✎ GTALUG Pre-Meeting Dinner Options [GTALUG Wiki]

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====== GTALUG Pre-Meeting Dinner Options ======

======= Some Operating Principles =======

- Needs to be open at compatible hours.  Some downtown places close too early.
  - Needs to allow a group to dribble in.  If it requires formal seating, that's likely undesirable.
  - Needs enough seating that 10 people can be readily accommodated.
  - Some restaurants (Salad King, I'm looking at you!) are so noisy that people cannot readily talk over noise.  (And then it escalates into trying to yell, and it's all downhill from there!)
===== Open =====

==== Kabul Express ====
  * **Address**: 126 Dundas Street E. (200m, 2 minute walk)
  * [[http://kabulexpress.ca/restaurantmenu_category/dinner/|Dinner Menu]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/kabul-express-toronto|Yelp 3.5*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/kabul-express-garden-district|Zomato 3.9/5, $30 for two people]]
  * Chris visited 2017-08-08, plenty of seating, seems fairly suitable.  We can readily add casually to our party.
  * as of 2018-04-10, this has been our regular default location

==== Kinton Ramen ====
  * **Address**: 396 Church St. (north of Gerrard St.) (300m, 4 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.kintonramen.com/canada/img/menu/kinton_regularMar.pdf | regular menu]]
  * [[http://www.kintonramen.com/canada/img/menu/kinton_5_combo.pdf | special menu]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/kinton-ramen-toronto-16 | Yelp]]
  * Chain: nine restaurants in GTA!
  * Very busy at the relevant time, fairly loud, and not very condusive to growing a GTALUG "crowd" gradually
==== Burrito Boyz (Dundas East) ====
   * **Address** 74 Dundas Street East (250m, 3 minute walk)
   * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/burrito-boyz-toronto-13|Yelp 3.5*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/burrito-boyz-garden-district|Zomato 2.9/5, $25 for two people]][[http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/burrito-boyz-dundas-east-toronto|Blog.TO 4*]]
   * //"The budget-friendly bowls, burritos and quesadillas here can be stacked with almost every topping imaginable."//

==== Kathy's Corner ====
  * **Address**: 139 Dundas St E (250m, 3 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/kathys-corner-toronto|Yelp 4*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/kathys-corner-garden-district|Zomato 3.1/5, $25 for two people]]
  * Chicken, pasta, sandwiches

==== Bocconcini Pizza and Wings ====
  * **Address**: 96 Gerrard St. E (350m, 4 minute walk)
  * replacing Love at First Bite
  * [[https://www.yelp.com/biz/bocconcini-toronto-toronto|Yelp 4.5*, (no pricing)]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/bocconcini-pizza-and-wings-church-and-wellesley|Zomato (not enough votes), $30 for two people]]
  * Most recently visited in August 2016; it was a bit further changed, but still carried pizza

==== Blaze Pizza ====
   * **Address** 10 Dundas St. East (400m, 5 minute walk)
   * //"Blaze Pizza is the Chipotle of pizza."//
   * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/blaze-fast-fired-pizza-toronto|Yelp 4.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/blaze-pizza-garden-district|Zomato 3.8/5, $25 for two people]][[http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/blaze-pizza-toronto|Blog.TO 4.8]]
   * Chris Browne visited; "Similar to North of Brooklyn but with more seating"; modestly positive
   * Often a bit too busy, and it's difficult to get a lot of seating

==== 10 Dundas East Food Court ====
  * (Third floor, 400m, 5 minute walk)

=== Milo's Pita (Middle Eastern) ===
  * **Address**: 10 Dundas St E, Level 3
  *[[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/milos-pita-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.2/5, $25 for two people]]
  * visited 2016 Mar 8

=== OPA! of Greece Dundas Street (Greek) ===
  * **Address**: 10 Dundas St. E, Level 3
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/opa-of-greece-dundas-street-toronto|Yelp 3*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/opa-of-greece-downtown-yonge|Zomato 2.9/5, $25 for two people]]
  * visited 2016 March 8

=== Curry & Co. ===
  * **Address**: 10 Dundas Street E, Level 3
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/curry-and-co-toronto|Yelp 4*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/curry-co-garden-district|Zomato 2.4/5, $25 for two people]]

==== AliBaba (Yonge) ====
  * **Address** 357 Yonge Street (south of Gerrard St., 400m, 5 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.alibabas.ca/index.php?route=common/location_details&loc_id=19|Website for 357 Yonge]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/ali-baba-toronto-3|Yelp 4*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/ali-babas-2-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.0/5, $25 for two people]]
  * Shawarmas etc.

==== Buffet Palace Indian Cuisine ====
  * **Address**: 361 Yonge St., second floor (450m, 5 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/buffet-palace-toronto|Yelp 2.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/buffet-palace-downtown-yonge|Zomato 4.4/5, $40 for two people]]
  * Buffet, long table suitable for large group

==== Roti Roll Caribbean Cuisine ====
  * **Address**: 361 Yonge St. (450m, 5 minute walk)  (A little hard to recognize from the street but it is there)
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/roti-roll-caribbean-cuisine-toronto|Yelp 3.5*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/roti-roll-downtown-yonge|Zomato 4.0/5, $25 for two people]]
  * visited 2015 November 10, 2016 July 12, 2017 March 14

==== Thai on Yonge ====
  * **Address**: 370 Yonge Street, second floor (South of Gerrard St., 500m, 6 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/thai-on-yonge-toronto-3|Yelp 3.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/thai-on-yonge-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.1/5, $35 for two people]]
  * suggested by Bob Jonkman
  * visited 2016 May 10, 2017 July 11

==== Basil Box ====
  * **Address**: 351 Yonge St. (part of Ryerson SLC building, 500m, 5 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/basil-box-toronto|Yelp 3.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/basil-box-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.6/5, (price not listed)]][[http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/basil-box-toronto|Blog.TO 4.5*]]
  * Vietnamese, Thai
  * **Visited**: [[meeting:2016-06|14 June 2016]], 2017 Feb 14

==== Big Moe's Burgers and Fries ====
  * **Address** 372 Yonge Street (south of Gerrard St., 500m, 6 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/big-moes-burgers-and-fries-toronto|Yelp 3.5*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/big-moes-downtown-yonge|Zomato 2.4/5, $15 for two people]]
  * There is also a Thai place and a liquid-nitrogen-cooled ice cream place in this "sorta food court"

==== Paramount Fine Foods - Middle Eastern ====
  * **Address**: 253 Yonge St. (500m, 7 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.paramountfinefoods.com/menu/|Menu for Ontario locations]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/paramount-fine-foods-toronto|Yelp 3*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/paramount-fine-foods-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.7/5, $40 for two people]]
  * visited: 2017-05-09
  * Full table service, so it is higher than most usual options on "need for coordination"

==== Hot Star Large Fried Chicken ====
  * **Address** 374A Yonge Street (south of Gerrard St., 550m, 6 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.hot-star.ca/menu.html|Menu]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/hot-star-large-fried-chicken-toronto-5|Yelp 3.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/hot-star-large-fried-chicken-downtown-yonge|Zomato 2.8/5, (price not listed)]]
  * [[http://www.hot-star.ca/menu.html]]
  * Taiwanese fried chicken

==== Banh Mi Boys (Vietnamese and Asian Fusion) ====
  * **Address**: 399 Yonge St. (600m, 7 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.banhmiboys.com/menu.htm|Menu]]
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/banh-mi-boys-toronto-2|Yelp 4*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/banh-mi-boys-downtown-yonge|Zomato 4.3/5, $25 for two people]]
  * visited 2015 December 8

==== Shops at Aura Food Court (384 Yonge Street) ====
  * **Address**: 384 Yonge Street (downstairs food court, 600m, 7 minute walk)
  * We can each choose a restaurant and eat at the common tables

=== Taste of the Orient ===
  * opened end of 2018 March.
  * Chinese of unknown qualities

=== Sushi & BBbop ===
  * Korean and Japanese [[http://sushiandbbbop.com/menu-sushi.html|Sushi Menu]][[http://sushiandbbbop.com/menu-bbbop.html|Bbbop menu]]
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/sushi-and-bbbop-toronto|Yelp 4.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/sushi-bbbop-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.1/5, $30 for two people]]

=== Aura Sushi ===
  * [[http://aurasushi.ca/index.html|Website (down)]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/aura-sushi-toronto|Yelp 2.5*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/aura-sushi-downtown-yonge|Zomato 2.4/5, $35 for two people]]

==== King Place ====

* **Address**: 236 Sherbourne St. (700m, 9 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.kingplacerestaurant.com/menu-1|Menu]]
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/king-place-toronto|Yelp 4*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/king-place-garden-district|Zomato 3.0/5, $30 for two people]]

==== Ramen Raijin ====

* **Address**: 24 Wellesley Street West (1.3 km, 16 minute walk)
  * visited 2016 February 9
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/raijin-ramen-toronto|Yelp Review]]
  * this Globe article rates it #4 (a high rating): http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/restaurant-reviews/5-top-spots-for-ramen-in-toronto/article8127132/
===== Untried =====
==== Good View Restaurant ====
  * **Address**: 134 Dundas Street East (a block and a half east of Church)
  * Chinese
  * [[http://www.goodviewtoronto.com/menu.aspx]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/good-view-restaurant-toronto]]
===== Not enough seating? =====

==== Doner Kebab House (Turkish) ====

* **Address**: 391 Yonge Street
  * Stewart remembers: tasty shawarma, but limited seating and cash only
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/doner-kebab-house-toronto|Yelp Review]]
  * visited 2015 October 13, 2017 April 12
  * despite rumours of it closing in 2017, the condo development that threatened it is delayed, and it was still open as of early autumn 2018.
==== Steak and Cheese ====
  * **Address**: 50 Gerrard St E
  * [[https://www.steakandcheesefactory.com/|Website]]
  * Visited: 2017-06-13
  * Low on seating, but able to accommodate our crowd

==== North of Brooklyn ====

* **Address**: 469 Church St. (North of the meeting location close to the Wellesley station)
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/north-of-brooklyn-pizzeria-toronto-2|Yelp Review]]
  * visited 2016 January 13
  * Not enough seating (table for four + counter against a wall)

===== Too Pricey =====

==== The Senator ====
  * **Address**: 249 Victoria St. (350m, 5 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-senator-toronto|Yelp 4*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/the-senator-restaurant-garden-district|Zomato 3.9/5, $50 for two people]]
  * faux diner: cheapest Entrée 2015 Aug 4: 8 oz Cumbrae's Naturally Raised Beef Burger $16

===== Logistically Unsuitable =====

==== Ethiopiques (Ethiopian) ====
  * **Address**: 227 Church Street (160m, 2 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.ethiopiques.ca|web site]]
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/ethiopiques-toronto|Yelp 3.5*, $11-$30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/ethiopiques-garden-district|Zomato 3.8/5, $50 for two people]]
  * visited: 2015 March 10
  * Hugh remembers: very slow, quite good, family style, a little expensive
  * Chris recalls...  Not wildly slow service, but delivery of entrees does take a while, so this needs more lead time and early seating time for it to work.

==== Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Japanese) ====

* **Address**: 91 Dundas Street E (at Church) (180m, 2 minute walk)
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/hokkaido-ramen-santouka-toronto-2|Yelp 4*, $11-30]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/hokkaido-ramen-santouka-garden-district|Zomato 4.2/5, $45 for two people]]
  * this Globe article rates it #1 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/restaurant-reviews/5-top-spots-for-ramen-in-toronto/article8127132/
  * Checked 2017-08-08, too busy for our purposes, and requires full party to be available to check in.

===== Too noisy? =====

==== Lou Dawg's (Barbeque and Sandwiches) ====

* **Address**: 76 Gerrard St E
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/lou-dawgs-toronto-5|Yelp Review]]
  * DCB observes: noisy
  * Stewart judges: not very good BBQ (but his baseline is Kansas City joints)
  * visited: 2013 December 10

==== Salad King ====
  * 340 Yonge Street, Second Floor
  * Thai.  Cheap and cheerful.  Communal tables.
  * http://saladking.com/

==== Kinka Izakaya Original ====
  * 398 Church St, north of Gerrard
  * formerly Guu
  * should be given another chance
  * http://www.kinkaizakaya.com/
  * https://www.yelp.com/biz/kinka-izakaya-original-toronto

===== Too Distant? =====

==== Gandhi Cuisine ====

* **Address**: 554 Queen Street W (distant, 2.8km, 35 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/gandhi-cuisine-toronto-2|Yelp Review]]

==== Sizzler Kabab ====

* **Address**: 381 Spadina Avenue (distant, 2.0km, 25 minute walk)
  * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/sizzler-kabab-toronto|Yelp Review]]

===== Closed =====

=== Kaiju (Japanese Curry) ===
  * [[http://www.kaijutoronto.com/|Website (stayed tuned)]]
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/kaiju-toronto|Yelp 4.5*, under $10]][[https://www.zomato.com/toronto/kaiju-downtown-yonge|Zomato 3.9/5, $30 for two people]]
  * visited 2015 April 14, 2015 September 8, 2016 April 12
  * on 2018 April 10, Jeffrey Pikul reported this had closed.

==== The Restaurant Formerly Known As Love at First Bite ====
  * our former regular venue
  * location now occupied by [[https://wiki.gtalug.org/pre-meeting_dinner#bocconcini_pizza_and_wings]]
  * **Address**: 96 Gerrard St. E

==== z-teca Mexican ====
  * **Address**: 66 Gerrard St. E
  * Burritos, tacos etc.
  * visited in pre-historic times
  * [[http://www.yelp.com/biz/z-teca-toronto-3|Yelp Review]]

==== Korean Grill House (Korean) ====
  * **Address**: 369 Yonge St
  * [[http://www.yelp.ca/biz/korean-grill-house-toronto-3|Yelp Review]]
  * All You Can Eat -- probably not suitable for a pre-meeting meal

==== Dac Biet Burger ====
   * **Address** 213 Church Street (south of Dundas St.)
   * Asian fusion burger joint?
   * [[https://www.yelp.ca/biz/dac-biet-burger-toronto]]

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