Local 4
4 Dundonald Street
416-915-0113
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and beer: $85

When Local 4 first opened a few years back, we tried on a number of occasions to check it out, only to find it closed each time we stopped by. As a believer in the theory that the world offers us messages at every turn, those failed visits should have been a warning to head elsewhere and stay away. Finally making it for dinner at this pub-style restaurant, we realized we should have taken fate’s warning messages to heart.

Already faced with a barrier of many stairs and little tiled hallways to get into the place, diners also encounter an odd atmosphere. The entryway makes me think too much of the kind of place first year university students would frequent until they gained some knowledge of the city and found someplace more sophisticated. The room itself is cozy enough with dark walls, candlelit tables and a long bar that seems to be the gathering spot for the locals who were there the evening of our visit. A couple of other tables had diners when we arrived but they cleared out quickly and most of the activity seemed to happen at the bar.

Continue reading Around the World at Local 4 »

The Green Eggplant
1968 Queen Street East
416-913-3361
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and cocktails: $90

Is there good food in the Beaches? There’s been online discussion threads arguing whether one can find anything other than overpriced and bland touristy fare with awful service to boot. With comments on the same venues so disparate, there seems to be no clear answer. But where to go with no general consensus on one place?

Everyone has their opinions but no one can deny a consistently packed house. Such is the case of The Green Eggplant, a restaurant that can boast of weekend line-ups out the door. What cemented the decision was the apparent rivalry with the establishment across the street. Some web forums had raters posting as many raves as detailed criticisms, including accusations of the establishment actually posting false reviews to edge out the competition. Was it awesome or awful? Only an actual visit could clarify.

Continue reading Green in Name, Not as in Envy »

When we started this site some six months ago, we determined that our mandate was to cover anything and everything to do with food in Toronto. It’s easy to fall into the foodie trap of focussing on either cutting-edge and high end places, or hole-in-the-wall spots serving “authentic” cuisine from various cultures and completely ignoring a whole cross-section of stuff in the middle - which just happens to be where most people eat.

I was reminded of this recently when I received a press release inviting me to a tasting at The Pickle Barrel. The restaurant, which opened its first location in 1971 serving corn beef sandwiches and coleslaw, had recently undergone a make-over. The décor in most of the locations has been updated to a sleek and modern new look with cosy booths and tiled pillars. More importantly, the menu has been updated from its humble beginnings of deli meat sandwiches to a more cosmopolitan selection. The old favourites are now complimented by a variety of healthy options created by cookbook author and healthy living expert Rose Reisman. There is even a newly added menu of options that all come in at under 500 calories.

Go ahead and scoff, all you food snobs – the stuff is fantastic.

Continue reading The Pickel Barrel Gets Healthy »