Tag Archives: Bistro / Cafe / Light Food / Bakery

Hello Toast (Now called Toast on Queen- Nov 2005)- Mark

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Now called Toast on Queen- Nov 2005
993 Queen Street East
phone number: 416-778-7299

Hello Toast is located in the heart of Leslieville, at Queen and Pape. This small, trendy spot is a fun place to come to every time. The decor is beautiful, with deep red walls, adorned with colourful vibrant artwork, exposed brick walls, antique toasters surround, and little toaster caricatures on the ceilings. The tables are small and cramped together, giving it an intimate look and feel. Try to sit in front where there a comfy lime green couch.

With a funky (but small) brunch menu and a dinner menu with an assortments of Thai, French, and Italian dishes, Hello Toast is a hidden gem in Leslieville.

Hello Toast is a packed into two cosy two rooms, a main dining area and a back room with exposed brick and antique fridges. Food and ambiance are ecclectic and ambiance is trendy and alittle chi chi poo poo. Expect a lot of people-watching. Very gay friendly. Weekend brunch is super busy. Expect lineups from 12:00-2:30pm sometimes.

Dinner mains include a varieites of pasta dishes ($14–$15), risottos, and meat dishes like a roast pork tenderloin wrapped in apple and brie in puff pastry ($18- 23). For dessert, there is an apple tatin topped with vanilla ice cream.

Brunch items are between $7.95-$12.95 for brunch and portions are large. I always have the granola with fruit and yogourt. Staff are friendly and tables are small and placed quite close together. Although there are few vegetarian egg-free options, I really enjoy Hello Toast. Most of the menu consist of egg dishes with smoke salmon, pancakes, and sausage/pea meal bacon dishes. There are 4 varieties of eggs and smoked salmon. Substitutions are not allowed. Expect long waits for your food. Liquor licensed. Accepts all cards.

Sakawaya Japanese Bistro

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867 Danforth Av
(416) 778-6894

Sakawaya is a Japanese bistro at the corner of Danforth and Jones (my ‘hood). The place is quite cosy, sitting only about ten tables. although I’ve only been about three or times, I can remember eating many appetziers to get full since I do not eat the vegetarian sushi (I stay away from rice). The deep fried tofu is simply delicious, the miso soup is excellent, rich and aromatic. For the picky vegetarian, I usually order some Japanese snacks like grilled vegetables, deep fried tofu steaks, miso soup, and more vegetables on skewers. Ordering 2-3 appetizers add up to $12-$15 but it’s like ordering a full meal.

Complete meals including drinks, dessert, and appetizer are $30 per person, including all taxes and tip. Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5:30 pm to 1 am, Sunday 5 to 10:30 pm. Closed Monday and holidays.

Magic Oven

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 6 Wellesley St.W.                                                                                                             T:416.929.7888                                                                                                                         

798 Danforth Ave.
T: 416.462.0333

127 Jefferson Ave.
T: 416.539.0555

270 Dupont St.
T: 416.928.1555

788 Broadview Ave.
T: 416.466.0111

The place contains a funky variety of pizza combinations, with health in mind. It offers a variety of specialty pastas, salads and chicken wings. Owned by an East Indians, the place has non-mainstream varieties of pizza that depart from its Italian roots. Magic Oven’s focus is on take-out so don’t expect wonderful ambiance. We usually eat across the street by the grassy area next to Broadview subway station.

They deliver as far as Woodbine (going east) and as far as Yonge (going west). and Eastern (going south) and Summerhill (going north). Pizza varieties differ in colour, flavour, spice, and ethnicity. The menu is online at http://www.magicoven.com/menu/MagicMenu.pdf. The pizzas are come in Organic Spelt and Gluten free varieties and contain Organic Non-Dairy and Rennet Free Cheese. Some are Dairy Free and Vegan. The pizza I ordered was extremely healthy.

It was made thinly with organic spelt flour and sauteed spinach. artichokes, olives, sun dried tomatoes, green and red peppers, and onions, without any cheese. That is the slice of pizza I chose. There are a large selection of soft drinks, juices, desserts, and East Indian and West Indian speciality sodas. Most of the food is made before your eyes, with the exception of some of the popular pizza slices. There are many options for the vegetarian and the vegan.

Gate 403 Jazz Club and Restaurant (Gate 403 Bar & Grill)

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403 Roncesvalles Avenue
(416) 588-2930

Located right in the heart of Roncesvalles Village in the west end of Toronto, I visited this bar/cafe one afternoon in the summer of 2002 with my aunt Susie. We were hungry and we had some time to eat before seeing our movie at the Revue cinema across the street (we were seeing the movie About a Boy).

This place is really cool. It is dark inside and it resembles a small neighbourhood bar/pub/cafe with friendly staff. Gate 403 has live Jazz music, and good affordable bar/pub/ food as well as full meals. I ordered the grilled vegetables topped with tomato sauce. It was excellent. My aunt had a caesar salad and she said she really liked it. Since this was also a bar, be prepared to be around smokers (like my aunt). I would definitely go back because the overall vibe is a friendly, laid back, non-pretentious ambiance.

Future Bakery

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483 Bloor W
(416) 922-5875

Located right in the heart of the Annex at Brunswick and Bloor, this cafeteria style cafe is funky, urban, trendy, and has a beautiful summer patio (terrace) where people can chill and gather with friends for light food and good coffee. Similarly designed like Marche Movenpick, this place has kiosks that serve coffee, cake, pastries, grilled items, all divided into three main areas.

The vegetarian chili is a bit watery but excellent nonetheless. There are no waitresses (unless you request table service by the patio). For the most part, Future Bakery resembles a mini “Marche Movenpick” where people order and wait for food.  Dishes are served quickly and efficiently. Salad selections are plentiful and affordable. Many dessert selections (huge pieces of cake, pie, and squares) are offered ($4-$7 per slice). Future Bakery does not make their own desserts. 

Open very very late and often times very crowded. Mostly caters to the University of Toronto scene.  A great place to hang out and people watch. Offers both table service (outdoor patio) or takeout.

Pulp Kitchen (2002)

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898 Queen Street East
416-461-4612

This hip and trendy juice bar now has light meals. Located on Queen East at Logan, this hip hangout serves excellent fruit smoothies, energy and protein bars, vegetables juices, and light vegetarian and vegan meals. Beverages are quite expensive but this is the place if you want to treat yourself. I went with a friend who ordered a beet and carrot and ginger warm drink for $6.00 and I ordered the blueberry and banana smoothie. My drink was thick and smooth and creamy and very flavourful but expensive.

SpaHa (closed in 2004)

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66 Harbord Street
416-260-6133
This hip, trendy cafe is named after the two intersecting streets (Spadina and Harbord). This cafe serves meals to cater to the U of T students with money. The decor is trendy with glass tables and funky chairs, and art decor ambiance makes this place the ultimate hangout for people watching and just hanging out. The food is good but nothing unique. Located in the heart of U of T, this funky small restaurant serves trendy salads, soups, and light meals.

Marche Movenpick (now Richtree markets)

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For a list of Marche Movenpick locations, please visit this web site
http://www.richtree.ca/richtree-locations.htm

A paradise of food, a marketplace of wonderful dishes, pasta, soups, stir fries, grilled vegetables, wine and beer, farm fresh fruit and vegetables, heavenly desserts from chocolate truffles to orgasmic crepes and Belgiam waffles, and gift items like chocolate, candy, and boxed coffee and tea. There is something for everyone here.

This place serves a large variety that pleases even the most finicky eaters. Food ranges from steak and potatoes to pizza to pasta to mussels and seafood to healthy salads and grilled vegetables.

The game goes as follows: you enter this martketplace and the waiter hands you a ticket and a map of all food kiosks. Your ticket is your credit card for all of the food in this market. You are warned not to lose the ticket or else you will have to pay $100 or wash the dishes for a couple of days. You freely visit any food kiosk and choose whatever food you want to eat. You choose a plate size and vendors stamp your card and then you pay for your dinner at the end of the evening. In total, you will get charged over 30% in tax which sucks. [This includes the PST + GST]

The only disadvantage is that the place is noisy and it almost feels like a glorified food court. You hardly ever dine with your friends or family because someone is either eating or getting up to get more food. It is rare to have everyone at the table all at once

I always enjoy the same thing, a medium size plate of lentil salad with sesame oil and veggies and grilled mushrooms and zucchini and eggplant along with a corn salad and chick pea salad. I also order from the antipasto bar: grilled eggplant, grilled zucchini, grilled mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes ($2.99 per 100 g)

I sometimes order a “made-to-order” fruit smoothie with bananas, strawberries, and other fruit. I can only complain that Marche Movenpick is damn expensive (because of the tax) There is underground parking.

Decor is like a closed in market with artificial plants, trees, waterfalls,
Water is served in a beautiful, kitschy fountain right by the entrance of the restaurant. Be warned, some nights there are lineups with waits up to one hour. Liquor licensed. Accepts all cards. A few locations across Toronto. Open 365 days per year from 7:30am-2:30am.

Grapefruit Moon

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968 Bathurst Street
(416) 534-9056

Grapefruit Moon is a neighbourhood spot north of the Annex, at Bathurst near Dupont, owned and operated by the Moon sisters. They have a liquor license. It?s friendly, relaxed and has a warm neighborhood feel. Music, food, service and prices are all affordable.

It has a limited menu with a few selections. Only contains between three to five tables and serves home cooked food. Serves mostly vegetarian selections and the menu is quite small but there is much diversity in the selections.

Some vegetarian options include carrot ginger soup, quesadillas with choice of fillings, organic salad, veggie burgers, TLT’s – tempeh, lettuce and tomato sandwiches.

Funky, artsy decor and nice outdoor terrace (summer). Special brunch available on weekends. Highly recommend for the couple seeking a quiet intimate setting.

Insomnia

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563 Bloor St. W., 416-588-3907

Located right in the Annex at Bloor and Bathurst, this bistro/bar/cafe is named for its late, late hours. The kitchen cooks till 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. “Tapas” here means caesar, mesclun and Greek salads, along with crab cakes, soup and calamari. My friend ordered a thick tortilla soup and he said it was very tasty. I did not eat anything but I did take a look at the extensive menu.

They serve many French dishes, like an eight-ounce strip loin with peppercorn ($17.00), Mediterranean dishes (capon stuffed with spinach, peppers and chèvre which is $16.00) and Asian (curried mussels are $8). As you can see there are no vegetarian healthy dishes for me, so the hell with them. They do serve pasta dishes ($13.00–$15.99) and thick-crust pizzas ($11.00–$12.00).

Generous desserts are led by a flourless chocolate cake known as the Climax ($6.00). Prices are way too high for me and there are not enough vegetarian dishes but I may try this place again in the near future.