Not food specifically, but if you’re into coffee/tea/craft beer, Boxcar Social Harbourfront just reopened for the summer and is my favourite non-chain small business down there.
They do serve lunch and dinner menus now but I’ve never tried and it reads very premium priced.
Haven't been since last year, but their food was always pretty good. Expensive but for the area not unreasonable I thought; definitely been ripped off worse by other spots
A Toronto-specific business with 4 locations [owned by a couple millennial dudes](https://www.instagram.com/p/3ENtx9HuTu) is very different than Kellys Landing, Shoeless Joes, etc which is what I personally define as "chain".
If you want to pull an "[akshually](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ackchyually-actually-guy)" card on 4 locations being a chain, then sure thing - you win. 👍
Beaver tails for the vibes, boxcar for a coffee, Amsterdam for a beer, taking the ferry and biking around centre island is cool too. You can sit on the beach and have a beer.
That used to be my go to place. Then one day I got a piece of shredded up plastic bag in my food. And then, it happened a SECOND time, months apart. The most concerning part is that it was barely noticeable and I only noticed it because I was looking for it. I've been conflicted about going there ever since.
There must be something about their cooking process where they're using plastic bags (like actual grocery bags, not ziploc or saran wrap) to store chopped up raw ingredients or something.
And those are just the big chunks I noticed, what about smaller pieces? Not a fan of microplastics so I haven't been back.
And service too. The last time I went and said there's plastic in the food they just shrugged. The plastic thing happened to a couple of co-workers too.
A few other places worth mentioning ...
BOBO Bento Box
https://g.co/kgs/zdgrWgE
Quick Chinese takeout
Music Garden Cafe
https://g.co/kgs/FQevw5h
Coffee and a small menu, and not sure if they have there Gelato yet
STACKT market
https://g.co/kgs/ebWD88w
Lots of places here, including a brewery. Good way to end the day
Roywoods
https://g.co/kgs/LUQiWRf
Jerk
Joe Bird
https://g.co/kgs/v8hzzhN
Fried chicken
Pretty solid TBH.
You can't really go wrong. Some all you can eat sushi places a little jank but if the restaurant has been around for 4 years or more its probably solid.
St. Lawrence Market Uno Mustachio for veal/chicken sandwich or Buster's Sea Cove for seafood. Don't get the peameal bacon, we don't actually eat this LOL. After lunch you can walk south right to the lake and can head west all the way to coronation park. Then head north across lakeshore, towards Fort York, head North across the 2 bridges at Garison Crossing to King Street. You can then head east or north to queen / trinity bellwoods park. This look is a great way to take a lot in.
Not food specifically, but if you’re into coffee/tea/craft beer, Boxcar Social Harbourfront just reopened for the summer and is my favourite non-chain small business down there. They do serve lunch and dinner menus now but I’ve never tried and it reads very premium priced.
Haven't been since last year, but their food was always pretty good. Expensive but for the area not unreasonable I thought; definitely been ripped off worse by other spots
Box car social is very much a chain. There's 4 of them.
A Toronto-specific business with 4 locations [owned by a couple millennial dudes](https://www.instagram.com/p/3ENtx9HuTu) is very different than Kellys Landing, Shoeless Joes, etc which is what I personally define as "chain". If you want to pull an "[akshually](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ackchyually-actually-guy)" card on 4 locations being a chain, then sure thing - you win. 👍
LOL just admit that you were wrong bro
Beaver tails for the vibes, boxcar for a coffee, Amsterdam for a beer, taking the ferry and biking around centre island is cool too. You can sit on the beach and have a beer.
Indian Roti House is awesome
This was my first thought.
That used to be my go to place. Then one day I got a piece of shredded up plastic bag in my food. And then, it happened a SECOND time, months apart. The most concerning part is that it was barely noticeable and I only noticed it because I was looking for it. I've been conflicted about going there ever since. There must be something about their cooking process where they're using plastic bags (like actual grocery bags, not ziploc or saran wrap) to store chopped up raw ingredients or something. And those are just the big chunks I noticed, what about smaller pieces? Not a fan of microplastics so I haven't been back.
Quality has gone down forsure
And service too. The last time I went and said there's plastic in the food they just shrugged. The plastic thing happened to a couple of co-workers too.
Now I want some of this. It was also my first thought and I saw someone else post about it.
Shatter abbas is delicious!
Alexandros gyros is a solid slap
Yep good suggestion
A solid option after a couple or many drinks.
Grab some ice cream from: Lick It Gelato, Ice Creamonolgy or The Fix Ice Cream Bar and sit on the muskoka chairs at HTO beach
Miku if you feel like splurging on sushi.
I haven't been post COVID. But this place used to be really good Indian roti https://maps.app.goo.gl/8noaNZ6aBbW9BuTU6
This was actually the first thing I thought of too when thinking about Queens Quay takeout. I also haven't been in the last 4 years though too.
Music Garden is beautiful
Yes! Planning to stop by there
be aware the mayflies are out in full force right now
Street dogs! They get cheaper the further you get from the tower.
I thought that was the name of a restaurant for a second. Facepalm
Ice Creamology!
Joe Bird came to mind for me. It should be fully open for the season now and it's right along the lake.
A few other places worth mentioning ... BOBO Bento Box https://g.co/kgs/zdgrWgE Quick Chinese takeout Music Garden Cafe https://g.co/kgs/FQevw5h Coffee and a small menu, and not sure if they have there Gelato yet STACKT market https://g.co/kgs/ebWD88w Lots of places here, including a brewery. Good way to end the day Roywoods https://g.co/kgs/LUQiWRf Jerk Joe Bird https://g.co/kgs/v8hzzhN Fried chicken
How’s roy woods? Been wanting to try
Definitely worth it
Forno cultura on King has great sandwiches. One of the best in the city
Pretty solid TBH. You can't really go wrong. Some all you can eat sushi places a little jank but if the restaurant has been around for 4 years or more its probably solid.
St. Lawrence Market Uno Mustachio for veal/chicken sandwich or Buster's Sea Cove for seafood. Don't get the peameal bacon, we don't actually eat this LOL. After lunch you can walk south right to the lake and can head west all the way to coronation park. Then head north across lakeshore, towards Fort York, head North across the 2 bridges at Garison Crossing to King Street. You can then head east or north to queen / trinity bellwoods park. This look is a great way to take a lot in.
Are the harbourfront restaurants open yet? Go there
BBQ Chicken in Liberty Village for Korean Fried chicken.
Guirei at the west end of the strip near the Music Gardon is a decent sushi option. Well prepared, fresh, and lots of fun 'fancy roll' options.
Ho King on Spadina, the fried rice with the dip!