Restaurant Comings & Goings

[Northern Light]

I first went to the Atrium Pickle Barrel in 1986 during my second visit in Toronto. It was memorable because the sleeve of my jacket touched my chocolate cake without me noticing and I ended up with icing all over my very 1980s mint green outfit.

As debonair as I picture you, I have a hard time reconciling that with a Mint Green outfit.

Though I am just old enough to remember orange + yellow shag rugs in people's homes.......so there was clearly something in the air from the 70s to the early 80s in fashion and decor.

 

[Richard White]

Though I am just old enough to remember orange + yellow shag rugs in people's homes.......so there was clearly something in the air from the 70s to the early 80s in fashion and decor.

We had Red, Purple and Blue in our 1960s split level until we moved out in 1993.

 

[RGB_11]

They will be downtown again.
This is now being run by Swiss Chalet's parent company, that won't occur again. (well, never say never, Recipe nee Cara has had its share of flops, but this is unlikely to be one)

I think it would be smart of them to retire East Side Marios and convert them all to Olive Garden restaurants. Unless there is some major difference, why compete with yourself?
I prefer Olive Garden over ESM any day myself...

 

[Richard White]

I think it would be smart of them to retire East Side Marios and convert them all to Olive Garden restaurants. Unless there is some major difference, why compete with yourself?
I prefer Olive Garden over ESM any day myself...

ESM has gone very much down hill. Their quality has decreased to slightly above dog food since the early 2000s.

I have not been in years.

 

[RGB_11]

ESM has gone very much down hill. Their quality has decreased to slightly above dog food since the early 2000s.

I have not been in years.

You're not missing much. The food @ ESM is so awful I wonder how they stay in business.
Olive Garden is much better any day.

 

[Towered]

I first went to the Atrium Pickle Barrel in 1986 during my second visit in Toronto. It was memorable because the sleeve of my jacket touched my chocolate cake without me noticing and I ended up with icing all over my very 1980s mint green outfit.

Mint green outfit???

 

[Bayer]

Mint green outfit???

 

[Jonny5]

Has anyone been to Bar Goa? I have an optional invitation to go there for lunch next week with co-workers for their Winterlicious menu, but at $48, before taxes, tip, drinks, etc., ... yeah I can afford it, but is that really where I want to drop what will probably come to a total bill of $80 on a lunch with co-workers I rarely talk to? Is it that good?

 

[AlbertC]

Figo at Adelaide & John has closed after a decade at that location:

CLOSURES: Restaurants that closed in January 2026 in Toronto - YourCityWithIN.com

Restaurants that closed their doors during the first month of 2026 in January will always be in our hearts, even though they didn’t get to see much of the new year. A cafe that drew lineups, a wine bar, iconic chain restaurant locations and another Matty Matheson projet all sadly shut down. Here...

www.yourcitywithin.com

 

[evandyk]

Has anyone been to Bar Goa? I have an optional invitation to go there for lunch next week with co-workers for their Winterlicious menu, but at $48, before taxes, tip, drinks, etc., ... yeah I can afford it, but is that really where I want to drop what will probably come to a total bill of $80 on a lunch with co-workers I rarely talk to? Is it that good?

I haven't been, but I have heard from others that it's really good, and is a type of cuisine you can't really get anywhere else in Toronto. If that's appealing to you, I would go for sure, unless the cost would be a hardship.

Edit to add: This looks really good, but says it's $35. I'm considering rounding up co-workers to make a reservation! Maybe I'll see you there.

Menus | Bar Goa in Toronto, ON

See the menus for Bar Goa in Toronto, ON. Offering Indian food for dine-in and takeaway!

www.bargoa.ca

 

[evandyk]

You're not missing much. The food @ ESM is so awful I wonder how they stay in business.
Olive Garden is much better any day.

I went to ESM once because I have a small child whose favourite food is pasta with tomato sauce, or cheese pizza. It was so terrible that I will never go back.

I think I went to Olive Garden in the '90s, but don't remember anything about it. It can't be worse than ESM. I don't even know how you can screw up tomato sauce that badly. A frozen lasagna from No Frills is better than ESM.

 

[evandyk]

Oh man, don't have a cocktail. Your bill will be $120! Even a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon will run you $27 (!?!?).

 

[Jonny5]

I haven't been, but I have heard from others that it's really good, and is a type of cuisine you can't really get anywhere else in Toronto. If that's appealing to you, I would go for sure, unless the cost would be a hardship.

Edit to add: This looks really good, but says it's $35. I'm considering rounding up co-workers to make a reservation! Maybe I'll see you there.

Menus | Bar Goa in Toronto, ON

See the menus for Bar Goa in Toronto, ON. Offering Indian food for dine-in and takeaway!

www.bargoa.ca

Thanks, I might give it a go then, though when you click on the Winterlicious menu which they are reserving for the price goes to $48.

 

[Northern Light]

I haven't been, but I have heard from others that it's really good, and is a type of cuisine you can't really get anywhere else in Toronto. If that's appealing to you, I would go for sure, unless the cost would be a hardship.

Edit to add: This looks really good, but says it's $35. I'm considering rounding up co-workers to make a reservation! Maybe I'll see you there.

Menus | Bar Goa in Toronto, ON

See the menus for Bar Goa in Toronto, ON. Offering Indian food for dine-in and takeaway!

www.bargoa.ca

Ok, we gotta bring the menu forward so people can see what the chatter is all about:

Oh man, don't have a cocktail. Your bill will be $120! Even a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon will run you $27 (!?!?).

Haha, and they want $21 for a glass of Cave Spring Reisling. Good wine, but the entire bottle is less at the LCBO.

****

I see the price issue difference between the posts above....here is the $48 Winterlicious Lunch:

 

[PL1]

Oh man, don't have a cocktail. Your bill will be $120! Even a glass of Kim Crawford Sauvignon will run you $27 (!?!?).

That mark-up on wine is crazy... You can buy a bottle of that mediocre Sauvignon for $20 ish. I know restaurants make big bucks on alcohol, but it's become too much