Devout Christians have been blasting Toronto's Sweet Jesus ice cream as everything from "totally offensive" to "blatantly satanic" in recent months as news of the chain's massive international expansion spreads.

With stores set to open all over the U.S., some of said Christians have even taken it upon themselves to organize boycotts and start petitions with names like "Toronto-based ice cream parlours serve up blasphemy."

Whether they're mad about "antichrist imagery" on the brand's cups or "flashy" advertisements that "sexualize children," one thing they can all seem to agree on is that these Canadian soft-serve peddlers are up to no good.

Toronto ice cream chain "Sweet Jesus" blasphemes Christ. Please CHRISTIANS go sign this petition, so that this ice cream company will not belittle Jesus name as a mere ice-cream name in their company. https://t.co/uzX7mJ1QqK

— Deborah Owaseye (@Owasplayer) March 12, 2018

"A Canadian ice-cream chain is about to begin peddling its wares in the United States: soft-serve ice cream topped with loads of blasphemy," reads an article posted today on LifeSiteNews, which bills itself as "the #1 pro-life news website."

"Its name and flashy advertisements mock the Christian faith... One ad on the company's website shows a Nativity Scene, but instead of Baby Jesus, there's an ice-cream cone."

This same article uses an advertisement produced by Sweet Jesus in Support of SickKids Hospital as an example of its "disturbing" and "creepy" use of kids to market ice cream.

"The boys pants are well below his waist and his crotch area is protruding," notes LifeSite of a young boy who has a colostomy bag.

A post shared by Sweet Jesus (@sweetjesus) on May 16, 2017 at 1:21pm PDT

Another American website called "Activist Mommy" points to ads that are legitimately edgy, like one of a JonBenét Ramsey doppelganger with ice cream running down her face.

"Sweet Jesus is fond of posing small children in suggestive positions like this to advertise their sinful and decadent product," reads a post on this website, criticizing another ad for showing a young boy in "an outfit reminiscent of the sailor in the homosexual music group The Village People."

"He also has a pink teacup," reads the post, "like something a little girl would play with, to top off the suggestion of gender-bending."

You can't make this stuff up.

Sweet Jesus: The Disturbing Marketing of a Trendy Ice Cream Franchise

The marketing surrounding Sweet Jesus is based on satanic symbolism combined with children in creepy and questionable situations. https://t.co/5zz6grfLxzpic.twitter.com/A2DX18WMyC

— 4God†andCountry (@ForHisGlory52) January 31, 2018

Other websites analyze the company's ads, products and marketing materials at great length to contrast them against all things Satanic.

"As Sweet Jesus sets to expand into the Mall of America and many other nations... pray for the same outcry and indignation there would be if a food brand mocked Islam or the transgender movement," reads one.

"And most importantly pray for repentance in the hearts of those that created this satanic branding."

New Ice Cream Chain ‘Sweet Jesus’ Promotes Child Cannibalism (Video) https://t.co/S3tErqQ8V7

— Christiaan P. Vermeu (@5467dieweg) March 15, 2018

Sweet Jesus co-founder Andrew Richmond says that he's aware of the conversation taking place down south. 

"When tasting recipes that exceeded expectations, our staff would often say 'Sweet Jesus, that’s good!'," he said via email today. "The expression resonated with us so much, that we felt it was the perfect way to describe our products and brand."

"At the end of the day, we don't take ourselves too seriously - we're all about creating unique desserts that taste really good," he continued. "Sweet Jesus is made up of amazing people who represent a wide range of cultural and religious beliefs."

"While we understand some may find our name offensive, we see it as an expression of joy."

The day has finally come. After what has seemed liked a forever wait, the first Toronto Jollibee location is finally about to open.

Jollibee Canada just announced that the Scarborough location at 15 William Kitchen Road will be opening on April 1 at 7 a.m. They even put together a cure little video to celebrate.

Jollibee just announced their first #Toronto location is opening April 1st https://t.co/mK7nWzSkRHpic.twitter.com/biukFIkdzb

— blogTO (@blogTO) March 24, 2018

No word yet on when Jollibee will be opening in Mississauga. That location inside Seafood City was orginally scheduled to be the first to arrive but apparently construction delays have set it well behind schedule.

Events in Toronto today make it hard to stay in, especially with so much going on like the March for Our Lives Rally, a clothing swap, and the What The Film Festival. Don't forget to turn off your lights for Earth Hour.

Brunch in South Etobicoke encapsulates all the usual bacon and benny options, with a variety of restaurants to choose from. Whether you're looking for vegetarian, Mexican, or a good ol' greasy diner, this pocket of Toronto has a pretty thorough list of options. 

Here are my picks for the top brunch spots in South Etobicoke.

Huevos Gourmet

You'll find Mexican and French-inspired eats at this spot by Islington and Lake Shore. They have an all-day brunch menu that includes free-range eggs with guac salsa, nachos breakfasts and savoury crepes. 

Thrive Organic Kitchen

It's vegetarian meals only at this spot by 31st Street. Head here for a weekend brunch of fair trade coffee paired with their Canadian platter, consisting of eggs, vegan sausage or tempeh bacon. If you're a marathon runner, dine here after your morning dash for a discount. 

Jodie’s Restaurant

This old school-looking diner on Horner Ave. has breakfast basics all day every day except Sunday. A guaranteed cheap eat, their Super Breakfast plate is a surefire win, coming with three eggs and all the classic favourites like ham, bacon, and home fries to fill you up. 

Kitchen on Sixth

Simultaneously a general store that sells frozen meals and a restaurant, brunches at this spot are served all day and include fancy benny options like a pork belly benedict, or one that comes with asparagus and prosciutto. 

Egglicious

There's definitely nothing healthy at this spot – but hey, it's the weekend, you deserve it. Open 365 days a year, this local favourite on Kipling has a huge selection of benedicts, omelettes, waffles, and a killer Lumberjack plate that comes with 3 of everything and pancakes. 

After being robbed of the ability to enjoy the islands last year due to flooding, Waterfront Toronto's plans for a new island has the city excited for less water-logged summers. 

How does one create an island, you ask?

By reconstructing the mouth of the Don River, the city will form a new river valley which will direct water into the the Keating Channel and the flood harbour, thus creating Villiers Island in the Port Lands. 

The 88-acre piece of land will come decked out with flood protection features and will include an incredible new park, public spaces and wetlands to accommodate water overflow. 

It might sound easy (it doesn't really) but the project will take around seven years to complete and $1.25 billion. It's currently expected to be complete in 2024.

Bordered by Toronto's Inner Harbour and the Don Roadway from west to east, Villiers will be topped off by the Keating Channel in the north and the Polson Slip to its south. 

Torontonians will be able to access the island via New Cherry Street, which will have its own streetcar and bike lanes (starting greasing those gears). 

As part of the the Port Lands Flood Protection program, the island is intended to totally revitalize the area, which, according to a lovely video by Waterfront Toronto, has been neglected for decades. 

That's not the case any longer. In fact everything interesting happening in Toronto seems to be taking place at the city's eastern waterfront. 

Cinespace recently claimed some real estate there, and it looks like the Port Lands will soon be getting a big injection of Silicon valley juice, with Google's futuristic new neighbourhood in the works and a bid for Amazon's HQ2 headquarters to be built just around the corner.

The flood of activity (pun intended) may not be in full effect yet, but once shovels hit the ground, Torontonians will have to brave a storm of construction before getting the island of our dreams. 

We know that Toronto is all about its condos and if you're a food lover, there are a few upcoming spots with some exceptional dining capabilities. You're going to want to call these developments home once they're complete. 

Here's a round-up of some new Toronto condos for food lovers. 

Nobu

The Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant is opening its first Canadian location on Mercer Street, and two 49-storey towers that will also encompass its new hotel and condo. Get ready at yours and hop in the elevator to make it in time for your dinner reservation. 

The Harlowe

This 14-storey condo on Richmond Street is getting a fine-dining German-style restaurant in the form of the award-winning Vancouver spot Bauhaus, its first location in Toronto. The condo's balconies and terrace will also have gas BBQ connections for the grill-lovers.

Waterworks Building

The Art Deco building is being completely revamped to include a condo, a new YMCA, plus a sprawling food hall. Vendors have yet to be announced for the ground floor area but it's prime real estate for any restaurants that want easy access to residents' bellies.

Transit City Condos

This 55-storey condo at Vaughan's SmartCentres Place will house a Buca — the first outside of downtown Toronto — plus a Bar Buca in the lobby. The restaurant will be serving meals all day and is expected to have a first-floor patio for outdoor dining.  

The Well

Replacing the Globe and Mail building on Front Street, this development is expected to hold a huge 89-stall European-style market, located below a food hall. The space is also projected to have up to 12 restaurants. It doesn't get more foodie-friendly than that. 

A new Toronto startup wants to help restaurants go green by teaching them how to stay away from wasteful industry items like plastic straws and candle holders. 

Run by two award-winning environmentalists, Terus helps businesses save money and minimize trash by analyzing their business models and making changes to operational flow.

From switching takeout container providers to overhauling waste management contracts, the company has made recommendations to restaurants like Cafe Cancan, who have adopted ways to become more sustainable. 

Terus says they've diverted over 61,000 pounds of waste from landfills and helped restaurants improve their bottom line by over $27,000.

"For one restaurant, we recommended they switch from disposable candles to rechargeable LED candles, and our analysis showed a savings of $1,800 within the first year," says CEO Lucy Cullen. 

Cullen — who was one of Canada's Top 25 under 25 Environmentalists in 2017— joined up with Emerald Award-winning President Eva Musso to create the eco-savvy startup. 

Having worked in the hospitality industry since she was 17-years-old, Cullen says she's seen firsthand the amount of garbage restaurants can produce. 

"I was shocked by the amount of waste I saw produced and (it was) all sent to landfill," she says. 

The startup now encourages companies to spend a fraction of their operational costs, which is often willingly spent on things like hospitality consultants and decor, on lessening environmental impact instead. 

Terus also offers their clients a one-hour training session for staff, so employees understand non-plastic objects can also be bad for the environment. 

"It takes a head of lettuce 25 years to decompose in a landfill," says Cullen. "That's a shocking statistic and it's why we need good waste diversion."

A huge bubble tea chain from China is opening its first Canadian location on Queen West, replacing the space where the iconic Condom Shack once stood. 

Originating in Huang Zhou, Tea Land is already a popular bubble tea brand in Asia, with 900 locations across the continent and 300 more stores in the process of opening internationally. 

The shop specializes in drinks topped with cheese foam — a mixture combining real cheese and cream with macchiato power — and milk teas.

They'll also be serving a small menu of traditional Chinese desserts that is sure to have the usual favourites like red bean sweets and waffles. 

Tea Land is slated to open at 231 Queen St. W in late May, just in time for summer.

Warehouse sales in Toronto this spring make it easy to give your home and wardrobe a complete overhaul on the cheap. There's tons of goods up for grabs from brand names with savings boarding on outrageous.

It's been a tough month for the independent music scene in Toronto. 

Venues keep closing, and news of a sexual assault allegation against the co-owner of Smiling Buddha – a longtime music institution – has held musicians and event bookers in a moral bind. 

As promoters scramble to find new spaces to host their local and out-of-town acts, it seems as though one venue in particular has risen above the rest as the ideal substitute. 

The Owls Club, a 101-year-old local legion on Dovercourt with a leaky roof, is now hosting artists like Calvin Love, Nyssa, and Petra Glynt – all of who were originally slated to perform at Smiling Buddha later this month. 

While weekends at most venues are usually booked far in advance, this two-floored club – whose members mostly consist of veterans and seniors – had an open schedule that permitted bookers a stress-free transfer of shows over from a bar that has fallen into disrepute. 

Most popular for its Saturday karaoke sessions, a monthly country shindig called Saddle Up and card nights on Fridays, Owls Club's fading interior makes it an unlikely spot to host a head-banging concert.

With an aging membership and painfully cheap fees (it costs just $45 a year for new joiners), the club has been fundraising for years to reach its goal of $30,000 to cover expenses ranging from exorbitant hydro bills to maintenance fees for its leaking roof.

"We're just living day by day and we want to catch up," says Ana Da Silva, who has been managing the club since 2002. 

According to Ana, the introduction of young live bands to the space has been incredibly positive.

"I'm happy," she says. "It's saving us." 

Owls has been playing host to numerous concerts since the summer of 2016, but the recent influx of musicians moving over from Smiling Buddha has gotten more people through its doors than ever. 

Kyle Knapp, a local musician who has acted as the main contact for Owls' bookings, says he's referred between 10 and 15 artists to Ana since last week. 

"I don't see it being a replacement as much as it being a new, fresh space," says Kyle, who states the venue's old school vibe and good acoustics in the main hall upstairs add to its appeal as an upcoming hotspot for live music. 

"We really hope that people come and revel in how timeless the space is, and appreciate the fact that this place is opening their doors to a different demographic," he says. 

Concert promoter Dan Burke calls Owls "an unconventional place to do a live music event." As an industry veteran that worked out of the Silver Dollar before it closed last May, Burke has seen his share of venues come and go.  

"Every band and promoter I know has abandoned Smiling Buddha," he says. Burke has booked many of the shows that have switched over to Owls, including the Montreal-based band NOBRO, scheduled to play at the end of the month.

"I hope they benefit from this situation for more than a month or two." 

As to whether or not he continues booking shows there: it depends.

We'll have to see if the century-old building – which, from the outside, looks like it's stuck in time – has what it takes to become the music venue of Toronto's future. 

After three years of sitting on a brewhouse that never produced a single beer, Lansdowne Brewery is no more, and out of its ashes comes a new brand to take its place. 

Lot 30 Brewers will officially open this May with eight of its own beers on tap, a feat that the previous restaurant could never achieve due to "a difference in business philosophies" among partners. 

"Everything to do with Lansdowne Brewery is done and gone," says Lot 30 owner Darrin Earley.

Earley, who was one of the original founders of the brew-less brewery, says the space is now undergoing a complete overhaul with a fresh look and a new name. 

"The focus was on licensing and getting beer going immediately, as should have been the focus all along," says Darrin. "We're so excited." 

Failure to fully complete its brewery licensing application process had left Lansdowne Brewery stuck with serving beer and ciders from outside companies despite having a fully operational brewhouse on site. 

New renovations to Lot 30 Brewers, which begin April 1, will see a totally revamped restaurant with not only beers on tap but also on-site canning capabilities, added booth seating and vintage wall treatments.

Their new food menu will include bar snacks inspired by international fare and classic pub entrees like fried chicken, fish tacos and pickled eggs. 

Lot 30 also has a new brewmaster, Anderson Sant'anna de Lima, who Earley refers to as a "rockstar brewer" due to his international experience in restaurants in New York, Miami, and New England (the inspiration behind their New England-style breakfast orange juice IPA). 

Aside from other European-style beers, they'll also offers sours in flavours like raspberry and starfruit (whoa), which sound perfect for enjoying on their 36-seat patio. 

Lot 30 Brewers is expected to launch officially on May 4. 

Events in Toronto today show that Sunday is definitely Funday with giant record and old book shows, a gathering of the pugs, and free chicken.

Spring represents new beginnings, so it's appropriate that many exciting restaurants will be making their debut this season. From American and Italian staples, a Brazilian steakhouse or plant-based Mexican to the latest Japanese food trends, we'll be welcoming an intriguing and flavourful global mix of influences.

Here are my picks for the most anticipated restaurant openings in Toronto this spring.

Blondies Pizza

Who doesn't love the Food Dudes? This popular catering company with an eponymous food truck and three restaurants (Pantry, Rasa, Omaw) will be opening its first pizzeria (presumably named after chef/partner Matt Blondin) in Leslieville this spring, with another location in the Financial District to follow in the fall.

Chica's Nashville Hot Chicken

One can never have enough Nashville hot chicken in the city, and the Junction is about to be blessed with this new spot taking over the gritty old Concourse Restaurant that's set to open in May.

City Betty

Chef Alex Molitz (Geraldine, Farmhouse Tavern) will soon be opening a new restaurant concept that's inspired by healthy farm-to-table spots in California and New York at 1352 Danforth Ave. (at Greenwood Ave.), which was previously The Borough.

Fabbrica

Celebrity chef Mark McEwan already has one location of this popular Italian restaurant in the CF Shops at Don Mills, but this spring he'll be opening a second one downtown at the TD Centre in the PATH, catering to those toiling away in the Financial District. 

Hanabusa Cafe and Fuwa-Fuwa

Hot tip: the next big thing in Toronto is going to be Japanese souffle pancakes. Think of them as similar to Japanese cheesecakes minus the cheese. These fluffy (or "fuwa fuwa" in Japanese), photogenic beauties will be coming to both Kensington Market and the Annex this April.

Rosalinda

Vegans, rejoice. Opening this spring in the Financial District is this plant-based Mexican restaurant, a dream collaboration between the prolific chef/restaurateur behind Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, El Rey, Harry's, Tennessee Tavern, etc., and the duo behind Pizzeria Libretto and Enoteca Sociale. Even your omnivore friends will want to join.

Shinta

Meat-lovers will not want to bring their vegan friends to this premium BBQ beef-lover's paradise in Richmond Hill when it opens at the end of the month. With high-grade Japanese and Australian Wagyu beef on the menu, it'll be the first to offer AYCE Wagyu in the GTA.

Wynona

Gerrard East is officially #killingit with excellent eats, and this soon-to-open spot (right next to chef Suzanne Barr's also imminent Kid Chocolate, no less) offering handmade pasta along with natural and biodynamic wines should be a great new addition.

Zebu Steak + Bar

Replacing what used to be Milestones at John & Richmond downtown is what promises to be "a unique fusion of North & South American steakhouses featuring authentic Brazilian cuisine." Sounds delicious.

Toronto Police are investigating the cause of a fire that engulfed a two-storey building in Bloordale last night. 

The three-alarm blaze was reported at 6 p.m., which broke out inside Brock Sandwich, and took Toronto Fire around two hours to the extinguish fire.

Crazy fire just now near Bloor and Margueretta, during the magic hour cc: @bigonbloorfest#TorontoFirepic.twitter.com/xhy1JBfNqm

— Andrew Williamson (@aswilliamson) March 24, 2018

Employees of the sandwich shop were forced to evacuate the building, along with residents of the upstairs unit.

Neighbouring Vito's Barber was also affected as was Dosa Mahal, a popular South Indian restaurant, which was forced to evacuate its customers and employees.

UPDATE: Fire has been extinguished. @BrockSandwich and Vito’s Barber seem most affected. Thankfully, it appears there have been no reported injuries. Thank you to the entire emergency team @TPSOperations@TorontoMedics@Toronto_Fire for your diligent response #DavenportTOpic.twitter.com/AzpmkNWSHA

— Cristina Martins (@CMartinsMPP) March 24, 2018

No injuries were reported following the accident. 

This is horrendous. Just a few weeks ago, my niece, nephew, mother, and I were deciding whether to go to Banjara or South Indian Dosa Mahal. Now both have had serious fires in just a couple of days. https://t.co/T1CurXW6WI

— Farah N. Mawani (@farah_way) March 25, 2018

This is the second fire to force several restaurant evacuations in two days.

Friend was there when it started, seems a fire started upstairs and filled the shop with smoke and everyone had to run outside

— Joshua M (@SilverRocket) March 24, 2018

Just yesterday, Christie Pit's Banjara went up in flames, reportedly due to a kitchen fire that escalated into full-blown blaze, sending one firefighter to the hospital.

After five years of calling Toronto home, the pair of giant pandas on loan from China and their two babies have left the Toronto Zoo for good, and the city is a little heartbroken. 

Saying goodbye to the pandas. Enjoy your time in Calgary 😭

A post shared by Jasmine Rosario (@jazzybytes) on Mar 11, 2018 at 7:59am PDT

The family left to much fanfare this past week before being shipped off to the Calgary Zoo on Friday.

And they’re gone! The giant pandas at Toronto Zoo for past five years are now enroute to new home in Calgary. Note the panda photos on side of transport trucks. Joining them on flight is vet and their zoo keeper plus lots of bamboo. They will be in Calgary til 2023 pic.twitter.com/j80BQ3aazz

— carl hanstke (@carl680) March 23, 2018

Transported in FedEx trucks, Da Mao, Er Shun, and their cubs Jia Panpan and Jia Yueyue were driven to the airport where they were carted onto a charter plane, west coast bound. 

True heartbreak is that the Pandas at the Toronto Zoo are leaving 🐼#letmeadoptyou

— kelly⚘ (@_kellycorrea) March 11, 2018

Clearly, Torontonians are not taking the break up well. But before we get too caught up in our feelings, just a quick reminder that the Toronto Zoo is still full of incredible animals.

The baby white rhino just discovered snow at the #Toronto zoo pic.twitter.com/wZs5wKdonw

— blogTO (@blogTO) February 11, 2018

Lest we forget: we have not one, but two male baby rhinos.

Theodore – a white rhino best known for his viral video that shows him gallavanting through the snow – and Kiran, an Indian Rhino, were born in December and January respectively. 

Monday just got better with the newest video of the @TheTorontoZoo's baby rhino #Torontopic.twitter.com/OYorD8g3yn

— blogTO (@blogTO) February 26, 2018

I mean, we helped name them last month for goodness sake – or do you not recall this precious video of the calves presenting you with your voting options.

Ena, Mylo and Kita will enjoy a special carnivoire feeding today at 11:30am for our #13DaysofEnrichment🎁pic.twitter.com/90U2hBEBvw

— The Toronto Zoo (@TheTorontoZoo) December 31, 2017

We also have two snow leopard cubs, Mylo and Kita, who were born just last year to their mom, Ena.

A BABY ZEBRA WAS JUST BORN AT THE #TORONTOZOO!! NOW I NEED TO GO BACK AND SEE THIS LITTLE ONE! pic.twitter.com/9L49H0Euwh

— Sarah Jenkins (@sarahjenkinsxo) August 18, 2016

How about Rey, our now-grown Grevy zebra who rocked the city with her cuteness when she was born two years ago.

#🦒

A post shared by Dannia Grissel (@dann.ia) on Mar 19, 2018 at 10:47am PDT

There's also the giraffe calves Mstari and Kiko: two sassy additions to the zoo's Masai giraffe family.

Daydreaming of a @thetorontoraptors win. #WeTheNorth #raptors #Nassir #enrichment #gorilla #torontoraptors #torontozoo

A post shared by Toronto Zoo (@thetorontozoo) on Apr 24, 2015 at 11:35am PDT

And don't you dare forget about our gorillas, including Nassir, who is clearly a Raptors fan and just as excited about the Cavs game as you. 

The go-to spot for beers and barbecue on Centre Island is rebranding itself as a brewery. 

Toronto Island Brewing Co. – which already has a series of beers on the market – is taking over the Toronto Island BBQ & Beer Co. space in May with a menu that will likely consist of food plus their house beers. 

Their brews include their Sinners Helles Bock, Redeemers Lager, Ferryboat Blonde Ale and Ned's Champion IPA, some of which have been offered at bars like Sin and Redemption and the Town Crier since late last year. 

The property at 120 Centre Island Dock – which also used to house the Island Cafe before the BBQ restaurant takeover – sits right next to the ferry docks and has a massive outdoor patio which will make the perfect summer hangout for beer-lovers. 

The top spaces for working remotely in Toronto come with a small but necessary checklist of requirements: uninterrupted free WiFi, a place to sit, and ideally, silence. Access to caffeine helps too, but let's not get choosey. 

Here are my picks for the top spaces to working remotely in Toronto. 

MaRS

As one of the most innovative spaces in the city, this building by Yonge and College has tons of places to get creative, whether its on their ground floor public spaces or in their Live Labs, the prime spot for brainstorming courtesy of CIBC. 

Coworking Spaces

Sometimes, seeing other people get their grind on can inspire you to do the same. If you hate working from home but need a regular spot to work from, there's plenty of shared offices that offer memberships with perks like stunning spaces, meeting rooms and even cafes. 

Toronto Reference Library

Not only is it one of the most beautiful indoor spaces in Toronto, this library is so spacious, you're bound to find the perfect corner to hunker down and get to work. The universal rule of library silence, free WiFi and a Balzacs on the first floor has your checklist covered. 

A Toronto coffee shop

Our city is teeming with coffee shops, so if you're not picky about noise levels, head to one of the many cafes with free WiFi and caffeinate yourself with a nice cup of get-your-butt-to-work, with a plate of cafe sustenance to keep the hunger at bay. 

A hotel lobby

Heading to a ritzy lobby may not be your gut reaction when faced with impending deadlines and Skype meetings, but some hotel lobbies are ideal for working, equipped with WiFi and comfier-than-average chairs that make the occasional concierge side-eye totally worth it.

The messiest restaurants in Toronto will make you work for your food. If you like getting your hands dirty, head to these restaurants for some saucy dishes and drippy feasts. 

Here are my picks for the messiest restaurants you can eat at in Toronto. 

Captain’s Boil

Perhaps the city's original mess-maker, this boil bar has four locations where you can don bibs and gloves to toss your seafood in sauce. Expect very few plates here: this DIY experience will have you eating your shrimp off a paper tablecloth. 

Saigon Star

Throw on your bib and a pair of plastic gloves to tear away at this Richmond Hill restaurant's famous curry crab. These guys are swimming in sauce – use the crab crackers for minimal mess. 

James Cheese Back Ribs

Dexterity is needed at this Chinatown restaurant, where you're expected to cut up saucy ribs with scissors while wrapping them in gooey, stretchy, mozzarella cheese – all over a dangerously hot plate. 

Ozzy’s

Prepare to stretch your mouth wider than it's ever gone to devour one of these halal burgers. This Kensington spot serves up towering burgers full of dripping cheese and their signature oozing Ozzy sauce. 

Dirty Bird

Chicken atop maple butter waffles are doused in sweet and tangy sauce here – unless you go with the dry rub wings – but it won't be a clean eat either way. All three of their locations also carry a ridiculously big waffle ice cream sandwich that's a surefire way to make a sticky mess. 

Cheers Cut

Oily, cheesy, and powdery, the Taiwanese fried chicken at this Yonge and Dundas spot are massive filets (they come in XL or XXL) that come stuffed with cheese and coated with two types breading. Use the provided gloves to try and devour these ginormous 12-ounce filets. 

Adamson Barbecue

Texas-style BBQ eats implies eating with your hands, and that's mostly what you'll be doing at this hit restaurant in Leaside. Tear away at their gristly spareribs and juicy, fatty brisket.  

Tinuno

Gorge yourself on a hands-only Filipino kamayan feast at this St. James Town restaurant. Form little balls of delicious garlic rice with your hands and throw it down with pieces of delicious bits of pork belly, all served up atop a layer of banana leaves. 

Morals Village

You can get your hot pot on at this Chinatown restaurant or at its Markham location. Be wary of back splash from the bubbling broths (especially the spicy ones) and drips from the array of dipping sauces provided – a white shirt is definitely not recommended.  

Hot Bunzz

The stuffed baos from this Queen West restaurant may be adorable, but they come topped with a heaping pile of sauces and veggies that make them totally impractical to eat in one bite unless you have an abnormally large mouth. 

Cheap lunch options in the Financial District are a welcome reprieve in an area that has its fair share of pricey food. With menu items that won’t set you back more than $10, these lunchtime spots go easy on the wallet.

Here are my picks for the top cheap lunch options in the Financial District.

Rusi

Located in the small ground level food court right next to King Station, this Sri Lankan spot has rotis stuffed with items like chicken kothu for $7.99 that includes a soup of the day. They also have huge thalis for $9.99, and appetizers like onion buns perfect for snacking for $1.50.

Naturally Yours

This healthy spot in First Canadian Place is chock full of natural products, but admist the vitamins you’ll also find a hot table of comfort foods like lentil loaves and rice with veggies, all for under $8, tax included.

Tropical Energy Juice Bar

This longtime smoothie and juice bar is tucked away in the Commerce Court concourse by the lower level food court. As the name implies, they specialize in fresh squeezed juices but they also have quick grab-and-go pre-made eats like salads and Korean japchae for under $6.

Ho Ga

Not only is this spot ridiculously cheap, it has big portions as well. Located in the PATH, Ho Ga is a cash-only Korean takeout that serves lunches averaging around $8 and less after tax. Styrofoam boxes with bibimbap, teriyaki, and katsus are sure to fill you up.

Clipper Cafe

Definitely still a well-kept secret in the Bank of Nova Scotia building, this fourth-floor staff cafeteria has hot entree lunches with daily specials like jerk chicken on Fridays for around $8. It’s not the prettiest place to sit but for the prices and portions, it beats the food court.

Touch Indian

Located in the PATH, this Indian restaurant by Adelaide has a good selection of combos like tandoori chicken and wraps, all for under $8. Closed at dinnertime, head to Touch for some fluffy lunchtime naan by Yonge and Adelaide.

Fast Fresh Foods

Focusing on sandwiches and salads, this healthy spot with multiple Financial District locations lets you customize your meals with gluten free and whole wheat artisanal breads for under $9. You can also get a big custom salad with toppings like quinoa and mushrooms for around the same price.

Brick Street Bakery

As the area’s favourite bakery-cafe chain, this spot under First Canadian Place is the spot for grabbing quick eats. They have a big selection of gourmet sandwiches that average around $8; try their famous Coronation Chicken sandwich.

Sushi Cafe

This tiny spot on University is definitely a hidden gem your wallet will be happy to find. Here 12-piece sushi boxes are $6 and under, lunch sandwiches are all $3.99, plus they have lunch specials like meatballs and rice, just $5.99 for a large.

Mr. Souvlaki

Chicken souvlaki plates and gyros here run a few bucks cheaper than other Greek food court options in the PATH. With Greek faves like roasted chicken legs, and falafels, plates like a large spicy chicken plate of salad, potatos, and rice will only set you back $6.99 for a large.

Free events in Toronto this week offer a range of things to do on the cheap like pick yourself up some bagels or watch a few documentary shorts. It's also the last week to see WinterStations before they're gone.