Puppy Palace teen hangout on north Bathurst St. The waiter offered to provide the proper attire from among the jackets and ties that they kept for such situations. Toronto in the 1980s was defined by video rental stores, Degrassi's original seasons, and. Mr. Tonys Place at 100 Cumberland Avenue in Yorkville was also highly popular, even though it offered no printed menus. Known as the best Jamaican restaurant in Toronto, Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen serves traditional Caribbean cuisine with healthy culinary twists. China House Eglinton west of Bathurst 15 Places. Created in partnership with hospitality icon Nick Di Donato of the Liberty Entertainment Group, Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto is the only North American location of world-renowned Michelin Star Chefs Alfonso and Ernesto Iaccarino's Don . Eds restaurants on King Street in 1981. I worked at Ontario Hydro in the late 60s and all the girls went to Bassels or Mallonys after work to meet guys! 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. Those were the days!! I am not certain of its location, but I believe it was on Dundas Street West, near Bay Street. UTPro Instant Reports: Residential Density Spiking in Midtown. Clip. During the '50s when dining out meant Chinese food or steak and more. It's not hard to see why Alger was so enamoured with Mothers - Like Frank Vetere's, the ambiance was crucial to the experience. Charles (waiter) had a fabulous memory. - also score high on the nostalgic food-o-meter, primary thanks to their yummy deep fried ice cream, piping hot plates and cheap margaritas. Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter. The Black Bull Tavern also crowns itself as Toronto's oldest bar, dating back to 1833. It arrived in November 1975 and was docked at the foot of Yonge Street, at 1 Queens Quay. Many other deceased or decimated chains not mentioned here - The Olive Garden, Lime Rickey's, JJ Muggs, Harvey Wallbangers, Bo Peep, Eddie Shack Donuts, Bobby Orr Pizza, etc - live on in our memories and through dusty promotional glassware found at garage sales or old commercials on YouTube. One of them was the Town and Country, which had opened in 1949 in the Westminster Hotel at Gould and Mutual Streets. Only went there a couple of times while I was on delivery. It did not last long under the new management. In fact, Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". 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. 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. My favourite was the Paragon Restaurant on St. Clair West, near Oakwood Avenue. Lime Ricky's on Eglinton was the first to come to mind. Our children liked to say that we were married at KFC. South on Bay, down some steps, dark, red banquettes. Booked 28 times today. They had wonderful fried chicken and collard greens. The Sign of the Steer Restaurant at 161 Dupont Street in 1955, the neon sign of a steer visible on the south wall. But my favourite was Truffles, at the old Four Seasons, before and after the 1990s renovations. It was very similar to the KFC of today. 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. Here are just a proposal for a correction, and a recollection of my own. Share. 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. Sure would like to know who you are. I grew up in Leaside and have dined at most of the restaurants you mention. Those looking to dance could hit a number of spots near Yonge and Wellesley, like The Manatee, The Quest, Katrina's, Club David's , The Maygay (later Charly's), and Cornelius, which sat above biker bar The . Mealshare. You are using an out of date browser. Sadly was not able to go there since covid and they are now closed. La Chaumiere on Charles Street, near Church Street in the 1960s. Toronto's multicultural roots are deliciously reflected in over 7,500 restaurants across 140+ neighbourhoods. I visited Toronto every summer back in the 70s and 80s and it was much nicer than it is now. Frank Vetere Pizzeria. It felt safe, clean and seemed to provide endless exciting. 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. Post by United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. By the 2000s, Chi Chi's fell apart thanks to a combination of bankruptcy and a fatal hepatitis A outbreak traced back to green onions served at one of their Pittsburgh restaurants. Theatorium (Red Mill) TheatreToronto's First Movie Experience and First Permanent Movie Theatre, Auditorium (Avenue, . John Letnik purchased it and sailed it from Yugoslavia to Toronto. La Chaumiere Restaurant at 77 Charles Street East, near Church Street, opened in 1950, and was the citys first truly French dining establishment. A popular pregame location. One note is that Carmans has reopened. 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. Bayer Senior Member. I recall how difficult it was to receive a reservation, so always phoned at least a week in advance. My family ate at virtually all the restaurants mentioned and more. Napoleon restaurant was at 79 Grenville Street, a short distance west of Bay Street. There is mow an Irish pub in that location During my high school years in the 1950s, I often visited local restaurants for a coffee and a slice or pie. Founder & Webitor-in-Chief of DelectablyChic! I still remember when my mother discovered the delights of adding garlic to her recipes, much to the chagrin of my father. View this Spot. . The publication explores 50 of Torontos old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. Does anyone recall The Toronto Radio Artists Club (TRAC)? 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. For my family, we pigged-out on the lobster, with a few slices of roast beef to break the monotony. Georges Spaghetti House was a wonderful restaurant with a great menu. It was called The Ports of Call. 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. This restaurant still exists today. Member Bio Joined Mar 14, 2008 Messages 1,656 Reaction score 1,524. Pj OBriens is currently in the building in the photo. Please post some place were more info can be found. Way more stuff hanging from the ceilings, wacky gags hidden everywhere. Hemingway's is the bar where deals have been made, law students have networked and everyone else has just had fun since the 1980s. It was fab to have Italian food like that as a kid. ), on Yonge; Bistro 990our go-to place for lunch upon arrival in Toronto; Starfiishgorged on oysters; JKROManother wonderful go-to place for lunch; Jamie Kennedys Wine Bar, and then, there was Susursan incredibly delicious and enjoyable dining experience. My wife and I often had a special dinner at the Balkan on Elm Street, just west of Yonge. New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse 334 reviews Closed today Steakhouse, Cajun & Creole $$ - $$$ Menu "The Cajun Calamari were made to perfection and very tender." 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. 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.. To order the clip clean and high res or to find out more visit http://www.kinolibrary.com. 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. I think it was located at 12 Adelaide. The last one was OTooles. It was real nice. The AYCE buffet now serves latkes with sour cream and apple sauce, blintzes, lox, challah French toast, bagels, gefilte fish and marinated salads for $35.95 a person. It was one of the most well-known restaurants in Toronto for over a decade, famous for its Leek and Stilton soup. He was a very smart businessman as well as a big-hearted individual. Cherry Street Bar-b-que. 0111. Sometimes, they'd have hot dogs, and I recall eating them with my grandmother when I was small. 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? Other exotic foods of my childhood were the free samples and greasy treats at the CNE, which we loved. La Chaumiere was also well known for its coq au vin and scallops Normandie. It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). Their favourite (and a family treat for birthdays) for many years was Carmens. Photo, Toronto Archives, F0124, Fl 0002, Id. To view previous blogs about movie houses of Torontohistoric and modern, and Torontos Heritage Buildings: http://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/links-to-toronto-old-movie-housestayloronhistory-com/. My brother and I would have been 4 to 7 years old. Moe Pancers DelicatessenThe original Bathurst & York Downs3. 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. Photo of the front (insert) and the interior of Quo Vadis Restaurant, from Chuckmans Postcard Collection (chuckmantorontonostalgia.wordpress.com). We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. 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. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] W. K. Lis. The Senator | 1929, 88 years old. 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. For those of us who grew up in the city/suburban Toronto in the 80s and 90s: which ones were your favourites? (formerly Prospere Magazine), an online-only lifestyle publication targeting young, hip professional women. The Florentine Court was on Church near Dundas. The food fashion cycle quickened as diners discovered a taste for arugula, radicchio, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, sushi, crab cakes, Pad Thai, mesquite grilling, and fresh ingredients. 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. Mothers Pizza, looked like an antique store, 20s or 30s decor. Brown Derby Tavern at Yonge and Dundas (1970s). Share. In the 1990s, it was a jazz bar frequented by celebs including Tony Bennett and Eartha Kitt, owned by matre d' to the stars, Louis Janetta. 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. 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". One of the walls had a huge hand drawn mural of Leonardo himself. The majority of their remaining locations were unceremoniously gobbled up by Outback Steakhouse, with nary a drop of salsa left behind. It was very posh ! The last time that I visited the. 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