OMG for Gelato @ G For Gelato Toronto

I'm not sure Ben & Jerry's ice cream started out with the philosophy that G For Gelato's restaurant owner Shant Behesnilian has but it's his and he's sticking to it. And what philosophy is that you ask? Well Shant follows the three 1's. He must be first in freshness / quality, service, and price and feels if he does that he can't lose. Whassup G!?

" It's a very competitive market for gelato in Toronto", Behesnilian says.

He won't buy a cheaper chocolate for example, and it must be imported from Belgium.

"Being number one in those categories give me the edge on competitors."

And in a 4 short years, Shant's philosophy seems to be paying off at his 75 Jarvis St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada location getting such a reputation for the best gelato around that he's sought out to supply top end restaurants and through packaging is now delivering the fresh product too. Demand has been such he's had to lease more space to make more gelato to keep up. He knows they can't rest on their laurels, but the proof ,as they say, is in the pudding... and, in this case, a cold, creamy one.

Great spot across street to enjoy a walk or sit and enjoy gelato! 

And judging by the ongoing foot traffic at the downtown Jarvis at Adelaide Street location, even during non peak hours, he's right on the money. Or perhaps in the money, albeit with smaller margins because of his quality standards and as winters are slower, he's incorporated espresso coffees and some Italian style bistro food like pizza - as I understand also a city's top fave pick - again made in-house fresh to keep sales up and more staff employed year round one imagines. I'll have to try the pizza next time!

Now supplies fresh gelato with refrigerated truck 416-792-1761

Check G For Gelato out for yourself. you won't be disappointed...OMMMM G For Gelato a definite Tom's Top 10 for deserts in Toronto! www.gforgelato.com

New Year's Eve Stellar Hall Ball

Annual New Year's Eve Stellar Hall Ball is all inclusive featuring 5 course dinner including appetizers, live music & DJ. Tickets at TPE 289-221-0928 or Stellar Hall @ 905-830- 9441

    Menu

Antipasto Platter
 
Tortellini Alfredo or Wild Mushroom Risotto
 
Choice of Steak, Chicken Marsala or Eggplant Parmesan Tower
 
Country Style Salad (Vinaigrette)
 
Chocolate Drizzled Cheese Cake
 
Late Night Light Buffet with Sweets.

Seating starts 7pm with Cocktail & Appetizers. 

Dinner @ 830-9pm

Friendly, experienced staff who take pride in giving you a good time! A longtime Tom's Top 10!

$15 each ticket to Newmarket Minor Hockey Association.

Live Entertainment during dinner portion! 

Summer Hospitality Caters Outdoors and In

Summer is a blast for many young people and so for the hospitality industry that often relies quite heavily on younger staff to get through busy summer seasons, it can be tough to find good reliable staff - the lure of fun and sun wading into the mix at times. But with a young group, combined with some experience, you can mold yourselves a pretty formidable restaurant or catering team.

In the case of off-premise catering for events like graduations, Jack and Jills, Weddings and the like you really need to know your scheduled staff is going to show up, and then be able to follow direction when its crunch time. Sometimes you find yourself with a new person who has never even held more than two plates before that night but that's when its up to the experienced ones to show them how, and some other quick tips, before they are thrown to the lions!

Whenever possible you of course want to avoid that scenario, but when it occurs a cooler head or heads can help walk them through it until they get on track. Shadowing helps or just having them run out holding trays for another more experienced person for table placement works too, so long as it's coordinated back stage, and the food line production keeps delivering plates, or clearing them, when called to do so.

Anything can and does go on back there just like any restaurant or business to make it happen. But you don't broadcast it to the guests. A caterer may have to provide any thing from the food to the linens to all the staff to the wedding cake, or maybe just one or two of the above but always each new location can provide a challenge. Do they have ovens? Glassware? Pots? Serving trays? An ice machine? The list can be endless but an experienced caterer can make sure you don't forget something by making suggestions should it not be raised by the client.

One recent event in a new off-premise location for Deli House Catering, with which I've had a long standing business and personal friendship / relationship with, was a coral / ranch type spot near Wasaga Beach that featured a covered indoor/outdoor dome-like hall with a mini-bar made of barn wood as well. But being a new place for DH, arrival had been tight to get the open bar up and running on schedule and almost literally upon arrival we had to swing open the bar to keep our end - father of the bride looming nearby. He is someone you want to keep happy at any wedding.

As the bar began to get set up I directed some staff to stock certain essentials immediately - ice, white wine for tables on ice, open reds to breathe, beer in tubs, main liquors with pour spouts in, cups, pops, tonics, sodas, opener, straws!..Ok lets go! Get the bar help cutting fruit and locating juices etc and opening containers and creating a garbage.

In doing so as we did, they were able to open on time delay, albeit with some chicken with heads cut off backstage running around going on, something the guests need to know. Far too often in past experience I hear of staff relaying how they are almost out of this or are out of that. It only takes hearing that a couple times before a negative vibe can take over your event and if it's a wedding, you have an angry bride on your hands. Would you tell your audience of a play your prop was missing? No and such is the back of the house in a restaurant or catered event. 

It can be hard to predict what to bring to a catered food event  with an open bar as some cocktails seem to fly some nights. One recent event saw Caesars flying off the open bar however I'm not so sure you'd see that as much from the same group if it was pay bar but you can control that a little by creating a delicious evening drink special or two that is quick and easy to make.

One event I created a "Short island iced tea", which was quick and easy to make with the lemon lime mix on the pop-gun as well as the top-off, coke. Fill the glass with ice and it's made in seconds after the liquor is in. People were ordering them by name by the end of the evening. Same as a long island but no tequila essentially. Hey, there was none! But they sold.

Recently at a Wedding I was asked to overshadow, we ran out of Blue Curacao halfway through the evening as it had been a staple ingredient in two of the brides requested bar special drinks. This on the same night we'd so far already not provided a special hard root beer she also had asked for, which we could not find in Newmarket. However the ace up the Deli sleeve was there was a guy out trying to find it still - even after the bride had said not to worry about it and given up hope we'd find any.

But guess who's the most important one to please at a wedding? The bride. So I told her we were still doing our best to get it for her and offered up that I could make a similar drink to hers but would replace the blue juice with an orange liquor and it would be nice. It was, and she seemed happy, but not as happy as when I was able to hold up a can of the hard root beer from her table- found after unsung back-stage hero Kevin was able to locate some out of town - after making eye contact with her as she danced. Her smile said it all and you knew it was smooth sailing from there on in with the food all having been served by this time as well.

Great job by the Deli House Catering and Stellar Hall teams as well, never giving up, and giving their all to make that wedding as special as it could have been within their abilities - going the extra mile. Many guests remarked how nice the staff were and how the dinner was delicious and on, and I made sure to relay that to the team. It's all the little things staff does that help them along that way to reach that deduction as well. It's all in what they perceive.


The end of the evening saw the bride and groom request the remaining late night buffet to be taken that night instead of having someone return the next day and that person made sure it got packaged up and personally delivered to their vehicle. Now that is hospitality, and going the extra mile, and that is the kind of stuff brides remember.

Nothing will ever be perfect and you will most certainly never please everyone, but 90% of any job is just showing up and if you work to keep some key people happy, you will find you've covered your bases..and you'll leave feeling pretty good!

What all the Fuzz was about!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

I leave you with this. Your catering of a wedding is going well as your stand alone chicoutery of blue cheese, cheddar, and marble cubes, crackers, antipasto and cold deli meats are fairly plentiful and plated table service has begun. You've just served salads for 142 of 150 people but realize you have feta cheese for only 4 left. What would you do? You have seconds not minutes to decide.

Here's what I'd do. All 8 would be expecting cheese mixed in the salad and those vegan would have opted out of cheese, so we can assume they all could eat cheese. Feta is a crumbly cheese . Gulp..What to do? Seconds ticking away.. impatient server looking at you, panic creeping into the eyes....Quick! Grab some blue cheese and use it on all 8 of the plates at that last table so they all have the same...Explain about it only if they ask...And I bet it tasted yummy too!

TP Out!

Watch for TOM's TOP 10 Summer events upcoming.

Sociable Pub brings Down East Hospitality & Superb Seafood

 Down East Charm @ The Sociable Pub

Sociable Pub - 17380 Yonge St. Newmarket, Ontario, Canada - 905-235-7782

I first caught inklings that the Sociable Pub could be some good when I read a few positive postings online about them. Through research, I discovered the "he" of the husband / wife owner duo, Lenny Ochiogrosso, had been the long time (over 20 years) manager of Archibald's Pub in Richmond Hill before coming out of "retirement" and taking on the Sociable Pub in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, along with his Darmouth, Nova Scotia born wife, Lynne Ochiogrosso-Gallant .  Experience and a natural at hospitality, "Lord tunderin' by, this may just work" was my first thought.

This particular location itself has a long local history as firstly a protected heritage building, and secondary for businesses, so any proprietor must respect the heritage conservation regarding any construction or structural changes made and all changes need approval. Operators have had to make work the existing design with minimal changes over the years, since first refurbished, which all adds character in the end. The result is a beautifully kept, old,  estate home, set up to be a functional business. It just needed the right keepers.

The first to open in the location after it was restored in the 90's was as a "Just Deserts" franchise. I recall reviewing them on our local Rogers TV show, "Out & About" , I once Co-Produced and Co-Hosted featuring the local dining and entertainment scene. They had had such beautiful wood beams with gorgeous hardwood flooring then, not as shiny today perhaps, but still very much the same two-level design and charm. The upstairs now is mostly for larger groups I believe, and down features a bar and more seating with live ambiance performers on the weekends all wrapped in a down east cuisine that includes lobster rolls and P.E.I. mussels. My recent stop there left me drooling for more, but I'll get back to that...and the seafood!

Just Deserts did not last, in fact around that same time a girl named Vivi Lemonis was shot accidentally while eating at a Toronto Just Deserts location, killing the brand as well at the time - although that certainly wasn't the only reason they didn't survive as the location was always too big for...well... just deserts! Even after their departure, a number of entities have tried their hat over the years with no one really managing to have it running as it should be - functional and successful. Most struggled such as in more recent years Big Chris BBQ and before that Orleans. Orleans came closest but never seemed to master the hospitality side and seemed bent on in-your-face bands, too often, too loud for the location.

Did you know on the East Coast that yelling out Sociable!...Is like calling out Cheers!?

The Centre of the Universe

Problem also is / was the trend of late that some clubs and restaurants - many in the area - follow is this process where they have few regular clients, but instead rely on the acts bringing all the patrons in on their designated nights as the place's main / only crowd. It always has to be a collaborative effort between artists and owners / managers / staff to maximize attendance but far too often now a days the onus would be on the entertainment alone, with no effort to build their own regular clientele or do much in or out house advertising - like we did in the old days.

I recall walking into Orleans at times during non-band hours and it was like a morgue. No house music - live or canned - no people, no greeters during open hours, just no atmosphere or warmth. And then consistency - one week entertainment the next not - or the same rotation of bands alongside unspectacular, inconsistent food. And it just didn't feel welcoming.


The Sociable Pub Experience

Some Good Seafood House

It's best to check out a place without them knowing when you plan a review or blog to really get a taste of how a real patron would feel, so I arrived with no reservation to an almost full restaurant - save one reserved four-top and a couple spots on the bar which I really didn't feel like doing. As I stood puzzling my choices, I was immediately greeted and given my options - bar and eat, or wait for an opening, or if perhaps the now late reservation doesn't show I could wait and see about that. Finally, after standing in idle while watching steaming dishes of food like their garlic shrimps, looking a nice count size and screaming out my name, I chose sitting at the bar, half expecting to get sloughed off but still hopeful. Although dressed with a suit and tie, I was  comfy with the casual dressy style most patrons seemed to be wearing.

Shortly thereafter I was approached about a beverage and I asked about a Rickards on tap ( Hey man, I'm out of touch on beer ok!) which they did not have but the attentive barkeep knew a similar on-tap alternative which was actually quite suitable. The waitress could see me as she punched orders in, my corner bar seat overlooking her terminal, my face conveying complete patience and understanding and lo and behold shortly into my beer I guess they gave her the okay to give me that table which just happened to be right beside the solo performer entertainer and it could not have been a better spot. No wonder they had reserved it. Cool. Their loss, my gain!

Bill Nadeau plays live ambiance

I'd pretty much assumed correctly, that the hands-on owner was that knowledgeable friendly barkeep, and later was informed that his wife and partner was also working the floor. In other words, these are two hands-on owners who have obviously taught their staff about the most important element in the industry, hospitality! Seems a simple thing I know, but so often it is the missing critical element from staff, particularly in Newmarket I've observed over the years, who have either simply not been trained to do it always, or just don't care to. "What can I get ya?" just doesn't cut it. I suspect with this couple it comes naturally, with the fairer half hailing from Canada's east coast originally where they are renowned world-wide for their hospitable nature...and delectable seafood dishes!

Shortly thereafter, as the evening's live ambient Singer / guitarist, entertainer, Bill Nadeau, began performing his first numbers, some cool jazzy and bluesy instrumentals, as my waitress who was holding up great even though my experience could see a little of that "deer in the headlights look" with a full and busy restaurant, took my order -  I'd chosen PEI mussels, knowing the Down Home style theme of the restaurant....and they didn't disappoint. Plump, tender, plucked easily - like snapping daisy heads - from the wide open shells, the now separated mussels, left swimming in a white broth infused with fresh herbs and served with TSB's unique garlic toast, while my discarded shells filled its accompanying extra bowl brought for just that! If I could change anything it would be that I'd personally prefer just plain crusty fresh bread to soak up the delicious broth unimpeded by the crispy garlic toast flavours and worth absorbing all on their own.

It was Some good Mmmmmmmmaritime!

A woman from a larger birthday party at the tables next, approached me about my extra chairs at some point, easily able to still chat, with the guitar player pouring out some Peter Gabriel, Elton John and David Wilcox among tunage. This is why I call it live ambiance, because it's there, but not overpowering - something that experience, from years in the business with Archibald's in Richmond Hill, brings.

With the Sociable Pub, I see a smart, live light entertainment setup that's affordable for the house - with often a solo performer. Duos and Trios would probably work nicely as well but the performers aren't necessarily the evening's main focus, although enjoyed immensely and an integral part of the experience, but it's the hospitality and the food that are the stars.
And that is the key.

I must say it is an absolute pleasure to know that the new operators at now The Sociable Pub, Lenny Ochiogrosso and wife Lynne Gallant bring great down home hospitality, food and experience to the location. They understand the simple formula for success, I feel, and for that reason can likely remain as hosts of that historic location for as long as they wish. 

As Lenny informed me, " We hoped to open a place for a certain older age group, so they wouldn't have to leave town to enjoy a night out. A place we'd like to go to"

That my friends is as close to my philosophy on hospitality as I've heard in some time.

Sitting at my perch, I could easily observe how the staff were handling the overflow, always seemingly able to greet before an exasperated, confused, "what next?" expression could envelope them. I look forward to a more detailed in-depth taste and Tom's Top 10 review of The Sociable Pub whose menu is unique, not too complex - from Scot-Irish traditional stews to Nova Scotia Lobster / Seafood, to P.E.I. delectables...Delicious and down-home sounding!

Next on my wish-taste-list will be their crab rolls followed closely by the crab fritters!

I'll see YOU...out there! - Watch Bill Nadeau recorded live from The Sociable Pub Here
TP

Mother's Day...The Mother of all Days for Restaurants

Holy crap, Mother's Day is almost upon us and like many a guy out there who procrastinates the heck out of everything important it seems, you have nothing special planned for mom. Sure you could get her a great flower arrangement from a long time florist in town maybe Cassidy's on Main St Newmarket, which do have some Mother's Day Special arrangements going on, but is that really enough for Mom on her special day? I mean come on. Flowers are a given. Pick some up at the farmer's market if you have to but do do flowers! Hey...that doesn't sound too good out loud. Anyway do flowers! And a meal!

Mom's Choice on Mother's Day

But don't give mother another one of your special BBQ's or pretend to cook something you know she will take over - take her out to eat! Newmarket & surrounding area have a lot of places to go, whether you want dining and entertainment or just dining, with even a few new restaurants in town.

For my money, I'm taking Mom somewhere I know she'll like..providing my sisters let me, but that's another story. LOl. Let's just say sisters rule mom's time come Mother's Day in my house, with us boys outnumbered and out aged by the older sisses...Truth be known they deserve first crack as they are much more in tune and touch to mom's day to day stuff, much more than I anyway, but my brother might have a case. Over to you bro!

At any rate, one year I took my mom to what was then called Deli House Brunch, now more branded as Stellar Hall, still Deli House Catering fresh, but with  some new kitchen staff and crew, still all hands-on supervised when possible by Johnny and now wife Marcel of course...and my mom had a great time.

It wasn't the food she raved about, although as I recall it was quite good with various stations set up to make or serve some fresh hot dishes to order, while others were set out buffet style or crepes, pasta station etc. We got mom her plate I think and picked out for her, but Johnny took the time to come around and spend time welcoming her I guess because later on she actually was quite taken by it, mentioning it several times. And my mom is no easy cookie to please! But she raved about it. Trust me..she can be quite vocal if she's displeased somewhere, so I pay attention.

" Who was that fella," she'd said, " The owner I think. A really nice chap.....You know I really liked him. He was such a nice person"...I don't know what Johnny did or said, but I do know he recognizes hospitality is a big part of being successful in a business where you rarely can please everyone. And he's genuine. My mom likes that.

I first met Johnny Cutrone when I was a bartender at Newmarket's Glenway Country Club, now an abandoned lot, when we both served fine dining night, as they were not set up for that and I'd had some experience.  I showed him french service...Zee rest eezz heeztory! Lol

 They've come a long way since opening that first deli shop on the corner of Yonge and Mulock slinging breakfasts at 6 am to get by, along with his mom and dad. His Dad only recently passing away from cancer..and a great guy himself. Definitely give you the shirt off his back if he could..

View from Stellar Hall Window

So maybe that's what mom saw. just a raw welcoming spirit and some darn good food she likely would normally have found something wrong with!

Happy Mother's Day all. Go where you want but go... I do know Stellar Hall is putting on an extra special Mother's Day deal this year with something for everyone..omelet stations, carving stations..the works! I'm drooling just writing this. Oh..and some good old fashioned hospitality! Egads!

Mom the nest builder

Fionn Maccool's a Tom's Top 10 in Newmarket

January is the slowest time of the year in the restaurant business so it's important to stay aggressively vigilant to attract guests during those times. Creative strategies including food and drink deals can work as long as they are communicated enough, and live entertainment can sometimes drag people up off the couches or even an alluring dance floor.

Tom's Top 10 Dining and Entertainment Guide includes local locations within a 10k radius to help you achieve that, but what will keep you returning - aside from being served a good product at a good value - is being given an experience that made you feel good. Good old fashioned hospitality.





I remember writing years ago, in Local Flavour, how I felt that element was a lacking one in Newmarket. One busy establishment for example would not greet me with a "Hello',  a "How are you", or a "Hi Tom" even, as some try to do to impress...No..this complacent barkeep used to simply say to me, ' What can I get you?" followed by a smiless blank stare..then bring it and leave to chat with her better guests one would suppose...Not the hospitality I was ever taught through my years in the industry, nor would have tolerated as a manager, although, I must say, bad habits die hard when surrounded by it.

 

So it was a such pleasant contrast, when on my first visit to the Prime Pubs establishment, Fionn Maccool's, 17315 Leslie st Newmarket, the server was absolutely superb. Nothing fancy or phony - although her, er, kilt, sure got my attention - just pure enthusiasm and a zest for loving the place she worked for and her job. The pretty berny-brunette who served me, Amy, not only bubbled over with genuineness, but knew her menu as well and gushed about the care in the preparation of the food compared to places she'd worked before and the pride the kitchen took - including her chef brother who also works as a lead prep cook in the back of the house.

After choosing a fish chowder to start with on a bitterly cold day, the approving Amy suggested I try the lamb pie with its delicious home made crust which I did. The steamy chowder was fabulous, with chunks of fish and whole clams bathing in a thick gruel, stocked with potato chunks, carrots, and vegetables, served with HOT cheddar cheese scone - again made in-house!

The lamb pie, served on a bed of spinach and sauteed mushrooms, had an incredible flaky but moist crust that my fork flowed through like butter, without having to snap off that final fork-full because of over cooking or microwave use. And what a refreshing dish / menu choice! Perhaps a tad safe on the seasoning and salt side for my absolute tastes as seems the healthy trend these days, but nevertheless delectable, and stocked sparingly with bite sized tender morsels of lamb. MMM-must bring my mom! Amy came back several times to check in and continued to impress with her personality and genuine love of having pleased me...It was like a breathe of fresh air in outer space.

For only $5 more I got a home made cinnamon-infused bread pudding to end it with. Cubed and slathered in Devonshire cream with a side bowl of caramel dip to boot...drool...drip.....er..sorry.

Newmarket location 905-898-7899

What originally brought me into the Irish theme rooted Fionn Maccools, was having heard about how much they made fresh, in-house, unlike most chains who pre-make and use mostly frozen products which makes all the difference. And having experienced just that at F.M.'s , alongside seeing their imported beer selection, Thursday, Fri, Sat live entertainment, and in-house promotions such as Robbie Burns Days they are surely a Tom's Top 10 for Dining / Entertainment.

Ironically, Fionn Maccool's corporate, Prime Pubs, also owns Casey's Restaurants. Spelt backwards is Yesac (corporation) the original company that also owned the Mother's Pizza franchise and Pat & Mario's Restaurants where I was the Kitchen Manager at the first store in Toronto, and went on to assist in the openings of the new restaurants at Front & Church, Airport Road and Yonge & Eglinton. Pat & Mario's were the first chain style restaurants in Canada to offer a deejay with dance floor and dining under one roof... and always emphasized hospitality.



As I told Amy on the way out,

" You know even if the food had been lousy, I'd have come back for your hospitality alone. Not even so much the service, although it was good too, but more for transferring that genuine love of what you're doing to me, the guest. Great job." 

If it was me I'd be grooming her for management or for training the staff for new stores.
And so, as Schwarzeneger says, " I'll be back!"

Tom Pearson

A Top Choice for New Year's Eve in Newmarket for Dancing, Dinner, Party!

With 2015-16 coming up, Stellar Hall in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada is starting to form its own New Year's Eve Traditions. 

Having known the owner's family prior to the first D.H.Catering location opening, when a then strapping young owner, Johnny Cutrone, came and asked my opinion on the idea of opening a breakfast spot, wherein I think I said, "Go for it!" Its evolved since then to catering and now also a hall.

Don't be alone New Years!

We met when I was a single dad working at Glenway Country Club as a bartender & filling in as fine-dining night waiter too, as they didn't have anyone who knew French Service - other than one other guy & Johnny who I'd coached on it. He too was a single waiter then who'd learned his craft mostly working for a caterer at Aurora's Atrium from a young age and we hit it off as friends despite the age difference. Young pup! lol.

So it was only a natural that he evolved from breakfasts, to catering, to a full fledged Stellar Hall, as is now sported at 1220 Stellar Lane Dr. upstairs above the bowling alley. Of course, he now has kids as well as a wife, and whilst mine are older we're all friends and that's what New Years Eve is about - spending time with friends & good people, and so who better to play host and for me to attend at on N.Y.'s, especially when part of your job is to assist with the nights success!

 

$75 Includes Open Bar, DJ, Live atmosphere for Dinner

The food speaks for itself - Fresh always with a variety of delicious entrees on the gourmet buffet, Carving Station, Hot H'ordeuvres, Midnight Buffet, Champagne Toast!

Reserve for New Years now...Request Tickets or call TP@905-289-221-0928

Night Clubs and Restaurants Guide Newmarket for Valentines Specials

TOM's TOP 10 is 20 years old!

Welcome to At the Clubs and Local Flavour all rolled into one! Traditionally January & February are the slowest times of the year in the hospitality industry and to that end communicating what restaurants and clubs have is important.

In addition to what I was able to note here on what clubs & restaurants / bars are doing in the new year, there is more info more posted in my Tom's Top 10 Newmarket Dining Entertainment Guide already - accessible to you via this link or simply by Google searching " Entertainment, Dining, Newmarket" or
Toms Top 10 Guides.

At a stopover at Big Chris BBQ at their recent Tues Jam Night I found out about some upcoming acts but one in particular stood out to me which was Taratuma,  a long time, very popular band in the area, and not heard of them playing locally in a while, so a great chance to check them out whilst enjoying some Big Chris BBQ from the smokehouses menu. As well as Feb 14 w Connie Scriver for Valentines Day




Watch for TPE's Tom's Top 10 Dining reviews.

With Valentines Day coming up, a number of places are offering up some pretty nice night out packages. 

Villa Risi for example offers fine dining and also live jazz/blues duo entertainment, featuring the fab rythm, blues and jazz singer sensation Lori Viola for Feb 14 Valentines Day Dinner and a special, with choices menu.and options including glass of champagne and divine chocolates and ala carte style menu choices!.
I'd book fast to impress your lady or guy. Pronto!

Valentines Dinner Theatre

Stellar Hall and Events Centre - 1220 Stellar Dr, Newmarket - has a couple of events going on Valentines Day weekend, including the feature night Feb 14 Dinner Theatre show in a show directed by Karen barjker and featuring prefpormers from Spotlight! Book now for this sure to be sold out event! New Years also always a blast at Stellar Hall. Call 289-221-0928 for more info.

Sparro Ristorante coming soon

I'm sure all of Tom's Top 10 have some kind of entertainment and dining specials set up for valentines - check out the Tom's Top 10 Dining Entertainment Guide to access them all.

TOMBITS: I discovered another place in Newmarket on Main St below Made In Mexico called Tequila 185, Top 10 worthy as well, offering up some dining w dancing and occasional live entertainment .

Watch for a new Italian restaurant by Riverwalk Commons and Main St, Sparro Ristorante, coming soon!,

Stopped by The Cove on Davis Dr in search of Newmarket's best Fish & Chips deal $5 but arggg! The owner was not around to say hi too! Stay tuna-ed! Also a lively sports bar...Arrrr!gos?!

In my travels I'm often in a hurry and doing fast food and expect a value for my dollar when doing so and in response to that Tom's Top 10 categories will continue to pop up on your screens with our latest being Tom's Top 10 Pizza! Enjoy!

TP Out!