Showing posts with label Richmond Grill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Richmond Grill. Show all posts

CLOSED: The Richmond Grill (Richmond Hill)

Location: Richmond Hill, Canada
Address: 
10165 Yonge Street
Type of Meal: Dinner



Situated in a neighbourhood reminiscent of Unionville, it’s unlike the plazas filled with big box stores you’ll generally find in Richmond Hill. However, unlike the cobblestone surroundings, Richmond Grill’s window is plastered full of decals making it seem more like a fast food kabob place than an Italian restaurant. But, if you’re able to look past the tacky window and enter the restaurant, you’ll be greeted with an intimate and dimly lit dining room with bottles of olive oil adorning each table. Yes, its quintessentially Italian and with it comes tons of food and welcoming service.  

Soon after ordering, our waiter whisks out a basket filled with bread and crackers. As a warning, do not fill up on bread as the portion sizes at Richmond Grill are significant – and that’s putting it mildly.

Appetizers are meant to be shared or could easily replace a meal if you’re not overly hungry. My husband and I split the grilled calamari ($11.95; only half of portion shown below) and even a half size consisted of one and a half pieces. The calamari was tender and fresh; the charred smokiness was mellowed by the fresh warm salsa topping it (consisting of tomatoes, olives, capers, roasted garlic and red onion). I especially liked how the olives were freshly pitted and not too strong as to overpower the dish. The salsa was good with the calamari, on its own or would likely be even better atop bread (which I wanted to try it if weren’t for worry about filling up).


The mixed seafood linguine ($18.95) contained another piece of grilled calamari (I really should have planned my meal out better), two prawns, chunks of tender salmon, tons of mussels and unshelled baby clams throughout. The sauce, a simple fish broth, is exactly what I want with seafood pasta – just let the cooking liquid act as the flavour, too much tomato drowns out the wonderful natural seafood essence. A mix of julienned peppers, leeks, onion, snow peas and roasted garlic rounded out the dish adding some crunch to the pasta. If only the linguine was more al dente, the dish would have been perfect.


My husband’s grilled black angus striploin ($31.95) was a brimming plate of meat, fresh cut frites, thick slices of portobello mushroom and vegetables. He noted the steak was cooked well and the beef a nice tender cut. Alas, I was too excited to dig into the linguine and forgot to snap a picture of his meal. 

All in all, Richmond Grill offers great dishes at a low price. Trust me, come hungry as you will surely not be disappointed. Just try to look past the decals on the windows, not the greatest sight, and you will be in for a treat. After all, a restaurant that’s been in business for seventeen years must be doing something right.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10

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Gastro World's Grading System

  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • - 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!