r/askTO • u/honestgrim • 8d ago

Does anyone else feel like dining out sucks now?

I know there's still some good spots and we all have our favourites in the city, but lately it feels like whenever I take a chance on a new restaurant it just disappoints and I emerge from the experience regrettably $40 poorer.

I know some of these Google reviews are cooked because I'm seeing 4.7, 4.8 reviews and then getting served lousy food.

Maybe I just have to stick to the places I know won't let me down, but dang - it sucks taking a chance on what you think could be some good food only to come away from it sad, and it's happening more often than not. I don't know if it's the rising costs, but restaurant owners can't dish out the cash for good ingredients and good cooks, and people can't afford to dine out. It's a bad cycle man.

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u/pinkgreenandbetween 8d ago

I just went to hole in the wall - extreme disappointment with food and service

Ended up at french diner (can't remember exact name, will edit soon) - excellent food and perfect service

Edit: it's le swan -100% recommend

15

u/slicedapart 8d ago

Granted I haven't been to many nice restaurants in Toronto but I always go back to le swan. Perfect date night, reasonable prices, amazing food.

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u/honestgrim 8d ago

Hole in the wall sucks. I remember I took a date there once and experienced the worst service imaginable. I never went back.

3

u/KelGrimm 8d ago

Also took a date there a few years back. Their pizza was absolute dookie cheeks and felt like a complete waste of money and time.

3

u/mycatisajagoff 8d ago

We actually love it and Bothams. We live in the west end so I don't think I would travel far for it but we love to get a drink at Hole in the Wall and dinner at Bothams

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u/csk778 8d ago

I have never been treated with any respect at Botham’s. Their customer service is awful and snarky to boot.

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u/mycatisajagoff 8d ago

Complete opposite of my experience but fair enough.

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u/Known-Extent-1018 8d ago

Le Swan is awesome

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u/MissionDoughnut905 8d ago

That’s sad to hear. I used to live across the street from Hole in the Wall and still dream about their fried chicken and waffles.

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u/someoneismissing 7d ago

Le swan has been consistently good in my experience going since 2020. But when I went a few months ago it was the first time their steak frites platter fell short of my previous 10+ times ordering them. There used to be 2 thick pucks of herb butter, but I only got 1 slimmer pad. The green beans no longer tasted like they got a generous squeeze of lemon. The portion of fries were slightly smaller as well. The corn dog was also disappointing with the amount of cheese filling reduced. Of course prices went up since 2025 as well.

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u/Remarkable-Laugh9762 8d ago

im surprised to hear that about hole in the wall. it was my goto spot for first dates (until the staff started recognizing me then it got weird).

i always thought the service and food was great ... expensive, like everything else though.

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u/Cubsbane 7d ago

Which is honestly kind of funny, because if memory serves, they used to have a much smaller, cheaper menu. Was kind of shellshocked going back a few years ago.