City
Get to know a street: Wilson Avenue
Wilson Avenue between Bathurst and Dufferin is not one of Toronto's up-and-coming hotspots. In fact, many of the notable businesses in this North York area have been here for decades--and it looks like they're staying put. Wilson Avenue's restaurants, grocery stores, and other shops seem to reflect the demographics of the area, which is comprised notably of Filipino and Jewish families. In other words (and to totally play off stereotypes) Wilson Avenue is the street to pick up some Pandesal and a few quality fresh-baked bagels. Here's where to find them, and some other places to check out on Wilson Avenue.
Steve's Restaurant
Just north of Wilson on Lawrence, Steve's is one of those inexplicably popular greasy spoon-ish restaurants that's packed with families on Sunday nights. Perhaps its esteem is due to the fact Steve's has been around for more than 60 years, or else, just because of its self-professed "Incredible Omelettes," but Steve's is one of those Wilson Avenue places that's guaranteed never to be empty.
Cusina Lounge
Cusina Lounge is a Filipino restaurant and Karaoke bar with delicious, delicious BBQ stick prepared fresh on the patio in the summertime. The restaurant often hosts live music and karaoke, as well as all-you-can-eat Friday through Sunday. Dishes a la carte include Sinigang Bangus, Kare-kare, Kalderetang Kambing, and Bihon noodles.
H & H Groceries Store
H & H Groceries Store has Filipino and Canadian (whatever that is) groceries, but the real draw here is its hot table. Dishes such as fried tilapia, fried tuyo, Bangus Daing, and BBQ ribs entice by the front, while canned items, dry soups, and bagged snacks surround the back tables. There's also a (very) small selection of fresh produce by the door.
Sampaguita Village
Sampaguita Village is a fusion restaurant offering a mix of Chinese and Filipino dishes--something a little different from the typical Asian fusion. Don't let the word "village" fool you; this place is pretty small. But its menu, on the other hand, is actually quite extensive, with dishes such as Kare-Kare, Lechon Kawali, and Sweet and Sour Chicken all on the list of options.
Bagel World
Bagel World has been on Wilson Avenue for over 45 years, serving their famous "Bagelini" (flat bagel panini) to loyal patrons. There are a couple other locations in the GTA, but this Bagel World is the original and frequented by many grey-haired breakfast special-enthusiasts. Besides bagels, of course, Bagel World makes its own soup, cookies, loaves, and venerable chocolate Mandelbrot.
Yakamoz Grill
It seems every neighbourhood must have its resident shawarma joint, and for Wilson Avenue, Yakamoz is it. Yakamoz's menu includes typical Middle Eastern fare such as falafels, shawarma, and kebabs, but also includes a couple of out-of-the-box items including salmon shish kebabs and rainbow trout filets.
Da Best Filipino Bakery
It's not exactly hip or quaint, but Da Best Filipino Bakery smells absolutely divine. And isn't that all that matters? This shop offers Filipino treats such as Halo Halo,
Buko Pandan, Lugaw, and Pandesal (regular and whole wheat), and there's one large communal table for seating, which was likely implemented with zero regard to the growing trend.
Brooklyn Furniture
Brooklyn Furniture is actually just south of Wilson on Bathurst, on a lot where it's been for the past 50 years. This isn't a King Street furniture store, so don't count on finding obtuse orange side tables here. Instead, Brooklyn offers classic, timeless pieces--mostly made of solid wood--at discounted prices for medium- and high-end.
Previously in this series:
Sterling Road
Jane Street
Denison Street
Weston Road
O'Connor Drive
Orfus Road
The Village of Islington
Rogers Road
Lake Shore Boulevard
The Kingsway
Overlea Boulevard
Coxwell Avenue
Kingston Road
Carlaw Avenue
Donlands Avenue
Marlee Avenue
Do you have any suggestions for overlooked streets you think we should feature on this site? Please send suggestions to streets [at] blogto [dotcom]
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"Just north of Wilson on Lawrence" should read "Just north of Wilson on Bathurst".
Petty crime and garbage.
You should have published a map showing the quickest way to get away from the place.
Seeing as the " Get To Know " series focuses on only the most hideous streets, you could do a three part series on Yonge Street. Vast tracts of Yonge Street make Wilson Avenue look like 5th Avenue.
As for Brooklyn Furniture: I have always been really curious about this place! I must go in some time. Paul's Tailors just south of there is a great business.
Also just north of the intersection is Paese, which has a location down on King St. too.
@W.K. Lis: Yes, it happened at 54 Murray Road which is north of Wilson and East of Keele.
This article also fails to mention the giant mural on the wall of the 401 overpass on the South East corner of Wilson & Bathurst. The thing goes for pretty much the entire length of the wall and was a nice addition to that drab wall when they painted it years ago.
There is zero reason for anyone to go here for a visit. and you know this. yet you profile it.
It's far from a slum.
You people are clearly sheltered to the point of extreme pussiness.
i've never really hung out around this area of wilson ave. they're building a condo right next to wilson station, at tippett, any comments?
Either everyone who's saying it's a slum grew up in some posh neighborhood, or some small town in butt**** nowhere and are scared by every minority they see walking the streets. The only area I would remotely consider 'bad' along Wilson would probably be at the Wilson-Jane intersection. Aside from that, yes the street is a bit boring, but far from a slum. Man up pussies.
Wilson st. is an excellent example.
but no, let's dismiss everyone who lives north of Bloor and we'll just keep boasting we are the most multicultural city in the world knowing full well that most immigrants, no, the majority of Toronto residents live in the inner suburbs. and guess where most of the votes for Mayor Ford came from?
At least Blogto is covering the outer reaches of the city in an attempt to be more "inclusive". Oh, another civic boosterism buzzword we use with hypocrisy.
However much of the urban planning of the former suburbs of Toronto is unbelievably bad. Its indefensible. Ugly, boring architecture. Strip malls. Streetscapes that make you want to stab your eyes out. Soulless, generic, stuck in the 1970s.
Nobody is dismissing the people that live there. Many have no choice. They are sadly stuck with bad transit, brutal traffic, and not much to do. That doesn't mean the areas cannot be called the shit holes that they are. Mentioning that many of the votes for Rob Ford came from the suburbs is supposed to what? endear us to them?
jesus christ.
downtowners will never understand; unless of course there are cupcake shops and $900 per square foot closets they like to call home.
sure, wilson is not glamorous, but neither is chinatown, regent park, the harbourfront or bedbugs.
There was no planning in this city until the late '40s. Before that, the city was literally thrown together, that's why streets often go nowhere, merge, twist and turn.
While some people consider the jammed together Victorian homes along Dundas St or Queen St 'charming,' some people consider them falling apart slums, too.
Wilson may not be the most charming street, but I've seen worse -and many of those are downtown.
There is a mix of housing (apartments, triplexes, bungalows and up) along with the mix of incomes. The Jewish community is on its way out, and the new Filipino one is well on its way in. There is close access to Wilson subway station, and condos are starting to sprout up (north on Bathurst, and around Wilson station). Hopefully something nice will move into the spot where the LCBO used to stand.
The city really needs to take notice of this area and give it a spit shine. It's true that the place reeks of the 1970/80's (see the Degrassi episode when they go to York Bowl - retro concrete jungle charm), but that doesn't mean it wasn't planned well and couldn't be a great place to live.
Around Wilson & Bathurst, the layout of street islands makes the area horrible to navigate. The TTC bus stops encroach on parking lots on all four corners (ever try to drive the corner strip-mall where the Starbucks is? You'll run over 4, maybe 5, pedestrians running to catch a bus).
I'd give the area a good 5 years; after the new development beside Wilson Station is complete, they area *will* start to pick up -- but right now there is a gaping void between Wilson Station and Dufferin to the West, and Wilson Station and Bathurst to the East.
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1.there are hardly any blacks in this area.
2.near or over million dollar homes are in this area (largely jewish)
3. filipinos are very family and community orientated, which helps not make this area a dump.
il admit, the architecture and layout looks a bit dreary, but its a good place to live if u arent hung over the downtown feel of cities
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Super easy access to public transportation. Those that consider this area unsafe obviously have a skewed view of what is a slum and what is not. Jane and Finch is a slum and will probably always be. Bathurst and Wilson is just too central a location with huge potential to be considered a slum. For those of you south of Bloor just remember all the real slums that USED to be downtown and are now the trendy areas.
This area is a dump, it has been for many years. It's dull, dirty and nothing is changing any time soon. Just in the past 24 hours there have been 3 home invasions, a shooting, stabbing and robbery in the close area.
All of the above comments about how dirty it is, I am in full agreement. As I read them I kept nodding.. Yep that's Wilson!
Don't fool yourself, maybe you have some property investments.. My Advice Sell! Get out ASAP!
I remember Mr. Donut which was a fixture on Wilson for many years. As well as the Royal Bank which was there for many years before Starbucks.
Places like Bathurst and Wilson is where culture develops and will soon thrive into a neighbourhood that Torontonians take pride in. Mimico is an example of a gentrified neighbourhood that used to be rough around the edges, but now it's developing really quickly.