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9/23/13 Eating, Drinking, and Shopping in Toronto: A 2013 Indiewire Insider's Guide | Filmmakers, Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews | Indiewire BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH: Just as it was in last year's survey, the area southwest of downtown finds across the board recommendations in most categories and particularly this one. And thanks to festival's recent move, a lot of these places are much more Share geographically accessible. A fiveminute walk from TIFF Bell Lightbox is brunch at Le Select Bistro (432 Wellington Street West). One insider's recommendation: "The croque monsieur and a mimosa are my favorites!" Also super close is Sadie's Diner (504 Adelaide Street West) and the Lightbox's own Canteen (literally at the bottom SPONSORED BY of the Bell Lightbox, so it doesn't get any closer than that). There's also the 24hour diner at the new Thompson Hotel (550 Wellington Street West), which serves a mean breakfast... but more on that place a little bit later. Aunties and Uncles (74 Lippincott St., near College and Bathurst) was on nearly every list, with one insider noting "hidden away from the main street, Aunties and Uncles has been a local favorite of many for a long time." She continues that "the summer/fall waiting list is usually quite long," but that "it's worth it though as the staff are friendly (even in the early morning!) and the food is not only delicious and fresh but it's also reasonably priced. The fresh squeezed juice (try the ginger lemonade!) is amazing." Another insider warns though: "Try to get there in between the early brunchers and the hungover crowd to avoid the lineup." There's also the "stereotypical Sneaky Dee's hangover breakfast" (431 College Street) which one insider says "still trumps all other options." Even further west finds a bigger group of options. All of the following had at least two recommendations (if not three or four): Porchetta and Co. (25 Dundas St W... "Try the breakfast sandwich: Awesome Porchetta, cracklin, fried egg and smoked Gouda. Might contain enough calories to get you through the whole day."); Bivy (1600 Dundas Street West.. "have the Cobb Salad!), Luna Cafe (181 Dovercourt Road), Swan (892 Queen Street West), La Palette (492 Queen Street West... "the best egg benny I've ever had!"), Drake Cafe (1150 Queen Street West... "the patio is RECOMMENDED FOR YOU Did You Really Think Kerry amazing, the service is just aloof enough to still be endearing and not obnoxious or plain bad and they serve fried Washington Would Win The 'Lead Actress In A Drama too"), Mitzi's on College (890 College Street) and Saving Grace (907 Dundas Street West), while Easy (1645 Queen Series' Emmy? chicken for breakfast"), Keriwa (1690 Queen Street West... "kind of amazing for brunch or otherwise. Good cocktails Street West) got particular notice as it's "themed after 'Easy Rider' and has the best Huevos Divorciados!" Powered by Sailthru In the other direction, though also not so far from fest central either, there's Le Petit Dejeuner (191 King Street East), and as one insider notes the peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery (in St. Lawrence Market) is "perfect, made even better with a bit of hot sauce." A bit north is Terroni Bar Centrale (1095 Yonge St.), an outpost of one of the city's staple restaurants. It has a real breakfast menu seven days a week. Highlights are "the Scandinavian fried donut balls and Torta Rustica." And if you're feeling really adventurous, head north and west to the Bloorcourt, Junction areas, for either Starving Artist (584 Lansdowne Avenue), where "everything is made with waffles!," 3 Speed (1163 Bloor Street West) and Cool Hand of a Girl (2804 Dundas Street West), to which one person noted: "For those willing to venture to what the New York Times called the Abbott Kinney Boulevard of Toronto The Junction Cool Hand of a Girl offers tasty free range, local and organic foods." DRINKS/COCKTAILS: There's a slew of options in around the Bell Lightbox (not to mention the new TIFF filmmaker's lounge for those with a badge). But specifically, our insiders offered The Black Bull (298 Queen St. West... "just for the amazing patio"), Finn's of Temple Bar (489 King Street West... "try the baconinfused vodka Caesar"), The Village Idiot Pub (126 McCaul Street... "just don't try the food"), C Lounge (456 Wellington Street West), Wide Open (139A Spadina Avenue... "It's a tiny dive bar with dirt cheap drink specials and its super close to the festival headquarters BUT you're guaranteed not so see any TIFF lanyards inside. Great place to go if you want to escape the schmoozing for an hour but don't want to leave the area."), Grace O'Malley's (14 Duncan Street.. and with 17 beers on tap!) and, once again, The Thompson Hotel (550 Wellington Street West). The year old Ritz Carlton (181 Wellington Street West) and its outdoor patio is also likely to be quite the festival staple. www.indiewire.com/article/eating-drinking-and-shopping-in-toronto-an-2013-indiewire-insiders-guide 2/4 9/23/13 Eating, Drinking, and Shopping in Toronto: A 2013 Indiewire Insider's Guide | Filmmakers, Film Industry, Film Festivals, Awards & Movie Reviews | Indiewire Then of course there's Goodnight (the alley behind 431 Richmond), which requires you to phone in to make a reservation if you want to have a drink there. It's shockingly not as pretentious as such a requirement would suggest, and is just down the street from TIFF Central (call 647.963.5500 any time after 3pm). Happy hour doesn't really exist in Toronto (due to archaic liquor laws). "I wish we had happy hour here," noted one local. But suitable standins come with a 10minute walk from the Bell Lightbox in Toronto's famed Kensington Market area. The Embassy (223 Augusta Street) or Ronnie's (69 Nassau Street... "lots of dudes in bands drink too much here") both in the Market had numerous recommendations. More west there's Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen St. West), "The Gladstone makes the most filling and delicious Caesar," said one insider. "Not only does it come with your standard celery stalk but it also boasts a dill pickle and a huge chunk of cucumber. Two of those and who needs breakfast?" Also noted was The Gladstone's more famous downthestreet cousin, The Drake Hotel which has become a haven for industry folk during the festival. One insider raved about the patio but asserted to "avoid the lobby." There's also room for a crawl with endless awesome options in Toronto's west end: Unit (1198 Queen St. West), Reposado Bar & Lounge (136 Ossington Avenue), Unlovable (1415B Dundas St West), Chantecler (1320 Queen Street West) Get Well (1181 Dundas Street W), 3 Speed (1163 Bloor Street West), Parts & Labour (1566 Queen Street West), Sweaty Betty's (13 Ossington Ave), and The Yukon (1592 Queen Street West... noted for a special on Tuesdays for beer and a soft pretzel for $7). Many insiders also noted Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington Avenue), specifically for "great music, has amazing fish tacos and other southern comforty foods cheap." Though one warned, "you won't get a cell phone signal from within the bar." And there's still the Park Hyatt (Avenue and Bloor) rooftop patio, though TIFF's move south a few years back suggests that it is no longer the old standby it once was. The roof still received numerous recommendations, though, so perhaps it's up to fest goers whether it remains a Toronto Film Festival staple. 1 2 3 FESTIVALS GET EMAIL UPDATES ON FESTIVALS Like Share Share 51 Share 1 ShareMore | 25 TAGS: Toronto, Toronto International Film Festival, Toronto, Ontario, Toronto Film Festival You might also like: Walter White Attention Prepares to Meet His Screenwriters: Why Destiny In The Your Script Needs Powerful Penultimate Suspense, No Matter Episode of 'Breaking What the Genre Bad' Oscars: A Look At The Supporting Actor Field, Including Michael Fassbender, Jared Leto & James Gandolfini Watch: Christian Bale's 'Batman Begins' Audition Tape Featuring Amy Adams It May Be a Golden Age of Television, But the Emmys Prove It's Not a Golden Age of Awards Shows Watch Free Movies and Documentaries Online » ► Free Zone ► All Me: The Life and Times of Winfred Rembert ► Advise and Dissent ► We Don't Care About Music Anyway www.indiewire.com/article/eating-drinking-and-shopping-in-toronto-an-2013-indiewire-insiders-guide ► Looking For Fidel 3/4
