Toronto Restaurants of the 80s and 90s

[wild goose chase]

Converted big chain restaurants are common in the city of Toronto it seems in many places.

Seems like big chain restaurants going out of business and getting converted into a small local restaurant, or smaller local chain, seems to be not too uncommon in Toronto, even though the reverse is typically thought of as the more common occurrence, or bigger trend.

 

[Filip]

I now find it hard to believe that restaurants once had smoking and non-smoking sections, often separated by nothing more than an imaginary line, and people in the smoking section didn't think twice about lighting up indoors. I have no idea how we put up with that nonsense for so long.

It was even more amusing on planes... An imaginary line from which in front you could not smoke, behind you could. Not that a tin can with recirculated air was a good place for all of that...

I remember my last smoker flight - Lufthansa in 1996. You could only smoke in the back galley.

 

[SunriseChampion]

I remember my last smoker flight - Lufthansa in 1996. You could only smoke in the back galley.

Had to be the Germans. I remember my trip to Frankfurt and thinking that 50% of Germans must smoke still. Needless to say, I felt at home.

 

[Richard White]

This! As a kid going to a 'real' buffet for the first time was amazing! They were largely gone here by the early 90s. There was one at Eglinton Ave. East and Bellamy Rd in Scarborough across the Eglinton GO Train station next to the Swiss Chalet which the building is still there (was a funeral home at some point).

I think perhaps you are thinking of Kallys. They had AYCE soup, garlic bread and salad if I recall and a decent enough menu.

 

[TrickyRicky]

Not sure it’s been mentioned but Movenpick anyone? Yorkville location then one in the York street area that had a seafood buffet. It then got bought out and converted into Richtree or something.

 

[Northern Light]

Not sure it’s been mentioned but Movenpick anyone? Yorkville location then one in the York street area that had a seafood buffet. It then got bought out and converted into Richtree or something.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...r-a-new-name-familiar-format/article17982744/

Gist is a dispute between the Canadian franchisor and Movenpick.

****

Worth noting, Movenpick is back having taken over the space at Brookfield place from Richtree.

 

[Hiker]

I remember going to a place called The Silver Rail on Yonge St with my parents when I was young. It was downstairs. Cool place. There was another German restaurant downstairs under the big train station they liked too. Fancy place I remember.

 

[gabe]

Remember Belamys? I had a lot of family dinners there.

 

[Jonny5]

Remember Belamys? I had a lot of family dinners there.

I remember seeing lots of commercials on TV for Bellamy's, but don't think I ever went there.

Lime Rickey's was always a place we visited at the Eaton Centre.

Swiss Chalet, before they updated their dinner rolls. The plates were white and brown. The house salad was lettuce, shredded carrot, one whole slice of tomato, and one gigantic slice of cucumber cut on the bias. 'Chalet dressing' was almost neon orange colored. At least once per night one of the waiters would drop a large quantity of plates on the floor, smashing them and scattering food everywhere. How this place ever became some kind of 'iconic' Canadian restaurant I still don't understand. I despised it from childhood. Except the Shirley Temples; the only fun part of going there.

 

[Fritter]

Remember Belamys? I had a lot of family dinners there.

I miss the Sunday Brunch Buffets at the Oshawa and Whitby locations.

 

[Jayomatic]

Belamy's was awesome. My sister worked at the St Catherines location and I remember they had really great chicken wings. They were the big breaded saucy type.

 

[LooneyBird25]

The Asian Legend at Sheppard and Brimley (almost next to what used to be Woody Woodchuck's) retains the chalet-style interior reflecting its former tenant, Swiss Chalet.

@Johnny Au
Hi, I noticed that in this post you Mentioned Woodie WoodChucks, I was wondering if you knew anything about the place or the animatronic show they had in The building, or if you had any pics/ footage of the show?
thanks

From the woodie wood chucks research team

 

[Johnny Au]

@Johnny Au
Hi, I noticed that in this post you Mentioned Woodie WoodChucks, I was wondering if you knew anything about the place or the animatronic show they had in The building, or if you had any pics/ footage of the show?
thanks

From the woodie wood chucks research team

Woody Woodchuck's is defunct since 2015 (Scarborough location).

All I know is that it had a restaurant, a playground, and some arcade games. It had (admittedly creepy-looking) animatronics and had laser tag. That is all I can recall.

Here are some reviews:

Woodie Wood Chucks

Woodie Wood Chucks, Woodie Wood Chuck's is a family based business established in 1995. ... Family Fun Center Restaurant

woodiewoodchucks.foodpages.ca

Interior:

Source: https://foursquare.com/v/woodie-woodchucks/4c8594912f1c236a615f5643

Here's a video of the interior:

Here's an old commercial for Woodie Woodchuck's:

Discussion (with photos of the animatronics): https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ret...woodchuck-39-s-scarborough-ontario-t6197.html

Retro Pizza Zone-Woodie Woodchuck's, Scarborough Ontario

I found out recently about this CEC type place which used to be in Toronto. It included games, parties, and even some (cheap) animatronics. It was eve

www.tapatalk.com

Official website from 2004: https://web.archive.org/web/20040716070332/http://www.woodiewoodchucks.ca/

Turns out that there's also a Mississauga location that closed one year before the Scarborough location (both locations opened in 1995).

 

[LooneyBird25]

Woody Woodchuck's is defunct since 2015 (Scarborough location).

All I know is that it had a restaurant, a playground, and some arcade games. It had (admittedly creepy-looking) animatronics and had laser tag. That is all I can recall.

Here are some reviews:

Woodie Wood Chucks

Woodie Wood Chucks, Woodie Wood Chuck's is a family based business established in 1995. ... Family Fun Center Restaurant

woodiewoodchucks.foodpages.ca

Interior:

Source: https://foursquare.com/v/woodie-woodchucks/4c8594912f1c236a615f5643

Here's a video of the interior:

Here's an old commercial for Woodie Woodchuck's:

Discussion (with photos of the animatronics): https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/ret...woodchuck-39-s-scarborough-ontario-t6197.html

Retro Pizza Zone-Woodie Woodchuck's, Scarborough Ontario

I found out recently about this CEC type place which used to be in Toronto. It included games, parties, and even some (cheap) animatronics. It was eve

www.tapatalk.com

Official website from 2004: https://web.archive.org/web/20040716070332/http://www.woodiewoodchucks.ca/

Turns out that there's also a Mississauga location that closed one year before the Scarborough location (both locations opened in 1995).

Alright thanks for the info

 

[Bubbs]

Anyone remember what was the name of the french restaurant west of john street on king street in toronto in the 1980s