I have about $200 to spend at a restaurant

[Sl300]

Hello,
Technicall its not my $200. MY gf got a credit from her company for a 2 person dinner, so naturally were going together. Were not fine diners by any means, but i guess this occasion calls for an upscale restaurant, im suppose to choose a restaurant for us to go to.

a view would be nice, we arent very "daring" ie: cultural foods (mexican, etc)

we've been to Canoe and it was very nice, something along thoes lines would be great! I heard a few good things about panaroma as well

*GTA area

Any Suggestions?

[xtal]

The food at Panorama is nothing special.

Go to Splendido (www.splendido.ca). You may need to put in a bit of money over the $200, but it will be more than worth it.

Alternatively, you could go to Japango (Dundas & Elizabeth) and have an amazing omakase. Just tell them your spending limit, and the sushi chef will prepare accordingly.

Both are excellent places.

[trini]

Jamie Kennedy,Susur,Mardi Gras

[asim99]

susur tasting menu

[Sajjad]

Agreed, try something really high-end. Ie Susur, he was on American Iron Chef.
Or try RAIN, owned by the Rubino Brother's in Mississauga. They had a show on Food Network Canada, called made to order.
http://www.torontolife.com/cityguide/listing.cfm?category_id=1&listing_id=5843


Please don't go to some restaurant based on volume, in the end it's the taste and quality that matters.

[NDman]

Agreed, try something really high-end. Ie Susur, he was on American Iron Chef.
Or try RAIN, owned by the Rubino Brother's in Mississauga. They had a show on Food Network Canada, called made to order.
http://www.torontolife.com/cityguide/listing.cfm?category_id=1&listing_id=5843


Please don't go to some restaurant based on volume, in the end it's the taste and quality that matters.
Just a heads-up. Rain is gonna set you back way more than $200 for 2 with a full course meal and drink

[Blunt]

Susur will be over $200 as well..

[trini]

Rain is Downtown not in Sauga.
I won't reccommend them because they are slave drivers but if are'nt about morals yeah there and Nectar are good but no where compared to the 3 i mentioned.
Might i add Jamie Kennedy is the Only Restaurant Owner/Chef to compete in the Bocuse D'ior, the most prestigous Hot food Cooking Competition and unlike all these other Chef's he actually still cooks in his place.

No susur has 5 course tasting as well as vegetarian tasting menus for around 80.00 so you can ver well do close to 200.00 and i'm sure you can go a few bucks over.
You will also get to meet the worlds greatest chef.

[Sajjad]

Just a heads-up. Rain is gonna set you back way more than $200 for 2 with a full course meal and drink
Yeah forgot to mention that as well.. >:( $220 for 2 people, $110 for 1.
Let's say the restaurant serves 100 people a night ($110 x 100), that's $11,000.
Now let's add tips, and I'm certain they do more people than that. Probably $15,000 no?

[dmatthew]

Truffles at the four season's is pretty good too
However, it'll probably cost you more than $200 for the two of you

[Sajjad]

Rain is Downtown not in Sauga.
I won't reccommend them because they are slave drivers but if are'nt about morals yeah there and Nectar are good but no where compared to the 3 i mentioned.
Might i add Jamie Kennedy is the Only Restaurant Owner/Chef to compete in the Bocuse D'ior, the most prestigous Hot food Cooking Competition and unlike all these other Chef's he actually still cooks in his place.

No susur has 5 course tasting as well as vegetarian tasting menus for around 80.00 so you can ver well do close to 200.00 and i'm sure you can go a few bucks over.
You will also get to meet the worlds greatest chef.

I beg to differ...

Don't forget Morimoto, Flay, Battali, Bourdain (A Cook's Tour), etc.

[Sl300]

wow im shocked at all the quick responses.
i forgot to add **WE BOTH DONT DRINK** just in case some of you added it to the estimated meal price

im goin to start reading reviews on the restaurants mentioned above, i believe the budget is 250, but i said 200 here just to be safe :cheesygri

[llAPll]

A few choices of mine would be:

1. CN Tower 360 Restaurant (all for the view)
2. Canoe (awesome place and view)
3. North 44

[commie]

I don't understand what the whole infaturation with Susur Lee is all about?
Sure he is a good chef? But calling him the Greatest Chef in the World? I won't even consider him to be the best chef in Toronto...
Last time I visited Susur, one of the dishes on his tasting menu was 3 peices of BBQ Pork, chinese style....I am sorry but what is so special about that?

Some other restaurants to consider..and if you and gf don't drink....then $200-250 is plenty..
Lots of choices..

- Perigee
- Bymark
- Spendido

I really like Perigee...and the whole Distillery District adds to the experience...
Its a smallish restaurant,..and if you get one of those seats around the kitchen, then you get to see the chefs do their magic with your food....
Its also a tasting menu, so each time is different, and the chef will ask you want kinds of food you like/dislike, allegries, etc.....so he will cater the menu just to your personality..

[commie]

I beg to differ...

Don't forget Morimoto, Flay, Battali, Bourdain (A Cook's Tour), etc.

Also, all the great chefs at the 3* restaurants in France...

Susur Lee = arrogrant, overrated chef!

[keanefan]

why do you say Susur is arrogant?

From seeing him on tv- he doesn't seem arrogant.

People continously report seeing him eat at small, not fancy restaurants.

An arrogant or snobby person would only go to fancy restaurants.

[mjl_toronto]

I was in a similar situation. I chose to go to North 44 to try the Wagyu steak which alone was $150. I mean, when and where would you ever get a kobe beef quality steak without feeling guilty about paying for it?

After drinks, appetizers and desserts, we spent about $275. Good thing my wifes meal was cheap (relatively).

[sparkplug]

i forgot to add **WE BOTH DONT DRINK** just in case some of you added it to the estimated meal price


With a $200 credit, this is a good opportunity to start. :D

[trini]

Dearest Commie and Sajjad............
I am a Chef and i know this man well as well as most other Chefs in this City
You really have'nt met alot of chefs or tkknow them personally in this city if you can say that he's arrogant.
Commie you really need to watch less tv.
Furthermore Michelin stars are'nt given out anywhere else but Europe and there are Chef's who are giving them back because that accolade is no longer about the food.
Thats actually Splendidos dream but they certainly wont be the 1st to get it in Canada.
Another Great Chef in this city is the Mighty John Higgins the man who at 29 ran Buckingham Palaces kitchens by the time he was 29 but you got to go to a community event or fundraising to eat from him.


Last time at Susur 1 seven course tasting and 1 seven course raw Food Menu came up to 240.00 with tip we don't drink and good food does not need to be spoilt with alcohol.

[commie]

Dearest Commie and Sajjad............
I am a Chef and i know this man well as well as most other Chefs in this City
You really have'nt met alot of chefs or tkknow them personally in this city if you can say that he's arrogant.
Commie you really need to watch less tv.
Furthermore Michelin stars are'nt given out anywhere else but Europe and there are Chef's who are giving them back because that accolade is no longer about the food.
Thats actually Splendidos dream but they certainly wont be the 1st to get it in Canada.
Another Great Chef in this city is the Mighty John Higgins the man who at 29 ran Buckingham Palaces kitchens by the time he was 29 but you got to go to a community event or fundraising to eat from him.


Last time at Susur 1 seven course tasting and 1 seven course raw Food Menu came up to 240.00 with tip we don't drink and good food does not need to be spoilt with alcohol.

Sadly, just because you are a chef, you think you are the authority on Chefs in toronto?
I am entitle to my opinion...and I find that Susur's food is way over-rated....I'll take a dinner at Perigee any date over Susur's...
And price has nothing to do with it...are you trying to impress me with how much you paid for dinner at Susur???
Well last time I was at Perigee, I paid over $500 for dinner for 2 for their tasting menu, and appertif and a bottle of wine during dinner..and a glass of Saturnes during desert....(That Price was used just to illustrate the stupidness of using to gauge the quality of food.....There are many good chefs working at restaurants that don't cost more than $30.)

BTW - I know John Higgins well...he is the director of George Brown's Hospitality program...Another prof there....Ian Gallanger(sp?) he used to be the pastry chef for Elton John....He specially made our wedding cake for us..

So don't go name drop me or anyone here....if you don't know their background...you'll be surprised what other chefs people know!

no wonder you like Susur, so much...you two have the same arrogance there.

Good chef? Yes..
Greatest chef in the world? Not by a wide margin..

[Sajjad]

Wow....$500; this man knows what he's talking about.
:|

[commie]

why do you say Susur is arrogant?

From seeing him on tv- he doesn't seem arrogant.

People continously report seeing him eat at small, not fancy restaurants.

An arrogant or snobby person would only go to fancy restaurants.

When Susur first opened, I used to eat there quite often(once every couple of months)...
I always see Susur and his wife there...His wife is an interior designer who did the restaurant's decor..

Anyways, frequently, both he and his wife would yell at his staff in front of his customers...and I am not talking about giving 'orders' for his kitchen...I mean really degrade the person..
And this type of attitude really carries down the chain of command...
the maitre'd and wait staff there have this don't care attitude for the customers.....Almost like its the customers previlege that we get to eat at that restaurant...

Another thing about Susur, is his lack of a good wine list...He doesn't like to pare his food with wine....But wine and food is made for each other...

He is a very good chef....what he has done to his 'asian' cusisine is made it a better presentation and westernized it....

But I will always laugh, and remember that time with the tasting menu, with 3 peices of BBQ pork, ala Chinese bbq house style..with taht crunchy skin....what he did was placed it very nice on a plate....nice presentation...but can't change the fact that it was just Chinese BBQ pork..

[trini]

Take it easy baby.
I posted the price for the original poster who does not drink nor does his girlfriend so that is the max his bill would come up to and if they went to the 5 course it would be less than that well within his 200.00 budget.
I really don't care about any chef's in Toronto, i support the ghetto Cooks brother so you really need to take it easy.
If you got hoodwinked at Susur don't blame me and yet you've been there how many times again?
Did i say anything about you not being entitled to your own opinion or anyone else.
We can now clearly see who is the arrogant one here.
I mentioned Mardi Gras because it's very affordable and one of the best eating establishments in Toronto.

[commie]

Take it easy baby.
I posted the price for the original poster who does not drink nor does his girlfriend so that is the max his bill would come up to and if they went to the 5 course it would be less than that well within his 200.00 budget.
I really don't care about any chef's in Toronto, i support the ghetto Cooks brother so you really need to take it easy.
If you got hoodwinked at Susur don't blame me and yet you've been there how many times again?
Did i say anything about you not being entitled to your own opinion or anyone else.
We can now clearly see who is the arrogant one here.
I mentioned Mardi Gras because it's very affordable and one of the best eating establishments in Toronto.

If you re-read your message....you are the one coming off and telling the world that you are a "CHEF"....and for me to watch less TV..whatsup with that?

I am not blaming you for Susur....just you made a comment that he is the 'greatest chef in the world'....
I have been back many times again....like I said...he is a pretty good chef....just service needs a bit of adjustments...and alot of my clients like that place....so Susur is on my rotation list of restaurants that I take my clients to.

Like you, I much prefer to find those 'hidden gems', and not the glorified restaurants....but when I need to take care of my clients, and its on expense account....thats another story...

But back to the OP's topic...I think most of the restaurants recommended in this thread will be good for you and your girlfriend to attend....and will be in budget if you don't drink.

[Sl300]

Take it easy baby.
I posted the price for the original poster who does not drink nor does his girlfriend so that is the max his bill would come up to and if they went to the 5 course it would be less than that well within his 200.00 budget.
I really don't care about any chef's in Toronto, i support the ghetto Cooks brother so you really need to take it easy.
If you got hoodwinked at Susur don't blame me and yet you've been there how many times again?
Did i say anything about you not being entitled to your own opinion or anyone else.
We can now clearly see who is the arrogant one here.
I mentioned Mardi Gras because it's very affordable and one of the best eating establishments in Toronto.

Thanks for the insights

With a $200 credit, this is a good opportunity to start. :D
^^^ to the person that said i should start drinking :) we do! but just at parties and such, were not "high class, drinkers" if you want to put it that way,



we are planning to go for the dinner this weekend, were goin to decide tmrw and make reservations (do we have to do this?)

From what im reading, Susur is a chinese restaurant? were both chinese and well were sick of chinese food, yes i know it will be leaps and bounds better then what we eat at home, but i want to try something other then asian cuisine

From what i've been reading,
North 44 and Perigee seem very nice!

[Sajjad]

Thanks for the insights


^^^ to the person that said i should start drinking :) we do! but just at parties and such, were not "high class, drinkers" if you want to put it that way,



we are planning to go for the dinner this weekend, were goin to decide tmrw and make reservations (do we have to do this?)

From what im reading, Susur is a chinese restaurant? were both chinese and well were sick of chinese food, yes i know it will be leaps and bounds better then what we eat at home, but i want to try something other then asian cuisine

From what i've been reading,
North 44 and Perigee seem very nice!


I think Susur might be fusion (mixing Asian with Western), not entirely sure.
But you can probably find out.

[asim99]

http://www.susur.com/

you can see some pictures of dishes on the website

[dasaylay]

Haven't been there personally, but I heard Sen5es wasn't that bad, or is it really no where near as high end as this Susur place? Rain, I've seen Made to Order a few times on TV and seems pretty interesting, although some dishes the portion size is quite small. But its the experience and taste you pay for I suppose... :-0

[keanefan]

Anyways, frequently, both he and his wife would yell at his staff in front of his customers...and I am not talking about giving 'orders' for his kitchen...I mean really degrade the person..

It seems to be a tradition or normal for chefs to yell at their staff.

There is a reality tv show called Hell's Kitchen. A top British chef trains contestants into becoming top chefs. The chef constantly yells at and degrades his staff (the contestants).

Then the final 2 contestants had to direct the kitchen and they were encouraged to yell and insult the staff. One contestant was shy and reserved and didn't want to yell at the staff. So everyone assumed that he would fail at this task of being the leader of the staff.

But he yelled at and insulted them and the top chef praised him for taking command of the kitchen. Apparently, if the staff thinks that the chef/boss is weak, they won't follow his orders and slack off.

He is a very good chef....what he has done to his 'asian' cusisine is made it a better presentation and westernized it....

But I will always laugh, and remember that time with the tasting menu, with 3 peices of BBQ pork, ala Chinese bbq house style..with taht crunchy skin....what he did was placed it very nice on a plate....nice presentation...but can't change the fact that it was just Chinese BBQ pork

you're probably Chinese and you regularly eat Chinese bbq pork.

but whites don't. (Chinese BBQ right out of the oven is awesome).

Understandably, some whites might not feel comfortable going to Chinatown or eat at a Chinese restaurant.

Sounds like Susur is a nice place for whites to eat Chinese food mixed with European or international food.

[commie]

you're probably Chinese and you regularly eat Chinese bbq pork.

but whites don't. (Chinese BBQ right out of the oven is awesome).

Understandably, some whites might not feel comfortable going to Chinatown or eat at a Chinese restaurant.

Sounds like Susur is a nice place for whites to eat Chinese food mixed with European or international food.

Your assumptions are correct.
And yes fresh bbq pork is amazing......

I think you hit the nail in the head with your last statement. For people that have experienced 'Asian' cusine and 'Asian' ingredients, then what Susur has done to his food doesn't have as much of a 'wow' factor.....
But those that don't, will find his fusion of Asian ingredients and 'western' cooking techniques to be 'different' and 'creative'.....

BTW - I enjoyed his restaurant experience much more during his previous place before Susur. I just can't get over his 'BACKWARDS' tasting menu.
Which makes it very difficult to pair wine with the dinner...

[lamster00]

I've been to Susur and I can say that the service is sub sub-par!!

The entire experience from walking in the door to being treated like dirt by teh waitstaff whom seemed to thnk that they are doing me a favour to allow me to eat there was HORRIBLE!!!!

Food was decent but Susur rarely does any real cooking cause he has to greet his customers and make sur ethat SUSUR and LEE are both running smoothnly.

In fact, the entire time there, SUSUR never entered the kitchen for more than 2 minutes at a time.

Go to Splendido, Perigee, scramouche instead.

[dmatthew]

scramouche

that's a pretty funky sounding word

[otaku]

Why don't you and your GF go to Mc.Donald's or something and bring along 20 or so low income kids with you. I am sure this would be the most tasteful dinner/lunch you've ever had in your life.

[superizzy]

Got to Jaime kennedy Wine Bar TWICE

If you dont drink you should be able to eat there for $100 for two

[bubble.tea]

I prefer breast milk. It's right On-Demand, and it's free. :D

[taxed2death]

Mistura is very good! Actually the Chef Massimo is featured on some of those restaurante makeovers show on the food channel.

MMMMistura (http://www.mistura.ca/)