avoid Friday's and peak lunch hours unless you have no choice. I have no idea what The Grid pic will do to them. Their location tends to be a deterrent for all but the most ardent of food followers.

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

I was there twice at peak lunch hours and I was awfully lonely. How about now?

[Googs]

I have no choice as to when I go and I've never had a lonely moment. You may be the luckiest man alive. I've never had to wait for a table, but they're all full and turning whilst I'm in the house. It looks like atomeyes was there post-The Grid. Perhaps he can offer more insight.

[atomeyes]

I went after 1. restaurant was the busiest I've seen it - probably 60% full. two tables looked like they were there for a work lunchtime visit. 2 people came in for take-out.

to be honest, i don't know how much weight the Grid has on dining choices. i doubt there would be a spike, esp considering its uptown AND east. Goody's location is a HUGE deterrent for most people, i would assume. interesting demographics per each website (which may be a separate discussion), but i always assumed CH was slanted towards east enders (hence the 200 posts about Goody's) while other publications/websites (TO Life, The Grid) may capture different demographics.

[Googs]

If it seems CH slants eastward it can only serve to counterbalance the local press and the ineptitude of east side restaurants when it comes to publicizing themselves.

G&M, Star, and (ick) the National Post seem to consider Leslieville east. NOW thinks its exotic if they venture as far as University. I was pleased to see TheGrid had one writer with enough sense of adventure to try a Scarborough diner next door to a jail.

Out here if you have a website, you're ahead of about 85% of the competition. If you use it dynamically as Goody's does by updating FaceBook with their weekly specials, you're ahead of 100% of the competition. If we don't talk amongst ourselves, we'd never know what's going on.

If Vinnie Vidimangi hadn't screamed at the top of his lungs for as long as he could, Bistro Camino might have gone into receivership instead of the press. If scarberian never spoke of Fratelli's Village Pizzeria, who would know of it except the most local of locals? And what of Goody's Diner without these 50+ voices speaking?

(Which may be a separate discussion.)

-----
Goody's Diner
133 Manville Rd, Unit 17, Toronto, ON , CA

[Herne]

I have been told -again- to loose 40-50 lbs. So its good-by to Goody's until next summer at least. Just as I had found a great spot its taken away from me. Better than having me taken away I guess.

[scarberian]

Hey now, I too need to lose the pound-age, but you can still have Goody's as a treat, say for every 10 pounds you lose go to Goody's just for one meal. You don't need to cut out the good stuff totally. Again it's all in moderation =).

BTW I went to The Black Dog Pub on Island Rd. recently for dinner and again it didn't disappoint. I had the steak salad for my main with a French onion soup as a starter. Good combo on my part =). The steak (cooked rare) was buttery soft with full flavour and the soup was nicely done, with melted cheese and a slice of baguette on top. Again, good restos in Scarborough if you know where to look.

-----
Black Dog Pub
87 Island Rd, Toronto, ON M1C2P6, CA

[plug]

well there are other stuff u can have on the menu (turkey/chicken)

... on occasion i've also requested to them substituting the beef patties in the burgers with their veggie patties and it still tasted pretty good.. i know not the same but still good tasting IMO.

[Davwud]

Herne

I've lost almost 60 lbs over the last year and a half. I'd have done it faster but from time to time I'm known to go off the reservation a bit and enjoy some stuff that's verboten. As Scarb said, "Moderation."

DT

[Googs]

I don't know if this put's Goody's Diner amongst the best, but it certainly puts them amongst the biggest: The Chicken Fried is a pretty cool combo.
http://www.thegridto.com/wp-content/u...

-----
Goody's Diner
133 Manville Rd, Unit 17, Toronto, ON , CA

[scarberian]

O-M-G...

That's all I have to say.

[Googs]

You and the Missus and I and the Beau should see if we can tackle one of those. It might take all four of us. Mind you in context with the rest of the pics, it looks downright small don't it?

[scarberian]

That's only because the Noble's stuck with one patty... CHICKEN FRIED... but one patty. The others just heaped on the patties like there's no tomorrow. The Chuck Yourself is simply an artery waiting to explode. The Chicken Fried Burger, compared to the others, looks like the healthiest choice =).

[Googs]

Or, as I suspect is the case, it's the turbocharged sports model.

[LTL]

This week's specials (ending Friday, October 21):

Soups: creamy Caesar and tomato pesto
Entree: Goody's fried chicken (squeal of excitement!)
Burger: the Bacon Explosion
Pizza: jalapeno n cheese popper

[Googs]

Did you try the Bacon Explosion Burger?

[LTL]

No - I was just pasting what they posted on Facebook. Sounds yummy though!

[ragged25]

Just had the fried chicken and it was pretty damn good. It's 3 pieces of deep fried goodness accompanied by roasted potatoes/gravy and corn on the cob. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very tender and juicy. The batter was not really thick and nicely seasoned. I don't think the chicken was really marinated, but it was still very enjoyable a good item to have if you don't feel like a huge burger.

As for the bacon explosion, I believe it's a Goody's burger with two thick bacon roll slices. It's basically bacon wrapped sausage/peameal bacon on top of the normal beef patty. It looked pretty good but it's a hefty burger as it's more or less a triple decker!!!

[red dragon]

Ragged 25, we had the fried chicken a few months ago - I agree, it was so moist!

We had dinner there tonight after a 7 week absence (cold/flu). I can't recall exactly what Kyle told us was in the bacon explosion burger, but my husband enjoyed it immensely! Kyle showed us the delicious bacon concoction which looked like a meatloaf mixture of bacon, sausage, apples, caramelized onions, all wrapped in more ..... bacon!!. It's sliced and added to the regular burger with cheddar and havarti cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onions ... I know I'm missing some other things!

I had the turkey club again and it was fantastic.

Goody's Diner is really a favourite of ours. It's all we could think about when we were sick!

[ragged25]

I guess your description is much more accurate, I do recall apples and onions and 3 types of cheese on top of two beacon wrapped 'meatloaf' patties. I think it was bacon wrapped sausage for one, and bacon wrapped peameal the other!!!

I have to give the turkey club a shot next time, but with weekly specials and regular favourites (steak sandwich) you more than likely won't get bored of the selection of food.

[batbon]

Was also there last night for dinner. Had the bacon explosion and fried chicken. Both were delicious. I was really impressed with how the burger can stay together all the way to the end, usually burgers like this disintegrate as you are eating it. The flavours were great and the bacon 'meatloaf' wrapped in bacon was ridiculous in a good way. The fried chicken was moist and crispy, and the corn that came with it was smeared with roasted garlic (I think). The roasted potatoes were alright, but the least memorable thing of the night.

[atomeyes]

Went yesterday.
had the bacon explosion.
it was very good.
the may want to consider sourcing gluten-free buns, since they (apparently) don't fall apart.
my Explosion did explode in my hands.

i shamefully gulped it down in about 5 minutes.
also had the side Caesar and I have to say that it was a very good Caesar salad. I'd give it a 8/10. it was missing a touch of garlic and maybe a TINY bit more anchovy, but otherwise, it was really good. i'm going to stick to the Caesar salad or the soup of the day instead of fries.

[Yongeman]

Why, you on a diet?

[atomeyes]

the fat content of a Caesar salad would tell you otherwise. :)

unless the fries are spectacular, i'd rather pass on them. the burgers are quite heavy, so i'd rather have a non-carb option than load up on more carbs. besides, soup would usually be a greater sign of a competent/creative chef than fries, in my opinion.

[Yongeman]

Ahh, I was just pulling your leg, atomeyes. Especially considering that you had the bacon explosion. Actually I'm 100% with you on skipping the fries, since they aren't one of the signature items. I did exactly the same thing as you when I went for the reuben...I also enjoyed the caesar.

[Full tummy]

I ate there last week and had the fried chicken. Alas, it was terribly dry. Only the thigh was slightly moist, but it's a thigh--and keeping a thigh moist isn't any kind of magic. I have to say the rest of the meal, and what my dining companions ate, was very good, but the fried chicken was just four pieces of disappointment. Granted, a large serving, but I definitely wouldn't order it again. And, as for the flavour, it was severely lacking. Needed salt, pepper, sage, cayenne, something... I had so been looking forward to it. Very nice people, though. I will definitely be back. Just not for the fried chicken.

[mtx]

They need to open for a couple hours on the weekends :)

[nouseforaname]

I just went there for the first time today for late breakfast. Down-to-earth spot. Reasonably-priced.

Had their Huevos Rancheros, and while not blown away, was certainly satisfied. Enjoyed the mix of folks, and the coffee was solid.

I will go back.

[gttahaveit]

I've been a couple of times now, and have tried a few of their offerings and have been quite satisfied. However, one thing I've noticed, is that it seems that they only offer peameal bacon on their burgers. Have to say, I'm not a fan. Would love to see some good smokey, crispy bacon strips on my sandwich any day instead of that (usually) dry salty one-note pink-meat.
I'll be back but next time I thInk I'll ask them to just make mine without.

[Yongeman]

If you ask to substitute strip bacon for peameal on your burger, they'll do it no problem. I did and my Goody's Burger was great.

[TorontoJo]

Well, I just had my first burger there (generally stuck to breakfast before). And I'll have to be the lone dissenter on this one. I just got the basic burger because I wanted to taste the actual burger without all the crazy toppings. The good: nicely handled and cooked -- the burger had great texture as it was not too packed and not too loose, and there was a nice char on the edges. The bad: the burger was incredibly over spiced. There is way more than salt and pepper going on. I found it overwhelmed the taste of the beef completely. I felt like I was eating a meatloaf or a meatball instead of a burger. And there must have been a whack of salt in the seasoning mixture, because an hour later, I can't drink enough water to assuage my thirst.

Maybe the seasoning works better with their crazy burger specials, where there are so many additional toppings that you need to jack up the flavour of the burger to make it detectable underneath all the other stuff. But for a plain jane burger, it was overwhelming. My go to for a burger out will still be Stockyards.

So I'm going to pass on the burger and stick to the really excellent corned beef hash next time.

[Googs]

About the bad, TorontoJo. This has happened before back in July. If you read TG101 and Vinnie Vidimangi, you'll see that they experienced overseasoned burgers as well. It was generally viewed as an anomaly resulting from an accidental double-seasoning of a batch. I hope they stop making that mistake.

It's a bummer your impression of the burgers will now be tainted by that experience. I'd say if you're there with someone who has the burger, get them to give you a small piece of just the meat so you can see what it's really supposed to taste like, assuming they don't make that mistake again.

[petek]

"So I'm going to pass on the burger and stick to the really excellent corned beef hash next time"

Just the opposite for me.I thought the corned beef hash was meh(orderd eggs over easy,got over well,hash not crispy enough) and the burgers were excellent.Try the steak sammy next time,one of the best I've had..

[atomeyes]

My wife and I paid Goody's another visit (as I stated above).

I wanted to post a picture of the Figgy Piggy. Man, something about the apple-fig bbq sauce combined with pulled pork...i love that combination of sweetness with pork. Works really well.

My wife got the nacho burger. But look at the Figgy Piggy burger and tell me that you're not salivating? I want another one. Like, right now.

Richard
www.iflookscouldfill.wordpress.com

[Googs]

Is there anyone anywhere else with that combination? WOW that looks good.

[daaave]

went by today for the first time and had the turkey club and substituted the poutine for sweet potato fries. everything was really good except that id probably get the sandwich without avocado next time.

[atomeyes]

were you guys sitting beside me? (guy and girl, took the food home? at 11:45ish?)

We went today. took a friend (big toronto food scenester).

I ordered their daily special: Figgy Piggy burger. peameal bacon, apple slice, pulled pork with a home-made fig sauce, some kind of cheese.

It was excellent. Lots of flavour. only complaint was the peameal bacon being hard to bite off into pieces. but honestly, not much of a complaint.

ordered the Texas bisque soup as a side. good amount of spice, nice beef/barley/veggie flavour to it. would rather order a soup as a side than order the fries, to be honest.

and man, their dill pickles are SPICY!!

Richard
www.iflookscouldfill.wordpress.com

[Googs]

Oh, so you met the neighbours.
http://www.toorshifoods.com/

[atomeyes]

didn't realize those were Toorshi pickles. Had everything Toorshi before but the pickles. a little too spicy for my liking, to be honest.

[daaave]

i was in there around 11.45 ya, but i was alone and took the food to go. guess you were in the table against the wall by the door?

[atomeyes]

yep. three of us, including my very blonde-haired wife (usually she stands out)

[LTL]

In what I call a miraculous occurrence, I will not be working late tonight so I'm going to take this opportunity to visit Goody's for the first time - exciting! I should be there around 5:30pm if anyone wants to join.

[Googs]

Soooooooo, what happened? Did you make it? What did you have? How was it?

P.S. From their FaceBook page:

This weeks specials: (ending Fri. Sep. 23)
Soups: Texas Gumbo & Red Onion Bisque
Entrée: Crispy Chow-Mein n' Shrimp Stir Fry
Burger: "The Figgy-Piggy"
Pizza: Poutine

[LTL]

Unfortunately, no. Been battling with a very bad cold the last two weeks and just was too tired by the end of the day. I definitely will this week though. Open offer to join me is still there :)

[Pincus]

Went with a buddy last night and got their veggie burger. TWO patties and some flavourful toppings including a jalapeno havarti. Very juicy and delicious, and the side salad wasn't the tired old iceberg lettuce and plastic tomatoes you get everywhere else at that price. Also tried the Smores Quesedilla, very good and not too large a portion. I don't like huge desserts so it was the perfect size for me.

[Googs]

Last week, Beau brought Goody's take-out home for dinner. Then I got stuck at the office. Several hours later, I arrived home to stone cold Goody's Burger (peameal, mushrooms, jalapeno havarti, carmelized onions, lettuce, tomato) in the fridge. Couldn't heat it without destroying it. Thought, well this is probably gonna get the ole heave ho into the dumpster. Took a bite. I'll be darned if that thing didn't taste almost as good cold as it does hot. Wow! Now THAT's good composition.

Does anyone know what's in this week's tantalizingly titled Mexican Burger?

[mtx]

Their hours are retarded. They'd make a lot more money if they operated with normal work hours :).

[Pincus]

9-7 seems pretty fair to me. What "normal work hours" would you prefer?

[Full tummy]

12 noon - 10 pm? It's not that 9 - 7 isn't fair. I mean, is there such a thing as fair hours? To me, it's about when I can make it there...

[callitasicit]

Anyone tried this week's specials yet?

[JennaBean]

Even 11 to 9 would rock. I would have a fighting chance of checking it out.

[DUH CAR]

The area that they are in is dead after 6pm and on weekends. They open early to get the breakfast traffic. I think their hours are fine for them.

[mtx]

I managed to squeak there by 6:40. It was an amazing burger. For $10 including taxes, it was probably the best burger I've had in Toronto.

[Googs]

That's amazing mtx. I'm glad you not only made it, but like it too. Which burger did you try?

As for their hours, they've been very responsive to customer requests. I have to believe it was, in part, our whining in the first place that got them to change from their original 7am-3pm. Others are correct. If they shift their hours too much they risk alienating the very neighbourhood they opened their doors to serve. Better to be everyone's fave neighbourhood restaurant than flavour-of-the-month I say. The best restaurants are always the ones that are closest to your home.

Does an-ny-one know what's on this week's Mexican Burger?

[mtx]

I tried their house burger, the Goody Burger. It was delicious. I'm thinking of going back on Monday to try their other signature artery cloggers. It's a good thing I get time off every 2 weeks and I live "in the area".

Not my business, so not much I can say or do about their working hours. It's just a shame they're located in such a dead, inaccessible area when they have potential to be so much more. IMO, they are what Five Guys (across the street) was supposed to be but much, much better! I guess it's good in a way...cause once it goes mainstream, chances are it'll go downhill..

[scarberian]

As dead as that area seems to be, you gotta remember they cater to all those businesses where employees are clamouring for places to eat within walking distance (I know I used to work in the old Sears building that used to occupy the area that is now home to Lowes and before that Walmart -- we used to beat ourselves trying to find anything besides Wendy's, the hot dog vendor or Select Sandwich). It's not as dead as you think, just look around at all the businesses there and you can see why they may have chosen that location. Eating there at lunch I've seen people come in to pick up large orders to take back to hungry coworkers. They're sort of in a location that's easily accessible by the surrounding businesses.

[Googs]

Then you and I, scarberian, were neighbours. I've been working in that neighbourhood for years. I remember when there wasn't even a convenience store, let alone a Tim Hortons. Delivery from one of the O'Connor restaurants was the only option. Thanks goodness that's changed. Now it's a healthy mix of chain and independent restaurants. Please don't even suggest that Goody's should move.

[scarberian]

I wouldn't even think of it ;¬). They found their niche/corner of the world and they're doing very good business. What they have going for them is first and foremost the quality of their food and service, then their small overhead, and finally a modest size resto so they're not clamouring to fill the seats. I've never had any issues with parking when I go.

[TorontoTips]

Wow, sounds like a solid spot... BUT I'm not sure what saddens me most - not being able to enjoy real fresh-cut fries with a fresh burger, or the fact that so many seem to have given up the expectation of potato-flavoured french fries, and have decided that adding spray-shellac to create faux crispiness is an acceptable alternative to quality ingredients, prepared properly.
Shame on you Chow-hounders! :-)
Mr. McCain may thank you for finally drinking the kool-aid, but I always thought better of you folks :-)
That aside, I'll get my butt over there for a burger and non-processed alternate side, and report back with my comments soon.

[TorontoJo]

I'm not sure how using frozen fries means "giving up the expectation of potato-flavoured french fries". The regular fries there are not "spray-shellacked", only the sweet potato fries are sprayed with the corn starch mixture. I assume that's because people like crispy fries and sweet potato fries are difficult to get crispy.

[TorontoTips]

Sadly, many folks have come to the opinion that 'crispy' trumps freshness, quality, and flavour when it comes to french-fry attributes, and thus the epidemic of frozen fries that have overtaken Toronto by storm.
I liken this to the scourge of well-done burgers, where a false obsession with 'safety' (combined with the fear of 'greasy') has left us with so many overcooked, juice-less burger options.
I remain unapologetic and stand opposed to pale white, processed-then-shellacked corporate fries, no matter how crispy they may be :-).
Thankfully, Toronto is a unique, small, pocket of fear and corporate capitulation, and the majority of my Quebecois and American foodie brethren still stand proudly defiant, and demand the real thing before dropping their hard-earned dollars:-)
Amongst the top 10 orders french fries I have ever eaten, several examples were NOT crisp, but were deeply caramelized, brown, SOFT, and delicious.
(picks up his protest sign that says: "Just say NO to frozen" :-)

[Googs]

You'll only be a skeptic until you try it. And you won't be the first person either.

[TexSquared]

"were NOT crisp, but were deeply caramelized, brown, SOFT, and delicious."

Sounds like you're describing the amazing fries at Smoke Meat Pete west of Montreal :-) Am I right?

[scarberian]

The regular fries are the ones that are cooked from frozen. The sweet potato fries, the last time I checked, were hand cut. They do spray it, but that's because they found their customers liked it that way. I myself have enjoyed their sweet potato fries and the spray didn't affect the flavour at all. TorontoTips, if you are going over to enjoy a burger then I suggest to order their sweet potato fries or onion rings (which someone mentioned were home made).

As for frozen fries it's not uncommon to see them even in many of the triple D restos reviewed by Guy Fieri. I think I've only seen about half the restos do hand cut fries and the others you can see serve the frozen kind. You can make decent fries from frozen, but they're never up to par with hand cut versions. I've also experienced hand cut fries done wrong and that's a tragedy. Now all this talk of fries makes me hungry for some good poutine. Where to go... ?

[Davwud]

I agree with you about the fries. A good frozen fry will beat a bad fresh cut fry any day.

DT

[LUV_TO_EAT]

Gotta go there and ask them for In N Out like Animal style burger. Was reading about it yesterday and now want one....

Lettuce, tomato, thousand island dressing cheese, pickles, jam like onions and mustard grilled burger.

[Davwud]

They do their burgers on a grill. Not a flat top. By default it won't be the same. Go to Burgers Priest for the Animal Style.

DT

[Poorboy]

Went to Goody's for lunch today with my son for his birthday. My son ordered the Crabbie Louie and I had the Breakfast Burger. He also had the Lobster Bisque and said it was the best he has had. I settled for a garden salad with a spicy tomato dressing. The burgers arrived and I had NO idea what I was in for. The Breakfast Burger had Egg, Peameal Bacon, Side Bacon, Cheese, Hash Browns, Corned Beef Hash, Tomato, Lettuce and Onions. I managed to work my way from the outside in but had to give up at one point and used a knife and fork. The burger was very, very good in mine. My Son got through a portion of his but eventually it kicked him in the butt and he could not finish. There is so much on the menu we want to try. We did take home some wings to try as well. I ordered mild and he ordered the sweet chilli. The wings are not the typical little scrawny ones you get in a basket. They are much more substantial and you order by the pound. A nice retro kind of feel to the place and the staff are very friendly. A nice touch is that they serve pop in actual glass bottles, which to me, makes for a better taste. Maybe that's just me though.

[scarberian]

I gotta try the bisque. Did you manage to squish the burgers down to a thickness that your mouth could manage? BTW you're not the only one who gives a thumbs up to the glass bottle touch. I always felt that glass gives pop a cleaner taste and there's nothing like a frosted glass bottle of pop on a hot day.

[Googs]

If I may make a suggestion scarberian. The lobster bisque is quite sweet. It's meant to be enjoyed with the garlic bread that's served alongside. They balance each other out.

[Googs]

The other suggestion I was going to make is to try somethng other than their burgers. They do everything well. Then I thought that was too pushy. Then I saw this:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/805836

How's that for cross-pollination?

[Poorboy]

Thank You! I noticed they had a catering business. I am looking to have a fundraiser/gala catered for hors' dourves in February and will give them a shot now.

[meathead2]

After reading all of the great posts about Goody's, and what they bring to our table when we go to theirs, I am excited and happy that we have such good cooks and business people in the restaurant business in Toronto. These 2 men and those who work with them help to define what is great about food - food that tastes good and looks good. I do not know if they went on line as chowhounders do to do research - sorry about getting the comma in the address for cheeseandburger- about what they can serve - and Googs I agree with you 100% but even the masters can need to be inspired - and even if it is a well disguised promo page for Wisconson cheese I think we can all agree that if they did go to this page and listen to the warblings of Mr Warburton it was only potentially to our collective benifit. All the best to Goody's!

[eatravel]

The food was seriously good. I got so many compliments along the lines of "Best Wedding Food EVER!".

[scarberian]

Don't worry I've tried their other offerings i.e. meatloaf (a diner staple!), pulled pork burrito. I enjoyed both and as for the burrito you can ask them to crank up the heat on it. Ah... it's a good burn going down!

[Googs]

LOL!

[JennaBean]

From BlogTO

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/goo...

[callitasicit]

Anyone tried the bacon cheeseburger soup or the fried chicken this week?

[petek]

I had the Fried Chicken for lunch today.Very tasty(3 smallish pieces),well seasoned,juicy meat,crispy skin.Served with mashed potatoes&gravy and a nice piece of corn on the cob.A good time was had by all... :D

[callitasicit]

I wish I lived a bit closer to this place. I might have to try their fried chicken tomorrow, thanks:)

[atomeyes]

So...count me and my wife as Goody's fans.

Went there today. Ordered the Highwayman and the Rhineland burgers.

i had the Highwayman burger. Wow. Just wow. Quantity and quality. it was a tower of heaven. the patties may not be as sensational that Burger's Priest, but they ain't off by much. We ordered them medium and I didn't check for colour, but they were plenty full o'juice. The layers of awesomeness have likely been described already. my only complaint? the pastrami was cool and, in the middle, cold. would have liked a heat griddled pastrami. so that threw me off slightly. otherwise, it was the king of Toronto burgers (by size and sheer excitement).
my wife's burger was also excellent. she was quite satisfied.
i ordered the sweet potato fries (they were fine. i ate a third of them). she had a side salad just to spite herself.
I've uploaded a photo. Find more below.

Richard
www.iflookscouldfill.wordpress.com

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

What i steh disc, first item under the bun, that looks like a slice of lemon?

[Davwud]

It's yellow tomato Vin.

DT

[atomeyes]

not sure if serious....

[Googs]

Come now. VVM's a pussycat.

[Googs]

Very nice review on your blog atomeyes. Could you describe the layering of the pastrami filled onion rings a bit more? What is it exactly that they're making?

[atomeyes]

The "stuffing" of the onion rings, I think, is simply pushing pastrami through the hole of the rings and then piling it on the sandwich. its not as intricate as breading an onion/pastrami mixture (which I think the name implies).

And thanks for the kind words. It was my first attempt (in years) at doing a proper restaurant review. Kind of hijacked my wife's blog, and I may take another stab at it in the future :)

[meathead2]

I too will add my admiration and respect to Chefs' Noble, their team and Goody's. If I am not mistaken, they have taken a page from www.cheeseandburger.com, and the great line up of suggestions for could be offered between the bun(s). All the best to this great team and their diner!

[Davwud]

Doesn't load for me.

DT

[jayt90]

pull the comma, no punctuation needed.

[Googs]

Whoa! If they wanna take a crack at reproducing The Dallas, I'm all for it. I'll add to my Wish List for The Nobles by encouraging them to try their hand at Toby's Good Eats 80's versions of Courage, Texarkana, and Strikes It Rich. In fact, I'd pretty much kill for that.

[pakmode]

It errors out because there is a comma at the end of the link. Remove the comma and it should work.

[scarberian]

Wow... I am speechless. Thanks meathead2! I would like to see Goody's try the Pioneer. I'd like to get that into my belly! Or the Couch Potato... pork, beef, cheese and potato chips... drool... Or the Havana. Too many to choose from.

[Googs]

You know, after I wrote my requests I realized they're a band not a jukebox. I respect their skills. I'll wait and see what they create next. They've been keeping their customers happy so far.

[Yongeman]

Love the analogy, Googs. I'm with you. But there are some great ideas for home cooking on that site.

[jamesm]

Not that it changes anything, and I'm sure I'm pointing out the obvious but that's a promotional site for the Wisconsin Dairy Board.

[Davwud]

Obviously. Patrick Warburton narrating is fantastic.

DT

[jamesm]

Didn't even make that connection actually.

[scarberian]

True, but take out "Wisconsin" and you generally have cheese so the recipes are very do-able. Heck you can even substitute toppings and come up with new versions! =)

[Pincus]

One point I forgot to mention in my original review is that my buddy hates tomatoes, so he pulled the tomato slice off his burger and gave it to me.

It was a real tomato! Meaty, juicy, flavourful. Not from one of those plastic things they sell under cellophane wrap. It shows that the chefs really care about the ingredients, and don't rely on sauces and other things to hide the fact they are skimping on the basics.

[Davwud]

Keep in mind it's tomato season. Try one in the middle of February and see what it tastes like.

DT

[magic]

True, but even in tomato season how many diner-style kitchens serve real tomatoes? Very few I'm sure. February or August, you're getting the white, mealy stuff.

It's wonderful that Goody's does this.

[Davwud]

Good ones do.
Go to Messini in the middle of veggie season and have the Village Salad (aka Greek Salad)

DT

-----
Messini
445 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K1P1, CA

[magic]

Exactly. I think this is exactly Pincus' point. The good ones do.

[Pincus]

Yup, the good ones do, and Goody's is one of the good ones. As magic states, many places will give you the awful produce 365 days a year.

[Yongeman]

I finally made it out to Goody's for lunch last week, and am I glad I did! I had the Reuben Sandwich with a side Caesar Salad. The sandwich was thick and delicious on marble rye and the caesar was a real treat too. Great, friendly service from the lone waitress and plenty of other regulars who were often called by name by both the waitress and the cooks/chefs. I'll certainly be returning as I want to try the place at breakfast time. Any comments on the corned beef hash?

[Wahooty]

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7979...

:)

[Yongeman]

Ha ha. Nice one, Wahooty. Too far up the thread for me to remember....oh well.

[embee]

What to say? Only one visit, and it IS a diner. As a diner, and being in Toronto, it's very good. Perhaps better than that. Perhaps Toronto's best. But great? D,D-I,D worthy? I won't pass judgement yet. Perhaps we didn't order well, but we ordered food suited to, well, a diner.

The burger - plain, with cheese. The overloaded special burgers sound delicious, but this was a test run. With no doneness specified, we were not asked. It came well done. As others have mentioned, it was huge and juicy. Does anyone know whether they will cook to taste? Loved by two: liked by me. (I want my burgers no more than medium rare).

The Reuben - yes, I liked it. The overall effect was fine and I would order it again. It certainly blew away the dastardly Reuben I ate when dragged recently to the once decent Bo Peep diner on Kingston Rd. Still, this is Chowhound, so.... The marble rye was fine and I have no quibble with the panini (vs grilled) preparation. The sauerkraut was really good, neither too salty nor too sour. The "house cured pastrami" worked well in the Reuben, but I can't imagine eating it on its own. The "pastrami" registered as generic cured meat to me. I found the dip served with it not worth its calories.

The southwest chicken chipotle wrap was liked by all - the least classically diner-like item was deemed the best.

The skinny fries, from a freezer bag, were beautifully cooked and much better than poorly prepared fresh potatoes. Still, they can't compare with well cooked, fresh-cut fries.

Conversely, the sprayed frozen sweet potato fries were better than most fresh sweets I've eaten. The bizarre looking fries stayed crisp, which fresh sweet potato fries seldom do, and were cooked perfectly.

They don't have milkshakes or malts. Preposterous, I say.

Service was friendly and accommodating, though slow (at an unbusy hour).

[TorontoJo]

Ah yes, the pastrami. I had that reuben and the pastrami, while fine, didn't approach the quality of Stockyard's pastrami (or yours, embee). The Stockyard's pastrami can be eaten by itself, in large quantities (and I've seen a friend eat a half pound of that stuff, straight up). I can't imagine doing that with Goody's pastrami.

But next time, try the corned beef hash. It's a damned good hash. And the onion rings. Those were kinda awesome.

[childofthestorm]

I like that embee has weighed in. Lends some gravitas to the subject at hand. I gotta check this place out.

[Pigurd]

I have ordered the Goody Burger medium rare, i even heard the server telling the two cooks our burger was supposed to be medium rare, but it still came out well done.. still juicy though, but meat wasnt really the most flavourful ive had, and didnt seem particularly special... ill say it is decent for 9 bucks though, but maybe too much stuff.. .if i ever order it again ill try plain with caramelized onions...

i liked the lobster bisque, and the ceasar salad that comes with the burger seemed homemade and tasty, though a bit salty...

the ice cream float is a can of mug with no name brand ice cream so i guess that is why it is 2.5....

if i ever have time to come back i might try the other diner items, but the burgers doesnt seem that special aside from the mega toppings.

[ragged25]

So far I've tried the steak sandwich and a Philly Cheesesteak Burger. The burger is massive and very juicy despite being well done. They are able to cook to your liking if requested which I will try next time. But the Philly Cheesesteak Burger was delicious. The layer of steak was tender and the melted cheese made the burger just that much better. The Dad and Son team really do care about the food they put out and you likely will not encounter bad service when you are there as they are both very friendly people. They will go the extra mile to make sure your time at their restaurant is worth the visit.

There are still a number of items I want to try and this will become a regular spot for me and my co-workers.

[Herne]

I had the corned beef and turkey sandwich. Both were great. If I wasn't under orders to loose 40 lbs or so I'd be there weekly. As it is I suspect one more time before the end of the year.

[petek]

Just park really far from the restaurant,that should help a bit :D

[Davwud]

Or make sure there's lettuce and tomato on the sandwich. It makes it healthy then.

DT

[Herne]

Thanks for your assistance in this matter.

[Googs]

I feel your pain, Herne. I'm all of 5'2" tall and have no desire to be the same wide. I figured this out after the first two times I went: I never eat at Goody's Diner alone. I always go with a friend and share everything. Even splitting an app or an extra side plus a main, I've never made it to dessert. Dang i wanna try that Smores Quesadilla! Anyhoo, you might give that approach a whirl. It's easier to lose by eating what you love in smaller portions. Good luck.

[petek]

For me Goody's is a once(or maybe twice )a month treat.Those special burgers+fries, gotta top out at 1000+ mouth watering calories.

[Herne]

The turkey sandwich has done the job for the day. Fantastic stuff. I think I'm under the calorie count required to loose today. One meal is enough in the weight loss sense but certainly not in the enjoyment sense.

[Herne]

Ah well a little pain goes a long way. I plan to make Goody's a target. Next time I loose 10 lbs I'll go back. Have to try the various burgers and the Lobster bisque next time it is available and I have met my target.

[GlennScarborough]

I finally made it to Goody's! I had the Steak Sandwich with fries. That was sure a tasty sandwich. The onions where deliciously caramelized. The steak was medium rare. One of the best steak sandwiches I've ever had. I'm not crazy about the fries (shoestring) but I ate them all anyway. Malt vinegar helps! : )

The service is exemplary. Genuine people and genuine food. What's not to like!

Next for me will be one of those amazing looking burgers they serve. I arrived about 11:45 and it soon started getting busy in a hurry. Cold beer too! I'll be back.

[scarberian]

The best time to go from the times I've gone have been from 1 pm and on. Last time I was there only 3 tables were taken. The first time I went I was served right away as the other two tables were almost done. It's nice and quiet at those times and you can talk to the owner a bit more.

[TorontoJo]

It's also very quiet at 11 am. The two times I've been, there's only been one other table.

[Googs]

Unless you're there on a Friday when they're slammed at all times. Still great food and good service, but a little less personal. I'm thinking of changing my Goody's day to Wednesday's. Yes, I love it so much that I schedule my visits. I only wish I knew about the place when pinstripeprincess and Wahooty were stil in town. It would have been a, well, WahOOOOOOty to go there with them.

[Wahooty]

LMAO! One of these days I'll schedule a visit with you when I'm passing through, darling.

[Googs]

Agreed GlennScarborough. Ditch the shoestring. They should be able to afford a second deep fryer by now with all the business. Go handcut or stay home! Though the shoestring reeeeeally work with the poutine. May we have both Messrs Noble?

[DUH CAR]

They're getting a second fryer as it is what is slowing them down now.

[Cup cake]

Went to Goody's on Thursday with a co-worker after reading all this Chowhound buzz. The burgers were beyond awesome, a candidate for best burger ever - and we've been on a Scarborough burger quest for over a year now. Good quality and very good value! The father/son chef/owners were super nice and the waitress was also great. I also enjoyed the location next to the jail - gave it some street cred. Highly recommend! We posted a menu back up at our office and I think we will have a big crowd joining us for lunch next week.

[Googs]

I'll add this: I can't fathom how they even MAKE the open-faced steak sandwich for 9 bucks, let alone sell it for that. The margin must be teeny. Extremely good value.

[plug]

unless they're using USDA prime ribeye i would think they're making at the very least 60% margin.

[JennaBean]

TI agree. Most places need to keep their food costs under 30% to keep the lights on.

[Googs]

Perhaps, but a 9 buck steak sandwich doesn't normally come so tender and tastefully prepared. For a dollar more than, say, The Tulip you get something you'd expect from a steakhouse. There's a fair bit of labour that's gone in. JennaBean, you'll see what I mean when you try Goody's. I *think* you haven't made it to the wilds of Scarborough yet.

[JennaBean]

I have not! I wish I could but until they have weekend hours, I'm doubtful.

[Apple]

I contacted them - no plans in the immediate future for weekend hours. But they did say never say never.

[Googs]

Given how hard father, son, and server work, I hope they don't. I'd hate for them to burnout. Besides, I'd rather give the Delicious Duo some time to work on more crazy tasty dishes.

[magic]

Yes, everyone needs some rest.

[petek]

"Yes, everyone needs some rest."
Agreed,but you have to remember they also have a catering co that probably keeps them very busy on the weekends.I doubt that they're lounging around the pool when they're not at Goody's..

[magic]

Even without a catering company I doubt they'd be resting that much. Rest isn't a luxury afforded to most people in food service, much less hands-on owners. I guess I just meant that if they feel they need 2 days to attend to other things then good for them :)

[petek]

hey magic.sorry if my post sounded a little brusque.it was meant as a general comment to why aren't they open on the weekend(I could be way off).like they say "there's no rest for the wicked(or people in the restaurant biz :)"

[magic]

No no no, not brusque at all. I totally agree with you.

[Yongeman]

I hope they keep taking a much-deserved 'weekend'. It would be nice if it slid forward a day to Sunday/Monday, so that people who can only go on the weekend would have a chance, too.

[magic]

I would not be opposed to that at all :)

[Apple]

i'd love to see that. I used to work in the neighborhood and I wished it was there when I was. Now that I work downtown, I have to take a day off work to investigate Goody's for myself. (I have other errands to run, but this is on the to do list!)

(BTW - I am all for work life balance - if that's what they have - but as other posters have suggested - could be the weekends are not for rest but the other part of the business.)

[Davwud]

Hey Hounds.

I'll be there for lunch today about 11:45. Double blue Polo shirt, shaved head. About 5' 8" wearing glasses.

If you see me, say "Hi"

DT

[Davwud]

Okay, so I had lunch today and met a couple fellow hounds in the parking lot on the way out to rehash the eatin's.

I started with the lobster bisque. I just couldn't resist since it's lobster and cream. I thought it was excellent. A nice creamy, buttery bisque with good garlic and lobster flavour. The garlic bread on the side was pretty good too. I like the addition of Parmesan cheese.

The onion rings are made in house and were very good. Large with a batter like the way I like them and faired quite well in the pinch and pull tests. Tasty as well.

The Highwayman burger was very good. I'm not big on these novelty type monster burgers but am always up for something like them too though. I thought it was dang tasy but a bit unweildy at first. Once you had your hands around it a few times it squished down enough to get my mouth around. The flavours all worked together well although the BBQ sauce did dominate a bit. That's more and observation than a complaint or compliment.

So all in all an excellent lunch and I can't wait to try more stuff.

DT

[eatravel]

I'm having them do my wedding in a couple of weeks. The first part is a fancy, sit-down dinner, but then the reception will feature a selection of comfort food - fish and chips, poutine, reubens, short ribs and mashed potatoes... So nice to hear that people are loving the food!

[hungryabbey]

Wow, I LOVE this idea. sounds great! let us know how it goes!!

[petek]

It was nice chatting with you today, Davwud

I had the "Chicken Fried" burger for lunch.Man that was some crazy burger!

So many things to try,so many calories....

Cheers

[callitasicit]

Another positive review, nice to hear this place is meeting and even exceeding most people's expectations.

[Herne]

Has any one tried the Aunt Millie burger??

[AngelSanctuary]

Well I finally went due to this thread. The burgers definitely were great! Really juicy and I thought they tasted beefy. And the people working there are really friendly.

[Herne]

Had a Goody's burger and a steak sandwich last week and it lived up to all the accolades.

Plan next to get a lobster bisque and a different burger later this week.

[TorontoJo]

Heading over for a late breakfast, early lunch today. Wave if you see us!

[Davwud]

Too bad I didn't see this earlier. We coulda hooked up for lunch.

DT

[TorontoJo]

Photos of today's lunch:

- Reuben (without sauerkraut) and regular fries
- side of really good onion rings
- "beef and bacon" pizza special: sliced striploin steak, bacon, cheese and their homemade BBQ sauce

[callitasicit]

Was the pizza as good as it looked?

[TorontoJo]

It was good, but not great for me, simply because I didn't care for the sweetness of the BBQ sauce. But the toppings were great (absolutely loaded with steak!) and the crust was of the cracker style -- thin and crunchy (no char, no chew). I will probably explore other items on the menu before I would order a pizza again, as my preference is for a simple Margarita pizza on a Neapolitan-style crust.

[plug]

I was about to say.... the crust looked almost like the prefab ones you buy at the grocery store.

[jamesm]

That was my first thought too. The onion rings don't look homemade either but I'm only judging by the picture.

[TorontoJo]

I don't think they were homemade, but they were very good nonetheless. I have a weakness for onion rings, but I hate the big fat ones that have a super thick slice of onion in it that's mushy and that pulls out of the batter in one big piece when you bite into it. These were nice and fat and oniony, but still crunchy and edible in multiple bites.

[Googs]

jamesm, perhaps we can dicuss the finer points of their prep over reposados at Reposado some night when Gord is spinning. Until then, I sure hope you try it soon. The suspense is killing me.

[Googs]

I make my own pizza at home from scratch. Although getting the crust to finish that perfectly is a wee tricky, it's still quite possible with a little practice. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask if they make their own crust. Can't imagine why they'd need to though. It really isn't that tricky.

Not sure if they buy or make the onion rings, but I agree with TorontoJo. They're darn tasty regardless. I don't feel the need to see the man behind the curtain on that one.

[callitasicit]

I loved their pizza, I prefer that crust to that of a Pizzeria Libretto. I guess I don't like char and chew.

[TorontoJo]

For sure, pizza is such a personal preference! My hubby liked the pizza crust, too. :)

[Pincus]

I went there Friday with a buddy, and we both loved the place.

Industrial neighbourhood. I wouldn't want to hang out there around midnight, but it's fine for dinner hours.I've walked through far worse.

Inside, the place is (as stated) spotless, also bright and cheery. The two chefs are clearly passionate about their work, and the older chef came over to talk to us to explain the menu, and then after to ask us how we liked it. They were both very friendly.

The food is astounding. My buddy had the Goody Burger with spicy wedges, and loved it. I had the pizza special, and it was great too. Nice crunchy cracker crust, and the toppings were a great blend of sweet, salty,and the tomato sauce added just the right amount of tanginess.

We both agreed this place would do very well. I'm already figuring out what I want to eat there next...

[callitasicit]

Anyone know the specials this week?

[petek]

Soup-Lobster Bisque and Chicken Noodle
Entree-Seafood Spaghetti
Burger-"The Chicken Fried"
Pizza-Beef n Bacon

[callitasicit]

Awesome Petek, thanks:)

[petek]

Don't thank me,thank Facebook.... :D

[callitasicit]

No longer on Facebook so I don't have access to the specials.

[petek]

"No longer on Facebook so I don't have access to the specials."

can't say that I blame you.
I'm sure myself and others will be happy to keep everyone updated..

[Googs]

You don't need to log on to FaceBook to see the specials. Just click on the link from their website. And this. The Chicken Fried Burger:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...

[callitasicit]

Thanks Googs. Just tried it and worked.

[Pincus]

Oh man, I might need to make a visit there this week.

[petek]

re: petek
"Oh man, I might need to make a visit there this week."

They just posted on their facebook page that the hoods are not working,so I'd call first to see if they're open.
Hope they get it fixed by Friday,was planning to go for lunch..

[TorontoJo]

When I was in yesterday, someone ordered the "brooklyn" burger (essentially a reuben with a burger patty added) and asked for the burger patty to be cooked like the "chicken fried burger" special: breaded patty, deep fried and tossed in Frank's Red Hot. I can't even imagine the calorie bomb that burger was!

[Davwud]

Sounds awesome though.

DT

[Googs]

Holy MOLEY! I can't i-MA-gine eating that bad boy. Would you call that The Cronenberger or The Chicken Fried Defibrillator? I'm kinda partial to The Cronenberger since you wouldn't wanna partake, but you'd have to,

[TorontoJo]

I like The Cronenberger...

[Yongeman]

Latest FB post says it's closed for today and that people should call first or check the FB page before coming. Damn fume hood.

[petek]

"Damn fume hood."

I know eh..Unfortunately,equipment failure is part of the "joy" of the restaurant biz.
I hope they can fix it soon.

[Yongeman]

Apparently it's been repaired and they've announced that they'll reopen at 9:00 am Thursday morning.

[petek]

Yessss! Great news.Chicken Fried burger here I come! :D

[red dragon]

My husband and I went to Goody’s on Thursday for dinner. The place is very cute, with retro/diner decor. Chef (Neal Noble) and Kyle are two of the nicest men we’ve met. They are friendly, accommodating, humble and very respectful of one another. They make a really good team! Even when they were super busy, they work extremely well together, and you can see the passion they put towards serving good quality home cooked food!

My husband had the Highwayman’s burger with sweet potato fries; I had the Goody’s Turkey Club. Wow! We couldn’t stop laughing because even my husband was stumped. His eyes lit up (he eats for 3) and yes, he finished every bit of it, and still had room to steal some of my dessert. The only problem was deciding how to bite into this enormous burger! It was truly massive. It was one of the best burgers my husband had. Now we don’t have to drive 3 hours to Buffalo!

I’m trying to remember the layers of the burger (in no particular order): bun, burger, havarti cheese, pepper jack cheese, pastrami, cheddar cheese, Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce, deep fried onion rings, fried egg, corn kernels, lettuce, red onion, tomato, bun. I might have missed something, so don’t quote me, I’m going by the picture! The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy.

The Turkey Club was one of the best club sandwiches I’ve had. The brown bread is the perfect choice (homemade for just this sandwich); it’s slightly sweet, grilled to perfection and holds up very well to the generous toppings. I had it with regular bacon instead of peameal bacon and requested it extra crispy. All the toppings worked really well together: lettuce (not iceberg), tomato, avocado (generous slices), spicy mayo, cranberry relish and the turkey, I saved that for last. Juicy, thick slices of real homemade turkey. Oh my! I finished every bit of it. It came with poutine. A word of advice, put a napkin on your lap!

We really liked the retro green glasses, along with Coke Zero in glass bottles!

How did I find room for dessert?? I have a second stomach just for dessert alone. The apple tarte tatin was delicious with olive oil vanilla ice cream. The homemade caramel sauce was amazing! I never share dessert and had offered my husband a taste. I didn't expect him to grab a fork and knife and eat half of my dessert!

We had a wonderful chat with Chef Noble and Kyle before we left. They were genuinely interested in our conversation, and we had a few good laughs. We’re looking forward to their weekend hours (hopefully in 6-8 months)?

See Part 2 (I had to separate to add more pictures)

[red dragon]

Part 2:

Well, it was Friday night, a rare night for my husband to be off, unless he’s on vacation, and he was. This would be a special occasion for us, and we would travel downtown to dine. Nope, we went back to Goody’s, again (yup two nights in a row!

It was a bit busy, but Chef Noble and Kyle remembered our names and welcomed us as if we were family.

My husband had the lobster bisque to start, which he devoured! Nice blend of flavours, very creamy and you can definitely taste the lobster.

We ordered fish and chips and the veal meatloaf. The fish was fresh and had a nice delicate lemon flavour. The fish was crispy, not greasy at all. We prefer battered fish but this was a really nice change! The meatloaf was moist and flavourful, and the baby carrots were perfectly presented.

All the food is very carefully made and plated well.

I knew my husband was eyeing my meatloaf so I ordered a dozen wings with sweet potato fries. Kyle asked if it was to go ....LOL. The wings were finished off perfectly on the grill and we
enjoyed the sweet potato fries (again).

Dessert?? Of course! The sticky toffee pudding, OMG! One bite and I had to give my husband some. He doesn't like dates, but he loved this dessert even more than last night’s tarte tatin! He’s never tried sticky toffee pudding, go figure?? I am not embarrassed to say I could have eaten another one!

This is our new favourite place to dine and we’re looking forward to our next visit!

[red dragon]

I wish we could edit to add photos!! Forgot the wings

[callitasicit]

What sauce are those wings in?

[red dragon]

We ordered them medium, it was slightly sticky & mildly sweet. They were not drenched in sauce, just glazed, if I recall correctly. I would order them hot the next time around.

[callitasicit]

Thanks. I want to try the sweet chili jerk chicken wings.

[Googs]

red dragon, do I see what I think I see? Is that the chunky handcut fries I spy?

(Really I just wanted to be the 100th post. LOL)

No seriously. Are they back?

[T Long]

Congratulations on being the 100th post! Seriously, this is the kind of thread that makes reading CH most rewarding for me....so thanks for being the OP.

[scarberian]

Those look like the sweet potato fries. If you look at the fish and chips picture or the turkey club picture you'll see they're still using the regular shoe string fries.

[Googs]

You say tomato... You must have some mighty big shoes. LOL I think we're saying the same thing in different ways. Those sure aren't the frites I've been served of late. I guess we'll just have to wait to get the skinny from red dragon. (Maybe I shouldn't write this early in the day.)

[red dragon]

I've only been there twice and had the shoe string fries (wish they were thicker) and the sweet pototo fries.

[red dragon]

Missed your post, eyes are tired from all the reading, I posted below to Scarberian. I don't think they're back, but they do sound yummy. What you saw were the sweet potato fries.

[LearningHow]

I was waiting for someone to try the Sticky Toffee Pudding.

Compared to others you've tried, how did you find it?

[red dragon]

I found it quite good, but I can't really compare it to anyone else's. I made it once (epicurious recipe) and it came out well, and I had it along time ago at a friend's house (not so good).

Hopefullly someone else will give it a try and let us know their thoughts.

Sorry I wasn't more helpful, but I would definitely order it again. ~ Chef Noble, can you make it a bit bigger (please and thanks)?

[Yongeman]

Loved your 2-part post, rd. I can't wait to try Goody's asap. I was in Buffalo yesterday and had a very nice corned beef hash breakfast at one of D D and Ds locations, the Lake Effect Diner, on Main St. Very tasty, but I think it'll serve as an appetizer for Goody's. I have a question about your comment, "Now we don't have to drive 3 hours to Buffalo!". Where did you go in Buffalo for the great burgers?

[red dragon]

We drove right by Lake Effect Diner a few weeks ago and ate at Mulberrry's (another DDD). Our favorite burger is Red Robin (don't laugh)! It's a chain I know, but we love it. Not sure how others would feel, but our tastes are our own!

[ragged25]

Based on the reviews, my co-workers and I finally went here for lunch. We literally work 5 minutes away and have never even heard of the place before. When we drove up, we were hesitant to enter as it was in the middle of an industrial area with a jail right next to it, but we were glad that we mustered some courage to enter haha!

I ordered the steak sandwich ($9) and it was really well cooked to medium rare. As described by an earlier poster, the mushroom and sauce was tasty and the hot peppers gave it a nice little kick. I upgraded my salad/fries to their soup (Lobster Bisque) for $2. I've had better elsewhere, but it was still relatively tasty and good value.

My co-workers had the Goody's Burger and they both devoured it. It was probably one of the biggest burgers I've ever come across and they said it was delicious. No complaints about their sweet potatoe fries even though it's not hand cut. Another co-worker had the spicy crispy chicken sandwich and she said it was great as well.

There's a lot on the menu I would like to try personally including some of the breakfast items and we've already decided to add this to our regular spots. The service was great and everything is made to order and good fresh ingredients were used. Given the limited choices in our area, this definitely ranks pretty high on our list. We were very happy with the value and quality of food at Goody's and it was packed during lunch time full of regulars.

I wouldn't say this is a destination spot per se, but I do hope the little place survives in their current location. From the looks of it, their value and quality speaks for itself.

[Smorgasbord]

Just adding to the chorus of approval- I've been here a few times, and Googs et. al. are correct, this place is great. Yep, it's in a 'sketchy' [although not to me] industrial park in Scarberia, but that adds to its charm to me, somehow- it's not uppity at all, and the place is spotless inside. I had a dish this week that I would have paid upwards of $30 in any resto downtown [it was a daily special], and if I wasn't trying to cut back I'd be eating their burgers 3x a week. I really, really hope they do well because i plan to patronize this place for a long time.

[Googs]

Dish on the dish, Smorgasbord. What was so special about the special?

[Smorgasbord]

Sorry G, no smartphone or access to the internet at work. so late reply.... it was chicken ballotine stuffed with sage leaves, roasted peppers, and some other things I forget; it came with miniature [not baby] carrots with a glaze [again, I really should ask about what it was if I'm gonna post! :) ], and an homage to scalloped potatoes done with [I think] gruyere & cream. It was beautifully plated and I know I've paid 2x as much for crappier versions of the same at some 'shall not be named' downtown T.O. restos. It was so different than the diner food on the menu I thought I'd try it, and was very pleasantly surprised [not that I have any problem with their menu, it's fabulous!].

[scarberian]

My wife got the same plating of carrots with her meat loaf and we were taken aback by how well plated the dishes were for a diner. I forget what the other veg was on her plate, but she did clean up and she's not a heavy eater. She did also quite enjoy their garlic mash potatoes. On a side note, I am known to enjoy a bottle or two of Coca-Cola and it was a pleasant surprise to see my Coke come out in a chilled tall glass bottle, almost a retro touch.

[jmarcroyal]

the Chilled tall glass of coke sounds so good, you just dont see that anymore. Its just a small touch that makes a big difference, and this place seems to put the love into everything they do. I still havent been there yet, but based on everything people say on here it sounds great.

My issue is If I go, it would be after work more then likely, and since Id be alone Id be getting takeout, so im just wondering if all these great meals can be ordered as takeout? The steak sandwich sounds great(I know its not the same thing, but Real McCoys will always be my favorite) but Id love to try this. Same with their burgers.

And breakfasts.

Too bad the place is only Monday to Friday, I wouldnt typically be able to get there for breakfast but Id love to try it sometime!

[Googs]

jamrcroyal, I suggest you choose your weapons carefully. Pick a dish that'll travel well. I'm sure the Nobles can help you pick. I'd guess the meatloaf would get home safe & sound.

Either that or invite some friends for dinner and a movie at the Cineplex Eglinton Town Centre. 6pm dinner, 7:30-ish movie would work.

[magic]

Who cares if you're alone!!

Eat in! Live your life!

[Davwud]

I know. I eat lunch alone practically every work day.

DT

[magic]

Totally!

Especially when faced with taking out and having food quality degrade.

Celebrate sweet solitude when you can brothers and sisters.

[petek]

"chicken ballotine stuffed with sage leaves, roasted peppers, and some other things I forget"

that's exactly how our waitress described the special when we went the other day.. :D

[Googs]

I feel for that server. She has so many dishes and ingredients to memorize and not a single slip of paper to cheat from. It must be like a final exam taken daily.

[petek]

She did a great job,I was just havin a laugh.Not complaining at all.

[Googs]

Oh I know. Me too. She's great.

[Pincus]

I'm going there Friday and looking forward to it.

[petek]

Just got back from a great lunch at Goody's.I gotta tell ya,this place has DD&D written all over it.
I had the steak sandwich,perfectly cooked med-rare NY strip,hot peppers on a garlic bun smothered in mushroom demi,soo good.BIL had the featured burger "The Highwayman",wholly freakin schnertz!What a monster burger. A 6-8oz patty topped with smoked meat,onion rings,cheddar and a fried egg.Looked wicked,gonna try it next time.My only minor complaint was that the fries aren't home made,but they were still pretty good.
Got there at 11:30 so service was quick,by the time we were done the kitchen was slammed,but they were still pumping it out.
Great place,will definitely go back.

[Googs]

That's definitely 8 ounces of beef in that patty and THEN the pile-on. Phew.

[petek]

You're right,wish I snapped a photo of it before my BIL got a hold of it.. :D

[bigheid]

Went back today with the GF. She had the veal meatloaf which was quite nice. I had the Reuben with the Lobster Bisque as a side. Some have noted that the Reuben is not traditional and that is true. That said, it was mighty tasty. This diner pairs ingredients really well. The marbled rye was fantastic and the meat (house cured as I understand) was most, tender, and full of flavour. The lobster bisque was terrific and we actually ordered more to go. Next time I think I will try the steak sandwich. Oh and they have free WIFI to boot.

[callitasicit]

I was also very pleased with the lobster bisque. I will likely get the steak sandwich the next time I vist as well.

[TorontoJo]

Just went to Goody's for an excellent late breakfast. Arrived around 10:30 and it was just us and another 2-top. We clearly got there between the breakfast and lunch crowds.

DH had the corned beef hash and I had the huevos rancheros and a side of the crispy potato cakes that someone was asking about in this thread. Corned beef hash was really excellent -- DH *loves* corned beef hash and said this was the best he's had. They make it with caramelized onions, which adds a really nice depth of flavour to the hash. We chatted with the dad about their corned beef and their pastrami -- they make both onsite. They use the same brine for both, then the corned beef gets cooked in the brine and the pastrami is smoked. The flavour of the corned beef was excellent and the texture was great -- fall apart tender. I especially appreciated that it wasn't overly salty. It really makes me want to try their pastrami. The serving was very generous -- large plate of corned beef hash, 3 eggs, a couple of slices of decent tomatoes, plus toast. All for $8. My only personal nitpick would be that I prefer my hash with sauteed cubes of potatoes, rather than deep fried potatoes. But that's a totally personal preference and DH was perfectly happy with the potatoes as is.

My huevos rancheros were prepared very nicely, with a 3 eggs, a generous serving of chorizo and salsa and jack cheese layered between a couple of tostadas. The chorizo was good, but I prefer a fresh pico de gallo rather than a cooked salsa with my rancheros. Once again, a personal preference. I wouldn't order it again, but it was good enough that I brought my leftovers home to be tomorrow's breakfast. The side of potato cakes are little oval fried hash browns (think flat tater tots). I have a weakness for deep fried potatoes of any ilk, so they made me happy, though they were not made in house. Sadly, the dad told me that they used to make their own fried potato cakes with mashed potatoes, scallions and cheddar cheese, but no one ate them. That makes me very sad, because from the description, I would have happily eaten a whole plate of those.

Oh, and DH said the coffee was very good.

Bottom line -- really great local joint. The food is clearly made with care and the family that runs the place is super nice. I hope they do well with the local businesses, because it's very much an off-the-beaten path location. But if any of you chowhounds are ever in the area, it's worth a drop in to grab a bite. I'm looking forward to heading back and trying other items on the menu.

Current hours: 9am - 7pm. They are licensed and have a snack menu that is served after 3pm.

Oh, and they have a special that some of you may like: a pound of wings and any beer for $12.

[bigheid]

Hi TorontoJo.

I think we were the couple that was in at the same time. We were all admiring your purse. The GF had the eggs benny and really enjoyed them. Like you I had the huevos rancheros and thought it was pretty good. The chorizo was very nice and it was not overpowered with cheese. I will definitely try the hash next time we go. Previously we had a hamburger and the chicken club and both were great. All in all a great little secret in Scarborough.

[TorontoJo]

Ha! Small chowhound world! The hash was definitely the winner of our two choices. DH will have a hard time ordering anything else in the future, even though there are lots of items that sound really appealing.

Hey, you should go over to the Charles Yu club sandwich thread and tell him about the one you had. :)

[Yongeman]

Oh, amazing...I was asking about the potatoes and the hash, so you answered both of my questions, TJ. The hash sounds perfect, the potato cakes, not so much. I would have been very interested to have tried the original ones that they made. I make something like that from a recipe learned from my mother and grandmother from Belfast. It's also called 'fadge' and is a great breakfast side. Can't wait to go for breakfast in the next couple of weeks.

[Googs]

I'm afraid I have to agree with TorontoJo on the potato issue and say my first negative thing about the place, It seems Scarberian wasn't crazy when he described the french fries as shoestring. (Sorry, Scarberian no harm intended.) They changed those recently too from the somewhat chunky handcut fries that they finished to a perfect golden crisp exterior and flavourful, moist interior. Shoestring may be for some people, but not this gal. Moving away from homemade potato cakes seems out of character with the rest of their offerings as well.

I wouldn't necessarily describe this as a make-or-break situation, but it does take a tiny bit of shine off. I hope they reconsider the move. I know it's more expedient and keeps costs lower for a neighbourhood that needs it that way, but personally, if they had to add a few cents to each dish to make it work I'd gladly pay it.

Keeping it all handmade keeps them in the running for D,D, & D's.

[TorontoJo]

In the case of the potato cakes, it was a matter of customer preference rather than cost. He told me that 90% of the breakfast plates would come back with the potatoes untouched and he had lots of customers saying "we want REAL hashbrowns". Sad, but true.

[Yongeman]

Funny, and sad, and true. Too bad they didn't make it an option, but you can only do so much at that type of operation.

[Googs]

TorontoJo, that is sad, but I understand. Breakfast is one of those meals where most people want comfortable, familiar food. I think, though, that if any two people could come up with something that strikes the balance between comfort and creativity it's this father and son. I hope they give it a second thought. It's what differentiates them from the myriad of chain and spoon choices nearby.

[Davwud]

I have to say that frozen potato products (provided they're good) don't really concern me. I've been to plenty of places that cut their own fries, grate their own has browns, etc. Then proceed to screw them up in the cooking process. A good store bought fry beats the crap out of a poorly made in house fry every day in my books.

DT

[callitasicit]

I took a trip down to Goody's this afternoon mainly because I knew they were offering lobster bisque this week. This place is truly a hidden jewel, located in an industrial area where you would never expect to find it. I was instantly greeted by Kyle, really friendly guy who immediately remembered me as the lobster bisque caller lol. Kyle couldn't have been nicer, informing me of the usual offerings and the specials. I was immediately drawn in by the pizza special, anchovies, peppers and onions along with a couple of lobster bisques. Before I left, I asked him what type of ice cream he uses for the ice cream float and without hesitation he offered me a taste of the vanilla ice cream, which was actually vanilla olive oil flavour. I know it sounded strange but it was rather delicious. The texture was smooth and rather creamy with a very subtle hint of olive oil. Don't knock it til you try it;)

Okay, I forgot to mention that I ordered take out. When I got home, I was really hungry so I had to try a piece of the pizza. It was absolutely fantastic! Thin crust with jack cheddar cheese and a perfect balance of anchovies, yellow peppers and onions. The best part was the tomato sauce, it was slightly sweet and not overly thin but not too chunky if that makes sense. I hope to try variations of the other pizzas. I haven't yet to try the lobster bisque but will report back soon with my thoughts.

I am really rooting for this place to do well as it is a family operated business. Kyle and his father work together and they are both chefs. Kyle learned under his father's tutelage and it is clear he has a real passion for cooking. I look forward to my next visit here.

[magic]

You guys are killing me.

Too bad I might never actually eat here, unless I take off a "sick" day or something.

With no weekend or dinner hours (and god bless them, good for them) there is little chance I will ever get there during the week!

Not ruling out a sick day at this stage :)

[Herne]

I drove past the place on the long weekend. The area it is in is clearly in a bad way. Used tire places and a welding shop next door. To get on DDD they need to hose the whole front area down to remove the collected dust. The DDD places look relatively prosperous compared to this area. The most up to date and clean area was the near by jail with its shinning barbed wire.

Plan to ge there for a burger this week.

[plug]

Herne, I'm not sure what episodes you've watched but some of the DDD places are located in the 'hood' and co-op areas of the city.

[JennaBean]

Me too! Not to mention it is soooo far via TTC that I think I'd have to even pull out the autoshare if I ever get to go.

[Googs]

magic, they're open until 7pm so perhaps have salad for lunch and go to Goody's for an earrrrrrrly dinner? You can always take in a move nearby afterwards though you may fall asleep in your seat after the huuuuuge portions.

[JennaBean]

I wish but while I have lots of moments of downtime during the day, I'm lucky to even get out by 7 p.m. most nights. I'm bummed. I love a good dinner!

[magic]

That would certainly be an option Googs but don't they only serve smaller, finger type foods from mid-afternoon onward...?

[Googs]

Nope, they add the finger foods to the selection for the between-meals set. Call to be cetain, but that's my understanding. I seriously wanna try that tandoori chicken samosa. Heck, I wanna try their take on everything.

[magic]

Oh, well if they serve dinner that does change things. Dinner I could make....!

[magic]

I called and it seems you are right, Googs. They do indeed serve the lunch menu until closing. Yay! I will actually get to try them!

[Davwud]

Why would magic wanna watch someone move??

DT

[Googs]

LOL! Maybe because magic wouldn't be able to anymore. Mo-VIE, moooo-VIE.

[Davwud]

LOL. I got what you meant. Just thought I'd poke a bit of fun though.

I can see it. These poor shmucks moving their couch in while Magic is slouched in a lawn chair on the front lawn sleeping.

DT

[magic]

Sounds pretty solid to me:)

[red dragon]

Hi Magic,

I feel your pain, there are a lot of places that we'd like to try to, but because of hours or distance (downtown), we'd only be able to go on a vacation day :(

Goody's is a bit closer for us!

[magic]

Exactly :(

Sigh.

[jayt90]

From the various reviews, I see enough flaws that would keep them out of the TV show.
Finishing burgers in the oven, or squishing them until dry? Which is it?.
Starch sprayed sweet potato frites from the supplier. Frozen? Not scratch.
A bizarre Reuben with commercial meat and pressed bread.
Too many offerings on the burger. Why not emphasize their meat?

If their aim is to get on the show (DDDV's) they will have to do everything from scratch, and have some signature dishes proven over the years.

That said, I haven't been there yet, and it is not out of the way, so I'll definitely go there.

[jamesm]

starch sprayed commercial fries is a huge turn-off. If they're not doing something as simple as fries from scratch it seems weird that everything else would be housemade.

[Dflip]

The sweet potato fries were really good. Goody's is catering to an audience that is eating their fries 5 - 10 minutes later when they make it back to work. Thin cut fries are great, alla the Black Dog, but the thin fries with chipotle aioli, while they taste wonderful would be quite soggy ten minutes later in a fast food container. I liked the Goody's fries better than those from the Black Dog when they arrived at my plate because they were thicker and crispier. The Black Dog Chipotle Aioli had more bite, but excellent for a diner.

tjr, in case you didn't understand the message that I was trying to convey, they will cook your burger as you want it. They started doing medium/ medium-well, but after comments/concerns from the customers, they now cook them at 160 F (to kill off e-coli). If you want a medium or medium well done burger, just tell them and they will cook it for you.

The sweet potato fries were excellent! The spray starch is similar to what Costco puts on their fries and they taste quite good, I still like the Real McCoy fries with the skin left on and fried to perfection, but these sweet potato fries were incredible for a diner.

Enjoy!

-----
Black Dog
5540 Main, Manotick, ON K4M, CA

[Googs]

jayt90, give it a whirl hon. I think you may soften up on them. You may even like it.

They never said they wanted a shot at D, D, & D's. That was me. Every time I thought who might qualify for it, I couldn't think of a single place. Until now.

Best burger I've had since Toby's Good Eats, Bay & Bloor. And so much more.

[Yongeman]

My favourite diner visits are usually at breakfast. The menu looks great. Anyone been for breakfast? I haven't had a great corned beef hash since I used to go to the Mars on College many years ago. Also, is anyone able to describe the 'crispy potato cake' which is evidently served with most breakfast entrees?

[TorontoJo]

They smoke their own pastrami, so it's not "commercial meat" in their reuben.

[Googs]

And I'm not quite sure how using a panini press qualifies as "pressed bread". It's damn tasty, and quite juicy.

[jayt90]

It is just not a traditional Reuben on rye. Not a deal breaker.
However, I did not know until Jo's post below that curing and smoking was on site, and that is a big step up for me. You can easily see DDDv's being impressed by this extra step, at diner prices. Plus really good ingredients for corned beef hash.

[scarberian]

I believe the sweet potato fries are home cut, but the regular fries arent. I've had both and I enjoyed the sweet potato fries more than the regular fries. I had their pulled pork burrito and it was quite nice with a sweet almost KC style bbq sauce. This burrito was loaded with beans, rice, salsa, guac, and a heaping amount of pulled pork. The pork was moist and flavourful. If I had known beforehand I would have asked them to make it less sweet and more spicy. The wife had the veal meatloaf and she enjoyed it. I was surprised since she rarely eats meatloaf.

[ragged25]

I just thought the sweet potatoe fries were not handcut as I saw them in a big clear plastic bag before being cooked. Its the same big clear plastic bag the regular fries came in as well, hence I just assumed they were purchased from elsewhere. Like I said, they were still enjoyable regardless.

[scarberian]

I just read from Googs that the owner seems to have changed the fries from fresh cut to packaged. When I went the first time (last month) they had written on their board home cut sweet potato fries. Either way, I still like their SPF regardless whether frozen or fresh cut. As for the starch spray, I like it. It gives the fries an interesting texture, but doesn't take away from the flavour.

As someone else mentioned, compared with Black Dog Pub's SPF,.... I don't know. I really like Black Dog's SPFs, but Goody's has some good SPFs as well. ONe would have to do a side by side comparison, but it wouldn't be fair to either place as SPFs don't travel well. As long as they "get into my belly!", they still taste good in either establishment.

-----
Black Dog Pub
87 Island Rd, Toronto, ON M1C2P6, CA

[Googs]

scarberian, it was the french fries I was referring to, not the spf. I have no knowledge on that front other than the spf appear the same as before. A single stolen one a week ago tasted as great as the ones before.

I oh so sincerely hope they bring back the chunky handcuts. They're just perfect with their burger. I can, once again, only compare it to the heyday of Toby's Good Eats Bay & Bloor location.

[Pigurd]

do they serve the entire menu 9am-7pm or is it only until 330 and then the snacks till 7?

[Googs]

I'm hoping so because I want to have a pre-movie dinner there soon. I haven't b een there past 3 yet. I'd say give them a call. Let us know what they say would you please?

[Dflip]

I dropped by today for a late lunch and ended up trying the 8 oz. Goody burger. With all of the toppings, it was a day's meal all in itself and I'm still full several hours later. It was great to see a well toasted bun which is necessary with all of the extras on the burger. There was a fair bit going on with the back bacon, mushrooms, tomato, lettuce, jalapeno havarti and a green relish with corn. The burger was char-grilled to mark it on both sides and then finished in the oven to prevent it from being overly charred on the outside or too dry near the outside surface. The burger was well done, but they will cook it to your preference if you request a less well done burger. The burger itself had good taste, was moist and seemed to have the right amount of spices. It would be juicier if they didn't squish it on the grill just before plating it, but for the Goody burger the condiments are juicy enough and the bun would have fallen apart. I did taste something stronger, but the garlic may have come from some of the other ingredients because several pieces of the meat eaten without the accompanying items tasted properly seasoned. Next time, I might just try a regular burger. The owners hand grind the meat in ten pound batches and then shape into patties to ensure that it's always fresh. The pickle that was served on the side was definitely a "garlic" dill with a strong taste. They offer several items with the burger and I had the sweet potato frites. They are a thicker cut with a cornstarch mixture sprayed on from their supplier. They were deep fried to perfection and served with a chipotle mayo. The fries stay crunchy are excellent and the mayo could have used a touch more chipotle, but that's my taste buds talking. It was probably a good compromise for the public.

They said they have a new menu and items change depending on the season. They have been selling more soups and pasta lately because of the demand. The braised beef was discontinued for the summer, but will likely reappear when the weather gets cooler. Their hours may seem strange but they are in the middle of an industrial area; so they are closed on the weekends. They have a liquor licence and that's why they are open to seven. There is a snack (after work) menu to augment the lunch menu, so you can order from both menus.

The owners were quite friendly and willing to talk about cooking and food. This is not fine dining, but the owners know how to cook and like to experiment with new dishes and twists on what they are doing. If you are looking for home made bread, pasta, hamburgers with large servings and good value, then Goody's Diner is worth the visit.

-----
Goody's Diner
133 Manville Rd, Unit 17, Toronto, ON , CA

[callitasicit]

I just wish they would update their current menu on the website.

Thanks for your review.

[callitasicit]

I guess they must have read my posts as they have finally updated their website;)

[atomeyes]

wait...they finish a burger in an oven??

[bigheid]

Not sure how they finish the burger but the girlfriend and I shared one and a chicken club. Both were excellent. The menu has changed somewhat and they have daily specials as well as a number of hamburger options that are not found on the menu. I will definitely be back. The guys that work there (father and son?) are great.

[callitasicit]

http://www.goodysdiner.com/images/Men...

[Dflip]

If you watch what they do in a number of good restaurants that cook steaks, they mark the outside of their steak by placing it at a 45 degree angle over very high heat, two minutes, turn it 90 degrees, flip over and repeat on the other side. The meat is frequently put in an oven and cooked at a lower temp, 225 - 250 until it reaches 125 degrees internal temp. for rare and then let rest for ten minutes. It produces and excellent steak with very little myogloban (blood) running out on your plate. The same process works for a thicker hamburger which is what Goody's serves. I didn't believe this when I first heard it, but after seeing the chef at the Ports in Pickering and a "white hat" chef, do the same technique, I was convinced on tasting it and cooking the same at home. My only change is I use my Charcoal Weber to start the steaks and mark them, and my gas Weber to finish them. Ten minutes rest and..... heaven.

The Goody burger has all of the grill marks and the oven ensures that its done, but never overcooked. If you cook a thick burger at full heat for the full time, it will either be quite black on the outside, or the outer layer of the burger will be overcooked while the inside is cooked medium. If the inside is cooked well, then the outside is overdone a few times over.

The owner told me that if they wanted to cook their thick burger solely on the grill, it would take 20 minutes and with this method it takes 8 minutes. They are using the right method to produce a very good burger and one that isn't dried out. Burger Priest's burgers are much thinner and fried, so they don't have the same problem. Johnny's and other places cook a prepared burger which is much thinner and they don't benefit from this technique. Thick burgers require a different technique unless you like overcooked dry beef?

[tjr]

Maybe if you want your burger well-done?

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

How can you place steak on a 45 degree angle?

[tjr]

He's referring to making the cross-hatched pattern on a steak while grilling.

[Yongeman]

Ha!

[LearningHow]

I noticed they have sticky toffee pudding listed on the menu.

Anyone tried it?

[callitasicit]

Supposed to be a new website out for this restaurant as certain items are no longer offered. However when I go on the site, it hasn't been updated. Spoke with someone there and they assured me that the website had been altered. Perhaps it is under a different web address?

[lavender07]

Looks like they only updated the menu. They still need to update their hours of operation.

[jamesm]

Did they remove the dishes with a 'unique' twist because that looks pretty straight forward, not ddd worthy. Granted I haven't seen the special menu apparently posted inside the restaurant. Is the special menu for burgers only?

[Googs]

jamesm, I said little signature twist in each dish. Whether its an outrageous burger or their own homemade sauce for the Reuben, it's the little touches that make the difference and excite the tastebuds.

They don't reinvent the wheel. They take it from Goodyear to Michelin.

[callitasicit]

Since when was the menu changed? I haven't seen any difference for a few weeks now.

[callitasicit]

I saw the braised beef on the online menu.

http://www.goodysdiner.com/images/Men...

[pakmode]

Can't wait to try this place out. Its been getting alot of buzz on CH the past few weeks so I really do want to check it out soon. It's near Warden and Eg right?

[jamesm]

"all beef deftly seasoned with just salt and pepper "

Their website says "ground top sirloin beef, roasted garlic and our secret spice blend." There's no mention of the 'creative' burgers?

Also, do they have specials? The menu online doesn't seem to have any dishes that feature these unique twists you mentioned. They may be very well prepared and executed perfectly but it looks like a pretty standard diner menu.

[Googs]

I take a small piece of beef and taste it before I start digging in. I detect only salt and pepper myself. If there's garlic there it's sitting inthe right place which is to say it merely elevates, doesn't desecrate.

They have daily specials on their chalkboard which includes a daily burger. However, they also have a wall-o'-burgers you can order from. They're not on the menu nor on their website, but they're not a 'secret burger' you have to be in-the-know about by any means.

It sure does look like a standard diner menu. It's all in the execution with these two. I assure you there's a personal touch within each dish. The only stuff coming out of a bottle are the condiments they plunk on your table.

And of all the thngs to forget... have a link.

-----
Goody's Diner
133 Manville Rd, Unit 17, Toronto, ON , CA

[jamesm]

I haven't tried it, I was just going off their website that boasts roasted garlic and a secret spice blend in their burgers. Perhaps that has changed. I have to be in the area in a couple of weeks and was thinking about stopping in.

[TG101]

After reading all the hype I decided to try the burger as I work in the area. It was cooked perfectly for my tastes and very moist. The bun was fantastic and the perfect size. However, there is definitely more than salt and pepper in the burger and I found that whatever extra spices were added were done so with a very heavy hand. My initial reaction after the very first bite was 'whoa, that's salty'. After a few more bites the spices seemed to overpower the burger to the point where I couldn't taste the beef. I ordered the burger with everything other than relish. I don't know if it was the garlic mayo or the burger itself but something repeated on me for hours - two bottles of water later I was still thirsty and left with a salty-garlicky taste coating my throat. I would have loved the fries that came with the burger - (probably) frozen shoestring that came out of the fryer hot and crispy but, unfortunately, tossed in too much salt before plating (and I like my salt!).

While I was waiting for my food they mentioned that their new menu was coming out today. I might go back to try some other items but I won't order the burger again.

[jamesm]

Thanks for clearing up the 'secret spice' question. Odd that there are conflicting reports on the fries being of the frozen variety. It seems that if they, apparently, make everything else by hand they would also have hand cut fries.

[lavender07]

I had the burger when I visited last week, and I didn't think that the patty was overly salted, nor were there any strong spice flavours. Granted, I had the Goody's burger, so there was already peameal bacon, cheese, caramelized onions, and mushrooms, but I could still taste the beef.

[Googs]

Indeed, that is a very odd report TG101. I don't even use salted butter at home. I should think I would notice oversalted in any restaurant. As I say, before I dig in I take a small bite of just the patty and it's very beefy. Perhaps it was the combination of toppings that did you in. Which burger did you order and what did you put on it?

[TG101]

I ordered the basic burger with lettuce, tomato, onions, ketchup, mustard and garlic mayo. Perhaps that particular batch of burgers had double the seasoning added in error? As I mentioned, it was perfectly cooked and the bun was great...just really unfortunate it was so salty as I was really looking forward to it.

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

Likewise, TG101, but no ketchup , mustard , mayo. Try quadruple. I went Monday this week . How about you?

[TG101]

I went on Monday as well!

[Vinnie Vidimangi]

Perhaps there was an error in the making of the particular batch.

[Michael N]

I'm not sure if this has been settled elsewhere in this epic thread, but I just visited Goody's for the first time today and can definitively confirm that they spice their burgers with more than just salt and pepper. The menu specifically states that they mix their burgers with roasted garlic and a "secret spice blend." Aside from that, there is no mistaking the burger for anything but a spiced and seasoned burger -- to me, a burger like this is more of a meatloaf sandwich than a genuine hamburger, but then I am a burger purist and I know that many people would disagree with me.

For what it was, however, it was quite good. Probably the best example of a meatloaf style burger that I've had, and I would easily get it again. But it's definitely not a pure hamburger.

[Yongeman]

Just because a burger has seasonings doesn't make it a 'meatloaf'. All of the homemade burgers that I ate as a young person were seasoned with a blend of spices and/or eggs, bread crumbs, onions etc., etc. That doesn't make them 'meatloaf'. It's the shape and the fact that it's served on a bun that makes it a burger. When I buy a 'home burger' or 'homemade burger' from Burger Shack, It is seasoned with garlic and more. It's still a burger. If you prefer yours 'straight-up', no problem, but you can't exclude those with seasoning.
I like a steak with salt and pepper and sometimes garlic. If someone else likes theirs with Montreal Steak Spice or marinated, it's still a steak. Just cooked with different character.

[Michael N]

I don't think your steak analogy applies, because seasoning something is different from actually mixing ingredients in, and imparts a very different flavour. A more apt comparison would be between an Oreo Blizzard and plain vanilla ice cream, or a frittata and a fried egg. They're in the same category, yes, but they're very different things, and should be labeled as such.

I do think that labeling this type of burger as a homeburger is fair, because every time I've seen a burger labeled homeburger on a menu, it is of the meatloaf variety. I just wish that this would be a universally accepted standard so that you can always know what you're getting when you order a burger.

[scarberian]

Let's just say, for the sake of argument, that we can call BOTH hamburgers. Michael N's example is the traditional, griddle top, slider or regular 100% pure beef patty. No fillers and spiced with just salt and pepper. It's your classic American burger. I can see his point in calling the Goody burgers as "meatloaf". I myself have described them as such, but they belong to that other burger camp where, like a meatloaf, you use breadcrumbs, egg for binding and spices. You usually grill them, but they can be fried on a griddle. Goody's is one of the best examples of this style. I do wish they try their hand at the "purist" burger, just thin patties of 100% beef. Sometimes you just want a classic burger.

[Davwud]

"I just wish that this would be a universally accepted standard so that you can always know what you're getting when you order a burger."

You could just ask.

DT

[Michael N]

@Davwud - Indeed. But the two burger styles are so vastly different that I shouldn't have to ask. That's my point.

[callitasicit]

Have you tried any of their soups? That lobster bisque sounds nice.

[Googs]

I'm not much of a soup person when it's 30 degrees outside. Once summer turns to fall I'll be trying them. You go first.

[callitasicit]

LOL, i love soup no matter what the weather is but I am likely to wait until I get home to try it anyways. I will likely try this place sooner than later.