Gary "Gazza" E.'s Profile

This past October my wife and I had our first baby (see how I casually fit that in there), but after 3 months of child-rearing (is that the proper context?) we needed a night out. So dinner and a movie was on the agenda with dinner being at Milestones.

It wasn't our first choice - as franchise type restaurants rarely are - but man did it hit the spot.

Definitely of the swankier variety of chain restaurants, Milestones has a bit of Yuppie atmosphere, sort of blending the Keg with a douchey Miami Vice type bar. But looks were deceiving as the food was top shelf.

We started with Kobe beef sliders (amazing) then I moved on to a steak topped with lobster and shrimp while my wife had a fantastic mushroom pasta. We finished it off with some sort of Mexican chocolate cake that I'm nearly sure gave me diabetes.

If you can get past the cookie cutter look and feel, and are in the market for a well cooked meal you really could do worse than Milestones. I know someone commented on the slow service, but I have to point out that we had a really attentive server. I've also heard people say that the chain is really hit and miss depending on which one you go to. Well - this one was a hit.

This review comes with a warning. Only purchase your coffee here if you are willing to be ruined for all other coffee.

The location is cool, if not secluded - buried at the end of Davies St. And the atmosphere is your standard "coffee house" fair with over-sized chairs, world music and free wi-fi. But what's different is the staff and the coffee.

I found the staff to be extremely helpful and willing to explain to you what you're buying. The guy who helped me explained what to expect from different styles of coffee, and broke down the flavour profiles of each country. And as the name implies they buy all their beans green and roast them in house. So he was even kind enough to tell me how long coffee will truly stay fresh after roasting (which isn't long...about 3 days).

But the best part was when I got home, ground some beans and made myself a cup of coffee. It was a near life changing experience. 20 minutes later I can still taste the amazing flavours, and smell the aroma (it made me use the word aroma!). This coffee has completely ruined all other coffee for me. I can't go back to one of those Tim Horton's paper cups full of sludge. Not even Starbucks can compare to the coffee you'll get at MGC.

I suggest every person drink at east one cup of coffee from this place although I'd wager you'll never be able to drink just one.

In my honest opinion Supermarket is one of the culinary treasures of Toronto. Not to sound corny or cliche but for me this is the kind of restaurant that reflects what Toronto is. A cultural melange of foods and styles, the worn and eclectic interior and the pseudo-hipster staff that run the place.

The food is amazing and so diverse. For me fusion cooking usually means no style at all. But Supermarket deftly holds true to the Thai, Tapas, etc., blend while also bringing something of their own to it.

This is the ideal spot for a group of 4 or 6 people as it really allows you to affordably try some of everything. Plus the relaxed atmosphere makes you want to take your time, savor the food and enjoy some conversation.

Supermarket has become a staple for my group of friends and it's never too long between visits. We feel guilty returning to the same spot, but when the whole package is so good, it's tough not to.

Fine French dining - it almost epitomizes the restaurant experience. When you think of fancy restaurants, it's what usually springs to mind. Merlot doesn't disappoint in this respect.

It's a trim menu of very traditional French food as Merlot clearly subscribes to the edict - do a small list of food really, really well. Plus they also offer some fresh seafood as daily specials.

Even with the short menu, there's something for most. So if you'd like to enjoy the ambiance (walls lined with French art gallery posters) but eat a steak - they can accommodate you.

I had the trio of sausages, which were a little over-cooked for my liking, but still tasted good. The rest of my party was a mixture of surf and turf and all seemed at least pleased with their meal.

As someone else commented the wine list is a little short - but the wine we did choose was delicious so I'm wondering if the limited wines they do carry were expertly chosen as the best.

I'd recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to experiment with traditional French cuisine and get your feet wet. The prices are reasonable and the service was good even on a busy night.

This was the best poutine I've ever eaten in my entire life. I should qualify this by saying that while I've eaten a lot of poutine in my day, I'd hesitate to call myself an "aficionado" in the realm of fries topped with gravy and cheese.

That said, this was damn good. The kind of good where you take one bite and immediately realize how amazing it is. You chew franticly and swallow so you can tell the person across from you what they already - this is the best poutine you've ever had in your life.

It's a kitschy little place with table top illustrations featuring video games and sports. They've got waiters who wear golf shirts with the restaurant's logo and serve their beverages in those classic fogged plastic cups. And I wouldn't change that for anything. The atmosphere is definitely a huge part of the experience.

With my poutine I had a serving of smoked meat with slaw and a pickle and can attest to the fact that the portions are big (and perfect). It might be a lot for an average eater, but if you're big on quantity, this is the place.

Oh and lastly, the food came within 5 minutes of ordering - I'm not exaggerating even a little about that. I'll let you decide whether that's a pro or a con.

So to recap - fun atmosphere, fast service, delicious food and poutine you'd kill for.

When someone describes the premise behind Ethiopian food, I'll admit it's a tough sell. Cold squishy flat bread you use to scoop up lentils - but I gotta tell you, it's amazing.

I was there for my second time last week and was yet again impressed with the great food, fragrant aromas and rich atmosphere. The food is packed with unique flavours and from minute you walk in you really feel like your experiencing something totally different, but never in a forced or touristy way.

The two standouts on the menu for me are the Tibs (beef cooked in chillies and spices) and the coffee - If you're a fan of dark roast, you absolutely must try theirs. You'll need to order it at the start of your meal as it takes about 30 minutes for them to roast the beans (can you say fresh?).

It's a small place, with an extremely laid-back atmosphere, so if you're in a rush or expecting a waiter to dote on you, chances are you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're looking for a full dining experience and want to soak it all up, this is your place.

I have a feeling I might take some hits for saying this, but this place is WAY over hyped. It's crowded and cramped and the food is average at best. It's not the best Thai food in the city, it's not even the best Thai food in that area.

I'm sure if I was a poor student I'd appreciate their 'No Frills' approach to restauranting (maybe splash a few ice cubes in that water?), but frankly I was left unimpressed.

There are a lot of firsts you remember. Eating my first Royal Meat 1 pound burger is definitely one.

Royal, aka "Where the Burgers are," nicely blends an upper class dining experience with a casual 'serve yourself' atmosphere. The decor, the quality of the food, the prices are all high-end. Yet you walk up to a counter, order from a menu board and the staff dress your burger in front of you. Don't let this detract you from what will be one of the best hamburgers you'll ever eat.

Plus, the sides are great too (highly recommend the sweet potato fries).

It is a touch more expensive than you're average burger joint, but this ain't your average burger, I mean you can literally pick your piece of meat before they put in on the grill - sort of like a lobster tank.

I've only been here once (I'm a west-ender and this place is out in the east-end which might as well be Pickering for me), but needles to say I did walk out with about 5 albums that day.

This is a great place for higher-end used records and rarities (original Sgt. Peppers, etc.). I can remember raising an eyebrow at some of the prices (you want how much for Steely Dan?) but did manage to find an original Kinks album in good nick.

The owner is a really friendly guy who clearly loves music and knows a ton about it, but not in an imposing or intimidating way. I get the impression he'd love to chat about music with customers all day (and probably does).

Also the huge rock posters and vintage chatchkis add to the overall 'flea market' vibe, but in a good way.

This is the place I go when I want brand new records that I can't find at Sonic Boom or Rotate This. It's not a huge selection and I'm nearly sure it's all brand new stuff (no used treasures). They will however order just about anything you can't find - assuming it exists on vinyl.

They also have a crap-ton of rock merch (T's, belt buckles, etc.)