Discount Textbooks

Rated this place:

229 College Street (lower level), Toronto, ON, M5T 1R4

The name is self-explanatory: Everyone knows that attending college or university can drain a bank account quickly and completely. One way to stretch those summer job dollars is to find discounted or used textbooks. Having attended U of T, the College St. location of Discount Textbooks (what an imaginative name) saved me from the insanity of the school's official bookstore and some ducats too. Assuming this small shop stocks the books you're looking for, you could save anywhere from $3 to $12 per title - and believe me, those savings add up! Bring your student ID and prepare to fight over coveted pre-highlighted texts.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Discount books

Truffles

Rated this place:

21 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2G1

Farewell...: My party had a great experience here during Summerlicious in 2008 and I'm sad to see it go. I'll never forget my brother-in-law's reaction when he was served clear tomato soup, which he initially thought was a finger bowl. Classic. According to its website, this Four Seasons staple will be closing its doors on September 5th of this year. Farewell Truffles...

Sunset Grill

Rated this place:

2901 EGLINTON AVE W, MISSISSAUGA, ON, L5M6J3

All-day breakfast...sort of: This branch of the popular franchise is a fave in the Erin Mills area of Mississauga. However, this tiny location gets incredibly busy if you come at the wrong time. Try avoiding the 9-10 morning rush by coming in closer to opening...6:30AM Mon-Fri or 7 on the weekend.

Don't wait "all day" to have breakfast though...they close in the early afternoon!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• "All-day" brekkie

Asian Wok 'n' Roll

Rated this place:

6905 Millcreek Drive, Unit 13, Mississauga, ON, L5N 6A3

Spicy!: There are some great Hakka joints in Mississauga (most of them near the airport) but this place is one of the best. Their chili chicken, a Hakka staple, is not for weak stomachs. You can almost feel the heat coming off your singed tongue after a few bites. But it's a good burn... If you're looking for something tasty with just a pinch of heat, try the tandoori chicken. It's a szechuan twist on the Indian favourite... marinated slivers of boneless chicken stir fried with onions, bell peppers and sliced chilies. We order those two items over and over again and we haven't gotten sick of them yet!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Tandoori Chicken
• chilli chicken

Souvlaki Hut

Rated this place:

2085 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 6P5

Get the pita...not the dinner!: I've been coming here for a few years now and I've noticed that the portions and service given here have become inconsistent in the last year or so. Also, the dollop of tzatziki served with the dinners and pitas has gotten much smaller as of late...while the prices for both have gone up.

The best deal on the menu is the combo plate. It includes your choice of pita (except lamb), your choice of side and a drink for $9.95. It's big enough to satisfy the grumbling in your stomach, but leaves room for the complimentary honey pitas served as dessert.

Aside from the disappearing tzatziki, Souvlaki Hut is still an okay spot to grab a snack before catching a flick at the nearby AMC. (Bonus: they offer discounted movie tickets if you buy dinner)

Mississauga Grill

Rated this place:

3899 Trelawny Cir, Mississauga, ON, L5N 6S4

"Roll Kabab": $2.99 for one tasty kabab rolled in what looks/tastes like a homemade naan/roti hybrid. However, the "chicken biryani" left much to be desired despite its low, low price of $3.99. This place is worth trying if you're in the Meadowvale area and not looking to spend much money.

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

Pita Nutsy

Rated this place:

241 Queen St S, Mississauga, ON, L5M1L7

Great shawarma: This Streetsville location is so popular that you're either there to do take-out or eat in the parking lot. It's nearly impossible to get a seat at peak time...and for good reason! The meat is seasoned to perfection and each bite melts in your mouth. Plus, the staff is incredibly friendly and will chat with you while they dress your masterpiece of a pita!

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

Cantina Mexicana Inc

Rated this place:

277 Queen St S, Mississauga, ON, L5M1L9

Yummm...: Pay Cantina a visit if you're in a mood for a near-authentic Mexican culinary experience. The interior is cozy (almost too cozy) and the lighting is romantic. The exterior is pretty hard to miss since it's painted pink! Other than that, fill up on tasty appetizers instead of the entrees if you're in a playful mood...

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• intimate atmosphere

Bombay Bhel

Rated this place:

6415 Erin Mills Pkwy, Mississauga, ON, L5N4H4

Delicious: First timers should take note that the portions, especially the rice dishes, are generous. My first time there ended in several styrofoam leftover containers. An all-time fave on the menu is the tandoori platter. It's large enough to share (3 people snacking or 2 people starving) and tasty to boot. Since most entrees come with either rice or naan, a sensible order for two is an entree and one of their many sides. I recommend the tandoori platter with naan and some channa masala on the side. Yum!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tandoori platter

Queen's Park

Rated this place:

University and Wellesley Aves., Toronto, ON, M5H2N2

A great place to relax: As a former U of T student, I've crossed Queen's Park so many times that I've taken its beauty for granted. It's a gorgeous place to sit and have lunch. Also, if you're lucky, there might be bongo drummers nearby, providing a soothing soundtrack to your stay.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Great place to relax

Darvish Restaurant Tempus

Rated this place:

508 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1X9

Intimate and yummy: The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. And the meal portions! The plates were enormous for a pretty decent price. I'd come back again when I'm in the area.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Meal portions

Miga Korean & Japanese B.B.Q. Restaurant

Rated this place:

2382 Dundas St. W, Mississauga, ON, L5K 1R7

Great Korean BBQ: Miga is the first Korean BBQ restaurant I've been to that doesn't look like it's going to randomly explode. The interior is decorated well and the staff is quite friendly. The usual sides (kimchi, et al.) are brought to the table promptly after ordering. But the best thing about Miga is that they change your grill (complete with re-greasing) in the middle of your dinner. That means that every morsel you cook after the initial batch isn't charred and stuck to the grill. Also, try the special hot pots if you're feeling adventurous!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Korean BBQ

Axia Restaurant & Bar

Rated this place:

5045A Plantation Place, Mississauga, ON, L5M 6J3

Axia seldom disappoints...: Axia is one of the few places in Mississauga that rarely disappoints. Although they've recently scaled down their Korean offerings, Axia still offers Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese favourites. Their rice and noodle dishes come to your table piping hot (which is good) and are usually good for two people (which is great). The interior is decorated beautifully, complete with miniature apartments atop the semi-private tables. The pho is unusually expensive, but the other Southeast Asian dishes are delicious and worth every penny. Overall, Axia is a great for dates, celebrations with family or even just a casual lunch with friends.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• pad thai
• chirashi

Caz's Great Fish Restaurant

Rated this place:

6415 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga, ON, L5N 4H4

Hits the seafood spot: Caz's always delivers when I have a hankering for fish. Of course, the most popular item on the menu is Caz's Best, a generous plate of fish and chips (halibut or haddock). They offer healthier, oven-baked options as well. I can't go to Caz's without ordering their bacon-wrapped scallops. The scallops are huge and are never overdone. Mmmm...

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• bacon-wrapped scallops

Korea House

Rated this place:

666 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M6G1L2

Hot!: The kimchi is nice and spicy and the tea is always served piping hot. The complimentary sides and the friendly staff keep me coming back for seconds.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Kimchi
• bulgogi

Air Canada Centre

Rated this place:

40 Bay St, Toronto, ON, M5J2X2

Raptors!: The ACC is a beautiful facility! I may be biased because the Raptors play there. Oh well, let's go numero sette!!!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Toronto Raptors

Harbourfront Centre

Rated this place:

235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON, M5J 2G8

Free summer entertainment: If you're in the neighbourhood, stop by for a summer evening of free music by the water. It's also fun to peruse the little marketplace set up with crafts and garments. If you're hungry, there's a tiny outdoor food tent or the restaurant nearby. Enjoy!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Free concerts
• Food tent
• Vendors

Jacob

Rated this place:

100 City Centre Dr, Mississauga, ON, L5B2C9

Clothes that make sense: Jacob is my favourite place to go for work clothes. The clothes are usually tailored well and are never too trendy. The best thing about the clothes is that I can always find whatever I like in black. Some pieces can be a bit expensive, i.e. the coats. Generally, the clothes have been well worth the price as I still have sweaters, pants and skirts that I bought years ago.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• work clothes
• Women`s suits

Cora's Breakfast & Lunch

Rated this place:

277 Wellington Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3E4

Breakfast heaven: The fresh fruit was a perfect end to my freshly made buckwheat crepes. Yum!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• brunch spot
• All Day Breakfast
• Fruit platter

Future Bakery & Cafe

Rated this place:

483 Bloor St. W, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y2

Treats: The scent of brownies coming out of the oven speaks for itself. The crowd is usually uber-hip but don't pay attention to them. Just make a beeline to the counter to order some sweet, sweet macaroons and enjoy!

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

The Black Market

Rated this place:

256a Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V1Z8

Vintage tees: Thrift stores are great for finding vintage t-shirts with the funniest slogans and graphics and Black Market is one of the best. My favourite tees have all come from there! I'm small so I score a lot of old children's summer camp t-shirts from the 70s and 80s. Love it!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• camp t-shirts

Christie Pits Park

Rated this place:

Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON, M5H2N2

Activity heaven: This place is great for family activities and it's right off the Bloor line. My family has been running an annual Easter scavenger hunt here for three years. And the fun doesn't stop there...there's a basketball court nearby where we play pick-up games too! Since the park slopes down, you almost forget that you're smack in the middle of the city. It's great!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Basketball Court