I have plucked some amazing finds out of the floor-to-ceiling mess that is Javad’s including my amazing tiger-stripe, Kelly Wearstler-style lamps for $10 each: http://stylenorth.ca/blog/2010/04/having-a-wearstler-moment/

Love this spot!! Breakfast is always fun here (except when you have to wait in line!) Alex, one of the servers, is really attentive and makes the experience worthwhile!

I second the post re: Ferro and The Rushton – two of the better restaurants along the St. Clair West strip. I highly recommend heading to either or BOTH – they’re right across the street from one another. The menus feature AMAZING food that is reasonably priced and during patio season, The Rushton is a great pick! :) just a fellow St. Clair West local

I agree that the Rushton shouldn’t have been left out. I’ve lived on the strip for about 10 years, and was really happy when this place ‘came to town’.

About the strange omissions, few people know that in most cases, there is a fee for inclusion. I have no personnal experience of Toronto Life but I know that most publications require membership fees and then more again to be included in any campaign. Those “campaigns” are presented as representing the entire spectrum of availability (i.e. the only restaurants/hotels etc.available in the area)while the reality is that the group promoted represents paying members only. This is true of nearly all “Best of” types of publications. As the best of…. are doing very well on their own and don’t need this type of publicity, they often don’t pay and therefore often don’t appear in such publications/articles etc.

I’d be curious to know from some of the merchants on the strip if that was the case here. In any case this is certainly true of anything to do with the marketing arm of the City of Toronto & their various publications which are misleadingly title “Toronto City Guide” etc. Membership in this organisation is one of the most expensive in the world, last I checked. Things are not what they seem. People should know.

Dear Editors,

So what is your excuse for missing / ignoring two of the best spots? Bad service journalism? How does it help the reader to not mention some of the best places to go in a review like this? Help us understand. We know your listening.

Marline, I heard that there is a lot of politics in the resto biz in TO; summer/winterlicious are a fine example of the City’s idea of “promoting” an array of restos in TO when in fact, there is some unspoken membership involved there as well.

For those who live/hang out in the area – what’s the best place to just grab a drink?

Vivid Pizzeria makes the best pies. by Italians.

It’s not on St. Clair but should be checked out nonetheless Gems Bar on Alberta and Ossington.

Late comment but I still live on the st. clair strip, and as time goes on it is slowly coming back to life after the tracks. I’d like to say to those who are so obsessed with the Rushton/Ferro dynasty… get over it, the service at both is terrible and as a member of the community I choose not to support either. Its time more new business opens up and provides competition which any thriving neighborhood needs in order to grow and sustain its worth.

Anybody know what happened to Filippo’s Restaurant at 744 St. Clair Avenue West?

The place has been in business and thriving since 1988.

I’m gone a few months and the place has vanished.

The place was always busy, so what happened?

why are we only talking about restaurants? Our family just had appointments at the St Claie Eye Clinic. What a place!! We told them how happy we are they joined the neighbourhood. Staff was wonderful. Eye doc very thorough. Toronto Life should truly reflect a neighbourhood and mention services also…either way though, I love this website.

we also went to St Clair Eye Clinic. great to have something that is not a restaurant/dollarstore/bar in the neighbourhood

cool office!

Some good places mentioned but you should travel further west for others, there are many good bakeries butchers and barbers towards Old Weston Road.

Try Sandro for an excellent shave and cut, at St Clair and Laughton ( he spent years in Yorkville prior to coming Westward). Dels baby beef has an eclectic range of meats and cheeses and have butchers on staff with real skill. The list goes on and in from traditional pho to Mitchies jerk chicken ( across from Sandros barber shop)

The point is that there are quality shops to be seen further west, the area is transforming before our eyes.

I agree with Malton that a lot was missed geographically. There is so much more to St. Clair past Oakwood!! I live at St. Clair and Dufferin and love it! It’s articles like this that don’t really help to promote this part of St.Clair, but for the people who live south and north of Dufferin, some places are still very very busy! Malton hit all the right spots, but my personal fav is Sofra Grill! I’m there like at least twice a week and the falafel and shwarma are the best!! My roommate went to the Big Slice b/c the line at Marcello’s was too long, and was very surprised! She really enjoyed it and recommended it to me. The Sunnyside Grill opened up, and its a great alternative to BOOM! I enjoy Boom, but I’m an east coast girl who craves a good simple, semi-greasy breakfast and their pan fries are done on the grill, not fried! Pink on Lauder has great baked goods and I have finally found the best hairdresser in the city at St.Clair and Dufferin, and the price can’t be beat! There is open store fronts for sure, but they have been renovated and I think there is so much potential to make all of St. Clair West the best strip north of Bloor! I think some of the open store fronts past Oakwood would do well with a great independant book store, its a great community that’s for sure!