Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Location: 3160 Steeles Avenue East, Markham
Website: http://izakayaju.ca/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
I had the day off because to move today - into my first home, so it was very exciting for me :) I spent the day with my mom shopping for home decor items and moving stuff, and after a few hours, we were famished.
Since my mom loves Japanese food, I decided on this restaurant (after a tiny mishap at another restaurant near my place, but I'll stick to the program.)
We got the grilled beef tongue ($5.95) and one lamb chop ($4.95). The beef was good, but a little tough for my mom. The lamb was rather plain and could use more seasoning. Very small portions for the price.
For our mains, my mom got a sashimi lunch set (don't remember the price) and was very pleased with the quality and freshness.
I opted for the Osaka cha han ($9.95), or Osaka-style fried rice with octopus. This was a very simple dish, with Japanese-style mayo and other sauces drizzled on top, but still very good. The combination of the sauces reminded me of the ones used on okonomiyakis and takoyakis. Sometimes, simple is good, and that was the case here.
This is a nice quick spot for lunch if you're in the area. Be warned that the waitresses speak very limited English.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Saturday, 13 September 2014
The Keg Steakhouse Mansion
Date: September 13, 2014
Location: 515 Jarvis St,
Website: http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I finally visited The Keg Mansion today to celebrate a coworker's birthday. We arrived just after 7pm on a Saturday night without reservations, and we were told it would be about an hour wait, so we headed up to the bar. I had the SMOKEY PINEAPPLE ($10.50 for the Keg size/2 oz), which for me had no discernible pineapple flavour and tasted no different from a mojito. My companion got a BLACKBERRY MULE ($7 for 1 oz). We shared a GARLIC CHEESE TOAST ($6.99), which consisted of bread slices topped with a blend of three cheeses. This app app was pretty standard but delish nonetheless.
Our buzzer went off about 40 minutes later, and we headed downstairs to the dining area. Our tab at the bar was transferred. Our waiter, Andrew, with his mild mannerisms and perfect posture reminded me of a butler - in a good way because it added to the elegance of the place.
My companion and I both opted to get the PECAN SIRLOIN ($25), an 8-ounce sirloin basted in a Dijon mustard steak sauce, coated in chopped pecans and topped with crumbled goat cheese, and came with a choice of sides (we both got mixed veggies). The steak was very tender and juicy, but I felt the Dijon mustard could've been stronger without overpowering the taste of the meat.
I had an overall pleasant experience, but it lacked the "wow" factor for me. I think this sentiment stems mostly from my expectation that a mansion would be larger and possess more grandeur, but given the fact that this was built in the 1800s, this was perhaps large and grand for its day. Also, my steak was not bad, but I think I will go back to my tried and true favourite next time, the baseball steak.
Location: 515 Jarvis St,
Website: http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I finally visited The Keg Mansion today to celebrate a coworker's birthday. We arrived just after 7pm on a Saturday night without reservations, and we were told it would be about an hour wait, so we headed up to the bar. I had the SMOKEY PINEAPPLE ($10.50 for the Keg size/2 oz), which for me had no discernible pineapple flavour and tasted no different from a mojito. My companion got a BLACKBERRY MULE ($7 for 1 oz). We shared a GARLIC CHEESE TOAST ($6.99), which consisted of bread slices topped with a blend of three cheeses. This app app was pretty standard but delish nonetheless.
Our buzzer went off about 40 minutes later, and we headed downstairs to the dining area. Our tab at the bar was transferred. Our waiter, Andrew, with his mild mannerisms and perfect posture reminded me of a butler - in a good way because it added to the elegance of the place.
My companion and I both opted to get the PECAN SIRLOIN ($25), an 8-ounce sirloin basted in a Dijon mustard steak sauce, coated in chopped pecans and topped with crumbled goat cheese, and came with a choice of sides (we both got mixed veggies). The steak was very tender and juicy, but I felt the Dijon mustard could've been stronger without overpowering the taste of the meat.
I had an overall pleasant experience, but it lacked the "wow" factor for me. I think this sentiment stems mostly from my expectation that a mansion would be larger and possess more grandeur, but given the fact that this was built in the 1800s, this was perhaps large and grand for its day. Also, my steak was not bad, but I think I will go back to my tried and true favourite next time, the baseball steak.
Oliver & Bonacini Cafe & Grill
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2014
Location: 33 Yonge St (at Front), Toronto
Website: http://oliverbonacini.com/OurRestaurants/OBCafeGrill.aspx
Cuisine: Canadian
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
Came here with a coworker for a late lunch. At 3 in the afternoon, the place was at about 5% capacity, surprising for a Saturday.
I had already eaten and opted for a glass of red. My companion had the Mac & Cheese with roasted chicken, sweet peas, aged cheddar & goat cheese ($16). I had a taste and thought it wasn't bad, though it was probably a bit too rich for me to have all to myself (gotta watch the waistline!).
Service was spotty at best and not the friendliest. Ambiance was nice, but all things considered - meh. I can see this being a nice place for drinks at the bar where you don't need the waitresses for anything, but I won't be back in the dining area.
Location: 33 Yonge St (at Front), Toronto
Website: http://oliverbonacini.com/OurRestaurants/OBCafeGrill.aspx
Cuisine: Canadian
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
Came here with a coworker for a late lunch. At 3 in the afternoon, the place was at about 5% capacity, surprising for a Saturday.
I had already eaten and opted for a glass of red. My companion had the Mac & Cheese with roasted chicken, sweet peas, aged cheddar & goat cheese ($16). I had a taste and thought it wasn't bad, though it was probably a bit too rich for me to have all to myself (gotta watch the waistline!).
Service was spotty at best and not the friendliest. Ambiance was nice, but all things considered - meh. I can see this being a nice place for drinks at the bar where you don't need the waitresses for anything, but I won't be back in the dining area.
Friday, 5 September 2014
Thai Bright
Date: Friday, September 5, 2014
Location: The Village on the Grange
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
It had been a few weeks since I was last here, a wise though inadvertent departure from my weekly visits here.
I had the same $5 larger combo, but this time I got green beans and lemon grass pork.
Both were very good, especially considering how much (i.e. little) I'd paid. Rice was the same as it's always been - akin to the instant variety and fried.
This is a great economical and filling option at The Grange, especially for students or the budget conscious.
Location: The Village on the Grange
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
It had been a few weeks since I was last here, a wise though inadvertent departure from my weekly visits here.
I had the same $5 larger combo, but this time I got green beans and lemon grass pork.
Both were very good, especially considering how much (i.e. little) I'd paid. Rice was the same as it's always been - akin to the instant variety and fried.
This is a great economical and filling option at The Grange, especially for students or the budget conscious.
Friday, 29 August 2014
New Northern Dumplings
Date: Friday, September 29, 2014
Location: 633 Silver Star Boulevard, Unit 120
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I came here for an impromptu late night dinner with my dad because given the time (~9pm), we wanted something quick.
We ordered the following:
VEGETABLE SOUP ($4.95 for a large): My dad has had this before and knew it wasn't anything special, but just wanted some liquids to wash the food down. It served its purpose, but I won't be ordering this again. It was basically a very light egg drop soup with tomato and cucumber chunks.
STIR-FRIED TOFU ($6.99): I've never had tofu like this, and it was definitely interesting. The texture is not something I am used to. I don't think I'd order this again.
PAN-FRIED PORK & LEEK DUMPLINGS (6 for $3.99): Another hit. The stuffing was delicious, even more so than the pork and cabbage. When I voiced this, my dad said he swears by pork and leek over anything else because leek produces such a wonderful flavour. And I think he may be onto something. Still, having two dishes with the same filling would've been too much. I'm glad we ordered what we did.
PORK & CABBAGE DUMPLINGS (15 for $4.99): Yess. If you're thinking, "What a steal!" it definitely was! Soooo yummy, too.
What a great recommendation from my dad. I (we) will definitely be back.
Location: 633 Silver Star Boulevard, Unit 120
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I came here for an impromptu late night dinner with my dad because given the time (~9pm), we wanted something quick.
We ordered the following:
VEGETABLE SOUP ($4.95 for a large): My dad has had this before and knew it wasn't anything special, but just wanted some liquids to wash the food down. It served its purpose, but I won't be ordering this again. It was basically a very light egg drop soup with tomato and cucumber chunks.
STIR-FRIED TOFU ($6.99): I've never had tofu like this, and it was definitely interesting. The texture is not something I am used to. I don't think I'd order this again.
PAN-FRIED PORK & LEEK DUMPLINGS (6 for $3.99): Another hit. The stuffing was delicious, even more so than the pork and cabbage. When I voiced this, my dad said he swears by pork and leek over anything else because leek produces such a wonderful flavour. And I think he may be onto something. Still, having two dishes with the same filling would've been too much. I'm glad we ordered what we did.
PORK & CABBAGE DUMPLINGS (15 for $4.99): Yess. If you're thinking, "What a steal!" it definitely was! Soooo yummy, too.
What a great recommendation from my dad. I (we) will definitely be back.
Thursday, 28 August 2014
The Ex
Date: Thursday, August 28, 2014
Location: Fran's & Coco's Deep Fried Chicken at The Ex Food Building
Website: http://theex.com/
Cuisine: Various
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
The Ex is one of the most highly anticipated (end of) summer events for me, and this year was no exception, with the some novel yet strange foods making an appearance in true The Ex fashion.
I came on the last day for discounted admission, which is $6 after 5pm, and the lineup for ticket purchases was absolutely insane! There was easily over a thousand people waiting to get in hardly discernible lines. I was in line for an hour and a half! I definitely learned my lesson to not go on the last cheap day for admission.
Anyway, once I got in, I made a beeline for the food building (my second favourite place at The Ex - the first being the animal building). While I waited for the others to join me, I canvassed my options and wound up in line at Fran's for the Thanksgiving Waffle ($10) based on the fact that the line was very long.
The Thanksgiving Waffle is exactly what one would expect: a Thanksgiving meal - complete with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy - stuffed inside a waffle. I'll admit that I had pretty high expectations because I thought that this dish had a lot of promise with all that is involved in a turkey meal and a waffle. I have always loved savoury crepes and waffles because I love the contrast between sweet and savoury. But alas, this was a complete disappointment! The waffle tasted like PLAIN bread and the turkey like, well, nothing. In other words, it was a whole lotta blah.
Later, when the rest of the party arrived, we got the Cocoa-Infused Deep Fried Chicken (~$3 a piece + another $2-3 to add fries). I was already pretty stuffed, but my dad, whose curiosity was piqued based on the length of the line, insisted that we go through the trouble of lining up. It was a good 20-25 minute wait, but in the end, it was well worth the wait. I was very surprised. The batter was unbelievably crispy - probably one of the crispiest I've ever had - for both fries and chicken. Also, the cocoa was very subtle - so subtle that if I were to do a taste test, I don't think I would be able to identify what it was. Dee-lish!
As an aside, we did a bit of shopping but didn't have time to check out the animal building. Too bad. I look forward to coming back next year!
Location: Fran's & Coco's Deep Fried Chicken at The Ex Food Building
Website: http://theex.com/
Cuisine: Various
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
The Ex is one of the most highly anticipated (end of) summer events for me, and this year was no exception, with the some novel yet strange foods making an appearance in true The Ex fashion.
I came on the last day for discounted admission, which is $6 after 5pm, and the lineup for ticket purchases was absolutely insane! There was easily over a thousand people waiting to get in hardly discernible lines. I was in line for an hour and a half! I definitely learned my lesson to not go on the last cheap day for admission.
Anyway, once I got in, I made a beeline for the food building (my second favourite place at The Ex - the first being the animal building). While I waited for the others to join me, I canvassed my options and wound up in line at Fran's for the Thanksgiving Waffle ($10) based on the fact that the line was very long.
The Thanksgiving Waffle is exactly what one would expect: a Thanksgiving meal - complete with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy - stuffed inside a waffle. I'll admit that I had pretty high expectations because I thought that this dish had a lot of promise with all that is involved in a turkey meal and a waffle. I have always loved savoury crepes and waffles because I love the contrast between sweet and savoury. But alas, this was a complete disappointment! The waffle tasted like PLAIN bread and the turkey like, well, nothing. In other words, it was a whole lotta blah.
Later, when the rest of the party arrived, we got the Cocoa-Infused Deep Fried Chicken (~$3 a piece + another $2-3 to add fries). I was already pretty stuffed, but my dad, whose curiosity was piqued based on the length of the line, insisted that we go through the trouble of lining up. It was a good 20-25 minute wait, but in the end, it was well worth the wait. I was very surprised. The batter was unbelievably crispy - probably one of the crispiest I've ever had - for both fries and chicken. Also, the cocoa was very subtle - so subtle that if I were to do a taste test, I don't think I would be able to identify what it was. Dee-lish!
As an aside, we did a bit of shopping but didn't have time to check out the animal building. Too bad. I look forward to coming back next year!
Tuesday, 26 August 2014
Drink Tea
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Location: 7130 Warden Avenue (north of Steeles), Markham
Website:
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: snack
My thoughts:
This place opened a mere few weeks ago across from the Chatime spot in Markham, a bold and risky move if you ask me, given how insanely popular Chatime is. I'd been wanting to come here ever since I received a half off coupon when walking by. And I couldn't think of a better day than today, with the mercury hitting over the 30 C mark, and so I picked one up after work.
I was the only patron inside, and the staff were incredibly friendly and patient, taking the time to answer my endless questions and helping me choose a drink to suit my taste. After a few minutes and still unsure of what to get, a colourful tri-coloured topping drink caught my eye near the cash register. After verifying that it had no caffeine, I asked for one.
Traffic Light. That was its name. Winter melon tea with green bean, coconut jelly and tapioca. The pink stuff is the tapioca. The tapioca here is made from hibiscus, which according to the associate helping me is more natural than the ubiquitous black tapioca. In terms of taste, I was told it has a milder, fruitier taste.
I grabbed it to go. And unfortunately, the individual strata of toppings got mixed up, but my belly didn't know any better. It was soooo good! I generally like to try different things, but when it comes to bbt, which to me is pretty expensive, I usually play it safe and get regular tea with bubbles. This drink has definitely opened my eyes to being more adventurous in my choice of bbt drinks in the future!
Tip: Like this place on Facebook (look up "Drink Tea Canada" - they're the first location in Canada) and get an unlimited use coupon for 50% off any order. Valid til the end of the month.
I was told that my drink, the regular milk tea with bubbles and the chocolate tea with panna cotta are their three most popular drinks. The chocolate drink sounds intriguing. I will definitely be back!
Location: 7130 Warden Avenue (north of Steeles), Markham
Website:
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: snack
My thoughts:
This place opened a mere few weeks ago across from the Chatime spot in Markham, a bold and risky move if you ask me, given how insanely popular Chatime is. I'd been wanting to come here ever since I received a half off coupon when walking by. And I couldn't think of a better day than today, with the mercury hitting over the 30 C mark, and so I picked one up after work.
I was the only patron inside, and the staff were incredibly friendly and patient, taking the time to answer my endless questions and helping me choose a drink to suit my taste. After a few minutes and still unsure of what to get, a colourful tri-coloured topping drink caught my eye near the cash register. After verifying that it had no caffeine, I asked for one.
Traffic Light. That was its name. Winter melon tea with green bean, coconut jelly and tapioca. The pink stuff is the tapioca. The tapioca here is made from hibiscus, which according to the associate helping me is more natural than the ubiquitous black tapioca. In terms of taste, I was told it has a milder, fruitier taste.
I grabbed it to go. And unfortunately, the individual strata of toppings got mixed up, but my belly didn't know any better. It was soooo good! I generally like to try different things, but when it comes to bbt, which to me is pretty expensive, I usually play it safe and get regular tea with bubbles. This drink has definitely opened my eyes to being more adventurous in my choice of bbt drinks in the future!
Tip: Like this place on Facebook (look up "Drink Tea Canada" - they're the first location in Canada) and get an unlimited use coupon for 50% off any order. Valid til the end of the month.
I was told that my drink, the regular milk tea with bubbles and the chocolate tea with panna cotta are their three most popular drinks. The chocolate drink sounds intriguing. I will definitely be back!
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Dante's Pizza
Date: August 23, 2014
Location:
Website:
Cuisine: Italian
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
My friend RW ordered in and the pizza arrived about 10 minutes before I got there, so it had cooled down a bit. Even still, the relatively thick crust super deluxe surpassed my expectations and then some. This definitely tops my list of one of the best pizzas in the GTA.
We ordered a large, which was about 2 feet across and was cut into 8 slices. According to the menu, this feeds approximately 5. We each had 2 slices and were pleasantly full, so this pizza would probably only feed 5 if you've got some small eaters in your party.
Prices were a bit steep - our large was $35 - but you get what you pay for. Our pizza was loaded with toppings including Napoli pepperoni, purple onion, mushrooms, green peppers, salami and mozzarella.
Overall, definitely worth checking out, especially if you love yourself a thick crust pizza. Having said that, this won't become a place I frequent because of the prices and the availability of cheaper options out there, such as Abruzzo's, whose pizzas are literally half the price.
Location:
Website:
Cuisine: Italian
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
My friend RW ordered in and the pizza arrived about 10 minutes before I got there, so it had cooled down a bit. Even still, the relatively thick crust super deluxe surpassed my expectations and then some. This definitely tops my list of one of the best pizzas in the GTA.
We ordered a large, which was about 2 feet across and was cut into 8 slices. According to the menu, this feeds approximately 5. We each had 2 slices and were pleasantly full, so this pizza would probably only feed 5 if you've got some small eaters in your party.
Prices were a bit steep - our large was $35 - but you get what you pay for. Our pizza was loaded with toppings including Napoli pepperoni, purple onion, mushrooms, green peppers, salami and mozzarella.
Overall, definitely worth checking out, especially if you love yourself a thick crust pizza. Having said that, this won't become a place I frequent because of the prices and the availability of cheaper options out there, such as Abruzzo's, whose pizzas are literally half the price.
Saturday, 9 August 2014
Stay Cafe
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Location: 388 Spadina Ave (south of College), Toronto
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Meal: snack/dessert
My thoughts:
This was our second stop for dessert of the evening. I was here recently and had their shaved ice cream, which is literally ice cream that is shaved into ultra thin 'pieces' of ice cream, creating an airy texture.
Like last time, I had the shaved matcha ice cream with red bean ($5.99). Today, we also got some sago for an additional $0.50.
I found the ice cream today to be icier, less creamy and not shaved as finely as last time. The sago didn't add much to it.
DQ downright was not a fan. He found it too bitter for his liking. Mind you, he'd never had green tea ice cream, so he probably didn't know what was in store. As for me, if I were to judge solely on
Location: 388 Spadina Ave (south of College), Toronto
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Asian fusion
Meal: snack/dessert
My thoughts:
This was our second stop for dessert of the evening. I was here recently and had their shaved ice cream, which is literally ice cream that is shaved into ultra thin 'pieces' of ice cream, creating an airy texture.
Like last time, I had the shaved matcha ice cream with red bean ($5.99). Today, we also got some sago for an additional $0.50.
I found the ice cream today to be icier, less creamy and not shaved as finely as last time. The sago didn't add much to it.
DQ downright was not a fan. He found it too bitter for his liking. Mind you, he'd never had green tea ice cream, so he probably didn't know what was in store. As for me, if I were to judge solely on
Friday, 8 August 2014
Pai Northern Thai Kitchen
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Location: 18 Duncan Street, Toronto (near University and Adelaide)
Website: http://www.paitoronto.com/
Cuisine: Thai
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
This is the owners of Khao San Road's newest venture, and ever since I'd heard about it, I've been very eager to check it out. The place had only been open for about a month and had already garnered a lot of fanfare among foodies alike.
Located on a sub-underground unit with inconspicuous signage, we almost overlooked this. But that obviously didn't stop the crowds of people that were already here from coming, as at around 6pm, it was already packed.
The ambiance was strange. If you can imagine 2 parts grungy with 1 part tropical/beachy and 1 part minimalistic/Japanese, then you'll have Pai. What I was referring to with the Japanese thing is this one section with a single large communal table where people sit on the floor. Kind of odd.
Anyway, onto the food. Our party of 5 ordered a few things to share.
We heard that the Chef Nuit Pad Thai ($14) is really good. While my friends enjoyed this, I didn't think there was anything really special about it.
We also got the Gaeng Kiaw Wan ($16), which is a green curry with bamboo shoots, kaffir lime leaves, basil leaves, green peppers and coconut milk. A side of rice is included. The best part is it's served in a young coconut! Really worth trying. The coconut meat was delicious with the curry.
Everyone's favourite tonight was easily the Pad Gra Prow ($14), which consisted of stir-fried ground chicken, beef or pork (we got beef) with basil and oyster sauce served on steamed jasmine rice and topped with a Thai-style fried egg. Sounds like a simple dish that even anyone can make at home, right? That's what we thought too, until we had a taste. Yowza! Don't be fooled. Definitely some really amazing Thai flavours in there, and definitely worth ordering.
All in all, this was a good meal, and while there were some really standout dishes, I like as a whole Khao San Road better. Food is one reason, but I'm also not a fan of dark, grungy places in part because they don't lend well to food photo ops (as you can see from the quality of the photos). Still, I would come back.
Location: 18 Duncan Street, Toronto (near University and Adelaide)
Website: http://www.paitoronto.com/
Cuisine: Thai
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
This is the owners of Khao San Road's newest venture, and ever since I'd heard about it, I've been very eager to check it out. The place had only been open for about a month and had already garnered a lot of fanfare among foodies alike.
Located on a sub-underground unit with inconspicuous signage, we almost overlooked this. But that obviously didn't stop the crowds of people that were already here from coming, as at around 6pm, it was already packed.
The ambiance was strange. If you can imagine 2 parts grungy with 1 part tropical/beachy and 1 part minimalistic/Japanese, then you'll have Pai. What I was referring to with the Japanese thing is this one section with a single large communal table where people sit on the floor. Kind of odd.
Anyway, onto the food. Our party of 5 ordered a few things to share.
We heard that the Chef Nuit Pad Thai ($14) is really good. While my friends enjoyed this, I didn't think there was anything really special about it.
We also got the Gaeng Kiaw Wan ($16), which is a green curry with bamboo shoots, kaffir lime leaves, basil leaves, green peppers and coconut milk. A side of rice is included. The best part is it's served in a young coconut! Really worth trying. The coconut meat was delicious with the curry.
Everyone's favourite tonight was easily the Pad Gra Prow ($14), which consisted of stir-fried ground chicken, beef or pork (we got beef) with basil and oyster sauce served on steamed jasmine rice and topped with a Thai-style fried egg. Sounds like a simple dish that even anyone can make at home, right? That's what we thought too, until we had a taste. Yowza! Don't be fooled. Definitely some really amazing Thai flavours in there, and definitely worth ordering.
All in all, this was a good meal, and while there were some really standout dishes, I like as a whole Khao San Road better. Food is one reason, but I'm also not a fan of dark, grungy places in part because they don't lend well to food photo ops (as you can see from the quality of the photos). Still, I would come back.
Millie Creperie
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Location: 161 Baldwin St, Toronto
Website: http://milliecreperie.com/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
DQ and I had some time to kill before our dinner plans, and because this place closes at 8pm and there was no way we'd make it here before closing, I suggested we have dessert before dinner :)
I was here recently and had their Japanese crepe (with green tea gelato - amazing!), and as tempted as I was to order it again, I also wanted some new material for my blog. I let DQ choose, and today, he was in the mood for the Banana Nutella Crepe ($4.99), which comes with banana, nutella and whipped cream - note: no gelato, hence why it's cheaper than some of the other dessert crepes.
The delicious creation was whipped up in a matter of minutes. I'd been raving about this place to DQ, and as I fumbled through my purse for my phone, I could feel his eyes glued to the crepe and hungrily sizing it up, all the while telepathically telling me to hurry up.
Finally I located it and quickly snapped a photo. And then we took turns gobbling it up. Oh, it was sooooo good. I actually wished we didn't have dinner plans because at that moment, these papery thin crepes with light foamy very lightly sweetened whipped cream was all my tummy wanted.
I will definitely be back to try more! Next up will be the mango tango crepe :)
FYI: I don't think I mentioned this in my last review of this place that this place only accepts cash and credit.
Location: 161 Baldwin St, Toronto
Website: http://milliecreperie.com/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
DQ and I had some time to kill before our dinner plans, and because this place closes at 8pm and there was no way we'd make it here before closing, I suggested we have dessert before dinner :)
I was here recently and had their Japanese crepe (with green tea gelato - amazing!), and as tempted as I was to order it again, I also wanted some new material for my blog. I let DQ choose, and today, he was in the mood for the Banana Nutella Crepe ($4.99), which comes with banana, nutella and whipped cream - note: no gelato, hence why it's cheaper than some of the other dessert crepes.
The delicious creation was whipped up in a matter of minutes. I'd been raving about this place to DQ, and as I fumbled through my purse for my phone, I could feel his eyes glued to the crepe and hungrily sizing it up, all the while telepathically telling me to hurry up.
Finally I located it and quickly snapped a photo. And then we took turns gobbling it up. Oh, it was sooooo good. I actually wished we didn't have dinner plans because at that moment, these papery thin crepes with light foamy very lightly sweetened whipped cream was all my tummy wanted.
I will definitely be back to try more! Next up will be the mango tango crepe :)
FYI: I don't think I mentioned this in my last review of this place that this place only accepts cash and credit.
Stay Cafe
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Location: 388 Spadina Ave (near Spadina & College), Toronto
Website: http://staycafeteria.com/
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
This was the second dessert I was having before dinner - apparently, I really was that hungry☺
I got the matcha green tea shaved ice with sago pearls ($5.99 + $0.50 for the sago), which I learned was a mistake. Because the pearls are glutinous, the coldness of the ice cream made them hard and not at all chewy, which is what makes pearls so appealing to begin with.
About the dessert itself, if you've never had shaved ice cream, it's really worth trying. As you know, ice cream is very dense. When it's shaved, the surface area is increased manifolds, making it more easily scoopable and seem more airy and allowing it to melt quickly in your mouth (thereby helping to prevent brain freeze - ok, maybe that wasn't the intended purpose☺)
The ice cream was refreshing on a hot summer day like today. I'll be back in the summer.
Location: 388 Spadina Ave (near Spadina & College), Toronto
Website: http://staycafeteria.com/
Cuisine: Chinese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
This was the second dessert I was having before dinner - apparently, I really was that hungry☺
I got the matcha green tea shaved ice with sago pearls ($5.99 + $0.50 for the sago), which I learned was a mistake. Because the pearls are glutinous, the coldness of the ice cream made them hard and not at all chewy, which is what makes pearls so appealing to begin with.
About the dessert itself, if you've never had shaved ice cream, it's really worth trying. As you know, ice cream is very dense. When it's shaved, the surface area is increased manifolds, making it more easily scoopable and seem more airy and allowing it to melt quickly in your mouth (thereby helping to prevent brain freeze - ok, maybe that wasn't the intended purpose☺)
The ice cream was refreshing on a hot summer day like today. I'll be back in the summer.
Millie Creperie
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Location: 161 Baldwin Street (Kensington Market), Toronto
Website: http://milliecreperie.com/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
I was sooooo hungry and despite having dinner plans, couldn't stop myself from having a crepe beforehand. I got the nutella banana crepe (about $6) and it was so good! I loved the crispy papery-thin crepe with the airy, lightly sweet whipped cream rolled into a cone so that you can easily wolf it down (though you won't want to because you'll want to savour each delicious bite).
Location: 161 Baldwin Street (Kensington Market), Toronto
Website: http://milliecreperie.com/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
I was sooooo hungry and despite having dinner plans, couldn't stop myself from having a crepe beforehand. I got the nutella banana crepe (about $6) and it was so good! I loved the crispy papery-thin crepe with the airy, lightly sweet whipped cream rolled into a cone so that you can easily wolf it down (though you won't want to because you'll want to savour each delicious bite).
Seriously, what's not to love about this place? Oh Millie. How I heart thee♥
Friday, 1 August 2014
The Sushi Bar
Date: Friday, August 1, 2014
Location: 3369 Yonge St (south of York Mills), Toronto
Website: http://www.thesushibar.ca/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
This is the second straight day I'm having Japanese food. I don't generally like to have the same type of food on consecutive days, but I've been here multiple times and the food really is top notch. Besides, it's my friend AS's night as his birthday was yesterday.
I was really hungry and ordered:
Eel and avocado roll ($5.45) with brown rice (extra $0.75): Had two orders of this. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. It's soooo good.
Salmon sashimi ($5.45 for 4 pieces): Very good quality sashimi, but the salmon pieces are pretty small.
Vegetable yaki udon ($8.95): I've wanted to order this for so long, and after trying it today, I regret I didn't do so sooner. My favourite part about this dish is the freshness and chewiness of the noodles.
Here's what AS ordered:
Salmon sashimi handroll: I didn't try this but AS said there was a good amount of fish and ratio of everything was spot on.
3 orders of salmon and tuna sashimi with 2 bowls of brown rice.
We were each offered a bowl of ice cream on the house, which was very nice of the staff. AS asked to share with me, and I opted for red bean. I doubt this was made in-house, but it was still thoroughly enjoyed.
Another excellent experience at Sushi Bar!
Location: 3369 Yonge St (south of York Mills), Toronto
Website: http://www.thesushibar.ca/
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
This is the second straight day I'm having Japanese food. I don't generally like to have the same type of food on consecutive days, but I've been here multiple times and the food really is top notch. Besides, it's my friend AS's night as his birthday was yesterday.
I was really hungry and ordered:
Eel and avocado roll ($5.45) with brown rice (extra $0.75): Had two orders of this. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life. It's soooo good.
Salmon sashimi ($5.45 for 4 pieces): Very good quality sashimi, but the salmon pieces are pretty small.
Vegetable yaki udon ($8.95): I've wanted to order this for so long, and after trying it today, I regret I didn't do so sooner. My favourite part about this dish is the freshness and chewiness of the noodles.
Here's what AS ordered:
Salmon sashimi handroll: I didn't try this but AS said there was a good amount of fish and ratio of everything was spot on.
3 orders of salmon and tuna sashimi with 2 bowls of brown rice.
We were each offered a bowl of ice cream on the house, which was very nice of the staff. AS asked to share with me, and I opted for red bean. I doubt this was made in-house, but it was still thoroughly enjoyed.
Another excellent experience at Sushi Bar!
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Yamamoto Sushi
Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014
Location: 7131 Kennedy Rd #E1, Box 61 (in the Market Village Shopping Centre at Kennedy & Steeles), Markham
Website: N/A
Cuisine: Japanese
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
Had dinner with the fam because my mom's going on vacation tomorrow. This is an AYCE restaurant with food that is what you'd expect from such a restaurant. Prices are also typical of an AYCE place: $23.99 a head for adults, so in other words, expensive, especially considering the quality.
Most of what we ordered was nothing special. Here's some of the dishes we had:
Lobster tails: Free if you make reservations. These were topped with mayo and baked. These were not bad but overcooked and by no fault of the restaurant, had a lot of the creamy green stuff (their organs?). So if you decide to come here and like lobsters, make sure to call.
Coconut pudding: This was too sweet for my liking. Taste-wise, it reminded me of tapioca/sago pudding.
Pretty much the only things that I liked:
Kalbi ribs: We ordered about 10 orders of this. Some were pretty charred, but generally speaking, they got juicier and more tender as the night progressed.
Mango yogurt: This was really good. Creamy plain yogurt with some mango puree. I had about 5 of these. Yum.
Fried banana: The batter tasted more like bread crumbs than tempura batter. This was alright.
So in sum, as good as the mango yogurt cups were, they don't justify shelling out so much money when the majority of the food is sub-par. And it's pretty hard to mess up Kalbi ribs, especially when they're as fatty as the ones here are. This just reaffirmed my distaste with AYCE places in general. I won't be back.
Friday, 18 July 2014
Buddha Pie
Date: Friday, July 18, 2014
Location: 514 B Annette St (near Runnymede & Bloor W), Toronto
Website: http://www.buddhapie.ca/
Cuisine: Italian (pizzeria)
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I have made two previous attempts to try this restaurant (this one being my third) and wouldn't have been a very happy camper if this were closed again. Thankfully, luck was on our side, and the place was open.
I came with my Triple D friends and we ordered three pizzas. The crust was delicious - super thin, crispy and charred. The pizzas were a decent size: 12 inches across. The toppings were extremely greasy though, with large pools of grease everywhere. This is what we had:
Presto Pesto ($13.99): Nut-free pesto sauce, red onions, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and choice of goat cheese or fleur di latte. I ordered this one, and we all agreed this was our least favourite of the evening. To me, it tasted like there was vinegar or lemon in the pesto, and I generally don't like sour things. Also, the pizza had very little cheese on it and essentially tasted like a white (i.e. cheeseless) pizza. If you've read my previous posts, you'd know I'm a HUGE cheese-lover. Strangely enough, even without much cheese, this was very greasy. A fail.
Bada Bing ($13.99): Spicy Italian sausage, marina sauce, red onions, red peppers, fresh garlic (optional) and mozzarella cheese. This was much an improvement from the first pizza largely because it was much cheesier. Still a fail though because of how greasy it was.
Buddha Bomb ($14.99): Spicy sauce (made with seven fresh vegetables), red onions, spicy hand-made sausage, hot calabrese sausage and pepperoni. This was the only pizza I would consider to be a 'pass.' It was cheesy enough for my liking and had some heat to it, which gave it a nice kick. This tasted very much like the Bada Bing but with some much-needed pepperoni, which gave it a boost in flavour.
In a nutshell, this was a huge disappointment. The staff were very friendly and hospitable and the crusts were one of the best I've had. But the toppings were a humongous letdown. It's also a bit of a walk from the nearest subway station (Runnymede). Won't be back.
Location: 514 B Annette St (near Runnymede & Bloor W), Toronto
Website: http://www.buddhapie.ca/
Cuisine: Italian (pizzeria)
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I have made two previous attempts to try this restaurant (this one being my third) and wouldn't have been a very happy camper if this were closed again. Thankfully, luck was on our side, and the place was open.
I came with my Triple D friends and we ordered three pizzas. The crust was delicious - super thin, crispy and charred. The pizzas were a decent size: 12 inches across. The toppings were extremely greasy though, with large pools of grease everywhere. This is what we had:
Presto Pesto ($13.99): Nut-free pesto sauce, red onions, red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and choice of goat cheese or fleur di latte. I ordered this one, and we all agreed this was our least favourite of the evening. To me, it tasted like there was vinegar or lemon in the pesto, and I generally don't like sour things. Also, the pizza had very little cheese on it and essentially tasted like a white (i.e. cheeseless) pizza. If you've read my previous posts, you'd know I'm a HUGE cheese-lover. Strangely enough, even without much cheese, this was very greasy. A fail.
Bada Bing ($13.99): Spicy Italian sausage, marina sauce, red onions, red peppers, fresh garlic (optional) and mozzarella cheese. This was much an improvement from the first pizza largely because it was much cheesier. Still a fail though because of how greasy it was.
Buddha Bomb ($14.99): Spicy sauce (made with seven fresh vegetables), red onions, spicy hand-made sausage, hot calabrese sausage and pepperoni. This was the only pizza I would consider to be a 'pass.' It was cheesy enough for my liking and had some heat to it, which gave it a nice kick. This tasted very much like the Bada Bing but with some much-needed pepperoni, which gave it a boost in flavour.
In a nutshell, this was a huge disappointment. The staff were very friendly and hospitable and the crusts were one of the best I've had. But the toppings were a humongous letdown. It's also a bit of a walk from the nearest subway station (Runnymede). Won't be back.
Clafouti
Date: Friday, July 18, 2014
Location: 915 Queen St W (east of Ossington), Toronto
Website: http://clafouti.ca/
Cuisine: French
Meal: snack
My thoughts:
This was actually my second trip here. The first time I was here, they were sold out of their crookies, which is what they're famous for. What are crookies you ask? They're a cross between a croissant and Oreo cookie, and apparently incredibly popular.
Because one of my Triple D friends is having a house-warming tonight, I figured that a foodie would appreciate something tasty and edible over a conventional house-warming gift however functional it may be, and so I called ahead and reserved half a dozen of these. (I learned my lesson last time!)
I got here just after 4 in the afternoon, and it was pretty empty. While I was here, several people came in and got things to go, which is not surprising, seeing as how the Trinity-Bellwoods park is just across the street. Anyway, since I'm not usually in this neck of the woods, I decided to try some of their other offerings and also to quiet my rumbling tummy.
I first ordered a blueberry tart ($3.15) because it looked so fresh. And fresh it was, but the tart was surprisingly and overly eggy for a fruit-based dessert. I did like that it was very lightly sweetened and that fresh blueberries were used.
I was still pretty hungry after the tart, and so I ordered a spinach goat cheese quiche ($4.50) - I know, I'm working backwards with my meal. Anyway, though it was warmed up for me on a grill, the center of the quiche was cold, but I was too hungry to wait another 3-4 minutes for it to be warmed up to the core - so I ate it anyway lol :o) I didn't care too much for the filling. The problem was there was too much moisture (perhaps a result of the spinach being cooked/baked right in the quiche as opposed to being wilted first?) The crust was very flavourful though, even more so than the filling. It did stave off my hunger, but I'm not sure I'd order this again.
I am now relaxing on a bench at the Trin-Bell park across the street with my box of crookies as I impatiently watch the minutes tick until I meet my friends. The crookies are packaged in a box and sealed with a sticker, so I am unable to sneak a taste of one (just kidding!) and will have to share my take on it later.
Also worth noting is that the staff are incredibly personable and friendly. But good service doesn't necessarily warrant return visits. I'm not sold on the food yet, but maybe the best is yet to come with the crookies. I'll give my two cents on them when I try one later tonight.
Update: I just had the crookie. First at room temperature and later warmed up. Let me tell you that heating it up makes a big difference. At room temperature, it literally tasted like I grabbed an Oreo with one hand and a croissant with the other and stuffed both into my mouth at the same time. Heated, however, the flavours melted together and created a unique contrast in texture that was both gooey (from the Oreo) and flaky (from the croissant). Even so, the crookie wasn't as amazing as I'd imagine it to be. And at $2.90 a pop, it was expensive for what it was; I don't think anything other than an Oreo was inside the croissant.
I'm still glad I tried it for the novelty of it. But it wasn't anything special. I may be back for the almond croissants but won't be going out of my way for them.
Location: 915 Queen St W (east of Ossington), Toronto
Website: http://clafouti.ca/
Cuisine: French
Meal: snack
My thoughts:
This was actually my second trip here. The first time I was here, they were sold out of their crookies, which is what they're famous for. What are crookies you ask? They're a cross between a croissant and Oreo cookie, and apparently incredibly popular.
Because one of my Triple D friends is having a house-warming tonight, I figured that a foodie would appreciate something tasty and edible over a conventional house-warming gift however functional it may be, and so I called ahead and reserved half a dozen of these. (I learned my lesson last time!)
I got here just after 4 in the afternoon, and it was pretty empty. While I was here, several people came in and got things to go, which is not surprising, seeing as how the Trinity-Bellwoods park is just across the street. Anyway, since I'm not usually in this neck of the woods, I decided to try some of their other offerings and also to quiet my rumbling tummy.
I first ordered a blueberry tart ($3.15) because it looked so fresh. And fresh it was, but the tart was surprisingly and overly eggy for a fruit-based dessert. I did like that it was very lightly sweetened and that fresh blueberries were used.
I was still pretty hungry after the tart, and so I ordered a spinach goat cheese quiche ($4.50) - I know, I'm working backwards with my meal. Anyway, though it was warmed up for me on a grill, the center of the quiche was cold, but I was too hungry to wait another 3-4 minutes for it to be warmed up to the core - so I ate it anyway lol :o) I didn't care too much for the filling. The problem was there was too much moisture (perhaps a result of the spinach being cooked/baked right in the quiche as opposed to being wilted first?) The crust was very flavourful though, even more so than the filling. It did stave off my hunger, but I'm not sure I'd order this again.
I am now relaxing on a bench at the Trin-Bell park across the street with my box of crookies as I impatiently watch the minutes tick until I meet my friends. The crookies are packaged in a box and sealed with a sticker, so I am unable to sneak a taste of one (just kidding!) and will have to share my take on it later.
Also worth noting is that the staff are incredibly personable and friendly. But good service doesn't necessarily warrant return visits. I'm not sold on the food yet, but maybe the best is yet to come with the crookies. I'll give my two cents on them when I try one later tonight.
Update: I just had the crookie. First at room temperature and later warmed up. Let me tell you that heating it up makes a big difference. At room temperature, it literally tasted like I grabbed an Oreo with one hand and a croissant with the other and stuffed both into my mouth at the same time. Heated, however, the flavours melted together and created a unique contrast in texture that was both gooey (from the Oreo) and flaky (from the croissant). Even so, the crookie wasn't as amazing as I'd imagine it to be. And at $2.90 a pop, it was expensive for what it was; I don't think anything other than an Oreo was inside the croissant.
I'm still glad I tried it for the novelty of it. But it wasn't anything special. I may be back for the almond croissants but won't be going out of my way for them.
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Wafflian
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Location: McCaul St. Unit 28B inside The Grange (near University and Dundas), Toronto
Website: http://wafflian.ca
Cuisine: N/A
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
My dad and I came here as our final stop of our impromptu foodie adventure. When we went in, there was one lone staff member working, and either she had a language barrier or she just didn't like her job.
Anyway, they offer waffles, a variety of cupcakes and drinks (coffees and the like). They have two types of waffles: one is what they call the 'original' waffle, which is less sweet and fluffier, and the other is the Liege waffle, which is sweeter and denser. It is mostly a build-in-own-waffle kind of place. A plain waffle is $4 and you add toppings, which are generally $1 each.
We had a plain original waffle with whipped cream, and added a coffee for 50 cents more to make it a combo. Paper plate and plastic utensils aside, you would probably agree that presentation is very basic. But what they lack on that front they make up for in the waffle. True to the menu's claim, the waffle was very light and fluffy, with a crispy exterior. Yum.
Not that cheap given that it is situated within a food court and its vicinity to a number of schools, but also not the most expensive either. The cost of toppings quickly add up at $1 a pop. Still worth checking out though! Will be back.
Location: McCaul St. Unit 28B inside The Grange (near University and Dundas), Toronto
Website: http://wafflian.ca
Cuisine: N/A
Meal: dessert
My thoughts:
My dad and I came here as our final stop of our impromptu foodie adventure. When we went in, there was one lone staff member working, and either she had a language barrier or she just didn't like her job.
Anyway, they offer waffles, a variety of cupcakes and drinks (coffees and the like). They have two types of waffles: one is what they call the 'original' waffle, which is less sweet and fluffier, and the other is the Liege waffle, which is sweeter and denser. It is mostly a build-in-own-waffle kind of place. A plain waffle is $4 and you add toppings, which are generally $1 each.
We had a plain original waffle with whipped cream, and added a coffee for 50 cents more to make it a combo. Paper plate and plastic utensils aside, you would probably agree that presentation is very basic. But what they lack on that front they make up for in the waffle. True to the menu's claim, the waffle was very light and fluffy, with a crispy exterior. Yum.
Not that cheap given that it is situated within a food court and its vicinity to a number of schools, but also not the most expensive either. The cost of toppings quickly add up at $1 a pop. Still worth checking out though! Will be back.
Thai Bright
Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Location: 109 McCaul St in The Grange (University and Dundas), Toronto
Website: N/A
Cuisine: though the name says Thai, it's Chinese
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
My dad happened to be in the downtown core and we spontaneously made lunch plans. This was the first of three stops for lunch.
Recently, this place has been offering a large combo with 1 vegetable and 1 meat dish with choice of rice or noodles for $5 tax IN. Ever since discovering this amazing deal, I've been coming here once a week. I hope this deal be sticking around. I've got my coworkers hooked on this place, too. Food's great, prices are now great. Just to put things into context, their small combo, which is about a quarter of their large, is $4 PLUS tax, which comes to about $4.50.
Get in on this deal while its still around. I doubt it'll be around forever. It's probably just a scheme to attract new customers. I don't imagine a business can subsist on such a great deal for long.
Location: 109 McCaul St in The Grange (University and Dundas), Toronto
Website: N/A
Cuisine: though the name says Thai, it's Chinese
Meal: lunch
My thoughts:
My dad happened to be in the downtown core and we spontaneously made lunch plans. This was the first of three stops for lunch.
Recently, this place has been offering a large combo with 1 vegetable and 1 meat dish with choice of rice or noodles for $5 tax IN. Ever since discovering this amazing deal, I've been coming here once a week. I hope this deal be sticking around. I've got my coworkers hooked on this place, too. Food's great, prices are now great. Just to put things into context, their small combo, which is about a quarter of their large, is $4 PLUS tax, which comes to about $4.50.
Get in on this deal while its still around. I doubt it'll be around forever. It's probably just a scheme to attract new customers. I don't imagine a business can subsist on such a great deal for long.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
Abruzzo Pizza
Date: July 12, 2014
Location: 9010 Yonge St (just south of 16th Ave), Richmond Hill
Website: http://abruzzopizza.com/
Cuisine: Italian
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I came here tonight with my coworkers. Being the event organizer for this outing, I wanted to choose something that would satisfy even those hardest to please that is situated someplace central for all of us.
After extensive research, I decided on this place. Judging from the very simple and unpretentious-looking storefront and menu (I saw pictures on their website), I was expecting a very no frills type of mom and pop shop with decent, affordable food.
Well, affordable it was. Decent it was not - it was amazing! I had to fight hard not to gloat as to how good of a recommendation it was I made. Everyone was thoroughly impressed.
Here's a rundown of what we had:
FRIED CALAMARI ($13): Fresh calamari rings coated in a light and crispy batter and deep-fried. This came with a sauce that resembled bruschetta. Whatever it was, it was good and complemented the calamari very well.
LARGE THICK-CRUST PIZZA ($14 + $1.75 for each additional topping): We got pineapple and Italian sausage, the latter which counted as two toppings, so our pizza came to $19.25. We unanimously agreed that the thin crust was better. Even those who generally prefer thick crust agreed. We found the thick crust to be rather dry. This was probably the only complaint that night. Still a winner.
PANZEROTTO ($8 + $1 for each additional topping): The "basic" panzerotto comes with pizza/tomato sauce and cheese. We added broccoli and chicken strips, the latter which counted as two toppings, so ours came to $11. I'm glad we didn't ask for extra cheese on this. I'm a cheese lover and I found it plenty cheesy as is. We decided to be health conscious and had this baked rather than friend, and it was still plenty tasty. A winner!
TIRAMISU ($3): I wasn't sure what to expect for a $3 piece of dessert, but as it turned out, this was not only a real steal but also really tasty! This was about 4 inches in diameter and enough to share amongst 6 ladies. The crust was also partially frozen, something I'd never had before, and it served as a nice contrast to the creamy topping.
Also, apparently this business's website needs some updating. The place shown on the website has now become a takeout establishment (same business but strictly does takeout). The restaurant (where we ate) is two doors down. It is renovated very nicely. Still unpretentious, but nice enough for a casual date and very family friendly. Even more points because the service was awesome - prompt, friendly and efficient (which seems to be a rarity these days, or is it just me?)
I'm so, soooo glad we came here. We all had a great time and were very impressed with the food. It has definitely reignited my love for Italian fare. I will be coming back, and soon!
Location: 9010 Yonge St (just south of 16th Ave), Richmond Hill
Website: http://abruzzopizza.com/
Cuisine: Italian
Meal: dinner
My thoughts:
I came here tonight with my coworkers. Being the event organizer for this outing, I wanted to choose something that would satisfy even those hardest to please that is situated someplace central for all of us.
After extensive research, I decided on this place. Judging from the very simple and unpretentious-looking storefront and menu (I saw pictures on their website), I was expecting a very no frills type of mom and pop shop with decent, affordable food.
Well, affordable it was. Decent it was not - it was amazing! I had to fight hard not to gloat as to how good of a recommendation it was I made. Everyone was thoroughly impressed.
Here's a rundown of what we had:
FRIED CALAMARI ($13): Fresh calamari rings coated in a light and crispy batter and deep-fried. This came with a sauce that resembled bruschetta. Whatever it was, it was good and complemented the calamari very well.
SMALL THIN-CRUST PIZZA ($9 + $1.20 for each additional topping): For toppings, we got extra cheese, mushrooms, eggplant and sun-dried tomatoes, so our pizza came to $13.80. In a nutshell, it was love at first bite. It was the perfect amount of cheese (and I'm a cheese lover), the crust was thin and crispy, and the pizza well-seasoned. The vegetable toppings were a perfect marriage atop the pizza (of course, they were our choosing). This was my favourite of the evening. A real winner.
LARGE THICK-CRUST PIZZA ($14 + $1.75 for each additional topping): We got pineapple and Italian sausage, the latter which counted as two toppings, so our pizza came to $19.25. We unanimously agreed that the thin crust was better. Even those who generally prefer thick crust agreed. We found the thick crust to be rather dry. This was probably the only complaint that night. Still a winner.
PANZEROTTO ($8 + $1 for each additional topping): The "basic" panzerotto comes with pizza/tomato sauce and cheese. We added broccoli and chicken strips, the latter which counted as two toppings, so ours came to $11. I'm glad we didn't ask for extra cheese on this. I'm a cheese lover and I found it plenty cheesy as is. We decided to be health conscious and had this baked rather than friend, and it was still plenty tasty. A winner!
TIRAMISU ($3): I wasn't sure what to expect for a $3 piece of dessert, but as it turned out, this was not only a real steal but also really tasty! This was about 4 inches in diameter and enough to share amongst 6 ladies. The crust was also partially frozen, something I'd never had before, and it served as a nice contrast to the creamy topping.
Also, apparently this business's website needs some updating. The place shown on the website has now become a takeout establishment (same business but strictly does takeout). The restaurant (where we ate) is two doors down. It is renovated very nicely. Still unpretentious, but nice enough for a casual date and very family friendly. Even more points because the service was awesome - prompt, friendly and efficient (which seems to be a rarity these days, or is it just me?)
I'm so, soooo glad we came here. We all had a great time and were very impressed with the food. It has definitely reignited my love for Italian fare. I will be coming back, and soon!
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