LONDON: Food, Coffee, Dining, Etc
 

An official thread to talk about local dining and restaurants and stuff.

City ponders bar limits
 

City ponders bar limits

Thu, May 7, 2009

RICHMOND ROW: City staff will look into limiting new or expanding drinking spots after hearing a presentation from a downtown resident :shrug:


If you want a stiff drink or a beer in downtown London or along Richmond Row, there's no shortage of seats -- including the JLC and hotels, there are 48,847 in all.

But if you're a shopkeeper there who wants to insure a plate glass window, you're out of luck: So many have been broken in drunken acts of vandalism, insurance companies won't issue policies.

Those striking facts, the first gathered by Ontario's Alcohol and Gaming Commission, grabbed the attention yesterday of city hall politicians who asked staff to explore whether it makes sense to place some limits on new or expanding bars across the city.

The request came after a presentation by a resident who lives half a block off Richmond St. Michael Hannay has lived near the Row since 1993, his two kids often the only youthful voices on his block.

A professional planner who helped city hall prepare guidelines for more pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods, he warned the city's planning committee that too much of a good thing -- licensed establishments -- could prove Richmond Row's undoing.




The bars pose two threats, he said.

The first threat is immediate -- they tend to replace retail stores, depressing the attraction of the area during the day. The second is long-term: As the mix of uses changes, the neighbourhood becomes less attractive to residents and merchants,who start to leave.

"We're not talking about closing bars or saying that (bar owner) Mike Smith is wrong, but we're probably reaching a tipping point," Hannay said.

There are about 10,000 bar seats along Richmond from Oxford to York streets.

"That's a problem," he said.

It's not just the total number of bars that concerns Hannay and Coun. Judy Bryant, who represents the downtown ward. Some hold more than 1,000 patrons, creating a restless crowd at closing time at 2 a.m., with no transit buses to take them home.

Hannay and Bryant say their concern is reflected in police statistics that show a rise in the number of calls they get in the two hours after bars close.

That taxes the police and there are other costs too: more ambulances, social services and vandalism to repair.

Bars individually aren't bad, Hannay said, since each adds economic and cultural value to the neighbourhood. But allow too many, and it will come at a cost.

"If the bars are benefitting, it's at the expense of taxpayers," he said.

Not all politicians on the planning committee were convinced -- but they asked staff to prepare a report looking at whether action is needed.

I am inclined to agree. Disclaimer: I love bars (er, I did when I was a bachelor). But Richmond Row has more than enough, and I would like to see more of a mixture of retail.

Grand projects small surplus
 

Wed, June 24, 2009


London's Grand Theatre officials played to an appreciative audience today as they forecast a happy ending to their budget year.

An $8,000 surplus is expected when the fiscal year ends June 30, said the Grand's Deb Harvey.

That's on a budget of $5 million.

"However small it is, a surplus is a positive thing," said Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best during the board of control meeting.

The politicians were pleased enough that they suggested the group's quarterly updates to council be halved and that only a semi-annual update is necessary




Some other city-subsidized arts groups, notably Orchestra London, are struggling to make ends meet, especially as regional and global economies falter.

Harvey said the economic downturn really became noticeable with a decline in single-ticket sales in the first three months of 2009.

But the coming season looks good, as 80 per cent of subscribers have already signed up again.

Also under a campaign urging each subscriber draw in at least one other, 400 new subscribers have signed on.

The theatre has about 5,200 subscribers. "It isn't a hard sell," said Harvey. "In a city of 350,000 there's no reason we can't have 10,000 subscribers."

Has anyone here ever been to Angelo's? Any thoughts on the place?

Ozone Organics gone?
 

I was up in the Hyde Park area today and noticed Ozone Organics had been completely cleaned out, although the sign was still out front and their website is still up. Anybody know anything about what's going on there? There's no sign on their door explaining the situation.

I used to shop at the one on Wonderland North quite a bit but I never dined there. I've heard mixed reviews on the dining experience.

ML Health Unit Inspection Records
 

http://inspection.healthunit.com/

Very interesting stuff to read. Most of the chain restaurants including McDonalds, Starbucks, and Quizno's are in good compliance with little or no critical infractions while some of the local independent eateries have a litany of critical infractions. Most restaurants have good records but a few have 3 or more critical infractions including Schwarma House (Commissioners Road West), Bing's Chinese Buffet in Lambeth, Bernie's Bar & Grill on Adelaide, The Honest Lawyer, Hook's, and International Bakery on Hamilton Road.

They also have every single eatery at Western and Fanshawe listed.

^thanks for the link. I visit many ethnic establishments, and now I can know what my stomach can expect 4 hours after eating.

I've heard from credible sources that two of the four Angelo's locations are gone as of tomorrow. One of the locations closing is inside the lobby of One London Place, which was established in August 2006 after the previous cafe tenant left. The other location closing is the newest location on Wonderland Road South between Southdale and Exeter Roads, which has been open barely four years. I'm also told there have been layoffs at their store on Wonderland Road North.

This can't be good.

^shit. I go to the north wonderland location quite often and it is usually busy.

Food Network to Film at London Restaurant
 

Diners at Relishin Wortley Village may be making a cameo on one of the Food Network's up-coming shows.

The London restaurant will be one of 39 featured in the new show "You've Got to Eat Here"

Filming will take place tomorrow, and the show will air next September -- and despite the cameras, it will be business as usual for dinner.

"As associate producer happened to be at Relish in the first week we were open" said Adam Green, one of the restaurant's owners. "Sat there, ate there, watched the excitement and craziness and loved, loved the burgers and said 'This has got to be one of our places' so it was exciting to see."

Greens says the won't be divulging all of their secrets, but he says they'll be showcasing several delicious recipes from the menu.

The episode will not only feature Relish, but Wortley Village and London as well.

Filming will take 13 hours to complete.

Angelo's update
 

Wonderland North store: CLOSED

http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/11/03/15944776.html

AM980 is also reporting the future of the Thompson Road store is unclear, with employees being guaranteed that they will remain open through this Friday.

A shame, but it seems that the quality had been running downhill over the past 5 years. We used to visit about 2 times per month; now hardly ever (even though it is really close to home)...except for the Focaccia, which was heavenly.

ahhh...just had Massey's again. Is that good Indian food, or is that good Indian Food? Awesome stuff.

Went to the one remaining Angelos store on Thompson Road yesterday. They still had fresh bread, but the deli and shelves were mostly bare. They were supposed to be open for a few hours today. I picked up a loaf of bread and a cake. Admittedly their cakes were the best ones out there, and I will miss those.

Tomorrow (Monday) there is supposed to be an auction of non-perishable inventory at the Wonderland North store. They will likely be auctioning off jars of their propreitary pasta sauce, jars of olives, dry pasta, espresso beans, sauces, salad dressings, coffee filters, and much more. I might drop in and get some pasta sauce.

With the Wonderland Road south store closed, the bakery at nearby Loblaw Great Food (Loblaws) is doing crazy sales. Apparently the shelves are bare and they're rejecting cake orders and whatnot because there's just so many.

That seems to tell me that there was a steady stream of traffic at that Angelo's... not too sure if one thing in particular brought it down.

EDIT: do you know what time the auction is?

First, Angelo's Bakery & Deli closed down. Now, Oscar Taylor's and T.J. Baxter's, a Richmond Row institution for over 20 years, is closed.

I have been to T.J.'s a number of times, most recently about two weeks ago for a beer with an old co-worker. I was also there for the epic gold medal Olympic hockey game during Vancouver 2010.

I should have seen it coming though. When I was there two weeks ago my friend and I didn't end up ordering any food because their prices had gotten way too high compared to what it was just a couple years ago. The food there was good but it wasn't great, not enough to justify the prices they were charging. Also, the service was poor that last time I was there.

^sad to see it go (mostly due to the gaping hole that will be there instead), but I too found the service/quality less than adequate at TJ's. OT's...haven't been. I miss Angelos only for the Foccacia.

I was shocked to hear about TJ's they always seem busy when I am there, especially in the summer with roof top patio.

I really hope the rumor of Jack Astor's buying the building is true as that would fit in nicely downtown. Regardless someone will buy it quickly as it's a prime spot.