From chef Akira Back, who garnered a Michelin Star for his restaurant in Seoul, his namesake Toronto restaurant offers an incredible experience, from the expertly crafted food and beverage program and the exceptional service right down to the show-stopping design. Also like Vetere's, the Pizza was phenomenal, and their 99 cent Root Beer floats with take home glass were the stuff of playground legend. Check their menu, reviews & rating, photos, price, location, cuisine, offers, and more. floor of the TD building. And thanks to Toronto History 's photo archive, we can take a peek at what exactly was going on in the city in the city 40 years ago. It had a name like the Percy House, but nothing came up googling that. I loved Frans on Yonge St across from Sams. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. The food fashion cycle quickened as diners discovered a taste for arugula, radicchio, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, sushi, crab cakes, Pad Thai, mesquite grilling, and fresh ingredients. It was a bold venture to open a restaurant in that location in 1963, as the railway yards were on the south side of King Street. This steak House is still in business. The 25 Best Restaurants in Toronto, from Omakase to Diners | Cond Nast Traveler Video SALE: SUBSCRIBE AND GET 1 YEAR FOR $21.99 $5 North America Canada Ontario Toronto Destinations 25 Best. It had old world charm. . Best 80s themed restaurants near me in Toronto, ON Sort:Recommended Price Good for Late Night Delivery Takeout 1. Another ethnic restaurant that stands out in my mind was Michi, when it was on Church Street. Toronto Archives, F1257, S1057, item 073. One chain you didnt list was pickin chicken and their VW delivery vehicles. Meanwhile old favorites such as steak and baked potato, tossed salad, and cheesecake seemed dull. And I do remember the most popular dishes were hot-dog surprise, veal cutlet, hot hamburger and so on. This book will also be released in the spring of 2016. Old school style and service, updated with the freshest local ingredients, no MSG and Zero Trans Fats. Maxi owned the bar/restaurant and always greeted you at the door. The only place in the city where we could find the swiss fondue style menu (there was a restaurant out near Port Credit that also specialized in raclette fondue. However, it was still demolished, though its facade was re-assembled inside the Northern Ontario Building. In the early-1950s, my family moved to the west end of the city, near Jane Street and Lambton Avenue, and our local fish and chips shop became Golden Crip Fish and Chips, at 1364 Weston Road. They were Macedonian, but the food was contemporary of the time. Patrons often lined the stairs while waiting for their tables at the Savarin, even though they had reservations. When it changed hands it cheapened the quality of the food but increased the prices. It was closed to make room for an apartment building and was relocated in the new building, but it lost its charm. I have yet to find another place that makes battered shrimp as amazingly as they did*sigh*. I was only about 28 or 29 at the time. He was a very smart businessman as well as a big-hearted individual. Other places: an Italian restaurant at Bayview Village (where Il Fornello is now), Max's (now O&B) and before it was Max's, I think it was a pub called Charlie's (shut when I was six or so). There was a restaurant on northside of Bloor just west of Sherbourne, the buildings are gone. Bassels Restaurant, which occupied the equivalent space of three stores on Yonge Street. For more than half a century, the House of Chan, a steakhouse and Chinese restaurant near the corner of Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue West in Forest Hill, has stood as a de facto living. Two teenagers, even girls, can eat a lot! Also, in the West end tucked away in a very confusing triangle of Dundas, Bloor St and Kipling was Millers Country Fair. It was reported that John Turner had his own table at Winstons. I recently read an article about it but dont recall where! Happy Herbivores. Your still missing a few, when I had money Bigliardis on Church. On its the south facade, there was a green neon sign that created the outline of a steer. Always lots of men in suits lol. It was on the west side of Bay Street, a short distance south of Richmond Street West. I recall Bentleys as being on the east side of Yonge, a block or two south of Teddington Park. Larry's Hideaway. It closed up years ago. I remember being treated to lunch there by a friend, prior to my departure for a holiday. Brought back some warm memories. Do you know if it was open in 1945? My wife and I often had a special dinner at the Balkan on Elm Street, just west of Yonge. Georges Spaghetti House was a wonderful restaurant with a great menu. Bobby. I was told that one of the oldest was the Geneva Restaurant on the north side of Queen Street East. I remember the tunnel and the soft chocolate malted ice cream cones wed buy at one end of the tunnel. I believe they were licensed so you could order a fine wine or beer with 10 Places. The Sign of the Steer Restaurant at 161 Dupont Street in 1955, the neon sign of a steer visible on the south wall. New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse 334 reviews Closed today Steakhouse, Cajun & Creole $$ - $$$ Menu "The Cajun Calamari were made to perfection and very tender." Mothers Pizza. " 16/05/2020 Cuisines: Canadian Reliable Halibut & Chips #1,836 of 6,034 Restaurants in Toronto 40 reviews 954 Queen St E 0.2 km from Queen Street It opened at 375 Church Street in 1964. Does anyone remember Griffiths on Queen Street East in the Beach(es)? He knew the chain from Montreal and was watching for my expression when they didnt bring cutlery. 14 Places. Eds restaurants on King Street in 1981. I remember an evening that we engaged in a progressive dinner. We visited the Old Fish Market for our appetizer (seafood chowder), and then Graf Bobby at 36 Wellington East for our main course (wiener schnitzel), and then, drove up to the Cafe de la Paix at 131 Bloor West in the Colonnade for coffee and dessert. Never wrote down your order, but it was served exactly to each person. I dont think any of them are still around. So many happy dining memories. Pleasant??? This would be in the early 1950s. When we arrived, we discovered that a tie and jacket were indeed mandatory, as it was Eds Warehouse on King Street. A popular pregame location. It started in the thirties & I think it had closed by about 1990. During the mid-to-late-1970s, Yonge Street was the main artery of Toronto gay social life (it would shift to Church in the mid-1980s). The other favourite buffet in that decade was the Savarin Tavern, located at 336 Bay Street. I always requested a table in the glass-covered courtyard as it was akin to dining in a garden. Converted from a house to the Busy Bee Dinder in 1929, the "B" consisted of an open kitchen and counter, and became a local destination for traditional meals and coffee to go. Dave, Hamers Fish and Chips Eglinton near Oakwood That was the Underground Railroad. 16 Places . It had one of the first salad bars in TO. Its well-advertised all-you-can-eat French buffet was highly popular, though it was not particularly French. My grandfather and his brothers owned a restaurant in the 1950s at Yonge and Adelaide, The Manor Grill. It had great food and was so cosy and warm on winter nights. Would certainly add the Vikings for relaxed but very nice dining; Frank Hansen was the owner/manager. The restaurant was so successful that Ed Mirvish expanded and opened Eds Seafood, Eds Chinese, Eds Italian and Eds Folly (a lounge). I worked at the Whitney Block at Queens Park 66/67 and we would stop by occasionally for a drink before heading home. I spoke to a cook called Jimmy at the Dairy Freezer at St. Clair & Caledonia who told me he used to work at the Dixie Prime. One simple one was the RED HOT stand in the annex of Eatons hot dogs and mustard with a napkin and orange pop loved them. " 20/06/2020 " Fabulous ice cream and gelato. The Black Bull Tavern also crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, dating back to 1833. Mocktails are everywhere in Toronto right now but why are they so expensive? Read the 10Best Toronto reviews and view user's restaurant ratings. The Restaurant Boasts Of Its Food And Location. Frank Vetere's menu also included mouth-watering Italian sandwiches, burgers, pasta and an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Eastside Mario's had the faux new york city decor. The same strip mall also had a Becker's, a Chinese restaurant and a few other businesses! Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter. I beleive to this day, it was Charles way to draw attention to the principals remark. Toronto Restaurants of the 80s and 90s prosperegal May 10, 2018 Prev 1 2 3 4 5 wild goose chase Active Member Member Bio Joined Sep 11, 2015 Messages 750 Reaction score 84 Jun 18, 2018 #61 Converted big chain restaurants are common in the city of Toronto it seems in many places. Oct. 9, 1981 - King St W - "Ed's Warehouse" restaurant - view is east from Duncan. We were in elementary school and we always shared a huge communal bowl of ice cream (all six or seven of uswe obviously did not believe in germs back thenhahaha). The names of the dishes so were unfamiliar to most Torontonians that menus at the Acropole were useless. Having said that, they did offer some higher end items on their menu that I understand were very acceptable, which may have warranted the sale of beer and wine. Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. La Provencal at 23 St. Thomas Street (great escargot), Julies Mansion at 515 Jarvis Street, Gastons at 595 Markham Street (famous for its French onion soup), Sutton Place on the top floor of the Sutton Place Hotel, Valhalla Inn in Etobicoke, and the Black Angus Steak House on Dundas West (Etobicoke). It's not hard to see why Alger was so enamoured with Mothers - Like Frank Vetere's, the ambiance was crucial to the experience. When my friends and I attended theatres such as Sheas Hippodrome, The Imperial, Loews Downtown, Biltmore, Savoy or the Downtown, we sometimes splurged and went to the Chicken Palace at 404 Yonge Street, where we ordered deep fried chicken and french fries, served in a wicker basket. Yes, nice view of the ravine. If anyone else has any memories of any of the three prime restaurants, kindly post. I miss Ginsburg and Wong in the Village by the Grange, as well as Mr. Greenjeans in the Eaton's Centre. There was also a supreme version available . Do you remember a delightful Greek restaurant that was on the west side of Church St. midway between Wellington and The Esplanade? When my wife requested a special dessert because of a medical condition, no problem. Joes and Moes Eglinton west of Bathurst Created in partnership with hospitality icon Nick Di Donato of the Liberty Entertainment Group, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto is the only North American location of world-renowned Michelin Star Chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino's Don . They also served excellent salads. Scotts restaurant was on Yonge just north of Dundas, where you sat upstairs looking out onto Yonge St to have bacon burger and fries (that was before we worried or knew about cholesterol). Thank you for this post. The well-seasoned spicier foods that ethnic eateries offered were challenging the more bland style of dishes that Canada inherited from Great Britain. The closest I have come to getting the same flavor and texture is with a chain in Detroit. Those who were there lovingly explore its lasting legacy. It was called The Swiss Marmite I believe these are both gone now, as I enjoyed these in the early to mid 80s. Or at least parts . My father would take me & my siblings on drives around downtown Toronto in the mid fifties. Dining in Queen Street and West Queen West (Toronto), Ontario: See 302,621 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 8,980 Toronto restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. Mary Johns, I think was on Elizabeth St. around Gerrard. The restaurant's entire menu celebrates the island's food, culture, and chefs. #777 of 6,034 Restaurants in Toronto 37 reviews 920 Queen St E Leslieville 0.1 km from Queen Street " The BEST gelato and ice cream. Perhaps one of the most famous of Toronto dining places was Eds Warehouse, at 266 King Street West. Brown Derby Tavern at Yonge and Dundas (1970s). It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). South on Bay, down some steps, dark, red banquettes. The Java House was also in this block of buildings, south of Bloor Street, and was great for coffee after the theatre. Cherry Street Bar-b-que. La Scala on the southeast corner of Bay and Charles was great Italian food; it was frequented by the Ontario Cabinet of Bill Davis. For some of the exact addresses of the restaurants I relied on information posted on-line. My Grandmother waitressed there for decades, in the 60s a special treat was to head down from the burbs (Scarberia, Vic. NW corner of Yonge and Bloor, and IIRC there was another on Bloor near Spadina. Mr. Tonys Place at 100 Cumberland Avenue in Yorkville was also highly popular, even though it offered no printed menus. Review. One year on my birthday, my family told me that they were taking me out to dinner, but they kept their choice of restaurant a surprise. From the late-1960s until the 1980s, the name of the Maitre d' was Tage Christensen. Specialties: Classic Cantonese Cuisine - all served in a truly iconic, retro room. . This sandwich was first introduced in the mid 1970s and lasted until the mid 1990s, representing the Bell's attempt at their own fast food hamburger. Dining in Toronto in the 1960s architecture toronto historic Toronto historic toronto buildings Toronto toronto architecture Toronto history Toronto's restaurant of the past Memories of Toronto's restaurants of the past October 5, 2015 johndougtaylor Dining in Toronto in past decades was far different to the culinary scene that the city now offers. The feature that I remember the most was the hors-doeuvres cart, which contained at least twenty appetizers, including escargot (heavy with garlic), trays of stuffed olives, stuffed mushrooms, wine-marinated anchovies, pureed cottage cheese with cognac and scallions, and quenelles of shrimp. also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge. very posh at the time!! Rumours circulated that members of the mafia had been turned away at the door, and had put out a hit on the place. Used to be when it came to family dining out on a budget, Toronto was spoiled for choice. During the '50s when dining out meant Chinese food or steak and more. Yeahthat was great. In the 1950s, high schools did not provide texts. We lived upstairs and had to look after the coal furnace during off hours. When I came to Canada as a child from Denmark in the mid fifties Mermaid restaurant was called the Little Mermaid restaurant on Bay Street. 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toronto restaurants 1980s