GordonCooks

A free appetizer is a comp. Heat & A/C are not.

There is a big difference between your anonymous blogger and self-declared dining guru. The point being anonymity. I get comps due to the fact I'm a frequent patron of places. I would never self proclaim like some of these Zagat-ites with their Hotels.com threats, I find it crass. If you're getting a comp because of how it may influence your opinion, it should be disclosed.

I agree 100%

Yes, price (at least I thought for this type of place.) No need to worry about the water, my body operates like a well oiled machine. ← lol - I realize that price was one of the selling points based on your original post - perhaps I did not clarify - what was the price? I did not know that red wine and oil can co-exist ← Apps - 11-15, Salads 8-12 Pastas under 20, Mains 24-38, wine prices under what downtown prices are. These are from memory. I'm a big food picker, never really finishing a whole plate (save for cheese) We took more food back to the hotel than we ate I think.

Do they leave the bar seats for walk-ins? If so, the guy on the phone should have said so! I would have taken a chance on bar seats, but I was told the restaurant was completely booked. ← They don't save any seats but during the week - you'll sit within 30 mins as people migrate to tables. Fri/Sat may be longer but after 8:30, you'll be fine.

Yes, price (at least I thought for this type of place.) No need to worry about the water, my body operates like a well oiled machine.

Yeah, I'd started calling it "Good Luck getting a table" and indeed mid-evening on a saturday the dining room was completely booked. But surprisingly, on this particular saturday, 8-ish, the bar was not all that full, so we grabbed a table over in the corner by the windows, and we were quite happy there. They serve the full menu at the bar and at those adjacent tables, so there's still hope even if the dining room is booked. I'd thought much the same thing as you - that it was more bar than restaurant on weekends, but oddly, not this particular saturday. There were still seats at the bar when we left, ten-ish. but the dining room looked pretty full. I'd called Rocco earlier in the day, but they were booked for the whole night. Jeeze, I thought I could take advantage of this terrible economy and at least find an open table at a restaurant in Rochester! ← Rocco is very busy but you can always find spot at the bar. Good Luck is about the same but not many others are. Max and the ChopHouse are slow lately but Tony D's is still going veeeery strong.

Dinner usually ends by 10:00ish during the week and 11:30ish on Sat/Sun. You can still get some of the items up until 1:00 or later (think Pizza, salad, and the fries) It's pretty packed on the weekends - I consider it a restaurant during the week and a bar in the weekend.

Portion sizes were quite generous. the apps were a meal alone and I don't think I ate even a half of my strip loin. The bison short rib was entree sized imho. I didn't get any of the bowls but the strip was a 10 oz and the filet was 8 oz or more. The lobster claw meat was nicely sized as well. Desserts were large and you can probably tell by the photo. The owner, Steve is on premise and is the maitre' D. He's a nice guy and must have ran every dish to every table.

BLOOM Restaurant – Bloor West Village 2315 Bloor Street West Found a little, cozy hideaway in the Bloor West Village that was highly recommended by a friend in that neighborhood. I guess it had recently changed hands with new management taking over a few months ago. Bloom is the kind of place that would be my “local” spot per se. The place my girl and I could get a hearty meal, nice wines, and friendly service for what would be considered a bargain at Toronto prices. A simple, seasonal menu of grilled meats, pastas, salads, and some interesting apps. The pics are a little fuzzy but when 3 people split 6 bottles of wine, things like this happen. If I lived there, I would eat here once a week. The wine list has some well-chosen bottles and attractive price points. Grilled Calamari w Ratatouille Smoked Chicken & Corn Crepe Bison Short Rib Foie Gras Beef Tenderloin w Lobster, Bearnaise, spinach over brioche Striploin w truffle mash, Asparagus, Shitakes Duck Breast w Spaetzle, Kale, Blueberry jus Cheese, Chocolate Tart, Carrot Cake, Banana Fritters

I wonder if the recession means some kitchens in Toronto are serving more generous portions, while keeping the pricepoint the same. The small plates at JKWB's brunch this past weekend were easily 1 1/2, if not 2 times, as large as the small plates that were served at dinnertime when JKWB first opened. It's a nice surprise to get more for the same old price. I've been somewhat disappointed by some of the cut-rate prix fixe dinners around town, where the prices are lower than normal, but the portions are smaller and corners are cut in order to keep the bottom line. ← From the people I spoke with, business is slow everywhere. I had my choice of walk-in reservations for Saturday night and its the first time I've been to LEE at 8:00 and could sit right down. Also, I should add the DVP was closed all weekend, maybe another reason downtown was extra quiet.

Probably the best meal I've had there. They're doing a 5 course Shang menu for 50.00? but I opted for my faves and a few new ones. The Singapore Slaw is a must for it's textural contrast and sweet, sour, spicy, and salty action. The crab orzo saute is now wrapped in a coconut egg crepe which was delicious. The salmon sashimi style was fresh salmon wrapped around mung beans, with shiso, lemon confit, and a soy ponzu sauce. There was braised beef over potato puree and a demi with star anise and some other delicate elements. The lamb with banana fritters from Shang, and maybe another I'm forgetting. What was surprising was the dishes were much larger in portion that my previous visit. I would have ordered less had I realized. the braised dish along was entree sized and a steal at 18.00. My entire check with 4-5 martinis was around $200.00 and I was stuffed.

Out of the places you mention, I like Harbord Room best. They have a great burger- haven't had a chance to try anything else yet. The tables are booked in advance, but it's quite possible you can snag a spot at the bar. The menu is quite limited. I found the food at Grace somewhat boring. High prices when you considering the small portions and lack of innovation. I haven't dined at Trevor, but a friend of mine said it's the best meal she's had in Toronto in the last year. I find the food at Nota Bene ho-hum, although for a light meal, their lobster salad is quite good. Since you mention you like small plates, you might also want to consider Foxley, Bite Me, Lee, Kultura and Nyood. Haven't been to Bite Me or Lee recently. If I had to choose between Kultura and Nyood, I'd choose Nyood. Lots of interesting cocktails at Nyood, too. ← Thanks for the tips! After a day of shopping and eating, a lighter meal will most likely be on the agenda. Trevor looked interesting and you've confirmed what someone else said about Nota Bene. I've been to Lee and always enjoyed it. Maybe Bite Me but their wine list is overpriced for what they offer.

I'll be looking for a lighter meal Saturday night after what will be an action packed Fri dinner and lunch on Sat. I was looking for lots of small plates and great wines by the glass or decent half bottle list. I love JK Wine bar but go often. How about The Harbord Room, Grace, Trevor Kitchen, Bar at Nota Bene, or Crush Pref close to the New Hyatt but would travel a little - it's going to be a great evening to walk a little.

I liked the ratio, I thought it was the right amount of sweetness. I'm using it as a sauce though and not pouring it over my cereal

Perigee was a shock to me. They've been getting good ink and I found out about the closure when I was going to their website to make an email reservation for next weekend. They're a talented bunch over there - I'm sure the newest incarnation will be excellent.

I would consider cooking more "craft" than a job. You sound like you have the necessary skills and tools. Start to develop your own style, your own passion for what you want to cook. Ask yourself what kind of restaurant would you happily go to every morning for the next 20 years.

Canoe will always be on my personal Top 10 in Toronto. As much for the food as the entire experience.

Right, but how does one write about Chez Panisse in this manner without sounding redundant? I suspect these are JUST twelve restaurants that matter, NOT the ONLY twelve, or even the TOP twelve, or the BEST twelve, or... you get my point. ← I agree with you on the "just" part, but can't help wondering "why" write the list article without a defined point of view? I really can't come up with a common denominator to make this list appropriate in my mind. I'm probably in higher agreement with the signature dishes than restaurants that matter. ← Common denominators: 1. In composite, this list of restaurants covers the four corners of this great country. 2. In composite, this list of restaurants covers a relatively diverse set of cuisines. Name me the most "important" Asian restaurants in the U.S. I bet The Slanted Door might just be at the top of most people's list. Likewise, Topolobompo for Latin - especially Mexican - cuisine. 3. What I didn't disclose in my initial post (and what I didn't discover until reading some of the restaurant profiles) is that there is an emphasis on terroir and locavorism. That automatically narrows the field. Most of these twelve restaurants fit the bill. There may be other thematic under currents here, but I'll have to think about it a little before I venture any other observations. ← Maybe it's a time frame thing for me Just taking the top two 1. Joel Robuchon (Las Vegas) - ?? French Laundry Now or Le Bec Fin then 2. Sportello (Boston) - ?? Salumi Seattle now or Oliveto or Po then and going down the list as far as importance. Even Slanted Door as good as it was back then wasn't like an Arun's or Grand Sichuan - merely very good food and a great wine list. But places like Watershed? It's just a simpler version of The Highlands in my opinion. Nothing against any of the places listed but it seems to hard to connect all these dots. Canlis? I'd say Craft would be a better representation. Anyhoo - just my .02.

Right, but how does one write about Chez Panisse in this manner without sounding redundant? I suspect these are JUST twelve restaurants that matter, NOT the ONLY twelve, or even the TOP twelve, or the BEST twelve, or... you get my point. ← I agree with you on the "just" part, but can't help wondering "why" write the list article without a defined point of view? I really can't come up with a common denominator to make this list appropriate in my mind. I'm probably in higher agreement with the signature dishes than restaurants that matter.

I guess I can agree with many (not most) of the choices - esp. Commander's Palace which is probably more relevant today than ever due to the situation on New Orleans. I don't think any of the others are so intrinsically linked and long lived in the community as they are.

Was at Rocco Saturday night - another stellar meal. A tasty meat and cheese pairing of soppresetta and a hard sheep's milk cheese I can't recall. The marinated olives are always a must, the mushroom and white truffle oil pizza, beet salad with citrus and ricotta, meatball bruschetta, Scallops over a chunky deconstructed minestrone soup and pesto, Lasagne, and a Bistecca all Fiorentina that would be enjoyed at any steak house in town. Cannoli, Butterscotch budino, and gelato to boot. Throw in a bottle of falanghine and Ornelliai, No one ate better in Rochester than I did that night.

I say Italian from a cost and prep perspective Antipasto White Bean Dip Meatball bruscetta Big pasta dish Pork wrapped rapini etc, etc

Nino's is the best take out pizza in Rochester. I like the foccacia style with all the trimmings. Good Luck is putting out excellent food - Dan Martello is one of best in Rochester.

Thanks!