No Dinner in Clubland
Yesterday, Dave and I decided to decompress from an extraordinarily worky work week by seeing as many movies as we could. To the Paramount we went, where we took in Hero and Wimbledon back to back (Hero was a lot better than I’d expected, whereas Wimbledon pretty much met my expectations exactly). Then we bought tickets for Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and had just over an hour to kill before the show, in which we planned to eat dinner.
No dice. Why is the area around the Paramount so crap when it comes to restaurants? That is, if you don’t like sushi, or pub food, or Hooters, or overpriced neo-TGIFriday’s (see: Montana’s, Al Frisco’s, Alice Fazooli’s). We tried to go to Little India but it was too crowded. So after twenty-five fruitless minutes of walking around, we ended up at a goddamn Subway. So unsatisfying. We should have just had street dogs.
Are there any decent restaurants within quick walking distance of the Paramount? Our requirements are that there have to be decent vegetarian options, and some reasonably healthy options, because Dave doesn’t eat meat, and we are both conscious of our diets. And, we don’t like sushi. But other than that: go!
Based on your description, I’m assuming you are at the theatre at John, just south of the MuchMusic building. I’m not a TO native, but until June I worked on St. Patrick St. (hey all!) just north of Queen.
We went to Montana’s and Al Frisco’s for Xmas party - they are perfect for that. For lunches, we went to an Indian place on the south side of Queen, closer to University, but still within 5 minutes of the theatre, or a Korean place (where we always got sushi) on the north side of Queen and the west side of John, or to a Thai place around the corner from the Korean place. I’m sorry I can’t give you names - we always just said, Indian, Korean, Thai or Chinese (Chinese was up in the Shops in the Grange “mall” on Dundas - a little far from the theatre.) Thai and Indian is buffet, at least at lunch.
Hope this helps (and that I’m right about where you are!)
I’m a fan of The Hot Spot, which is on Richmond, just across the street and a wee bit west of the Paramount. The only thing they serve is very tasty toasted sandwiches. Kind of panini-esque, but more comfort foody.
There’s sort of an art to killing time before a movie at the paramount. The first rule is very simple: NEVER look for food anywhere near queen street. For the most part, it’s heavily overpriced crap. If you want good indian, check out gateway of india (i think that’s the name) on baldwin just west of mccaul. If you want chinese, go to swatow at spadina and d’arcy. Lots of other options are available, but the most important thing to remember is that you should never, ever eat near queen/john :) There’s only one good place right near there, and that’s ho su (right beside the store on the northwest corner of queen/john).
Hehe, sorry if i sound preachy, but i live not far from that area, and i’ve made a careful study of places to get a good meal :)
I have to know….what did you think of Sky Captain???
I can’t believe you spent the day seeing 3 movies!! I’m so jealous.
There’s a good crepe place across the street from Much Music - and if you keep walking down that street (away from the movies) a little bit there’s a ‘market’ of sorts - a long corridor of food places. It’s fronted by a Ben and Jerry’s, but there’s some good actual food in there as well.
Dude, the whole Queen West strip is *right there* and full of places! I can recommend the Queen Mum, Tiger Lily, and a little further west the Bishop & Belcher and the Rivoli; there are tons more but those are some favourites. It’s only a five minute walk from anything around there (Queen from University to Spadina) to the Paramount.
Oh, and yes, the crepe place is good times as well.
I like the Tequila Bookworm on the “unfashionable” side of Queen W. That obviously means west of Spadina. The food is fresh, vegetarian options, and they make a mean coffee too. I estimate about a 10 minute walk from the Paramount.
actually, right around the corner of the paramount, just a little south of milestones is a the falafel king.
good price, fast and awesome falafel pita sandwiches. best for vegetarians, non-vegetarians and for those that are health-concious.