Neil "indefinite review hiatus" T.'s Profile

FTR bitches!

Highlights:
1. State of the art printing facilities
2. A Mac lab for workshops
3. A nice gallery space (see: http://www.blogto.com/...)
4. People friendly
5. A wicked guard dog
6. Family run by a father and son team

I've spent so much time here since discovering it a few months ago that I've developed a close relationship with the owners and a few of their employees.  I love just hanging out there and they encourage other photographers to come in and see for themselves.

So it is simple: If you need to get photos printed on canvas or specialty paper and if you care about quality, this place is the place to go.  Prices are not the cheapest in town, but the difference in quality really speaks volumes compared with other lower cost alternatives.  

To photographers: bring your images here so you can preview them before printing and touch them up so they will print exactly the way you want them to.  Too often I've uploaded images online at other stores for pick-up only to realize the colour spaces are different and that they've essentially transformed my images far away from the intended look.  Not cool at all.

In closing: I won't print anywhere else...oh yeah, back to Yelp review retirement.

Again, I am coming off my review moratorium to tell you all about a wicked new spot in Parkdale!  When someone asks you the question "what is Canadian food?" you no longer have to sit there confused and answer with "poutine".  Send them over to Keriwa and all will be revealed...

1. This place is virtually brand new, but the atmosphere and buzz feels like it's been apart of the neighbourhood for years.  It feels like they've carved out an identity already.  Maybe it's because the seating capacity is pretty limited and it feels more intimate, I dunno.

2. Whenever possible, all the ingredients are sourced locally -- while in season.

3. Some of the best cocktails in town.  The attention to detail while crafting these things is incredible.  Many original concoctions.

4. Oysters, smoked whitefish app, and bison tail.  All winners.  And yes, Bonnie D. is right; the peach/nectarine pie is one of the most delicious things I have ever eaten.  Just get it.

5. From my understanding, this is a start up from a couple of people from Splendido, so it doesn't surprise me at all that the food and drinks are this good.  Also as expected, the service is top notch.

Overall, this is such a great new spot in the city.  If it wasn't for being broke, I'd eat here all the time.  I highly recommend this place...definitely check it out before the buzz gets around.

I'm coming out of temporary Yelp retirement to review this gem of a spot in the super shady OCAD food court.  I've never been someone who'd penalize a restaurant for it's decor, location, or health/safety standards so of course it's location doesn't bother me one bit.  I even celebrate it's glorious existence.

1. I adore how the lady calls me baby.  Not creepy at all.  Enduring even.

2. $5 all day breakfast that comes with all five major food groups: bacon, eggs, garlic fries (so damned good), fruit, and unlimited coffee/tea.  It's a mountain of food.  You can even get salad instead of fries for a reasonably healthy meal but you're going to want to get the garlic fries.  Best deal in the city for breakfast as far as I am concerned.

3. The owner/operator really cares and you can see how they value their customers.  While I was there she gave some dessert to a regular and was like "no problem, we'll see you next time".  I love this give and take relationship with store owners!  It isn't nearly common enough in this city.

4. Clearly I enjoyed this place enough that it forced me to come out of Yelp retirement.

Now to re-retire from Yelp again.  See you when I see you.

Yeah...four stars.  It was good, but the other Elite parties really set the bar high.  Why was this four stars?

1. I showed up late.  I guess I missed a lot of the early on greatness.  My bad.
2. I didn't eat anything and only drank club soda.  My bad.
3. Was great catching up with people -- Bijan, Melinda, Brian, Mel, Soukia, Payam, etc.
4. Lots of new faces that I didn't get to really meet with.  My bad.
5. Surprise guest appearance by Jay and Kat!
6. Fucking fisheye lens.  My bad.
7. Because of #1, I didn't really have that much time there.

That's it.  Good times all round, looking forward to the next one!  Let's make it sooner than later!

I am being slightly generous with this review.  Le Restaurant is a complete failure in restaurant identity and branding.  It is located off Bloor's Koreatown and it doesn't benefit from heavy passerby traffic.  In fact, they hardly get very much business from what I can see.  They've made huge efforts in bedazzling the front of the restaurant with huge food signage, flashing Christmas lights, etc.  It is a bit of a joke.

The restaurant is a "fusion" of Swiss and Chinese menu items...confused?  From what I can tell, the bulk of the items are more Swiss-style Chinese food.

But why the 4-star rating you ask?  The staff is extremely friendly and hard working.  You can tell that they appreciate your business.  They're proud small business owners like many immigrants to this country.  They remind me of my own parents.  They have ridiculously nice Swiss coffee.  Their breakfast is $3.99 and comes with an option of specialty drinks that will cost you at least that much at other restaurants.  Unfortunately though, Le Restaurant won't succeed with it's current branding and vision.

Here is my advice for the very nice owners at Le Restaurant: re-brand yourself.  There's no decent Chinese restaurant in that stretch of Koreatown.  Why not become the go-to place for cheap Chinese food?  Most of your menu is Chinese anyway, just make that identity more well known -- and drop the cheap breakfast and Swiss items.  Why not offer order-off-the-menu dim sum instead of breakfast?  I bet the margins would be higher and people would actually flock there.  There's nothing like this in the area!  I think an inexpensive Chinese restaurant would do quite well!

Lastly, get rid of the name.  If you were to Google "Le Restaurant Toronto" it will generate more than 14,800,000 search results.  It isn't exactly an original enough name to be unique.

I don't understand why restaurants specializing in banh cuon choose to reheat dishes that have already been made!  What's up with this disease that's running rampant at banh cuon restaurants all over town?  I don't get it.

Anyway, here's the lowdown:

1. This place reminds me of Vietnam.  It's very nostalgic in that sense (dirty, missing washroom, grimy, amazing).

2. Pho was a solid 3.5 stars.  Only one size, slightly oily and cloudy broth, but tasty.  Tendon is nice.  $6.

3. Banh cuon was meh.  You could tell it was heated in a microwave as the sweet sweet innards were piping hot.  Plus it came out in about 2 minutes.  Still though, it was like $4.50...not too bad of a risk, but not worthy of the "Banh Cuon" in the restaurant's name.

4. Location...not so good if you don't live in the area.  Not really a destination place with so many other (better options) closer to the core.

5. Huge +1 -- super cheap and no tax.  A pho, banh cuon, and duck noodle soup came to $18.  You can't beat that.

Overall, it's acceptable but not worth the trek out that way.

Swanky Japanese in the Annex.  Yup, you heard it right!  It's a nice change from the same same university hang outs like New Gen, Big Sushi, and Sushi on Bloor...but at what cost!?!?

1. Dinner was $20/person without alcohol and with a free roll (because they took so damned long to serve us).

2. Service was severely lacking.  If you're gonna be swanky, your service needs to be bang on.  If I wanted bad service (to die for), I'd go to New Gen!  Zing!

3. The Couture Roll was fantastic ($11 or $12 I believe).  It had a wonderful medley of grilled and raw seafood in roll form.  A must have dish!

4. Overall, there's a notable quality difference between this place and the cheaper alternatives.  Fresh fish is apparently flown in from all over the place.

5. It is a nice place to treat yourself to, but for the price difference, I'd be just as content with Big Sushi or Sushi on Bloor.  What can I say, I like my sushi like I like my women: big, ghetto, and cheap!

3 stars, worth a visit or if you want to class it up for a meal.

I didn't have the pho here.  However, with items like banh cuon and banh beo on the menu, who needs that same same crap that you can get everywhere else?

The lowdown:

1. The banh cuon is fantastic.  I recommend the one that includes banh cong tom, a delicious deep fried tapioca "muffin" topped with shrimp!  It made my heart stop twice, once because I fell in love, the second when it clogged my arteries.

2. The banh beo was ok, not fantastic.  However, this isn't a dish that is often found at Viet restaurants, so I had to order it.  It's worth trying in my opinion, and for $4, why not?

3. Though I didn't have the pho, I can say that they do use the thicker fresh noodles, which I love.  Plus if you order the raw beef, the beef actually comes raw on a side plate.  Also a nice touch.

4. Prices are good, if not cheap.

5. You can order individual rolls like spring rolls or goi cuon (cold rolls) for $1.50.  No more commitments to a full order costing you $4-5!  Amazing!

6. Free street parking in the evenings!

I am beginning to think that the Dufferin/College oasis of Vietnamese joints is becoming the new Ossington.  I am loving both Pho Linh and Pho Canh Buom so far.  Next up to try in the area?  Pho Phoenix.  Could this be the start of the Holy Pho Trinity?  Time will tell.

PS - If I come here next time for pho and it's on the money, this will be a 5-star place!

Thank you Ajisen Ramen!  Because of your crappy bowl of noodles I had yesterday, it will make my ramen this weekend at Ippudo NYC (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) taste so much better!

Notes:

1. "Irasshaimase!" sounds funny when Chinese people say it.
2. The creme-coloured broth tastes like salty water
3. Pretty cheap (but there are way better eating bargains to be had in the Chinatown/Kensington area)
4. It's very busy -- I suspect it won't be once they've had enough people try it
5. Has me rethinking that Kenzo might be a lot better than I give it credit for
6. Decor is too bright and busy.  Annoying really.

Dare I say that you are banned?

The pho gets a healthy 3.5, but this place is 4 stars all the way!  Random notes, you say?

1. Hilarious diner style booths and chairs...with a nautical theme.  Amazing.

2. Pho is good.  The broth isn't as bland as the Ossington joints BUT the tendon was chewy.  This gets an unprecedented 14 thumbs down.  

3. Menu is pretty extensive with a lot of items not found anywhere else E.g. banh canh cua (a thick tapioca noodle soup).  I am totally getting this next visit.

4. Despite it not being very busy, the place is LOUD!  It's like going to a Vietnamese family's place for dinner.  You walk in wondering how such a small number of people could generate so much noise.  Awesome.

5. Re: 4 -- they blast Vietnamese theatre on the tele (see Paris by Night).  I don't know what the plot was, but it involved hot Vietnamese women prancing around in short shorts.  Me rikey.

6. Free parking in the evenings on the street - bonus!

7. They deliver with a minimum $25 order!  A Viet places that delivers?  Insanity!

I can't wait to come back.  This place has almost 5-star potential!