The Best Indian Restaurants in Toronto

The best Indian restaurants in Toronto are a mix between fine dining affairs and casual sit-downs, offering some of the best paneer, vindaloo, and curry in the city. It doesn't stop there: Indian desi tacos, heaps of naan, and cocktails are on the menu too.

Here are the best Indian restaurants in Toronto.

8 - Brar Sweets

A varied selection of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes can be found at this restaurant near Lawrence and Avenue Rd., including a bunch of tandoori options cooked in a traditional clay oven.
5 - Tich Indian

Sitting on Lake Shore West is this fresh and stylish spot serving heaps of saffron-flavoured basmati rice and vindaloo that will set your mouth on fire. This Etobicoke spot also has cocktails, and good weekend specials too.
10 - Lageez

This Scarborough strip mall treasure specializes in traditional Northern Indian cuisine. It’s narrow, but surprisingly elegant, and the presentation is on point too. Get hand-folded samosas and whole tandoor chickens for really good prices.
9 - Leela Indian Food Bar

If you’ve never eaten from a dhaba (a roadside eatery) in India, this restaurant in the Junction is the place to try it. Incredible Indian desi tacos filled with lamb chops and garlic prawns are unreal, and butter chicken is served in a way you’ve probably never had before.
3 - Banjara

Follow the aroma of delicious Indian food from Christie Pits Park to this Bloorcourt go-to. Even after multiple fires, this cozy restaurant continues to make some of the most popular butter chicken in the city. They have a second location at Yonge and Eglinton too.
4 - Pukka

Indian street food meets a sommelier-curated wine program at this modern restaurant at St. Clair West. South Indian curry meets crispy okra fries and an amazing atmosphere that’s worth the price.
6 - Cumin Kitchen

This comfortable restaurant on Danforth East is quickly becoming a neighbourhood staple. There aren’t many other places offering Indian in the area, so Cumin stands out with its amazing presentation and mouthwatering meats from the tandoor oven.
7 - Indilicious

It may be a small place, but every dish at this gem in the Junction is packed with intense flavour. Lauded chef Sujoy Saha is famous in the city for his high caliber Indian cooking—on top of delicious butter chicken and saag paneer. The naan here is made yeast-free.
11 - Indian Street Food Co.

All the colours of India’s vibrant street markets can found in this joyful little restaurant in Leaside. Their tasting menu is good for three-course meals, and a street vendors tasting menu that lets you try many dishes at once.

by Tanya Mok via blogTO

The top 50 pizza in Toronto

Toronto is a pizza town. There's everything here from Neapolitan to Roman styles to pizza topped with pickles or spam. No matter what neighbourhood in Toronto you're in, chances are there's a great tasting pizza nearby.

Check out all 50 essential Toronto pizza joints in this photo gallery.

by Jaclyn Skrobacky via blogTO

Toronto sushi restaurant shut down by Toronto health inspectors

A Toronto sushi spot that’s been around for nearly 10 years almost said sayonara for good after being shut down due to numerous food safety program infractions.

Toronto Public Health posted a notice to the Dinesafe website listing seven infractions at Hokkaido Sushi in Mount Pleasant. Of those violations, three were crucial, a Summons and Health Hazard Order for a “premise maintained in manner adversely affecting sanitary operation” shutting the place down on February 26.

The notice also lists a Summons, “Fail to Ensure the Presence of a Holder of a Valid Food Handlers Certificate,” and three notices to comply for handwashing, failing to maintain handwashing stations, and failing to ensure protection against contamination by hair. 

Hokkaido is now open again after passing an inspection on February 28 with no infractions.

by Amy Carlberg via blogTO

Toronto's bike share program is expanding to 10 new neighbourhoods

Torontonians who use bike sharing to get to work will be happy to know there's several new neighbourhoods from which they can do that. 

A new bikeshare expansion was announced by the city today, adding new stations both in existing neighbourhoods, as well as expanding outward to new areas. 

There will be 105 new stations, and an addition of 1,250 new bikes as part of the expansion, bringing the total to 468 stations and 5,000 bikes. 

A map indicating areas (in purple) where the Bike Share program plans to expand. Image via Toronto Parking Authority.

Here are the neighbourhoods that will receive new stations in the bike share expansion:

1. Bloor West Village
2. Forest Hill Village
3. High Park
4. Humber Bay Park East
5. Mimico
6. Kingston Rd. east of Victoria Park Ave.
7. St. Clair Ave.
8. Swansea
9. The Junction
10. Yonge & Eglinton

Furthermore, reserve funding from several downtown wards will be used to fund the program, meaning those wards will receive new stations as well. They are as follows:

1. Spadina-Fort York
2. University-Rosedale
3. Toronto-St. Paul's
4. Toronto Centre
5. Davenport

The province agreed to contribute $6 million to the expansion, with the city matching $1.5 million for a total of $7.5 million. The new stations should be open by summer of this year. 

by Staff via blogTO

Sold! This is what a $3.85 million condo looks like in Toronto

This condo was on and off the market since July last year, but only when they finally dropped the price down to $3.85 million did it sell. It went for asking and took only one day after the price change, according to real estate gossip site The Mash.The three-bedroom condo is in the converted old Loretto College School in the Annex.

Unlike many of the converted old buildings in Toronto, this place is polished and sophisticated. 

The white oak floors, custom built-in bookcases and high-end appliances make this place feel very grown up from it’s former school days.

The living and dining room are open plan with lots of natural light, thanks to the oversized windows.

The kitchen is sleek and modern with marble counters and stainless steel appliances.

While hallways don’t normally get much attention, this one is quite stunning with vaulted ceilings, large wood pillars and the long straight line of vision that gives it an art gallery vibe.

The master bedroom is bright and spacious with a walk-in closet, and a spa-like five-piece en suite bathroom.

All the bedrooms walk-out onto the balcony, which is east facing and overlooking the garden.  

The Essentials

• Address: #208 – 385 Brunswick Avenue
• Type: Condo
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 3
• Size: 3,000-3,249 sq. ft. 
• Realtor: Neil Stephen, Bosley Real Estate
• Hit the market at: $3,850,000
• Sold for: $3,850,000

Why it sold for what it did?

It’s a spacious luxury condo in the Annex. The condo comes with three parking spots, a massive storage locker and a gym.  

Was it worth it?

While it struggled at a higher price point, I think it finally sold for what it was worth.

by Misha Gajewski via blogTO

10 things to do in Toronto today

It's not your typical Friday in Toronto. Events today include a little taste of the warmth of Brazil as a huge Carnival party channels the fun kicking off down south. Elsewhere, Winter Brewfest is back to remind us we're in Canada and the What the Film Festival is on.

Events you might want to check out:

Open Show (March 1 @ Black Cat Showroom)
Open show returns to Toronto with a collection of works by photographers and artists that explores themes of immigration around the world.
Carnaval em Toronto (March 1 @ Lithuanian House)
It might be February in Canada, but this party has all the Carnaval flavours of Brazil with music, dancing, drag, food and drinks all night long.
Tapette (March 1 @ Wayla Bar)
Euro without the trash, a French disco party is on as Tapette returns with a Eurovision-themed dance party and some high-powered hits.
Seize The 6ix (March 1 @ Burdock Hall)
Toronto's local up-and-coming R&B and hip-hop talent is ready to take the stage as Carpé Toronto looks to showcase the city's indie music artists.
Bent Beauty Supreme (March 1 @ Gladstone Ballroom)
Back again is this beauty pageant dedicated to alternative beauty and glamour with drag, burlesque, clowns and whatever else taking the stage.
Gavin James (March 1 @ Horseshoe Tavern)
Touching on his Irish roots through traditional song, Gavin James adds a modern take that incorporates pop into his acoustics.
Irish Film Festival (March 1-3 @ TIFF Bell Lightbox)
It's almost that time of year to celebrate all-things Irish, starting with a weekend of films by local and regional filmmakers focusing on the Irish experience.
Winter Brewfest (March 1-3 @ Evergreen Brick Works)
Cheers to a mid-winter beer festival with over 150 brews on tap from Ontario and Quebec, alongside a weekend of food, games, music and more.
What the Film Festival (March 1-3 @ The Royal Cinema)
Back again is this film festival dedicated to all the weird, unusual and eccentric films out there with programming, screenings, events and more.
Myseum: Intersections (March 1-31 @ Multiple Venues)
Toronto gets a microscope to it, as this festival explores different aspect of the city and its history through exhibits, talks and events on all month.

by Lisa Power via blogTO