Restaurants of the 70-80s in TO

Heather · Post by **Heather** » Fri May 16, 2003 5:28 pm

The Fiesta was way-cool. So was the Bloor Street Diner in the original location (2nd floor on the north side of Bloor, beside Holt Renfrew) in the early days - I loved the black and neon pink decor. Another hang-out was the Metropolitan, which was on the east side of Yonge, just south of Charles (I believe it's an Aldo's shoe store or something now). The original location of Toby's on the south side of Bloor (around Bellair) was loads of fun...back in 1980.

smokalotapot · Post by **smokalotapot** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 12:05 am

Fran's was fun,but the food was like dennys(DUMPSTERS)the yonge st one was the most entertaining,and probly is still today.best memory of that place to me is when the bus boy dropped the tray of dishes,smashed every thing,he got the loudest applause and howls!for me i used to drink at Freddy's bond hotel.there were always more staff than customers,and the lounge act usually catered to my requests,as sometimes me & the girlfriend were the only ones there!us & a grand piano!

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 9:47 am

I remember going to the Groaning Board to see the Cannes award-winning international commercials.

For dancing I remember Nutsn'Bolts and Dominoes.

And for bands I remember first The Horseshoe, then The Edge then Larry's Hideaway - all projects of the 2 Garys I believe.

smokalotapot · Post by **smokalotapot** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 9:27 pm

HEY DOES ANYONE REMEBER "THE PORTS"last time i was in TO i think it's a @%$#ing office building now,progress?and i understand the GASWORKS is gone?oh well no more chronic ear damage!!

asa · Post by **asa** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:01 am

How about....."The Club at..Richards" or here's another one.....I think the name of the place on Yonge street just south of Bloor was called...'Century 66'. Does anyone remember the name? It was a cool place.

kaos · Post by **kaos** » Mon Apr 05, 2004 4:51 am

How about-

Sanctuary
The Betty Ford XXIV (Or roman numerals like that)
Bovine Sex Club
The Fifth Dimention
Backtracks
Lee's Palace & The Elmo (Sure, still about but they WERE back then as well..)
And that one with all the TV's that were pulled apart & encased in steel... What was that one called? AHH! Catch-22...

And more I'm sure

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun Apr 11, 2004 3:57 am

Anyone remember "Grannies" kitty-corner to the Royal York or whatever the hell they call that hotel now? Or what about "Whaler's Wharf"? Great seafood!

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 5:09 pm

Oh yeah, wow, the 80's. I always enjoyed eating at McDonald's back when they had fully sized restraurant at Sherway Gardens mall. Good times.

TLEJ · Post by **TLEJ** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 7:36 am

"Hey Earl where's Beverly?" 'She's at Richards' "What's the matter you guys break up or something?" 'NO...THE CLUB AT RICHARDS!!"

This was a commercial on CFNY.....Anyone remember it? And how about the club at RICHARDS!!! Neat place.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:19 pm

The Fiesta was the best! way cool very New York.
Clubs - The Edge (the Two Garys' club at Gerrard and Church - Teardrop Explodes, John Cale, The Police, Chelsea, etc etc), Larry's Hideaway (hell-hole but great bands - I saw Husker Du, Chris and Cosey, Nick Cave, Gun Club, Rain Parade, Hunters and Collectors etc etc etc), Crash n' Burn (brief but fantastic punk club), the Cabana Room (King & Spadina - L'Etranger, Rheostatics), great shows at the concert Hall (The Beat, Iggy Pop, Psychedelic Furs, Cramps, Jam, REM etc etc etc)
Dance Clubs, Domino's Nuts n' Bolts, Voodoo and does anybody remember Start Dancing?...

Dave Holden · Post by **Dave Holden** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 3:00 am

I used to love the Bloor St. Diner in its original location. Also, The Bam Boo Club on Queen St. Remember Ruddfu... errrr... Fuddrucker's in Bramladesh? Always plugged by the 'ny staff... until (apparently) the big staff party when everyone got food poisoning and all the interns and janitors got their big on-air breaks! (did that really happen or did I just smoke too much pot in High School)

Percival · Post by **Percival** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:06 pm

There wasn't much I could afford "in the good old days" but there were several that were a bit of fun. The Bloor Street Diner for certain, even though I grew sick of the pink very quickly. Amato, The Big Slice, Cora's. Most of the time though it was just street meat picked up from the hot-dog guy at Queen and University.

As for the bars, it was hard to pin down one place that was more fun than another really. From the Silver Rail to Club Noir, to RPM, to The Phoenix, to The Lizard Lounge to Savage Garden and then, occasionally, to Sanctuary (b4 Starbucks).

I think really that my personal fave ends up being RPM. Sure that $8 cover was a bit much, but get there at just the right time and you could actually go through the buffet two or even three times.

Spirit Admin (Admin) · Thu Jul 15, 2004 5:48 pm

I think my favorite club was always RPM, especially after 2 am when all the wannabes had gone home. I was the Thursday jock at the Lizard Lounge for quite a while, and did weekends at PM Toronto (at the Dome, it's now Second City) - does anyone remember that place?

How about Astralight in Mississauga, the all-ages converted hockey arena where they snagged Chris Sheppard to do Friday nights?

Jason Paris · Post by **Jason Paris** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 5:49 pm

Just curious, where did the Bloor Street Diner used to be located?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 4:01 pm

Bloor Street. (rimshot)