Smoke's Poutinerie

Rated this place:

218 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, ON, M5H 1W7

Greasy Goodness: Looooove the poutine. Good portions and great toppings make for one delicious box of grease. I suggest getting anything with pulled pork and bacon but the nacho toppings are also very good. The service is also fast so be sure to stop in at lunch or after a night of drinking to get your fix.

Soup Nutsy

Rated this place:

Metro Hall, 200 Wellington St. W., Unit 0355, Toronto, ON, M5V 3C7

Gourmet soups: Soup Nutsy has become one of my favourite lunch destinations. There's always a huge variety of freshly made soups and the selection changes everyday. Choose from soups like hearty Tuscan Bean or Creamy Mushroom and Stragonoff. Combos offer healthy snacks like a banana, a baguette or carrots. It's a little pricier than what you'd expect to pay for this dish but the taste is worth it. There are signed photos of the original Soup Nazi in the restaurant (from Seinfeld).

Wayne Gretzky's Restaurant

Rated this place:

99 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON, M5V9G9

patio and after-work drinks: I like this top deck patio, even if it is in between high-rise condos and buildings. There's a tropical decor, with a water fountain, fake palm trees and lime green, lounge seating. The music reminds me of the beach as well and I really like the buckets of mini Coronas. They’re great for large groups. The staff, the regulars and the clientele are all laidback and super friendly. There's also a BBQ on the patio, although I've never actually seen anyone cook on it.

Cafe Crepe

Rated this place:

246 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M5V1Z7

crepes with Nutella: I'm sure these crepes don't come close to the ones you'd get in Paris but they are heavenly nonetheless. The smells when you walk through the door make your mouth water, but it's the sweet banana and Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread) crepes that I can't resist. I have to try other items on their menu but I get this all the time with a cappuccino. The only thing that's not so good about this place is the lack of cleanliness. I often find sticky floors and tables because the wait staff doesn't come around often to clean up.

Craft Burger

Rated this place:

573 King St. West, Toronto, ON, M5V1M1

burger place, onion rings, fries: The burgers are great, they really are, but I come here for the onion rings and fries. They are so tasty. They must use a cornmeal batter for those onion rings because the batter is thick and the rings are perfectly coated. The fries still have the potato skins on them and they always taste fresh. Fries are crispy on the outside and warm and soft in the inside. This place also serves up milkshakes and big soft chocolate chip cookies. It's an all around great burger joint. Avoid the lunch rush if you can – arrive before 12 noon or call your order in.

The Drake Underground

Rated this place:

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

Saturday Night Out: The Drake has a laid-back vibe, good DJs, a decent crowd (25 and over, usually) and great service. My friends and I booked a booth and enjoyed drinks at our table. We also ordered some delicious snacks (like the sausage and brie pizza!). I like this place because when you're in the mood to relax and listen to music you can hang out in the lounge or on roof patio, but when you want to dance, head downstairs to the dance floor and party the night away.

She Said Boom Records & Books

Rated this place:

372 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1S6

cookbooks, new and used books: I agree with Adrienne that they have an awesome cookbook collection at She Said Boom! You would never know it unless you walked in or read these reviews. I went back to this place a few times in the same week to purchase some recently published cookbooks by celeb chefs like Nigella Lawson and Ina Garten. They were so cheap I had to go back for more. I'm talking $12 for a book that retails at $50. And the books were in great condition too. She Said Boom is also a place where you can buy new and used CDs, vinyl and DVDs. The next rainy afternoon we get, head to this well-stocked little shop to browse through the many great finds.

Mercatto

Rated this place:

330 Bay St., Toronto, ON, M5H2S8

cappuccino and espresso bar: Mercatto is a great restaurant to go to any time of the day. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and serves classic Italian fare. You'll see a lot of "suits" at this place as it's located in the heart of the financial district. I came here a little while ago early in the morning to meet a friend. It's a nice alternative to a regular coffee shop. I had a coffee and my friend ordered a cappuccino. It looked so good that I came back to this place the following week and had a cappuccino. Now I know what she was raving about. There’s a perfect amount of espresso to foam. It’s an all around great cappuccino. I also love that there's an outdoor patio with comfy seating.

Burst Flowers

Rated this place:

198 Walnut Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6J2N6

local jewelry designer: Flowers and jewelry go well together at this little shop just off of Queen Street West. Most of the jewelry is by local designer Dayle Crawford, who's jewelry line Dac & Jac features fine and modern jewelry. He also creates beautiful flower arrangements as you might have guessed. All the jewelry is made of precious metals and stones including sterling silver and Swarovski crystal. The prices aren't that bad either or at least they are affordable. Burst also sells imported jewelry from Italy. It's one of my favourite places to find unique gifts. If you're getting flowers from here for your wedding, you might want to also pick up some earrings for your bridesmaids.

Rogers Centre

Rated this place:

1 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON, M5V 1J1

Baseball games and concerts: The Rogers Centre is an excellent venue for a variety of concerts, festivals and sports games. I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert here and the dome was open at night. It was an amazing show, and neat that you could look up at the wide open sky. During baseball season I usually visit the Rogers Centre to see Blue Jays games. We're lucky to have a team, and it's a nice way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. There's also something about coming to the ball game, cheering with the crowd and pigging out on hot dogs, peanuts and beer that makes me happy.

The Healthy Butcher

Rated this place:

565 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V2B6

prepared foods: The Healthy Butcher has a great selection of homemade, gourmet prepared foods such as seasoned meat, soups, pastas, Italian specialty dishes, antipasti and starters. Some of the items are frozen, but you’ll also find ready-to-eat foods. The shop sells organic meat and local products, so you know you're getting all the goodness and none of the unwanted additives. It really is the hippest butcher in town – just ask the trendy Queen Street West crowd that frequents the place. I know the owners too and they are super friendly, just like the staff.

Town Shoes

Rated this place:

3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 3A1

shoe-aholic club: Town Shoes carries popular, moderately priced brands like Jessica Simpson, Nine West and Steve Madden. They also feature footwear and handbags by Canadian designers like David Dixon. There's a lot of choice and many of the latest styles, but it's stuff I can find at other trendy shoe boutiques across the city. What's different and what I like most about Town Shoes is the "shoeaholic club" card that gets stamped every time I make a purchase. After you've bought a few items, you can save $25 on the next one or collect a few more stamps and get a pair of shoes free. If it's your bday you also get rewarded. A nice bonus for the customer and a way for this store to standout in the pack. Town Shoes stores are located at almost every major mall in Toronto. The flagship store is on Bloor Street.

Oskar on Scollard Hair Studio

Rated this place:

68 Scollard Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 1G2

best service and talented staff: A unique, boutique-like experience you won't get anywhere else in the city. The salon's decor is ultra charming, and the staff is very attentive. They're always making sure you're comfortable and offer cappuccino, specialty drinks and treats so you can sit back and relax while they take care of the rest. The owner, and colourist, Oskar is excellent and a true artist. He always talks to the clients first to get a sense of what they want and then explains what he's going to do. I love my colour every time because he’s so good at finding just the right shade. Ethan the hairstylist is also really good, so I suggest you try them both. The shampoos and hair products also smell amazing!

Il Gusto

Rated this place:

796 College Street, Toronto, ON

casual restaurant: This is a casual restaurant for people with fine dining tastes. I enjoyed an excellent meal here was some friends, and I really liked that the waitress didn't rush us, even when all the tables were full. After we ate everyone sat back and drank wine, just like we would if we were at home. The food was delicious -- classic Italian pasta dishes, risotto, meats and pizza. It was also an amazing deal because they have a prix fixe dinner available right now where you get a large salad, pasta entree and dessert for $15. I had the creme brulee and it was excellent.

Aunties & Uncles

Rated this place:

74 Lippincott St, Toronto, ON, M5S2P1

Brunch: Located at College and Lippincott, Aunties and Uncles is not impressive from the outside. It's a tiny joint and the sidewalk patio consists of a few old picnic tables and umbrellas. This place is all about great food and not about impressing you at first glance. The food is always fresh and very good. I really like the omelettes and French toast. It's also a trendy spot for locals in the neighbourhood.

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

Over Easy

Rated this place:

208 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S3B4

big breakfast: I am a fan of big breakfasts and Over Easy never disappoints with their tasty and hearty dishes. I usually order the French toast ( with their caramel banana sauce!), and great side orders include the farmer sausages, home fries and baked beans. It's perfect Saturday morning comfort food in a country style restaurant. Wash it all down with a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. There’s a second location on Yonge St. in The Hotel Victoria, although the Bloor St. location is open an hour later.

Specchio Shoes

Rated this place:

1240 Bay St, Toronto, ON, M5R2A7

high fashion shoes: Specchio is a great place to find unique, high-fashion European brands like Dries Van Noten and Costume National. The shoe store has been around for years and is known in the city for its excellent selection of fashion-forward designers. I like that this store carries everything from classic stilettos to trendy wedges. Although, I find I come here a lot when I’m looking for a pair of dressier shoes to wear to a party. The sales staff is very helpful and always manages to send me home with a matching handbag. Specchio is a small boutique but it’s worth the trip for the stylish pieces. The shoes and handbags look like art, displayed on the white shelves.

Tnt Blu

Rated this place:

55 Avenue Road, Toronto, ON, M5R3L2

casual and designer clothing: I cannot visit this place often because I always see so many things I want. TNT ("The New Trend") is a big boutique located inside Hazelton Lanes Shopping Centre that offers both men's and women's clothing. The store carries jeans, tees, shirts, cotton dresses, tops, swimsuits, shoes, bags and accessories. All the items in the store reflect the latest trends and are by well-known and hot designers like Ella Moss, Juicy, James Perse and Missioni. While other stores in Toronto might carry similar labels, TNT leans more towards high-fashion pieces from their collections. So you can imagine, what you'll find here is pricey. TNT marks down items (up to 30 per cent off) every now and then, but sales are rare.

By The Way Cafe

Rated this place:

400 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S1X5

Brunch: Located in the Annex, By The Way Cafe has been a favourite of mine since I moved to Toronto. The homemade scones, large lattes and delicious eggs benedict with dill sauce are reasons I come here often. Plus, the large covered patio on the corner of Bloor and Brunswick Ave. is the perfect spot on a sunny day and great for people watching. The wait is the only thing I don't like, on weekends. Expect to wait about 20 to 30 minutes for a table during peak hours.

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

Capezio Shoes

Rated this place:

70 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S 1L9

latest styles in shoes: The best thing about Capezio is that they always remain a step ahead other shoe stores when it comes to the latest trends in footwear. They also carry many popular brands such as Sam Edelman, Steve Madden, Joe Sanchez, Uggs, Marc Fisher, Michael Kors, Blowfish, Rocket Dog and Puma. The price range is reasonable (compared to Capezio's high-end sister store Davids located next door), and the store specializes in urban and casual styles. If I see a pair of shoes I want in a new issue of Lou Lou magazine, Capezio usually already has them in stock.

Trove

Rated this place:

791 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, M5S1Z5

jewelry and accessories: This shop really is a treasure "trove", although it exists above ground. I have visited both locations -- this one and the store at 2264 Bloor Street West. I always gravitate toward the jewelry counter because they carry unique collections, by some well-known independent designers that are hard to find at other stores in Toronto. For example, I love that Trove sells Demitasse jewelry, a line inspired by lavish antique silverware and serving pieces, from Los Angeles-based designer Rachael White. Trove also has a great selection of scarves, wraps and purses. I especially like the evening bags and clutches by Lauren Henry. You'll also find shoes (from brands like Remix Vintage and Fly London) and one-of-a-kind clothing by local and international designers.

Eggspectation

Rated this place:

220 Yonge, Toronto, ON, M5B2H1

enormous brunch menu: This restaurant chain has the biggest brunch menu I've ever seen. If you're dining out with a group of people I would definitely suggest this place because it's delicious and the variety is amazing. The prices aren't that bad either. I like to go with the traditional Eggstravaganza breakfast when I come here, but there's also waffles, pancakes, brioche French toast, 10 different dishes for eggs benedict and more. They also serve lunch and dinner. It’s a large restaurant located in the Toronto Eaton Centre so it can get noisy and busy, but the service is fast.

White Squirrel Coffee Shop

Rated this place:

907 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G5

local organic coffee shop: The best coffee shops also sell ice cream. White Squirrel is a tiny cafe but they serve excellent organic coffee, baked treats and Greg's homemade ice cream. Conveniently located right across the street from Trinity Bellwoods Park, I can see this place getting very busy come summer. The coffee shop is not at all pretentious (despite the fact it's on the West Queen West strip) and the staff is very friendly. I live nearby so it's a new spot to grab a morning coffee. It's also a good choice for eco-friendly individuals because the cafe supports environmentally conscious suppliers.

Eko

Rated this place:

288 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V 2A1

artistic jewelry: Eko has a beautiful selection of jewelry. I would call it high-end fashion jewelry because you'll find a lot of standout pieces made with precious materials, stones and metals. The owner sells artistic and unique items from a variety of international designers and edits the boutique regularly, to always carry the latest trends. Some of the jewelry is pricey but once you fall in love with one of these one-of-a-kind, handcrafted works of art you won't mind spending the money. I have a few pieces from Eko that I've purchased over the years and I still love them. There's also a nice balance between funky and classic jewelry. For instance, you'll find chunky wood necklaces and fine sterling silver drop earrings.

Tiffany & Co.

Rated this place:

3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 3A1

fine jewelry store: Tiffany & Co. is now open at Yorkdale Shopping Centre. It's much larger than I expected and offers a variety of Tiffany's jewelry and gifts. The deco-inspired stainless steel doors of the store open to reveal elegant jewelry salons showcasing everything from sparkling engagement rings to signature charms to the new Tiffany Keys collection. Any girl would be lying if she said she wasn't even a bit curious to see what all the fuss is about. It's really a beautiful space and resembles some of their larger stores I've seen in the United States.