The Lakeview (1132 Dundas W, at Ossington, 416-850-8886, thelakeviewrestaurant.ca) is open every day of the year and Christmas Day’s no different.
Through the 25th, the period art deco diner will be dishing up deep-fried turkey with all the usual suspects – stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin pie – for all of 18 bucks. Tofurkey for vegans, too. And a dollar from each dinner goes to Foodshare (foodshare.net).
Over at the venerable Fran’s (20 College, at Yonge, 416-923-9867, fransrestaurant.com), 25 smackers gets you the full turkey experience including salad, coffee or tea and plum pudding while Renda Abdo’s cozy 7 West Café (7 Charles W, at Yonge, 416-928-9041, 7westcafe.com) is doing a $15 turkey plate with salad and festive desserts like Red Velvet cake ($6.95). Turkey dinner’s not on the card but the Counter, the 24-hour diner in the Thompson Hotel (550 Wellington W, at Bathurst, 416-640-7778, thompsonhotels.com) will be offering smoked turkey sandwiches ($12.75) and turkey Cobb salads ($14) round the clock.
PAGAN VEGAN
Who says veg-heads can’t join in the fun? Across from the old Don Jail, Green Earth (385 Broadview, at Gerrard E, 416-778-9199, greenearthveggie.com) offers its annual festive supper – seasonal soup, faux turkey, stuffing, mushroom gravy, stir-fried veggies, rice pilaf and dairy-free chocolate mousse washed down with non-alcoholic apple cider for $19.95 from 5 pm.
HO-HO-HOTEL DINING
Epic (100 Front W, at York, 416-860-6949, epicrestaurant.com) in the Royal York Hotel still has space available for the 4 pm seating of its annual Christmas Day $115 five-course blow-out. Head to TOCA (181 Wellington W, at John, 416-585-2500, tocarestaurant.com) in the new Ritz Carlton for a holiday-themed lunch of roasted turkey breast with truffled bread pudding with cranberries, chicken liver and Brussels sprouts ($36) and eggnog crème brulee ($12) from 1 to 6 pm.
The Studio Café (21 Avenue Rd, at Yorkville, 416-928-7330, fourseasons.com/Toronto) isn’t doing turkey but they are throwing a $45 two-course “festive” brunch.
One (116 Yorkville, at Hazelton, 416-961-9600, onehazelton.com) while Lai Wah Heen (108 Chestnut, at Dundas, 416-977-9899, metropolitan.com/lwh) in the Metropolitan Hotel goes the luxe dim sum route from 11 am to 3 pm. After that, it’s strictly a la carte.
MORE DIM SUM
Dim Sum King (421 Dundas W, at Huron, 416-551-3366) 9 am to 11 pm
Dynasty (69 Yorkville, at Belair, 416-923-3323) 10 am to 4 pm
Crown Princess (1033 Bay, at Irwin, 416-923-8784) 9 am to 4 pm
Rol San (323 Spadina, at St Andrew, 416-977-1128) 9:30 am to 4 pm
AND THEN SOME
Swatow (309 Spadina, at Dundas W, 416-977-0601) 11 am to 2:30 am
Xam Yu (339 Spadina, at Baldwin, 416-340-8603, xamyu.com) 11:30 am to midnight
King’s Noodle (296 Spadina, at Dundas W, 416-598-1817) 9 am to 1 am
Kom Jug Yuen (371 Spadina, at Nassau, 416-977-4079) 11 am to 1 am
