Creightons restaurant on the ground floor of the Westbury Hotel was another place that garnered attention in the 1970s. Started in 1972 by Frank Vetere, the red and green shutters and offbeat interior (mixing Carnival mirrors, cartoons and great moments in Pizza history) provided an imaginative setting, bested only by their Chicago style deep-dish toppings heavy pizza which oozed that authentic Italian touch and was rightfully branded "the best pizza you've ever tasted". Great memories. Bassels on the southeast corner of Gerrard and Yonge Streets in April 1954. ), on Yonge; Bistro 990our go-to place for lunch upon arrival in Toronto; Starfiishgorged on oysters; JKROManother wonderful go-to place for lunch; Jamie Kennedys Wine Bar, and then, there was Susursan incredibly delicious and enjoyable dining experience. In fact, Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". I remember my father saying that it had a bad reputation as a gang hangout. Way more stuff hanging from the ceilings, wacky gags hidden everywhere. I am researching Macedonian owned restaurants 1945/1946 in Toronto, around the High Park area, walking distance from symington ave., and most of them did not serve Macedonian food back thenanyone remember a name? #4 1213 Bayview Ave, Toronto, On M4G2Z8, Toronto, Toronto $ 95,000 Popular Thai Restaurant Serving Lunch & Dinner, In Toronto. I just described it to my partner and tried to Google some archival photos. The Hungarian Village at 900 Bay Street served Hungarian food and featured live Gypsy violinists. Photo taken in 2014. I remember the first time I went there with a friend. I still remember when my mother discovered the delights of adding garlic to her recipes, much to the chagrin of my father. I came of age to attend real restaurants in the 1960s, in a decade when more Torontonians were beginning to discover the delights of dining out. Book also available in Chapter/Indigo, the Bell Lightbox Book Shop, and by phoning University of Toronto Press, Distribution: 416-667-7791 (ISBN 978.1.62619.450.2), Another book, published by Dundurn Press, containing 80 of Torontos old movie theatres will be released in the spring of 2016, entitled, Torontos Movie Theatres of YesteryearBrought Back to Thrill You Again.. 8.Chef Lawrence La Pianta's Cherry Street Bar-b-que brings the barbecue traditions of the American South to Toronto in an attractive 1920s brick building that was once a . 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. Luckily, Toronto History has managed to combine many vintage snaps of the city we love, and here are some highlights. Tom Jones Steak House on the corner of Colborne Street and Leader Lane in 1989. Dave, Hamers Fish and Chips Eglinton near Oakwood A lot of artists frequented it. We used to hop in a cab from Mississauga/Etobicoke and spend our pay cheque at the Ports of Call and always to the Bali Hi room and then afterwords, would go out to Yorkville to a bar. Read more See all (124) Ratings and reviews 4.5 641 163 Spadina Ave., 3rd Flr., 416-260-2222, alorestaurant.com So much of what makes Edulis exceptional is its steadfast adherence to serendipity: Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth so often change. 1. It had many outlets throughout the city, but the one we frequented the most was on the west side of Yonge, south of Bloor Street. Toronto Archives, F1257, S1057, item 073. I recently read an article about it but dont recall where! The northern half of the semi-detached house was occupied by another well-known restaurantQuenelles. Photo of the front (insert) and the interior of Quo Vadis Restaurant, from Chuckmans Postcard Collection (chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com). . Toronto based chain Frank Vetere's Pizzeria was one such magical eatery. Pleasant??? Does anyone recall The Toronto Radio Artists Club (TRAC)? My sister and I used to streetcar it to Jesse Ketchum Public school. Ponderosa was a popular birthday destination in the 80s, owing to the group friendly prices, kid friendly zones and fun-tastic birthday hats. Club: Boa Caf, 25 Bellair Years in operation: 1989-1998 History : This is a tale of two interconnected yet vastly different Toronto venues, each influential in its own way. Front Street and either Bay or Yonge that had a club with live entertainment. (formerly Prospere Magazine), an online-only lifestyle publication targeting young, hip professional women. Thanks for the memories! Our favorite memories included breakfast at Sassafraz. It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). I remember cabbage rolls, meatballs with rice, beef stew & baklava for dessert. My grandad was the bartender and my mother the cashier. Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter. Also, the deserts on display were always a sight to behold. The Old Fish Market at 12 Market Street, near the St. Lawrence Market, was another of my favourite places for seafood, though it certainly was not in the class the Mermaid. I remember the Toronto Radio Artists Club well. And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. I believe Simpsons main restaurant was called the Arcadian Court, not Arcadian Room, at least for some period of time during its existence. Loved reading this and all the great memories. 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). It was called Between Friends. Toronto Gone - photos from 1980s Toronto. Could someone remember the name. . Businessman Brian Alger acquired the expired trademark to Mother's Pizza - one of his favorite brands growing up (along with the Pop Shoppe, which he also acquired) - then teamed with Restaurateur Geeve Sandu to reboot the franchise using the same original formula. Long gone but fondly remembered. Great Memories. The only other eatery I remember from the 1950s is the Honey Dew restaurant located on the mezzanine level of the Odeon Carlton Theatre, which served fish and chips and Ritz Carlton hotdogs, along with the famous Honey Dew orange drink. Pickin Chicken, Lake Shore Blvd West (1980s) by Patrick Cummins. On the corner of College St and Palmerston Ave, in Toronto's lively Little Italy, sits Bar Raval, a Mecca for Spanish tapas and pintxos (with a Raval twist), a wide selection of wines (both old world and new), cocktails, micro-brews and ciders. Some of Winnipeg's most famous restaurants have faded away, but readers still remember all those delicious flavours. The Steak and Burger on Yonge Street, south of Bloor Street in the 1970s. Eastside Mario's had the faux new york city decor. Images courtesy Patti Habib, The Big Bop / Reverb, Myke Dyer, Citysonic, Wrongbar, David Waldman . All collections in Toronto. This legendary Richmond Street West spot introduced Toronto to house music in the 80s. I also remember the Organ Grinder on the Esplanade. Their favourite (and a family treat for birthdays) for many years was Carmens. that was a Toronto streetcar converted to an eating place? Share. we practically ordered 80 % of the menu and were too full." more Outdoor seating Delivery Takeout 2. The Gods of frugal yum smiled down on us, bestowing fabled chains which offered affordable eats for family friendly visits and left behind indelible impressions in our minds and taste buds even long after they had shuttered, gone into receivership or been chewed up by corporate garburators. I still have the menu today. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. To view previous blogs about movie houses of Torontohistoric and modern, and Torontos Heritage Buildings: http://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/links-to-toronto-old-movie-housestayloronhistory-com/. I have lived across Canada but was able to travel throughout the year so always was able to get my corned beef. In the background is the Coronet (Savoy) Theatre. Any good substitutes? Anyone remember The Barclay Hotel- dinner club in the late 50s and 60s. The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes. He stated that in talking about the ice cream waffles, there was also the Honey Dew stand in Simpsons basement. However, the original location on Bloor Street closed in 2006; a condo is now on the site. Theatorium (Red Mill) TheatreToronto's First Movie Experience and First Permanent Movie Theatre, Auditorium (Avenue, . And I recall a place called the Muddy York. However, memories of food cooked beyond our kitchen, during my boyhood years, include the hot dogs and the aroma of the ice cream waffles in the tunnel under Albert Street. It specialized in seafood & served excellent fish & chips. We could remain for an evening at the Ports of Call, as after dinner, we could visit one of the bars for music and dancing. Photo, Toronto Archives, F0124, Fl 0002, Id. Find the best Toronto restaurants in Toronto, ON. A friend from high school worked there on Fridays after school (LPCI) and she always went home exhausted! Settle in for the blind, multi-course tasting menu in either the dining room or at the kitchen counter helmed by chef de cuisine Nick Bentley. Happy Herbivores. 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B9 Canada +1 416-921-4061 + Add website. That is not Tom Jones Steak House. your dinner. La Maquette. Our children liked to say that we were married at KFC. This chain first appeared at 234 Bloor Street West, in 1954, and in the years ahead opened over 200 eateries throughout Canada and the U.S. Eds restaurants and the Royal Alex were the impetus that started the gentrification of King Street West. There was a second location on the east side of Yonge south of Charles. Toronto Archives, F1526, fl0067, item 17 . Closed now : See all hours. I still have the silver tea service they gave my mom when she left. 1980-90 - Water's Edge restaurant at Harbourfront Centre. I was told that one of the oldest was the Geneva Restaurant on the north side of Queen Street East. The Golden Nugget Restaurant was slightly further north. Either one might still be in place, albeit perhaps under different names; I havent been to the building since Simpsons went out of business, and havent been downtown in a long while, as well. 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. Restaurants of the 70-80s in TO by barb Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:29 pm Yes, The Gasworks, the Yonge Station, The Colonial, The Embassy, The Elmacombo, The Isabella House, The Ports, Sammy's Cellar, The Plaz Bigalle, Nick's Underground, The Queensbury, Did I drink too much back then? I am sure I saw and heard Moe Koffman on one of my visits. The 1980s were a time that seems not-too-distant from today, but were a completely different world. Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". Because it was considered a classy restaurant, we felt very grown-up whenever we went there. Memory sometimes plays tricks, so if I have committed errors, I hope that readers will be understanding. I also remember the Tivoli on Yonge south of Gerrard on the east side. 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. Larry's Hideaway. The city was big but still had a small town vibe. I remember the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet that was served on the top deck during the summer months. By the early sixties, it was gone. Trailblazing 1980s nightclub Twilight Zone brought diverse crowds and sounds to Toronto's Entertainment District long before such a designation even existed. The closest I have come to getting the same flavor and texture is with a chain in Detroit. Diners were invited to visit the kitchen, examine the dishes, and point to the ones that they wished to be served. They had a Polynesian/Chinese menu. My Dad, Basil, owned all three Prime restaurants, with the last one, in Dixie Plaza, being the busiest. The 1980s was dominated events such as Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, the patriation of the Canadian Constitution, Toronto's 150th birthday, Canada becomes 120 years old, and the end of the Pierre Trudeau years. floor of the TD building. Three very good restaurants in the Yonge and St. Clair area were Rhodes, owned by Tom Kristenbrun on the west side and Bofinger Brasserie that sat between the two theatres. In the Beaches for a bunch of years, there was Loons on Queen, for quite a while the best food in the Beach. Founder & Webitor-in-Chief of DelectablyChic! A throwback to another time and era. It cost around 2 bucks. Toronto Then and Now, published by Pavilion Press (London England) explores 75 of the citys historic buildings. In the space recently vacated by Menalon, the 50ish-year-old Greek diner and dive bar, is Paradise Grapevine, Bloorcourt's favourite new wine bar . One of the ethnic restaurants that stands out in my memory is Acropole. Truffles Restaurant. Following a disastrous fire, it was not rebuilt. I took my wife there for an anniversary dinner and we were impressed with the high table menu and the culmination of the meal with a rose for her and a cigar for myself. The Java House was also in this block of buildings, south of Bloor Street, and was great for coffee after the theatre. Check out the list of all Restaurants in Eglinton Avenue East. comments, Toronto's buffet scene is shrinking but a few restaurants are still holding out, Jagmeet Singh calls out 'greedy CEOs' at Loblaws and Sobeys for high prices, Huge fast food brand likely behind viral 'TTC French toast guy' stunt in Toronto, Toronto shopper outraged as maple syrup prices more than double in a few months, Grocery store nailed with 13 infractions from Toronto health inspectors, Toronto restaurants reintroduce lunch in hopes that industry luck has improved. We visited the restaurant after it relocated to Dundas Street West, opposite the Art Gallery (AGO), but it was not the same. Id add a few restaurants: Scaramoucheespecially if you called a month ahead for a window table, with Roberto as your server; Canoea spectacular restaurant with wonderful food, service, and views: Auberge du Pommiera long-time favorite; Arlequins (sp? 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