Newsstand: November 23, 2009
The Making of a Medley
Transit City and Transit Cities
The Daily Photoist: November 23, 2009
Branches of Pizza Pizza are a common sight around Toronto. Most don't jump out at the eye, though some outlets deserve marks for making an effort to stand out with artwork and other decorations (we miss the silver spangles that once graced Yonge Street). At the Danforth Avenue and Dawes Road branch it's the attached eatery with a similar name that draws attention.
The shape of the outdoor sign hints at 2795 Danforth's previous incarnation as home to Pizza Pizza's sister chain Chicken Chicken. Give the pattern of repetitive names, our first thought was that the pizza giant had embraced the ethnic diversity of Toronto and decided to branch out into other forms of cheap, filling food—in this case, crispy, not-too-greasy Indian crepes and a variety of satisfying accompaniments.
When contacted to determine if there was a connection with Dosa Dosa, Pizza Pizza corporate provided a one-word answer: no.
Photo by Jamie Bradburn
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This place has been there for quite a while now, but always provides a smirk on my face when I read the sign.
I've thought about going in, but honestly the follow-along naming convention totally turns me off.
Especially when you can get some pretty damn good dosa's at Fresh.
Actually, this is a great place. The owners are very sweet and friendly and the dosas are fabulous. I'm not entirely sure if they named the place ironically or just as a marketing thing, but that doesn't really matter. It doesn't make me smirk, more like chuckle.
It's about a good, reasonably priced meal with flavour served by REAL people.
Tibbles: I tested the place with a couple of friends and concur with your assessment - the dosas are fabulous. The crispiness was spot on. We also gave a thumbs-up to the yogurt vadas.
"Pizza Pizza corporate provided a one-word answer: no."
Reminds me of why I have boycotted the belligerent Pizza Pizza for 10 years: the manager at a branch threatened to call the police on me for asking him to have his drivers STOP at the stop sign in front of his shop. I asked firmly but politely, for the record.
The guilty driver then threatened me and my girlfriend.
I called the police myself. They came and greed I was right, and that they always got complaints about their drivers. But the police could lay no charges because the stop sign was in a shopping mall parking lot on private property. It turns out stop signs on private property are not enforceable and are merely suggestions.
Ignorant, belligerent, selfish butt-knuckles in my book.
I imagine Dosa Dosa competes with the likes of Dosa Hut (I've never been but hear it's great!).
Correction, not "greed", but the police came and "agreed".
Also, I was quite upset at the time specifically because a woman had been killed the previous Saturday in that same parking lot by a speeding driver.
Sorry to turn the topic more to Pizza Pizza, but I am still compelled to share this story.
... as for Dosa, I can't say that I have ever had one, but it sounds delicious. There are some passable schwarma here in Tokyo, but you have to go to the nightclub district and get it as street meat.
I've been boycotting Pizza Pizza for over a year now, and I've been enjoying every second of it. There are so many better places for pizza around the GTA. Why bother with the cardboard crap that this place pumps out?
Their shops are never even consistent. Ever notice how the Pizza Pizzas in amusement parks or touristic areas (Air Canada Center, Ontario Place) use completely different ingredients that don't taste like paper? Hmm.
xtremesniper: Agreed! The Pizza Pizzas at Toronto Island are delicious, which I assume is because they are made somewhere else and frozen. I wish they'd serve those in the regular restaurants instead. The sauce tastes way better too.