There hasn't been much eating out the last few days hence the lack of posts. Anyway today for a late lunch I went to burger king. I've covered the basics before but I didn't quite have the say thing today. Instead, today I had a BK Fish Fillet and a Whopper. I had to buy a large fries to get the whopper due to a complicated coupon and PST avoidance scheme. In the end I had to pay PST. The lesson from this, don't buy large fries and buy them separately. I was in a rush in a line and didn't do the math and in the end that cost me over 30 cents. Brutal!
On the upside, the BK Fish Fillet is really good. I haven't had a fillet-o-fish style sandwich in a while and I was pleasantly surprised. They're small but tasty. I ate while walking though so I couldn't really add the ketchup in that was required
Verdict: BK Fish is solid (on Fridays)
Friday, September 30, 2005
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Atrium Conference Centre
Today I went to a work related dinner for the AIST (Association of Iron and Steel Technology) dinner at the Atrium Conference Centre in Burlington. In case you are wondering (you probably aren't), the topic was "Dofasco's New #3 Acid Regeneration Unit"
What I ate: It was a set meal for $40, hopefully my company is paying. I got tomato soup (non-veggies got a meatball kind of soup), cesear sald, boiled veggies and potatoes (add shake and bake chicken for meat-eaters) and tira misu.
Review: Soup was so-so. Despite not being a cesear salad fan, I have to admit it was pretty good, veggies and potatoes were ok, but a real veggie entre would have been nice. Desert was awesome. Overall, rather overpriced, but that is ok since for most of the people there, their employer will foot the bill.
What I ate: It was a set meal for $40, hopefully my company is paying. I got tomato soup (non-veggies got a meatball kind of soup), cesear sald, boiled veggies and potatoes (add shake and bake chicken for meat-eaters) and tira misu.
Review: Soup was so-so. Despite not being a cesear salad fan, I have to admit it was pretty good, veggies and potatoes were ok, but a real veggie entre would have been nice. Desert was awesome. Overall, rather overpriced, but that is ok since for most of the people there, their employer will foot the bill.
Monday Update
So over the past few days, I haven't eaten out that much hence the lack of updates. I won't bother with real reviews and instead just pass along my 2 cents for now.
Friday - Subway
I never go to Subway anymore but I was short on time and it was the closest place. After this visit though I can say that it will be a really long time before I go back again. There are a few problems
Price: Subway is way too expensive - The only decent 6 inch for less than 4 bucks is meatball
Service: Since they added toasting their efficiency has gone way down.
Tastiness: I had to have the meatball sub (see earlier comment about price) but, after having Quizno's a few times last month, the Subway meatball is bland and unappetizing. I don't know what Quizno's does but it's an explosion of taste in your month when you eat the meatball but with subway it's an explosion of blandness.
Today - Youth Garden
Back to the fountain - same as always, this place does not disappoint (nor does it ever improve)
Friday - Subway
I never go to Subway anymore but I was short on time and it was the closest place. After this visit though I can say that it will be a really long time before I go back again. There are a few problems
Price: Subway is way too expensive - The only decent 6 inch for less than 4 bucks is meatball
Service: Since they added toasting their efficiency has gone way down.
Tastiness: I had to have the meatball sub (see earlier comment about price) but, after having Quizno's a few times last month, the Subway meatball is bland and unappetizing. I don't know what Quizno's does but it's an explosion of taste in your month when you eat the meatball but with subway it's an explosion of blandness.
Today - Youth Garden
Back to the fountain - same as always, this place does not disappoint (nor does it ever improve)
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Montana's
It was off to suburbia for some bed/furniture shopping for the new place. We went to Sleep Country Canada by Hurontario/Eglinton and decided to stop off at Montana's before heading over to Ikea.
Locations: Everywhere. Ranch-house style decor.
Menu: Tex-mex, Canadian style food.
What we ate: To start, I had a pint of beer (they didn't have my favorite, Moosehead), $6. Ian had his favorite, a coke, $2.35. Janice had the cheese nachos, double salsa, no sour cream ($9). Ian had the pork side ribs, texas bold bbq sauce with fries and cole slaw ($14 special).
Review: Ian and I aren't big "Canadian" style food eaters, but Montana's in one of our favorites in this genre. The nachos are huge with blue and white chips, a substantial amount of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and jalepenos. You can also get with beef/chicken. The salsa and sour cream come in fun tortilla bowls. They are alot of food for 1 person even as a main course, so I would recommend sharing. Overall, a top rate dish.
Ian's ribs were good, but not a heck of alot of meat. I guess what do you expect for $14. The side dishes were good, crispy well seasoned fries, creamy coleslaw. We've had the baked beans in the past, and they are also good.
To end the meal, we did not have desert, but previously we've had the mud pie, which is highly recommended.
Locations: Everywhere. Ranch-house style decor.
Menu: Tex-mex, Canadian style food.
What we ate: To start, I had a pint of beer (they didn't have my favorite, Moosehead), $6. Ian had his favorite, a coke, $2.35. Janice had the cheese nachos, double salsa, no sour cream ($9). Ian had the pork side ribs, texas bold bbq sauce with fries and cole slaw ($14 special).
Review: Ian and I aren't big "Canadian" style food eaters, but Montana's in one of our favorites in this genre. The nachos are huge with blue and white chips, a substantial amount of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and jalepenos. You can also get with beef/chicken. The salsa and sour cream come in fun tortilla bowls. They are alot of food for 1 person even as a main course, so I would recommend sharing. Overall, a top rate dish.
Ian's ribs were good, but not a heck of alot of meat. I guess what do you expect for $14. The side dishes were good, crispy well seasoned fries, creamy coleslaw. We've had the baked beans in the past, and they are also good.
To end the meal, we did not have desert, but previously we've had the mud pie, which is highly recommended.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Quizno's
My friend Stephen is in town for 4 months and works just down the road for me so we went out for lunch today.
Locations: everywhere
Menu: toasted subs
What I ate: veggie with most of the fixin's (small) + fruitopia + bag of chips. About $9
Review:I have no problem with the tastiness of this place. My sub was pretty good, the place was clean etc. My main beef with Quizno's is the price. Ian goes ocassionally and gets the super value small sub for $4 but even then it's not a heck of alot of food for your money. The restuarant was pretty busy when we went today, so I guess alot of people must not be as cheap as I am!
Locations: everywhere
Menu: toasted subs
What I ate: veggie with most of the fixin's (small) + fruitopia + bag of chips. About $9
Review:I have no problem with the tastiness of this place. My sub was pretty good, the place was clean etc. My main beef with Quizno's is the price. Ian goes ocassionally and gets the super value small sub for $4 but even then it's not a heck of alot of food for your money. The restuarant was pretty busy when we went today, so I guess alot of people must not be as cheap as I am!
Thursday, September 22, 2005
New Generation
It was raining today so I picked up Ian at school and we went to New Gen. This place is definitely in the weekend lunch rotation, but this year we started going for dinner.
Location: Bloor between Spadina and Bathurst
Menu: The usual cheap sushi. Good combos and bento boxes including soup and salad. Lunch for 2 is $16 tip included. Dinner for 2 is $22 tip included. Tea is free.
What we ate: For dinner, I had the Yasai box which came with soup, salad, veggie teriyaki stir fry, 6 kappa maki, veggie tempura, rice, a spring roll and deep fried tofu (all for $7.95, what a deal!). Ian had the Ume box with soup, salad, fish + veggie tempura, spring roll, teriyaki salmon fillet, rice, 3 kappa maki, 3 salmon roll. Also a good deal for only $8.95.
We'll review lunch later, but in short, Ian get's #1 with beef and I get the G, Yam maki set. In case you haven't figured out yet, I'm a vegetarian!
Review: As seen above, we are huge fans of this place. It is by far and away the best cheap sushi place we have been to in Toronto. No wonder this place lines people up outside the doors any night of the week. Service is extremely quick and polite and they even give you free green tea ice cream at dinner. You will not find any better value for your money than new gen. Avoid the other deserted cheap sushi places on Bloor they do not compare to new gen for service, quality and value. If you are feeling really hungry, check out our favorite bakery "Future" just down the street. Go for the cheesecakes...mmmmm.
Location: Bloor between Spadina and Bathurst
Menu: The usual cheap sushi. Good combos and bento boxes including soup and salad. Lunch for 2 is $16 tip included. Dinner for 2 is $22 tip included. Tea is free.
What we ate: For dinner, I had the Yasai box which came with soup, salad, veggie teriyaki stir fry, 6 kappa maki, veggie tempura, rice, a spring roll and deep fried tofu (all for $7.95, what a deal!). Ian had the Ume box with soup, salad, fish + veggie tempura, spring roll, teriyaki salmon fillet, rice, 3 kappa maki, 3 salmon roll. Also a good deal for only $8.95.
We'll review lunch later, but in short, Ian get's #1 with beef and I get the G, Yam maki set. In case you haven't figured out yet, I'm a vegetarian!
Review: As seen above, we are huge fans of this place. It is by far and away the best cheap sushi place we have been to in Toronto. No wonder this place lines people up outside the doors any night of the week. Service is extremely quick and polite and they even give you free green tea ice cream at dinner. You will not find any better value for your money than new gen. Avoid the other deserted cheap sushi places on Bloor they do not compare to new gen for service, quality and value. If you are feeling really hungry, check out our favorite bakery "Future" just down the street. Go for the cheesecakes...mmmmm.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Burger King
Today's lunch was at Burger King or BK for short. Most people have been to BK but I'll review from a cheap eater's perspective
Location: Everywhere, I went to the one at College and Spadina
Menu: Daily sandwich special - only thing worth getting so don't bother looking
What I Ate: It's tuesday so it was the original chicken.
Review:
There have been two big changes at BK in recent memory. First they upped the price of the daily sandwich specials to 1.79 from 1.69. A dark day! Then recently they changed the sandwiches. Bacon double cheeseburger thursday which was once the best deal out there is gone!!!! In it's place is just a bacon cheese-single-burger. An even darker day!!! Really the best day of the week is now Whopper Wednesday. It's usually the only day of the week that I go to BK now. Other than the daily specials things are really expensive at BK. All of the combos last time I checked were over the 4 buck threshold and paying PST on fast food just doesn't seem right.
Location: Everywhere, I went to the one at College and Spadina
Menu: Daily sandwich special - only thing worth getting so don't bother looking
What I Ate: It's tuesday so it was the original chicken.
Review:
There have been two big changes at BK in recent memory. First they upped the price of the daily sandwich specials to 1.79 from 1.69. A dark day! Then recently they changed the sandwiches. Bacon double cheeseburger thursday which was once the best deal out there is gone!!!! In it's place is just a bacon cheese-single-burger. An even darker day!!! Really the best day of the week is now Whopper Wednesday. It's usually the only day of the week that I go to BK now. Other than the daily specials things are really expensive at BK. All of the combos last time I checked were over the 4 buck threshold and paying PST on fast food just doesn't seem right.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Youth Garden
This is a regular in my rotation and I like to call it the fountain of youth. Here's a quick summary
Location: College across from King's College Circle
Menu: Chinese U-Pick at lunch, or a full menu which I've rarely tried
What I ate: 3 items to go - fried rice, curry chicken and bean sprouts
Review:
There is only one reason to go, price. 4 bucks for three items is a good deal so I hit this place a few times a week usually. As cheap chinese restaurants go, the food is OK. The service is prompt and the line, if there is one, moves quickly. My biggest complaint with this place is that sometimes they don't ring up the transaction. If they're going to do that they should at least pass the savings from the unreported income along to me.
Location: College across from King's College Circle
Menu: Chinese U-Pick at lunch, or a full menu which I've rarely tried
What I ate: 3 items to go - fried rice, curry chicken and bean sprouts
Review:
There is only one reason to go, price. 4 bucks for three items is a good deal so I hit this place a few times a week usually. As cheap chinese restaurants go, the food is OK. The service is prompt and the line, if there is one, moves quickly. My biggest complaint with this place is that sometimes they don't ring up the transaction. If they're going to do that they should at least pass the savings from the unreported income along to me.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Ate at home
After the disappointing sushi, we ate at home tonight. The review: alright quesadillas care of a Moosewood cookbook.
Sushi Time
www.sushitime.ca
Location:
Queen West, East of Spadina. Another location on Bloor, but we have just eaten at the Queen W location. Good for people watching.
Decor:
Standard sushi bar, nice brick walls, some retro-ish decorations. Nice booths, mostly tables.
Menu:
Standard cheap-ish sushi, shashimi, teriyaki, bento boxes. Prices range from $7 to $12 for a full lunch/dinner bento box or combo including soup and salad.
What we ate:
Ian had the "Basketball" combo set that includes miso soup, green salad, salmon teriyaki (although can get beef, chicken, shrimp), some tempura, crab cakes and 3 kappa maki and 3 salmon rolls. Price: $8.50.
Janice had the vegetarian sushi roll set with plum, carrot, cucumber, avocado and some mystery yellow veggie rolls. Set included good soup and salad. Price $10.25.
Review:
We have recently moved from the Annex and couldn't help but compare Sushi Time to our favorite cheap lunch place New Generation (Bloor between Spadina/Bathurst). With a name like Sushi Time you would expect decent sushi, but this certainly was not the case. The rice was poor and rolls were loose and sloppy looking. The yummy soup and salad was certainly not enough to overcome the shortfalls of the veggie sushi platter. Ian was equally disapppointed with only so-so salmon teriyaki, lifeless tempura and bland rice. Although we live close to the Queen W Sushi Time location, we are most certainly going to keep making the trek to New Gen. Their prices are cheaper and quality is much higher.
Location:
Queen West, East of Spadina. Another location on Bloor, but we have just eaten at the Queen W location. Good for people watching.
Decor:
Standard sushi bar, nice brick walls, some retro-ish decorations. Nice booths, mostly tables.
Menu:
Standard cheap-ish sushi, shashimi, teriyaki, bento boxes. Prices range from $7 to $12 for a full lunch/dinner bento box or combo including soup and salad.
What we ate:
Ian had the "Basketball" combo set that includes miso soup, green salad, salmon teriyaki (although can get beef, chicken, shrimp), some tempura, crab cakes and 3 kappa maki and 3 salmon rolls. Price: $8.50.
Janice had the vegetarian sushi roll set with plum, carrot, cucumber, avocado and some mystery yellow veggie rolls. Set included good soup and salad. Price $10.25.
Review:
We have recently moved from the Annex and couldn't help but compare Sushi Time to our favorite cheap lunch place New Generation (Bloor between Spadina/Bathurst). With a name like Sushi Time you would expect decent sushi, but this certainly was not the case. The rice was poor and rolls were loose and sloppy looking. The yummy soup and salad was certainly not enough to overcome the shortfalls of the veggie sushi platter. Ian was equally disapppointed with only so-so salmon teriyaki, lifeless tempura and bland rice. Although we live close to the Queen W Sushi Time location, we are most certainly going to keep making the trek to New Gen. Their prices are cheaper and quality is much higher.
Welcome
Hey everyone. This is Janice and Ian's new blog. We are eating out fans (Ian more than Janice) and you can follow along with us as we discover new restaurants in Toronto.
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