College Street Bar

574 College Street

Toronto, Ontario

After visiting the College Street bar about five times now, I decided to give it some props by posting it on my website.

Although you may read various comments on websites about the Bar's lack of service, you'll never see bad news about the food. Each time I have eaten at the College Street Bar, it has always been consistent and very tasty.

To start, their bruschetta is light and simply good. Their spicy shrimp starter is also a good choice, as well as the grilled calamari - which is not only fresh but also a good sized helping for the price. I love their main course linguini with Italien tuna. It's light, fresh and doesn't feel heavy for a pasta. My partner has had their spicy, sausage penne which was fantastic. And also the spaghetti with meatballs which is just like your grandmother used to make. The taste I love at the College Street Bar is their sauces. They're fresh and it's something you just can't remake in your own home.

I recommend going to this place for food, drinks, price and atmosphere. It's chic, and turns into a funky, dimly-lit lounge on Friday and Saturday nights. The drinks can be a little overpriced, however the food makes up for it, at roughly $14.00 per main plate. Enjoy!

Insomnia

563 Bloor Street West

Toronto, Ontario

Insomnia is a great place to go and hang out with friends, listen to good music, enjoy the chillin' lounge experience and also savour tasty drinks at a reasonable price.

It is not a good place to go for food.

Well, I suppose it is if you go for the bar type food, like deep fried calamari, bruschetta and so on...then you're safe. But if your desire is a good quality meal, opt to go down to little Italy or something of the sort.

I've been there twice for food. The first time was a little under average and then second time was just bad. I've had their grilled salmon with veggies and rice. There's nothing else I can say about that. It was boring and lacking flavour entirely...but edible. I've also had their seafood pasta. I don't even know what I should be saying about that. There was so much sauce in the bowl that I couldn't see my linguini, or for that matter differentiate between what was calamari and what was shrimp. The sauce was also overwhelmingly powerful and strong, and completely took away from the light and wonderful flavour that is fish. I will say that at the the shrimp was somewhat well cooked, but it was not like I could really taste it.

That was the second and last time I would go to Insomnia for food, and I don't recommend it to anybody except if you want bar snacks. But, if you want a good drink and people to look at, then you're safe.

The Bottom Line

22 Front Street West

Toronto, Ontario

This restaurant is sleekly located right at the corner of Front and Yonge, and is called a sports bar. But don't mistake the food, atmosphere or service to be anything close to your typical sporty spot.

A truly classic looking restaurant, with great food, a casual atmosphere and fanstastic and knowledgeable service makes the place feel more like a comfortably posh lounge where everyone is welcome.

I was there for lunch and will certainly be going back for dinner. Unfortunately, as it was a business lunch, I couldn't sample one of the many beers on tap, or various cocktails...no matter how scrumptious they looked.

A simple lunch salad for $12.95 is the ideal mid-day meal for me. So I opted for the goat's cheese salad. However, I was little disappointed as my first choice was the seared tuna nicoise, and they were out of the Ahi tuna.

But, my disappointment turned when my plate arrived with lovely mixed greens dressed with a light walnut sauce. Smack dab in the middle laid a soft, warmed goat cheese, wrapped in an extremely light phyllo pastry. Accompaniments on the side included tasty poached pears, and brown sugar candied walnuts - just a few for the taste.

All in all, my quick in and out lunch was delightful and fairly inexpensive and I can certainly say I'll be going back again.

Aroma Espresso

500 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario

This place is the hot, new cafe located on Bloor West....centered in between Starbuck's, Second Cup, and the almost open Beanery. Talk about competition.

So, of course, I had to try it out.

It's comfortable, clean, fresh, and a little pricey. I had my Sunday brunch there for the roughly $8.00 breakfast, and received a salad, two scrambled eggs, and cheese on the side. So? Fairly basic. What did make up for that, however, was their fresh, home made bread served with it. Who doesn't love real, fresh bread?

The only thing is, it's almost run as if it's a restaurant, with the price of restaurant meals, however there aren't the extra's that you get in a restaurant. For example, salt and pepper on the table, ketchup, jam, milk for tea and so on.

But all in all, it is a nice hang out, with young faces and a hip vibe. I'll go back and have a sandwich next time, on their nice, fresh bread....

The Keg

165 York Street

Toronto, Ontario

If you go to The Keg, get a steak. They're awesome, tender and delicious. If you go to the Keg, don't get anything else but a steak. I opted for the salmon, while my partner had the porterhouse. The salmon was not fresh and actually obviously frozen, tasteless and poorly cooked. But I guess, what should I have expected? Is is a steakhouse.

At least my partner wasn't at all disappointed as it was his birthday. As I said, his steak was cooked to perfection.

The ambiance at this York Street location is great for young people or dates. Dimly lit and gives off somewhat of a more private feeling at the tables, even though it is a large restaurant. The service was also fantasitc.

I will definitely be going back next time...for a steak.

Ouzeri

500A Danforth Avenue
Toronto, Ontario

I haven't been to Greece so I wouldn't be able to tell you what traditional Greek food should taste like. I did, however, have a friend from Athens cook myself and one of my girfriends a typical Greek meal a few years ago...and his meal was much better than that of Ouzeri's.

I started with a grilled calamari, flavoured with olive oil and lemon juice. Very simple, but at least the calamari was fresh. To follow I went with the chicken souvlaki and my partner had the lamb souvlaki. Both were sloppily put on the plate, both meals were a little greasy and overall I probably would've preferred getting take-away Greek as it would've been about the same.

The service and ambiance wasn't particularly exciting and I didn't feel that this place was worth staying at for dessert. I won't go backt o Ouzeri and I won't be recommending it to friends.

The Cantine

138 Avenue Road

Toronto, Ontario

The restaurant is classified as Italian, but I think they have that mixed up. The place is definitely leaning on the Canadian cuisine side, with a Euro flare including pizza's and pasta's on the menu. But that doesn't mean this place isn't delicious.

I have been there twice and have been seriously impressed both times. The helpings are plentiful while still looking simple and classy on the plate, the menu has a great choice of dishes and it's not even that expensive considering this restaurant is situated in the very posh, Yorkville area right across from Avenue Road's Ferrari dealership.

I started with the herbed goat's cheese salad which was wonderfully light. To follow I went with their mahi mahi, paired perfectly with a lemon-caper sauce and lightly scented rice. My partner went with their soup of the day, being potato and leek. Generally I find this type of soup to be bland no matter who makes it, but The Cantine did this one spot on. Light, not too creamy and very tasty. Following that, my partner had the veal stiploin which was awesome! Partnered with a porcini mushroom sauce, who could ask for more? Dessert was also a winner.

Their service was totally classy, but not pretentious and impeccably polite. The owner is also a friendly gentleman who likes to ensure his customers are satisfied. To top it off, the decor is also very calm, quiet and comfortable. I will certainly be going again to try other dishes and enjoy the overall pleasant atmosphere.