Tucked in a corner of a stone building off Avenue, you may
miss the steps down to Brownes Bistro. Leading to a rather large restaurant,
their décor is classic: the dining room consisting of dark wood and cream
linens. If you’re a fan of old school restaurants like me, you’re in for a
treat.
Their Summerlicious menu ($28) was equally traditional, with
the exception of the vegetable samosa, suitably safe for non-adventurous eaters.
Of course, as a food lover, I love trying new things. But, sometimes I get
tired of the shared fusion plates, doused in a variety of sauces and start
yearning for timeless dishes.
If Browne’s grilled calamari weren’t so salty, the starter
would have been good: the seafood was tender with a gentle smokiness. However, this
was ruined by over seasoning the calamari when the aged balsamic and shallot
sauce drizzled on top was also so flavourful.
Despite being thinly sliced, the Atlantic salmon was
surprisingly moist having been grilled quickly so it was just cooked through.
Unlike the starter, the fish was simply topped with a citrus-herb-lime infused
butter and seasoned suitably.
Although the presentation of the apple rhubarb crisp could
be improved, the dessert was satisfying – plenty of apples and rhubarb baked
until soft but still having bite. Not overly sweet, the dish relied on the
buttery crumble topping and French vanilla ice cream to make it a dessert.
Summerlicious gets a bad reputation amongst those working in
the industry – I understand, they’re often serving a lot more food to a lot
more people than they’re normally used to. With the special pricing, bill
totals will ring in less so their gratuities are otherwise lower. Encounter
dinner guests that are especially demanding (please don’t ask for substitutions)
and I can see why it’s a draining two weeks.
Yet, it’s also the perfect opportunity for restaurants to
expand their clientele. If it weren’t for Summerlicious, I would have never
tried Brownes Bistro, having found it by looking for dinner menus with a
specific price point that’s close to home.
Luckily, Theo, our server for the evening, didn’t mind the
event. He welcomed us warmly, offered to take pictures, and joked with us
throughout the evening … even though we were rowdier than their normal
clientele (residents of the areas).
Foodies, I challenge you to look past what’s flashy and new.
Sometimes you need to step back and reconnect with the classics. After all, it’s
not that often a business survives, let alone lasts over 30 years, there must
be a reason.
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $28
Regular menu - $42 - calamari ($12), salmon ($22) and dessert* ($8)
Savings - $14 or 33%
* The dessert price is a wild guess from me
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 1251 Yonge Street
Address: 1251 Yonge Street
Website: http://brownesbistro.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!
Is That It? I Want More!
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