Cafeteria

Rated this place:

3581 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2X 2T6

Breakfast spot, Martini: Montreal does have some amazing places for breakfast, and each place seems to specialize in something particularly noteworthy - but at Cafeteria, everything is good. The eggs are good, the homefries are good, the huge open windows are a nice treat in the summer, and the wait is usually minimal.

When Cafeteria shifts from a restaurant to a happening lounge I enjoy their amazing martinis...they always taste the same: strong and tasty.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Martini
• Breakfast Spot

Gogo Lounge

Rated this place:

3682 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, H2X 2V4

Colourful lounge: This lounge is always packed, they have amazing drinks, the decor is super colourful - so much so that you actually feel like you're in an Austin Powers movie...there are bright chairs here that are shaped like giant hands...super fun place to go with friends and dance to the music.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• colourful lounge

Rue Saint-Denis

Rated this place:

Rue Saint-Denis (between Rue Rachel & Rue Sherbrooke E), Montreal, QC

Street in the summer: It's the most charming street in the city during the summer months, when places with large patios dot the area, and during the day there are so many cute restaurants and boutiques you feel like you've entered an entirely new city within Montreal.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• street in the summer

McGill University

Rated this place:

845 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 2T5

University campus: I might be a tad bias since I went to McGill, but the university grounds are beautiful. In the heart of downtown Montreal, you're able to walk through the McGill gates and feel completely enveloped in college life- filled with frisbees, beer, bbq's, tented pubs in the winter, and football fields.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• university campus

Saint Laurent

Rated this place:

Boul St. Laurent , Montreal, QC

Shopping street: Between all the fancy resto-lounges and fun little restaurants, there are actual amazing stores on St. Laurent - there are the usual suspects (ie american apparel) but then there are amazing boutiques like Ima and M0851 down near Prince Arthur, and when you get closer to the Mont Royal area you start seeing some really great one-of-a-kind shops.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shopping street

Beauty's Restaurant

Rated this place:

93 Mont-Royal Ouest, Montreal, QC, H2T2S5

Bagel: They are Montreal bagels, which are amazing in their own right, but something about the Beauty's bagel toasted with your brunch is so good. Perhaps it's because Beauty's is the personification of THE Montreal brunch.

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

Ki Restaurant

Rated this place:

181 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5J2T3

Ki beef maki, Scallop and shrimp skewers: It is absolutely incredible! thin slices of seared beef are on top of sushi filled with sweet potato tempura, asparagus, and scallions. I was very happy with this creation.

The scallops and shrimp are giant and very flavourful...two skewers with three types of dipping sauces make for a really great appetizer.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Ki beef maki
• scallop and shrimp skewers

Fast Fresh Foods

Rated this place:

199 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G4

Create your own salad, Panini: They have fantastic ingredients and the chicken isn't dry. The large will definitely keep you full for the afternoon, a rare feat when it comes to salads. The balsamic dressing is amazing, and I'm sure the others are good too.

I love their grilled vegetables, and they have an awesome honey mustard spread. The paninis also come with a side salad - the little box the combo comes in is also pretty snazzy.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• create your own salad
• panini

Tov Li

Rated this place:

5982 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON

Falafel: I just had my first falafel from Tov Li yesterday and I actually can't stop thinking about it. Best falafel in the city and get it with the cabbage salad-y topping.

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

L'avenue

Rated this place:

922 Mont-Royal East, Montreal, QC, H2J 1X2

Home fries, Music while i eat, Omelette: They are garlicky, flavourful, filling, and the smell of them roasting on the stove consumes the entire restaurant!

Even though I've only had the chance to eat at L'avenue for breakfast, I've always been pleasantly serenaded while I eat with some funky tunes...it may be early in the morning/afternoon but how could I not enjoy the music while I stuff myself with a succulent breakfast.

It is the thickest omelette this side of France! They have so many options to choose from, and something about the French menus and the crispy baguettes make this whole omelette ensemble my absolute fave.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• omelette
• home fries
• music while I eat

Lola and Emily

Rated this place:

3475 St. Laurent, Montreal, H2X 2T6

Trendy clothing boutique: The store has a great mix of unique pieces and the trendy names, but there is always just one or two of the same pieces on the hangers which makes you feel like you're finding a true gem...they have tons of cute tidbits like lotions and vintage shoes.

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

Ginger

Rated this place:

16 Avenue des Pins, Montreal, QC, H2W 1N3

Pad thai, Pan-asian cuisine: This is one of my favourite restaurants in the entire city! I can't explain how good the food is here, but the pad thai is above all the best dish in the house...it's not your ordinary pad thai, there is a distinct flavour and texture to it that makes it almost stir-fry-esque but it's soooooo good.

The menu is packed with the best sushi, amazing appetizers, noodles, and martinis in the St. Laurent area, and tucked a little away from all the commotion it's the perfect place to go for a nice meal that isn't crazy crazy expensive. The service is slow, but the food makes up for it.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• pad thai
• pan-asian cuisine

Frites Alors

Rated this place:

3497 St. Laurent, Montreal

French fries with dipping sauces: The dipping sauces on their own are tasty enough, but pair them up with some steamingly hot, salty fries and you've got a serious match...and the place is open super late so after a night out on St. Laurent it's a fave spot to go for a feast.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• french fries with dipping sauces

Bistro Isakaya

Rated this place:

3469 Avenue du Parc, Montreal, QC, H2X 2H6

Shrimp tempura roll for students: The shrimp tempura roll was always my fave when I was a student because I felt like I was eating well because it was sushi, but it also fulfilled that imperative grease quota when you're a student...they're not even particularly super cheap but they're quite filling.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shrimp tempura roll for students

Xaphire

Rated this place:

530 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto, ON, M5N1B4

Pad thai: Two words describe this pad thai: saucy and hearty. The noodles are delicately smothered in a great reddish, sweet and tangy pad thai sauce. Get the traditional with chicken and shrimp...even the tofu oozes with goodness.

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

Augustina Boutiques Ltd

Rated this place:

138 Cumberland St, Toronto, ON, M5R1A6

Clothing boutique: Nestled between upscale stores in a small Yorkville lane, this boutique is the absolute best place to find the trendiest clothes, handbags, clutches, and shoes. It's very difficult to walk away empty handed!

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

Salon Francesca

Rated this place:

333 Lonsdale Rd #A, Toronto, ON, M5P1R3

Manicures & pedicures: Aside from the amazing treatment, you're always greeted with a warm smile and delicious biscotti.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Manicures & Pedicures

Utopia Cafe & Grill

Rated this place:

586 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1B3

Chicken and shrimp burrito: I've tried my share of burritos in this city but nothing tops the entire presentation of the chicken and shrimp burrito at Utopia. Aside from the land-and-sea combo, you get sauteed onions, salsa, a garlicky dill mayo (which isn't my style but I've heard good things), beans, rice, cheeses, and a great pile of mixed greens. The service is often a bit slow but just know there's light at the end of the tunnel!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• chicken and shrimp burrito

United Bakers Dairy Restaurant

Rated this place:

506 Lawrence Ave W, North York, ON, M6A1A1

Greek salad: My mouth waters just picturing one of their old school waitresses placing a colossal tower of amazingness in front of me (get the large). The dressing is a delicious vinaigrette and the feta just seems to taste better at United. Be prepared to wait in line, and don't count on a quiet meal here. It's a loud and bustling place.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• greek salad

Victory Cafe

Rated this place:

581 Markham St, Toronto, ON, M6G2L7

Sunday brunch: The home fries are crispy and salty, and the toast is always buttered to perfection. If I'm feeling like an omelette I go for the mushroom, and the yogurt with granola, fruit, and honey is a perfect answer for those sweeter Sundays. The people there are friendly...I've never tried it but you could probably go in your pj's and still feel right at home.

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

La Paloma Authentic Gelateria & Cafe

Rated this place:

3175 Rutherford, Vaughan, ON, L4K5Y6

Gelateria: It's simply the best! In the summer, I like to walk around the cute neighbourhood while I devour my gelato (often by the time I get back to the starting point I'm ready for another scoop of the chocolate chip gelato....my favourite flavour!)

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

Beltline Trail

Rated this place:

Along the Beltline Railway (Forest Hill), Toronto, ON

Place to walk my dog: The beltline trail near Eglinton Ave West is the best place to let my puppy run and explore. Forget cars and traffic lights, this mini forest makes you forget you're even in the heart of the city.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Place to walk my dog

Taste of Thai House

Rated this place:

62 Vaughan Road, Toronto, ON, M6G 2N4

Rice paper wraps: Fresh lettuce and vegetables are neatly bundled together in a soft rice paper shell - delicious! They are a perfect appetizer for a pad thai, and their dipping sauce is super sweet. Get the chicken, there are some spices in there that will tantalize your tastebuds.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• rice paper wraps