Help
Add this page to your book
Show book (0 pages)
Suggest pagesCaptain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant
 |
This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (December 2011) |
Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant is a noted restaurant and banquet hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the MS Jadran a former Adriatic passenger ship now permanently docked at Yonge Street and Queen's Quay on Toronto's waterfront. The restaurant is open every day of the year, including all major holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day.
The restaurant is owned and operated by John Letnik who came to Canada as a refugee from Yugoslavia in 1957. He opened the restaurant aboard the MS Normac in 1970. The Normac had served several years with the Detroit Fire Department and then as a ferry that travelled between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. In 1975 Letnik bought the larger Jadran from the Yugoslav government. The Jadran was one of three luxury cruise ships built in Split for the Jadranska Linijska Plovidba company. For several years it operated as a luxury cruise ship in the Adriatic and Aegean. Letnik purchased the ship in 1975 for a million dollars, and it became a second location for his restaurant.
The ship is one of many attractions in the area known as Harbourfront.
In 1981 the Normac was struck by then Metro Toronto Parks-operated ferry Trillium and sunk. No one was hurt, but the restaurant was destroyed. This set off a long legal battle between Letnik and the city. Letnik was eventually awarded damages, but reportedly not enough to compensate for the destruction. The Normac was raised and refurbished and served as a floating restaurant in other communities with the Jadran being the sole home of Captain John's since then.
Despite reviews from local papers as being average in food quality,[1] the restaurant boasts signs that proclaim to eat at Captain John's is to eat "the best seafood in town!" Reviews by patrons are decidedly mixed. The restaurant's clientele is primarily tourists and many bus tours stop at Captain John's.
[edit] Temporary 2008 closure after health department inspection
In August 2008, Toronto public health officials ordered the restaurant closed after citing it for 11 separate infractions, including 'Operator fail to maintain premises free of sewage back-up' and 'Operator fail to ensure food is not contaminated/adulterated'. The owner was fined $2,160. (report)
[edit] References
- ^ Davey, Steven (July 10, 2003). "Abandon ship Waterside hideaway." Now Toronto Magazine. Accessed December 2011.
- Brennan, Pat (April 4, 1986). "Down-under diner might sail once again". Toronto Star. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475039091.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Apr+04%2C+1986&author=Pat+Brennan+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Down-under+diner+might+sail+once+again&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- Thompson, Allan (June 3, 1986). "City becalms 'Captain' John in bid to raise sunken restaurant". Toronto Star. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475198991.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+03%2C+1986&author=Allan+Thompson+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=City+becalms+'Captain'+John+in+bid+to+raise+sunken+restaurant&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- "Captain John's boat leaves watery grave". Toronto Star. June 15, 1986. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475230941.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+15%2C+1986&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Captain+John's+boat+leaves+watery+grave&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- "New tax will hit MPs too". Toronto Star. August 21, 1989. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/470815361.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Aug+21%2C+1989&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=New+tax+will+hit+MPs+too&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- Shephard, Michelle. "Restaurant's Claws for Success, Sinking of His First Restaurant Failed to Dampen Captain John's Ambitions". Toronto Star. Aug. 14, 1995. p. C.3
- Ferguson, Rob (March 16, 2002). "Captain John's awash in heavy debts; Restaurant files for bankruptcy protection". Toronto Star. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/421689701.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+16%2C+2002&author=Rob+Ferguson&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Captain+John's+awash+in+heavy+debts+%3B+Restaurant+files+for+bankruptcy+protection&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- Smith, Joanna (February 29, 2008). "Hidden depths at Captain John's". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/308098. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- Javed, Noor (December 22, 2009). "Final voyage for Captain John's?". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/741738--final-voyage-for-captain-john-s. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
- Javed, Noor (February 24, 2010). "Is Captain John's Restaurant too weird to sell?". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/770528--is-captain-john-s-restaurant-too-weird-to-sell. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
[edit] External links
Coordinates: 43°38′29″N 79°22′28″W / 43.641362°N 79.374387°W
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Captain John's Harbour Boat Restaurant |
