mhkhung

I was at Flow few weeks ago.. (Winterlicous), where the old Movenpick is. It is a very decent restaurant other than the pretty crapy corktails.. (And considering the food is excellent even we are paying the winterlicous price.) (It's right next to four seasons) Michael

Susur is definitely NOT overrated. My last visit was just before x'mas and it is definitely still the top restaurant in Toronto. 2 days before that I was at Splendido.. Splendido was good but Susur's just at another level. I would think Scarmouche about the same as Splendido (Haven't been there for a year). And I wouldn't return to North 44. A dish of undercooked and cold fish that needs to send back to the kitchen turned me totally off a few years ago. Service at Susur was so good that evening (Better than the last time I was there half a year before that definitely). It was a dinner with a friend's parents and grandma. Grandma doesn't drink wine/sparking-water.. And the staff so kindly brought her a pot of very nice chinese tea with a stand that heats the pot. I can't see how the Susur portions are laughable.. I was completely full when I got out of it. And at that evening the tasting menu's only 5 dishes (and I had tasted 10+ because of my other half has a different menu) and the price's less than C$100 for the tasting menu. (I forgot exactly how much.. It's 90/95?) M

How much $$$ do you want to spend? The most expensive/high-end place is Lai-Wah-Hen at Metropoliton hotel. But it's like fine-dining there. Otherwise, in Chinatown, there are a few very good place that are more "down-to-earth". I haven't been there for a while.. but if you walk around there (Dundas/Spadina).. find the one that's most packed.. I used to go to the one on the 2nd floor above HSBC bank on Dundas (East of Spadina). Enjoy.. Michael

You are right.. Costco has it for $30.. I like the book enough I may get an extra copy for my buddy who just started to learn to cook and keep bugging me.. And Chapters offline is selling it at regular $50. If I go to the signing tmow I will definitely do a double-switch BTW, Bouchon's also at Costco for $50. (It's a much bigger book) M

I guess I can make it there on Saturday. So what do we do there? I suppose it's a book signing, do we just pickup the book there and have him signed? I wonder how much Indigo's going to charge for the cookbook. Both indogo/chapters online and amazon.ca price is C$35. amazon.com price is $21=C$26+shipping. I am certainly NOT paying the list price ($50) for a signature. For $35.. may be. M

Well.. they used to be pretty good.. but only for dumplings.. not their other food. They don't offer dim-sum. Dim-sum is a south-eastern China / Cantonese thing for lunch. Dumplings is a northern China thing. However their dumplings has gone downhill since they opened few years ago. My friends and I wouldn't even go there anymore. My brother went there last week and all he can say is bad thing about that place. Their dumplings has way too much fat last time I went there. That said, there's a small dimsum place a few restaurants to the left of it. And it is quite good. In Chinatown, a very nice and clean looking restaurant on Dundas (50m east of Spadina) (Sorry I forgot their name.. they have two floors, and you kinda walk up a few stairs) IMHO is one of the better dumpling and noodle place around town (They have a few more restaurants uptown but the chinatown one has the best noodles). M

They called this afternoon saying that the LLBO license is not ready as of today. May have it tomorrow, but I confirmed my reservation anyway... I should ask if I can BYOB.. Yeah right.. M

Hmmm.. it's quite normal for restaurants to delay it's opening.. (look at all those opening soon episodes..) I really should call them to confirm.. Whoever on the phone to take my reservation doesn't seem to have any problem reserving a table for me and said he will call if there's any problem..

Next Tue (14th).. I already booked a table for Friday..

Yes.. they have FIVE While NZ wine is a big hit in Toronto.. (even the pathetic LCBO has tons of them.. ), you are lucky to find a bottle in SAQ... My fiancee has a few NZ collegues in Montreal, and I usually fly in a few bottles when I visit. Few months ago they have a party and my fiancee went to a few SAQ to collect those 5 bottles.. Anyway.. LCBO is just as bad.. few weeks ago I went to the biggest/newest store in Toronto (Davisville-Yonge). They have a total of 1 bottle of Austrian wine, plus a few bottles of half bottles (not counting the dessert wines). Welcome to the monopoly(s).

My list would be: Tied 1st: Susur and Eigensinn Farm.. (hmmm should go there again soon) 3rd: Avalon Rain: It's one of my better meal last year. We had 4 ppl and shared all the dishes and we all feel it was better than the 3 stars (or 3.5 stars) that they got the year before. And soon after that they got 4 stars I think. Rundles: Went there after a play last summer. Only so-so experience. May be I was expecting something close to Eigensinn (since it's far from the city). Sushi Kaji: Expensive.. no surprise. Lots of duplicates between dishes.. I had much better Omakase at Hiro's but the stuff from the kitchen last time at Hiro wasn't good at all (may be the chef left). As far as sushi go.. Hiro's or Tomo (in Richmond Hill) or Hama (in Markham) does better.. Others.. did't go last year or this year so don't want to comment.. M

Was there last Friday night around 8:45 with my fiancee and a friend. It's harder for 3 people to get a table or at the bar. They told us we might have to wait till 10 but we ended up waited only for 30mins while sipping cava at the waiting area. M

There is a large Russian and Jewish population around Finch/Steeles-Bathurst. I am sure you can find some good restaurants there.. Michael

http://www.torontolife.com/cityguide/listi...?listing_id=153 519-922-3128 RR 2, Singhampton (20 minutes south of Collingwood)

There's a new Korean restaurant in Thornhill.. On Yonge between Steeles and John.. It's an upscale place with huge kitchen-industrial strength air-purifiers in every table..

Although it's easy to associate Toronto with sports and business, the restaurant scene should not be dismissed. In average, montreal may have more good restaurants, but at the highest end, I think Toronto can easily rival Montreal and many big US cities (LA for sure, where I go often). Having been to Toque on the labour day weekend (Saturday), I can only remember the foie-gras dish and the desserts, which in my opinion, would get 3.5 stars (Out of 5 with the James Chatto standard) Not to mention the ethanic restaurants in Toronto.. Chinese, Vietnamese, .. better than where it came from.. - M

I can't believe no one has talked about "Starfish" in this board.. Starfish is definitely the best place in Toronto right now for a relax, enjoyable dinner, with the one of the best food you can have in Toronto.. Food alone may not be as fine as Avalon or Susar, but overall experience is definitely better. I would go to Susar or Avalon once a year but went to Starfish 4 times.. (a meal costs about the same $$$$). It's owned by Patrick McMurray (ex-Rodney's), world champion oyster shucker.. so of course with a wide selection of oysters. And not only that, have you ever been to an oyster house with decent food? This is the place with great great food.. close to the Avalon standard. Of course, they have chef Martha Wright (ex-Avalon). You get the idea? Sink in a dozen or two oysters.. and you still can't miss the appetizer and main.. (Well, dessert could be improved..) Been there 4 times over the past year.. never disappoints.. The first time I was there alone.. I had 2 dozen oysters, grilled sardine, clear mushroom soup, a fish main that reminds me so much of Avalon, then more oysters.. Another time taking a group of friends of 10.. they couldn't stop eating.. Oh my.. - M