Christmas Party Cancelled - Need new plans for downtown Toronto Friday night

[thehollers]

My partner's work Christmas party has been cancelled for Friday night (in no small part to Rob Ford, but I digress) and we need new plans. Small group of 4-6 of us are looking for a nice place to go to dinner downtown Friday night. I'm a bit of a foodie so I'm trying to veto the suggestion of going to Fran's and go somewhere a bit more exciting. Budgets are limited - I'd say $30 a person and I'm really unsure where to go with that kind of budget. Ideas?

[iMarilyn]

Queen Mother.

[prima]

If tax & tip are included in the $30, I'd go to Chinatown (maybe Swatow, Lee Garden, Taste of China, etc) with that kind of a budget. Some Chinese restaurants have dinners for 4 or 6, that would be in your budget.

A place like Bairrada (Portuguese churrasqueira) also might work.

Some of the less expensive places on the Danforth (Asteria), some Indian places (Maroli near Christie) and some Korean places on Bloor also might work.

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Bairrada Churrasqueira
1000 College St, Toronto, ON M6H, CA

Maroli
630 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G1K7, CA

Swatow
309 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T2E6, CA

Asteria Souvlaki Place
679 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1L2, CA

Lee Garden Restaurant
331 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T2E9, CA

Taste of China
338 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON M5T2G2, CA

[TorontoJo]

Is $30 all in -- tax and tip? Will people want to drink within that budget, too?

[thehollers]

I should have been more specific - $30 for the meal, excluding tax, tip or adult beverages.

[TorontoJo]

Whew! That makes it a lot easier to make recommendations. :)

I'll make my standby recommendation for Sidecar on College Street. Good food, good value, nice atmosphere. Not uber trendy, but a nice College St. vibe.

Oh, and good cocktails.

[Poorboy]

Sidecar. Excellent choice! I will second that. I have been there and while the tables are close, it is like an old shoe, you are comfortable with it.