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Review Of The Day Archive for Toronto
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Tim English is amazing.
A succesful lawyer turned chocolatier, this store is the mixture of creativity and an entrepeneurial spirit.
First off, the peanut butter bacon chocolate is a must. Unexpectedly amazing chewing into bacon like it were a raisin.
Second off, i highly recommend the initimate truffle making course Tim can arrange for you and your friends. It makes for a very fun night.
There's passion, there's fun ingredients, there's pure whimsy in the stuff he makes.
What you've heard is true: Combine Eatery serves up the best fish tacos this side of California.
I met up with a dozen other Yelpers tonight. This UYE was so popular that we took up almost an entire wall of the restaurant. Well, almost. It's not a big place: including our group, it was a full house and a line-up had formed midway through our meals. Come here on a Wednesday or a Friday night, this place will be hopping for a while.
My experience of fish tacos is somewhat limited but I can tell that you won't be disappointed. I ordered the So Cal style grilled fish taco with coleslaw. The coleslaw was OK, a little too vinegary for my taste, but the fish was yummy.
Since I like to put hot sauce on everything, I made sure to dollop my food with drops of the XXX spicy habanero sauce for that kick. Even if you're not a fan of hot sauce, they've got milder versions but do add some: it will make your meal taste that much better.
I didn't order any drinks but for the meal, price-wise after taxes, it seemed reasonable. Fish, after all, can be expensive. Even after eating every morsel on my plate, I could have eaten another taco because they were that good.
Since it can be difficult for any restaurant to accommodate a large group like ours, the staff was fantastic, patient and attentive. The best part: we were all given separate bills. We were a group of 20, who does that?! Apparently, Combine Eatery can.
The Bovine is the closest Toronto has to New York's infamous (nefarious?) CBGB. Small, dark and rough around the edges the Bovine has no artificial pretensions. Be sure more than a few patrons have lost their hearing in front of the Bovine's stage, their virginity in one of the bathrooms and their minds to one too many Jägerbombs served up by some tattooed beaut at the bar. It's history is written by many a legendary rock band that's played their stage and/or sat on their bar stools. This is the place to catch those indie bands before they become big. Say you saw them at the Bovine first. The bar has stood the test of time, has maintained a loyal crowd and held it's own against newcomers like the Tattoo Rock Parlor.
You walk in, a small stage takes up the front of the establishment, then there's the bar against the wall to your left where you'll find tattooed maidens serving up common beers and whiskies. Above the bar is four old color TVs that loop through various anime, classic horror, vintage porno and just about any B-Movie or cult hit you could think of. Walk past the bar there are the washrooms and past that you enter a rear room that allows patrons to hang out and chat audibly, far removed from the stage and whatever band is peeling the wallpaper off the walls.
For the longest time the Bovine was also known for being THE place to get your Jäger drunk on. One of the few (and perhaps the first in Toronto) that served Jäger on tap. Now, last I went to the Bovine I found that Jack Daniels had replaced Jäger as the bar's promoted liquor of choice which seems rather odd to me. Jäger is to the Bovine as graffiti is to public washrooms. Perhaps just a temporary thing during NXNE? I'll have to go back soon to find out.
Not unlike the Horseshoe Tavern the Bovine is a part of Rock n Roll Toronto history. Even if your not a rocker it's worth going there at least once for sheer kicks. You might just catch a great up and coming band or see one of your rock idols sitting next to you. Whatever you do, bring earplugs.
Dancing on the border of Brampton/Mississauga, and uncomfortably sandwiched amongst a pair of strip clubs and truck stop diners, you'll find this gem of a restaurant.
I've been to Zorro's a few times now, and it gets better every time I'm there. Call me old-school, but I just love how old fashioned the place is designed, how the employees are all suited up, and they're all so friendly without being invasive. A tad pricey, sure, but it's well worth it.
The food is amazing. From the BBQ ribs, filet mignon, veal parm, peppercorn steak, hell, even their garlic bread is delicious. Shockingly, the highlight for me is always their salad. I don't know what they put in that dressing, but it's incredible. I'm getting stomach howls just thinking about it.
You'll definitely want to make a reservation, as I've never been there when it wasn't pretty packed.
Check it out. You won't be sorry.
Note: The name of the place is very misleading. If you swing into the restaurant on a chandelier, it's kind of frowned upon.
First to Review
Wines intimidate me as much as lion, tigers, and bears; that is to say, a lot. My palate for wine is as refined as oil from the oil sands; that is, not at all. (It's analogy day!) Add in the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with wine tastings, airings, and you have me running the opposite way when I hear "wine".
Enter Mavrik wine bar. This little wine bar on Queen west opened up fairly recently and is as cozy as your favorite pajamas (ok, i'll stop). It's a small space, but one that makes for an intimate, friendly atmosphere. No dress code, pleasant servers, friendly owners, no pretentiousness, just (mostly) wine.
As the owner explained to me, they carry "artisinal" vintages of wine, which is something along the lines of micro brewed beer, or wines made in smaller batches. They have about 30 different wines and the owners and servers took the time to help me understand what the heck I was drinking. Not to say I'm the Einstein of wine now, but I think it did help, at least now I'm like the young apprentice (is that an analogy?)
The friendliness and atmosphere take away some of the intimidation of wine tasting and lets you have some fun without looking like an idiot. All in all, it's a great spot for both wine lovers and those less wine-refined individuals as me, and a nice meet up spot for friends to hang out (face it, once you hit your late 20s, sports and dive bars just can't be an every-outting thing anymore. Dive bars get old like... oh wait, I said I'd stop).
The best part is, if I give up on wine while my friends keep on trying new ones, i can always opt for a beer :)
I was looking over my debit card statement the other day, and I found that I'd eaten here 5 times in the last month!
I started coming here because I'm on this Paleolithic diet, and middle eastern generally offers me a lot more choice than most restaurants.
I first came here with Avitania B and Nicole H, who both ordered this thing called a LAFFA. As I was enjoying my salad topped with chicken (already awesome), I heard some strange noises coming from my friends.
"OMFFFFOOOOGGGG. HRRRRPPPPPPPP. JAYYSSSSUS CRISTO WHAT THE???"
Avitania was nice enough to let me try a bite. HEAVEN. I was instantly jealous. I have no idea what it is, but the sauce that's in this thing is incredibly tasty and addictive. The Laffa has all kinds of stuff thrown in there, including french fries and pickles. Whatever is in there, it's totally worth blowing my diet over. I'll often come here after a long bike ride because I'VE EARNED IT!
Try this damn thing.
I was overly excited to pick up lunch today from the NEW Federick's location. The difference in time from when I first heard there was a new location, to me actually being in there, was less than 45 minutes.
I was stoked to say the least. It's like hearing for example Aunties & Uncles opened up a new location in Richmond Hill, to me that would be big tings!
Ambiance and décor at this new location is the exact opposite of the OG location. It's sleek, welcoming and clean. It's truly a new and improved location in nearly every way.
Chicken Pakora's were strikingly on point. For the price, the portions are banging. They had to use a rubber band to keep my take out container closed because they put that much chicken in it.
Chili chicken was not bad, a little overcooked, great colour, but slightly under seasoned. A few pinches of salt or soy glaze would have made the world of difference.
Crab corn soup was not bad, I've had better but overall it wasn't bad.
Rice noodles with beef were solid. I was expecting flat rice noodles similar to a pad thai noodle or ban pho, but this was closer to a vermicelli, still very good.
Chicken fried rice was seasoned well and appetizing. I know you may think there is not much you can do with this dish but trust me, I've had some terrible experiences.
Finally, service was great. All the staff I spoke with were courteous and helpful, I can't say the same about the OG location.
If I had to choose from now on I would only go to the Markham location, not that it will affect the traffic in Scarborough, both these restaurants will kill it going forward.
No question the best hakka I have ever had is Szechuan Gourmet, don't get it twisted.
My 400th review goes to the Pantheon Restaurant!
For some reason, despite my big love for Greek cuisine and the Danforth in general, I have never eaten at Pantheon until recently.
Apparently I have been missing out because I was truly impressed with the food and service here.
Pantheon is decorated in a more traditional "taverna" style Greek restaurant as opposed to a fine dining look that many of the other good Danforth spots go for (Ouzeri, Pan on the Danforth, Mezes).
The walls are adorned with lots of cheesy hand-painted landscapes covered over with Greek mythology posters and other fun kitschy bits. The tables are set close together and the place gets packed with hungry customers.
2 of my bestest Yelper friends and I decided to share a mixed platter for $32, piled with 2 dolmades (stuffed grape vine leaves), 2 spanokopita (spinach pie), 2 huge pieces of grilled kalamari, a giant piece of grilled octopus and a big fat Greek sausage. Every item on the platter was delicious and perfectly cooked.
We also shared a plate of tzatziki and pita for $6.95.
Our waiter was an absolute gem! I thanked him using my newly acquired Greek word (Efharisto!) and was stoked that he understood and responded in Greek. THEN he brought us a big slice of FREE CAKE! (Honey cake - Melopita)
Overall - a brilliant meal, very reasonable prices (we paid $17 each included tax and tip) and great service. Free cake rules.
Opa!
I would never ever going in Makkah Restaurant by myself if my fellow yelper did not take me here!!
Makkah Restaurant is full of men... all the men that works in the kitchen...all the men that was ordering the food or eating the food in here.. I really stood out like a sore thumb...
The self served eat in area is clean and spacious... after you placed your order, you picked up your food and then you eat and after that you pay... All based on honour system since you even help yourself with the drinks from the fridge!!
Chicken Tikka Kebab was so tender, juicy and delicious! And love that charred smokey flavoured!!
Naan bread that is freshly made by those friendly kitchen staffs that even posed for my photo shots with a big smile on their faces!!
Just love Makkah Restaurant for their food, their down to earth vibe and friendly service!
Now maybe I am ready to come back on my own now???
Good things CAN happen at Sausage Parties. I swear!
I feel horrible that I couldn't go to Wvrst until a week after opening. I went to high school with the owner, Aldo Lanzillotta. We didn't hang out with one another b/c we were in different grades and those are the politics of high school, but over the years I learned through friends that he'd become a chef and worked at some of the best places in Toronto. I'll let you Google his name on your own time.
THEN I heard that Aldo had started something called Simpo Food, which from what I can gather was like a supper club, but in your own home. Chef Aldo would prepare a several-course meal (last time I heard it was 7 course?) in your home for you and your friends and family for a modest fee. That is, of course, if you lived in the Los Angeles area.
Bastard.
But all was forgiven as WVRST opened. Pretty simple procedure for ordering:
- Walk in, grab menu and select your food
- Flip menu and select beer
- Pay, grab a number board and go find a seat - they'll bring your food when it is ready
I went with a buddy early on a Saturday night and we received handshakes from staff as we walked in, as well as a menu and instructions on how to order.
Having eaten at Stoney's for lunch, I knew I wouldn't be eating the glorious buns the sausages are cradled in (they're kinda like a cross between a beignet and a sour dough roll), but couldn't help myself in the end. I ordered one Duck Foie Gras/Maple with caramelized onions and a Guinea Fowl with Aged Cheddar and Asparagus.
Well blow me down with a feather - you may or may not know I would eat foie gras at every meal if socially acceptable. That said, the Duck/Foie Gras with Maple was fantastic. Juicy, full of flavour and you can just get a hint of the maple.
It wasn't the best sausage I've ever had because the Guinea Fowl that FOLLOWED with sweet peppers was. You could taste most if not all the delicate flavours. Guinea fowl flavour is generally a mix between chicken and game, but sometimes more the former than the latter. Not with this sausage. Flavours all came through with this concoction.
This was the first time I've ever looked forward to putting more cylindrical-shaped items in my mouth.
My buddy ordered the Turkey/Chicken Padron Chilies/Cilantro and I've already forgotten the other. He loved them; we didn't share b/c we were two guys. 'Nough said.
Last but not least, I ordered duck fat fries with the maple/rosemary dip. The fries are great. Big with the right amount of crunch. The dip is sweet and just a hint of rosemary.
While our heads are buried in the serving trays of food, Aldo is checking in with each and every table to see how things are going. It is obvious he's excited by what he's doing and it is great to see an actual owner taking so much care in how things are going. It was at this point that he came out and asked how things were. We sang the praises these beauties deserved and then he looked at what was left of what we ordered.
"You didn't order the currywvrst?!"
"You only got ONE dip?!"
...and with that he was off behind the counter. Minutes later we have an order of the currywvrst (so good they have museums in Germany, apparently) and it was delicious - I would have consumed the tomato curry sauce like I do Chalet sauce = from a mug. Aldo also dropped off some of the Jalapeno/Cilantro Yogurt. It had almost a slaw texture to it, but it was bright and fresh tasting with a great zip. The other dip, WVRST (spicy) was indeed spiced but not too hot.
Draught beer selection is eclectic but in a good way. You won't find the usual suspects here, except a 1-litre frosty mug of Pabst Blue Ribbon, but I'll leave that to the hipsters. Wvrst forces you to try something new and at the same time, something local.
Quite a few local craft beers from all around southern Ontario, but also Brooklyn Brewery, stuff from Japan, Spain, Belgium, Austria, etc. Just to add to your plight of narrowing down the selection, a few ciders are tossed into the mix. I lost at Rock, Paper, Scissor so I had to drive that night. I was only able to try some of the Stiegel and Brooklyn Brewery. Both were great and I look forward to trying more with the great weather.
I can't say enough about the place. I hope it does well as Wvrst isn't something we've all tried before. For those looking for stuff called "vegetables" you are S.O.L. There are some, but they're sautéed.
I have plans to return at least twice in the next week or so, just so I can try the remaining sausages that I didn't get to test the first time.
...but I'm pretty sure the guy that cleared my refuse called me "Fabio". I don't know what to do about that.