-
- English
- Français
- Log In
- Sign Up for Yelp
Luke A.'s Profile
My Neighborhood
See All Lists
1. Strictly Bulk
This bulk store is small, but it still has a good selection: you may have to ask where things are, though, because there's a lot squeezed in and the labels aren't too prominent.
While Strictly Bulk may not look flashy (and it has that musty, bulk…More »
2. Sam's Barber Shop
Don't let the newish, plain little building fool you: Sam's has been a Bloor West institution for years, although the business used to be just off Bloor on Durie Street.
You can still get a good, workmanlike cut here for a fair price, and it's still…More »
3. Classico Pizza & Pasta
There's a lot of competition for your pizza dollars around Bloor and Jane, and Classico's the place to get some more creatively-topped, gourmet pizza. It's quite good, but as a result the pizza is priced higher than the nearby chains like Pizza…More »
4. Red Nails 2
Toronto, ON M6S 3Y2
(416) 762-7899
Category:
Comic Books
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
This is a comic book shop with a balanced selection of new stuff, back issues, and comic-related merchandise. There aren't too many of these kinds of small shops around nowadays outside of downtown, and Red Nails is, in its way, a bit of a classic.
…More »
5. Brown's Sports & Cycle Company
Another long-standing Bloor West business, Brown's sells and services the usual neighbourhood sports stuff: bikes, tennis raquets, skates, etc.
I have to admit I've had mixed experiences here. I asked to borrow a bike pedal wrench when one of my…More »
6. Graeme Hibberd, Orthodontist
Toronto, ON M6S 4W4
(416) 769-0811
Category:
General Dentistry
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
As any kid who's had braces can tell you, you end up spending a lot of time at orthodontist's offices if you're getting your teeth straightened. Dr. Hibberd was the guy I went to, and they've got a pretty big and efficient operation running here.
I…More »
7. 2 For 1 Movies
Toronto, ON M6S 1R2
(416) 767-0110
Categories:
Videos and Video Game Rental,
Music & DVDs
Neighbourhood: Swansea
How great is this video store? Let me put it this way: they'd been three doors up the street from Blockbuster for about fifteen years, and they're still in business. And now the Blockbuster is gone.
For a small store, they've got a very comprehensive…More »
8. Dark Horse
Toronto, ON M6S 1P7
(416) 769-4696
Category:
Pubs
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Here's a pub that feels more like an authentic English pub than other places--take the Victorian-inspired furnishings and wallpaper, for example. They have many high-end beers on tap, and the food is a notch above the usual pub grub.
Dark Horse has a…More »
9. SupperSolved
This place has an interesting concept: instead of buying frozen entrees full of preservatives, you can come to SupperSolved, assemble some meals yourself, then take them home to cook at your convenience. They supply you with the ingredients and…More »
10. Jabez Gift & Variety
Toronto, ON M6S 1P9
(416) 767-5032
Category:
Convenience Stores
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
Here's a nice, normal variety store. I happen to drop in here a fair amount, since it's the closest to me, and on the way to the subway, too. Otherwise, there's not that much that's remarkable about it: good place to pick up a newspaper, snack,…More »
11. Chapters
Toronto, ON M6S 1N7
(416) 761-9773
Category:
Bookstores
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This particular Chapters deserves mentioning because it's an architecturally unique bookstore--I just wish they had more books.
They did an impressive job, amid some controversy in the late 1990s, converting the old Runnymede movie theatre into a…More »
12. Bloor Animal Hospital
Toronto, ON M6S 1P6
(416) 767-5817
Categories:
Veterinarians,
Pet Boarding/Pet Sitting
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
If you spot any girls in scrubs walking dogs about Bloor West Village, it's a good bet they're from Bloor Animal Hospital. They take good care of various animals, although my mom's cat wasn't thrilled to come back after he got neutered here--can't…More »
13. Snappers Fish Market
Toronto, ON M6S 3G2
(416) 767-4083
Category:
Seafood Markets
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
A good place for fresh fish is a plus in any neighbourhood, and Bloor West Village has Snappers. It's cheerful and clean, and doesn't veer toward either the clinical or the nautical in its aesthetic.
I was just here recently, and charged the fish…More »
14. Queen's Pasta Cafe
Toronto, ON M6S 1N8
(416) 766-0993
Category:
Italian
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Don't quite understand the "Queen" connection, but the "pasta" part is a no-brainer: these guys serve nice pasta. The bistro feel of Queen's Pasta hasn't changed much over the years, but why mess with a good thing?
Anyway, if you'd like to enjoy some…More »
15. Bloor Meat Market
A really good butcher shop that is often bustling, but still has its charm: the weird, anachronistic "box office" they have inside is one example. We used to order goose here for Christmas when expecting to feed a bigger holiday crowd (but lately…More »
16. Max's Market
Toronto, ON M6S 1P1
(416) 766-6362
Category:
Specialty Food
Neighbourhood: Swansea
Max's is a good place to go for prepared foods around Bloor St. West: in other words, if you want quick take-out that isn't the usual fare. A boon for local gourmands who don't feel like cooking or staying out.
Max's is also a handy source for…More »
17. Sharkey's Village Cafe - CLOSED
These guys take their fusion cuisine seriously--maybe a little too seriously. When I was here, the waiter spent a little too much time explaining the whole concept, as though I'd never been to this kind of place before.
The food was good, even the…More »
18. Shakey's Original Bar and Grill
Toronto, ON M6S 1N8
(416) 767-0608
Category:
Sports Bars
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This is the place to come if you want to watch the Leafs lose in a sympathetic atmosphere, while drinking Molson's or Labatt's by the pitcher. Not to be confused with the similarly-named, but very differently-themed Skarkey's down the street.
There's…More »
19. Simply Thai Cuisine
Toronto, ON M6S 1N8
(416) 769-8866
Category:
Thai
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Delicious Thai food with a comprehensive takeout menu can be found here. I always mean to try new dishes each time, but since I always end up getting the delicious pad thai as one of my courses, I haven't sampled as much as I would like.
The dining…More »
20. High Park
High Park is easily my favourite park in Toronto. It's big, and has a wide variety of park-like areas: there are wooded trails, cultivated gardens, open spaces, a pool, skating rinks, even a zoo and the "Adventure Playground" for kids. Even at night,…More »
21. Groom Pet Shop
Toronto, ON M6S 1N5
(416) 762-0297
Categories:
Pet Stores,
Pet Groomers
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Groom Pet and Sports looks like it's been around forever (actually, since '52), and they certainly don't make 'em like this anymore (walk down the street to the Bark & Fitz for comparison). It's a tiny little pet store absolutely crammed with toys,…More »
22. Nicholson's No Frills
I'm a big fan of the No Frills franchises, but this one is a little tough to love. They just finished a big, disruptive renovation that apparently consisted simply of making all the aisles perpendicular to their former configuration. For a mid-sized…More »
23. Swan & Firkin
This is a chain pub that's kin to the other "[Insert Animal Name Here] and Firkin" establishments around town. It feels a bit phony to me on that account, and it doesn't have any strikingly good deals or food to compensate for that. (Unlike the…More »
24. Wheels of Bloor
Toronto, ON M6S 1M5
(416) 762-9119
Category:
Bikes
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This is the best bike place I've tried around Bloor West Village. It's a neat, clean establishment with friendly staff who know their stuff.
I was looking to replace some worn out pads from the inside of my bike helmet one time, and they gave me a…More »
25. Sushi Villa Japanese Restaurant & Bar
Toronto, ON M6S 1N2
(416) 604-2014
Categories:
Japanese,
Sushi Bars
Neighbourhood: Swansea
This one's a bit easy to miss, stuck in the little micro-plaza beside Nicholson's No Frills. It's not a standout as far as Japanese restaurants go, but there's nothing wrong with it either.
Sushi Villa does make for a nice getaway from some of the…More »
26. Sunnyside - Gus Ryder Pool
Sunnyside is the biggest outdoor pool in town, and a good place to bake yourself on the deck and people-watch, because it's very popular when the weather is good. I also like it because it has dedicated lap lanes, so if you actually want to swim for…More »
27. Jolanta Interiors
Toronto, ON M6S 1P5
(416) 762-9638
Categories:
Kitchen & Bath,
Jewellery
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
Jolanta Interiors is another long-standing Bloor West fixture, crammed with interesting gadgets, mostly for the kitchen, but also for the home generally. It's so full that it's hard to browse without almost knocking something over. Some kitchen and…More »
28. Coffee Tree Roastery
Toronto, ON M6S 1P9
(416) 767-1077
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
Coffee Tree is a good alternative both to the donut-shop ambiance of Coffee Time and the over-commercialized hipness of chains like Starbucks and Timothy's--all of which are within a block or two of Coffee Tree. They've got their own nice blends and…More »
29. Runnymede Public Library
Toronto, ON M6S 1M8
(416) 393-7697
Category:
Libraries
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Housed in a historic building (it was featured on a postage stamp many years ago), Runnymede Library visibly anchors the east end of Bloor West Village.
Not too long ago it reopened after a major renovation. It now has a slightly bigger collection,…More »
30. Cheese Boutique
It was a risky move to relocate the Cheese Boutique from its old digs on Bloor West, but the current building (though well off the beaten track) is much better, allowing them to show off even more of their interesting imported foods. Fancy cheese and…More »
31. The Yellow Griffin
Toronto, ON M6S 1N4
(416) 763-3365
Everything that Ramanan said in his review of the Griffin is true. The unparalleled burger selection alone is worth the trip. Ever had peanut butter or caviar on a burger? Well, they do that too. When you multiply the options for burgers, toppings,…More »
32. Sunset Grill
Toronto, ON M6S 1N4
(416) 763-1444
Categories:
Diners,
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
You'd think a place that did breakfasts all day would be called the Sunrise Grill, but I digress...
The Sunset Grill is like a greasy-spoon without the grease (at least off the plates), but for me, the grungy, morning-after feeling of breakfast joints…More »
33. Sewing Machine & Vacuum Center
Well, I can't give these guys points for marketing: the un-flashy store name, "Sewing Machine and Vacuum Centre", takes up much less space on the front sign than the logos of Singer and other related brands. It's reminiscent of variety stores where…More »
34. Say Tea
Toronto, ON M6S 1P3
(416) 766-5425
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This is a fantastic little shop to buy loose-leaf tea (and coffee beans, too).
You can walk in and ask, "What do you have in a strong breakfast tea?" and get a number of solid recommendations, which is pretty helpful since there are so many blends to…More »
35. Best Drug Mart
Toronto, ON M6S 1M8
(416) 769-6946
Category:
Drugstores
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
It's not really enough to change the rating, but I found out that Best Drug Mart no longer sets up a flu shot clinic. In fact, after a bit of checking it seems like there's nowhere in Bloor West Village that does it anymore--according to the city,…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/1/2008 First to Review
These guys deliver, and since you don't get Shopper's Optimum points on prescriptions, I'd rather… Read more »
36. The Source by Circuit City
Toronto, ON M6S 1N9
(416) 769-5556
Category:
Electronics
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
It's remarkable how, in a time when there are so many electronic gizmos out there, it can still be tough to find a decent selection of cables, wires, and other relatively low-cost, but essential, add-ons. The Source isn't really THE source for such…More »
37. Book City
Toronto, ON M6S 1P3
(416) 766-9412
Category:
Bookstores
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This is one of the smaller Book City outlets around Toronto, but they still manage to pack a surprising amount of good books and magazines into their limited space. It has more of a bibliophilic staff and atmosphere than the big chains, since books…More »
38. Swansea Memorial Public Library
Swansea Memorial consists of a room inside Swansea town hall; it feels more like a small-town branch than part of TPL. Most of the library's patrons seem to be seniors, and they are literally closed half the time.
Back when Runnymede Library was…More »
39. Bloor-Jane Restaurant
Toronto, ON M6S 1P9
(416) 766-5383
Categories:
Diners,
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
Ah, last of the greasy spoons... well, at least along this stretch of Bloor.
It's true that the old-school, working-class diner is a dying breed, especially in neighbourhoods that have been or are becoming gentrified (look at the places on…More »
40. Cards 'n Such
Toronto, ON M6S 1P3
(416) 763-8748
Category:
Cards & Stationery
Neighbourhoods: Bloor-West Village, Swansea
This is a nice, quiet little greeting-card and stationary store that isn't quite as overwhelming as the monstrous Hallmark/Laura Secord store farther east on Bloor; if you're going to send a pre-fab sentiment anyway, at least get it from a local. I…More »
| 1 to 40 of 58 | | Go to Page 1 2 | Previous | Next |
|
"Loafing for a Living"
- 44 Friends
- 328 Reviews
- 3 Review Updates
- 279 Firsts
- 3 Fans
- 322 Local Photos
- 1 List
-
Rating Distribution
Loading...
- View more graphs »
Review votes:
519 Useful, 173 Funny, and 194 Cool
Toronto, ON
Yelping SinceAugust 2008
My HometownToronto
My Blog Or Website Why You Should Read My ReviewsWho doesn't like a bon mot?
The Last Great Book I ReadStill working on War and Peace
My First ConcertGreen Day, back when they were new
My Last Meal On EarthBetter be in the 22nd century