Autogrill

Rated this place:

495 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON, M5N1A7

Pasta with shrimp: This is the best place to go for a last-minute lunch or dinner because it's never overly crowded and the food is reasonable...the pasta with shrimp belongs in a category on its own because it's so delicious, insanely large, and the shrimps are juicy and plentiful...I know my shrimp pastas and I recommend Autogrill as a serious contender for best in the city!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pasta with shrimp

People's Foods Restaurant

Rated this place:

176 Dupont St, Toronto, ON, M5R2E6

Greasy brunch: This place is totally old-school...every table has a mini juke box! This family-run place has a great brunch menu (try the smoothies too), you can also see the cooks fry up the eggs and potatoes before your very eyes...an overall great diner experience!

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

Gonoe Sushi Japanese Restrnt

Rated this place:

1310 Don Mills Rd, North York, ON, M3B2W6

Sushi place: My friends and I have been going to Gonoe for years, and it shows! We know the menus by heart, two of my friends have rolls named specifically after them, and the waiters know us by name - just goes to show what kind of a place Gonoe is: friendly, lively, but above all else it really is the best place for inexpensive, fresh, delicious sushi (and yakitori). Be sure to try the shitake mushroom roll - best in the city!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi Place

Lululemon Athletica

Rated this place:

734 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M6J1E9

Yoga gear: Lululemon has revolutionized comfortable clothing - whether or not you're into yoga, you definitely should invest in a pair and revel in all its stretchy glory!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• yoga gear

Pickel Barrel

Rated this place:

2300 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON

Chicken angel hair pasta: There's just something about this pasta that has me constantly craving it! It could be the enourmous portion - or the sweet tomato sauce - or the soft, seasoned chicken - or the julienned veggies - or the reasonable price....it may not be the most gourmet dish in the city but if you're feeling like a big pasta and a small bill go here.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chicken angel hair pasta

Pottery Barn

Rated this place:

100 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 3L3

Picture frame: They have the nicest picture frames, and while it is 'Pottery Barn' and it seems so 'mass produced' I really can't find a better store that can deliver on my picture frame criteria than the 'barn

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• picture frame

Art Gallery of Ontario

Rated this place:

317 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M5T1G4

Art gallery: There is something at the AGO for everyone. I love what the entire package of visiting the AGO entails: unique exhibitions, lunch at AGORA cafe, flipping through the pages of the art books at the gift shop...I really can't wait for the gallery's re-opening in November!

Ashford Cleaners

Rated this place:

535 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON, M5N1B3

Clothing alterations: The location on Eglinton is perfect for me, the service is really top-notch, and they have yet to dissapoint me with their alterations. Your clothes are in good hands!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Clothing Alterations

Golden Star Restaurant

Rated this place:

7123 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON, L3T2A8

Burger joint, Hamburger: I've recently joined the Golden Star cult, and for good reason - this place rules! The atmosphere is very familial and there's no messing around with the food...the burgers are enormous and juicy, and the toppings are very fresh - note: the fried onions are hidden from the rest of the veggies but ask for them, apparently they're a welcomed addition to your burger.

It's perfection burger-fied

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Burger Joint
• Hamburger

Chudleigh's

Rated this place:

9528 Highway 25 N Rr 3, Milton, ON, L9T2X7

Family outing: The season is finally just ripe for apple picking! Chudleigh's is the best place to go with the whole family because not only do you get to pick delicious apples but a)you get to eat those mini pies, and b)it's a gorgeous, colourful ride outside the city

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• family outing

Aritzia

Rated this place:

100 City Centre Dr, Mississauga, ON, L5B2C9

Trendy clothing store: Aritzia is your best bet for the hottest trends without the hefty price tags...there's literally something there for all fashion types, from sweats to work clothes. None of the pieces are necessarily 'out there' in terms of originality, but you're going to find some basic good threads.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• trendy clothing store

The Outer Layer

Rated this place:

577 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B6

Unique home accessories: Fine - decorate your apartment or home with the ordinary furniture and the necessary appliances- but then go to this quirky store and spice it up with the funkiest/funniest little accessories like magnets, coffee table books, and even scented candles. I love these types of stores.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• unique home accessories

Urban Outfitters

Rated this place:

235 Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M5B1N8

Cute trinkets, Place for shoes: There's always something at urban outfitters for everyone...they have the best little trinkets and books that make great gifts. The home furnishings are a great way to brighten up any place too!

Every season Urban decorates its display table with amazing shoes! Converse, heels, flats, boots, sandals, I could go on....they're unique, relatively inexpensive, and worth the excuse to spend the better half of an hour rumaging through the other stuff in the store!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• cute trinkets
• place for shoes

Union Station

Rated this place:

65 Front Street West, Toronto, ON, M5J1E6

Subway station: Union captures the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto in an elegant fashion...the building itself is gorgeous and welcoming. The space is also great for public art events, such as Nuit Blanche's Horridor, an ode to horror movies, taking place in the building's west entrance on Oct. 4!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• subway station

Edo Sushi Delivery & Take-Out

Rated this place:

431 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON, M5P2W3

Shitake mushroom roll: I am a passionate shitake mushroom eater so take my advice and order yourself this treat at edo...sweet and savoury!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shitake mushroom roll

Grapefruit Moon

Rated this place:

968 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5R3G6

Place to place trivial pursuit: This small, lively restaurant is great for brunch (had a fabulous omelette-quesadilla meal) but the true flavour of this place is found on the walls and shelves surrounding the tables...there's tons of interesting pieces of art for sale and free games to play while you dine, like trivial pursuit!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• place to place trivial pursuit

Urban Fare Catering

Rated this place:

1415 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON, M5R3H8

Gourmet to go, Grilled chicken with sauteed onions: This place has been recommended to me for a while and the other day I decided to pop in and take a look - and what a great little treat! The prepared foods all looked fresh and delicious, and the their prices are more than reasonable. I got a piece of chicken and a side pasta salad and it was superb...I look forward to returning and getting some of their frozen foods.

Out of all the chickens and fish presented before me, I went with my gut and chose the chicken with sauteed onions - amazing! I normally find chicken very dry but not at Urban Fare - they also have a wonderful assortment of side dishes to pair with your meat or fish.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gourmet to go
• grilled chicken with sauteed onions

Cantine Restaurant Bar

Rated this place:

138 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2H6

Chicken and roasted tomato sandwich, Sunday brunch spot: Everything at Cantine is absolutely amazing, but their chicken and roasted tomato sandwich is definitely worth mentioning (and trying!)

The food is wonderful. I had an omelette with fried onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes, and it was so flavourful. The home fries are also quite delicious - there's a hint of paprika on them - and they are perfectly crispy. Overall, a great place to go with a large group.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chicken and roasted tomato sandwich
• sunday brunch spot

La Merceria

Rated this place:

506 Adelaide St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1T5

Chicken empanada, Strawberry-flavoured water: This place is an absolutely lovely store/cafe...aside from the charming goodies for sale, such as picture frames and unique bathroom accessories, their food is also delicious! I opted for the chicken empanadas and while they're not particularly large, they are stuffed with perfectly seasoned chicken and veggies - all surrounded by a light dough. A wonderful place to shop and eat!

Say farewell to boring, ordinary water coolers! This charming little resto offers free, fruit-infused water while you wait for your meal or take a look at the unique items for sale. Try to get them on a strawberry water day!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chicken empanada
• strawberry-flavoured water

Pravda Vodka Bar

Rated this place:

44 Wellington Street East, Toronto, ON, M5E1C7

Russian-themed bar: I love how the walls are completely covered in Russian art and interesting paraphernalia...the bar has a great vibe and apparently they play the Russian national anthem at midnight!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Russian-themed bar

Saving Grace

Rated this place:

907 Dundas W, Toronto, ON, M6J1V9

Scrambled eggs: They were so fluffy, and I had them mixed with some veggies too...I wouldn't be surprised if they used a dozen eggs for each order (well, maybe not that many) I was definitely pleased with the size of the serving...the toast was a delicious accessory too!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• scrambled eggs

Lola Rosa

Rated this place:

545 Milton, Montreal, QC

Vegetarian restaurant: I'm not a vegetarian and I often do not deliberately go to vegetarian restos, but everything at Lola Rosa is amazing and filling! The food smells so good that when they open their windows to the street people literally stop in their tracks and take a look in the tiny, packed place.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• vegetarian restaurant

Boutique Ima

Rated this place:

24 Rue Prince Arthur West, Montreal, QC, H2X1S4

Dress boutique: This store has everything from jeans to the most fashionable shoes you can ask for...but if you are looking for a dress or fancier outfit then definitely treat yourself to a trip here because the pieces are unique, so stylish, and they usually carry just one or two items of the same style.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• dress boutique

Boutique EXTC

Rated this place:

19 Rue Prince Arthur West, Montreal, QC, H2X 1S4

Place for cheaper trendy clothes: The boutique marks the line between the McGill student hood and the trendy stores that dot Prince Arthur - and it shows. This place has trendy clothes but at a price that's a little more affordable for the students who wander in between lectures....it is directly across the street from pricier Boutique Ima.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• place for cheaper trendy clothes

Restaurant Buona Notte

Rated this place:

3518 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2X2V1

Restaurant/club: It's a true hotspot. Once the tables are cleared the place turns into a spiffy spot that plays great music and draws in an eclectic crowd.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Restaurant/Club