My Grandmother waitressed there for decades, in the 60s a special treat was to head down from the burbs (Scarberia, Vic. In fact, Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". [.] I also remember a time when Lonestar Texas Grill (Simcoe Place) was really, really good. . Lobster and ice cold beer on a hot July day, overlooking the harbour, was as close to heaven as Ill likely ever get. Bassels Restaurant, which occupied the equivalent space of three stores on Yonge Street. Dining in Queen Street and West Queen West (Toronto), Ontario: See 302,621 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 8,980 Toronto restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. Fond memories of Georges Spaghetti House on Dundas St. famous for its pizzathis from visits from the late 50s to early 60sas well as the Jazz combo that played near the entrance. Add to Favorites 1980's Toronto Blue Jays Sticker Collection Starliner Permanent Stickers Collectible . Only went there a couple of times while I was on delivery. 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. 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. I understand it was operating back in the thirties. 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. As in big fat Lardys? Use to ride our bikes to swiss chalet at yonge and sinclair for french fries. The Hungarian Village at 900 Bay Street served Hungarian food and featured live Gypsy violinists. I grew up in Leaside and have dined at most of the restaurants you mention. I remember being treated to lunch there by a friend, prior to my departure for a holiday. - also score high on the nostalgic food-o-meter, primary thanks to their yummy deep fried ice cream, piping hot plates and cheap margaritas. The 25 Best Restaurants in Toronto, from Omakase to Diners | Cond Nast Traveler Video SALE: SUBSCRIBE AND GET 1 YEAR FOR $21.99 $5 North America Canada Ontario Toronto Destinations 25 Best. On its the south facade, there was a green neon sign that created the outline of a steer. The Gods of frugal yum smiled down on us, bestowing fabled chains which offered affordable eats for family friendly visits and left behind indelible impressions in our minds and taste buds even long after they had shuttered, gone into receivership or been chewed up by corporate garburators. The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes.. Toronto Archives, S0372, SS058, item 2482. And what was it most recently? I believe Simpsons main restaurant was called the Arcadian Court, not Arcadian Room, at least for some period of time during its existence. The smaller boat of Captain Johns, the Normac, in the 1970s, the larger ship the Jadran in the background. Anyone remember the name of the steakhouse? 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. In my eyes, the buffet was lobster-lobster-lobster. By now I am certain that you have guessed that I LOVE lobster. Yeahthat was great. There is mow an Irish pub in that location your dinner. It opened at 375 Church Street in 1964. Upstairs was where everyone went for their delicious steaks! A small cozy establishment, owned by John Lundager, it featured Danish/Canadian cuisine. Thanks for the memories! Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter. And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. Member Bio Joined Mar 14, 2008 Messages 1,656 Reaction score 1,524. Of course, there a Chinese restaurant at the mall before Pearl took over (Yenching). Popular during the 70s and early 80s, the sandwich consisted of taco meat, shredded lettuce, mild "border sauce" and diced onions. Do you know if it was open in 1945? Another fave of mine was The Moorings, best lobster thermidor in the city! The other favourite buffet in that decade was the Savarin Tavern, located at 336 Bay Street. This would be in the early 1950s. 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. The sign and awning are there but it closed long ago. Husband & wife moved and still operate a fine restaurant in the Gattineau area. He knew the chain from Montreal and was watching for my expression when they didnt bring cutlery. 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B9 Canada +1 416-921-4061 + Add website. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. After a massive expansion which saw over 40 locations arise in Ontario (22 in Toronto alone), the chain was crippled by the 1982 recession, forcing owners Foodex Inc. to sell most of their locations to Pizza Hut, who wasted little time in aping Vetere's popular Deep Dish style Pizza but without the pizzaz. This restaurant opened in 1959, and is one of the few from the days of my youth that still exists. Introducing brunch was so . Started in 1972 by Frank Vetere, the red and green shutters and offbeat interior (mixing Carnival mirrors, cartoons and great moments in Pizza history) provided an imaginative setting, bested only by their Chicago style deep-dish toppings heavy pizza which oozed that authentic Italian touch and was rightfully branded "the best pizza you've ever tasted". Just steps away from the Gardens. The Graf Bobby Restaurant on Wellington Street. I loved Frans on Yonge St across from Sams. Many of these places I remember my parents going to and talking about. They sure did a land-office business of fishn chips both eat-in and take-out on Friday evenings! This was in late 50s and through the 60s so Im sure they both knew your grandmother. I remember having a birthday lunch at the Sussex Centre location in Mississauga and ordering the enormous "Kitchen Sink" sundae. By : DENISE BENSON Club : Twilight Zone, 185 Richmond Street W. Years in operation: 1980 - 1989 One of the ethnic restaurants that stands out in my memory is Acropole. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Memories of Torontos restaurants of the past, Plans for Waterworks Building at 505 Richmond Street West, Captain Johns Seafood RestaurantToronto. 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. 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 building where the restaurant was located was designated a Heritage site in 1980. One woman prepared in the kitchen. Closed now : See all hours. Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen. A Hamburger was 25-30 cents and a coke 10 cents! Either one might still be in place, albeit perhaps under different names; I havent been to the building since Simpsons went out of business, and havent been downtown in a long while, as well. 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. comments, Toronto's buffet scene is shrinking but a few restaurants are still holding out, Jagmeet Singh calls out 'greedy CEOs' at Loblaws and Sobeys for high prices, Huge fast food brand likely behind viral 'TTC French toast guy' stunt in Toronto, Toronto shopper outraged as maple syrup prices more than double in a few months, Grocery store nailed with 13 infractions from Toronto health inspectors, Toronto restaurants reintroduce lunch in hopes that industry luck has improved. The owner (whose name I cant remember) lived in a posh house in Mississauga with an indoor pool, which was a big deal in the 50s. It was called The Ports of Call. I believe that the coupon had a value of $20, and it covered the entire cost of the meal. 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. It started as a Yorkville coffeehouse in the 60s where acts like Harry Belafonte, Nana Mouskouri, Gordon Lightfoot . Almost every night after homework was done we could be found there. I doyes it was very posh. When I had a little money Lindys on Younge and when I was broke The Blue Cellar on Bloor or Grossmans on Spadina. Brings back a lot of pleasant memories. More recently, I really miss Lee Gardens on Spadina! Lichee Garden. Loved reading this and all the great memories. The waiter smiled; he had likely heard similar comments on previous occasions. I am not certain of its location, but I believe it was on Dundas Street West, near Bay Street. Images courtesy Patti Habib, The Big Bop / Reverb, Myke Dyer, Citysonic, Wrongbar, David Waldman . Best of memories for her. After attending the theatre, we visited Bassels where we usually ordered coffee and pie with whipped cream, or if we went to Bassels in the evening, before the theatre, we had a western sandwich and fries. Loved Le Savarin. Inside, near the entrance, there was a replica of Copenhagens famous statue of The Little Mermaid, from the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Toronto Archives, F1526, fl0008, item 0116. We need more of these memories postedthe guitarist who played at the 33rd? Another place I loved was Leslie's Bakery, which was on Steeles. Which surprises me as it was a wonderfully bizarre experience. Great memories. Once in awhile, wed go the Prime Restaurant, and order one of the giant butter tarts, plate sized treats, runny and gooey and just plain good. Actually my fondest memory as a child was the chocolate (malted) soft ice cream cone in the basement of Eatons near the tunnel to the Annex, the discount or clearance Eaton store. I remember it well, but was never inside it. My Favourite seafood restaurant in Toronto was The Mermaid, at 724 Bay Street, which opened in 1964. For an exceptional dining experience, opt for the wine pairings, matched by wine director Christopher Sealy. The Bagel King The original bagel place Eglinton west Paradise Regained the restoration of the Paradise Theatre. Those were the days!! The restaurant's owner Anthony Rose has a couple other restaurants in the city. Sometimes, they'd have hot dogs, and I recall eating them with my grandmother when I was small. Its two owners (and chefs) once cooked for the royal court in Madrid. Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. 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. Wasnt it Lardys? For more than half a century, the House of Chan, a steakhouse and Chinese restaurant near the corner of Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue West in Forest Hill, has stood as a de facto living. By: David Sanderson Posted: 3:00 AM CST Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 Last Modified: 12 . Here are just a proposal for a correction, and a recollection of my own. We also offer outdoor dining on our glass enclosed, heated Terrace/Veranda year-round. Their favourite (and a family treat for birthdays) for many years was Carmens. Running restaurants, especially, three, must have been tough with the long hours etc. Harrys Steak House on the southwest corner of Church and Granby Streets opened in 1961. And thanks to Toronto History 's photo archive, we can take a peek at what exactly was going on in the city in the city 40 years ago. Joes and Moes Eglinton west of Bathurst Mocktails are everywhere in Toronto right now but why are they so expensive? We moved to Vancouver and every year when I flew to Toronto the first stop was switzers. (formerly Prospere Magazine), an online-only lifestyle publication targeting young, hip professional women. House Of Chan Steak'N Lobster Dining Lounge. That was the Underground Railroad. Mothers Pizza. As I recall there was another one the same size accross the road, I believe to the South. 181 Bathurst St., 416-364-9320, 416snackbar.com. It had great food and was so cosy and warm on winter nights. There were two famous buffet restaurants in Toronto in the 1960s. The 1980s were unkind to Mothers, and even though Blue Jays Ernie Whitt, Loyd Moseby and Cito Gaston invested in the company (there was even "Ernie Whitt Specials") and helped market it along with Duel dodger Dennis Weaver! 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. was a regular singer there and thats how they met! The majority of their remaining locations were unceremoniously gobbled up by Outback Steakhouse, with nary a drop of salsa left behind. . Anyone have any memories of Teds Coffee Shop at the corner of Eglinton & Mt. This sandwich was first introduced in the mid 1970s and lasted until the mid 1990s, representing the Bell's attempt at their own fast food hamburger. Funky, pre-gentrified Jack Astors. Georges Spaghetti House was a wonderful restaurant with a great menu. I always requested a table in the glass-covered courtyard as it was akin to dining in a garden. When my wife requested a special dessert because of a medical condition, no problem. It was called The Swiss Marmite I believe these are both gone now, as I enjoyed these in the early to mid 80s. Ponderosa was a popular birthday destination in the 80s, owing to the group friendly prices, kid friendly zones and fun-tastic birthday hats. The sign looks like El Toro. also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge. very posh at the time!! . The Sign of the Steer Restaurant at 161 Dupont Street in 1955, the neon sign of a steer visible on the south wall. Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". For her, there was no turning back. The cones were 5 or 10 cents and it made shopping with my mother bearable. Another favourite of many Torontonians was the Georgian Room on the 9th floor of the old Eatons store at Queen and Yonge Street. But there was another one, Lous, on Dufferin St. run by one of my mothers cousins. Could someone remember the name. I discovered some errors on these web sites, but still, I am grateful that these sources were available. Charles took all 14 orders & I am sure that Charles heard the school principal state Does he know what he is doing? Brown Derby Tavern at Yonge and Dundas (1970s). I thought I had died and entered heaven when I first tasted their Delmonico steak. Used to be when it came to family dining out on a budget, Toronto was spoiled for choice. A throwback to another time and era. Thankfully not all of our beloved retro chains have sad endings: Mothers Pizza Parlour & Spaghetti House, another fondly remembered family joint - returned from the grave back in 2013. Sep 13, 2019 - Restaurants that I ate at as a child..most no longer exist. In 1954 to 1957 My parents, my sister and I lived at 7 Elm street in Toronto. 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. This book will also be released in the spring of 2016. Do you remember a delightful Greek restaurant that was on the west side of Church St. midway between Wellington and The Esplanade? I remember that when entering the restaurant, I walked over a wooden foot bridge that spanned a stream of flowing water. Our favorite memories included breakfast at Sassafraz. The meal consisted of thick juicy slices of tender roast beef, mashed potatoes, green peas, and Yorkshire pudding. 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 remember cabbage rolls, meatballs with rice, beef stew & baklava for dessert. And yeah, the Beggars Banquet Music Festivals. I think it was located at 12 Adelaide. The northern half of the semi-detached house was occupied by another well-known restaurantQuenelles. I remember so many events and celebrations over the years at these restaurants with family and friends.Thank you. Maybe a beer or two at Hemmingways, and dinner at Arlequins. They served their regular fare downstairs on the street floor. I once attended a wedding reception in the banquet room in the basement of the Swiss Chalet at its Yonge Street location. This was in September 1957. As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. Your list is amazing. 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 Torontos old movie theatres will be released in the spring of 2016, entitled, Torontos Movie Theatres of YesteryearBrought Back to Thrill You Again.. Sure would like to know who you are. It started in the thirties & I think it had closed by about 1990. It was my first experience with Japanese food. Also was Western Sizzlin Sizzler Red Lobster was starting to come into it's own There were 2 UK fish & chips houses that we. It cost around 2 bucks. It helped that before Taco Bell got a stranglehold on the GTA in the mid-1990s, Chi Chi's was the only ubiquitous Mexican game in town. Yes, nice view of the ravine. Thank you so much I was privileged to enjoy most of these wonderful establishments over three decades. The 19 best restaurants in Toronto A wildly diverse and energetic population have turned the best restaurants in Toronto into real foodie destinations Written by Sandra Osojnik & Mary Luz Mejia. 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. 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. 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