Does The City’s Restaurant Rating System Earn A Passing Grade? Part Three

They have become a lot like Citytv – they’re everywhere. 

You can’t go to a Toronto restaurant without finding some kind of sign posted in the window. They can be red, yellow or green – based on the idea of the stoplight that directs traffic in the city.

They’re designed to show that a diner has passed muster with the city’s inspection team and that it’s O.K. to eat there.

But even those getting the green aren’t happy with the system. The problem: there’s too much latitude for those setting the standards when it comes to handing out a yellow card. That stands for a conditional pass and means a flaw has been spotted and the owner can remain in business while they clear it up.

But most people shy away from the yellow caution, thinking there’s something wrong – even the city’s own Board of Health Chair. “I know I’ve stopped going to places because they had a yellow card,” admits John Filion. 

But the yellow can mean anything from rat droppings to a missing thermometer in a fridge  – and owners argue that’s not fair.

“I had a yellow card,” relates Maria, who owns the ironically named Yellow Griffin in Bloor West Village and whose kitchen is spotless. “They couldn’t find a thermometer in a fridge.” But would-be customers don’t know the reasons and some avoid eating there, costing her business.

She’s been hit twice with the colour for very minor infractions.

In fact, Bloor West Village has been a hot spot for inspectors, with 27 conditional passes being handed out at its 32 restaurants since 2007.

In nearby Korea Town, the story is similar. Of the 41 diners there, 27 were also given the conditional passes.

But the city intends to stick with the system, noting it’s still the best way to ensure you know that a place has been given a thorough going over.

See part one of this series here.

See part two of this series here.

Here’s a look at City records from its Dine Safe Program. It lists those establishments – including diners and grocery stores – that have received “RED” violations resulting in closures, and “YELLOW” violations, which led to sanctions from the Toronto Department of Health and Safety.

Please note: All information is supplied from the City of Toronto’s DineSafe site.  CityNews is not responsible for discrepancies between information posted here and inspection reports posted at the food premise, or the DineSafe site.

And it’s also important to remember that businesses that received a sanction may only have been found to have an isolated instance of problems that were immediately cleaned up, and the restaurant or store was reopened with no further troubles.

BLOOR WEST VILLAGE
Jane Street to Glendonwynne Rd.

BLOOR-JANE RESTAURANT – OK
2434 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

KARPATY
2408 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – June 16, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

FALAFEL WORLD
2396 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Feb 4, 2008

ANNA’S BAKERY & DELI – OK
2394 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

YUMI RESTAURANT
2384 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – March 6, 2007

PETIT PARIS CAKE & COFFEE – OK
2382 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

AMBER EUROPEAN RESTAURANT – OK
2372 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

YAMA JAPANESE RESTAURANT – OK
2370 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

THE BAGEL SHOP
2352 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Dec 7, 2007
Conditional – June 26, 2007

KINGSWAY MEAT PRODUCTS – OK
2342 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

SWEET GALLERY EXCLUSIVE PASTRY – OK
2312 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

OLIVE MEDITERANEAN GRILL
2246 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Oct 3, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

ASTRA FAMOUS DELI
2238 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Nov 28, 2007
Conditional – Nov 13, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – April 26, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

BREAD & ROSES
2232 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 15, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – Dec 3, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – June 18, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
SUNGLOW BAKERY – OK
2226 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

PARKLAND MEAT MARKET
2216 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Nov 14, 2007

THE YELLOW GRIFFEN
2202 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Aug 22, 2007
Conditional – Feb 27, 2007

SUNSET GRILL – OK
2200 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

GREEN MANGO RESTAURANT
2180 BLOOR ST W, Unit 1 TORONTO
Conditional – Oct 18, 2007
Conditional – Feb 13, 2007

SUSHI VILLA – OK
2181 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

DR. GENEROSITY – OK
2197 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

SHARKEY’S RESTAURANT – OK
2199 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

THE SWAN & FIRKIN
2205 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Sept 17, 2008

SIMPLY THAI CUISINE
2253 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Aug 3, 2007
Conditional – Aug 1, 2007
Conditional – Feb 19, 2007

SHAKEY’S ORIGINAL BAR & GRILL – OK
2255 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

QUEEN’S PASTA CAFÉ – OK
2263 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

VILLA RESTAURANT – OK
2277 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

STRADA – OK
2279 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

BLOOR MEAT MARKET
2283 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 11, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

MAX’S MARKET
2299 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Aug 12, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – April 22, 2008

STRICTLY BULK – OK
2389 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

THE DARK HORSE
2401 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 29, 2008
Conditional – Aug 1, 2007
Conditional – Feb 23, 2007

KOREA TOWN
Bloor Street – from Christie to Bathurst

CHRISA COFFEE & DONUTS – OK
726 BLOOR ST W, Unit 6 TORONTO

JIN MIRAK KOREAN & JAPANESE RESTAURANT
708 BLOOR ST W, Unit 1 TORONTO
Conditional – July 8, 2008

KOREAN RESTAURANT & BAR (BOOUNGEE)
700 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – June 8, 2007

WOORI GENERAL FOOD
698 BLOOR ST W, Unit 1 TORONTO
Conditional – Oct 1, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

CAMTO
692 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – June 20, 2008

TACOS EL ASADOR – OK
690 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

SOONDERELLA
686 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Sept 10, 2008
Conditional – March 17, 2008

ANNEX SUBMARINE SHOP
682 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 23, 2007

AFC AJUKER FRIED CHICKEN – OK
680 BLOOR ST W, Floor 2

BLOOR MEAT & GROCERY
676 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Feb 5, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
(BOTH RESTAURANTS, including 2283 Bloor Street)

NEW IL BUNJI GARDEN – OK
668 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

KOREA HOUSE – OK
666 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

SEJONG RESTAURANT – OK
658 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

HODO KWAJA (WALNUT CAKE) – OK
656 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

ONARA ONARA KOREAN RESTAURANT – OK
648 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

BUKYUNG
642 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 11, 2008
Conditional – Feb 6, 2007

MAROLI – OK
630 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

KOREAN VILLAGE RESTAURANT
626 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Sept 24, 2008
Conditional – July 3, 2008
Conditional – Feb 27, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – Feb 25, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

MEONG DONG SOON TOFU – OK
620 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

KA CHI KOREAN RESTAURANT
612 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Jan 30, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

MAT DE MAT RESTAURANT
606 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – May 22, 2008

BLOOR STREET CAFÉ
600 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – March 12, 2008

THE VILLAGE MARKET – OK
580 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

ROCCO’S PLUM TOMATO – OK
585 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

BMB KARAOKE (Restaurant) – OK
593 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

FUSION.COM (Restaurant) – OK
599 BLOOR ST W, Unit 1 TORONTO

JOONS – OK
605 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

UM JI BUN SIK
615 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Feb 28, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – Nov 28, 2007
Conditional – April 12, 2007   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

SEOUL SAMMI RESTAURANT
621 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – July 16, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

I NOODLE
623 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Feb 29, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

BNC CAKE HOUSE – OK
631 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

BLOOR SWEET CAFÉ – OK
641 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

ROYAL MANDU PLUS
647 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – Aug 13, 2008
Conditional – Aug 30, 2007

KORYO FAST FOOD RESTAURANT – OK
661 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

IMONAY HOUSE – OK
665 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

SONGCOOK COREAN CHILLI – OK
681 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

KOREA BAKERY – OK
689 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

BUK CHANG DONG SOON TOFU
691 BLOOR ST W TORONTO
Conditional – May 26, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL
Conditional – Aug 1, 2007

CLINTON’S – OK
693 BLOOR ST W TORONTO

VILLAGE COFFEE SHOP (Restaurant)
719 BLOOR ST W, Unit 101 TORONTO
Conditional – May 13, 2008   INADEQUATE PEST CONTROL

NADEUL MOK – OK
735 BLOOR ST W TORONTO