From the CNE to Scarborough Town Centre, here's what Toronto looked like in the 1980s. Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". 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. This was in September 1957. The restaurant's owner Anthony Rose has a couple other restaurants in the city. The 1980s was dominated events such as Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, the patriation of the Canadian Constitution, Toronto's 150th birthday, Canada becomes 120 years old, and the end of the Pierre Trudeau years. UTPro Instant Reports: Residential Density Spiking in Midtown. Sure would like to know who you are. The complimentary salad had a tangy garlic dressing. 514 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M5N 1A5 Get directions. Could someone remember the name. House of Chan The best steaks in North Toronto There is mow an Irish pub in that location One chain you didnt list was pickin chicken and their VW delivery vehicles. Inside, near the entrance, there was a replica of Copenhagens famous statue of The Little Mermaid, from the Hans Christian Anderson tale. Happy Herbivores. When I came to Canada as a child from Denmark in the mid fifties Mermaid restaurant was called the Little Mermaid restaurant on Bay Street. That was the original Underground Railroad. also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge. very posh at the time!! 1980s - Restaurant patios at Ontario Place or marina. I was only about 28 or 29 at the time. 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. Puppy Palace teen hangout on north Bathurst St. Patrons often lined the stairs while waiting for their tables at the Savarin, even though they had reservations. We visited the restaurant after it relocated to Dundas Street West, opposite the Art Gallery (AGO), but it was not the same. Theres a couple more restaurants that have gone away that bring back nemories. This book will also be released in the spring of 2016. New Orleans Seafood & Steakhouse 334 reviews Closed today Steakhouse, Cajun & Creole $$ - $$$ Menu "The Cajun Calamari were made to perfection and very tender." Closed in 1986, Larry's Hideaway was a revered dive bar on Carlton Street that brought many of the punk and new wave artists of the day to Toronto for the first time. Your list is amazing. I remember the Toronto Radio Artists Club well. However, it was still demolished, though its facade was re-assembled inside the Northern Ontario Building. Does anyone remember Griffiths on Queen Street East in the Beach(es)? We lived upstairs and had to look after the coal furnace during off hours. This restaurant opened in 1959, and is one of the few from the days of my youth that still exists. Canary Restaurant, Cherry St. by Patrick Cummins. 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. Park & Lawrence) & have the the Maple Leafs sign Polaroids of us sitting on their knees, we were that young. It started as a Yorkville coffeehouse in the 60s where acts like Harry Belafonte, Nana Mouskouri, Gordon Lightfoot . And then there was Seniors Steakhouse and Restaurant on the south east corner of Yonge and Pleasant Blvd. I worked at the Whitney Block at Queens Park 66/67 and we would stop by occasionally for a drink before heading home. They served their regular fare downstairs on the street floor. Ponderosa was a popular birthday destination in the 80s, owing to the group friendly prices, kid friendly zones and fun-tastic birthday hats. Toronto in the 1980s was defined by video rental stores, Degrassi's original seasons, and. In 1954 to 1957 My parents, my sister and I lived at 7 Elm street in Toronto. floor of the TD building. The closest I have come to getting the same flavor and texture is with a chain in Detroit. When did smoking come to an end in Toronto's restaurants? The Senator | 1929, 88 years old. Toronto has some great restaurants, delis and buffets. When it changed hands it cheapened the quality of the food but increased the prices. My dad was a bartender there and then the maitred. 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B9 Canada +1 416-921-4061 + Add website. LHardys restaurant at 634 Church Street opened in 1973 and remained until 1987. (formerly Prospere Magazine), an online-only lifestyle publication targeting young, hip professional women. I remember the first time I went there with a friend. The restaurant's entire menu celebrates the island's food, culture, and chefs. Garlic bread and dill pickles were included. Another bargain restaurant chain we frequented in the 1960s was the Steak and Burger. 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. Its well-advertised all-you-can-eat French buffet was highly popular, though it was not particularly French. During my high school years in the 1950s, I often visited local restaurants for a coffee and a slice or pie. Running restaurants, especially, three, must have been tough with the long hours etc. My wife and I often had a special dinner at the Balkan on Elm Street, just west of Yonge. House Of Chan Steak'N Lobster Dining Lounge. 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. My mother ignored his comments. 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. From chef Akira Back, who garnered a Michelin Star for his restaurant in Seoul, his namesake Toronto restaurant offers an incredible experience, from the expertly crafted food and beverage program and the exceptional service right down to the show-stopping design. It was another enterprise of Harry Barbarian, who owned the famous steak house on Elm Street. Those who were there lovingly explore its lasting legacy. One note is that Carmans has reopened. It was an grimy after-hours spot covered in graffiti and modelled after New York's Paradise Garage, where. 14 Places. My Dad, Basil, owned all three Prime restaurants, with the last one, in Dixie Plaza, being the busiest. The Restaurant Boasts Of Its Food And Location. Also, the deserts on display were always a sight to behold. Meanwhile old favorites such as steak and baked potato, tossed salad, and cheesecake seemed dull. 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). Founder & Webitor-in-Chief of DelectablyChic! In response to this post, Paul Coghill of Toronto emailed me his thoughts about restaurants of Torontos past. This was in late 50s and through the 60s so Im sure they both knew your grandmother. 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. When I had a little money Lindys on Younge and when I was broke The Blue Cellar on Bloor or Grossmans on Spadina. I have memories of falling asleep (on weekends when I could work in the coat check room to make dimes and quarters, in the back of the Dixie location waiting for banquets etc to end. Toronto Archives, F1257, S1057, item 073. 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. I dont think any of them are still around. This legendary Richmond Street West spot introduced Toronto to house music in the 80s. He explained that they required the dress code to prevent vagrants from across the street at the railroad yards from entering the establishment. Save. Or the owners name? The cones were 5 or 10 cents and it made shopping with my mother bearable. 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). It was also the era when post-war immigrants were changing the restaurant scene. 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. As I recall there was another one the same size accross the road, I believe to the South. Photo, Toronto Archives, F0124, Fl 0002, Id. 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. As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. Yes, nice view of the ravine. The Florentine Court was on Church near Dundas. We visited the restaurant after it relocated to Dundas Street West, opposite the Art Gallery (AGO), but it was not the same. 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 was near a Toys R Us) for a friend's birthday several years in a row. A very entertaining article. Just steps away from the Gardens. However, my first experience with its barbequed chicken was at 362 Yonge Street, which remains in existence today. The dining room was Victoriana gone wild; the decor was part of the attraction. The Steak and Burger on Yonge Street, south of Bloor Street in the 1970s. 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. The one on St Clair was open all night. Another place I loved was Leslie's Bakery, which was on Steeles. This is a photo of the menu at LHardys that I have kept all these years. . Post by United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. To my surprise, I could find not only no pictures but no references at all. Toronto Archives, F1257, item 0504. Eds Warehouse, big prime rib, fun decor. For the past four years I have been scanning an archive of this material, and posting it online. Good times in the early 60s. A Comfort Inn. Toronto Archives, F1526, Fl0008, item 0030. So many great memories in the article and all these wonderful comments. It cost around 2 bucks. La Chaumiere on Charles Street, near Church Street in the 1960s. I believe they were licensed so you could order a fine wine or beer with The tables had candles in bottles dripping with years of wax. Diners were invited to visit the kitchen, examine the dishes, and point to the ones that they wished to be served. Congratulations to anyone who grew up in Toronto in the 1980s you had it all! 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. 5 out of 5 stars (101) $ 50.00. Of course, there a Chinese restaurant at the mall before Pearl took over (Yenching). At the time it was what would be called a greasy spoon with a counter and those revolving bar stools. I was never inside this restaurant, but I as I recall, it had a great reputation for charcoal-broiled steak. The publication explores 50 of Torontos old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. I recall how difficult it was to receive a reservation, so always phoned at least a week in advance. The restaurant was very successful and a great meeting spot for Danish Xpats. Le Select just came to mind. ), 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. This is a true eater's city. I loved Frans on Yonge St across from Sams. Was a hangout for Northern S.S. students and a couple of Maple Leafs living in the area.. Da Vinci Pizzeria on the Danforth between Dawes & Victoria Park, a bunch of real deal Italian guys, made the best pizza way before Toronto knew what pizza was. I worked in that restaurant! It relates anecdotes and stories of the author and others who experienced these grand old movie houses. Tom Jones would be to the left of the photographer. 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. 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. 8.Chef Lawrence La Pianta's Cherry Street Bar-b-que brings the barbecue traditions of the American South to Toronto in an attractive 1920s brick building that was once a . Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. Arcadian Court in Simpson's Doug Taylor, Toronto history historic Toronto Queen Street West tayloronhistory.com Toronto's restaurant of the past. It was my first experience with Japanese food. However, it has only been called The Black Bull since the 1970s, prior to which, it was called Clifton House. I doyes it was very posh. There were two famous buffet restaurants in Toronto in the 1960s. I remember the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet that was served on the top deck during the summer months. In the 60s we liked to meet at Queen and Yonge at Joe Birds, part of Diana Sweets. Check out the list of all Restaurants in Eglinton Avenue East. Eds restaurants and the Royal Alex were the impetus that started the gentrification of King Street West. For her, there was no turning back. I just walked by the old Tom Jones Steakhouse building just east of Yonge on Colborne St. I have yet to find another place that makes battered shrimp as amazingly as they did*sigh*. Its new owners began substituting lobster-flavoured pollock for real lobster meat, and the Mermaid closed shortly thereafter. Husband & wife moved and still operate a fine restaurant in the Gattineau area. I haven't visited one in over a decade, but I think the Elvis Shrine was the last vestige of this era. It may not display this or other websites correctly. China House Eglinton west of Bathurst By: David Sanderson Posted: 3:00 AM CST Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 Last Modified: 12 . Does anyone remember this restaurant? 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. 181 Bathurst St., 416-364-9320, 416snackbar.com. Another restaurant I remember fondly, always appropriate for special occasions, was Winstons at 120 King Street West. 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. The waiter smiled; he had likely heard similar comments on previous occasions. 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. Larry's Hideaway. The Swiss Chalet at 362 Yonge Street. 1980-90 - Water's Edge restaurant at Harbourfront Centre. - 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 Bagel King The original bagel place Eglinton west Paradise Regained the restoration of the Paradise Theatre. Please read the cookie policy for more information or to delete/block them. View this Spot. I remember the tunnel and the soft chocolate malted ice cream cones wed buy at one end of the tunnel. 641 reviews #39 of 5,196 Restaurants in Toronto $$ - $$$ Bar Contemporary Canadian 100 Front St. West Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, Ontario M5J 1E3 Canada +1 416-368-2511 Website Menu Closed now : See all hours COVID-19 update: See the added health and safety measures this property is taking. Then, Ed Mirvish appeared and inquired, Whats the problem?, He smiled, apologized, and told the waiter, Escort them to the table that has been reserved.. Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen. After I started working full time, one of the first staff Christmas parties that I attended was at the Ports of Call, at 1145 Yonge Street. As a boy, we would sometimes go to a restaurant that I remember as Polynesian/HawaiianI believe it was on Yonge, or Avenue or perhaps Bathurstnorth toward Lawrence? 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.. It specialized in seafood & served excellent fish & chips. 15 Places. " 16/05/2020 Cuisines: Canadian Reliable Halibut & Chips #1,836 of 6,034 Restaurants in Toronto 40 reviews 954 Queen St E 0.2 km from Queen Street He knew the chain from Montreal and was watching for my expression when they didnt bring cutlery. For an exceptional dining experience, opt for the wine pairings, matched by wine director Christopher Sealy. Harrys Steak House in 1971. Dining in Toronto in past decades was far different to the culinary scene that the city now offers. 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