Thai Dish

Rated this place:

51 Colborne St, Toronto, ON, M5E1E3

Mediocre: On a quest to find a pad thai place in the city as good as Montreal's Cuisine Bankok, I can now cross this place off my list of places to try - and it's definitely not in the running for the prize. They offer a good array of reasonably priced lunch specials (though nothing special) in the St. Lawrence district. The place was busy and lively, but the decor was a poorly renovated industrial space.

Fat Cat Wine Bar

Rated this place:

331 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, ON

Lobster and Sangria: Walking down Roncesvalles, the sign caught my eye, "Monday and Tuesday nights, $20 Lobster". It was enough to make my partner and I ditch our tofu and salad plan to stake out a spot on the patio for the evening. Reservations are recommended, but we lucked out. With specials every night of the week, we're going to make this a monthly tradition. Pitchers of sangria are also $20 nightly from 5-7pm. The patio is stunning and the food is great - spontaneous plans like that are always the most special.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• wine
• Lobster
• Deal
• sangria pitcher
• mondays
• tuesday

Sadie's Diner

Rated this place:

504 Adelaide St. W, Toronto, ON

Try Harder: I love the idea of a vegetarian diner and I wanted to like it so bad, but Sadie's falls short.

Don't think you can make a vegetarian happy by simply excluding the meat. Things still have to taste good and have a little bit of preparation behind them.

Their burgers are the same flavourless pucks that mean relatives will pick up from the grocery store knowing that you won't eat steak at the barbeque. Not quite worth the money, especially when you can almost see craft burger from your table.

I do hear the chili is good and prepared on site, but I can't imagine I'll be back to try it.

El Trompo Taco Bar & Cactus Grill

Rated this place:

277 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2M1

Authentic Mexican: They have the best, fresh, tomatillo salsa. Ignore the red bowl they give you and stick with the green. It's spicy and one of the best in the city.Ask them for a take-out jar ($4), or two! It's just as good at home and adds a kick to anything.

Imelda

Rated this place:

123 Roncesvalles, Toronto, ON

Stunning Shoes: Every time I went into the Roncesvalles-favourite, Frock, I was always most excited about the shoes. Apparently, I haven't been the only one, since they've expanded the one little shelf in the corner of Frock into an entire store, Imelda, a few doors down.

I love the minimalist display window with a few featured styles placed on small brightly coloured chairs. They carry Hunter rainboots and Miz Mooz heels, among others - and they're currently carrying that perfect pair of gladiator sandals you've been looking for.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shoes
• purses
• Miz Mooz
• Hunter Rainboots
• Gladiator Sandals

Noble Restaurant

Rated this place:

530 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON

A New Favourite: I love the busy atmosphere of push-cart dim sum. But when I'm sitting there eating and seeing the same food lap the room again and again, I wonder how long the stuff I'm having has been sitting out. Noble is a la carte dim sum. It's made fresh and you can taste the difference. It's a little more expensive (barely!) than the neighboring places in Chinatown, but serves quality ingredients with noticeably better seafood. They have the best har gao!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• dim sum
• chinese
• har gao
• a la carte

Corner House Restaurant

Rated this place:

501 Davenport Rd, Toronto, ON, M4V1B8

Wow: I'm not much of a cheesecake person, but everyone I know who had been here told me I had to have it.

And, I'm so glad I did. It was perfect. Not too sweet and wrapped in flaky, buttery phyllo pastry, it was the perfect ending to a delicious meal.

When making a reservation, ask to be in the room with the fireplace.

Tealish

Rated this place:

198 Walnut Ave, Toronto, ON, M6J2N6

Tealish-ious: They have so many different flavours, you'll have such a hard time choosing. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and will help you make your choice - and probably talk you into something a little extra

Loose leaf teas may seem a little more expensive at first - but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much a bag will stretch, and the packaging is all airtight and resealable.

Kensington Market

Rated this place:

S. of College St., W. of Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON, M5L1G4

Perfect Weekend Trip: Best browsing spot in the city! Full of vintage clothing shops, international foods, and niche stores. Grab a coffee at Ideal; pick up a book; and then, if you can, score a patio spot (I recommend embassy) and don't move all afternoon as you enjoy the people watching.

I can't wait until pedestrian Sundays start!

The Common

Rated this place:

1071 College Street, Toronto, ON, M6H 1B2

Local Coffeeshop: Great fair-trade, organic coffee at very reasonable prices ($2.00 for an americano). Free wifi for customers!

The staff is so friendly and the shop is so adorably decorated with a long ivy vine sprawling across the wall and some toys and books for bored kids.

Trampoline Hall at Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Off-Beat Lectures: I have never attended trampoline hall and seen what I had expected going in. I've also never left disappointed.

The lectures by non-experts are always entertaining - especially the question and answer period moderated by the great MC, Misha Glouberman.

Join their facebook group to be the first to know about upcoming shows, and go early to Soundscapes for tickets - they sell out fast.

And purchase some of Becky Johnson's adorable handmade buttons while you're there!

The Red Light

Rated this place:

1185 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1X3

Too Ironic Jukebox: Owned by the same people as Sweaty Betty's, I had high hopes for this place. I loved it the moment I walked in; they have a great beer selection and the decor is stunning - they've done a great reno job to this place.

We walked to the back when we arrived and found a great table and enjoyed the Tom Waits playing. A little later the place started packing up and things went downhill when the music was switched to the jukebox.I am on record as loving bars with jukeboxes. This one, however, is far too ironic to be enjoyable.

What makes jukeboxes so great is that a good bar-owner can curate their collection to make it impossible for a patron to pick a bad song. At The Red Light, it felt like every other '45 seemed to be an joke pick. And every douchebag with a few drinks in him wanted to play Rappers Delight for the 6th time.

Do other jukeboxes have a limit on how often a song can be played? I have never heard the same song twice at the Communist's Daughter - which is exactly where we headed when we couldn't take listening to Funky Cold Medina again and again.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bad jukebox
• great decor
• bourbon

Jackie O

Rated this place:

626 College Street, Toronto

Stylish, Modern, Eco-Friendly: This place has been on my radar since I noticed their potted Christmas plants decorating some of my favorite places on College Street. Their adorable little trees looked like they came right out of a Dr. Seuss book.

Recently, while trying to find a housewarming gift for a friend, I ventured back to Jackie O after the disappointment that was store after store of potted plants and bouquets that looked like they'd been around from the 80's.

You'll find none of that other stuff at Jackie O. And with a name like that, would you expect to? Everything is perfectly simple, eyecatching, and locally-sourced (where possible).

Look for the elegant white storefront in Little Italy if you want to buy me flowers.

Robber

Rated this place:

863 Queen Street West, Toronto, M6J 1G4

"Stole" my heart: Bad puns aside, Robber is a great addition to the Queen West West strip. They have a good mix of different price ranges and carry a wide range of hard-to-find labels.

They're the only Toronto retailer of the fashion-blog-favourite, Built By Wendy. After drooling over their website for months, I was excited to see some of the pieces in person - and they're just as nice.

And, for those of you like me - who love American Apparel's sweatshop free missive and comfy tees, but hate the thought of supporting the skeezy Dov Charney - they carry the also-sustainable Alternative Apparel.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• friendly staff
• Built by Wendy
• Alternative Apparel

The Paper Place

Rated this place:

887 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M4M1J2

Stunning!: Just try to walk past without going in, I dare you.

A paper store? That doesn't sound so interesting, does it? But as soon as you peek in the window you'll be drawn in by the most delicate handmade papers in the most beautiful patterns and colours.

Great for scrapbookers and those who love quality stationary. They also have a great desk accessory section with quirky erasers, pencil sharpeners, etc. Buy some for the kids in your life for extra cool points.

A great visit for couples planning a wedding - they customize unique and gorgeous invitations.

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Rated this place:

4 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2E8

Treat Yourself: Definitely pricy - but worth a splurge every now and then.

They're allowed to charge that much when the view is perfect, the decor is pure class, the mixed drinks and cocktails are divine, and little trays of the olives and spiced almonds are kept filled while you imbibe.

Great spot for a first date!

Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Dive Brunch: They host the always-awesome event, Trampoline Hall, on the first Monday of every month.

The nachos always seem like a good idea, until you're done and moaning that you'll never have them again. Make sure you have at least 3 people to share among, or you'll regret it.

I was pleasantly surprised by how good the brunch was. Who'd of thunk it? The portions were, again, HUGE. Next time I'll know though - perfect for sharing.

Balisi

Rated this place:

668 College Street, Toronto, ON, M6G1B8

A little something different: Aldo has a huge selection - but they're all variations on the same few styles. For something truly different and eyecatching, you're bound to find what you're looking for at Balisi.

Every pair I've bought here seems to prompt strangers to stop me and ask where I got them.

They also carry my favorite brand, Miz Mooz Shoes.

Girl Friday

Rated this place:

740 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J 1E9

Oops!: For some reason I always confuse this place with Fly Girl, just steps away from Girl Friday's college street location (and which is also lovely, just not the place I often mean).

Girl Friday always has great items to fill a wide range of budgets. So, while you can go in and drool over some of the more expensive items, you can still leave with something wallet-friendly.

Girl Friday has a huge selection of quirky and fun separates and some classic items with a twist, like lime-green trimmed beige trenchcoats.

SOMA Chocolatemaker

Rated this place:

55 Mill St. (Building #47), Toronto, Ontario, M5A3C4

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm: A must-visit spot in the distillery district. Believe the hype: their mayan hot chocolate is as good as they say.

They definitely know their stuff - try a few of their chocolates while one of their experts walks you through the tasting notes like wines.

Kids and adults alike will love watching the chocolate factory through the huge pane window.

Sweaty Betty's

Rated this place:

13 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Y8

Casual Bar: Skip the mixed drinks and grab a beer at the bar.

Small and cozy, with my favorite feature - a jukebox! I love the old sofas and the vintage tattoo art.

Charlie

Rated this place:

809 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J 1G1

Trendy and Classic: With ties to Girl Friday, Charlie feels like Friday's older sister.

A little sleeker and more sophisticated, Charlie also carries unique staples that just seem a little more grown-up. It still has a young and fun vibe, but with a more limited colour palette and more elegant patterns.

They always have the most fabulous dresses and the staff is always friendly and helpful.

Anthropologie

Rated this place:

1090 Don Mills Rd (Shops at Don Mills), Toronto, ON, M3C 0E1

*Swoon*: It's here - it's finally here!

I'm *so* glad that we finally got an Anthropologie in Toronto. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on their website drooling over their adorable dresses and imagining the occasions I would wear them to.

It's definitely a trek from the downtown core - but with the new McNally Robinson open in the same plaza, it's worth the trip.

And, for those Torontonians who refuse to go north of Dupont, another location is already in the works for Yorkville.

McNally Robinson

Rated this place:

1090 Don Mills Road, Toronto, ON

Some Competition: I strongly support indie bookstores - but there are less options in the suburbs - even less since Chapters/Indigo/Coles seem to have a monopoly on every mall bookstore.

McNally Robinson has recently expanded into Ontario, and this Winnipeg chain is giving Chapters a run for their money.

Their new location is beautiful and has a huge focus on bringing authors in for readings and events in the store.

And, I do love their strong support of Canadian Content, for selfish reasons.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bookstore
• Books
• Big Box Bookstore
• Megastore
• Reading Events

The Hen House

Rated this place:

1532 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON

Hidden Gem: This is one of those places that you almost don't want to share, so you can enjoy keeping it to yourself a little longer.

I had passed it on the streetcar several times and saw the hip crowd spilling out onto the street to smoke and chat - but, due to the sign, "Cafe Dong Phuong", I was confused and just thought it was a really cool neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant.

Who doesn't love a jukebox? And this one has one of the best selections in the city - rivaling even the Communists Daughter.

I also *loved* their washrooms. Wallpapered with yearbook pages from the sixties, it was amusing to read all the anachronistic career aspirations.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Jukebox
• Dundas West
• LGBT