In another thread we got discussing what "touristy" means, as in the context of "I don't want to go to a touristy restaurant" when this means over-priced and under-qualitied, but famous enought that out of towners have heard about it.

Since a great many excellent restaurants get a lot of business from tourists (and business travellers) it's possible "touristy" is an unfair word.

So, with the thought that touristy can mean famous and a destination-must while being over-priced and not very good but popular with out-of-towners but avoided by locals...

Care to share the names of those you think are bad-touristy, and those you think are a-treat-for-tourists, across Canada.

To start:
Bad-touristy in Toronto
I can't think of any that are Toronto-only, famous outside our borders, that people want to visit, and that are not very good. I talk to people who have eaten at Gretsky's -- an attraction -- and even they say the food is fine. And I've eaten several times, happily, at the Rainforest Cafe at Yorkdale.

On the other hand, I've never heard anything good about the chain-based Planet Hollywood, and I've never had a really good meal at Movenpick, although that's disappeared except for Marche.

Touristy but good, in the sense of maybe known outside the city -- places I'd send visitors who asked for an excellent restaurant. Oro (not famous), Centro, Canoe, Avalon, Bistro 990 for movie buffs. Even Sassafraz has good food to go with the glitz.

More smiles and sneers welcome, city by city.

BAK

I think that TGI Fridays in any city fits this description. Over-priced, less than mediocore food.

I also agree with the Planet Hollywood assessment and would have to add The Hard Rock Cafe. Although looking at all the memorabilia on the walls is indeed interesting, the food is not.

Who needs a restaurant when one can just sit in the corner and eat from the can of worms one has inadvertently opened?

Any Toronto restaurant within walking distance of a major hotel has the potential of being "touristy" in the sense that a lot of restaurants depend on the tourist trade. The restaurants on Front between the Royal York and Skydome and on King between Roy Thompson Hall and Mountain Equipment CO-OP are prime tourist restaurants.

Spinello on Colborne is my favourite
place to dine downtown. Dhabba on King is worth the trip for fine Indian cuisine. Rodney's Oyster house for oysters and chowder is tops.

Few tourists visit Bayview Ave in Leaside or venture north to Highway 7. Dim Tai Fun in First Markham Place, Akasaka and Unionville's Blacksmiths Bistro are well worth the trip.

HJ, yeah, but are any of these restaurants that would be described as "toruisty" with the exceeption of Rodney's which is, in the positive sense. It's a destination restaurant, and people have read about it. And, of course, it fits in the good toruisty category.

BAK

elle, a sense of humour is a wonderful thing

In Vancouver Kettle of Fish is notorious for poor value/marginal service~cooking.
However for some reason it's packed.
Why?
Local hotel staff are primed with heavy discounts to promote the place as *authentic* and *a good place* or *my favourite*.
If I really like a place I never post about it on this kind of Forum for fear of seeing it overrun by the white tie/shoes/belt set-I can't bear to see double knit polyester where/when I eat

What comes to my mind is Captain John's, in Toronto. It's a ship moored in the harbour and I gather that mostly tourists go there - because the food is vile. Locals were interested in the place when it first opened, but now I think their customers are mostly unwary out-of-towners who don't know how disgusting it actually is. amp;

How about the Old Spaghetti Factory - anywhere?

About Old Spaghetti Factory -- seems to me the food's good and the place is fun, and it lives up to what it is supposed to be.

Kettle of Fish -- come to think of it, my last meal there, years ago, wasn't all that good, and it does qualify for my "famous" definition.

Captain John's in Toronto -- yeah, you may be on to something. I haven't eaten there is years, because on the few times I did go, it was not very good. And, being a ship in the tourist district of Harbourfront, it seems to me it qualifies for touristy.

Maybe someone who has eaten there recently can offer comments on the food quality now.

And,now that the shoip's been mentioned, it reminds me of the railway cars down the road, at the Town and Country. Last time I ate there, it was really pretty good, and fun, and kids liked it.

BAK