Laurie

We are arriving in Toronto from Vancouver on my husband's birthday this June and would like to find a nice (not too expensive) restaurant enroute to our hotel in Scarborough (we pick up a rental car near the airport. Any kind of food goes, but I would like it to be a bit special for a birthday celebration. Any suggestions out there? It will be myself, husband (big 48) and 15yr old son. Thanks!

Brian Kilgore

Since we've got until June, let's start with two questions.<BR><BR>Are you sure you want to sdtay in a hotel in Scarborough?<BR><BR>That's like staying in Richmond or Surrey; fine places, but third choices for tourists.<BR><BR>And can you give us a price range and a sense of the flavours and the mood you seek?<BR><BR>You can spend a lot of money, and be very elegant, and eat very well, by getting off the 401 highway at Yonge Street and eating at Auberge du Pommier, but that might not be the style you have in mind.<BR><BR>And, being cynical, I'd suggest you'll be wiped by the trip, and should save the special birthday dinner for the next night.<BR><BR>$100 for 3? $200 for 3? $300 for 3? (I spent $400 for three last week, so count $300 as "not too expensive.")<BR><BR>BAK<BR><BR>

Brian Kilgore

Or, he says, twohours later, after thinking about it.<BR><BR>Get in the rental car and follow the signs out of the airport and onto Dixon Road. Head east until you are almost at highway 27 south (there are big signs you can see ahead) and opposite the Delta Airport Hotel.<BR><BR>Turn left (north) at the traffic lights, and then right at the first corner, and there are half a dozen good mid-priced casual restaurants to pick from.<BR><BR>If it was my birthday, I'd pick Le Bifteque and have the biggest steak they offer. But Tucker's Marketplace should give your husbaand a free dinner because it is his birthday. That's a pretty good deal, too.<BR><BR>By the time dinner's over, find your way onto highway 401 east and head for the hotel after the traffic has died down for the evening.<BR><BR>BAK<BR>

kelly

Laurie, I have to echo the question - "are you sure you want to stay in Scarborough...?" <BR><BR>Not sure if there is some reason you are staying there but if there isn't I would encourage you to try and switch to a more central location, closer to downtown Toronto. Scarbourough is not accessible to much and I've heard some great deals on hotels in the downtown area. <BR><BR>I live in the east end of Toronto and my husband and I have often driven along Kingston Rd. in Scarborough and marvelled at the number of motels/hotels, wondering who stays there? There are a few with signs that say "gateway to Toronto!" and that's pretty funny!<BR><BR>Not that Scarborough is an awful place, but for a visit to Toronto you could do much better.<BR><BR>That being said (and not knowing which hotel you are staying in), if there is some reason you are staying in Scarborough, then go for it, and have a great time!<BR><BR>As for a not too expensive but good restaurant - try The Keg near the airport - they are very popular in Toronto and serve a good steak - great atmosphere too. You can toast the birthday boy with a Keg-sized Caeser (not salad)!

Laurie

Thanks for the info. The reason we chose to stay in Scarborough is because we are not planning to actually spend much time in Toronto; we are enroute to Ottawa and east. We have one day to hang out (catch up on sleep?) so we thought we'd do one sight (Science World?) on our one day in the area. Scarborough seemed inexpensive and we could get a suite with a breakfast. As we do still have some time to make other arrangements, we could always change to a closer location to town center.<BR>Anyway thanks again, we'll figure something out!<BR>Laurie

Bonnie

Since you're open...what about the Holiday Inn at Yorkdale? Right off the 401, great pool, directly across from the Yorkdale Shopping Mall (Rainforest Cafe is there). For birthdays we go to a place called The Place for Steak and Seafood, 5 minutes off the 401 & Allen Road which is midway between the Airport and Scarborough. Soup, salad and garlic bread are included with the entrees and the food is great. White tablecloths. Great old-fashioned steak house, nothing nouvelle cuisine about it. We also go to the Harvest Room at the Inn on the Park which is 2 minutes from the Science Centre. That hotel is a Holiday Inn/Inn on the Park split.

Cathleen

<BR>Alegno. Small quaint Italian rest, entrees range from $25 specials to $10 gourmet pizza. On Yonge just N of 401.<BR><BR>The Keg. My fav. steakhouse (don't know if you have this chain in BC). Also on Yonge, N of 401 @ Sheppard.<BR><BR>

Robyn

In response to Cathleen's Keg suggestion...<BR><BR>... the restaurant chain was actually founded in North Vancouver. So yes, BC does have The Keg.