Fin Izakaya at Yonge & Eglinton offers a wide selection of primarily Japanese snackables - everything from fresh vegetable salads and pickled kimchis, to sashimi plates and wagyu hotpots to shark-fin (gasp!) based dishes. But the disparity between the enticing and artful picture menu and what ends up on the table is rather gaping, and after trying a few hit-and-miss dishes we elect to end our only partially satisfying fishing expedition.

See my review of Fin Izakaya in the restaurant section.

Massimo's Pizza is now Vinny Massimo's Pizza & Pasta, which recently opened at its new location at Queen and Dovercourt.

Previously a contender in the best pizza slice in the city battle, my expectations were set pretty high going in. But on my first visit, a few misses have me thinking that after the move they still need to do some work to get everything in its right place.

See my review of Vinny Massimo's Pizza & Pasta in the restaurants section.

Located in the Village on the Grange food court, Karine's offers both reasonably priced all-day breakfasts and a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. And, to complete the experience -- or ruin it! -- patrons are treated to a sort of 50's style banter from a chef who I can only guess is Karine herself.

Read my review of Karine's in the restaurant section.

Jane and Finch is known mostly for its troubles: drive-bys and high rises, gangs and guns. But Mainsha Plus, with its unique pairing of Caribbean and Khmer food, is a veritable diamond in the rough. And with meals starting at 3 bucks, it's also wonderfully cheap.

Read my review of Mainsha Plus in the restaurant section.

The Annex Live is all about small plates. With choices like Watermelon or Mixed Greens Salad, Yukon Gold Gnocchi or Egg Yolk Tagliarini, Roasted Sea Scallops or Cornish Hen, along with a selection of premium ice creams, the $25 Prix Fixe caught our attention but missed a few notes.

See my review of The Annex Live in the restaurants section.

Dundas Square has never been my favourite place. Maybe it was the years of construction, or maybe it's the crowds. More likely it's the Eaton's Centre, a place I avoid until Christmastime, at which point my cell phone invariably dies, requiring me to wait hours in line at the Rogers store.

Whatever the reason, Yonge/Dundas is an area that sees me on a need-to-go basis only. When young friends from Ireland, or visiting ESL students tell me they're going there, I inwardly smirk. Tourists. I'm similarly smarmy when academic-darling Richard Florida lauds the area. Newbie. As far I've been concerned for a long, long time, locals avoid Dundas Square as much as they can.