Spice Safar

Rated this place:

510 King St. West, Toronto, ON

Taking pride in their work: Opening up a coffee shop is hard. Opening it on a street that has a coffee shop on every corner? That's dangerous. But 'Spice Safar' is looking to put it's mark on the town by opening up its second location right in the heart of the fashion district. As soon as you step inside, you're swallowed up by the calming ambiance. The shop is decorated with black and white photographs that add a certain flair that other coffee houses lack. The staff is friendly, engaging and knowledgeable, and have a real passion for their work. Each espresso is made with only the finest beans, and each drink comes with a sampling of their sweets, which you should try not to eat all at once (good luck). On top of offering coffee, Spice Safar also has lunch options and pastries to suit everyones diet and budget. But Spice Safar isn't only a cafe, you'll also notice some quality liquor behind the bar and a set of turntables close by, which means that you could stop in for lunch on a Friday and return to the lounge a few hours later. I was fortunate enough to speak with John, the manager of Spice, and his attitude, passion and charisma can win over even the most spoiled coffee drinker.

The Red Room

Rated this place:

444 Spadina Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 2G8

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Eats

Green Mango Tree Thai Fusion

Rated this place:

75 Barrie View Drive, Barrie, ON, L4N 8V4

Try The Thai: One of Barrie's hidden treasures, the Green Mango Tree is a place where ambiance and flavor come together to provide an enriching experience. Upon entering, you will be shocked by the intricate decor, a sharp contrast to the seemingly plain store front. It may take a while to be seated, depending on the volume of in-store patrons as well as take-out orders. The store is family owned and operated and as a result has a limited staff, but once you take your seat you will discover why the wait is worth it. The menu is vast and can seem overwhelming, but you truly can't go wrong choosing the spring rolls or the mango chicken salad. The presentation is also fantastic, but keep in mind that the portion sizes are quite large. You should also know that some of the food may be quite hot and spicy, so if you're in doubt just ask the waiter!

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

Ol West Wing

Rated this place:

1-211 Ferndale Drive South, Barrie, ON, L4N 6B9

Best Wings In Town: Ol West Wing should be a favorite of any person who enjoys chicken. Everything about this place is inviting, from the decorative pieces hanging on the wall (my favorite being the Ali photo) to the wait staff. After being seated you'll be given the menu and will most likely be surprised at the plethora of flavors that you can try, each with their own catchy name. My personal favorite is the Butch Cassidy, a blend of ranch and honey garlic. After ordering, you can either enjoy the atmosphere at your table or go play a quick game of pool with friends or patrons. Once you actually get the food, prepare for a messy and satisfying meal. Paper towel rolls are set up at every table as well as a tin bucket for you to dump the scraps in. The food is terrific and you will not leave disappointed.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• wings
• Deep Fried Pickles
• pool table

Sticky Fingers

Rated this place:

199 Essa Rd., Barrie, ON, L4N 3L2

Diner And Music: Sticky Fingers in Barrie is a fantastic hangout for those looking to either get away from the daily grind, or those looking to grab a quick bite while enjoying the local sounds. The food is prepared fresh and the wings are delicious (even if the flavors are limited). The wait staff is friendly and fast and it doesn't take many visits until you can count yourself a regular. I would recommend getting the deep fried pickles here because they are by far the best Barrie has to offer. The wings are also fantastic, although they could be more liberal with the sauce. At any point of the day, the TV is tuned to whichever sports game is on, and with a plethora of tv's you always have a view of the action. When night-time rolls around, the restaurant explodes with the sounds of the live band, playing everything from classic rock to country blues. Overall, the restaurant is good, but the experience you receive is fantastic.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• wings
• Live Music
• country

Lindy's Cafe

Rated this place:

80 Bradford St, Barrie, ON, L4N 6S7

Eat Good, Be Good: Perfect for breakfast, brunch or dinner, Lindy's Cafe caters to all budgets and styles. The entire cafe is run by a mom and pop set of chefs who obviously take pride in their work. Everything from the pastries to the soup is well made and delicious, all while being affordable at the same time.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• home-style
• ukrainian

Ethiopian House Restaurant

Rated this place:

4 Irwin Ave, Toronto, ON, M4Y1K9

If You Have The Time...: My three friends and I were waiting for a fourth to join us and we decided to grab a bite at the EHR. Since it was our first time and the weather was nice, we opted to sit on the inviting patio (complete with astro-turf), and since we had never eaten Ethiopian before the waitress came and explained that no cutlery was used. We ended up getting some Fer-Fer (Huge pancakes with dipping sauce) and 2 orders of Tibs (small pieces of meat, to be wrapped in Fer-Fer). The food took forever to arrive, but once it did it was delicious.The meat was succulent and tender and the Fer-Fer was a welcome adventure away from the more mundane food that I would normally opt for, overall the entire experience left me satiated and smiling. I only ventured inside to pay my bill (about $10 each for 3 of us) but it seemed very neat and well-kept. The second floor bathrooms were also homely and well decorated. Would I eat there again? Possibly. The slow service is a big thumbs down, but if you have time to spare I suggest you check out the Ethiopian House Restaurant.

Aji Sai Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

783 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4J1L2

Amazing value: When you walk into a restaurant that promises all you can eat sushi for less than $20 dollars, the last thing you expect is quality food served to you in a timely manner. Aji Said blows those notions right out of the water, delivering amazing sushi to your table for as long as you can stomach it.Upon entering, you sense a serene vibe in the restaurant, which is often loaded with a mix of patrons ranging from hipsters to school teachers, all brought together by their love of sushi. If it's your first time here, you should pick your favorites and one new dish you want to try. I suggest ordering about 3-5 dishes at once because the food takes a while to arrive, especially when it's busy. When you get the food, dive in and try everything, and remember to order more food as soon as you're plate starts becoming vacant. Some locations will charge you extra if you leave food on the plate that you can't finish, so be sure to order an adequate amount.Overall this place is fantastic, traditional sushi for a discount price, recommended for a light lunch or a daytime date.

Pizzaiolo Gourmet Pizza

Rated this place:

10 Locations in Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5V 1K4

Good Enough To Cheat: As someone who tries to watch what they eat, I had a hard time keeping my cravings in line at Pizzaiolo. The atmosphere is inviting and open, while the differents types of pizza make you feel like a kid in a candy store. I ended up splurging and getting a Godfather (3 types of meat in a deep-dish) and even though my body may not like it, my taste buds and stomach are pleased.

Bus & Boat Company

Rated this place:

249 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON, M5J2N5

Good for locals, not for foreigners : I decided to show my grandma around Toronto by taking her on the bus tour around the city. The trip was fairly inexpensive ($66 for both of us after I found an online discount) and the entire journey took about 45 minutes. One of my major problems is that they didn't provide any other languages so that foreign customers can listen in, which most big name bus tours in other countries do. The bus was relatively clean and the guide was very funny and very friendly, but you don't get a good sense of the 'history' of Toronto. Instead you get jokes about fire departments and ruined buildings, something that makes this tour much more suitable for locals who are looking to spend a lazy weekend riding around the town.

Monster Factory Inc.

Rated this place:

1071 King St. W., Suite 203, Toronto, ON, M6K 3K2

Great for kids and kids at heart: Monster Factory Inc. provides something more than just 'toys'. They create characters with a story behind each and every thread that composes them. Take the large monster names Mr. Jefferson for example: according to his character card, "Mr. Jefferson conducts himself in a gracious manner, though he has been known to lose his temper while playing board games". Each doll comes with it's own back story and if the sense of humor isn't enough to convince you to buy one, the quality will. This is the type of toy that you buy for your kids, and then play with them yourself when they aren't around.

Livestock

Rated this place:

116 Spadina Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R 1A1

It's More Than A Store: As you're walking down Spadina, there's a good chance you may completley miss this store due to the fact that there aren't any loud signs or designs promoting it, as you would find with other boutiques. That's because places like Livestock don't need to pull you in, their reputation speaks for itself. Not only has it been mentioned in askmen.com's guide of "10 Best Sneaker Stores In The World", but it's also a favorite hangout of rappers from all over North America. You may see Kid Cudi browsing for new kicks or Lupe Fiasco looking for dope threads, it's all part of the lifestyle that Livestock represents. Upon entering, you'll see the minimalistic approach that they use to show off their product, with only one article of each piece of clothing on the rack. The shoes decorate the entire wall, with some of the rarer items held behind glass. Hats, bags, keychains and watches are also strewn about the store, but shoes are definetley the main attraction at this shop, if you have any questions the staff are more than happy to help you. With new items shipped in every week and a strong web presence, you won't NEED to come in often, but you'll have trouble staying away.