[miketoronto]

Forget all these stores that can be found in every mall and country in the world. Which Canadian stores do you like to spend your money in ?

My favourite would have to be Maison Simons in Quebec. Great unique clothing that can not be found anywhere else, local company that cares about the places they do business in, and they only have a couple stores. And the customer service is great. I do about 50% or more of my clothes shopping at Simons.
http://www.simons.ca/Ressource/images/common/LogoClient.gif
Photo thanks to www.simons.ca

Ogilvy Montreal
Another great legendary Canadian store. This has to be the most classy and well put together department store in Canada.
http://www.ogilvycanada.com/images/content/rh_service_services.jpg
Photo thanks to www.ogilycanada.com

[Architype]

Mark's Work Wearhouse for "ordinary" clothing stuff. The quality is good and not too pricey.

[Boreal]

Hudson's Bay Company. Not only is it my favourite Canadian store, it is my favourite store, period. Nearly a one-stop shop for most of my clothing tastes/desires. Prices are reasonable - particularly when sales are on (which is much of the time) and if you have an HBC Rewards card.

I also have a soft spot for McDiarmid Lumber. Although, I don't understand why all Canadian lumber and home renovation outlets (McDiarmid, Rona, Windsor Plywood) feel the need to have their lumber yard outside, upon which you pay BEFORE you get to see the stock of wood. McDiarmid Lumber is however a store that only exists in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Northwestern Ontario. Definitely come check it out if you're into tools, home renovation, etc. It's pretty good.

I used to like Music World as well, before they went under. Their prices were always excellent when compared to HMV, and were competitive or cheaper than Wal-Mart nearly 100% of the time.

I'm beginning to warm up to Bulk Barn, as well.

*list excludes numerous Winnipeg-based boutique shops.

[feepa]

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/971/canadiantirelogo8776273ps1.jpg

[Montréalais]

Apple store, Montreal

http://images.apple.com/ca/fr/retail/images/store_photos/photo_saintecatherine.jpg

[401_King]

Holt Renfrew, harry rosen

[LeftCoaster]

Apple store, Montreal

http://images.apple.com/ca/fr/retail/images/store_photos/photo_saintecatherine.jpg

Apple isn't Canadian, but thanks for playing.

[jlousa]

Since Canadian Tire is already there, I'll throw in Timmy's as it's now Canadian again and this topic doesn't exclude restaurants. :tup:

[Ayreonaut]

...but this thread is about "favourites". :shrug:

[ErickMontreal]

This is certainly not Tim Horton !

La Maison Simons (Downtown Montreal, Québec city) ::
Simons.ca

Alternative Sport (Rimouski, Québec) ::
Alternative113.com

[Rico Rommheim]

Tim Horton's tastes like shit. The national infatuation with that garbage dump is a disgrace.

I don't have a favorite store, which explains why I dress like a complete hobo.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Canadian Tire. The place looks like a disaster, the checkouts are so small you it's difficult to buy anything other than a roll of duct tape and there's only ever one checkout open so you'll be lining up for at least twenty minutes. But, dammit, where else can you get board game money back on your purchases? Or buy snow tires, some dinner plates and a nail gun.

[SpongeG]

i hate the old can tires - the new ones are so big and spacious - at least here they are

i don't know about canadian owned stores hmm

i like lee valley tools - you can spend a while looking at all the little things they have

http://www.leevalley.com/

[harls]

Erotica Plus, Eddy Street, downtown Hull.

[niwell]

Simon's is a great place and I wish they had one here.

At this point in my life (broke) my favourite Canadian store is probably Value Village. If I had more money I'm sure I'd enjoy smaller boutique stores too.

For non-clothing stores I'm pretty into places like:
-Suspect Video, Toronto's best video store which is unfortunately down to one location due to the Queen/Bathurst fire
-Soundscapes, Rotate This and Sonic Boom, great music stores in Toronto. And CD Warehouse in Ottawa because I used to work there!
-Local restaurants of which there are too many to mention
-Bridgehead coffee, the BEST coffee in Ottawa which needs to expand here

[vid]

I don't have a favorite store, which explains why I dress like a complete hobo.

:tup:

Shopping is a sin!

[JBinCalgary]

Holt Renfrew, harry rosen

sorry boss

[MolsonExport]

I have none.

[harls]

^ what about THE BAY?

[vid]

Can one get to THE BAY using only GO TRANSIT?

[PhilippeMtl]

Au Bon marché

huzOHxjMDxk

[le calmar]

^Au Bon Marché is not bad, but Bains et céramiques Robert Villemaire remains my favorite store... A Sherbrooke's exclusivity though.

2UL1XrNxwK4&feature=related

PS: "Nos ordinateuwrs assuwrent la pwrecision"!

[MolsonExport]

Au Bon marché

huzOHxjMDxk

YES!!!!! nous avons les meilleurs prix!

these guys were the best!!! World's cheesiest commercials, ever!!

[DizzyEdge]

Canadian Tire. The place looks like a disaster, the checkouts are so small you it's difficult to buy anything other than a roll of duct tape and there's only ever one checkout open so you'll be lining up for at least twenty minutes. But, dammit, where else can you get board game money back on your purchases? Or buy snow tires, some dinner plates and a nail gun.

And their website is great, places for customer ratings, comments, and to ask questions about the products. Cdn Tire is like the Bay, if you try to keep most of your shopping to what's 30%+ off that week, it's a steal.

[harls]

Haha.. Au bon Marché is excellent cheese, but what about the Kern Hill Furniture Co-op guy? (may he RIP)

i866jNqowd0

R6CUi-A3dGM

There were other ones that featured his son in a bowler hat, but I couldn't find them on Youtube.

[You Need A Thneed]

Mountain Equipment Co-op.

[240glt]

^ otherwise known as the best store in the world

I love MEC

[Kevin_foster]

MEC for sure.

The MEC on 124st, Edmonton is probably my favorite place to go shopping.

A few other canadian favorites:
- Second Cup
- Booster Juice
- Holt Renfrew
- Running Room

[drew]

but what about the Kern Hill Furniture Co-op guy? (may he RIP)

i866jNqowd0

R6CUi-A3dGM

There were other ones that featured his son in a bowler hat, but I couldn't find them on Youtube.

Classic.

I remember reading somewhere that Nick Hill (the guy in the commercials) actually played in the NHL way back.

[DHLawrence]

Can one get to THE BAY using only GO TRANSIT?

Depends which one and whether you're on a GO line already :P

[Rusty van Reddick]

MEC, Coast Mountain, Lululemon, Jugo Juice, Caffe Artigiano, Roots

[Denscity]

MEC, Coast Mountain, Lululemon, Jugo Juice, Caffe Artigiano, Roots

Most of those are from Vancouver.

[Xelebes]

Long & McQuade Music
Mothers Music
BCom Computers :cool:

[Metro-One]

I hope i am not banned for this, but my favorite is lulu lemon. Simply because the asian girls in Vancouver look so goooooood in those pants, i thank lulu lemon everyday! Makes university and going to the gym a pleasure! Oh boy, i am expecting a big delete on this one, but i am just being honest!

[highdensitysprawl]

YES!!!!! nous avons les meilleurs prix!

these guys were the best!!! World's cheesiest commercials, ever!!


What vintage are those commercials.....Quebec mullets and guys who look like they don't want to wear a suit.....can you say fromage Quebecoise...,

[Metro-One]

My second choice after the Lulu-lemon (as stated above) is Dodd's Furniture and Mattress on vancouver Island. Dodd is a bright light in a sea of commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM6r5cp3Nl4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7_JLqKnL6U

[Rusty van Reddick]

Most of those are from Vancouver.

Coast Mountain=Forzani=Calgary; Jugo Juice=Calgary, Roots=Toronto- only Lululemon and Artigiano are Vancouver AFAIK. Not sure about MEC.

[SpongeG]

last time i checked vancouver was in canada

lol

[MsMe]

Chapters is one of my favourite stores. :)

[MolsonExport]

What vintage are those commercials.....Quebec mullets and guys who look like they don't want to wear a suit.....can you say fromage Quebecoise...,

Indeed, but they are not french-quebecois...they are very well know Anglo-Jewish quebecois (the Shiller family, Stephen, David, and the younger putz). Who have since gone on to form "Blinds to Go".

[MolsonExport]

I hope i am not banned for this, but my favorite is lulu lemon. Simply because the asian girls in Vancouver look so goooooood in those pants, i thank lulu lemon everyday! Makes university and going to the gym a pleasure! Oh boy, i am expecting a big delete on this one, but i am just being honest!

YOu are only not banned because of your reason (Asian babes in Vancouver :tup: )

[LeftCoaster]

Coast Mountain=Forzani=Calgary; Jugo Juice=Calgary, Roots=Toronto- only Lululemon and Artigiano are Vancouver AFAIK. Not sure about MEC.

MEC is definetly out of vancouver. Didn't know Forzani was out of Calgary, just always assumed with a name like Forzani it would be out of toronto. Good to know.

Artigiano is amazing, are there any outside of Vancouver? I have never noticed any in Calgary or Toronto, but it has been over 6 months since I have been to either and Artigiano has been expanding quite a bit since then.

[240glt]

MEC did indeed spring out of that one big store just off Broadway.

I thought Coast Mountain was out of BC too.... I don't like CMS. I find them overpriced and the gear they peddle isn't the best... I find it more of a yuppie store than an outdoors store.

[S_B_Russell]

LONDON DRUGS! I miss having one down the street.

[240glt]

I used to really like Radio Shack before Circuit City took them over. They had lots of neat electrical components for building things. I've still got the home made inverter I built out of Radio Shack circuitry and components

[Me&You]

MEC is definetly out of vancouver. Didn't know Forzani was out of Calgary, just always assumed with a name like Forzani it would be out of toronto. Good to know.

Artigiano is amazing, are there any outside of Vancouver? I have never noticed any in Calgary or Toronto, but it has been over 6 months since I have been to either and Artigiano has been expanding quite a bit since then.

Forzani was a former Calgary Stampeder football player and the business is based in Calgary.

There is an Artigiano in DT Calgary and I believe another is on the way...

[Rusty van Reddick]

MEC is definetly out of vancouver. Didn't know Forzani was out of Calgary, just always assumed with a name like Forzani it would be out of toronto. Good to know.

Artigiano is amazing, are there any outside of Vancouver? I have never noticed any in Calgary or Toronto, but it has been over 6 months since I have been to either and Artigiano has been expanding quite a bit since then.

Caffe Artigiano opened in Calgary in the Centrium Building, 6th Ave/3 St SW, last January. Its second location, two blocks north in the Shell Centre, should be open in the next month or so. They have no current plans to open in Toronto, but they've definitely expanded out of Vancouver.

[LeftCoaster]

Well that's great news for calgary. Artigiano is hands down my favourite chain coffee house, and often competes with some of teh smaller one off coffee houses in both quality and atmosphere. To anyone who hasn't been I highly reccomend it.

Also my guess is that Coast Mountain started in BC but was bought out by Forzani, that is the only way I can explain the name.

[raggedy13]

According to the Forzani website, they acquired Coast Mountain in June 2000. It was five stores at the time... though it doesn't say where they were located. Can anybody recall a Coast Mountain in your area from before 2000?

source: http://www.forzanigroup.com/Coastmountain.aspx?selected=coast

And MEC was founded in Vancouver 1971.

source: http://ca.travel.yahoo.com/guides/Vancouver/514/vancouverwhere-to-shop

[raggedy13]

Purdy's Chocolates is another ubiquitous Vancouver establishment. Not sure how common it is outside Vancouver but the vast majority of chocolate boxes I've ever eaten from have definitely been Purdy's and it is inescapable come Easter.

[LeftCoaster]

Purdy's is from Vancouver? no way I thought they were some big american chain?

[Me&You]

Purdy's is from Vancouver? no way I thought they were some big american chain?

Purdy's has a large facility on Kingsway (?)...

Speaking of Canadian chocolates, Bernard Callebaut is out of Calgary also...

[Scruff Bucket]

I'm always impressed by Mondo Gelato on Robson St., Vancouver. They are ALWAYS busy -- I don't know if they close for the night, there's no store hours posted, and we (my wife and I) passed by at something like 1 am (or later (?!)) one Spring night! It's definitely one of my favourites!

[Scruff Bucket]

My Grandma loves Roger's Chocolates from Victoria! Shhh! Don't tell her I prefer Bernard Callebaut!

[Rusty van Reddick]

Also my guess is that Coast Mountain started in BC but was bought out by Forzani, that is the only way I can explain the name.

Well, the name could be misleading- look at "Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory" :haha:

Not a single location IN the Rockies, and its HQ is in Burnaby!

[Jay in Cowtown]

Purdy's Chocolates is another ubiquitous Vancouver establishment.


mmmmmm... yummy Hedgehogs... ahhhhhh

I'm pretty sure Kernels Popcorn is Canadian... so there's my pick.

[Scruff Bucket]

I almost forgot T & T Supermarket, Canada's largest Asian supermarket chain. They started in Burnaby, B.C., spread out over Vancouver and area, and in recent years, expanded to Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto. They have plenty of domestic and asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and others) fresh produce and grocery items, lots of fresh seafood and deli-prepared foods, like various fresh-baked chinese pastry and dessert items, hot foods (Dim Sum, BBQ pork, duck, etc.), prepared sushi, and then some! It appears there's lots of Taiwanese and U.S. investment, too. And it seems we end up there a lot when we're in those cities. :D

[Metro-One]

Purdy's is based in Vancouver, not American at all

[SpongeG]

I'm always impressed by Mondo Gelato on Robson St., Vancouver. They are ALWAYS busy -- I don't know if they close for the night, there's no store hours posted, and we (my wife and I) passed by at something like 1 am (or later (?!)) one Spring night! It's definitely one of my favourites!

its nothing compared to casa gelato in east van

a light crowd

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_IhtnirAVkaw/RsfN-6v_SsI/AAAAAAAABa8/nPgXijcqGgE/_MG_1964.jpg
source (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3mcYkx0rGX3X4p1bmlQfBw)

http://www.mike.geiger.ca/blog/uploads/photos/200707/Mondo.jpg
source - mike geiger (http://www.mike.geiger.ca/blog/index.php?/categories/16-Vancouver-2007)

[Stanzmastertron3000]

Long & McQuade and Steves Music in Ottawa are nice. Haven't been to the TO or Montreal locations.

Steves has the nice busy location on Rideau, it's a fun place to go to with a cool vibe, stuck up clerks like all music stores, but they are some funny bastards. Long and McQuade is too much of a pain in the ass to go that far south in Ottawa, but they eclipse Steves in amount of gear (Can't get a Jaguar or Jazzmaster, Steves? Eat my sack) and better techs.

[worldwide]

Mountain Equipment Co-op.

yes! exactly what i was going to say...

where else can you shop for puncture resistant kevlar lined tires (in every size) straight off the shelf, and get a toblerone bar all in one go?

[SpongeG]

how much is a MEC membership?

never set foot inside a store

[ReginaGuy]

Long & McQuade and Steves Music in Ottawa are nice. Haven't been to the TO or Montreal locations.

Steves has the nice busy location on Rideau, it's a fun place to go to with a cool vibe, stuck up clerks like all music stores, but they are some funny bastards. Long and McQuade is too much of a pain in the ass to go that far south in Ottawa, but they eclipse Steves in amount of gear (Can't get a Jaguar or Jazzmaster, Steves? Eat my sack) and better techs.

I hate Long and McQuade, but only because most of the people who work at the Regina location are douche bags.

saint johns music > long and mcquade

even if it's more expensive

[Scruff Bucket]

Long & McQuade and Steves Music in Ottawa are nice. Haven't been to the TO or Montreal locations.

Long & McQuade in Regina rebuilt their store (bigger) from scratch (on the adjacent lot north of their old location not too long ago (5-10 years, thereabouts ??!!)), alongside their academy of music instruction/education centre. They`re pretty nice, too, but I tend to like B-Sharp Music in town.

MEC is great for hiking, biking supplies and outdoor everyday/seasonal-wear clothing.

[Evergrey]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/188006741_845700a960.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2220/2300867791_f07f70fb8d.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/53226785_38964dfddc.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2910425048_db3e9659c4.jpg?v=0

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/ad/SuperstoreCalgary.jpg

[Stanzmastertron3000]

Tim Hortons is a national embarrassment. Starbucks may be everywhere south of the border, but you don't see any level of delusional pride associated with coffee and doughnuts anywhere but Canada.

And "always fresh" my fucking ass. More like often stale.

[niwell]

^Seriously, who likes Tim Horton's??

I was always shocked the last summer when in the food court of Metro Hall the Tim Horton's would have a 5 minute lineup while the Timothy's and Treats would be empty. Granted, the latter aren't great, but they're better than Tim Horton's! And run semi-independently for what it's worth.

The owner at that Timothy's actually ended up recognizing my co-workers and I, which was a nice change from the usual Tim Horton's suburban monotony.

[Evergrey]

Tim Horton's... :slob:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/45938122_0d9a921fdc.jpg?v=0

infinitely superior to Krispy Kreme's goopy diarrhea-esque donuts here in the U.S.

[Elmira Guy]

Tim Horton's... :slob:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/45938122_0d9a921fdc.jpg?v=0

infinitely superior to Krispy Kreme's goopy diarrhea-esque donuts here in the U.S.

That's for sure! Krispy Kreme set up here a few years ago, and it was heralded as the death knell for Tim Horton's. In just over a year Krispy Kreme was gone.

Tim Horton's is the McDonald's of coffee. Not especially good, but you generally know what to expect.

Starbucks is vile on so many levels, mostly due to the elitist yuppie aspects.

Personally, I like Second Cup.

[vid]

I don't understand how Tim Horton's donuts are better. They're always soggy when I go there.. Their walnut crunch is especially bad. Also, they don't have Persians or pizza pretzels.

How a coffee shop has survived in this city without selling Persians and pizza pretzels is beyond me.

And every time I see that picture of Superstore I think its the one here. It's the exact. Same. Design. Right down the parking layout.

[1ajs]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2559551289_a17bee982b_o.jpg

[1ajs]

I don't understand how Tim Horton's donuts are better. They're always soggy when I go there.. Their walnut crunch is especially bad. Also, they don't have Persians or pizza pretzels.

How a coffee shop has survived in this city without selling Persians and pizza pretzels is beyond me.

And every time I see that picture of Superstore I think its the one here. It's the exact. Same. Design. Right down the parking layout.
winnipeg has varity in the design of ours each one has a slightly difrent layout inside hell one of them even has underground parking


i rather have a robbins donut then a tims not as rich as the tims witch i hate... also times does not take interact witch is a big turn off but then robbins does not either so i rarely go there anyways

btw isn't tims owned by an amarican company wendies?

[vid]

Wendy's sold Tim Horton's because financially viable operations aren't their thing.

Coffee shops don't have Interac because, somehow, they figure old people digging in purses for exact change is faster then pressing a few buttons. :shrug:

[1ajs]

one of my friends used to work at tims and i complained about that and he told me aparently it slows down the line :shrug:

[Me&You]

Wendy's sold Tim Horton's because financially viable operations aren't their thing.

Coffee shops don't have Interac because, somehow, they figure old people digging in purses for exact change is faster then pressing a few buttons. :shrug:

I hate to admit that I was recently there, but I used Interac last weekend at a Tim's here... :yuck:

[vid]

Yeah, I went to a Tim's back in October (I got a Tim's Card. Yeah, someone hates me that much. And yes, it did come from Ottawa.) and was surprised to see Interac, just the pay pass thing though.

[jeremy_haak]

how much is a MEC membership?

never set foot inside a store

I think it's a one-time $5 payment to become a member.

[jeremy_haak]

I'm quite fond of MEC as a concept, but having none nearby, my loyalty lies with Adventure Guide (http://www.advguide.com) in Waterloo. It's not as large, but their selection is good, and they have knowledgable staff, at least in the areas I care about.

My Dad is a huge fan of Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.ca).

[kirjtc2]

CD Plus. It's amazing how wide their selection is compared to the crappy HMV here.

[Rathgrith]

Tristan (http://www.tristanstyle.com/)

[Jay in Cowtown]

Tim Hortons is a national embarrassment. Starbucks may be everywhere south of the border, but you don't see any level of delusional pride associated with coffee and doughnuts anywhere but Canada.

And "always fresh" my fucking ass. More like often stale.

Aside from the odd breakfast biscuit and double-double craving... I rarely will go slum it at a Tim Hortons, especially when the drive-thru is 20 cars deep.

[harls]

^Seriously, who likes Tim Horton's??

I was always shocked the last summer when in the food court of Metro Hall the Tim Horton's would have a 5 minute lineup while the Timothy's and Treats would be empty. Granted, the latter aren't great, but they're better than Tim Horton's! And run semi-independently for what it's worth.

The owner at that Timothy's actually ended up recognizing my co-workers and I, which was a nice change from the usual Tim Horton's suburban monotony.

I never understood that either. When I used to work in Toronto (near the food court at the Scotia tower), the Tim Hortons there was always full of people, while other, dare I say better tasting coffee places nearby were near empty. Just goes to show how addictive their coffee is. I'm positive the rims of their cups are lined with smack.

The line ups at the drive-thrus are ridiculous as well. The one near my place in Aylmer actually causes severe traffic congestion on the main highway into town.

[vid]

It isn't that they're putting something in the coffee to make it addictive, it's the people haven't gotten familiar with the better local places and just don't go there. They probably think "Hey, I should go there someday" but they never do.

Most of those people are probably also from the suburbs.

[harls]

It's true. People go there because it's familiar, they know what they're going to get.. just like you can go into any McDonald's in the world and feel like you're still at home.

that's part of the appeal of the place.. that comfort of familiarity. Monoculture at its finest.

[jeremy_haak]

I used to avoid Tim Horton's like the plague, but after many long drives between Waterloo and Wiarton late at night, Tim Horton's proved to be the only thing to sustain me from little town to little town. After awhile, you get used to it, and actually enjoy it. And it's cheap.

[worldwide]

you get used to it, and actually enjoy it. And it's cheap.


yep.

although it used to be cheaper.

i do enjoy the odd long americano but sometimes you cant beat a good old tims cup of coffee. at 1.25 for a medium you cant go wrong

[miketoronto]

Tim Hortons does actually put something in their coffee to make people crave it.

[Rico Rommheim]

Ha ha Au Bon Marche, is it still around??? And props to the pitchmen for going at it in french!

[401_King]

i also like Harveys & swiss chalet once in a blue moon

[Rico Rommheim]

Harvey's is the only major chain fast food joint hamburger I can tolerate.

[jeffwhit]

I second T&T.

Also I do enjoy Harvey's, and once upon a time, A&B Sound.

[SpongeG]

tim hortons is cheap - that works in its favor

[agrant]

I've heard a lot of praise for Harvey's... unfortunately for me, the only Harvey's around here that I can think of is in a Home Depot miles from where I live. It's more like a hamburger stand within a huge warehouse. Maybe next time when I'm buying tools...

[vid]

Tim Hortons does actually put something in their coffee to make people crave it.

Yes, it's called "caffeine". HEY-O!! :whip:

No Harvey's here, it closed about 8 years ago and is now a Tim Horton's. Attached to that is a Swiss Chalet. I've always associated Swiss Chalet with poor service and raw quarter chickens, and have thanked God that my life doesn't taste only as good as that.

Swiss Chalet will be moving one block east in a few months though, maybe Harvey's will take its place?

Also: Lululemon just opened a store here. In downtown Fort William, of all places.

[Scruff Bucket]

I've heard a lot of praise for Harvey's... unfortunately for me, the only Harvey's around here that I can think of is in a Home Depot ...

Yeah, likewise, our only Harvey's was located at Home Depot, but is gone now. (I think it's a Subway now or other sandwich-lunch take-out place) There's not even a Harvey's at our second Home Depot location in North Regina.

Speaking of hamburger joints, anybody tried Lick's Hamburger and Ice Cream in Toronto area? And while on the subject of Ontario companies, Pizza Pizza is pretty good, too (and they were here briefly at the U of Regina some years ago as well). It seems a few years ago, they've gone to a more bready crust that my wife isn't too fond of. She's more partial to Papa Ceo and Cora Pizza, located side by side near U of Toronto. But us prairie guys still like our Houston, Western and Panago Pizzas. Even though pizzas out west tend to be smaller for a corresponding size than in the east (think Costco-size pizza slices for eastern-sized pizza!), I think our western pizzas tend to be filled or stuffed more. :slob: :yes:

Some of my favourite, other Canadian restaurants are Jack Astor's (Toronto, Calgary), Cheesecake Cafe (Calgary, Edmonton), Bolero (All-you-can-eat Brazilian restaurant, featuring almost all kinds of spit-skewered BBQ'd meats, and grilled vegetables, including a more-than-just-a salad bar, in Calgary), Lumiere, Provence (Vancouver), any gelato places I can find (Mario's, Mondo, Vancouver), and, of course, any all-you-can-eat Chinese food buffets (Starwalk, Toronto) or sushi (Richmond Sushi, Vancouver (Richmond), Sushi BBQ Inn, Calgary, Miso Ya, Wasabi, Regina), Hong Kong-styled Chinese restaurants (Dickens, Toronto, Honolulu Cafe, Vancouver), Korean (Spice Alley, Vancouver, Korea House, Regina) and East Indian (Royal India Cuisine, Calgary, Flavours of India, Regina)!!

Oh, yes. For cupcakes, Cupcakes (Vancouver), Crave, Buttercream Bake Shoppe (Calgary)

Hey! Please let me know of other places we can try out there in Canada-Land!! :D

Swiss Chalet will be moving one block east in a few months though, maybe Harvey's will take its place?

Also: Lululemon just opened a store here. In downtown Fort William, of all places.

Too bad we lost our Swiss Chalet years ago. And our closest Lululemon is in S’toon! My wife loves both those places!

[vid]

Pizza Pizza isn't too bad, it's no greasy, but none of the chain pizza places are really pizza, when you consider pizza to be paper thin crust with vegetables and ham on top of it. :shrug:

And this barbaric "eating with your hands" thing... :koko:

[kirjtc2]

I don't get what people like about Pizza Pizza...it's pretty bland (then again, most chains are bland). They used to have one at UNB too, though I've also had it in Toronto and it's slightly better there.

Greco and Pizza Delight are the two big regional chains in the Maritimes....they're both fairly good but I prefer Greco. Though my favourite of all is Luna, a local place in Fredericton...if you're there though, get a whole pizza instead of the half-baked heat-lamp slices.

[Rumors]

Costco, Futureshop. :cool:

[Andy6]

One of the oddest fast-food franchise stories is Winnipeg's Chicken Delight chain. It is the remnant of what was once the largest fast-food franchise operation in North America, founded in Illinois in 1952. The American operations declined in the late 60s and 70s and now there are just a handful of U.S. locations. The company's famous jingle, "Don't Cook Tonight...Call Chicken Delight", dates from an era where the concept of fast-food and delivery of food still required a bit of explanation.

The Chicken Delight story is discussed here (http://theyalwayscomeback.blogspot.com/2008/01/chicken-delight.html).

[manny_santos]

I've found Tim Hortons coffee is a lot more bitter than it used to be, just within the last couple of weeks. Maybe it's just because I've been drinking tons of it with exams right now.

Pizza Pizza is alright, but the quality varies vastly from one location to another. The one at King's College, operated by Aramark is awful. They even use a conveyor toaster oven to cook the pizzas, and the slices are usually stale and cold.

We don't have Pizza Delight in London but I've been to the one in nearby Strathroy, and it was excellent. I've heard their quality can vary quite a bit, at least in Southern Ontario. Stobie's is a pizza institution in London, especially after the bars close...nothing like waiting in a lineup of 30 people at 2:30 AM to get a slice for over $4. I like Pizza Hut and Domino's, but I much prefer pizza from some of the local places.

I enjoy Harvey's and A&W, but I'm not a huge fan of the other burger places. I also like Taco Villa, Taco del Mar, Quizno's, and Manchu Wok.

Has anyone tried Bourbon Street Grill? Any good?