Hi 6688ib.

Here are a few Italian restaurants. They are not inexpensive, but they are not super expensive either. When you say inexpensive...I am not sure what you would be willing to pay, or what you would consider an inexpensive restaurant. You can check out the following webistes, to see what you think of their prices and menu choices.

Terroni

I enjoy the food at Terroni a lot... for the most part it gets very good reviews.

http://www.terroni.ca/

Il Fornello

Some people are not overly fond of Il Fornello, but I have always enjoyed it. They make a great pizza.

http://www.dine.to/ilfornello_king

Messis is a great little restaurant with excellent food.

http://www.messis.ca/menus.html

If you have a chance, check back on previous forum postings in the Toronto forum....there is quite a lot of information regarding other types of restaurants.

Tells us where you are! I checked back through your posts, but cannot figure out where in the city you are. "Central Toronto" covers huge ground, especially if you did end up near Sheppard and Yonge, and there are approx 10,000 restaurants in the City of Toronto! Pls advs.

Inexpensive Chinese - Sushi Inn

Indian - The Host

(both in yorkville)

if you are stuck try Chowhound.com it lists great places all over the city.

If a nice night try College street Bar Italia, Cafe Diplomatico

Greek Town is a great walking area

Baldwin Street

For good chinese dimsum try Pink Pearl at the waterfront (QueensQuay) which is another nice walking area.

Have fun

Uh... Sushi Inn ain't Chinese, duh. It's a cheap and mediocre sushi joint in expensive Yorkville. The Host is a relatively expensive Indian place. Pink Pearl in the Harbourfront Terminal is probably the 2nd most expensive dim sum place in town.

Chinese: check out Chinatown, running north, south and east from Spadina and Dundas. Places I like there: Swatow, Lee Garden, Pho Hung (Vietnamese). Otherwise look for the ones that are full.

Italian: it all depends on what part of town you're in. "Little Italy" is a waste of time. There's little real Italian left there.

Otherwise, check out Indian food at Queen and University: Little India for lunch, and Trimurti for dinner. Thai and Lao across the street from there, at the Queen Mother.

Further recommendations when you tell us where you are.

Hi 6688ib,

Just got back from Toronto with wife and two children. Excellent Chinese resturant in the heart of china town. It's called Lee's Garden on Spadina street. It was recommended by the conceigre at the Hotel Intercontinetal. Great food! Very resonable.

Hot dogs??? Ugh. You can do much better than that.

If you find yourself in the east end of downtown (Jarvis & Front) stop in at the St. Lawrence Market for lunch. You can find all kinds of local specialties and souvenirs to take home too. Try the Peameal bacon on a bun at Carousel bakery (upstairs on the west side) for a local specialty. Further to the back of the building is a pizza & pasta place...never had the pizza, but the pasta & sauces are all made fresh and are reasonably priced. Head downstairs to Mustachio's for a chicken sandwich on a bun with grilled peppers and eggplant. Crepe It Up does really nice crepes (breakfast or lunch) with a fresh salad. Chinese Deli is really good & cheap if you want chinese. You will not leave here hungry. You can also get some really nice fresh fruit for snacks at the produce stalls - usually better than what you see at the large supermarkets in town.

If you don't like crowds, avoid the market between noon and 1:00. It gets flooded with workers from the surrounding area & beyond.

The St Lawrence Market is open Tuesday - Thursday 8 a.m. -- 6 p.m, Friday 8 a.m.- 7 p.m., and Saturday 5 a.m. -- 5 p.m.

There's also an LCBO store (liquor, wine, and some beer) beside the market if you want to pick something up.

As for dinner places, what do you consider inexpensive? How much do you want to spend per person?