Year in Review: each of 2011’s weekly lunch picks, ranked
Trying to choose a selection of our favourite lunch picks from the last year proved too much like choosing a selection of our favourite children. So instead we present a complete year of lunch picks, ranked by price, from a humble porchetta sandwich (a reasonable $6.75) to a somewhat less humble five-course feast (treat yourself for $100).
- porchetta sandwich at Sausage King by Oliffe: $6.75
- tinga tostada at Agave y Aguacate: $8.25
- pan bagna sandwich at Morning Glory: $8.50
- roast beef sandwich at Brick Street Bakery: $9.89
- Philly cheese steak and poutine at Food Cabbie: $10
- soup-and-sandwich combo at Delica Kitchen: $10.72
- spicy chicken manakeesh at Paramount: $11
- coconut shrimp and Singapore-style noodles at Taste of Orient: $11.05
- sandwich special at Nadège: $12.43
- barbecue tofu sandwich at Urban Herbivore: $14
- pork belly bao and kalbi taco at Banh Mi Boys: $14.66
- rainbow trout at Sense Appeal: $14.69
- Square Peg lunch at Fabarnak: $15
- bison burger at Brassaii: $15.50
- soon dubu at Swish by Han: $16
- curried apricot and red lentil soup and sandwich at RaviSoups: $17
- rotisserie chicken sandwich at Le Kensington Bistro: $17
- a northern Chinese dim sum at Asian Legend: $18.50
- pad Thai done right at Khao San Road: $19
- tawük lunch plate at Tabülè: $19
- 30th-anniversary prix fixe at the Boulevard Café: $19.50
- fried fish feast at The One That Got Away: $19.50
- fregola at Gallery Grill: $21
- oyakojyu rice bowl at Take Sushi: $21
- ricotta gnocchi at Carisma: $21
- bento box at Ematei: $21.50
- onion and anchovy tartlet with parsnip soup at Biff’s: $22
- Buffola pizza at Bar Mercurio: $23.50
- crispy pork belly at Mercatto: $24
- soup and sandwich at Gilead: $24
- lamb sandwich at Great Cooks on Eight: $26
- beer can chicken at Hotel Ocho: $27
- guinea fowl sausage and beer at Wvrst: $27
- venison chili at Bannock: $27
- 24-hour sam gye tang soup at Etsu: $30
- black cod at The Gabardine: $30
- beef dip sandwich at Frank: $31
- prosciutto pizza at Paese: $31
- grilled octopus at Adega: $32.50
- dim sum feast for two at Dim Sum King: $33
- croque madame at La Société: $35
- exohico at Estiatorio Volos: $37
- seared scallops over curried cauliflower at O&B Canteen: $39
- oysters at Rodney’s by Bay: $40
- lobster BLT at Toca: $42
- duck confit and clafoutis at La Palette: $46
- grass-fed steak frites at Aria: $56
- European Retreat at Splendido: $100
In case you were wondering, that’s a mean of $24.49, a median of $21 and a mode of $21. Happy New Year.