I recall Bentleys as being on the east side of Yonge, a block or two south of Teddington Park. I was only about 28 or 29 at the time. During the mid-to-late-1970s, Yonge Street was the main artery of Toronto gay social life (it would shift to Church in the mid-1980s). It's not hard to see why Alger was so enamoured with Mothers - Like Frank Vetere's, the ambiance was crucial to the experience. Another bargain chain of steak houses was Ponderosa, named after the fictional ranch in the TV program Bonanza. These restaurant chains offered affordable steaks that were reasonably tender. 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. My grandad was the bartender and my mother the cashier. I doyes it was very posh. And I recall a place called the Muddy York. 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. Steakhouse, Lounge, Asian, Chinese, Alcohol Served, Gluten Free Foods. Late Night Restaurants. It was surreal, could have been designed by Dali himself. Trailblazing 1980s nightclub Twilight Zone brought diverse crowds and sounds to Toronto's Entertainment District long before such a designation even existed. I still have the silver tea service they gave my mom when she left. The hotel was a favourite of Hollywood stars such as Katharine Hepburn. Sure would like to know who you are. "the kitchen sink," made of 16 scoops of ice cream and covered with crushed up candy bars), this was the place to be when hanging around the Eaton Centre. I still remember when my mother discovered the delights of adding garlic to her recipes, much to the chagrin of my father. Specialties: Classic Cantonese Cuisine - all served in a truly iconic, retro room. " 20/06/2020 " Fabulous ice cream and gelato. 0111. Roaring 1920s style decor with wood and decorated glass, Tiffany lamps, red and white gingham, and Black & White silent films playing on screens all around the restaurant guaranteed Mothers was a place that once visited was never forgotten. A friend from high school worked there on Fridays after school (LPCI) and she always went home exhausted! ), 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. And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. Dining in Toronto in past decades was far different to the culinary scene that the city now offers. I remember such a restaurant located on the East side of Yonge Street, just north of Summerhill Station. I thought I had died and entered heaven when I first tasted their Delmonico steak. Another favourite of many Torontonians was the Georgian Room on the 9th floor of the old Eatons store at Queen and Yonge Street. It was like dining in a beautiful forest. Do you remember a delightful Greek restaurant that was on the west side of Church St. midway between Wellington and The Esplanade? Use to ride our bikes to swiss chalet at yonge and sinclair for french fries. Sadly was not able to go there since covid and they are now closed. 15 Places. Both the service and the food were beyond excellent. One year on my birthday, my family told me that they were taking me out to dinner, but they kept their choice of restaurant a surprise. 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. 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. I discovered some errors on these web sites, but still, I am grateful that these sources were available. La Maquette. When I was a boy in the 1940s, my family did not visit restaurants as my parents considered them too expensive. I think it was located at 12 Adelaide. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Then, there was the Arcadian Room (Simpsons), Casa Mendoza (great meat platters, Argentinian style) on the Lakeshore, The Round Room in Eatons College, Beverley Hills Hotel on Wilson Avenue (good lunch buffet), the Colonial Tavern and the Silver Rail on Yonge Street, and Diana Sweets on Yonge and also on Bloor, and Frans on St. Clair Avenue, Eglinton Avenue, and on College Street. I am trying to remember a restaurant with very high ceilings, sky lights, lots of trees and hanging plants. The Goulash Pot at Yonge and Bloor was another Hungarian restaurant. Some of Winnipeg's most famous restaurants have faded away, but readers still remember all those delicious flavours. I also loved Michi on Church as mentioned in your article (chicken yakitori) and Graf Bobby and Acropole but we went to one just east of Yonge at St. Clair. John Letnik purchased it and sailed it from Yugoslavia to Toronto. It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). I believe they were licensed so you could order a fine wine or beer with One of them was the Town and Country, which had opened in 1949 in the Westminster Hotel at Gould and Mutual Streets. South on Bay, down some steps, dark, red banquettes. I cannot recall the prices but I think it was reasonably priced when compared to similar restaurants downtown. The meal consisted of thick juicy slices of tender roast beef, mashed potatoes, green peas, and Yorkshire pudding. The 1980s were unkind to Mothers, and even though Blue Jays Ernie Whitt, Loyd Moseby and Cito Gaston invested in the company (there was even "Ernie Whitt Specials") and helped market it along with Duel dodger Dennis Weaver! 1 review Deli. The 25 Best Restaurants in Toronto, from Omakase to Diners | Cond Nast Traveler Video SALE: SUBSCRIBE AND GET 1 YEAR FOR $21.99 $5 North America Canada Ontario Toronto Destinations 25 Best. It had a name like the Percy House, but nothing came up googling that. They sure did a land-office business of fishn chips both eat-in and take-out on Friday evenings! Lobster and ice cold beer on a hot July day, overlooking the harbour, was as close to heaven as Ill likely ever get. 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 . The 10-storey building originally opened in 1955 as the Anndore Hotel and Apartments - a glamorous rooming house Marlene Dietrich was rumoured to have visited. 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". Brings back so many memories! I wonder if someone out there can help me with a memory I have. But my favourite was Truffles, at the old Four Seasons, before and after the 1990s renovations. La Scala on the southeast corner of Bay and Charles was great Italian food; it was frequented by the Ontario Cabinet of Bill Davis. It was a bold venture to open a restaurant in that location in 1963, as the railway yards were on the south side of King Street. For my family, we pigged-out on the lobster, with a few slices of roast beef to break the monotony. Paradise Regained the restoration of the Paradise Theatre. Ive enjoyed a meal or three in many of these restaurants. Nonetheless the industry fought a proposed increase in the federal minimum wage from $2.30 to $3.00 an hour. Actually my fondest memory as a child was the chocolate (malted) soft ice cream cone in the basement of Eatons near the tunnel to the Annex, the discount or clearance Eaton store. The location way out near the airport was good for a while. The Viennese dinner special was very good, especially the mild curry sauce for the rice or weiner schnitzel. Those looking to dance could hit a number of spots near Yonge and Wellesley, like The Manatee, The Quest, Katrina's, Club David's , The Maygay (later Charly's), and Cornelius, which sat above biker bar The . A throwback to another time and era. Rumours circulated that members of the mafia had been turned away at the door, and had put out a hit on the place. 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. The smaller boat of Captain Johns, the Normac, in the 1970s, the larger ship the Jadran in the background. 80 Blue Jays Way. Another place I loved was Leslie's Bakery, which was on Steeles. Founder & Webitor-in-Chief of DelectablyChic! Fond memories of Georges Spaghetti House on Dundas St. famous for its pizzathis from visits from the late 50s to early 60sas well as the Jazz combo that played near the entrance. 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. Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. We also offer outdoor dining on our glass enclosed, heated Terrace/Veranda year-round. Another bargain restaurant chain we frequented in the 1960s was the Steak and Burger. However, my first experience with its barbequed chicken was at 362 Yonge Street, which remains in existence today. . Photo of the front (insert) and the interior of Quo Vadis Restaurant, from Chuckmans Postcard Collection (chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com). A very trendy, 2 floored happening place in the late 80s. Jimmy Lopresty( Owner) & Charles (Waiter) were the two persons I remember at this wonderful restaurant. 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. My family ate at virtually all the restaurants mentioned and more. We had fish n chips too, although I dont remember the name of the shop. I remember Floritine Court, first on west side of Church St. south of Adelade, then east side of Church St. just south of Richmond. As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. Share. It had old world charm. It specialized in seafood & served excellent fish & chips. Eds Warehouse, big prime rib, fun decor. In 1958 we were told that the site had been sold so we had to move thereby making way for Barberians Restaurant. How I miss it! Its well-advertised all-you-can-eat French buffet was highly popular, though it was not particularly French. This was in late 50s and through the 60s so Im sure they both knew your grandmother. However, the original location on Bloor Street closed in 2006; a condo is now on the site. 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. For this article, I will be focussing on the first, Boa Caf; the story of its second incarnation, Boa Redux, will be told in the next edition of Then & Now. Alo is the ultimate Toronto French fine-dining experience. It may have moved to the west side of Yonge at some point; my recollection is from the late 50s and early 60s! Before closing this post, there are a few more restaurants that I would like to mention. Chi Chi's Mexican restaurants - catchphrase "A celebration of food!" It was my first experience with Japanese food. Park & Lawrence) & have the the Maple Leafs sign Polaroids of us sitting on their knees, we were that young. In the 1990s, it was a jazz bar frequented by celebs including Tony Bennett and Eartha Kitt, owned by matre d' to the stars, Louis Janetta. Share. May 20, 2018 #43 In the 60s we liked to meet at Queen and Yonge at Joe Birds, part of Diana Sweets. My mother ignored his comments. La Chaumiere on Charles Street, near Church Street in the 1960s. Fentons was at 6 Gloucester, a few doors east of Yonge Street. Great memories. I worked at the Whitney Block at Queens Park 66/67 and we would stop by occasionally for a drink before heading home. Thankfully not all of our beloved retro chains have sad endings: Mothers Pizza Parlour & Spaghetti House, another fondly remembered family joint - returned from the grave back in 2013. It was on the west side of Bay Street, a short distance south of Richmond Street West. I remember the first time I went there with a friend. It was on the west side of Bay Street, a few doors north of Gerrard. Here are just a proposal for a correction, and a recollection of my own. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Memories of Torontos restaurants of the past, Plans for Waterworks Building at 505 Richmond Street West, Captain Johns Seafood RestaurantToronto. The Restaurant Boasts Of Its Food And Location. I remember an evening that we engaged in a progressive dinner. We visited the Old Fish Market for our appetizer (seafood chowder), and then Graf Bobby at 36 Wellington East for our main course (wiener schnitzel), and then, drove up to the Cafe de la Paix at 131 Bloor West in the Colonnade for coffee and dessert. One of the walls had a huge hand drawn mural of Leonardo himself. Do you know if it was open in 1945? They eventually parted ways and he opened a restaurant of the same name on OConnor with my grandmother. Puppy Palace teen hangout on north Bathurst St. Bobby. The Bagel King The original bagel place Eglinton west The AYCE buffet now serves latkes with sour cream and apple sauce, blintzes, lox, challah French toast, bagels, gefilte fish and marinated salads for $35.95 a person. The restaurant was very successful and a great meeting spot for Danish Xpats. Enhance this page - Upload photos! The old world charm was quite memorable. 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