Northerndecorator has done a commendable job of compiling the most useful links for Toronto tourism. But I have some concerns about the way restaurants are treated on this board. We are all guilty iof it: we have our favourites and we promote them frequently. But unique among all the establishments discussed on TA forums, restaurants are small businesses that are a) highly dependent on word of mouth, and b) constantly changing, going out of business, changing chefs, etc. And of course, taste is highly subjective, so a definitive list of restaurants compiled by one person is highly problematic.

The best restaurant guides on the TA Toronto forum, I think, are the freewheeling discussions we had a while back about Greek and Chinese food. Many places were mentioned, there was much discussion and disagreement, 100 flowers bloomed, and both visitors to the city and restaurants benefited.

So, I'd like to offer some additional links, some additions, corrections and arguments.

First off, a couple of useful review sites:

http://www.torontolife.com/restaurants/

http://www.nowtoronto.com/restaurant/

These reviews are by no means the final word on any restaurant, but they are systematic, and hopefully somewhat consistent.

And now some comments:

TORONTO DINING

www.cntower.ca/portal/GetPage.aspx?at=860

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g155019-s501/Toronto:…

We also had a useful discussion recently about dining with a view: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g155019-i55-k99089…

ITALIAN

Authentic, fresh food, reasonably priced. Casual atmosphere.

http://www.terroni.ca/

Great pizzas! Barbra Streisand's favorite when she was in Toronto.

http://www.ilfornello.com/

A little more expensive, very good Italian food. Romantic ambience.

http://www.donatellorestaurant.ca/

Expensive good food, amazing presentation. Largest wine list ever. Great place to go for a special occasion.

http://www.viaallegroristorante.com/

This covers the range of Italian food from upscale chain dining (Il Fornello) to super-expensive (Via Allegro). But you can't have a list of Toronto Italian without mentioning two downtown places known for their authenticity: Tutti Matti (www.tuttimatti.com) and Romagna Mia (www.romagna-mia.com/). In midtown there is Zucca (www.zuccatrattoria.com), just south of Yonge and Eglinton.

There are also the various places run by Gio Rana's family: Five Doors North (Yonge and Eglinton), Seven Numbers (Danforth) and Gio Rana's Really, Really Nice Restaurant (Leslieville).

INDIAN

Reasonable prices, good buffet.

http://www.dineataroma.com/lunch.htm

A little more expensive, more formal atmosphere.

http://www.dhaba.ca/

These aren't even the best Indian places in their neighbourhood, much less in Toronto. No list of downtown lunch buffets is complete without Littie India and Trimurti, both on Queen, just west of University. For high-end Indian, The Host (Yorkville) and Debu Saha's Biryani House (Wellesley and Yonge) are the choice of South Asians serious about food.

And there are at least a dozen great options in the Little India neighbourhood, on Gerrard East, ranging from northern halal (my favourite -- Lahore Tikka House), to vegetarian, etc. I'm not an expert, but just go to the neighbourhood and follow the crowds.

FRENCH

Affordable lovely french restaurant, amazing crepes.

http://www.lepapillon.ca/menu.html

Sophisticated, romantic, more expensive than above.

http://www.lamaquette.com/home.php

I'm sorry, but Le Papillon isn't even French -- it's warmed-over 1970s Quebecois. Some people may like the food, but let's be clear about what it is and what it isn't.

There are a number of great French options in Toronto. Here are a few:

Batifole is a great little bistro tucked into Chinatown East (Gerrard, a few blocks east of Broadview).

La Palette is a funky spot in Kensington Market that's always packed, has good wines by the glass, and a classic bisto menu.

Le Select, probably the most self-consciously French place in town, has a beautiful new space on Wellington just west of Spadina, but in my opinion (I was just there last week), the food doesn't measure up.

Auberge du Pommier, way uptown at Yonge and York Mills, is another beautiful spot with a classic French menu, more fine-dining than bistro and more expensive.

GREEK

tripadvisor.com/…4539272

Great discussion -- I think we covered everything.

CHINESE

tripadvisor.com/…4585552

You can never cover everything about Toronto Chinese, and there are more opinions than there are dialects in China. Here's another useful guide: a story in NOW magazine about Toronto's best dim sum: nowtoronto.com/issues/…cover_story.php

SOME OF TORONTO'S BEST RATED RESTAURANTS

http://www.oliverbonacini.com/canoemovie.html

That's it? All we get is one?

Toronto Life does an annual list of Toronto's top restaurants. Not everybody agrees with their choices, but at least this is an opinionated list of 20 top high-end foodie destinations. Most of them would probably turn up on anybody's list, though perhaps in a different order:

torontolife.com/features/…

TORONTO CHEAP EATS

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g155019-s504/Toronto:…

http://www.torontolife.com/restaurant_search/?cheapeats=%2425+Gourmet

OTHER INTERESTING RESTAURANTS WORTH INVESTIGATING

http://www.scaramoucherestaurant.com/

http://www.oliverbonacini.com/

http://www.rainrestaurant.ca/

tripadvisor.com/Travel-g155019-s501/Toronto:…

http://www.north44restaurant.com/

...and many, many more.

A challenge to the rest of you Torontonians: Best Thai? Best Sushi (both cheap and expensive)? Best Latin American? Your favourite hidden gem? Post away!