Maёzo opened two months ago and already the venue has hosted a number of birthday and
corporate events. Their spacious open-concept dining room with fold away
windows is certainly conducive for large groups, but the well-spaced tables and
booths also allow for intimate dinners – I, for one, am glad to not hear
neighbouring conversations. Owner, Amit Sukhwani, wants patrons to be
comfortable (thanks to his history of hospitality from Aruba) and is bringing
to Canada the flavours of India with a twist.
For
example, for mac ‘n’ cheese lovers, their masala macaroni ($8) will hit the
spot. It’s not as sinful as the typical mac ‘n’ cheese, but the masala sauce
still incorporates enough cream to make it satisfying, without being too heavy.
The sauce has a manageable level of spiciness and is balanced out by the
tomato’s acidity. Sharing is encouraged as the appetizer is substantial – it
could even work as a main. Amit laughs when I comment on the size of the bowl,
he agrees it’s a generous portion and does so to ensure no customer leaves
hungry.
The
monsoon basket ($12) arrives filled with crispy pakoras encapsulating a variety of vegetables within the batter -
spinach, onion, potato and carrots from what I could make out. They’re dropped
in oddly shaped balls allowing for a bunch of jutting edges creating more
crispy surface space. The appetizer arrives with the traditional sweet and sour
tamarind chutney, but if you order the lamb, they are go equally well with the
chimichurri sauce.
Although
I enjoyed all the accompaniments with the lamb chops ($28) – the spicy rice is
like “dirty rice” to another level and the chimichurri a cross between the
tangy Argentinian variety and the spicy Indian mint chutney – the actual lamb is
merely decent. The meat is rubbed in a nice medley of spices, but needs to be
saltier. Moreover, the thick slices combined with the bone located in the
middle of the chop means the centre arrives rare and makes it difficult to cut
with a regular dinner knife.
I
generally don’t like butter chicken – often it’s too creamy or just tastes like
tomato sauce. So, when I took a bite of my husband’s butter chicken ($18) I was
pleasantly surprised with the well-balanced sauce. The family recipe the dish
is based on doesn't go too crazy with the cream, instead also incorporating
various spices to give it interest. Moreover, the cubes of chicken breast are
juicy and tender. The gravy goes especially well with the spicy South-Indian
tomato rice accompanying the lamb, Maёzo should consider having an “upgrade”
option for those who want an extra flavor bomb.
Amit
explains that Maёzo, in Sindhi, means fun – a feeling he hopes guests visiting
the restaurant will experience. The cheerful Top 40 pop songs that play
throughout the dining room certainly creates a jovial atmosphere. Their weekday
specials may also help - on Monday to Friday (from 4-7pm), the restaurant has
$5.99 drink specials (bottled beer or a glass a house wine) and appetizers are
10% off. It’s a great opportunity to gather a group of friends and head to
their central downtown location for a night of maёzo.
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 67 Richmond Street West
Address: 67 Richmond Street West
Website: http://www.maezotoronto.com/
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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
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