I'll be in Toronto at the end of this month and I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a place near Roy Thompson Hall that allows corkage. I am going to the symphony concert right after meeting friends for an early dinner.
Thanks!
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I would go to Crush or Nota Bene ($25 and $40 corkage, respectively). Stay away from the places on King as they are tourist traps.
The one exception would likely be if Paese's new location is open. It wasn't when I walked past last week.
The one exception would likely be if Paese's new location is open. It wasn't when I walked past last week.
quote:Originally posted by futronic:
I would go to Crush or Nota Bene ($25 and $40 corkage, respectively). Stay away from the places on King as they are tourist traps.
The one exception would likely be if Paese's new location is open. It wasn't when I walked past last week.
Someone suggested Trevor as a reasonable choice, I think corkage is free on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Trevor is quite a way from Roy Thompson Hall though. If you're rushing to the symphony after a meal, it would probably make sense to have somewhere closer. The two places I suggested are only a couple blocks away (Nota Bene being the closer of the two).
Trevor is terrible.
Try eating here.
http://www.amuseboucherestaurant.com/
It's a quick cab ride down King and the food is awesome. Corkage is $30 a bottle.
Try eating here.
http://www.amuseboucherestaurant.com/
It's a quick cab ride down King and the food is awesome. Corkage is $30 a bottle.
CSM:
Quick question about Amuse Bouche since I know you like the place a lot. I heard a rumour that it was closing. Is that true?
Quick question about Amuse Bouche since I know you like the place a lot. I heard a rumour that it was closing. Is that true?
It is closing, sadly, at the end of May. Really a shame as it is my favourite restaurant in Toronto. I'm hoping to go a couple more times between now and then.
Any updates on recommendations (who is cooking good food now, with or without corkage?)
Nota Bene has reduced their corkage to $25 per bottle as well as their one bottle per two people limit. I had supper there on Thursday and it was excellent. It's a loud room, so be prepared.
Splendido is also excellent. Corkage is $30.
I've had fantastic meals at both restaurants in the past month or so.
Splendido is also excellent. Corkage is $30.
I've had fantastic meals at both restaurants in the past month or so.
quote:Originally posted by futronic:
Nota Bene has reduced their corkage to $25 per bottle as well as their one bottle per two people limit. I had supper there on Thursday and it was excellent. It's a loud room, so be prepared.
Splendido is also excellent. Corkage is $30.
I've had fantastic meals at both restaurants in the past month or so.
+1 on Nota Bene, had an excellent meal there a couple weeks back. $25 is a decent corkage for the big smoke.
quote:Originally posted by futronic:
Nota Bene has reduced their corkage to $25 per bottle as well as their one bottle per two people limit. I had supper there on Thursday and it was excellent. It's a loud room, so be prepared.
Splendido is also excellent. Corkage is $30.
I've had fantastic meals at both restaurants in the past month or so.
Thanks for the recommendations. I noticed the corkage reduction at NB, that is a plus...not sure if I can take the loud atmosphere (I need some peace and quiet). Enjoyed the food last time we visited. Did you go to splendido before the ownership change, if so how does food/service compare?
Actually thinking of Colborne Lane or George for the tasting menu, and will save bringing a bottle for another time when we can take a cab (we will be stuck with at least 1 car downtown tomorrow).
Yes, I dined at Splendido before the ownership change. Some of the staff is the same and the service level continues to be high. It is not as formal (teams of servers having plates hitting the table at the same time, etc), but the professionalism is the same.
To be honest, I like the room much more now than before. It's much brighter and "fresher." More open also. The only thing I don't like is the stupid rack of in-house canned items (in mason jars) that divide the dining room from the kitchen. I'm all for local and am happy they can their own stuff and use it throughout the season, but it looks way too Jamie Kennedy for me.
I understand your concern about noise in a restaurant but believe it or not, Nota Bene is not as bad as some places I've been to! It's about at my limit though.
Can't help you with Colborne Lane or George though. I haven't been to the former and it's been some time since I've been to the latter. That said, based on feedback from friends whose palates I trust, you're better off going to George. Also, I didn't know that Colborne Lane did corkage? George definitely does.
To be honest, I like the room much more now than before. It's much brighter and "fresher." More open also. The only thing I don't like is the stupid rack of in-house canned items (in mason jars) that divide the dining room from the kitchen. I'm all for local and am happy they can their own stuff and use it throughout the season, but it looks way too Jamie Kennedy for me.
I understand your concern about noise in a restaurant but believe it or not, Nota Bene is not as bad as some places I've been to! It's about at my limit though.
Can't help you with Colborne Lane or George though. I haven't been to the former and it's been some time since I've been to the latter. That said, based on feedback from friends whose palates I trust, you're better off going to George. Also, I didn't know that Colborne Lane did corkage? George definitely does.
quote:Originally posted by futronic:
Yes, I dined at Splendido before the ownership change. Some of the staff is the same and the service level continues to be high. It is not as formal (teams of servers having plates hitting the table at the same time, etc), but the professionalism is the same.
To be honest, I like the room much more now than before. It's much brighter and "fresher." More open also. The only thing I don't like is the stupid rack of in-house canned items (in mason jars) that divide the dining room from the kitchen. I'm all for local and am happy they can their own stuff and use it throughout the season, but it looks way too Jamie Kennedy for me.
I understand your concern about noise in a restaurant but believe it or not, Nota Bene is not as bad as some places I've been to! It's about at my limit though.
Can't help you with Colborne Lane or George though. I haven't been to the former and it's been some time since I've been to the latter. That said, based on feedback from friends whose palates I trust, you're better off going to George. Also, I didn't know that Colborne Lane did corkage? George definitely does.
No corkage at Colborne, but we were thinking of the tasting menu if we go there (so would take the pairings). Not sure if I am in the mood for molecular gastronomy, so might be george (tasting menu/pairings), and will save the NB or Splendido for another day when we are more organized.
I think corkage at George is $50 and the food was mediocre at best when I ate there at the beginning of June. I'd look elsewhere.
quote:Originally posted by CSM:
I think corkage at George is $50 and the food was mediocre at best when I ate there at the beginning of June. I'd look elsewhere.
Thanks for the recommendation. I suppose my main goal is finding only places with excellent food. Nice to have the corkage bonus, but if food is not excellent then not much point going, I can cook better than mediocre myself, save cab money, and pay 0 corkage at home! I will post follow up if we go somewhere interesting, but 50/50 that at this point we will just do a quick stop at Terroni.
quote:Originally posted by Machine:
Thanks for the recommendation. I suppose my main goal is finding only places with excellent food. Nice to have the corkage bonus, but if food is not excellent then not much point going, I can cook better than mediocre myself, save cab money, and pay 0 corkage at home! I will post follow up if we go somewhere interesting, but 50/50 that at this point we will just do a quick stop at Terroni.
But if you started charging corkage at home, think of all the nice wines you can buy with that money.
quote:Originally posted by WEc:quote:Originally posted by Machine:
Thanks for the recommendation. I suppose my main goal is finding only places with excellent food. Nice to have the corkage bonus, but if food is not excellent then not much point going, I can cook better than mediocre myself, save cab money, and pay 0 corkage at home! I will post follow up if we go somewhere interesting, but 50/50 that at this point we will just do a quick stop at Terroni.
But if you started charging corkage at home, think of all the nice wines you can buy with that money.
I dunno, my cooking methods can be a little wasteful (excessive tasting, sloppy trimming during cooking) and time consuming. Despite the frequently tasty ultimate result, I think I would have to charge visitors enough corkage to make up for my wasted food profits...though might make up for it with # of bottles required to be consumed because of how long it takes me to cook my way through an entire meal. All of these courses for me and wife tasted good (presentation amateurish on some/all, don't look too closely please) but i think we ate the last course around 11 p.m. My friends largely avoid eating/drinking like this, so lots of meals for two of this nature (a few attempts at cooking like this for large parties worked out, but not something I would want to repeat more than twice a year). I want someone else to cook me a tasting menu for once.
yum! monbo.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com...259_07a70416b4_b.jpg
snow crab wrapped in avocado with creme fraiche
http://farm3.static.flickr.com...676_6b3fb7dba3_b.jpg
lobster tortellini with mushroom shallot butter
http://farm3.static.flickr.com...529_152bb44549_b.jpg
cornish hen with truffle, oyster mushroom, baby bok choy, light veal demi glace
http://farm3.static.flickr.com...605_a0b575166e_b.jpg
lamb, couscous, shiitake, light veal demi glace
http://farm5.static.flickr.com...936_004e6d3515_b.jpg
blackberry financier, home made vanilla ice cream
http://farm5.static.flickr.com...821_7bc7b96614_b.jpg
1) I meant charge yourself corkage and
2) surely, you didn't think I was serious.
2) surely, you didn't think I was serious.
quote:Originally posted by WEc:
1) I meant charge yourself corkage and
2) surely, you didn't think I was serious.
1) I wouldn't pay...too cheap
2) no, but it might be a good idea for some of the freeloaders that drop by. and no that is not serious.