Rua Vang Golden Turtle Restaurant

Rated this place:

125 Ossington Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6J2Z2

Susur-Sighting: Recently, while out with a foodie friend, we started talking about how whenever someone in Toronto wants to stress that a place is good, they usually mention that Susur Lee eats there.

My boyfriend saw Susur Lee eat here. After that point, it became our go-to pho place - as, we were sure he knew his stuff when it came to food.

Pho Phuong Fine Vietnamese Cuisine

Rated this place:

1603 Dundas St. West, Toronto, ON, M6K1T9

Fancy Pho: I couldn't be defined as a deal-seeking expert without adding a favorite pho place to my list. A long favorite of students and the thrifty, pho is one of the few meals you can get in Toronto for under $7.

A little nicer than your usual hole-in-the-wall pho places, Pho Phuong has a sleek decor and comfy booths. The portions are huge, and the broth is fantastic.

Musa

Rated this place:

847 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1V6

Downhill: Oh Musa, how I used to love you.

I don't know if your head got too big after being recommended by the uber-cool Wallpaper, or if it was a change in the management, but you're just not the same little hidden gem I fell in love with.

The last time I saw you, I had what was - literally - the worst meal of my life. Bad service; lied to by kitchen staff; waiting over 2 hours (!) for my meal; and then, when I finally got my pasta, it was so drenched in sauce it was more like a soup - and not a very good one at that.
Sorry Musa, but it's over. It's not me, it's you.

It's definitely you.

Panorama

Rated this place:

55 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M4W1A5

Better view than the CN Tower...: ...because you can't see the CN Tower from the CN Tower.

It's a little cheesier and pricier than most places - but it's a great place to bring out-of-town guests. Make reservations and be sure to ask for a south view table.

Perola supermarket

Rated this place:

247 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2L8

Tortilla Shells: Their tortillas are cheaper than the grocery store's, larger than the grocery store's, and they taste better than the grocery store's.

And, once you're there, the shop is so colourful and full of exotic brands that you'll love looking around and browsing.

Isn't grocery shopping in Kensington the best?

She Said Boom Records & Books

Rated this place:

372 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1S6

Used Books in Roncesvalles: Yes, I'm faving another bookstore - but trust me! I know my bookstores.

The staff here is so friendly, and makes an effort to get to know the people in the neighborhood. Their featured table always has at least one selection that I'll take home with me

It also has a special place in my heart because of all the bookstores that I love, She Said Boom is the closest in proximity to my apartment. Their vinyl section isn't half-bad either.

Buster's Sea Cove

Rated this place:

93 Front St E, Toronto, ON, M5E1C3

Oh-So-Fresh: Located in St. Lawrence Market, Buster's Sea Cove carries the freshest fish and chips I've had.

Watch out during lunch time, as the line gets pretty long - and it's bound to get longer now that the weather is nicer and they have those picnic benches outside to enjoy!

Jacob

Rated this place:

220 Yonge St #19, Toronto, ON, M5B2H1

Sleek and Stylish Workwear: Is it just me, or does everything in Jacob this season look like it came from the closet of Mad Men's Joan Holloway?

All the shapes are beautiful and structured in classic shades with splashes of bolder colours. I want all of it.

Jacob's prices are well within the budget of outfitting you for your first career. And, their clothing is trendy and sexy enough that you can wear it out for drinks after work!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• work clothes
• shopping
• style

Nicholas Hoare

Rated this place:

45 Front E, Toronto, ON, M5E1B3

Stunning displays!: I like to think of this place as more of a "book gallery" than a "bookstore". Each book is displayed cover forward - so, while it's not the best way to conserve shelf space, it is the most beautiful.

Their collection is well curated and I'm yet to ask about a book that isn't already on their radar. They hold great book launches and reading events.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bookstore
• Book Gallery
• staff

Loft Jacques-Cartier

Rated this place:

4046 Cartier, Montreal, QC, H2K 4G4

Accomodation: Their prices are cheaper than a hotel - and it was so much better! Their apartments are perfect for short term stays - very clean and well equipped with everything you'd miss from home. It's in a fantastic area too. I would book again in a second without even thinking about it.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Accomodation

Convenience Gallery

Rated this place:

58 Lansdowne Ave, Toronto, ON, M6K2V9

Toronto Secret: it's one of the little things I love about my neighborhood. The storefront of an old convenience store has been transformed into a gallery featuring ever-changing installations by Parkdale artists. Open 24/7, I always get excited when I walk past to see to new feature.

KnowMore Lectures

Rated this place:

46 Noble Street, Unit 102, Toronto, ON, M6K2C6

Hilarious Educational Lectures: Part educational lecture, part comedy routine, and all around fun. Toronto comedian Peter Stevens takes the knowledge and experence gained from teaching at a travelling high school through Europe and brings it to anyone with $5 and a free Thursday.

Good Egg

Rated this place:

267 Augusta Avenue, Toronto, ON

Art & Culture of Food: I'm not much of a cook, but Good Egg gets me excited about the kitchen. Full of books, cookware, and tchotchkes; everything is carefully chosen and beautifully displayed.

They carry many awesome and funny Fred Flare items - and are one of the few places in the city that I've seen selling the "I Am Not A Paper Cup" porcelain mugs.

Perfect store for those "I have no idea what to buy for" people - and a place to keep in mind for upcoming Mother's Day.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gifts
• cookbooks
• quirky mugs

freshii

Rated this place:

92 King St. E., Unit 118, Toronto, ON

Fast and Fresh: The restaurant formerly known as "Lettuce", now rebranded as "freshii".

Nothing groundbreaking here - but the best choice in a sea of fast food restaurants. Freshii's goal is to provide a quick and healthy option at a competitive price - and on that, they deliver. More than just greens (hence the name change) freshii has lots of options similar to the more popular Fresh by Juice for Life, like burritos and rice bowls.

And for those of you chained to your desks, freshii will even deliver for a very small fee.

Hiro's Sushi Restaurant

Rated this place:

171 King St E, Toronto, ON, M5A1J4

Great Lunch Spot: It's a wonder that places like Ichiban are packed for lunch when Hiro is nearby.

The menu is very limited, but me and my lunchmate were both thrilled with our choices. Usually the salad at sushi places is full of iceberg lettuce and totally gross. At Hiro, you're served a small, elegant, mixed-green salad. Perfect!

The basic sushi combination lunch came with lots of variety and was almost too much food. The fish quality was amazing and there were a couple of pieces of Hiro's famous and interested lightly smoked sushi.

This place is going into the regular rotation of lunch spots for me!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• Lunch Spot
• smoked sushi

Hungary Thai Bar & Eatery

Rated this place:

196 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2L6

Great Pad Thai, Bad Customer Service: I know, I know. It's an odd combination, Thai and Hungarian food under one roof.

I can't speak for the Hungarian options, because every time I go, I only want their pad thai. It's great and the portion size is huge.

A main complaint though is that the service is seriously lacking - get your food to go. Over the summer, a friend and I were asked to leave 30 minutes before closing because it wasn't busy and our server wanted to leave. Ummm... way to make your customers feel wanted.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Thai Food
• pad thai

Pearl Harbourfront Restaurant

Rated this place:

207 Queens Quay W, Suite 200, Toronto, ON, M5J1A7

Meh: The view is great, it's true - but if you're looking for high end Chinese food in the city, you should definitely go to Dynasty in Yorkville instead!

The food is good - but doesn't live up to the inflated price tags.

I went with a large group after a conference and I have to admit I was a little embarrassed that I had even recommended it. None of the dishes really impressed anyone - and we ordered 10 different "chef's specialties".

Host Fine Indian Cuisine

Rated this place:

14 Prince Arthur Ave., Toronto, ON, M5R1A9

Ignore the Hype: I'd heard so many great things about this upscale Indian restaurant, but I was extremely disappointed at my visit.

The food was bland, greasy, and overpriced. The nicer ambiance and Yorkville location didn't make up for the mediocre meal.

Save your money and go to Banjara instead.

Forestview Chinese Restaurant Ltd

Rated this place:

466-468 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON, M5T1G9

Chinatown Dim Sum: Forestview is a clean, bright dim sum restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. It's huge, so you never have to wait for a table - just sit down and wait for the har gow to come to you.

Cheap, family-friendly, delicious food with great atmosphere - this place is a perfect spot for weekend brunch.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Chinese food
• dim sum
• Cheap Eats

Massimo Pizza & Pasta

Rated this place:

302 College St., Toronto, ON, M5T1R9

Yuck!: Massimo's pizza has a huge and vocal following. I've been there a few times, but after this news, never again.

After being shut down, Massimo's put a sign in the window saying they were closed to fix ventilation problems. BlogTO did some investigation on the dinesafe.ca website and discovered that they were shut down for almost every infraction possible.

Careless employees, unhygienic bathrooms, rodent infestation, and unsanitary utensils are just a few of the reasons I won't be eating there anymore.

If you're in the area looking for pizza, go to Pizzeria Libretto instead.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• rats
• unsanitary
• gross

Moroco Chocolat

Rated this place:

99 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, ON, M5R 3K3

Delicate Desserts: I am completely macaron obsessed. In Paris I lived blocks away from the best macarons on the planet and I couldn't seem to walk past without trying a different flavour.

Here in Toronto, few places even know what one is, nevermind perfect it. And everytime I've finally found a place in Toronto that carries them, they only do one flavour and you have to order them in advance. Moroco carries several flavours that are made fresh daily - and keep me satisfied until my next trip to Pierre Herme.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• dessert
• Chocolates
• macarons
• truffles

The Drake Hotel

Rated this place:

1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1J3

Queen West Cool: The decor of this updated hotel is amazing. I love the damask/rorschach inkblot pattern on the walls of the lounge.

The patio is amazing year round. They've winterproofed it, but it's definitely more spectacular in the summer. There is lots of comfy seating in their skylounge and the bar is big enough that you don't have to fight your way to the front to get served.

The spicy tuna sushi is one of the best maki rolls I've had in my life. The quality of the fish was amazing! Few people know that on Mondays (and weekdays between 5-7) they offer some steep discounts on food and drink

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Decor
• Patio for Drinks
• trendy bar
• Decor
• Patio for Drinks
• Spicy Tuna Sushi

Hank’s Café

Rated this place:

9-1/2 Church Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5E1M2

I want to go to there: As a devotee of Manic Coffee, I was disappointed to hear that Jamie Kennedy had scooped up their award winning barista, Sam. That was before I got a new job steps away from his new cafe, Hank's.

Hank's is a fantastic little cafe dedicated to serving simple - but delicious - breakfast and lunch items. Nothing on the menu is over $7.50, but still manages to follow Kennedy's principles of using locally sourced, fresh, quality ingredients.

There isn't a wide variety of meals, but every item is perfected. And, of course, they have amazing intelligentsia coffee.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Lunch Spot
• coffee
• barista
• locally sourced
• muffins

Mother India

Rated this place:

1456 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6K 1M2

Second Best: Ghandi is, hands down, the best indian roti in the city. I live two minutes from Mother India and yet I frequently drive right past it in order to go to Ghandi. But, Ghandi isn't open on weekends - and sometimes I'm just too lazy to make the trip and want somewhere closer.

These times, I go to Mother India. It's owned by the same people as Ghandi's, but it's never quite as good. They're a little bit slower, a little less spicy (be sure to ask for "Ghandi-Hot). Mother India does make really, really good roti - just not as good as Ghandi.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Indian Food
• roti

Banana Republic Factory Store

Rated this place:

1 Bass Pro Mills Drive, Vaughan, ON, L4K5W4

Fashion on the Cheap: Almost all of my previous trips to the states have included extensive trips to Banana Republic Factory Stores. Now those of us north of the border have a more convenient location.

Vaughan Mills houses the new store, which carries it's own separate line of clothes in addition to regular marked down stock. The discounts are steep - every time I've been in they've been running a separate 40% off all cashmere promotion.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• workwear
• fashion discounts
• cashmere