Dining in Toronto in past decades was far different to the culinary scene that the city now offers. When I was a boy in the 1940s, my family did not visit restaurants as my parents considered them too expensive. The only food that was prepared outside our home was a take-out order of fish and chips from “Oakwood Fish and Chips,” located on Oakwood Avenue, north of Rogers Road. However, memories of food cooked beyond our kitchen, during my boyhood years, include the hot dogs and the aroma of the ice cream waffles in the tunnel under Albert Street. The passageway connected Eaton’s Queen Street Store to Eaton’s Annex. Other “exotic” foods of my childhood were the free samples and greasy treats at the CNE, which we loved.
In the early-1950s, my family moved to the west end of the city, near Jane Street and Lambton Avenue, and our local fish and chips shop became “Golden Crip Fish and Chips,” at 1364 Weston Road. It remains in business today (October 2015) and is now operated by the son of its original owner.
During my high school years in the 1950s, I often visited local restaurants for a coffee and a slice or pie. My favourite was the Paragon Restaurant on St. Clair West, near Oakwood Avenue. However, I never indulged in an evening meal until I was of an age to travel downtown. When my friends and I attended theatres such as Shea’s Hippodrome, The Imperial, Loew’s Downtown, Biltmore, Savoy or the Downtown, we sometimes splurged and went to the Chicken Palace at 404 Yonge Street, where we ordered deep fried chicken and french fries, served in a wicker basket. It was very similar to the KFC of today. We thought it was great.
Another favourite downtown restaurant was Bassel’s, on the southeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard Streets. After attending the theatre, we visited Bassel’s where we usually ordered coffee and pie with whipped cream, or if we went to Bassel’s in the evening, before the theatre, we had a western sandwich and fries. Because it was considered a classy restaurant, we felt very grown-up whenever we went there.
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.
Bassel’s on the southeast corner of Gerrard and Yonge Streets in April 1954. In the background is the Coronet (Savoy) Theatre. Toronto Archives, S0372, SS058, item 2482.
Bassel’s Restaurant, which occupied the equivalent space of three stores on Yonge Street.
I came of age to attend “real” restaurants in the 1960s, in a decade when more Torontonians were beginning to discover the delights of dining out. It was also the era when post-war immigrants were changing the restaurant scene. The well-seasoned spicier foods that ethnic eateries offered were challenging the more bland style of dishes that Canada inherited from Great Britain. I still remember when my mother discovered the delights of adding garlic to her recipes, much to the chagrin of my father. My mother ignored his comments. For her, there was no turning back.
When I commenced working full time, in the 1960s, I had a few more dollars to spend. One of the first restaurants my friends and I visited was the Swiss Chalet. 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. However, my first experience with its barbequed chicken was at 362 Yonge Street, which remains in existence today. However, the original location on Bloor Street closed in 2006; a condo is now on the site. It is difficult to realize today how popular the Swiss Chalet was in the early-1960s. I once attended a wedding reception in the banquet room in the basement of the Swiss Chalet at its Yonge Street location.
Another bargain restaurant chain we frequented in the 1960s was the Steak and Burger. It had many outlets throughout the city, but the one we frequented the most was on the west side of Yonge, south of Bloor Street. We also enjoyed Smitty’s Pancake House on Dundas Street West, east of Islington Avenue, and their location in Yorkdale Plaza. 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. Remember, I said “reasonably.”
My first experience with a steak house of quality was Barbarian’s, on Elm Street. This restaurant opened in 1959, and is one of the few from the days of my youth that still exists. I thought I had died and entered heaven when I first tasted their Delmonico steak. I also visited Carmen’s Steak House at 26 Alexander Street (now closed) and Tom Jones Steak House at 17 Leader Lane, located on the east side of the King Edward Hotel. This restaurant still exists today.
Tom Jones Steak House on the corner of Colborne Street and Leader Lane in 1989. Toronto Archives, F1526, fl0008, item 0116.
![2012123-uptown-1970s-f0124_fl0002_id0111[1]](https://tayloronhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2012123-uptown-1970s-f0124_fl0002_id01111.jpg "2012123-uptown-1970s-f0124_fl0002_id0111[1]")
The Steak and Burger on Yonge Street, south of Bloor Street in the 1970s. The Golden Nugget Restaurant was slightly further north. These restaurants were favourites when we visited Loew’s Uptown or the Town Cinema Theatre on Bloor Street East. The Java House was also in this block of buildings, south of Bloor Street, and was great for coffee after the theatre. In the photo, the black building in the distance, on the far left, is a Coles Book Store. It was where we purchased our high school texts each September. In the 1950s, high schools did not provide texts. We bought our own, sometimes saving money by purchasing second-hand books. Photo, Toronto Archives, F0124, Fl 0002, Id. 0111.
The Swiss Chalet at 362 Yonge Street. Its facade has changed greatly since the 1950s. This is where I attended a wedding reception in its banquet room in the basement. Photo taken in 2014.
After I started working full time, one of the first staff Christmas parties that I attended was at the Ports of Call, at 1145 Yonge Street. It opened in 1963, and for the next decade was one of the city’s most popular dining establishments. It contained three dining rooms—the Bali Hai Room (Polynesian), the Dickens’ English Inn (roast beef) and Caesar’s Room (Italian). The Ports of Call also had two bars — the Singapore Bar (Asian) and the Batton Rouge Bar (French), the latter featuring dancing. I remember that when entering the restaurant, I walked over a wooden foot bridge that spanned a stream of flowing water. We could remain for an evening at the Ports of Call, as after dinner, we could visit one of the bars for music and dancing.
My Favourite seafood restaurant in Toronto was The Mermaid, at 724 Bay Street, which opened in 1964. It was on the west side of Bay Street, a few doors north of Gerrard. A small cozy establishment, owned by John Lundager, it featured Danish/Canadian cuisine. Its . Inside, near the entrance, there was a replica of Copenhagen’s famous statue of The Little Mermaid, from the Hans Christian Anderson tale. We always started the meal at the Mermaid with the Copenhagen Seafood Chowder, which was a Danish version of New England clam chowder—rich and creamy. The complimentary salad had a tangy garlic dressing. The main courses we enjoyed the most were Lobster Newburg, Lobster Cardinale, Lobster Thermidor, and Seafood Newburg. From the late-1960s until the 1980s, the name of the Maitre d’ was Tage Christensen. We visited the restaurant after it relocated to Dundas Street West, opposite the Art Gallery (AGO), but it was not the same. Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter.
Perhaps one of the most famous of Toronto dining places was Ed’s Warehouse, at 266 King Street West. 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. However, Ed Mirvish had purchased the Royal Alexandria Theatre and wanted to attract people to the area. I first visited Ed’s Warehouse when I received a complimentary coupon for Ed’s Warehouse with my theatre subscription. I believe that the coupon had a value of $20, and it covered the entire cost of the meal. The dining room was Victoriana gone wild; the decor was part of the attraction. The meal consisted of thick juicy slices of tender roast beef, mashed potatoes, green peas, and Yorkshire pudding. Garlic bread and dill pickles were included. The dessert was spumoni ice cream. The restaurant was so successful that Ed Mirvish expanded and opened Ed’s Seafood, Ed’s Chinese, Ed’s Italian and Ed’s Folly (a lounge). Ed’s restaurants and the Royal Alex were the impetus that started the gentrification of King Street West.
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. I inquired if I should wear a tie and jacket and was told that they were unnecessary. When we arrived, we discovered that a tie and jacket were indeed mandatory, as it was Ed’s Warehouse on King Street. The waiter offered to provide the proper attire from among the jackets and ties that they kept for such situations. He explained that they required the dress code to prevent vagrants from across the street at the railroad yards from entering the establishment. We were offended, as the clothes they offered were grubby looking, and we were certainly not hobos. We were wearing freshly-ironed sport shirts and neat trousers.
Then, Ed Mirvish appeared and inquired, “What’s the problem?”
We explained.
He smiled, apologized, and told the waiter, “Escort them to the table that has been reserved.”
We enjoyed the meal and when the cheque arrived, the bill had been reduced by 50 per cent. He was a very smart businessman as well as a big-hearted individual. My family never forgot his generosity.
Ed’s restaurants on King Street in 1981. Toronto Archives, F1526, fl0067, item 17 .
La Chaumiere Restaurant at 77 Charles Street East, near Church Street, opened in 1950, and was the city’s first truly French dining establishment. Its intimate atmosphere and excellent food were delightful. I was greatly saddened when it closed its doors in 1988; the historic house was demolished, and for a few years the site was likely a parking lot, as it was not until 1995 that a housing co-operative was erected on the property. Today, I possess fond memories of this fine dining establishment. The feature that I remember the most was the hors-d’oeuvres cart, which contained at least twenty appetizers, including escargot (heavy with garlic), trays of stuffed olives, stuffed mushrooms, wine-marinated anchovies, pureed cottage cheese with cognac and scallions, and quenelles of shrimp. La Chaumiere was also well known for its coq au vin and scallops Normandie.
La Chaumiere on Charles Street, near Church Street in the 1960s.
Another popular restaurant was the Three Small Rooms in the Windsor Arms Hotel. The hotel was a favourite of Hollywood stars such as Katharine Hepburn. Another restaurant I remember fondly, always appropriate for special occasions, was Winston’s at 120 King Street West. It was expensive, but the food was wonderful. It was reported that John Turner had his own table at Winston’s. La Scala on the southeast corner of Bay and Charles was great Italian food; it was frequented by the Ontario Cabinet of Bill Davis. However, the food portions at La Scala were small. I dined there once with my father and he asked the waiter if anyone ever ordered in a pizza after finishing a meal at La Scala. The waiter smiled; he had likely heard similar comments on previous occasions. Mr. Tony’s Place at 100 Cumberland Avenue in Yorkville was also highly popular, even though it offered no printed menus.
The Hungarian Village at 900 Bay Street served Hungarian food and featured live Gypsy violinists. I remember being treated to lunch there by a friend, prior to my departure for a holiday.
L’Hardy’s restaurant at 634 Church Street opened in 1973 and remained until 1987. Its two owners (and chefs) once cooked for the royal court in Madrid. The food was superb, along with the service. It was located in the southern half of a 19th century semi-detached house, which was on the west side of Church Street, a short distance south of Bloor Street East. The northern half of the semi-detached house was occupied by another well-known restaurant—Quenelles. We visited L’Hardy’s frequently, and when I asked a waiter if I could have a menu as a souvenir, he gave me one that had not been used. I still have the menu today.
This is a photo of the menu at L’Hardy’s that I have kept all these years. I drool as I peruse the entrees and fondly recall the price of the dishes.
Fenton’s was at 6 Gloucester, a few doors east of Yonge Street. It was one of the most well-known restaurants in Toronto for over a decade, famous for its Leek and Stilton soup. I always requested a table in the glass-covered courtyard as it was akin to dining in a garden. This restaurant suffered the same fate as the Mermaid. When it changed hands it cheapened the quality of the food but increased the prices. It did not last long under the new management.
Napoleon restaurant was at 79 Grenville Street, a short distance west of Bay Street. It opened in 1976 in an old house, and remained until 1984. I recall how difficult it was to receive a reservation, so always phoned at least a week in advance. Following a disastrous fire, it was not rebuilt. Rumours circulated that members of the mafia had been turned away at the door, and had put out “a hit” on the place.
One of the ethnic restaurants that stands out in my memory is Acropole. I am not certain of its location, but I believe it was on Dundas Street West, near Bay Street. Greek cuisine was not well known in the 1960s. The names of the dishes so were unfamiliar to most Torontonians that menus at the Acropole were useless. Diners were invited to visit the kitchen, examine the dishes, and point to the ones that they wished to be served. Another ethnic restaurant that stands out in my mind was Michi, when it was on Church Street. It was my first experience with Japanese food.
Captain John’s Seafood Restaurant was in a ship named the Jadran, which in an earlier life had cruised the Mediterranean Sea. John Letnik purchased it and sailed it from Yugoslavia to Toronto. It arrived in November 1975 and was docked at the foot of Yonge Street, at 1 Queens Quay. The first time I dined on the ship I enjoyed the experience, though looking back, I think it was the idea of eating on a cruise ship that was the highlight, rather than the food.
However, I have very pleasant memories of dining on the smaller ship of Capt. John’s, which was moored on the east side of the Jadran. It was named the Normac. I remember the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet that was served on the top deck during the summer months. Lobster and ice cold beer on a hot July day, overlooking the harbour, was as close to heaven as I’ll likely ever get. Unfortunately, the boat was rammed by the Trillium ferry and sunk. It was eventually re-floated and towed to Cleveland, where it became a seafood restaurant for that city.
The smaller boat of Captain John’s, the “Normac,” in the 1970s, the larger ship the “Jadran” in the background.
Quo Vadis is another restaurant that must be mentioned when writing about the 1960s, as it was the first dining establishment in Toronto to receive international recognition. It opened at 375 Church Street in 1964. I remember it well, but was never inside it.
![Chuckman's POSTCARD - TORONTO - QUO VADIS RESTAURANT - 375 CHURCH STREET - INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR INSET - 1960s[1]](https://tayloronhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/chuckmans-postcard-toronto-quo-vadis-restaurant-375-church-street-interior-and-exterior.jpg "Chuckman's POSTCARD - TORONTO - QUO VADIS RESTAURANT - 375 CHURCH STREET - INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR INSET - 1960s[1]")
Photo of the front (insert) and the interior of Quo Vadis Restaurant, from Chuckman’s Postcard Collection (chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com)
There were two famous buffet restaurants in Toronto in the 1960s. One of them was the Town and Country, which had opened in 1949 in the Westminster Hotel at Gould and Mutual Streets. Its well-advertised “all-you-can-eat French buffet” was highly popular, though it was not particularly French. For my family, we “pigged-out” on the lobster, with a few slices of roast beef to break the monotony.
The other favourite buffet in that decade was the Savarin Tavern, located at 336 Bay Street. It was on the west side of Bay Street, a short distance south of Richmond Street West. It was on the second floor, with a steep staircase leading to the dining room. In my eyes, the buffet was “lobster-lobster-lobster.” By now I am certain that you have guessed that I LOVE lobster. Patrons often lined the stairs while waiting for their tables at the Savarin, even though they had reservations. The building where the restaurant was located was designated a Heritage site in 1980. However, it was still demolished, though its facade was re-assembled inside the Northern Ontario Building.
The Savarin Tavern at 336 Bay Street.
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. 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.
The Old Fish Market Restaurant at 12 Market Street.
The Graf Bobby Restaurant on Wellington Street
The Sign of the Steer was a large restaurant located at 191 Dupont Street, where it intersects with Davenport Road. I was never inside this restaurant, but I as I recall, it had a great reputation for charcoal-broiled steak. On its the south facade, there was a green neon sign that created the outline of a steer. It was impressive when a person drove past it at night.
![1955. f1257_s1057_it0504[1]](https://tayloronhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/1955-f1257_s1057_it05041.jpg "1955. f1257_s1057_it0504[1]")
The Sign of the Steer Restaurant at 161 Dupont Street in 1955, the neon sign of a steer visible on the south wall. Toronto Archives, F1257, item 0504.
Harry’s Steak House on the southwest corner of Church and Granby Streets opened in 1961. It was another enterprise of Harry Barbarian, who owned the famous steak house on Elm Street. The prices were more modest and the steaks were almost as good. Because Maple Leaf Gardens was a few blocks south of it, it was very busy on nights when the Leafs played home games.
Harry’s Steak House in 1971. Toronto Archives, F1526, Fl0008, item 0030.
Creighton’s restaurant on the ground floor of the Westbury Hotel was another place that garnered attention in the 1970s. On Saturdays, in the TV Guide that was inserted into the Toronto Star, there was a special feature. Readers were encouraged to write the Star and request their favourite recipes from restaurants. A reader wrote in an asked for the recipe of a shrimp dish named Les Scampi’s Amoureux (Shrimp in Love). I had ordered this delicious dish many times, so I kept the recipe. I believe that the secret is the Pernod. When I prepared the recipe, I substituted large shrimp.
Before closing this post, there are a few more restaurants that I would like to mention. La Provencal at 23 St. Thomas Street (great escargot), Julie’s Mansion at 515 Jarvis Street, Gaston’s at 595 Markham Street (famous for its French onion soup), Sutton Place on the top floor of the Sutton Place Hotel, Valhalla Inn in Etobicoke, and the Black Angus Steak House on Dundas West (Etobicoke). This steak House is still in business. Then, there was the Arcadian Room (Simpson’s), Casa Mendoza (great meat platters, Argentinian style) on the Lakeshore, The Round Room in Eaton’s 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 Fran’s on St. Clair Avenue, Eglinton Avenue, and on College Street. Another favourite of many Torontonians was the Georgian Room on the 9th floor of the old Eaton’s store at Queen and Yonge Street.
There are many more Toronto restaurants of the 1960s and 1970s, as I have only listed the ones that either I visited or remember well. Memory sometimes plays tricks, so if I have committed errors, I hope that readers will be understanding. For some of the exact addresses of the restaurants I relied on information posted on-line. I discovered some errors on these web sites, but still, I am grateful that these sources were available.
In response to this post, Paul Coghill of Toronto emailed me his thoughts about restaurants of Toronto’s past. He stated that in talking about the ice cream waffles, there was also the Honey Dew stand in Simpson’s basement. Scott’s restaurant was on Yonge just north of Dundas, where you sat upstairs looking out onto Yonge St to have bacon burger and fries (that was before we worried or knew about cholesterol). Remembering the early days of the Swiss Chalet, they only served 1/2 or 1/4 chicken with french fries and NO cutlery. I remember the first time I went there with a friend. He knew the chain from Montreal and was watching for my expression when they didn’t bring cutlery. You just picked everything up in your fingers. I also remember the Organ Grinder on the Esplanade. I think it is still there. The Florentine Court was on Church near Dundas. It had old world charm. The Goulash Pot at Yonge and Bloor was another Hungarian restaurant. Mary John’s, I think was on Elizabeth St. around Gerrard. I recently read an article about it but don’t recall where! A lot of artists frequented it. It was closed to make room for an apartment building and was relocated in the new building, but it lost its charm.
One of the novels that I wrote — “The Reluctant Virgin”— (a murder mystery) is set in Toronto in the 1950s and the imaginary characters in the story dine in many of the restaurants mentioned in this post.
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To view previous blogs about movie houses of Toronto—historic and modern, and Toronto’s Heritage Buildings:
Recent publication entitled “Toronto’s Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen,” by the author of this blog. The publication explores 50 of Toronto’s old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. It relates anecdotes and stories of the author and others who experienced these grand old movie houses.
![cid_E474E4F9-11FC-42C9-AAAD-1B66D852[2]](https://tayloronhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/cid_e474e4f9-11fc-42c9-aaad-1b66d8522.jpg "cid_E474E4F9-11FC-42C9-AAAD-1B66D852[2]")
To place an order for this book:
Book also available in Chapter/Indigo, the Bell Lightbox Book Shop, and by phoning University of Toronto Press, Distribution: 416-667-7791 (ISBN 978.1.62619.450.2)
Another book, published by Dundurn Press, containing 80 of Toronto’s old movie theatres will be released in the spring of 2016, entitled, “Toronto’s Movie Theatres of Yesteryear—Brought Back to Thrill You Again.”
“Toronto Then and Now,” published by Pavilion Press (London England) explores 75 of the city’s historic buildings. This book will also be released in the spring of 2016.
I’ve enjoyed a meal or three in many of these restaurants. Great article. Brought back some warm memories. I also remember the Tivoli on Yonge south of Gerrard on the east side. Also Ford Drugs on Yonge for the cheapest burgers around.
When I was a child, age eleven to age eighteen my father would take my sister and I to the French eatery, La Chaumiere Restaurant. Always very busy, it was a unique and delicious dining experience, exactly as you described it. Because snails and frogs legs were never a part of my culinary experience, I avoided them on the menu, but readily ate the steak and at times the lobster with butter sauce. Someone once mentioned to me that the restaurant eventually closed because the owner, a woman in her nineties, eventually retired. What a fabulous experience.
Another restaurant I frequented with my father when I was a child was Barbarian on Elm Street and yes, it is still there now and has om fact expanded. It remains today one of Toronto’s most popular steak houses and the menu is basically the same, all these years later. My father was friends with the owner, Harry Barbarian, and I believe it is now run by Harry’s two sons. I once met Harry’s wife there a few years ago. Quite the family business! Once, when my father was there with his wife, a detective walked in the place and them the management set up a screen ion one corner towards the back of the dining room. Then the movie stars Elizabeth Taylor and her husband Richard Burton accompanied by a famous Shakespearian actor/ friend. I asked my father what Miss Taylor looked like and he told me she was diminutive and very beautiful. The staff put aside the toilet seat she sat on, as a memento!! As I recall, the steak house, Harry’s was also owned and run by Barbarian.
Bassel’s restaurant was also a family favorite. The food was casual and delicious. The hash brown potatoes were outstanding as was the apple cream pie and also the warm blueberry pie. It was always very busy. Sadly it closed and later reopened uptown but the magical quality was no longer there, in the new location.
Uptown there was a wonderful restaurant you never mentioned, The Noshery. I once ate at Winston’s and it was very posh and definitely upscale, with great food wonderfully presented. Town and Country Buffet went on for years but the high quality slowly declined over the years.
A very entertaining article. One note is that Carman’s has reopened.
I grew up a bit north of you, near Oakwood and Eglinton. I remember the tunnel and the soft chocolate malted ice cream cones we’d buy at one end of the tunnel. Or the broken pieces of crispy crunch chocolate bars, sold by the pound at Eaton’s candy counter, which we’d munch as we walked the tunnel. My hangout restaurant was the Boardwalk, a typical Canadian style diner, run by a family from Macedonia. We had fish n chips too, although I don’t remember the name of the shop. But there was another one, Lou’s, on Dufferin St. run by one of my mother’s cousins. Once in awhile, we’d go the Prime Restaurant, and order one of the giant butter tarts, plate sized treats, runny and gooey and just plain good. Our pizza joint was Salerno’s, occasionally we’d win vouchers to dine at Peppio’s (where the Sign of the Steer was). In the ’60s we liked to meet at Queen and Yonge at Joe Bird’s, part of Diana Sweets.
But I remember many of the restaurants you’ve mentioned here, some of them only now that you’ve written about them again, like the Mermaid. Thanks for the memories!
Sure would like to know who you are. The Boardwalk was our hangout in the 60’s and early 70’s. Almost every night after homework was done we could be found there. Also remember the Prime, Salerno’s and the Sky Ranch.
Do you know if it was open in 1945? Or the owners name?
Noticing the geography of your prefered restaurants, I’m sure you must remember mine. TOPS restaurant at the corner of Dundas and Yonge
I remember the TOPS restaurant on Yonge, spent many a late night in a booth there, people-watching with some friends. Good times in the early ’60’s
As a former resident of Toronto I remember these restaurants with fond memories. One that was left out was The Restaurant, part of the Three Small Rooms. In my opinion, it was one of the best restaurants in Toronto ever. Sadly the owner left to take over the Aston Martin Car Company in ENGLAND and the restaurant rapidly went south becoming a poor shadow of its former self.
I loved Three Small Rooms and ate there many times, possibly 50, in the later 80s. I chiefly frequented The Grill but occasionally The Restaurant. Noodles was another fine place adjacent to the Bay St. subway entrance. This was also run by the chap who was associated with Aston Martin and had a dealership (which also sold Rolls-Royces and Bentleys) at the top of Bay St. This fellow also owned the Millcroft Inn, which had a wonderful restaurant. Can’t recall his name. A consequence of being in my 70’s.
Another restaurant I enjoyed many times was the Copenhagen Room which was located adjacent to the Windsor Arms Hotel under the Georg Jensens store. Outstanding herring.
I cannot remember the man’s name. Unfortunately, a consequence of being in my 70’s.
My mother and grandfather worked at Bassel’s and that’s where my parents met. My grandad was the bartender and my mother the cashier.
Peter Basel was a kind and generous man and my mother (Madge) remained friends with Doris Cox who I believe was the manager or accountant until their passing.
I still have the silver tea service they gave my mom when she left.
Best of memories for her.
I worked at Ontario Hydro in the late 60’s and all the girls went to Bassel’s or Mallony’s after work to meet guys! Always lots of men in suits lol
I was wondering if anyone else would remember Malloney’s. I worked at the Whitney Block at Queen’s Park 66/67 and we would stop by occasionally for a drink before heading home. I still have a swizzlestick from Malloney’s.
Oh yes I remember Malloney’s. I worked in the Medical Art Department on College at the Banting Institute. We cooked up any excuse we could make to go there after work. An close friend unbeknown to myself actually went there a few times. She ended up meeting her future partner there and have two lovely adult daughters now.
I went there every night!!!
You work with my grandad, Gordon?
I thought the owner was Paul bassel?
The owner of Bassel’s Restaurant was Peter Bassel, my grandfather. I have fond memories of time spent at the restaurant with my family when I was a child.
What was your maiden name or your fathers name who worked there?
Great Memories. My family ate at virtually all the restaurants mentioned and more. I remember so many events and celebrations over the years at these restaurants with family and friends.Thank you.
Thank you very much for contacting me. It always feels good to share memories with others.
Thank you for this post. Brought back wonderful memories of the anniversary trips my wife and I took to Toronto from 1974 to early 2000s. I’d add a few restaurants: Scaramouche–especially if you called a month ahead for a window table, with Roberto as your server; Canoe–a spectacular restaurant with wonderful food, service, and views: Auberge du Pommier–a long-time favorite; Arlequins (sp?), on Yonge; Bistro 990–our go-to place for lunch upon arrival in Toronto; Starfiish–gorged on oysters; JKROM–another wonderful go-to place for lunch; Jamie Kennedy’s Wine Bar, and then, there was Susur’s–an incredibly delicious and enjoyable dining experience. Le Select just came to mind. Hope it’s still there. Those were the days!!
I think le Select is now on Wellington St.
In 1954 to 1957 My parents, my sister and I lived at 7 Elm street in Toronto. At the time it was what would be called a greasy spoon with a counter and those revolving bar stools. We lived upstairs and had to look after the coal furnace during off hours. My sister and I used to streetcar it to Jesse Ketchum Public school. In 1958 we were told that the site had been sold so we had to move thereby making way for Barberians Restaurant.
I came here to comment on the spelling of Barberians!
That is not Tom Jones Steak House. The sign looks like El Toro. Tom Jones would be to the left of the photographer. Pj O’Briens is currently in the building in the photo.
I fondly remember the Florentine Court on Church street. I took my wife there for an anniversary dinner and we were impressed with the high table menu and the culmination of the meal with a rose for her and a cigar for myself. I was only about 28 or 29 at the time. The old world charm was quite memorable.
Another memory is The Raclette which was on Queen st W, probably east of Spadina on the south side. The only place in the city where we could find the swiss fondue style menu (there was a restaurant out near Port Credit that also specialized in raclette fondue. It was called “The Swiss Marmite” I believe these are both gone now, as I enjoyed these in the early to mid ’80s.
Does anyone recall The Toronto Radio Artists’ Club (TRAC)? South on Bay, down some steps, dark, red banquettes. My Grandmother waitressed there for decades, in the ’60’s a special treat was to head down from the ‘burbs (Scarberia, Vic. Park & Lawrence) & have the the Maple Leafs sign Polaroids of us sitting on their knees, we were that young. Also a haunt of people performing @ O’Keefe Centre.
Brings back a lot of pleasant memories. One simple one was the RED HOT stand in the annex of Eaton’s hot dogs and mustard with a napkin and orange pop… loved them.
Actually my fondest memory as a child was the chocolate (malted) soft ice cream cone in the basement of Eaton’s near the tunnel to the Annex, the discount or clearance Eaton store. This would be in the early 1950’s. The cones were 5 or 10 cents and it made shopping with my mother bearable. My brother and I would have been 4 to 7 years old.
I remember the Toronto Radio Artists Club well. Maxi owned the bar/restaurant and always greeted you at the door. I met my first husband there.
Hi there, I DO remember The TRAC very well. My dad was a bartender there and then the maitre’d. My mom
was a regular singer there and that’s how they met! This was in late 50’s and through the 60’s so I’m sure they both knew your grandmother. 🙂
I believe Max Applebaum owned the Radio Artists’ Club. I have been trying to find out more about it. Could you please contact me by email at [email protected]. I hope you receive this message. Sandra
I think it was at 157 Bay Street. The H.O. of my then employers International Customs Brokers, (i ran their UK businesses) was at 159 Bay Street & all drinks, meals, more drinks took place at the TRAC
Brings back a lot of pleasant memories. One simple one was the RED HOT stand in the annex of Eaton’s hot dogs and mustard with a napkin and orange pop… loved them.
Do you remember the name of the restaurant on the N/E side of Queen E at Yonge just at the subway entrance. Great BBQ ribs. My Aunt would take me there in the 50s and then we’d go to Ice Capades.
I loved those red hots too at Eaton’s Annex and their soft ice cream cones ….. Simpson’s had the red hots too and a wonderful orange drink…you would stand there eating your hot dog with everyone!….Simpson’s also had
a wonderful cafeteria as well…toasted danish, chicken pot pies….ate lunch there most days when working for Simpson’s circa 1962/1964….good old days!
Yeah–that was great. Our favorite memories included breakfast at Sassafraz. Maybe a beer or two at Hemmingways, and dinner at Arlequins. I don’t think any of them are still around.
Sassafraz and Hemingway’s are still operating on Cumberland St.
Brings back so many memories!
We used to hop in a cab from Mississauga/Etobicoke and spend our pay cheque at the Ports of Call and always to the Bali Hi room and then afterwords, would go out to Yorkville to a bar.
We need more of these memories posted…the guitarist who played at the 33rd? floor of the TD building. Yumm Burgers….the ice cream place in Cloverdale Mall that had the salted almond sundaes. Front Street and either Bay or Yonge that had a club with live entertainment.
Airport area, one of the hotels that is no longer there had the most romantic room and served the best Dover sole….had romantic banquets.
Thank you all for the lovely memories!!
Please post some place were more info can be found.
One of my favorites was The Mount Pleasant Lunch on Mt Pleasant Ave. One of the chefs came from a big named restaurant like Winston’s but the food was excellent and cheap. I think there were lineups.
Does anyone remember a restaurant called Le Mascaron at First Canadian Place?
It was very posh !
More recently, I really miss Lee Gardens on Spadina! Any good substitutes?
As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. It had one of the first salad bars in TO. 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. So many happy dining memories.
There was a restaurant on northside of Bloor just west of Sherbourne, the buildings are gone. I remember if they sat you in the back you looked over the ravine.
Anyone remember any Macedonian owned restaurants in 1945?
I remember a few Macedonian restaurants now long gone. I was told that one of the oldest was the Geneva Restaurant on the north side of Queen Street East. I understand it was operating back in the thirties. Nothing fancy but I remember great cabbage rolls & chicken stew there in the seventies.
In the seventies I remember the Constantinople on Queen Street West of Parliament. On the north side just East of Parliament was Macedonian Village. I remember cabbage rolls, meatballs with rice, beef stew & baklava for dessert.
There were so many Macedonian owned restaurants in the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s. 60’s and 70’s. Why are there now no restaurants serving Macedonian cuisine?
My grandfather and his brothers owned a restaurant in the 1950’s at Yonge and Adelaide, The Manor Grill. They were Macedonian, but the food was contemporary of the time. They eventually parted ways and he opened a restaurant of the same name on O’Connor with my grandmother.
What was your Macedonian last name before it was changed to Evans ?
The Panama – Bloor and Ossington – sure would love to see and inside and outside picture of that place!!
The Savoy – owned by Steve and Louis Tsafaroff. The Mercury – owned by Gus Andrews. The Embassy – owned by Peter Novak.
The Pilot Tavern – owned by Jimmy Boujos and a partner. The Panama Tavern – Mr. Paycoff and perhaps partners. Bassel’s – owned by Peter Bassel. Nick Gousleff owned a restaurant but can’t remember the name. The Rosebowl owned by Norman Thomas.
The Varsity owned by Mr. Stavroff. There are many others but names escape us.
Although not a restaurant, Primrose Doughnuts, a successful bakery was owned by Alex Evans.
Jeanne Tsafaroff – daughter in law of Louis Tsafaroff.
I don’t see any mention of Dianna Sweets on Yonge St., which was owned by a Macedonian or Greek family.
That was the original Underground Railroad.
That was the Underground Railroad. They had wonderful fried chicken and collard greens. I spent many lunchtime celebrations there. 😘
I worked in that restaurant! It was called “Between Friends”. Yes, nice view of the ravine.
I remember that restaurant. It was the first date with my future date. It was also the second date with her and her mother who was visiting from Scotland. It was a French name is all I recall, it could have been bourguignon.
I meant future wife. Sorry about that.
Would certainly add the Vikings for relaxed but very nice dining; Frank Hansen was the owner/manager. Located on Young, just north of Wellesley He later added the Stables, entrance off St. Nicholas for more casual eating . Long gone but fondly remembered. In the Beaches for a bunch of years, there was Loons on Queen, for quite a while the best food in the Beach. Husband & wife moved and still operate a fine restaurant in the Gattineau area.
My father was Frank’s accountant. He would take me to the Vikings during off hours while he worked and Mr. Hansen enjoyed feeding me food I had never tried before.
A very interesting trip down memory lane…so many of the spots that I had long forgotten about.
I wonder if someone out there can help me with a memory I have. As a boy, we would sometimes go to a restaurant that I remember as Polynesian/Hawaiian…I believe it was on Yonge, or Avenue or perhaps Bathurst…north toward Lawrence? I want to say the name may have been Kon-Tiki?
Does anyone remember such a place?
Please let me know.
I remember such a restaurant located on the East side of Yonge Street, just north of Summerhill Station. It was called The Ports of Call. They had a Polynesian/Chinese menu. They were fully licenced & served a specialty called”bobos.” I believe the location was by the LCBO store by Yonge & Shaftsbury. It closed up years ago.
The Ports of Call was located on the WEST side of Yonge Street. I remember it well.
I remember Floritine Court, first on west side of Church St. south of Adelade, then east side of Church St. just south of Richmond. Jimmy Lopresty( Owner) & Charles (Waiter) were the two persons I remember at this wonderful restaurant. Charles (waiter) had a fabulous memory. Never wrote down your order, but it was served exactly to each person. We recommended to our school PTA to have a dinner meeting there. Charles took all 14 orders & I am sure that Charles heard the school principal state “Does he know what he is doing”? The appitizers, the main course, the deserts were all served exactly as ordered but the tea or coffee was missed by one person, the principal, who had to ask for his drink. I beleive to this day, it was Charles way to draw attention to the principal’s remark.
Fond memories of George’s Spaghetti House on Dundas St. famous for its pizza—this from visits from the late 50’s to early 60’s—as well as the Jazz combo that played near the entrance. I am sure I saw and heard Moe Koffman on one of my visits. Its atmosphere was utterly awesome—
George’s Spaghetti House was a wonderful restaurant with a great menu. Yes the music was fabulous as was the atmosphere.
Leo was the maitre de who was a very wonderful man who always remembered your name and what you had ordered the last time you were there.
So disappointed when it closed.
Does anyone remember a cafe that was located by the Toronto waterfront
that was a Toronto streetcar converted to an eating place? My father would take me & my siblings on drives around downtown Toronto in the mid fifties. I remember my father saying that it had a bad reputation as a gang hangout. By the early sixties, it was gone.
I only have a childhood memory of it but it may have been between King Street and the Esplanade.
Reading the message involving “Prime Restaurant” was pleasantly surprising. My Dad, Basil, owned all three Prime restaurants, with the last one, in Dixie Plaza, being the busiest. Running restaurants, especially, three, must have been tough with the long hours etc. I have memories of falling asleep (on weekends when I could “work” in the coat check room to make dimes and quarters, in the back of the Dixie location waiting for banquets etc to end. And I do remember the most popular dishes were ‘hot-dog surprise’, ‘veal cutlet, hot hamburger and so on. A Hamburger was 25-30 cents and a coke 10 cents! If anyone else has any memories of any of the three prime restaurants, kindly post.
I remember the Prime at Dixie Plaza. Only went there a couple of times while I was on delivery. I spoke to a cook called Jimmy at the Dairy Freezer at St. Clair & Caledonia who told me he used to work at the Dixie Prime. Did you know him?
Don, what was your fathers last name?
Anyone remember The Barclay Hotel- dinner club in the late ’50’s and 60’s. also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge.– very posh at the time!!
Name of restaurant circa 1960’s, NE corner of Church and Wood Streets. Just steps away from the Gardens. A popular pregame location.
Was it George Bigliardi’s?
Le baron Steakhouse
I lived above that steakhouse as an impoverished law student in the mid 70’s. Remember peering out my windows late Saturday afternoon/ early evening to see the Leafs trooping in for pregame dinners. Also remember when (then) PM Pierre Trudeau attended a Hockey Night in Canada game and his security – just doing their job – knocked on my door to ask if they could search my top floor apartment as part of sweeping the area. Trying out my first year legal training, I declined, saying no warrant, no search! They were very polite and immediately left. In the end, I felt ridiculous. The most amazing aromas wafted from that place. Ate there only once and it did not disappoint!
Yes, it was LeBaron. Around 1956, my uncle was visiting from Calgary and took us out to LeBaron. I’d never been in such a grand place, or at least so it seemed to my 10-year-old eyes.
that’d have been LeBaron Steakhouse. IMO the best steakhouse in the city in it’s day. There was a second location on the east side of Yonge south of Charles
I do not remember but The Mill Restaurant (Geek) and Florentine Court) I believe York St. I was the public for both A restaurant had to sell an amount of food before they could obtain a liquor license. I blocked the cars, with my 70`s convertible at 5 pm of the advertising around the corner. The men found me and were furious.Deal-Eat lunch at the Florentine Court. It worked. Also as a child, Simpson`s sold chocolate frosties in their basement for 5 cents Carmen’s must have a different owner. worked with Carmen on a feud over who started Carabana, I believe. The Trinidad Carabana started in my office Dundas Square, then the carribean carnival. They said a woman could not make it in (the old days) I did and went international. Now in S . Florida but Toronto is HOME.
There’s a couple more restaurants that have gone away that bring back nemories.
Remember JJ Muggs at the Eaton Centre? A very trendy, 2 floored happening place in the late 80’s. Also, in the West end tucked away in a very confusing triangle of Dundas, Bloor St and Kipling was Miller’s Country Fair. They served Tortierre, Roast Chicken and Sausages with Chutney.
The last one was O’Tooles.
There was also a J J Muggs location at the Woodbine Mall at Rexdale & Hwy #7 (also a 2-story floor plan). Often enjoyed the limited, but tasty menu at Miller’s Country Fair, on Bloor, just east of the 6-Points Plaza.
What a awonderful interesting writing on Toronto restaurant memorabilia.
As one of the two owners of Lgardy’s and Quenelles restaurants on church Street this was priceless.
Thanks.
The name is Lhardy’s.
Wasn’t it Lardy’s? As in big fat Lardy’s?
I loved Fran’s on Yonge St across from Sam’s. They had the seafood restaurant upstairs. It was real nice. They served their regular fare downstairs on the street floor. The other Fran’s on College (which is still there) had the Spaghetti Cellar downstairs and it was nice too. The one on St Clair was open all night. I visited Toronto every summer back in the 70’s and 80’s and it was much nicer than it is now. Too much new construction going on and they tear all the old buildings down. At least the Zanzibar and the Swiss Chalet are still on Yonge.
So many great memories in the article and all these wonderful comments. I’d completely forgotten about the Spaghetti Cellar at Fran’s but I used to go, must have been on weekends, with my friend Karen for an “all you can eat” special they had. Two teenagers, even girls, can eat a lot! Many of these places I remember my parents going to and talking about. After our family moved to Toronto (well, Scarborough) in the early 70’s, after having lived in a series of hick towns (not all of them small, just no dining scene) my parents made a point of going out to dinner every Saturday night to enjoy all that Toronto had to offer. Their favourite (and a family treat for birthdays) for many years was Carmens. How I miss it!
Loved reading this and all the great memories. Another fave of mine was The Moorings, best lobster thermidor in the city!
Anyone remember Zumburger?
NW corner of Yonge and Bloor, and IIRC there was another on Bloor near Spadina.
There was one in Scarborough on Eglinton East in the Pharmacy/Vic park area. Great burgers with swiss cheese. One of our favourite spots in the late ’60s early ’70s. Another nearby served pitchers of beer and great Sloppy Joe’s toped with sliced green pepper. A friend of ours was a waitress and she would slip us a free jug of beer.
I am trying to remember a restaurant with very high ceilings, sky lights, lots of trees and hanging plants. It was like dining in a beautiful forest. Maybe around Bloor St. and Avenue Rd. Could someone remember the name.
You might be thinking of Fenton’s, at 6 Gloucester, just east of Yonge St. The room had a central open court filled with trees and plants, like an arboretum, with skylights two floors up. It was mentioned in the article.
It went on to become a Tortilla Flats in the early 90s. By the late 90s, it became the gay dance club, Fly, which only closed recently to make way for condos.
Did you ever remember the name? A bunch of us have been trying to remember it too! That’s exactly the place… Can’t remember the name either
I do…yes it was very posh. I remember having lunch there with my mother.
We ordered a very expensive bottle of white wine……Loved the place.
you ever remember the name? A bunch of us have been trying to remember it too! That’s exactly the place… Can’t remember the name either
Anyone have any memories of “Ted’s Coffee Shop” at the corner of Eglinton & Mt. Pleasant???
Was a hangout for Northern S.S. students and a couple of Maple Leafs living in the area…..
Went to Norvoc in the early 50’s and to Ted’s after school. Lunch was often at Ainley’s Fish and Chips (just South of Ted’s) on Mount Pleasant. We sat in the back room and ate our sandwiches from home supplemented by Fred Ainley’s Fries.
Da Vinci Pizzeria on the Danforth between Dawes & Victoria Park, a bunch of real deal Italian guys, made the best pizza way before Toronto knew what pizza was. One of the walls had a huge hand drawn mural of Leonardo himself. It was fab to have Italian food like that as a kid.
Exactly! We had many many pizza’s at DaVinci’s. Several of us worked/hung out at the bowling alley in Shoppers World plaza in our high school days and would go over to DaVinci’s whenever we had the cash. Was a sad day when they closed up shop and have never had pizza like it since. Remember the Jumbo Super Special?
Yonge St east side next to the cut rate jewelry store Lindy’s Steak House somewhere you could get a steak with 1200 pees and yesterday’s roll and the waiters always wore a tie
Ahhh- In the late seventies – The Geneva on Queen E of Parliament north side for breakfast — feta and onion omelette to die for. It cost around 2 bucks.
Yes. I used to work in the area near the Geneva. I could get a great hot lunch for under three dollars as well as good, strong coffee. I could order a choice of cabbage rolls, chicken stew or meatball stew, served with potatoes & rice. It had been at that location since the 1930s. It closed up in the eighties I think. I miss restaurants such as the Geneva which were operated by Macedonian families who served simple but nourishing food.
Does anyone remember Bentley’s restaurant in North Toronto? It was on the West side of Yonge street just south of Hogs Hollow. It started in the thirties & I think it had closed by about 1990.
It specialized in seafood & served excellent fish & chips. They also served excellent salads. I especially enjoyed their Spinach layer salad. I believe they were licensed so you could order a fine wine or beer with
your dinner. I cannot recall the prices but I think it was reasonably priced when compared to similar restaurants downtown. I miss it to this day!
I recall Bentley’s as being on the east side of Yonge, a block or two south of Teddington Park. They sure did a land-office business of fish’n chips — both eat-in and take-out on Friday evenings! And yes, they were licensed which was odd for the type of restaurant at the time. Having said that, they did offer some higher end items on their menu that I understand were very acceptable, which may have warranted the sale of beer and wine. It may have moved to the west side of Yonge at some point; my recollection is from the late ‘50s and early 60’s! A friend from high school worked there on Fridays after school (LPCI) and she always went home exhausted!
Your list is amazing. Thank you so much — I was privileged to enjoy most of these wonderful establishments over three decades. Do you remember a delightful Greek restaurant that was on the west side of Church St. midway between Wellington and The Esplanade? As I recall it was not a large establishment, but the cuisine was delectable!
Bentley’s was on the East side on Yonge St. First time I had chips there I think they cost 35 cents. The old guy working there, Walter I think, was a character, but it was his mother, in her eighties working the front in the dinner rush that was a hoot to deal with. Also loved to get a Sunday at Halls Dairy up the street, old style, the guy was always grumpy with me. Asked him why once and told me he grew up in the place and wish he’d done something else. I worked up the street at the Shell station pumping gas at 37 cent a gallon. My local bar was the Jolly Miller, when the drinking age was lowered to 18 they increased the price of a glass of beer from 15 to 20 cent, what an outrage. The place always had sawdust on the floor. Mens and Ladies entrance. Different world now, did and didn’t know how good we had it.
I remember Bentley’s. Had lunch there one Sunday afternoon. Halibut Tid Bits In A Sweet & Sour Sauce On A Bed Of Rice. I think they also had a live seafood counter just at the front of the building before going in the restaurant.
I worked at Bentleys from 1989 to 1991. I think it closed in 96’ after moving locations. The fish and chips were so good. They also had Greek, ceasar, spinach & green salads. Amazing garlic bread and the best strawberry rhubarb pie with Hagen Daz ice cream. They sold mashed sweet potato as well. When GST was implemented they lost a lot of business. It was a huge space unfortunately and couldn’t fill the seats.
I just walked by the old Tom Jones Steakhouse building just east of Yonge on Colborne St. The sign and awning are there but it closed long ago. As I recall there was another one the same size accross the road, I believe to the South. There is mow an Irish pub in that location
Anyone remember the name of the steakhouse?
There is an earlier comment that mentions this. It appears to be called El Toro and is located where PJ OBrien stands today.
Does anyone remember a very nice restaurant on the north side of Bloor between Yonge and Bay in the late 1970s early 1980s? It had a name like the Percy House, but nothing came up googling that.
Yes. My friend David Logan managed it for a couple of years in 81/82. They had a guy that used to opera favorites dressed in a powder blue tux. God he was funny. Lovely place by the way.
Your still missing a few, when I had money Bigliardis on Church. When I had a little money Lindys on Younge and when I was broke The Blue Cellar on Bloor or Grossmans on Spadina.
I started going to Switzers on Spadina in 1955. We moved to Vancouver and every year when I flew to Toronto the first stop was switzers. I have lived across Canada but was able to travel throughout the year so always was able to get my corned beef. Sadly was not able to go there since covid and they are now closed. The closest I have come to getting the same flavor and texture is with a chain in Detroit. Toronto has some great restaurants, deli’s and buffets. Loved Le Savarin.
Does anyone remember Griffith’s on Queen Street East in the Beach(es)? I just described it to my partner and tried to Google some archival photos. To my surprise, I could find not only no pictures but no references at all. Which surprises me as it was a wonderfully bizarre experience. In my memory, there was a small deli at the front with a curtained door in the rear that you parted to enter a parallel universe. It was dark and expansive, with stuffed seagulls and angels and god-knows-what else hanging from the ceiling and booths on multiple levels. The tables had candles in bottles dripping with years of wax. It was surreal, could have been designed by Dali himself.
YES! I lived in the Beaches in the early 80’s and my room mate and I loved the butter tarts there…they were enormous and delicious. It was a fantastic deli as well. And, as you described it…dark and very European/German decor.
Does anybody remember the Club 12 in Toronto, I believe it closed in the late 50’s. I think it was located at 12 Adelaide.
I grew up in Leaside and have dined at most of the restaurants you mention. Use to ride our bikes to swiss chalet at yonge and sinclair for french fries. Our favorite was the Savarin on Bay for lobster. One chain you didn’t list was pickin chicken and their VW delivery vehicles. Oh for the good old days. Dave
I remember its name , in the 1960s, as the Brillat Savarin.
There was a Pickin’ Chicken on Kingston Rd. near Birchmount somewhere. I remember a volkswagon. ❤️
I was at The SCTV Diner on Eglington ave. in 1982. I was visiting from Vancouver and stayed almost 6 mos in Toronto. I worked at a bar named McGirrs, on Richmond st near Church ave. I met Don Cherry in there. It was close to CityTV.
Hamer’s Fish and Chips … Eglinton near Oakwood
Chips in a cup
Joe’s and Moe’s… Eglinton west of Bathurst
The Bagel King … “The original ” bagel place … Eglinton west
China House … Eglinton west of Bathurst
House of Chan … The “best” steaks in North Toronto
Puppy Palace … teen hangout on north Bathurst St.
Moe Pancer’s Delicatessen…The “original” Bathurst & York Downs3
As a young boy, we would see movies at the Willow Theatre on Yonge Street, between Sheppard and Finch. There was a Chinese Restaurant, closeby, called Spring Garden. This was my first introduction to Chinese Food. Does anyone remember this restaurant?
Yes. We lived on Bayview Ave. just north of Steeles, and used to drive all the way to Spring Garden for carry out. It was also our introduction to Chinese food, and it was great.
I remember The Willow, a great place to watch movies. It was cheaper than regular cinemas. I was sad when it closed.
Spring Garden was a great Chinese restaurant. Our family would get take-out and really enjoy the meal.
My wife and I often had a special dinner at the Balkan on Elm Street, just west of Yonge. It was small and romantic with a great atmosphere – dark, sheer “curtains” hanging from the ceiling, very quiet inside. The Viennese dinner special was very good, especially the mild curry sauce for the rice or weiner schnitzel. One man served. One woman prepared in the kitchen. It was our favourite downtown restaurant. Does anyone else remember the Balkan?
We had our wedding reception upstairs at Scott’s on Bloor street it later became Scotts Chicken Villa and then KFC. This was in September 1957. Our children liked to say that we were married at KFC.
Remember most of the restaurants mentioned but we loved a little restaurant called Pot au Feu….it was on a street near University Ave and was in the basement. It had great food and was so cosy and warm on winter nights.
Great memories
When I came to Canada as a child from Denmark in the mid fifties Mermaid restaurant was called the Little Mermaid restaurant on Bay Street. My aunt Tulle waitressed there and the front of the house was handled by a woman called Arne who was a single mother who lived upstairs from the restaurant with her daughter. The owner (whose name I can’t remember) lived in a posh house in Mississauga with an indoor pool, which was a big deal in the 50’s. The restaurant was very successful and a great meeting spot for Danish Xpats.
We can’t forget Bemelmans.
Bemelmans was my foray into the urban resto-lounge experience in my early 20s in the mid 1980s. It was a landmark with their celebrity clientele and legendary private patio. It had a NYC vibe of studio 54 meets progressive dining. The food and cocktails were always fabulous.
A great restaurant for desserts!
YES! I lived in the Beaches in the early 80’s and my room mate and I loved the butter tarts there…they were enormous and delicious. It was a fantastic deli as well. And, as you described it…dark and very European/German decor.
I loved Bemelmans. It was a regular Saturday lunch spot for me and my shopping pals. We would do the circuit…Holt’s, the Yorkville shops and then there for lunch. In the warm weather, we loved the little patio at the back. It was always buzzing/busy. Not a bad evening bar scene either as I recall.
Yes if u went to the singles bars in the mid 1980s, you’d stop in there too. There was a place nearby, maybe across the street, with a flight of stairs up to the second floor where the restaurant was. I remember mirrors and lines of pink neon lighting up the stairs. Does anyone remember this place?
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. Great places to eat before or after going to the movies at one of two screens at the Hollywood Theatre, the first cinema in Toronto specifically built to show talking pictures in 1930, or the Hyland Odeon Theatre. Rhodes had a front area on the north side of the entrance fronting the ‘fine dining’ room that featured local jazz musicians Thursday to Saturday evenings. And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. Upstairs was where everyone went for their delicious steaks!
Here are just a proposal for a correction, and a recollection of my own. I believe Simpson’s main restaurant was called the Arcadian Court, not Arcadian Room, at least for some period of time during its existence. As well, there was a cafeteria in the Simpson Tower called the Panorama Room: that might be the establishment one of the commenters has referred-to as being a cafeteria in the store; varied “ordinary” English-American fare and preparation, for the most part, but decently priced and satisfying for a quick lunch or supper beyond the fast-food scale of fare, as well as having lots of window-glass. Either one might still be in place, albeit perhaps under different names; I haven’t been to the building since Simpson’s went out of business, and haven’t been downtown in a long while, as well.
I worked for Simpsons Downtown in the 70s yes was and still is the Arcadian Court is an event space and is located on the eighth floor of the Now BAY store Yonge and Queen Street.
I remember the cafeteria across from or near the Arcadian Court. My grandmother took me there for milk, a sandwich and a glass bowl of red jello. We sat by those windows, overlooking the big brown stone govt building, and she pointed out a bee carved in the stone. I later showed that to my daughters.
I am researching Macedonian owned restaurants 1945/1946 in Toronto, around the High Park area, walking distance from symington ave., and most of them did not serve Macedonian food back then…anyone remember a name?
Trying to remember the name of a restaurant in Yorkdale when it opened. It had the biggest menu I had ever seen at that time. Can you help me. I believe it was on the first floor and had a one word name
Noshery? Michael’s?
Sorry to inform that Golden Crisp Fish & Chips at 1364 Weston Road (Mount Dennis) announced it closure at the end of 2021 following the sudden death
of the owner, Harry Vandekemp (son of the original owner). It was very much a family run business, serving the community and beyond for 60 years, but the family has decided not to continue the business without Harry. The business is currently for sale/lease. Both Harry and his marvelous golden fried halibut will be sadly missed.
My parents Joe Dmytriw and Doreen Hayes operated a restaurant called The Dellarama late 50’s early 60’s I always remembered them saying it was on Avenue Rd. I think, My dad left us for Calif then opened the LaFonda in La Mission Baja Mexico his wife is running it now as he passed away a year ago. My mother’s name was on the restaurant so she had to sell it and continue with her Dance School at Bloor and Jane for 60 years until her death 2016. Im still searching for record or image of that restaurant I have a photo of them holding a ham inside the restaurant. Thanks great site I remember these names growing up especially living behind the Valhalla Inn one of the lounges my mother sang in.
Hi. Does anybody remember a restaurant on Bay Street called “Goodies” I think that was the name. It was supposed to be n the financial district where all the big rollers went for drinks and dinner.
My parents are German immigrants. And my mom worked at the restaurant as a waitress in 1956/1957. Her name was JoHanna. Hanna for short. She was friendly and very sweet. She was 30 with honey blond hair
First of all i want to thank you for your list of Toronto’s restaurants most of which have bit the dust and not for reasons of “bad” food. Brought back many fond memories. My first and the absolute finest bowl of French Onion soup was at La Scala in Toronto. My first and the finest Beef Wellington was at Winston’s. The dinner was so exceptional that we just about missed nearby theatre; but, of course our waiter politely reminded us just in case we had theatre tickets and we did.
Does anyone know the name of the Mexican/Spanish restaurant that was located on Bloor Street East in the early 1960s?
I think that may have been the “Old Spain” operated by Paul Bassel.
Carl Marco from Ajax, I have pretty much been in every restaurant mentioned and many more not to mention every good club in the city, I always had a great job and enjoyed life, dated a lot, Ed’s Follies and Warehouse were great places and you knew what you were going to have before you got there, Ports of Call a great place, Tom Jones steakhouse, Bardi’s, Barberian but not a mention of places like Zorro’s, Octagon, LaCastille, The School, Peter’s, David Duncan House & so many more but one of my favourites was casually mentioned, the Florentine Court, but not only for great Italian food and Charle’s good memory but how could anyone not mention his “great laugh” which I thought was the most memorable part of your dining experience, thank you all for bringing back some great memories with some great fun gals😍🙈.
In the 1950’s there was Shapiro’s Delicatessen on College between Clinton & Grace where for 35 cents you could get a corned beef or pastrami sandwich, french fries, cole slaw, a dill pickle & a glass of coke!
On College at Brunswick there was Becker’s Deli where people flocked for the deli sandwiches with Becker’s special sauce!
After a movie, theatre, card game, bowling, etc., you went to the Noshery on Eglinton near Yonge for late evening treats
Goldberg’s Kosher Restaurant on Spadina below Dundas offered ths gamut of European yiddish cooking!
China town started with Nanking and Kowloon on Elizabeth St. Then took flight with Sai Woo on Dundas
Mario’s on Eglinton was one of the first to serve pizzas after it’s first introduction at a small spot on College near Markham whose name I can’t remember but where the baker stood by the front window tossing and twirling the fresh dough in the air just like in the movies! We would go miles out of our way to get the fabulously tasty pizzas from Vesuvio’s on Dundas St West!
As well as those previously mentioned on Church St. there was the Continental serving seriously French fare and, my favourite, Quo Vadis, with it’s marvellous ‘tournedos rossini’!
Senior’s on Yonge below St.Clair had a wonderful garlic infused steak house upstairs and a delicious deli for lunches downstairs
And I would be remiss to not mention a favourite of those that worked on University Avenue below Queen’s Park and there abouts, the Canada Life employees cafeteria where anyone could go in and enjoy an abundant lunch with dessert for a ‘song’!
Does anyone remember Le Souffle on Parliament St.? It was a fave for a time in the early 80’s. Nothing but Souffles and the interior was all black and sparkly. Was a great “date” restaurant. And the Souffles were perfection!
Bemelmans This was a favourite, their eggs Benedict was fantastic, Also trying to remember the name of a Hungarian restaurant on Bloors, something like Corona? Best bean and sausage soup, a meal on its own. Sassafras another after work favourite, always busy.
amazing stuff, when my father came to Canada in the 60’s worked at Carmen’s Club, only way to get around the restrictive liquor laws was to make it a ‘members only’ club. My father ended up as one of the co-owners of Mr. Tony’s Place in Yorkville in the early 70’s, then did a stint as a maître d’ at La Scala, then ended his career as maître d’ at Winston’s. This was at a time when the owners and the food were the start attractions as opposed to the celebrity chef culture of today.
I worked as a young commis in the kitchens of the Club One-Two, 12 Adelaide st. east, in the very early 1950’s.
Tommy Holmes was the owner. Tough guy Tommy, did not take any prisonners. Jean Virot was our Chef des cuisines. Big, burly Burgundian, had worked at Maxim’s in Paris before landing in what was then ‘Toronto the good’ at the King Edward in 1947. Fine Chef, impeccable background, knew his stuff and produced quality, often refined, offerings. Good teacher: could not have gone, as I moved on, to the Ritz kitchens in Montreal or the George V in Paris without his training.
Main dining room (and banquets area) was the domain of George Bourgault, another frenchman, sophisticated and suave. He was kind to the kid I was and took me with his two boys to the Sunday Jr. Hockey games at the Gardens. Nice!
Tommy, Jean and George probably run one of the big restaurants up in the sky now. I’m sure that they enjoy it!
The Ritz, a tiny hole-in-the-wall place. Great bohemian atmosphere. On St. Charles i believe, just south west of yonge and bloor. You had to go downstairs from outside.
Great cheesecake and mint tea. We went around 1975 to 1979 i believe.
Good old times!
I wrote a text 10 days or so ago on the Club One Two. My pictures were not from a patron point of view but as an employee. in other words some of the inner mechanics of a restaurant. will it be published? how long does it take to be published?
patient and curious
if you no longer publish reviews why don’t you just close your web site and make life easier for those who are tempted to write a review.
or am I asking too much…..
Shopsy’s not mentioned on Spadina and Front Street locationss.
Many wonderful lunches at TRAC and Boiler Room,
I would LOVE to ask if anybody is familiar with The Gold Mill Restaurant from the 70s. It was on 548 Yonge Street just south of Wellesley…and/or Dutch Sisters Inn that used to be on Lakeshore Blvd.
My dad speaks very fondly of a smorgasbord restaurant in Toronto called “Old Uncle’s,” located in a hotel (he can’t remember the hotel, but talks wistfully of the restaurant. It was smorgasbord style with table waiter staffing. I would love to find any information at all about the place to help his nostalgia itch, if you or your readers can recall anything about it. The only time they visited was during their honeymoon in 1975.
in 1959 and 60 I attended ryerson poly and we used to frequent a bar above sam the record man (for got the name so anyone please help me ) I remember meeting Gord Lightfoot before he became famous. he performed his songs and i remember this moment. he was to meet with a reporter from the telegram newspaper for an interview which was very exciting to Gord. this was the break he felt he needed and the rest is history. by the way he did join our students table for a cool one. great memories for us that are left.
Did anyone ever go to the Balkan? That had a Turkish theme. The room was darkly tented with tables for two, candlelight, very romantic & unique. I remember the stuffed mushrooms and on the way out they handed you a box of powdered Turkish delights. I loved the Goulash Pot on Yonge Street too. The Hungarian food was amazing, cheap & ample served on large platters. The Acropolis was another unique experience picking out whatever you wanted to eat from the kitchen. Never saw that done before. And how about the Underground Railroad! Blacks chose to dress up in denim, gingham shirts, & bright paisley handkerchiefs around their necks. Really cool vibe! They served southern cooking with delicious corn bread. The spaghetti factory was so fun. The decor alone had you but I loved their spaghetti with white clam sauce & spumoni ice cream for dessert. I don’t know if it’s run the same now but at one time going to the Food Pavilion at the C.N.E. was a trip. Lots of freebies & to many great lunch foods & snacks to choose from. But at a booth on the freeway you could get the ice cream waffle sandwiches which were something to look forward to every year. I was born in Toronto & felt like it was the best place in the world to be in the 50s-to early 80s. There were a lot of amazing restaurants to many to name here with great food, decor, & other features. Feel blessed to have experienced it. Did anyone go to the Maple Leaf Dairy on the Danforth for humongous ice cream cones? You could pick as many flavours & scoops as you wanted.
My Grade 9 French teacher, Miss Clarke (not Ms in those days) took us to La Chaumière on Charles one night in 1960. It was my first non-Anglo dining experience.
I remember so many of these restaurants from my younger days. ” Hungarian Village ” and ” La Chaumiere ” were classy and interesting places, to quote
a British girlfriend from the 70’s. Two more restaurants worth remembering are ” Ports of Call “, at Yonge and Summerhill , and the ” Town Hall ” restaurant in Toronto’s Old Town Hall ( former City Hall ? ). This same British girlfriend was impressed by the latter as we had our own waiter and the music was live – piano, guitar, strings and female singer – if memory serves. And we danced to this music. Does anyone else out there recall these great restaurants? Also mention has to be made of ” Toby’s ” on Bloor and elsewhere. A Swiss woman I was seeing in the 1980’s was impressed with their hamburgers.
One of our family’s favorite was the Marina Room on the 6th floor of the Eaton Center. Great place to slow down from shopping and have a nice meal or snack at good prices. The Salad Bar was our favorite as it was priced by the plate, small, medium or large. A medium plate stuffed to the brim was a good meal for three of us.
A restaurant that was very notable to me: Ciccone’s Italian: https://signbasedeating.blogspot.com/2007/06/ciccones-restaurant.html
Ciccone’s on King Street at Portland – My Father and his business associates used to frequent it – their office was on Stewart Street, right behind the restaurant.
Traditional Italian and as I remember, very good.
Often the family had to (note -had to – it was a privilege for us) come down to rescue my Father because he’d be in no shape to drive, and we’d get a fine dinner an evening.
Eva—I remember Le Mascaron! It was good AND reasonable! Does anybody recall the exact address of Mr. Pizza on Dupont near St. George?
My memories of Toronto restaurants spam from the when I entered Osgoode Hall Law School in 1958 to when I moved from Toronto in 2006. Early on I lived high up in a towering round apartment building on Alexander Street and my balcony was right above Carman’s Club, and the smell of garlic would tease my waste buds when I went out for a breath of fresh air. The call of the garlic was strong and over the years I ate many meals there. When I was a student, I and a few classmates would often eat a businessman’s 3 course lunch, a fantastic bargain for us poor students at $1.35. But for me the greatest memory was of Gaston’s French Restaurant on Markham Street. He had become a client and for him I was able to obtain Toronto’s very first outdoor patio liquor licence for the street patio in front of his restaurant. He lent me his yellow 1937 Rolls Royce limousine to chauffeur a couple of friends of mine on their wedding day, and told me that even if his place were full with a lineup waiting he would put a table in the kitchen for me.
Will you please allow me to amend my comment. I made a couple of glaring errors. I said “spam” when I meant “span” and I said “waste” when I meant “taste” and I left out that it was Bassel’s where we ate the $1.35 lunches. This comment is NOT for publication.
Michael O’Connell, I too grew up in Willowdale.
Spring Garden, Yonge Garden & Lin’s Chinese Food all within 1 km spawned the best memories at a tender age.
A time of innocence ( Willow Theater) : wonder. and anticipation. As a young adult I was fortunate to taste and experience many of the fine eateries mentioned above. Glory days.
A favorite of mine in the early ’70s was the Bucharest, west side of Yonge, jsut south of Eglinton. Lovely food and a lovely couple who ran it.
I remember that the Bucharest was unique, the only Romanian restaurant in Toronto. I remember that they prepared a really excellent roast duck.
The Pickin Chickin was soooo much better than Swiss Chalet. They had a few restaurants in Toronto, but the one we went to was on Kingston Road at Golf Club Road….it’s now the Stone Cottage Inn Pub. Fun and great food.
The Goof (Garden Gate) Restaurant in the Beach at Queen and Beech Ave. was our family’s go to since 1954. Still visit down memory lane there and expect to see my Dad’s paddling/ lawn bowling friends even though most are no longer here.
Old Angelo’s downtown was where Dad took us for Italian dinner. Can’t remember what street it was on, but seem like yesterday. Cheryl
wow, this has been a lovely reading everyones experiences over the years from quite some time ago to present – my parents came from england in the sixties and started a couturier business in yorkville – we never went out much to eat but as the years went on there were a few places we went to mentioned in above chats but as we lived off avenue road north of lawrence we did go to Rossini’s, Angelini’s, The Lobster Trap and Black Cat Fish and Chips. We also really enjoyed a drive our to Caledon to a beautiful restaurant called Terra Cotta Inn – In my teen years i really enjoyed Mr. Greenjeans, Tobys Good Eats and The Goof in the beaches (great breakfasts) as well as The Lion, Lidos and a lovely restaurant in a house on the south side of Queen towards Silver Birch that has changed hands a few times but such a lovely place. Two of my all time favourites though which are still operating today is 7West Cafe on Charles St and Il fornello’s. Tapas bar on Carlton near Parliament was one of my Dad’s favourites and Tapas Grill on the Danforth – great memories of my Dad.
My wife and I went to many mentioned- great memories. Michi’s on Church was a favourite but I guess overall we loved Rugantino’s on Yonge best. La Bastille was another French restaurant I don’t think was mentioned, went there often with friends. Thanks everyone!
Thank you for this tremendous review of some of Toronto’s more popular and well-known restaurants in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. It was great to come across your post and to reminisce! Some of the restaurants that you listed had already been around for some time when I was born in 1961. But I was most fortunate to have (what I called at the time) a “real” Uncle Bill. He was a bachelor and lived downtown – my brother and sister and I used to take turns staying over at his house with “Gugga” and enjoying the city. In addition to regular romps to many, many venues, Uncle Bill would take us to dinner at many restaurants (including some fancy ones). I recall, lunches at various Fran’s restaurants at College and Yonge and other locations in the city (on St. Clair, and on Eglinton), Diana Sweets on Yonge Street just below Dundas/above Queen, at the Danish Food Centre at St. Thomas and Bloor, at the Honey Dew counter in the Simpson’s Department store at Queen and Yonge, getting chocolate malted soft ice cream in the basement of Eaton’s department store on the north west corner of Queen Street and Yonge Street and at various Maynards (formerly “Made-in-view”) chocolate shops. He took me (and sometimes other members of the family) to dinner at Fenton’s on Gloucester – with its Leek & Stilton soup – and to the Courtyard Café on St. Thomas Street, to Chez Gaston’s French Restaurant on Markham (or Baldwin) Street, to LeBaron Steakhouse on Yonge at Charles, to numerous restaurants that existed on St. Nicholas Street, including Not Le Provençal, but…P something…I think . Uncle Bill also took me to Graf Bobby and to l’Omelette on Wellington at Jarvis, to Le Souffle on Parliament Street, to The Old Spaghetti Factory and to The Organ Grinder on the Esplanade at Jarvis, to the Coffee Mill in what was then the Lothian Mews in Yorkville, to the Coach ‘n Four in the Don Mills Plaza, to the Trillium Room at Ontario Place (promoted as “Winston’s at Ontario Place”), to the Victoria Station restaurant that was inside a number of railway boxcars on Queens Quay, to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club (where he was a member) – on the Toronto Island and in the City at St. George and Bloor, to the Plaza Hotel at Bloor and Avenue Road, to Noodles at Bay and Bloor, to Rugantino’s (?) adjacent to a mall-of-sorts at Charles between Yonge and Bay, to La Scala on the southeast corner of Bay and Charles Streets, to Napoleon’s on Grenville just west of Bay Street, to Bassel’s restaurant at Gerrard and Yonge, to The Mermaid on Dundas St. West opposite the Art Gallery of Ontario, to the Grange at the AGO, to The Old Fish Market on Market Street opposite the St. Lawrence Market, to Ed’s Warehouse – in which you had to wear a jacket & tie – on King Street West, to Barbarian’s on Elm Street at Yonge, to Le Provençal on St. Thomas Street, to the Sultan’s Tent at Yorkville Avenue and Bay Street, to Quenelles on the west side of Church Street (I later took a girlfriend to l’Hardy’s to impress her) just south of Bloor, to Luigi’s on Davenport at Bay, to Café de la Paix in the Colonnade and to the Sweet Gallery on Mount Pleasant, to Vikings and the Coach House restaurants at Yonge and Wellesley, to The Raclette on Queen Street at Spadina and to Quo Vadis on Church. He loved going to the latest restaurants and I was so very fortunate to have been able to join him as a boy and later as a teenager.
Later, when I became serious about dating my girlfriend (now my wife) and I were fortunate enough to go to many other restaurants including: Winston’s on Adelaide and York Streets, Eric the Red’s on Bloor Street West, Carmen’s Steak House (where we enjoyed lobster several times) on Alexander Street, east of Yonge, Da Maria on Vaughan Road, Prego at Avenue Road and Bloor Street, Rhodes and Bremen’s Bakery at St. Clair Avenue and Yonge Street, The Queen Mother Café and the Rivoli on Queen Street West of University, The Keg (in various locations, including St. Catherines) and the Keg Mansion at Gerard Avenue and Jarvis, Sansouci in the Sutton Place Hotel at Bay and Wellesley, Samina’s Tiffany on Dundas opposite the AGO, Le Rendez-vous restaurant and cellar on Lowther Avenue west of Avenue Road, Bemelman’s on the south side of Bloor Street just west of Bay Street, Old Angelo’s on Elm Street, the Senator Restaurant on Victoria, La Chaumière on Church Street at Charles Street, The Bloor Street Diner – originally upstairs on the north side of Bloor, just east of Bay and later in the Manulife Centre at Bay and Bloor, the Panorama Lounge (later the 180) on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre, the New Orleans Café on Yonge at St. Joseph’s, Toby’s Good Easts at several locations, including one at Yonge and Bloor, the Future Bakery on Bloor West and to the the Café de l’Auberge at the Inn on the Park, where there was a live band and dancing. Many, many fond memories that you have helped me recall so vividly with your excellent post. Thank you!
At 87 I remember every eatery mentioned and can say I dined at all but a few of them in the 50s and 60s. Those restaurants, many no longer around, hold an amazing history of Toronto. Going through the article brought me so many memories. Thanks for writing and sharing it.
Great article. Thanks so much for the memories.
Just a couple of corrections. Smitty’s was on Bloor Street in the Kingsway and it was the Arcadian Court, not Room
Old deli’s that have left us.
Coleman’s (Bathurst & Lawrence)
Yitzi’s (Eglinton & Avenue Rd.
Katz’s (Dufferin Street) across from Yorkdale Mall.