BQM Ossington 

210 Ossington  Avenue, Toronto, On., M6J 2Z9, (416) 850-1919, open for lunch and dinner 

Went to BQM on Ossington Avenue in Toronto.  It was a warm Saturday after wandering the Portuguese area of Dundas Street and checking out a bookstore.  We got thirsty and decided to have a cold beer and this place seemed the spot.

Although the inside was homey, the patio was calling our names.

We had a nice cold one.

And then decided to share a couple of appetizers. So we selected a couple of bbq wings, a pulled pork slider and a couple of deep fried pickles.  They were scrumptious!!

Others on the patio were having the burgers and they looked very good.  The location is nice, the service was good and the appetizers we had were well done.

http://www.bqmburger.com/

HEMINGWAY'S RESTAURANT AND BAR 
142 Cumberland St. Toronto, On., M5R 1A2, (416) 968-2828 

Went to Hemingways on a Thursday night in May.  Located in Yorkville (where there is a car show everyday) it has a couple of different patios that are heated and always hopping.  

We arrived at around 6 pm and were seated inside, since it was rather cool and windy on the patios.  We waited for my son Mark who was going to join us.  While we waited my wife and I were imbibing in a nice California Cabernet.

The inside can be quite dreary compared to the outside, but as time went on it got extremely busy with large groups of people.  We began with appetizers including; calamari and escargot.  When Mark arrived he added an order of sweet potato fries to the mix.

The calamari were quite good, but the accompanying sauce was overdone with garlic.  The escargot arrived rather cool and the bread was stale.  The sweet potato fries were very good.
For mains my wife ordered the salmon, but it was tough, overcooked and too salty (worst salmon dish she has had in a restaurant).  

My son ordered the butter chicken and rather liked it.

I had the veal parmigiana special with spaghetti.  This dish was very ordinary - but was only $12.99, which should have tipped me off.

We have been here before a number of times, but never for dinner.  We won't be back for dinner again.  Maybe for appetizers.  The food was very bland and unimaginative. The service was average. The appetizers are the only items worth eating here, and even they are hit and miss.  Good place to hang out sometimes but skip the food.  There are better places not far away where you can get much more value for the money.

http://www.hemingways.to/

THE JASON GEORGE

100 Front Street, East , Toronto (416) 363-7100 Open 11 am to 2 am daily

Went to the Jason George Saturday for some nachos and beer after a brisk walk along Front Street on a cold March day in Toronto.  It is located across from the St. Lawrence Market.  We have been here a number of times to have pints of Guiness or Kilkenny.  It has a comfortable feel and the prices are quite reasonable.  

The next time we come here we will try one of their specials that are written on the chalkboard.  Their specials all look very good and are reasonably priced - most in the 12 to 14 dollar range.  The last time we came here we saw a couple enjoying a bowl of the onion soup ($6). 

This time we decided to try their nachos.  They came on a large plate and although lacking in cheese, they were quite tasty (with some sliced hot peppers added). 

Of course nachos go so well with beer, so the three of us had a couple of pints of Guiness and Kilkenny

We will certainly come back again to try some of their specials soon!!


http://www.thejasongeorge.ca/