Places I've Never Been In (Markham, ON) - Your Feedback Would be Appreciated

[thegazelle]

Hi,

I have found the feedback here invaluable, so here's another question.

I have not been to the following places - I generally don't just wander into a new restaurant without knowing anything about it - I have done that before and had some bad experiences. So...there are some local restaurants in Markham, Ontario (if you are in the area or have been) on which I would love to get your feedback. Yes, I can read restaurant reviews in some magazine, but the folks on this forum seem to have a good eye for these things:

The School - looks pricy and fancy - but how is the food and service? The school is located on 14th and Birchmount. I think it was an actual schoolhouse once.

Sgt. Pepper's (on Highway 7 Between McCowan and Markham Road). Looks kind of dark inside, so haven't really been in there.

Father's (I think that's what it's called) - it's close to my house, but never been inside.

Ok, this one is not close to me, but I hear it advertised on CFRB all the time - it's in Scarborough on Nugget and Markham Road - I heard it's not the best area of town, but...the place is called Cali's (sp.). Any current feedback on that?

Here's a bit of a conundrum I was in - this past week, I brought my car into the Nissan dealership on Kennedy/7. It was early in the morning and I was asking the dealership guys if there is a good breakfast place within walking distance (the only place I know of is Cafe2Go but it looks like it's mostly bagels). To my surprise, the Nissan guys said that the GM dealership beside it has a great cafeteria that serves delicious breakfasts... I wasn't sure I really wanted to try it, so I walked around the area some more - of course, I didn't go up Main St. Unionville, so I have no idea if there's anything up that way. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks again to all those to respond to my posts. I have gleaned a wealth of information on this forum thus far.

[plymouthhater]

Hi,

Ok, this one is not close to me, but I hear it advertised on CFRB all the time - it's in Scarborough on Nugget and Markham Road - I heard it's not the best area of town, but...the place is called Cali's (sp.). Any current feedback on that?

It's actually spelled Kally's. IMHO the food is pretty reasonably priced. The weekday dinner specials include beverage and desert. Good AYCE soup and salad bar - though I found the soup too salty for my taste.

The original Kally's used to be in a plaza at McCowan and Eglinton - they moved many years ago to the Nugget Ave location.

http://www.toronto-restaurants.com/kallys.html

[Smoke]

i feel a little embarassed for mentioning this, but i live maybe 2 min. away from that plaza at middlefield/steeles, but i haven't tried any of the food from the smaller restaurants there...

anyone recommend any good takeout from that area?

[azndoughboi]

there's a big plaza and a small mall close to the nissan dealership, but not sure if you are willing to walk there - it's the peachtree plaza. There's at least one breakfast place there that serves things like macoroni in soup, toast, etc. But for the other restaurants you listed I've never been :S

[3weddings]

The School - looks pricy and fancy - but how is the food and service? The school is located on 14th and Birchmount. I think it was an actual schoolhouse once.

When I worked in Markham, we used to frequent The School for Month End lunches etc.

It's like any upper end steak house like Tom Jones, but not as good as La Castille in Mississauga.

HTH

[masterballer]

Give them coolers...easy way out :D

[3weddings]

I came across this site last week, some good food info!

http://www.chowhound.com/boards/23

[thegazelle]

there's a big plaza and a small mall close to the nissan dealership, but not sure if you are willing to walk there - it's the peachtree plaza. There's at least one breakfast place there that serves things like macoroni in soup, toast, etc. But for the other restaurants you listed I've never been :S

Macaroni in soup for breakfast???

[Initial_C]

Haven't been to the one's you listed except Kally's... which was about 1 year ago or so. Maybe 1 and a half. So I guess it's not that current...

But as I recall... Kally's is... okay. I'll give it props that it has okay food for the price. And the buffet salad and soup is awesome.

But the actual place is kinda... Not elegant. You get this kinda feeling it's old and worn down where the interior looks very yellowy and brown. And the clientele is usually an older seasoned crowd (aka seniors). My friends and I went and we were the only people there that were in our 20s. Everyone else was at least in their 50s which made us somewhat uncomfortable. Silly but it did. ^_^; It's an alright restaurant I suppose though. But I wouldn't suggest it as a romantic dinner or anything with the wife... as it isn't very romantic at all.

[thegazelle]

Haven't been to the one's you listed except Kally's... which was about 1 year ago or so. Maybe 1 and a half. So I guess it's not that current...

But as I recall... Kally's is... okay. I'll give it props that it has okay food for the price. And the buffet salad and soup is awesome.

But the actual place is kinda... Not elegant. You get this kinda feeling it's old and worn down where the interior looks very yellowy and brown. And the clientele is usually an older seasoned crowd (aka seniors). My friends and I went and we were the only people there that were in our 20s. Everyone else was at least in their 50s which made us somewhat uncomfortable. Silly but it did. ^_^; It's an alright restaurant I suppose though. But I wouldn't suggest it as a romantic dinner or anything with the wife... as it isn't very romantic at all.

Hey, nothing wrong with that. If it is full of seniors, at least I know it won't be a wild, out of control joint.

[Initial_C]

heh. true. it just made us feel kinda out of place. like i said, it's kinda silly but it kinda felt like we walked through the twilight zone. o__o?!? Anyways... It's still not great for a romantic dinner. It's not cozy or elegant... But alright for an everyday thing. Don't go expecting fine dining though. This is more comfort food.

[Katem]

[QUOTE=thegazelle;4828180]Hi,


The School - looks pricy and fancy - but how is the food and service? The school is located on 14th and Birchmount. I think it was an actual schoolhouse once.

Re The School - overpriced & service is not that great - for a great steak - try Peter's on 7 - west of 48. About the same prices as The School but far better quality. Living Waters on Main Street Unionville (Old Planing Mill) is a more reasonably priced alternative - 3 courses fixed price at $25 / $30 includes appetizer - try their trademark salad - main course & scrumptuous desert - if you don't have room for the dessert - it comes nicely packaged to take home.

Father's (I think that's what it's called) - it's close to my house, but never been inside.

Father's is now Tommy Cooks - great bar grub - good beer - amateur service - but the place is usually empty - well, when we've gone on Friday's between 7 & 8

[i-o_o-i]

there's a big plaza and a small mall close to the nissan dealership, but not sure if you are willing to walk there - it's the peachtree plaza. There's at least one breakfast place there that serves things like macoroni in soup, toast, etc. But for the other restaurants you listed I've never been :S
there are many HK style restaurants in peachtree plaza but imo the best one is New City, thats the best "cha chan teng" around here...but the other ones in that plaza are cheaper but still breakfast at New City is cheap its like $3-$5 for a breakfast which usually has eggs, toast, bacon/ham/sausage, some sort of noodle (ie.satay beef w/ macaroni is my favourite its breakfast C) and a drink (coffee/tea/horlick/olvatine etc.) and they rennovated like last year so they look much better than the other places now
Macaroni in soup for breakfast???
there is nothing weird about that its very common in HK and among chinese people, like congee, chow mein, instant noodles and other various noodles are all breakfast food although they can be good lunch and dinner foods also

BTW, The School is pretty good but they're like fine dining and supposedly you can't wear jeans/sneakers to dine there but they usually still let you in since its so dark in there they can't really see what you're wearing...lol but the food there is good, I haven't been there in a long time...