Bobby. The names of the dishes so were unfamiliar to most Torontonians that menus at the Acropole were useless. The one on St Clair was open all night. This was in late 50s and through the 60s so Im sure they both knew your grandmother. May 20, 2018 #43 The 1980s was dominated events such as Terry Fox Marathon of Hope, the patriation of the Canadian Constitution, Toronto's 150th birthday, Canada becomes 120 years old, and the end of the Pierre Trudeau years. A friend from high school worked there on Fridays after school (LPCI) and she always went home exhausted! a wonderful cafeteria as welltoasted danish, chicken pot pies.ate lunch there most days when working for Simpsons circa 1962/1964.good old days! The Bagel King The original bagel place Eglinton west This restaurant opened in 1959, and is one of the few from the days of my youth that still exists. I loved those red hots too at Eatons Annex and their soft ice cream cones .. Simpsons had the red hots too and a wonderful orange drinkyou would stand there eating your hot dog with everyone!.Simpsons also had There was also a supreme version available . When I commenced working full time, in the 1960s, I had a few more dollars to spend. Nothing fancy but I remember great cabbage rolls & chicken stew there in the seventies. I believe this is the only 5 star restaurant in Toronto and it lives up to that rating. It was another enterprise of Harry Barbarian, who owned the famous steak house on Elm Street. I recall Bentleys as being on the east side of Yonge, a block or two south of Teddington Park. My mom There was a restaurant on northside of Bloor just west of Sherbourne, the buildings are gone. The feature that I remember the most was the hors-doeuvres cart, which contained at least twenty appetizers, including escargot (heavy with garlic), trays of stuffed olives, stuffed mushrooms, wine-marinated anchovies, pureed cottage cheese with cognac and scallions, and quenelles of shrimp. ), pastries, sandwiches and coffee. Thanks. There are many more Toronto restaurants of the 1960s and 1970s, as I have only listed the ones that either I visited or remember well. The only other eatery I remember from the 1950s is the Honey Dew restaurant located on the mezzanine level of the Odeon Carlton Theatre, which served fish and chips and Ritz Carlton hotdogs, along with the famous Honey Dew orange drink. After I started working full time, one of the first staff Christmas parties that I attended was at the Ports of Call, at 1145 Yonge Street. My sister and I used to streetcar it to Jesse Ketchum Public school. Creightons restaurant on the ground floor of the Westbury Hotel was another place that garnered attention in the 1970s. Frank Vetere Pizzeria. That is not Tom Jones Steak House. La Chaumiere on Charles Street, near Church Street in the 1960s. In my opinion, it was one of the best restaurants in Toronto ever. Mocktails are everywhere in Toronto right now but why are they so expensive? As one of the two owners of Lgardys and Quenelles restaurants on church Street this was priceless. The food fashion cycle quickened as diners discovered a taste for arugula, radicchio, goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, sushi, crab cakes, Pad Thai, mesquite grilling, and fresh ingredients. 24. JavaScript is disabled. Or the broken pieces of crispy crunch chocolate bars, sold by the pound at Eatons candy counter, which wed munch as we walked the tunnel. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Scotts restaurant was on Yonge just north of Dundas, where you sat upstairs looking out onto Yonge St to have bacon burger and fries (that was before we worried or knew about cholesterol). Paradise Regained the restoration of the Paradise Theatre. It was in the indoor part of a strip mall and sold bread (delicious challah!! Always lots of men in suits lol. https://www.historypress.net/catalogue/bookstore/books/Toronto-Theatres-and-the-Golden-Age-of-the-Silver-Screen/9781626194502 . Those were the days!! My dad was a bartender there and then the maitred. Does anyone remember a cafe that was located by the Toronto waterfront Harrys Steak House on the southwest corner of Church and Granby Streets opened in 1961. Lime Ricky's on Eglinton was the first to come to mind. For some of the exact addresses of the restaurants I relied on information posted on-line. He was a very smart businessman as well as a big-hearted individual. Popular during the 70s and early 80s, the sandwich consisted of taco meat, shredded lettuce, mild "border sauce" and diced onions. It cost around 2 bucks. Roaring 1920s style decor with wood and decorated glass, Tiffany lamps, red and white gingham, and Black & White silent films playing on screens all around the restaurant guaranteed Mothers was a place that once visited was never forgotten. The passageway connected Eatons Queen Street Store to Eatons Annex. It was fab to have Italian food like that as a kid. thatd have been LeBaron Steakhouse. Or at least parts . It was a bold venture to open a restaurant in that location in 1963, as the railway yards were on the south side of King Street. Because it was considered a classy restaurant, we felt very grown-up whenever we went there. Its facade has changed greatly since the 1950s. It opened at 375 Church Street in 1964. My Grandmother waitressed there for decades, in the 60s a special treat was to head down from the burbs (Scarberia, Vic. Brought back wonderful memories of the anniversary trips my wife and I took to Toronto from 1974 to early 2000s. I remember the Prime at Dixie Plaza. TOPS restaurant at the corner of Dundas and Yonge, I remember the TOPS restaurant on Yonge, spent many a late night in a booth there, people-watching with some friends. Many other deceased or decimated chains not mentioned here - The Olive Garden, Lime Rickey's, JJ Muggs, Harvey Wallbangers, Bo Peep, Eddie Shack Donuts, Bobby Orr Pizza, etc - live on in our memories and through dusty promotional glassware found at garage sales or old commercials on YouTube. Sure would like to know who you are. Toronto Then and Now, published by Pavilion Press (London England) explores 75 of the citys historic buildings. One chain you didnt list was pickin chicken and their VW delivery vehicles. 163 Spadina Ave., 3rd Flr., 416-260-2222, alorestaurant.com So much of what makes Edulis exceptional is its steadfast adherence to serendipity: Michael Caballo and Tobey Nemeth so often change. 1. Congratulations to anyone who grew up in Toronto in the 1980s you had it all! Toronto was, of course, still a bustling, vibrant city just with fewer skyscrapers and a touch more mullets and spandex. Front Street and either Bay or Yonge that had a club with live entertainment. In the space recently vacated by Menalon, the 50ish-year-old Greek diner and dive bar, is Paradise Grapevine, Bloorcourt's favourite new wine bar . Post by United Bakers Dairy Restaurant. Reading the message involving Prime Restaurant was pleasantly surprising. Which surprises me as it was a wonderfully bizarre experience. It had many outlets throughout the city, but the one we frequented the most was on the west side of Yonge, south of Bloor Street. So many great memories in the article and all these wonderful comments. Yes, nice view of the ravine. Pj OBriens is currently in the building in the photo. I was greatly saddened when it closed its doors in 1988; the historic house was demolished, and for a few years the site was likely a parking lot, as it was not until 1995 that a housing co-operative was erected on the property. Three very good restaurants in the Yonge and St. Clair area were Rhodes, owned by Tom Kristenbrun on the west side and Bofinger Brasserie that sat between the two theatres. I wonder if someone out there can help me with a memory I have. There was a second location on the east side of Yonge south of Charles. One of them was the Town and Country, which had opened in 1949 in the Westminster Hotel at Gould and Mutual Streets. Other places: an Italian restaurant at Bayview Village (where Il Fornello is now), Max's (now O&B) and before it was Max's, I think it was a pub called Charlie's (shut when I was six or so). Images are not to be reprinted, reposted or used for any purposes whatsoever outside of the Urban Toronto forum without my express consent. Known as the best Jamaican restaurant in Toronto, Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen serves traditional Caribbean cuisine with healthy culinary twists. Lobster and ice cold beer on a hot July day, overlooking the harbour, was as close to heaven as Ill likely ever get. The Golden Nugget Restaurant was slightly further north. The menu is ever-evolving, but memorable mouthfuls include pleasure-pocket taleggio cheese, grape, and onion agnolotti; and delicate hamachi topped with xo sauce, tomato consomme, and creme . Dinner on our first night. Dave, Hamers Fish and Chips Eglinton near Oakwood For more than half a century, the House of Chan, a steakhouse and Chinese restaurant near the corner of Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue West in Forest Hill, has stood as a de facto living. 280 Bloor St W, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B9 Canada +1 416-921-4061 + Add website. Used to be when it came to family dining out on a budget, Toronto was spoiled for choice. Chubby's Jamaican Kitchen. Club: Boa Caf, 25 Bellair Years in operation: 1989-1998 History : This is a tale of two interconnected yet vastly different Toronto venues, each influential in its own way. I am researching Macedonian owned restaurants 1945/1946 in Toronto, around the High Park area, walking distance from symington ave., and most of them did not serve Macedonian food back thenanyone remember a name? The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut , Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. Good times in the early 60s. Eds Warehouse, big prime rib, fun decor. 1980s - Restaurant patios at Ontario Place or marina. In fact, Frank Vetere's actually trademarked the name "Deep Dish Pizza". I have yet to find another place that makes battered shrimp as amazingly as they did*sigh*. . Long gone but fondly remembered. The Sign of the Steer Restaurant at 161 Dupont Street in 1955, the neon sign of a steer visible on the south wall. This chain first appeared at 234 Bloor Street West, in 1954, and in the years ahead opened over 200 eateries throughout Canada and the U.S. It eventually suffered from chain restaurant disease and become bland (cilantro/garlic-free salsa). Ask Vancouver's memory keeper, John Atkin, anything about Vancouver history, then hit "send.". From the late-1960s until the 1980s, the name of the Maitre d' was Tage Christensen. The Gods of frugal yum smiled down on us, bestowing fabled chains which offered affordable eats for family friendly visits and left behind indelible impressions in our minds and taste buds even long after they had shuttered, gone into receivership or been chewed up by corporate garburators. Only went there a couple of times while I was on delivery. I discovered some errors on these web sites, but still, I am grateful that these sources were available. Then, Ed Mirvish appeared and inquired, Whats the problem?, He smiled, apologized, and told the waiter, Escort them to the table that has been reserved.. It was called The Swiss Marmite I believe these are both gone now, as I enjoyed these in the early to mid 80s. Diners were invited to visit the kitchen, examine the dishes, and point to the ones that they wished to be served. By: David Sanderson Posted: 3:00 AM CST Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 Last Modified: 12 . Arcade games (usually Asteroids, Pac-Man, Dig-Dug or Zaxxon) lined the walls and could be operated with plastic tokens that also worked in the gumball machines, and of course every kid got a free token with their meal. Wasnt it Lardys? Does anyone remember a very nice restaurant on the north side of Bloor between Yonge and Bay in the late 1970s early 1980s? Rhodes had a front area on the north side of the entrance fronting the fine dining room that featured local jazz musicians Thursday to Saturday evenings. We could remain for an evening at the Ports of Call, as after dinner, we could visit one of the bars for music and dancing. One of the ethnic restaurants that stands out in my memory is Acropole. I grew up a bit north of you, near Oakwood and Eglinton. Charles (waiter) had a fabulous memory. The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes. My mother ignored his comments. As I recall there was another one the same size accross the road, I believe to the South. Pickin Chicken, Lake Shore Blvd West (1980s) by Patrick Cummins. Dads were happy to sink their $2 steins of house lager while the legendary free-with-dinner Frank Vetere's soda glasses can still be found at local thrift shops. Menus, Photos, Ratings and Reviews for Seafood Restaurants in Toronto - Seafood Restaurants By using this site you agree to Zomato's use of cookies to give you a personalised experience. Book also available in Chapter/Indigo, the Bell Lightbox Book Shop, and by phoning University of Toronto Press, Distribution: 416-667-7791 (ISBN 978.1.62619.450.2), Another book, published by Dundurn Press, containing 80 of Torontos old movie theatres will be released in the spring of 2016, entitled, Torontos Movie Theatres of YesteryearBrought Back to Thrill You Again.. Its atmosphere was utterly awesome. Lichee Garden. It contained three dining roomsthe Bali Hai Room (Polynesian), the Dickens English Inn (roast beef) and Caesars Room (Italian). So many happy dining memories. The location way out near the airport was good for a while. Greektown, also known as The Danforth, is a commercial-residential neighbourhood and ethnic enclave in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.It is located on Danforth Avenue, between Chester Avenue and Dewhurst Boulevard, in east Toronto.Named after Asa Danforth, Jr., an American contractor who designed Queen Street and Kingston Road, the area is known for its architecture dating back to as early as 1910 . Luckily, Toronto History has managed to combine many vintage snaps of the city we love, and here are some highlights. Great Memories. Husband & wife moved and still operate a fine restaurant in the Gattineau area. The owner (whose name I cant remember) lived in a posh house in Mississauga with an indoor pool, which was a big deal in the 50s. The Old Fish Market Restaurant at 12 Market Street. This is a true eater's city. . The 25 Best Restaurants in Toronto, from Omakase to Diners | Cond Nast Traveler Video SALE: SUBSCRIBE AND GET 1 YEAR FOR $21.99 $5 North America Canada Ontario Toronto Destinations 25 Best. I just described it to my partner and tried to Google some archival photos. I miss it to this day! Its two owners (and chefs) once cooked for the royal court in Madrid. I believe that the coupon had a value of $20, and it covered the entire cost of the meal. #777 of 6,034 Restaurants in Toronto 37 reviews 920 Queen St E Leslieville 0.1 km from Queen Street " The BEST gelato and ice cream. On Saturdays, in the TV Guide that was inserted into the Toronto Star, there was a special feature. It was closed to make room for an apartment building and was relocated in the new building, but it lost its charm. The last time that I visited the. I spent many lunchtime celebrations there. You just picked everything up in your fingers. It was called The Ports of Call. Our pizza joint was Salernos, occasionally wed win vouchers to dine at Peppios (where the Sign of the Steer was). We had our wedding reception upstairs at Scotts on Bloor street it later became Scotts Chicken Villa and then KFC. Great places to eat before or after going to the movies at one of two screens at the Hollywood Theatre, the first cinema in Toronto specifically built to show talking pictures in 1930, or the Hyland Odeon Theatre. I remember Floritine Court, first on west side of Church St. south of Adelade, then east side of Church St. just south of Richmond. Whether you went for the jukeboxes stationed in every booth, or the greasy diner classics and deluxe desserts (a.k.a. What was your maiden name or your fathers name who worked there? 514 Eglinton Ave W, Toronto, ON M5N 1A5 Get directions. Your email address will not be published. Mealshare. Bassels on the southeast corner of Gerrard and Yonge Streets in April 1954. Memory sometimes plays tricks, so if I have committed errors, I hope that readers will be understanding. My grandad was the bartender and my mother the cashier. I also remember the Organ Grinder on the Esplanade. Member Bio Joined Mar 14, 2008 Messages 1,656 Reaction score 1,524. As a boy, we would sometimes go to a restaurant that I remember as Polynesian/HawaiianI believe it was on Yonge, or Avenue or perhaps Bathurstnorth toward Lawrence? At the time it was what would be called a greasy spoon with a counter and those revolving bar stools. During the years 1980-1986, I did a lot of street photography in Toronto. I also loved Michi on Church as mentioned in your article (chicken yakitori) and Graf Bobby and Acropole but we went to one just east of Yonge at St. Clair. The city was big but still had a small town vibe. ), on Yonge; Bistro 990our go-to place for lunch upon arrival in Toronto; Starfiishgorged on oysters; JKROManother wonderful go-to place for lunch; Jamie Kennedys Wine Bar, and then, there was Susursan incredibly delicious and enjoyable dining experience. The main courses we enjoyed the most were Lobster Newburg, Lobster Cardinale, Lobster Thermidor, and Seafood Newburg. They eventually parted ways and he opened a restaurant of the same name on OConnor with my grandmother. It was our favourite downtown restaurant. I was never inside this restaurant, but I as I recall, it had a great reputation for charcoal-broiled steak. I remember it well, but was never inside it. In the 60s we liked to meet at Queen and Yonge at Joe Birds, part of Diana Sweets. I still remember when my mother discovered the delights of adding garlic to her recipes, much to the chagrin of my father. It was on the West side of Yonge street just south of Hogs Hollow. And what was it most recently? It closed up years ago. We ordered a very expensive bottle of white wineLoved the place. One year on my birthday, my family told me that they were taking me out to dinner, but they kept their choice of restaurant a surprise. One that was left out was The Restaurant, part of the Three Small Rooms. During the '50s when dining out meant Chinese food or steak and more. My aunt Tulle waitressed there and the front of the house was handled by a woman called Arne who was a single mother who lived upstairs from the restaurant with her daughter. It was small and romantic with a great atmosphere dark, sheer curtains hanging from the ceiling, very quiet inside. The 10-storey building originally opened in 1955 as the Anndore Hotel and Apartments - a glamorous rooming house Marlene Dietrich was rumoured to have visited. Located on Young, just north of Wellesley He later added the Stables, entrance off St. Nicholas for more casual eating . We were offended, as the clothes they offered were grubby looking, and we were certainly not hobos. I spoke to a cook called Jimmy at the Dairy Freezer at St. Clair & Caledonia who told me he used to work at the Dixie Prime. Anyone have any memories of Teds Coffee Shop at the corner of Eglinton & Mt. This restaurant still exists today. It was my first experience with Japanese food. " 20/06/2020 " Fabulous ice cream and gelato. We also enjoyed Smittys Pancake House on Dundas Street West, east of Islington Avenue, and their location in Yorkdale Plaza. This is a photo of the menu at LHardys that I have kept all these years. Brings back so many memories! They were everywhere in the '80s, but the Toby's Good Eats at Yonge and Bloor was the quintessential downtown snack shop. Their favourite (and a family treat for birthdays) for many years was Carmens. 130 reviews #615 of 5,196 Restaurants in Toronto $$$$ Italian French Mediterranean. This sandwich was first introduced in the mid 1970s and lasted until the mid 1990s, representing the Bell's attempt at their own fast food hamburger. " 16/05/2020 Cuisines: Canadian Reliable Halibut & Chips #1,836 of 6,034 Restaurants in Toronto 40 reviews 954 Queen St E 0.2 km from Queen Street Does anyone else remember the Balkan? 80 Blue Jays Way. The publication explores 50 of Torontos old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. A very entertaining article. Load My family ate at virtually all the restaurants mentioned and more. The Swiss Chalet at 362 Yonge Street. This was my first introduction to Chinese Food. A very interesting trip down memory laneso many of the spots that I had long forgotten about. As well, there was a cafeteria in the Simpson Tower called the Panorama Room: that might be the establishment one of the commenters has referred-to as being a cafeteria in the store; varied ordinary English-American fare and preparation, for the most part, but decently priced and satisfying for a quick lunch or supper beyond the fast-food scale of fare, as well as having lots of window-glass. Not much of a happy ending for that "celebration". . The first time I dined on the ship I enjoyed the experience, though looking back, I think it was the idea of eating on a cruise ship that was the highlight, rather than the food. Also Ford Drugs on Yonge for the cheapest burgers around. On the corner of College St and Palmerston Ave, in Toronto's lively Little Italy, sits Bar Raval, a Mecca for Spanish tapas and pintxos (with a Raval twist), a wide selection of wines (both old world and new), cocktails, micro-brews and ciders. Vintage 1980's Toronto Skyline Framed Matted Photo Art Wall Hanging Island Ferry 1970's 70's 80's Cityscape Ontario Photograph Picture ad by HeartU2 Ad from shop HeartU2 HeartU2 From shop HeartU2. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. A Hamburger was 25-30 cents and a coke 10 cents! Back in the 80s/90s a lot of corporate chain restaurants had unique distinctive decor. Ahhh- In the late seventies The Geneva on Queen E of Parliament north side for breakfast feta and onion omelette to die for. Toronto Gone - photos from 1980s Toronto. Maybe a beer or two at Hemmingways, and dinner at Arlequins. Images courtesy Patti Habib, The Big Bop / Reverb, Myke Dyer, Citysonic, Wrongbar, David Waldman . Oct. 9, 1981 - King St W - "Ed's Warehouse" restaurant - view is east from Duncan. Your list is amazing. Specialties: Classic Cantonese Cuisine - all served in a truly iconic, retro room. House Of Chan Steak'N Lobster Dining Lounge. also, Town Tavern, I think was on Queen just east of Yonge. very posh at the time!! The dessert was spumoni ice cream. Businessman Brian Alger acquired the expired trademark to Mother's Pizza - one of his favorite brands growing up (along with the Pop Shoppe, which he also acquired) - then teamed with Restaurateur Geeve Sandu to reboot the franchise using the same original formula. To order the clip clean and high res or to find out more visit http://www.kinolibrary.com. In the seventies I remember the Constantinople on Queen Street West of Parliament. It was also the era when post-war immigrants were changing the restaurant scene. It remains in business today (October 2015) and is now operated by the son of its original owner. It was named the Normac. On its the south facade, there was a green neon sign that created the outline of a steer. Ponderosa was a popular birthday destination in the 80s, owing to the group friendly prices, kid friendly zones and fun-tastic birthday hats. Also remember the Prime, Salernos and the Sky Ranch. I inquired if I should wear a tie and jacket and was told that they were unnecessary. There is mow an Irish pub in that location Remember, I said reasonably.. When I was a boy in the 1940s, my family did not visit restaurants as my parents considered them too expensive. By the early sixties, it was gone. Toronto Archives, F1257, item 0504. From the CNE to Scarborough Town Centre, here's what Toronto looked like in the 1980s. As well as the Old Fish Market there was also the Market Grill on Church St. Arcadian Court in Simpson's Doug Taylor, Toronto history historic Toronto Queen Street West tayloronhistory.com Toronto's restaurant of the past. Yonge St east side next to the cut rate jewelry store Lindys Steak House somewhere you could get a steak with 1200 pees and yesterdays roll and the waiters always wore a tie. We also offer outdoor dining on our glass enclosed, heated Terrace/Veranda year-round. In the photo, the black building in the distance, on the far left, is a Coles Book Store. It was reported that John Turner had his own table at Winstons. Leo was the maitre de who was a very wonderful man who always remembered your name and what you had ordered the last time you were there. I fondly remember the Florentine Court on Church street. Readers were encouraged to write the Star and request their favourite recipes from restaurants. Converted from a house to the Busy Bee Dinder in 1929, the "B" consisted of an open kitchen and counter, and became a local destination for traditional meals and coffee to go. By the 2000s, Chi Chi's fell apart thanks to a combination of bankruptcy and a fatal hepatitis A outbreak traced back to green onions served at one of their Pittsburgh restaurants. I remember the Toronto Radio Artists Club well. Fentons was at 6 Gloucester, a few doors east of Yonge Street. The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes. I worked at Ontario Hydro in the late 60s and all the girls went to Bassels or Mallonys after work to meet guys! I was all grown up when I arrived in Toronto in 1987, but I remember my visits to Bemelmans; the original Bloor Street Diner where I met my first boyfriend; the early 90s version of City Grill at the Eaton Centre; and the Daily Planet at Yonge and Eglinton. The Hungarian Village at 900 Bay Street served Hungarian food and featured live Gypsy violinists. Joso's. Known for its curvaceous statuary, Joso's is Toronto's most famous Dalmatian restaurant. I am sure I saw and heard Moe Koffman on one of my visits. Tom Jones Steak House on the corner of Colborne Street and Leader Lane in 1989. I also remember the Tivoli on Yonge south of Gerrard on the east side. By 1989 Mothers had gone into receivership and was bought up by Little Caesers, who disposed of the classy Mothers style and helped usher in the era of cheap tasteless cardboard Pizza (aided and abetted by other chains who shall remain nameless). Does anyone remember a restaurant called Le Mascaron at First Canadian Place? My brother and I would have been 4 to 7 years old. Happy Herbivores. I especially enjoyed their Spinach layer salad. I believe they were licensed so you could order a fine wine or beer with Booked 28 times today. But my favourite was Truffles, at the old Four Seasons, before and after the 1990s renovations. Just steps away from the Gardens. IMO the best steakhouse in the city in its day. Please read the cookie policy for more information or to delete/block them. As a former resident of Toronto I remember these restaurants with fond memories. "the kitchen sink," made of 16 scoops of ice cream and covered with crushed up candy bars), this was the place to be when hanging around the Eaton Centre. Sassafraz and Hemingways are still operating on Cumberland St. Do you know if it was open in 1945? Remembering the early days of the Swiss Chalet, they only served 1/2 or 1/4 chicken with french fries and NO cutlery. This steak House is still in business. I doyes it was very posh. La Maquette. I always requested a table in the glass-covered courtyard as it was akin to dining in a garden. Id completely forgotten about the Spaghetti Cellar at Frans but I used to go, must have been on weekends, with my friend Karen for an all you can eat special they had. We bought our own, sometimes saving money by purchasing second-hand books. Bassels Restaurant, which occupied the equivalent space of three stores on Yonge Street. 16 Places . However, it has only been called The Black Bull since the 1970s, prior to which, it was called Clifton House. The restaurants housed an authentic Cowboy styled atmosphere with saloon doors, stag horns, wood walls, yellow and brown uniforms for the staff and red and white checkered table clothes.. I remember the tunnel and the soft chocolate malted ice cream cones wed buy at one end of the tunnel. I still have the silver tea service they gave my mom when she left. In 1948, owner George Nicolau renovated and expanded the Busy Bee and renamed it the Senator. He explained that they required the dress code to prevent vagrants from across the street at the railroad yards from entering the establishment. But there was another one, Lous, on Dufferin St. run by one of my mothers cousins. We were wearing freshly-ironed sport shirts and neat trousers. The complimentary salad had a tangy garlic dressing. The restaurant was very successful and a great meeting spot for Danish Xpats.