patio
barrier free
$ average main course under $10
$$ average main course $11–20
$$$ average main course $21–30
West Side
Burger Brats
254 Adelaide W, at Duncan, 647-352-4786, burgerbrats.ca. Burger Priest clone, with the Hangover – three 6-ounce patties, three slices of processed cheddar, two slices of peameal bacon, fried mushrooms ‘n’ onions, romaine lettuce, field tomato and a fried egg on a bun ($15) – its Tower of Babel. Monday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday 11 am to 4 am, Saturday noon to 4 am. Closed Sunday, holidays. ≠Unlicensed. $
Corned Beef House
270 Adelaide W, at John, 416-977-2333, cornedbeefhouse.com. Montreal-style smoked meat sandwiches in the old Avalon just down the block from the original digs. Best Reuben in town? Monday to Wednesday 11 am to 9 pm, Thursday to Saturday 11 am to 11 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. $$
Dhaba
309 King W, at John, 416-740-6622, dhaba.ca. Terrific north Indian all-you-can-eat lunch buffet and salad bar from $11.95. Buffet weekdays noon to 2:30 pm, brunch buffet Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 3 pm, à la carte dinner nightly 5 to 10:30 pm. $$
Ginger on Queen W
212 Queen W, at Duncan, 416-977-8778, gingercuisine.ca. Quick budget-minded pan-Asian stir fries and satays with lots of veggie options. Also: 695 Yonge, at Charles, 416-966-2424. Daily 11 am to 11 pm. $
Khao San Road
326 Adelaide W, at Peter, 647-352-5773, khaosanroad.ca. Stylish Thai trat takes Southeast Asian street food uptown. Pyromaniacs know to order everything “Thai spicy.” Lunch Monday to Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, dinner 5 to 10 pm. Closed Sunday, some holidays. $$
O&B Canteen
330 King W, at John, 647-288-4710, oliverbonacini.com. Stylish cafeteria on the ground floor of the TIFF tower. Daily 8 am to close. Lunch weekdays from 11 am, weekend and holidays from 10 am. $$
Peter Pan
373 Queen W, at Peter, 416-593-0917, thepeterpanbistro.com. This long-running entry-level bistro is an even bigger bargain at lunch, when a plate of simple Scarpetta-style pasta and a hunk of freshly baked focaccia goes for $8.95. Lunch Monday to Saturday noon to 4 pm, dinner Monday to Wednesday 4 to 10 pm, Thursday 4 to Saturday 4 to 11:30 pm brunch Sunday noon to 4 pm, dinner to 10 pm. $$
Queen Mother
208 Queen W, at Duncan, 416-598-4719, queenmothercafe.ca. Moderately priced vegetarian-friendly card with a pronounced Southeast Asian accent in laid-back digs with service to match. Monday to Saturday 11:30 am to 1 am. Brunch Sunday 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, dinner till midnight. $$
RaviSoups
322 Adelaide W, at Peter, 647-435-8365, ravisoups.com. Quality ingredients, attention to detail and fabulously rich flavours make ex-Mildred Pierce chef Ravi Kanagarajah’s deluxe soups some of the most sought-after in town. Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm (lunches from 11 am), Saturday noon to 6 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. Unlicensed. $
Trimurti
265 Queen W, at Duncan, 416-645-0286, trimurti.ca. The tastiest of the four Indian all-you-can-eat buffets on the block, from the original Nataraj crew. $11.95 buffet Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 11:30 am to 3 pm à la carte dinner Monday to Thursday 5 to 11 pm, Saturday and Sunday 3 to 11 pm. $$
Downtown
Big Fat Burrito on Dundas W
112 Dundas W, at Bay, 416-340-0340. Kensington Market via San Francisco-style meal-in-one wraps stuffed with the likes of pulled pork and yams. Monday to Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday 11 am to 10 pm, Saturday noon to 10 pm, Sunday and holidays noon to 7 pm. Unlicensed. Cash only. $
Kenzo Ramen
138 Dundas W, at Elizabeth, 416-205-1155, kenzoramen.ca. Super al dente house-made noodles, luxurious broths and top-of-the-line toppings. Daily 11 am to 10 pm. $
New Treasure
150 Dundas W, at Elizabeth, 416-977-3778. All-day dim sum with carts in a basement around the corner from the bus station. Daily 11 am to 11 pm. $$
Paramount
253 Yonge, at Dundas Sq, 416-366-3600, paramountfinefoods.com. Middle Eastern grill and salad combos in a heritage building across from the Eaton Centre. Sunday to Thursday 8 am to midnight, Friday and Saturday 8 am to 1 am. Unlicensed. $$
Queen & Beaver Public House
35 Elm, at Yonge, 647-347-2712, queenandbeaverpub.ca. Fancy-pants gastropub in a two-storey Victorian with multiple patios. Don’t miss the bone-marrow-laced burgers and outstanding fish ‘n’ chips. Lunch Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 3 pm, dinner Monday to Saturday 3 to 11 pm, Sunday 3 to 10 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 3 pm, breakfast both days from 9 am in footie season. Bar till close. $$$
Salad King
340 Yonge, at Elm, 416-593-0333, saladking.com. Trendy and extremely noisy Thai noodle house upstairs from the Foot Locker. Monday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday 11 am to 11 pm, Saturday noon to 11 pm, Sunday and holidays noon to 9 pm. $
Senator
249 Victoria, at Yonge-Dundas Sq, 416-364-7517, thesenator.com. Now in its 82nd year, this all-original art deco diner specializes in upscale takes on classic comfort food. Breakfast and lunch Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 2:30 pm dinner Tuesday to Saturday 5 to 9 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 8 am to 2:30 pm. $$
Uptown
Coffee Mill
99 Yorkville, at Bellair, 416-920-2108, coffeemillrestaurant.com. Toronto’s version of the Brown Derby, this long-running Hungarian restaurant attracts an old-school show-biz crowd for goulash and paprikash. Monday to Thursday 10 am to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to midnight, Sunday and holidays noon to 11 pm. $$
Focaccia Italian Sandwiches
13 Hayden, at Yonge, 416-922-8171. Old-school pasta, pizza and panini to go. Monday to Friday 11 am to 5:30 pm, Saturday 5 to 10 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. $
Mela
7A Yorkville, at Yonge, 416-916-0619. All of 10 seats, former Four Seasons chef Roberto Granata’s budget-minded all-vegetarian café combines southern Italian classics with contemporary health-conscious technique. Monday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. Unlicensed. $
Okonomi House
23 Charles W, at St Nicholas, 416-925-6176. Kitty-corner from the Varsity, this Japanese fast food joint has been serving Hiroshima-style omelettes to cash-strapped fest-goers since the 70s. Monday to Friday 11:30 am to 10 pm, Saturday noon to 10 pm. Closed Sunday, holidays. $
Pho Hung on Bloor
200 Bloor W, at Avenue Rd, 416-963-5080. Dirt-cheap meal-in-one Vietnamese pho and noodle combos. Daily 11 am to 10 pm. $
Pilot
22 Cumberland, at Yonge, 416-923-5716, thepilot.ca. Pub grub and pints on a rooftop close to the action. Monday to Saturday 11 am to 2 am, Sunday noon to 10 pm. $$
7 West Café
7 Charles W, at Yonge, 416-928-9041, 7westcafe.com. This rambling three-storey Victorian stays open 24/7 year round and features an extensive selection of sandwiches and salads. $$
Wish
3 Charles E, at Yonge, 416-935-0240, wishintoronto.com. Can’t afford the patio at the Hazelton Hotel’s ultra-chic One? Sister to nearby 7 West, this South Beach-style curbside terrace is just as glamorous and half the price. Lunch Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm, dinner Tuesday to Saturday 4 to 11 pm. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Bar till close. $$$
