The Annex

The Annex has a high concentration of vegetarian restaurants and natural food stores. This area centred along Bloor, stretches from Spadina to Christie and from Dupont down to Harbord.

Annapurna – k c d
1085 Bathurst St, 416-537-8513
www.annapurna.ca
~~South Indian and macrobiotic dishes since 1974. Soy, yogurt, fruit shakes, chai and desserts.
››› Annapurna is the oldest vegetarian eatery in Ontario opened in 1974. Expanded seating with a clean fresh look after a recent renovation. South Indian specialties, many vegan and macrobiotic entrees. Soy, fruit, yogurt shakes, over a dozen bottled natural juices/drinks, and desserts include vegan selections. Alcohol-free.
     Nutrition Consultation by appointment. Full course for two including taxes – under $30.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Tue 11:30am- 9pm, Wed 11:30am to 6pm, Thu-Sun 11:30am- 9pm. Closed Sun. Call for holiday hours during April & August.

The Annex HodgePodge – d
258 Dupont St. (e. of Spadina), 416-513-1333, wwww.theannexhodgepodge.com
››› Located on the North side of Dupont and Spadina, The Annex HodgePodge is quickly earning a great reputation for its fresh Vegan and Vegetarian offerings. This mom and pop style café offers gourmet soups, innovative salads, freshly squeezed juices, wraps, desserts and grilled sandwiches. Best vegetarian catering in Toronto.
~~Tiny cafe with four counter seats. Vegan options include: four different kinds of roti, all their soups, wraps, desserts and more.
~~Was entirely vegetarian in 2008 but switched to including grilled meat sandwiches and meat-based chili.
~

Butler’s Pantry Cafe – k L
591 Markham St (s. of Bloor), 416-535-9868
www.butlerspantry.ca
~~Popular neighbourhood spot with a good variety of vegetarian options – spinach nut pie, vegetarian lasagna, zucchini pancakes, & veggie curry pie. There are also two vegan entrees. Amazing selection of desserts (most contain dairy). Large outdoor patio. Smoking is allowed only when the canopy is rolled up.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Fri 11am-midnight, Sat 10am-late, Sun 10am-11pm.

By the Way Cafe – L c d
400 Bloor St W (at Brunswick), 416-967-4295
~~Vegetarian specials, tabouli, veggie burgers, falafel. Large patio on Bloor.
~~Hours: open late.

v Fresh on Bloor – k o L ç d
326 Bloor St W, 416-531-2635
www.freshrestaurants.ca
~~Trendy and popular. Signature rice bowls, veggie burgers, sweet potato fries, exotic juices, smoothies and much more. Weekend brunch.
››› Located steps from Yorkville, the Royal Ontario Museum, U of T and Chinatown. Award-winning boutique chain of vegetarian restaurants with two national best-selling cookbooks and a third just-released this year. Innovative, healthy, and colourful dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world. Extensive gourmet juice bar with fresh squeezed fruit and vegetable juices, power shakes and energy elixirs. A favourite haunt for visiting celebrities. Weekend vegan brunch specials. Open 7 days a week until 10 pm. Biodegradable take-out containers.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Fri 11:30am-10pm Sat-Sun 10:30am-10pm.

Kensington Natural Bakery & Cafe – L d
460 Bloor St W (e. of Bathurst), 416-534-1294
~~Low key bakery and cafe. Many vegan desserts plus lasagna, tofu burgers, noodle, rice and stir fry dishes. Food is heated using a microwave oven.
~~Fresh squeezed juice and several teas are available. Full pies for sale including: berry, tofu cheese cake and pecan. During the holiday season they make vegan fruit cake. They wholesale to many locations around Toronto.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): daily 9am-10pm.

Laila – L d
553 Bloor St W (e. of Bathurst), 416-588-0199
www.hyperadvantage.com/laila
~~Middle Eastern cuisine. Famous for their falafel. Many vegan items. Open very late.
~~Hours: daily 10:30am-2:30am.

v LIVE – Organic Food Bar – O L
264 Dupont St (at Spadina), 416-515-2002
www.livefoodbar.com
~~Stylish raw food gourmet restaurant with cooked options in macrobiotic and Aryuvedic cuisine. Full juice menu and awesome raw desserts. Backyard patio.
››› Live, Toronto's premier organic raw food restaurant. Most menu options are gluten-free! We specialize in pure, non-processed, and sugar-free foods. Spectacular liquid menu as well as scrumptious desserts to soothe your body, mind, and soul! Let Live cater your next special occasion. LIVE it UP!
~~Open late. Menu changes seasonally with selection of daily specials. Brunch is served on Sundays from 10am-3pm followed by regular menu. Raw snacks and sweets are available for purchase.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Wed 11am-10pm, Thu-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm.

Magic Oven – o L d
270 Dupont St (at Spadina), 416-928-1555
www.magicoven.com
~~Gourmet pizza restaurant plus pastas, salads and appetizers. Many veg and vegan options.
››› Award-winning Toronto-based restaurant chain that serves alternative pizza with fresh, local and organic ingredients, free of additives and preservatives. The pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches can be made to accommodate a variety of dietary concerns for wheat and gluten free diets and those with vegan and lactose-free diets. The food looks good, tastes good and nourishes your body. Organic and craft beer and wine is also available.
    www.MagicOven.com
    Full service, licensed restaurant with seating for 65. Discount cardholders are eligible to receive a 10% discount.
~~

v One Love Vegetarian – o
854 Bathurst St., 416-535-5683
www.oneloveveg.com
~~One Love Caribbean Corn Soup, roti, plantain, salad, vegan desserts, daily specials and fresh juice.Corn Soup at Harbourfront Centre weekends June-Sept.
››› Caribbean and international vegan cuisine. Our claim to fame is One Love Corn Soup as seen on the Food Network. Look for us at our new restaurant at 854 Bathurst St. and at Harbourfront Centre on weekends only June- Sept.
~~They received a glowing review on blogTO July 9, 2009 http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/one-love-vegetarian-cafe
    
    When I was there the specials were Curried Lima Bean Stew and carrot apple ginger juice. I had the whole wheat roti and it was amazing. Ask for slices of hot pepper if you like it spicy. Over half of the ingredients are organic. Still to come is their front signage and real plates and glasses for those eating in. Owners, Ikeila and Ras have five vegetarian children. Their oldest daughter works with them. Their youngest is ten. – Steve
     Steven Davy at NOW writes: "For the past 10 summers, anyone who’s ever had a single mouth-singing spoonful of Ras Iville and Ikeila Wright’s righteous island-style One Love corn soup at Harbourfront’s World Café food court has almost instantly said, 'You should open a restaurant!'" And now they finally have.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Tue-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Closed Sun, Mon.

v Sunny Cafe – O d
322 Bloor St W (inside Noah’s), 416-963-8624
~~A small eating counter (inside Noah's Natural Food store) with 20 vegan dishes prepared fresh daily and sold by weight. Desserts, fresh juices, sandwiches. Local and organic.
~~They also serve homemade, burgers, spring rolls and soup. No sugar, eggs or dairy. Local organic ingredients are used as much as possible. Many items are macrobiotic.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, Sat 11am-5pm.

Fiesta Farms – O
200 Christie St (n. of Bloor), 416-537-1235
www.localfoodplus.ca/Fiesta.htm
~~www.localfoodplus.ca/Fiesta.htmFiesta Farms is the first big store in Ontario to sign on with Local Food Plus, a non-profit that certifies food as "sustainable" which means it was produced in Ontario in a way that's gentle on the environment and strict on worker and animal rights.
~~Lloyd from Treehugger.com visited in October and reports: "Six different kinds of Ontario apples (didn't know there were so many!), dozens of different vegetables, local and organic food and everything from Ontario clearly labelled."

Health Valley – d (not on map)
390 Bloor St W (w. of Spadina), 416-963-9695

Karma Co-op (member-owned) – O
739 Palmerston Ave, 416-534-1470
www.karmacoop.org
~~Member-owned food store with lots of local produce, bulk bins, fair trade items, etc. Country store ambiance.
››› Karma is Toronto's only member-owned grocery store, since 1972. Specializing in locally and co-operatively produced, organically grown, fair trade, minimally-packaged and environmentally-friendly products. Membership is open to all.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon 11am-7pm, Tue-Thu 11am to 9pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm.

Noah's Natural Foods – O d
322 Bloor St W (at Spadina), 416-968-7930
www.noahsnaturalfoods.ca
~~Extensive range of bulk and packaged vegetarian foods, organic produce, and a vegan cafe.
››› Organice produce, fruits and vegetables, natural skin care, bulk foods, vitamins,
~~See Sunny Cafe above.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Wed 10am-8pm, Thu-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm.

Organics on Bloor – CLOSED JUNE 2010

Panacea – v d
588 Bloor St W (w. of Bathurst), 647-350-3269
www.panaceaecoshop.com
~~An all-vegan grocery and eco store.
››› There is no need to read ingredient labels when shopping here!
~~They offer a completely vegan grocery section including refrigerated and frozen products. The store also carries vegan snacks (including marshmallows and smores), cosmetics, fair trade clothing, environmental products, ARKII's animal rights merchandise and more. A resource centre is planned for the basement.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm.

Taste of Nature – o d
380 Bloor St W (w. of Spadina), 416-925-8102
››› Good selection of organic foods. Weekly specials. Open till 9pm most days.

Grassroots Environmental Products
408 Bloor St W (at Brunswick), 416-944-1993
www.grassrootsstore.com
~~Environmental general store.
››› Organic cotton clothing. Non-toxic personal care products. Biodegradable cleaning products, Recycled office supplies. Solar products, books, magazines, and much more.
~~Organic cotton clothing, non-toxic personal care products, biodegradable cleaning products (packaged or by weight), recycled office supplies, solar products, books, magazines, and much more.

Annex Quest House –
83 Spadina Rd, 416-922-1934
www.AnnexQuestHouse.com
››› Holistic, hospitable and cozy home-away-from-home. First designed according to vastu, India's ancient design science. Located near University of Toronto, Yorkville and Bloor shopping. Private baths, high speed internet, smoke-free and parking.
~~Note: Meals are not available, but there are several vegetarian restaurants and cafes near by.