Somethin's Fishy

Rated this place:

213 Augusta Ave., Toronto, ON, M5G 2L4

Fish and chips: I didn't even know this new fish and chips place was here until I stumbled upon it in Kensington Market, and it was literally the best fish and chips I've had. Ever. The halibut was not greasy at all, didn't leave me feeling bloated, and the fries are Belgian style, with incredible spices.

Stratengers

Rated this place:

1130 Queen St E, Toronto, ON, M4M1L1

Leslieville bar, Neighbourhood bar: It may look like a hole in the wall but it’s the ‘hood’s hidden gem. The beer is cheap, it’s predominately a film crowd and it was there long before Leslieville was trendy.

It feels like a small-town restaurant and bar, frozen in time. It's not packed like downtown bar, the beer's cheap, there's Golden Tee and an awesome patio -- you'd think it was in North Bay, not Leslieville.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• neighbourhood bar
• Leslieville bar

New York Subway

Rated this place:

520 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2B3

Burrito: I am hooked on the cauliflower burrito. I don't know what they put in there, but man -- it's good!

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

Old Nick

Rated this place:

123 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K1N2

Pub grub: They take the “grub” out of “pub grub.” The food here is incredible, especially their burgers and fish and chips.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Pub grub

Sneaky Dee's

Rated this place:

431 College St, Toronto, ON, M5T1T1

Nachos: Their massive veggie nachos are a late-night weakness.

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

Margret

Rated this place:

2952 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON, M6P 1Y8

Junction bar: Their meat and cheese plates are delicious and they have a homemade ping pong table at the front! Hours of fun.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Junction bar

Mitzi's Sister

Rated this place:

1554 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6R1A6

French fries: Their fresh cut “Twisted Sister” fries mix Yukon gold fries with sweet potato fries. They’re SO delicious.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• French Fries

Victory Cafe

Rated this place:

581 Markham St, Toronto, ON, M6G2L7

Annex bar, Sweet potato fries: I’m here all the time. I love it. Enough said. Just go there.

The Vic serves up a massive basket of sweet potato fries and in about two seconds flat. They’re addictive.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• sweet potato fries
• Annex bar

Willow Restaurant

Rated this place:

193 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K1N2

Caesar: This little Mexican restaurant has been in Greektown a long time, which may explain why they have mastered the art of the Caesar.

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

C'Est What

Rated this place:

67 Front St E, Toronto, ON, M5E1B5

Beer selection, Bison burger, Downtown bar, Organic beer: Of their own Homegrown Hemp Ale and Coffee Porter, 35 craft brewed beers on tap and Mill Street Organic Lager by the pint.

It's huge, cheesy and not greasy. You can trade up your reg. fries for sweet potato fries instead.

They have fantastic beer and all of my favourite brews, The Hot Five Jazzmakers, bison burgers and pool tables.

I love Mill Street Organic beer. Usually, it comes in little miniature bottles but here it is served on tap. The more the merrier!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• beer selection
• Downtown bar
• Bison burger
• Organic beer

Burrito Boyz -- CLOSED

Rated this place:

120 Peter Street, Toronto, ON

Burrito, Club district pick-me-up: I know it's the obvious choice, but hey -- a halibut burrito? Who would have thought it could taste so good!!

The halibut burrito is a good pick-me-up and then a good put-me-to-sleep because I’m so full afterwards.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• burrito
• Club district pick-me-up

Milestone's Grill & Bar

Rated this place:

132 John St., Toronto, ON, M9N1J8

Cheesy drink: Of their Bellinis. Don’t we all have a secret weakness for plastic toys in super-sweet slush?

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheesy Drink

Sweaty Betty's

Rated this place:

13 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Y8

Guinness: Generally, I like my bars the way I like my Guinness: dark, smooth and filled with love and patience. Sweaty Betty’s encompasses none of these things (except maybe the dark part) but for some reason, it makes me want to go there even more.

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

The Rushton

Rated this place:

740 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto, ON, M6C 1B3

Warm winter drink: They can make a roasted butternut squash martini. It’s an amazing autumn drink and the fresh nutmeg and roasted squash just make you feel like your home for the holidays in your PJs.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Warm winter drink

Lee's Palace

Rated this place:

529 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON, M5S1Y5

Rock music venue: I love Lee’s. The view is usually good, especially post-renovation, and it’s a simple, no-frills music venue with lots of stalls in the women’s washroom so there are no lineups. Now that’s reason enough.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Rock music venue

Gladstone Hotel

Rated this place:

1214 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6J1J6

Event space: It’s one of the city’s most unique event spots and it has a history. Check out the old elevator in the lobby. Events at The Gladstone just always seem to rock!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• event space

Hugh's Room

Rated this place:

2261 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON, M6R1X6

Folk music venue: This is one of my fave spots in the whole city. I usually go here on special occasions and when my mom’s in town because it always becomes a really memorable night. Plus, the food is great!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Folk music venue

Rhino Bar & Grill

Rated this place:

1249 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6K1L5

Burger, Cheap drinks, Parkdale bar, Party room for rent, Private party room: Cheap, good and organic. Their salad with dill dressing is a good side.

Every time my friends and I go here, we spend the last hour in awe of our bill. “How could it be this cheap?” “Did they forget to charge us for something?” Nope, it really is that inexpensive -- and so amazing.

It’s an awesome mix of the cool kids taking over Parkdale and the old Parkdale regulars. Plus, it’s family-owned, has an amazing patio, incredible food and it’s cheap!

It's cheap, it's fun and it comes with a bartender!

The upstairs can be rented out for cheap and it includes its own bar, bartender and own set of washrooms. Plus, it has a massive window overlooking Queen Street.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Burger
• Parkdale bar
• Cheap Drinks
• party room for rent
• Private party room

Shmooze

Rated this place:

15 Mercer St, Toronto, ON, M5V1H2

Meet market: Mark my words: you will pick up here, whether you like it or not.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Meet market

Cadillac Lounge

Rated this place:

1296 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M6K1L4

Bar patio: The patio is HUGE and they even have TVs that show the acts performing indoors so you don’t have to play favourites.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bar patio

Cameron House

Rated this place:

408 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A7

Bartender, Live music venue, Local music venue: I love Paul. He’s part owner, has been there for years and isn’t afraid to speak his mind.

They have the best weekly residencies and generally have great shows in the back room. It's a really intimate place to play and bartender/owner Paul is awesome!

Not only is The Cameron one of the city’s most historic arts and music spaces, it religiously features amazing resident acts every night of the week so you are guaranteed a good show.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Live Music Venue
• Bartender
• Local music venue

Grace O'Malley's

Rated this place:

14 Duncan St., Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8

After-work bar: It’s close to work and has that drop-by feel I like at 5 p.m. -- I don’t want to settle in for the night but I don’t want to leave right away either. Their happy hour drink specials are a bonus too.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• After-Work Bar

Johny Banana

Rated this place:

181 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2R7

Mexican restaurant, Sangria: I dream about their grilled cactus burrito, salty beer and steamed corn desert in a corn husk (I can't remember what it was called but it was REALLY good.)

It is delicious and comes with a huge pile of fresh fruit chunks in the bottom. It’s like a little desert drink!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• mexican restaurant
• Sangria

Kultura

Rated this place:

169 King Street East, Toronto, ON, M5A1J3

Martini: I’m a pepper lover and The Refined Lemonade martini has a sugar and roasted pepper rim. Its super sweet at first and then the pepper completely explodes in your mouth! You’ll taste it for a long time afterwards.

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

Reposado Bar & Lounge

Rated this place:

136 Ossington Ave., Toronto, ON, M6J 2Z5

Margarita: No syrupy bar mix. Everything’s made from scratch!

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