Brassaii Bistro Lounge

Rated this place:

461 King St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V 1K7

The great outdoors: Anyone who's been to this gorgeous warehouse-of-a-bistro on King West knows that the food itself is only part of the allure. Brassaii's sophisticated yet modest menu is matched by an interior decor of hardwood grey flooring, factory windows, painted brick walls, and a summer patio that is so delicious it's often swallowed up by corporate creative types and bright-eyed first-daters. Unlike some of the patios that dot the King/John strip, Brassaii's patio is conveniently tucked away from the commotion of King/Spadina in a spacious courtyard - the perfect backdrop to dining on meaty mussels and salty fries ($13) and the very popular bistro steak with shallot jus and fries ($25). Whatever you order, make sure you wash it down with Brassaii's mojito, the bistro's refreshing concoction that has made quite the name for itself with its balanced blend of rum, mint and fizz. Last-minute tip: They're hosting a Canada Day celebration on the patio tonight!

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

Grace Restaurant

Rated this place:

503 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6G1A5

Farmhouse Fare: It's taken me just under a year to do it, but I finally followed the hype to Grace Restaurant on College for a much-needed date with homestyle cooking (and my man). Grace owner Leslie Gibson, who named the restaurant after her grandmother, has created a refreshing space that pays homage to homespun elegance. The menu is divided into three sections: meat, vegetable, and seafood - and I recommend ordering a good cross-section of it if you can. The winners of our night were the chicken noodle consomme accompanied by homeade cheddar crackers, seared scallops with braised beans and oven dried tomatoes, and the slow-cooked halibut with roasted vegetables. Grace's dessert of homemade cookies with organic milk gets lots of buzz, but try the brownie if you have the room - you won't believe how good it is! Grace manages to combat any hints of fine-dining stuffiness with its second floor cabin-esque bar, appropriately called Grace Upstairs. You'll find the same dark hardwood and airy atmosohere as downstairs, and some fabulous specialty drinks.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Romantic Restaurant
• Comfort Food
• scallops

One Girl Who...

Rated this place:

647 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON, M6C 1A7

A Great Find: I just discovered this adorable boutique yesterday while on a jog in the area. I normally exercise austerity while, well, exercising, but I couldn't resist popping in for a look. I ended up buying a great informal dress and a pinstriped blazer, both at reasonable prices. One Girl Who carries stylish clothing at affordable prices, and very cute accessories to boot. I'm so happy I stumbled upon this new store! Located near St. Clair and Christie, it's right in the heart of the current streetcar construction route, so you'll likely have to get there, like me, by foot for the time being.

T Cafe

Rated this place:

511 Bloor St West, Toronto, ON

Take Time for "T": T Cafe is the newest player in Toronto's ever-growing tea scene - but there is something about T that is sure to leave the competition in its wake. For one thing, there's the fresh factor. The idea of serving tea-infused, tapas-style food in itself is a novel one. Find the agriculural wonder incorporated into pretty much everything you eat at T - vegetable samosas with strawberry tea-infused dipping sauce, onions fried in green tea batter, bbq ribs drizzled in black tea sauce, just to name a few. There's also something remarkable going on with their pastries, notably the gooey coconut macaroons (which dissolved into syrupy goodness in my mouth within seconds), and the oversized stump-less muffin tops (oh how Jerry Seinfeld would be proud). That fresh factor extends, of course, to the teas themselves. The cafe carries more than 50 loose-leaf teas and features a roster of selected 'teas of the day,' all of which you're encouraged to smell before selecting. Aside from the incredible food and large selection of hot and cold teas, T's location also works in its favour. It's situated in the heart of The Annex (where Toronto oldie Dooney's once lived) and is already drawing in heaps of young tea-drinkers looking to capitalize on tasty teas, free wifi, and budget-friendly prices (tapas items are less than $10). Enjoy!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tea
• samosas
• macaroons
• Annex cafe

Liv by Au Lit

Rated this place:

418 Eglinton W, Toronto, ON, M5N 1A2

A shopper's dream: Au Lit, the charming Toronto fine linen shop has taken a step out of the bedroom and created Liv, a beautiful midtown space devoted to trendy clothing, jewellery, unique gifts, furniture, and, of course, linens. Liv carries unique and affordable brands carefully selected from across North America and Europe - like my recently purchased Blank skinny jeans for less than $100! You can find Dogeared jewels and pricier bangles and necklaces in their jewellery display, and some dreamy framed art on the walls.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• jeans
• gifts
• linens
• midtown boutique

Walk In Wok Out

Rated this place:

495 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1Y2

Walk in hungry: As a true noodle enthusiast, I was really eager to try the newest create-your-own noodle house to hit The Annex (well, if you consider four months in business still 'new' in the ever-changing landscape that is Bloor Street). With its clean decor and open-air kitchen, Walk In has a welcoming environment and friendly staff who are dedicated to having you walk out satisfied - and full. Yes, the portions are massive and fairly reasonable. For about $11, I got a tasty bowl of whole-wheat noodles, Chinese veggies, shitaki mushrooms, and plump shrimps doused in an amazingly tangy garlic-pepper sauce. With a simplified menu consisting of stir-fries and build-your-own salads, Walk In Wok Out is following the popular path of serving healthy, cheap items off of a carefully tailored menu. You'll also find some interesting facts about their ingredients on the restaurant's back wallpaper (and a few grammatical errors, but who's counting?)

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Eats
• stir-fry
• healthy dinner

Asuka Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

108 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1B9

Always busy, always delicious: You really can't go wrong at Asuka. There is something about Asuka that sets it apart from some other 'casual, non-high-end' sushi houses, and be prepared to pay slightly more because of it. For one thing, everything is extremely fresh. You can actually smell the freshness when you journey down the steps to the Asuka's front door. While I can't vouch first-hand for the fish freshness (as a non-fish eater) I can say that my friends go crazy for their salmon sashimi, and the seafood that I do eat there is phenomenal. Both the atmosphere and location are selling points too - located in the hear of Yorkville, it's a perfect meeting ground for my friends and me. From the packed tables of regular sushi addicts to the pics of celeb Asuka diners that decorate the walls, you're bound to see a recognizeable face there.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• green salad

Camarra's Pizzeria Ristorante

Rated this place:

2899 Dufferin St, North York, ON, M6B3S7

Go.Here.Hungry: One of Toronto's most authentic Italian restaurants doesn't actually live in Little Italy but rather on an unassuming Dufferin strip between Eglington and Lawrence. If the impressive collage of sticker-awards that line Camarra's front door doesn't impress, the strong scents of garlic, herbs, and fresh hospitality are sure to whet your appetite. Camarra's is an all-around winner in my books. I had the whole-wheat spaghetti with their 'famous' marinara, and had the privelege to also try the most amazing gnocchi this city has to offer - picture fluffy cloud-like bundles of potato goodness immersed in a pool of meaty marinara. The bill isn't light - roughly $20 per entree - but it's worth every penny. You'll appreciate the old-style service and atmosphere, I'm sure of it.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gnocchi
• whole wheat pasta
• old-school atmosphere

Sweet Lulu

Rated this place:

859 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J 1G4

Sweet package!: It's true, good things do come in small, adorably decorated packages. I had heard great things about Sweet Lulu's create-your-own noodle/rice dishes that I eventually followed the crowd to the West Queen West eatery and ordered a brilliant concoction...rice noodles...sweet chili thai sauce...lots of Asian veggies...chunks of garlic and ginger..etc..etc. I was so satisfied with my lunch, its price, and the cute Chinese container it came in, that I have since returned to Sweet Lulu on many occasions. I recommend either the Thai noodles or the Jasmine Rice as your base, and their tofu in particular is really worth trying!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• stir fry
• tofu

Kultura

Rated this place:

169 King Street East, Toronto, ON, M5A1J3

Kultura impresses dish after dish: Everything Kultura does, it does well. The lively main floor lounge onlooking King East (think big windows, long booth-seating, and exposed brick) is a nice place to grab some drinks either before or after your meal on the next floor above. But it's the food at Kultura that really seperates this place from just an ordinary downtown lounge. Everything from the starter spicy flatbread and pineapple chutney to the doughy and sugary mini doughnuts is out-of-this-world. Order the edamame drenched in a gooey miso-black bean sauce (makes you wonder why the soy snack is regularly served so bare), get the chicken samosas (crisped to perfection and served with a unique dipping sauce), sample their pasta creation (truffles, chedder, mushrooms), and YOU MUST try the crispy tofu (pictured here). If you're a semi-passionate tofu eater this dish will make you crazy - super soft tofu is enveloped in a crispy shell and smothered in a soy-scallion-mushroom medley - so good! Go with a bunch of people so you can sample every dish. The prices aren't too bad for such wonderful cuisine.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Lounge
• tapas
• Martini
• Tapas Restaurant
• crispy tofu

Porter Airlines

Rated this place:

Toronto City Centre Airport, 1 Bathurst Street, Toronto, M5V 1A1

Title: This is definitely the best way to travel. Minimal lines, great service, so convenient for those who live or work close to downtown, and the free bottled water and tasty treats are the icing on the cake! Also, without the hassles and stress that are so synonymous with airports, you really are able to just relax.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• downtown airport

Reggie's Old-Fashioned Sandwiches

Rated this place:

571 King St. W, Toronto, ON, M5V 1M1

Old Fashioned = New Obsession: If you`re like me and take your sandwiches and wraps seriously, then you`re going to love Reggie`s old-fashioned sandwiches. For less than $7 I was face-to-face with an insanely large smoked chicken wrap drizzled with mesquite-esque flavouring and sauteed veggies, all toasted to perfection. The fries are well-done and overflow the large container they`re served in - worth trying! The place is clean, hip, and above all else, very crowded. The perfect new addition to the King West strip, and open 24-hours! I`d expect to wait about 15 minutes for your lunch order - but Reggie`s natural buzz coupled with the loads of food being prepared before your eyes will be enough momentum to last you through the lineups.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• smoked chicken sandwich
• open 24-hours

Cravings

Rated this place:

3393 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4N 2M8

Suit your cravings: The name really says it all. You can satiate your most elaborate Pan-Asian cravings at Cravings - from delicate sushi creations to Chinese chow mein. Everything that's great about this place is just added garnish to its main draw: it offers a variety of tasty food at fair prices. Not only was I shocked and impressed by how packed the midtown restaurant was, but also by it's beautifully chic decor (I clearly underestimated this place and my very casual attire reflected that). I had the edamame to start - very salty and generous - and the shrimp teriyaki. The shrimps were juicy and drizzled in an outrageously amazing sweet teriyaki sauce, and paired with a couple handfuls of delicious vegetables. I eyed a steaming plateful of Chinese noodles - definitely trying next time. With entrees running from $12-$18, expect to pay a tiny bit more than some other basic pan-Asian places in this city, but much less than the trendier fine-dining ones - and you'll fulfill all your cravings just the same.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Decor
• sake
• shrimp teriyaki

Lou Dawg's

Rated this place:

589 King St West, Toronto, ON, M5V 1MS

Sweet, Smokey, and Southern: There's a new kid on the King-Portland block - and so far, so good. Lou Dawgs is the newest restaurant to cater to busy lunch-goers and night owls alike, offering a number of tasty barbecued and southern comfort food until the wee hours of the morning (open until 2am). Since its debut this week, Lou Dawgs has been drawing in a steady crowd eager to try their smokey and southern barbecue sauces, coleslaw (made with cranberries) and paprika-infused Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. I opted for the smoked turkey wrap for $8, made with large chunks of fresh turkey, tomatoes, lettuce, provolone, and a delicious mayo-barbecue concoction. I wasn't ecstatic, however, about the surprise bacon guest appearance in my wrap, which was left unmentioned both on the menu wall and by my cashier. Even still, with its intimate, basement-chic decor and southern accents (like a live blues band) Lou Dawgs has all the right ingredients for success.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• sweet mashed potatoes
• barbecue sauce

Jalouse Hair Michael Rutledge

Rated this place:

2467 Yonge St, Toronto, ON, M4P2H6

Great Hair Day: While always satisfied but never truly swept off my feet by many Toronto stylists, I decided to follow the raving word-of-mouth reviews about Jalouse and book a blowdry with Bruna - the fact that she was completely booked up for two months was an inconveniently good sign that she has to be doing something right. The salon itself is small, friendly, and has a touch of obscurity to it that makes you feel like you're special enough to know about it (it's across the street from Centro above Ron White). Bruna did a fabulous job styling my hair - she read what I wanted and was able to give my straight hair a healthy bounce and shine. With reasonable prices, friendly service, and an incredible lineup of hair professionals, Jalouse has risen to my top list of favourite Toronto hair salons.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Exposed brick
• Midtown salon

Li'L Niblets & Baby Sprouts

Rated this place:

1654 Avenue Road , Toronto, ON, M5M 3Y1

Everything under one roof: This place is a genuine one-stop shop for all of your baby and childrens' gear. They've got baby accessories galore (both fashionable and practical - because you always need a steady balance of both), and lots of clothing options for all sizes and seasons. I love wandering through the store in search of gifts for my nephew. Given at times this place can get pretty hectic, the service is wonderful and personable. Little Niblets is not cheap-cheap but it is convenient, current, and cute!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Baby store

Fusaro's Kitchen

Rated this place:

147 Spadina Ave #108, Toronto, ON, M5V2L7

A Healthy Portion of Goodness: I can't think of anything wrong with this place other than the food addiction it's inflicted upon me. The moment you walk in you're bombarded with warmth, amazing scents, and tons of people waiting in the cafeteria-style line for their lunchtime grub. Everything from the salads, to gourmet pizzas, to the daily pasta options, to the veal sandwiches look amazing. I opt for the grilled chicken wrap - grilled or 'panini-ed' of course. It's filling, bursting with flavour, and a relatively health-concious lunch item. I highly recommend this place, for take-out or for dining in - just don't go there starving because you're likely going to have to wait in line (bonus tip: they often have free garlic bread on the counter for those in line).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Lunch
• Chicken wrap

William Ashley China

Rated this place:

55 Bloor St W (Manulife Centre), Toronto, ON, M4W1A5

What a girl (and guy?) wants!: Registering at Ashley's felt like a true a rite of passage. I went in a girl with mismatched glassware and came out a woman destined to have pinstripe crystal pitchers and elaborate pie servers. My bridal registry experience at Ashley's has been wonderful from the start - aside from having the best selection of formal china, kitchenware, and everything you can image in the world of home-decorating, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. They want the process to be as smooth as possible for you (and them), and so far I have no complaints. I can easily track my registry online and can add any items I want to the list either online or at one of their stores. Top 3 bonus features: The truffles they feed you after you've registered, the little customized cards you get in the mail every time someone buys you a gift, and the free year-long parking at Manulife Centre for the bride and groom.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• formal china
• wedding registry

Holt Renfrew & Co Ltd

Rated this place:

50 Bloor St W #300, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A1

Splurge here: Holt Renfrew is like that girl you know who just has it all - you can't help but love her but are secretly jealous of everything she has at the same time. Holts carries all things beautiful. Pricey, but beautiful. Purses, beauty products, shoes, evening wear, bathing suits, classic menswear, funky everyday clothing by top designers and more are all in one place and are presented in a fashion that evokes high-fasion, even if it's not. I like the location on Bloor Street the best simply because it captures the feel of a classic New York-esque department store (think Bloomingdales).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• shopping
• Designer Clothing

Over The Rainbow

Rated this place:

101 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1C1

Designer clothing: The store is small enough to make you feel like you're having an intimate shopping experience but just large enough to hold all the hottest labels. The jewelry at the front is also pretty funky.

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

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

18 Bellair St, Toronto, ON, M5R2C7

Teppanyaki: Upscale yet affordbale sushi and teppanyaki...the chicken and vegetables are fired up to perfection before your very eyes, and the atmosphere is perfect for a group dinner!

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

Aji Sai Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

783 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4J1L2

What a treat - all you can eat!: So, imagine you're out for lunch with friends, you're starving, and you grab a booth at a cute Japanese restaurant on Queen West and start pulling together an itinerary for your lunch order - when - suddenly - you all notice that the meal is actually all-you-can-eat! Such excitement and possibilities....I addded some meat (literally) to my ordinary sushi order and ended up with 4 chicken yakitori skewers, 12 pieces of sushi, spring rolls, and a salad for under $13 - and on Mon-Thurs the lunch is only $10.99. This place is one of the best all-you-can-eat spots I've tried. It's fast, serves pretty hearty portions (but still smaller than an ordinary place), and the food was excellent. No wonder we had to wait at least 10 minutes for a table!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Sushi
• All You Can Eat Sushi

Bloor Street Diner

Rated this place:

55 Bloor Street W, Toronto, ON, M4W 1A5

French onion soup: It is traditional and wonderful...there's that crispy, bubbly, and crusted cheese, the sweet and salty onion broth, all enveloped in that large and mighty soup bowl. Definitely a warming treat when the temperatures drop!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• French Onion Soup

Le Gourmand

Rated this place:

438 Richmond Street West, Toronto, ON, M5V 3S6

Gourmet lunch: Le Gourmand never ceases to amaze me. While this is my go-to place for gourmet sandwiches/salads, I happened to try their pasta special: gnocchi pasta with carmelized onions and other succulent veggies, all perfectly afloat in a hearty meat sauce. It's a meal for two for less than $10. Also worth mentioning is their curry chicken wrap, which is packed with green apples and smothered in yellow-y goodness. It's filling, perfectly toasted, and wonderful. Wash things down with one of their GIANT chocolate chip cookies and you'll be set for the rest of the day (week).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gourmet lunch

The Rosebud

Rated this place:

669 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M4M1G6

Short ribs are tall on flavour at Rosebud: You can definitely feel the intimacy of The Rosebud from the moment you walk through its small entrance off Queen West. The entire place was glowing from the candle-lit booth-style tables that line its narrow walls. The place was packed with young Winterlicious-goers dining on generous servings for $35/person. I started with melt-in-your-mouth cod cakes complimented with pepper-infused mixed greens. Next was the main attraction: braised short ribs that were stingy and rich and swimming in a wonderful sweet-onion gravy, atop fluffy mashed potatoes. I was too full to even try my creme brulee - but my entire party was impressed by its generous serving. Overall, The Rosebud offers a great dining experience. The one drawback was that the place cleared out by about 10pm on a Saturday.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Romantic Restaurant
• restaurant for group dinners
• Ribs