TO: Milestones Grill + Bar

Milestones: a much classier version of Jack Astor’s. Like I mentioned in my previous post, we decided to surpass Jack Astor’s entrees for dinner in Milestones, which my brother swore was the nicest outdoor patio in the city. And it really was!

We lucked out by securing an outdoor spot, even thought it was a ridiculously busy weeknight. Milestones’ patio really is gorgeous – very chic and urban. Wrapping around the entire restaurant, the patio is slender and surrounded by clear panes of glass that give a marvelous view of the city. No CN Tower here, but the ambience is just a lot more classy and upscale. And there’s also a charming cabana that I plan on sitting at on my next excursion…

Now for the food: pretty damn delicious. Please note that my expectations of Toronto’s dining are super low, since pretty much everyone who previously lived in the US warned me that the food is nothing compared to American restaurants. And it’s true – the food isn’t as tasty in most restaurants, but I love that the serving sizes are reasonable and not obesity-inducing. Milestones is also one of the better restaurants in terms of taste and variety.

I tried the Grilled Chicken Pesto Fettucini, which was rich and decadent, but definitely not as overwhelming as those huge plates you might get at Olive Garden. The fettucine was also slimmer than I’m used to, perhaps a sign of more authentic pasta? In any case, it received a thumbs-up from me. My dinner dates chose the Caesar Salad and the Grilled Chicken Penne Asiago and both received very positive feedback. Since we were so stuffed from Jack Astor’s, we skipped drinks and dessert, but Milestones looks like a good place for longer evenings. My brother’s had frozen drinks here before, and they seem quite delicious.

Loved the ambiance here – really transported me somewhere outside of Canada to a white, tropical paradise.

DEETS: 10 Dundas St. East, 4th floor; www.milestonesrestaurants.com (also a chain, so check the Web site for more locations!)

TO: Jack Astor’s Bar & Grill

Finally, more TO posts!

I might have become slightly slow in updating my blog, but that’s only because I’m so busy experiencing the fabulous social/nightlife of this city. And that only means more exciting posts for Chicato…

Like its sister city of Chicago, Toronto can be enjoyed to its max potential only in the summer. Initially apprehensive about spending my summer in the more “boring” version of Chicago, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the fun, international nature of this city. Sure, it’s a lot smaller than Chicago, but there’s actually lots to do, see, and eat here!

Dundas Square, a mini-Times Square (and a pretty lame attempt, in my opinion) is a good way to experience the city’s eateries from a tourist’s point of view. Located at the top of the AMC in Dundas Square, Jack Astor’s is a pretty typical Canadian mid-priced chain for hamburgers, pastas, Mexican food, etc. Its Yonge & Dundas location is unique for its prime view of downtown Toronto and the famed CN tower. Outdoor patios are huge in Toronto on summer evenings (when it’s not raining, that is) – everyone just wants to grab a couple of drinks and enjoy the much-anticipated sunshine.

Like other Torontonians, I went to Jack Astor’s for Happy Hour, so didn’t get a chance to sample the restaurant’s entrees. Instead, my brother and I split the Lobster and Crap Dip, an extremely rich and indulgent concoction also filled with cream cheese, mushrooms, peppers and onions. Yum! Now with that many delicious (and fatty!) ingredients, it’s hard for a dip not to taste so so good. The “appetizer” was accompanied with nacho chips and warm pita, which made the entire dish extremely filling and satisying.

As for drinks, we started out with Coronas, but I was soon tempted into trying one of the yummy-sounding cocktails on the menu. Now for the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the cocktail I sampled, and the online menu is outdated. So frustrating, because I highly recommend it! My peach-flavored martini was laced with sprinkles of cinnamon on top which saturated the taste of alcohol…very delicious indeed. I’m kicking myself right now for not remembering its name, but I’ll be sure to keep you posted.

Overall, Jack Astor’s is a chill place for post-work, outdoor lounging. We eventually moved to Milestones (a restaurant opposite of Jack Astor’s) for dinner, which probably indicates that Jack Astor’s entrees are so-so. The view from the patio, however, is sweet

DEETS: 10 Dundas St. East, 4th floor; www.jackastors.com (see online for more of Jack Astor’s Toronto locations)