Queen scene
Retail on Queen West between University and Spadina may be dying, but fast food restaurants are doing better than ever – Banh Mi Boys and the Burger’s Priest will agree. Too late to be included in NOW’s recent search for Toronto’s most incendiary food, Hot & Spicy (226 Queen West, at McCaul, 416-792-8877) is the latest addition to this once hippest of strips. The card of Asian fusion dishes like Cajun Tuna Tatakiand and Penang Pork Chops isn’t all that different from the menu at the now defunct all-you-can-eat Spring Rolls a few doors down.
Across the street, Japanese import Touhenboku Ramen is about to open in the old Bang On space at 261 Queen West. Down the block, the rapidly expanding Gelato Pizza (200 Queen West, at Duncan, 416 540-4700, gelatopizza.com) chain has opened its fourth outpost, this one specializing in serviceable late-night slices and what the sidewalk sign out front calls “artisian” gelato.
Big-beat meet
One of the top foodie events of the year, the 18th Eat To The Beat is being held at Roy Thomson Hall on Tuesday (October 22). Alexandra Feswick of Samuel J. Moore and Donna Dooher of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen are just two of the 60 female Canadian chefs taking part in the annual benefit in aid of Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada. Ticket info at eattothebeat.ca.
Pleading the fifth
Once home to such legendary boîtes as Fluid and Susur Lee’s Oceans, the basement of the Fifth complex of restaurants is now occupied by the Fifth Pubhouse and Café (225 Richmond West, at Adelaide, 416-979-0390, thefifthpubhouseandcafe.com). Besides 14 beers on tap, look for a downmarket mishmash of tacos ‘n’ nachos, Subcontinental curries and wiener schnitzel.
