Passport's Guide to Ethnic Toronto: Complete Guide to the Many Faces & Cultures of Toronto

Rating:
Summary: Why Toronto is worth visiting
Review: Before I read this book, I (like most Americans) thought of Toronto as "Toronto the Good" -- a clean, safe, boring city. Not so! Toronto is more like a safer version of Chicago--a melting pot full of little ethnic neighborhoods, even a Little Portugal, Little India and a Maltese area (though the latter seems to be gradually fading away), let alone the more normal Jewish, Italian, Chinese, Polish, etc.

Two caveats: (1) A LOT of the restaurants mentioned are closed, so call before you come (2) Ignore the previous reviewer's statement about checking with a concierge, unless you want to go to a generic restaurant--the odds of a concierge being as much of an "ethnic foodie" as the average reader of Ethnic Toronto is approximately 1 in a thousand. (I don't mean this as a slur against concierges--I'm sure the odds are even worse for plumbers or lawyers or any other profession).

Rating:
Summary: Why Toronto is worth visiting
Review: Before I read this book, I (like most Americans) thought of Toronto as "Toronto the Good" -- a clean, safe, boring city. Not so! Toronto is more like a safer version of Chicago--a melting pot full of little ethnic neighborhoods, even a Little Portugal, Little India and a Maltese area (though the latter seems to be gradually fading away), let alone the more normal Jewish, Italian, Chinese, Polish, etc.

Two caveats: (1) A LOT of the restaurants mentioned are closed, so call before you come (2) Ignore the previous reviewer's statement about checking with a concierge, unless you want to go to a generic restaurant--the odds of a concierge being as much of an "ethnic foodie" as the average reader of Ethnic Toronto is approximately 1 in a thousand. (I don't mean this as a slur against concierges--I'm sure the odds are even worse for plumbers or lawyers or any other profession).

Rating:
Summary: A must buy for ethnic food lovers!
Review: Lots of interesting info on Toronto's many ethnic populations with history tips and great maps. Restaurant reviews are somewhat sketchy, but with the help of a good concierge and a quick "walk-by" before going into a restaurant, this book won't steer you wrong!