Dining in/around Downtown Toronto

[Pickle]

Does anyone have favorite restaurants, especially Chinese, French, or Italian, in/around downtown (staying near Spadina Ave. & King St.) Toronto?

We'll be able to eat out one dinner and four lunches/brunches there. Dinner can be a little fancy but not "wear a tie" fancy. "A polo shirt & black jeans" is the fanciest my husband is willing to be.

I've been researching on the internet but it

[lprof]

Have you been to the CN Tower? Close to those streets...

From an earlier thread reply post:

Toronto

For an overall very good experience, we enjoyed the Prix Fixe lunch at the 360 Restaurant in the CN Tower... July 2008. Tickets were bought online, at some (I have forgotten) savings, and lines were by-passed for entry, elevators, etc. On a day with good weather the view is amazing (nightime is said to be great, as well). The food was very good - not outstanding - but very, very good for a tourist attraction, we thought.

360 views of the city and over Lake Ontario were super.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 026239499/" title="DSCN5566 by lprof, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/402 ... 4b7936.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="DSCN5566"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/floridalin ... 026988290/" title="DSCN5583 by lprof, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/402 ... 4350d5.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="DSCN5583"></a>

http://www.cntower.ca/360_restaurant/awards/

Enjoy... wherever.

[Pickle]

Iprof - looks like we were in Toronto the month after you were in 2008. We weren't well prepared for that trip and didn't even go up the tower (the line was too long). Enjoyed walking around downtown, though. Ate at Swatow and Lee Garden on Spadina and at a few cafe/bistro type places (Terroni, Cafe La Gaffe, etc.).

A full disclosure: We were there to see baseball games. Sometimes in the summers, we take what we call "a baseball trip" to see other stadiums. Since we had such an enjoyable baseball trip in Toronto in 2008, we are returning.

Trying to be better prepared this time...

[mindehankins]

Ooooh! If you're going to be there on a Sunday, consider the Sunday brunch at King Edward Royal Meridien! I haven't been there in a couple of years, but for MANY years, that was my favorite Sunday brunch of all.
If you like Indian, we used to eat at a place called Babir or something, that was wonderful. I can look that up for you, if you're interested.
I LOVE Toronto!!! Have fun!

[Pickle]

Minde, we won't be able to make it for a Sunday brunch.

As for Indian, I think you meant Babur(?). I just looked it up and it sounds good and it's in walking distance. Kinda trendy looking place, though - not that that's bad. If we feel like Indian, we will try there. Thank you!

Did you eat in Chinatown? Hoping to have a good Chinese meal or two there.

[mindehankins]

I don't know if I'd call Babur (you're right) trendy. It was clean and the food was good. Or maybe everything in Toronto seems trendy to me LOL I'm a small town girl
No, sorry, no Chinatown experience. I hate Chinese food.
You have really specific needs that I think you could post to tripadvisor, though, if no one here can steer you to the good stuff!
You made me realize it's been too long...gotta get back to Toronto!

[Pickle]

I've never posted on tripadvisor but I think this is a good time for me to finally register there. Thanks, Minde. By the way, Babur seems to have gone through some renovation - the place doesn't look like a typical (to me) Indian restaurant. I am a big city resident but have a tendency to go for old school eateries.

[mindehankins]

If you have nice specific questions, I've found that TripAdvisor can be helpful for cities, Pickle. I hope that someone can steer you to some great eats!

Babur always looked nontraditional for an Indian joint, with no reds or gold. I just hope they still have great food!

Enjoy your trip! Toronto is such a fun city!