Ciro's House of Imported Bier -	May 26, 2006
	5 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Ciro's heroically exceeded my expectations for a bar at the corner of Bloor and Lansdowne--which, of course, is not saying much, since my only real hope was not to have any creepy run-ins with the colourful cast of Bloordale. Nonetheless, Ciro's is clean and the staff is pretty welcoming. Why go? The beer--a whole double-sided menu of choices from around the world. The options include cheap imports, fancy "beers for two", and even some double-digit-$ rarities for the connoisseur. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Chippy's Fish & Chips -	May 24, 2006
	1 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Besides places in England and one wonderful restaurant in my home town that got torn down, nowhere makes better fish and chips! The prices are average for this type of thing--my only objection being that tartar sauce, garlic mayo and things like that cost extra. The staff is friendly, forward and funny--at least in my experience. Another thing that marks Chippy's for me is the fact that it sells Coke in glass bottles. Some people say you can't tell the difference. They are wrong. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Curbside Cycle & Inline Skate Centre -	May 22, 2006
	1 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Check out the summer weekend garage sales that they hold outside the store. There are some pretty amazing prices on bike accessories. And, not that I mind giving my 25 cents to charity or some gas station, it's nice that there's at least one free air pump left in the city, for those quarter-less emergencies. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Crooked Cue Billiard -	May 21, 2006
	2 out of 7 people found this review helpful. I went to the Crooked Cue for the first time last week. It's got a great atmosphere, decent prices and standard, but tasty, pub fare. The pool tables and cues are in great condition and ample supply. I don't like the fact that you must decide when you are finished with your table and return the white ball to the counter, or else continue being charged for time--but I suppose they have little choice. Still, it resulted in us paying for an extra hour once we realized we were done with the table. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	The Salvation Army Thrift Store -	May 15, 2006
	13 out of 14 people found this review helpful. This is a great thrift store, though not huge. Big selection of stuff, with a few interesting door crashers most of the time. They also always have in-store auctions going on, with silent bidding all month that ends in an open auction, usually around the 26th or the 27th. The items are pricier, but I've seen some incredible stuff: old comic collections, vintage cameras, beautiful furniture... It's also only two blocks away from a big Value Village, making Lansdowne a worthwhile thrift-ing stop. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Value Village -	May 15, 2006
	5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. This is the only Value Village on the Bloor Subway line, and pretty much the only one that can be considered "downtown". It's not quite as massive as its suburbian counterparts, but it's still impressively large for the city. The selection is standard value village fare, but injected with cultural variety--the nice thing about Toronto. The clothing and housewares sections are always laced with items from overseas, India and Burma especially. Since thrift-ing is best when you make a day of it, don't forget that there's a pretty good Salvation Army just to the east at Bloor and Emerson. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	King Slice -	May 15, 2006
	2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. A delivery guy from Amico's Pizza once told me that King Slice is no good because it isn't run by Italians. I don't want to get drawn into a cultural food war, but I will say this: he was wrong. King Slice makes a good slice of pizza. And a big one. $4 ($5 with a can of pop, taxes in) gets you a wedge that's pretty hard to finish. Your choice of toppings is usually limited to 2-4 types they have at any given time, but even their seasoned cheese and sauce slice is exciting and tasty. Ask nicely, and they might throw a couple extras on top. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	The Secret of Asia -	May 15, 2006
	1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. The Friendly Thai has the same menu as Thai Spring Roll. I mostly get the takeout/delivery, but the food is fantastic. The pad thai is always a good choice, but--and this is very important--you must get the coconut rice. Even if you don't like coconut--and I speak from considerable experience. My only complaint is that they often don't make the food spicy enough, even if you ask them to. Perhaps they are trying to protect us, or themselves, from a tongue lashing, as it were. In any case, ask for extra chili sauce on the side and they'll send a nice little bowl of it. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Courense Bakery -	May 15, 2006
	1 out of 2 people found this review helpful. A great European bakery and cafe that often gets ignored because of the much-more-popular Nova Era a few doors away. Courense has friendly staff and table service just like Nova Era, and a slightly different variety of pastries and breads. They also serve sandwiches, and some great savoury pastry. One of the most interesting things about Courense is the hours. I'm not sure that there is a fixed closing time, but they are often open until two or three in the morning. They used to have a seperate smoking room inside, but it was recently removed in accordance (I believe) with new bi-laws. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Nova Era Bakery -	May 15, 2006
	2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. A great little European cafe. There are a couple of other locations in the city, and they all have a big selection of bakery goods (breads, desserts, etc.) as well as an espresso bar, sandwiches and other standard cafe fare. The staff is friendly, and there is full table service. In the mornings, get a custard tart--one of the best light breakfasts money (and not too much of it) can buy. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Wal-Mart - Dufferin Mall -	May 14, 2006
	11 out of 15 people found this review helpful. Every now and then, Wal-Mart is the cheapest and easiest place to get something you need. But this place is terrifying, even for them. Most of the merchandise is permanently disorganized, to the point that some sections (electronics and sports especially) have literally been reduced to piles of random items. Unless you've managed to find a few moments that the store is dead, don't even bother asking for help. That being said, I feel terrible for the people that have to work there, because it is clearly understaffed and badly managed. I do not recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Bickford Park -	May 14, 2006
	1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. There are many summer days when all three baseball diamonds in Christie Pits are in use, but the one in Bickford Park is being completely ignored. Come to think of it, maybe I shouldn't have told everyone that. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Dundas West Subway Station -	May 14, 2006
	2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. This is a dangerous subway station, for it contains a 24-hour McDonald's. Contemplate, for a moment, living near this station... 24-hour access to a McDonald's--one that you also *must* pass whenever you get on or off the subway. Sometimes you smell it on the way up the stairs, and there's nothing you can do. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Pusateri's -	May 14, 2006
	7 out of 7 people found this review helpful. I would like to suggest two fantastic items from the Pusateri's dessert section. The first is the chocolate pear cup--a skinned pear, dusted with sugar and sitting in, quite literally, a chocolate cup. The best part is discovering that the pit has been replaced with--well, I can't say, it's the best part. The second is a sponge cake, soaked in red wine and plated with chocolate. Both cost around $5 which, when you think about it, is the same as a far-inferior slice of cake from a coffee shop. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	New York Subway -	May 14, 2006
	1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. This is a drab little grill house with a quiet staff and some of the best subs in the city. The jumbo subs--grilled chicken or shrimp satay are among the best--are expensive, but usually enough for two people. Same goes for the jumbo burritos, which use two full-sized tortilla breads. You'll never look at a sub the same way again. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Active Surplus Electronics -	May 14, 2006
	6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Active Surplus is better than a candy store. It's the cheapest place to buy a lot of equipment--phones, answering machines, keyboards and mice--and has the widest selection of computer and audio cables, again at the best prices. But it's much more than that. Art supplies, tools and fascinating ephemera... Electrical components, fog machines... the list goes on. Plan on spending a few dollars. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Zyng Asian Market and Noodlery -	May 14, 2006
	0 out of 0 people found this review helpful. The key to Zyng is getting the stirfry bar meals. The rest of the menu is average at best, and somewhat overpriced. But building your own stirfry, with your choice of noodles and sauce--plus a bowl of vegetables you fill yourself from the buffet--is a worthwhile experience ending in a very satisfying meal. I also reccomend "Z"angria. It's the classic Mediterranean drink with touches of Mandarin and Lychee. Be weary of the pitchers, though--they are actually more expensive than an equal volume of individual glasses. The waiter, after admitting this to me, was not entirely sure what to say. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	South Indian DOSA Mahal Restaurant -	May 13, 2006
	2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. I have never stopped for a meal at South Indian Dosa Mahal, but I regularly get takeout. Why? The price. Potato samosas and chickpea vadai are all three for $1 or ten for $3 (mix and match as you will), and fried or baked Indian rotis of all sorts are only $1 each. I also reccomend the Mango Lassi--a fruit smoothie made with yogurt. Unfortunately, the rock-bottom price is limited to takeout, though the rest of the menu seems reasonable, and (from what I can see) the portions are large. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Sam The Record Man -	May 13, 2006
	3 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Sam's also contains a cafe with coffee, espresso, iced cream and sandwiches, and in the summer they have a huge barbecue menu being served outside on their patio. The staff is great, with different people manning the grills every summer. There's also free wi-fi throughout the cafe and the store. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam

	Yasi's Place -	May 13, 2006
	5 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Yasi's Place is a lucky find, hidden on Wallace avenue between the train tracks. The staff and the regulars are extremely welcoming, and the food is tasty and healthy (a lot of organic and vegan choices). It's also a great community centre, with writer's circles and garden building projects. I recommend this place. Was this review helpful? Yes | No | Report as Spam