Lauren "Lola" N.'s Profile

It's now been twice that I've caved in and succumbed to the decadent delights of Sweet Lollapalooza. I had the privilege of meeting Chocolatier Brett Roy, who offered me a sample of anything I wished to try. I zoned in on the dark chocolate and honey nougat, and I'm so glad I did. It was heaven! Automatically I had to have more.

The soft caramels are also delicious and simply melt in your mouth. A bag of these makes a great little gift for anyone who appreciates a little sweetness now and then.

I will have to come back and sample something new everyday until I've tried it all, lol ... But in all seriousness, this chocolate shop is amazing and stands in a calibre of its own.

If I remember correctly, they also offer chocolate-making workshops. Great idea for team-building!

Great little place to stop for lunch in downtown! Formerly known as Queen of Tarts, Dauphine is a French-style bakery and cafe which offers delightful baked delectables and also a great menu for lunch and dinner.

I stopped by here for lunch the other day and had the trio plate, which was a plate of chicken liver pate and brie with french baguette slices and fresh salad with sweet pickles on the side. Absolutely freakin' delicious! My lunching companion had the potato and leek soup of the day with the banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich). His soup was a bit cold at first, but on the plus side, it was warmer on the bottom! We finished lunch with a couple of coconut macarons which were sweet and flaky.

Already made other plans for lunch here next week, this might be a regular thing!

Heard a lot of good things about Sofra and glad I finally decided to try it! It may look pretty simple on the exterior, which makes the interior look quite unexpected. Burnt orange walls and dim lights everywhere, it's rustic and earthy inside. There's a big stone horse sculpture on a ledge in the centre of the restaurant, no doubt the masterpiece of the place, that resembles the legendary Trojan horse.

But enough of ambiance and decor, and onto the food! I had the shrimp casserole which was delicious. Large prawns cooked with all kinds of veggies -- tomatoes, squash, mushroom, peppers -- sitting in a slightly spicy sauce/broth, and all covered with mmm mmm melted cheese on top! Highly recommended. My friend had the chicken skewers which were really moist and tender, grilled to perfection. All entrees come with salad and rice pilaf.

Service was courteous and friendly, our waitress came by to check up on us often. They also didn't kick us out when we decided to linger a little longer to chat. A great dining experience at Sofra and I would definitely go back!

Really easy to miss this place because it's tucked in the back of the HSBC building, but it's a great little spot for those in the know about downtown lunching grounds!

You may want to get there before 12pm to avoid the lunch crowd, the earlier the better, otherwise the later the longer the line. The wonton noodle soup is great for a chilly day -- the bowl was plentiful and the broth was full of flavour but not too salty. Mmm, mmm!

Service was friendly and efficient, it looks like it's a sweet and hardworking couple who own the shop. Put your order in and pay at the front, then snag a table if you can. They will bring your order over to you personally. Don't be surprised if it takes a little longer when you show up later though, because they don't have extra staff and it gets busy around 12ish. Alternatively, you can order to go and they will pack it up in a container with a handy lid for you.

Also, cash only!

Great shopping mall, conveniently located right beside the hotel Sheraton Laval for guests staying there. I liked the circular concept of the mall and how it felt as if I were walking down a trendy European street of boutiques rather than just another indoor mall. The design concept of this place is genius!

Lots of great shops like Simons, Mango and RW & Co. A shopaholic can easily spend a whole day here. And when you're hungry, there's plenty to choose from in the classy food court. Seriously, one of the best-looking food courts I've seen in a mall!

Wasn't expecting much since Earl's is pretty consistent across its chain, but maybe it's the gorgeous mountain view encircling this location that makes it stand out. Scratch that, it definitely is.

The restaurant is located upstairs in the building, with the bar at the centre of the room and tables spread out around the periphery and wrap-around patio. Would've been fantastic to come in the summer and sit outside, admiring the view!

My steak was cooked perfectly and was nice and tender, the best I've had in awhile. The waitress was friendly and accommodating to our large group, we couldn't have asked for better service.

The Seven Drawers is a cute little shop specializing in unique furniture and home decor. Most items seem to have a vintage theme to them; the old-fashioned movie reel was particularly neat. While the store is still fairly new and probably working on expanding its collection, the variety of items is decent and includes larger furniture pieces like tables, shelves, chairs (a bed, I think) and smaller decor items like mirrors, candles, frames and paintings.

The owner was friendly and let me take my time around the shop. There are also more items to view on the lower floor. Prices appeared average, although the items did too. I'm hoping there will be more items with more character eventually, then I would go back.

A great stop for a quick Vietnamese sandwich! Service is quick and friendly, and the ingredients are fresh and tasty. Choose from a variety of sandwich combinations -- personally, I like the combination sandwich the best because it's got everything in it. It's about $5 per sandwich, and keep in mind these sandwiches are like footlong subs. A great price for what you get, and quite filling too. Wash your sandwich down with a tasty and fresh sugar cane drink, it's delicious. A cheap and tasty meal on the go at West Ed!

Golf's has a unique ambience and look about it, kind of old world Shakespearean, but that's all it has going for it. From its grand appearance both inside and out, it seems like the meal would be memorable but it turned out to be rather disappointing.

Interestingly enough for a steakhouse, I had the pepper steak but definitely had better elsewhere. My steak was tougher than I would have liked it; everyone else in my party seemed to enjoy the seafood though. Serving portions are quite large, and the baked alaska is rather impressive, I must say. Definitely big enough to share between 3-4 people.

Service was decent and friendly, though they cleared my boss' plate before he was done. Unfortunately, the service and decor combined still cannot shake my disappointment enough to change the 2-star rating for this place.

Love the Rocky Mountain Soap Company! This is a quaint and quiet little shop, a good place to get away from the crowds for a bit when you're strolling through the Village. The salesgirl was really friendly and helpful and offered a hand scrub demo to all of us. Their products are natural and feel great on your skin, and everything smells so lovely! Pick up a free sample size handmade soap too when you stop by.