Which restaurants in TO make you feel the most welcome?

[prima]

These are the restaurants that make me feel the most welcome:

Pantheon

Enoteca Sociale

Globe Earth

Barberian's

Pizzeria Libretto Danforth

Ciccio Sanwiccio

Ici Bistro

[air621]

Recently, my wife and I were well taken care of by our server, Rory at the Auld Spot on Danforth. Love that place

[redhead]

I always receive a warm welcome at Biff's and recently had a lovely experience at The Saint on Ossington. Positive vibes also from District Sushi in Leslieville and the new Irish Pub (Queen and Broadview, name escapes me..something gaelic) I will now refuse to return to a place that did not make me feel welcome!

[julesrules]

Motorama - everyone in the neighbourhood loves Maria.

[szw]

Chantecler has such lovely decor and friendly staff, very welcoming without being intrusive.

[linalool]

the hosts at any/all Mandarin locations are, without question, the most welcoming folks one could ever come across. its not even close...

[magic]

Service at Y/E Mandarin is amazingly warm and welcoming.

[Googs]

If you're throwing around enough cash, any place will make you feel welcome. It's the places that make you feel welcome when cash is tight or times are bad that I have the most affinity for.. Thus began my longstanding love affair with Fernando's Hideaway. When I was a broke girl moving out on my own for the first time, Hernando's Hideaway was always welcoming. It didn't matter whether I was alone or with a dozen of my friends watching the Leafs (anybody remember hockey?). There was always someone there who would share a joke, tell a story, make me feel like a friend. Now that it's morphed into Fernando's Hideaway and I a homeowner, it's still that place I'll turn to for a night out knowing I'll have a good time, a decent meal, and I won't have to skip a mortgage payment to do it.

[crawfish]

Thanks for bringing this back down to earth, Googs! The conversations on this board are way too high end centric for me lately.

[prima]

I can think of a number of high-end restaurants in TO where I have not been made to feel welcome. Sometimes it's a server or host's attitude, other times it's a look from a Chef or an Owner that makes me feel like he's sizing me up, deciding whether I'm worth acknowledging or talking to. Those kinds of experiences are the main reason I started this thread. :-)

I agree, it's the places that make me feel welcome when cash is tight, that I like the most. I also like it when Chefs and/or Owners take the time to find out if I'm enjoying my meal.

I'll add Motorama as another place I always feel welcome.

[canadianbeaver]

Yeah, I was going to say Fran's, because I have never gotten such consistently cheery and welcoming service, or United Bakers. But those answers don't fit the expected responses for this thread.

[magic]

Expected?? Who stated their expectations?

Answer however you feel.

[Julie McCoy]

Ruby Watchco.

[jinxie]

Sucks that I had such a rotten experience with Enetoca Sociale...I want to give them another chance. We'll see.

I really like all the waitstaff and front of the house people at House on Parliament.

[Flexitarian]

Maybe this is only the case if you are gay, but a friend of mine stopped going there because he said the staff there seems to be quite homophobic (even though it seems to be frequented by the gay community a lot).

[T Long]

Bistro Camino

[cubmike74]

Agreed. Its where I go when I want to totally relax and have some comfort food.

[millygirl]

Never been to Bistro Camino and meant to but haven't heard much about it lately. What do you recommend there?

[T Long]

The chef has a very good touch with seafood. My only poorer meal involved beef.

[millygirl]

Good to know cuz Mr. MG's most always goes for the beef. Thanks T Long.

[cubmike74]

I tend to go for whatever fish special he has on at the moment. The duck confit is quite good as well.

[scarberian]

Also agree on BC. Very friendly wait staff and a welcoming atmosphere. The duck confit is my favourite, but as others have said the chef has a way with seafood.

[Googs]

I'd also recommend Bistro Camino, millygirl. Though I can't say much for the decor, the food is exceptionally well prepared. Chef does a lovely balancing act.

[jjmellon]

I agree that Bistro Camino's service is extremely friendly. The decor is friendly, the price is friendly, and the food is very friendly. I think it is the best value in Toronto in French/bistro style food.

[millygirl]

Wow okay then, I must bump BC up to the top.

[LemonLauren]

+ 1 to Enoteca and PL Danforth

Ceili Cottage

Harbord Room

[Hondapendragon]

earth Bloor West. Not a drop of pretentiousness. Always made to feel welcome.
Great thread!

[millygirl]

Another one for Scaramouche.

[Flexitarian]

Scaramouche

[magic]

Totally.

Also, Hot House Cafe.

[justxpete]

The proprietor at Edulis is very very friendly.

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[ace123]

+1 for Edulis. Tobey is a lovely lady who knows how to treat the patrons extremely well.

[TorontoJo]

Agreed -- had a lovely, lovely dinner at Edulis a couple of months ago.

And I'll add Trio (Yonge/Lawrence 'hood) to that list. I've been going there for years and have always been made to feel like friends there.

And Hammersmith's and The Regal Diner (in Niagara Falls) for breakfast/brunch spots that made me feel welcome from the very first visit.

[JennaBean]

+1 Pantheon for sure!

[deabot]

Good thread!
+1 for Enoteca and I would Campagnolo too.