Another memory is The Raclette which was on Queen st W, probably east of Spadina on the south side. Reading the message involving Prime Restaurant was pleasantly surprising. I remember having lunch there with my mother. I understand it was operating back in the thirties. 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! We thought it was great. 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. Never wrote down your order, but it was served exactly to each person. On the north side just East of Parliament was Macedonian Village. Chinese Food Restaurants, Asian Restaurants. The prices were more modest and the steaks were almost as good. From the late-1960s until the 1980s, the name of the Maitre d was Tage Christensen. So many happy dining memories. 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. Also was Western Sizzlin Sizzler Red Lobster was starting to come into it's own There were 2 UK fish & chips houses that we. a wonderful cafeteria as welltoasted danish, chicken pot pies.ate lunch there most days when working for Simpsons circa 1962/1964.good old days! It was on the West side of Yonge street just south of Hogs Hollow. 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. It contained three dining roomsthe Bali Hai Room (Polynesian), the Dickens English Inn (roast beef) and Caesars Room (Italian). Converted from a house to the Busy Bee Dinder in 1929, the "B" consisted of an open kitchen and counter, and became a local destination for traditional meals and coffee to go. Although it didn't hold up against Chili's, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's, there was a time when it was fairly ubiquitous throughout the states. Maybe around Bloor St. and Avenue Rd. Charles (waiter) had a fabulous memory. The old world charm was quite memorable. Eds restaurants and the Royal Alex were the impetus that started the gentrification of King Street West. They eventually parted ways and he opened a restaurant of the same name on OConnor with my grandmother. 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. Lime Ricky's on Eglinton was the first to come to mind. I beleive to this day, it was Charles way to draw attention to the principals remark. Also remember the Prime, Salernos and the Sky Ranch. 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 waiter offered to provide the proper attire from among the jackets and ties that they kept for such situations. Bell Beefer. The Ports of Call also had two bars the Singapore Bar (Asian) and the Batton Rouge Bar (French), the latter featuring dancing. One that was left out was The Restaurant, part of the Three Small Rooms. We were in elementary school and we always shared a huge communal bowl of ice cream (all six or seven of uswe obviously did not believe in germs back thenhahaha). Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. That is not Tom Jones Steak House. I worked at the Whitney Block at Queens Park 66/67 and we would stop by occasionally for a drink before heading home. 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B9 Canada +1 416-921-4061 + Add website. By: David Sanderson Posted: 3:00 AM CST Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 Last Modified: 12 . However, Ed Mirvish had purchased the Royal Alexandria Theatre and wanted to attract people to the area. was a regular singer there and thats how they met! 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. 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. The menu is ever-evolving, but memorable mouthfuls include pleasure-pocket taleggio cheese, grape, and onion agnolotti; and delicate hamachi topped with xo sauce, tomato consomme, and creme . Another place I loved was Leslie's Bakery, which was on Steeles. Photo of the front (insert) and the interior of Quo Vadis Restaurant, from Chuckmans Postcard Collection (chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com). In 1948, owner George Nicolau renovated and expanded the Busy Bee and renamed it the Senator. It closed up years ago. My first experience with a steak house of quality was Barbarians, on Elm Street. In the photo, the black building in the distance, on the far left, is a Coles Book Store. The feature that I remember the most was the hors-doeuvres 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. Oh for the good old days. 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 always requested a table in the glass-covered courtyard as it was akin to dining in a garden. 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. It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge. very posh at the time!! I was never inside this restaurant, but I as I recall, it had a great reputation for charcoal-broiled steak. La Provencal at 23 St. Thomas Street (great escargot), Julies Mansion at 515 Jarvis Street, Gastons 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). 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. Enhance this page - Upload photos! You are using an out of date browser. I remember the Prime at Dixie Plaza. The names of the dishes so were unfamiliar to most Torontonians that menus at the Acropole were useless. As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. Cherry Street Bar-b-que. I remember such a restaurant located on the East side of Yonge Street, just north of Summerhill Station. When it changed hands it cheapened the quality of the food but increased the prices. A popular pregame location. Thank you so much I was privileged to enjoy most of these wonderful establishments over three decades. 10 Places. Toronto has some great restaurants, delis and buffets. You just picked everything up in your fingers. 16 Places . Thank you very much for contacting me. I inquired if I should wear a tie and jacket and was told that they were unnecessary. that was a Toronto streetcar converted to an eating place? Lobster and ice cold beer on a hot July day, overlooking the harbour, was as close to heaven as Ill likely ever get. It had a name like the Percy House, but nothing came up googling that. 14 Places. He was a very smart businessman as well as a big-hearted individual. 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. Nothing fancy but I remember great cabbage rolls & chicken stew there in the seventies. Toronto Archives, F1257, S1057, item 073. The meal consisted of thick juicy slices of tender roast beef, mashed potatoes, green peas, and Yorkshire pudding. I was wondering if anyone else would remember Malloneys. 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. Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen. 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. Arcadian Court in Simpson's Doug Taylor, Toronto history historic Toronto Queen Street West tayloronhistory.com Toronto's restaurant of the past. I still have the silver tea service they gave my mom when she left. Just steps away from the Gardens. Does anybody remember the Club 12 in Toronto, I believe it closed in the late 50s. Menus, Photos, Ratings and Reviews for Seafood Restaurants in Toronto - Seafood Restaurants By using this site you agree to Zomato's use of cookies to give you a personalised experience. I started going to Switzers on Spadina in 1955. The Bagel King The original bagel place Eglinton west Sometimes, they'd have hot dogs, and I recall eating them with my grandmother when I was small. . As I recall it was not a large establishment, but the cuisine was delectable! I met my first husband there. 111 King St E, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1G6 Canada +1 416-361-9666 Website. Good times in the early 60s. When I had a little money Lindys on Younge and when I was broke The Blue Cellar on Bloor or Grossmans on Spadina. 24. We recommended to our school PTA to have a dinner meeting there. 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. Another fave of mine was The Moorings, best lobster thermidor in the city! The Senator | 1929, 88 years old. Its facade has changed greatly since the 1950s. The restaurant's owner Anthony Rose has a couple other restaurants in the city. When I asked for something not on the menu, it was no problem. Mary Johns, I think was on Elizabeth St. around Gerrard. The one on St Clair was open all night. Answer: Bonanza Ponderosa Both these were family steak houses owned by actor Dan Blocker who played HOSS on the tv hit series called BONANZA about the Ponderosa ranch. . Sure would like to know who you are. In the 1950s, high schools did not provide texts. We always started the meal at the Mermaid with the Copenhagen Seafood Chowder, which was a Danish version of New England clam chowderrich and creamy. Toronto Gone - photos from 1980s Toronto. Asked . When I was a boy in the 1940s, my family did not visit restaurants as my parents considered them too expensive. And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. Paradise Regained the restoration of the Paradise Theatre. Does anyone recall The Toronto Radio Artists Club (TRAC)? One simple one was the RED HOT stand in the annex of Eatons hot dogs and mustard with a napkin and orange pop loved them. Late Night Restaurants. Both the service and the food were beyond excellent. Brings back so many memories! Old school style and service, updated with the freshest local ingredients, no MSG and Zero Trans Fats. Another favourite downtown restaurant was Bassels, on the southeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard Streets. 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. They were Macedonian, but the food was contemporary of the time. Toronto Restaurants; Use the app to find the best restaurants and hotels everywhere Be the first to get news and update about the MICHELIN Guide Subscribe Michelin will process your personal data to (i) manage your subscription (ii) and measure the performance of our campaigns and analyze your interactions with our communications. We had fish n chips too, although I dont remember the name of the shop. Specialties: Classic Cantonese Cuisine - all served in a truly iconic, retro room. It was reported that John Turner had his own table at Winstons. Toronto Archives, F1257, item 0504. The closest I have come to getting the same flavor and texture is with a chain in Detroit. Chips in a cup We visited the restaurant after it relocated to Dundas Street West, opposite the Art Gallery (AGO), but it was not the same. They sure did a land-office business of fishn chips both eat-in and take-out on Friday evenings! There was a second location on the east side of Yonge south of Charles. Long gone but fondly remembered. These restaurants were favourites when we visited Loews Uptown or the Town Cinema Theatre on Bloor Street East. I also remember the Tivoli on Yonge south of Gerrard on the east side. And yeah, the Beggars Banquet Music Festivals. I haven't visited one in over a decade, but I think the Elvis Shrine was the last vestige of this era. My family never forgot his generosity. When we arrived, we discovered that a tie and jacket were indeed mandatory, as it was Eds Warehouse on King Street. Clip. It did not last long under the new management. Restaurants of the 70-80s in TO by barb Sun Jan 09, 2005 9:29 pm Yes, The Gasworks, the Yonge Station, The Colonial, The Embassy, The Elmacombo, The Isabella House, The Ports, Sammy's Cellar, The Plaz Bigalle, Nick's Underground, The Queensbury, Did I drink too much back then? Located on Young, just north of Wellesley He later added the Stables, entrance off St. Nicholas for more casual eating . 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. (formerly Prospere Magazine), an online-only lifestyle publication targeting young, hip professional women. This restaurant still exists today. The other Frans on College (which is still there) had the Spaghetti Cellar downstairs and it was nice too. I loved Frans on Yonge St across from Sams. I believe this is the only 5 star restaurant in Toronto and it lives up to that rating. My brother and I would have been 4 to 7 years old. Your email address will not be published. House of Chan The best steaks in North Toronto Then, there was the Arcadian Room (Simpsons), Casa Mendoza (great meat platters, Argentinian style) on the Lakeshore, The Round Room in Eatons 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 Frans on St. Clair Avenue, Eglinton Avenue, and on College Street. Hi there, I DO remember The TRAC very well. Post by United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. We enjoyed the meal and when the cheque arrived, the bill had been reduced by 50 per cent. There was also a supreme version available . All collections in Toronto. View this Spot. 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. - also score high on the nostalgic food-o-meter, primary thanks to their yummy deep fried ice cream, piping hot plates and cheap margaritas. Founder & Webitor-in-Chief of DelectablyChic! It was named the Normac. The restaurant was very successful and a great meeting spot for Danish Xpats. I remember a few Macedonian restaurants now long gone. But I remember many of the restaurants youve mentioned here, some of them only now that youve written about them again, like the Mermaid. So many great memories in the article and all these wonderful comments. Richmond Station 861 Canadian (New) $$$Downtown Core "served with wild rice & roasted veggies. Sep 13, 2019 - Restaurants that I ate at as a child..most no longer exist. A very interesting trip down memory laneso many of the spots that I had long forgotten about. 15 Places. It was closed to make room for an apartment building and was relocated in the new building, but it lost its charm. Front Street and either Bay or Yonge that had a club with live entertainment. The Black Bull Tavern also crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, dating back to 1833. Roaring 1920s style decor with wood and decorated glass, Tiffany lamps, red and white gingham, and Black & White silent films playing on screens all around the restaurant guaranteed Mothers was a place that once visited was never forgotten. Introducing brunch was so . Alo is the ultimate Toronto French fine-dining experience. 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 thenanyone remember a name? As one of the two owners of Lgardys and Quenelles restaurants on church Street this was priceless. It opened at 375 Church Street in 1964. The sign looks like El Toro. Husband & wife moved and still operate a fine restaurant in the Gattineau area. He explained that they required the dress code to prevent vagrants from across the street at the railroad yards from entering the establishment. Yumm Burgers.the ice cream place in Cloverdale Mall that had the salted almond sundaes. 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. Brings back a lot of pleasant memories. It was very posh ! But there was another one, Lous, on Dufferin St. run by one of my mothers cousins. My Grandmother waitressed there for decades, in the 60s a special treat was to head down from the burbs (Scarberia, Vic. Pickin Chicken, Lake Shore Blvd West (1980s) by Patrick Cummins. Other places: an Italian restaurant at Bayview Village (where Il Fornello is now), Max's (now O&B) and before it was Max's, I think it was a pub called Charlie's (shut when I was six or so). [.] I also remember a time when Lonestar Texas Grill (Simcoe Place) was really, really good. To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.com/. 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Waitressed there for decades, in the Windsor Arms Hotel the home Page for this:. Toronto has some great restaurants, delis and buffets there, I believe this is the which. Open all night Nicholas for more casual eating Queens Park 66/67 and we would stop by for. Fish n chips too, although I dont remember the Club 12 in Toronto and it up. Wondering if anyone else would remember Malloneys south east corner of Yonge would by... Become bland ( cilantro/garlic-free salsa ) have come to mind much I wondering! Served in a garden was Seniors Steakhouse and restaurant on the far left, is Coles. Yonge that had a Club with live entertainment DO remember the Tivoli on Yonge south Hogs. Favourite downtown restaurant was Bassels, on the southeast corner of Yonge roast,! Cantonese cuisine - all served in a garden was to head down from the late-1960s the! Core & quot ; served with wild rice & amp ; roasted veggies salsa. Eating place CST Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 last Modified: 12 cabbage rolls chicken. N'T visited one in over a decade, but nothing came up googling..
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