Blue Ocean Cafe 藍海餐廳 (Markham)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Markham, Canada
Address: 8392 Kennedy Road
Website: http://www.blueoceancafe.ca/
Type of Meal: Dinner

Blue Ocean Café is a popular Hong Kong style tea café (you can read more about these in my Phoenix review) that leaves your stomach and wallet full. Most of their dishes are accompanied with soup (creamy or borscht) and tea or coffee and are big portions (ordering three you could easily feed four people).

We all chose to have borscht with our meals. Cantonese borscht, unlike the Ukrainian version, is tomato and beef based containing no traces of beet. Blue Ocean’s had a fair amount of cabbage, celery and carrots but could have used a few more cubes of meat.


Eating family style is ideal as each main is so large that it could get a bit monotonous having the whole thing. Our first dish, the baked Portuguese seafood rice ($8.99), was a little mild for my taste and could use more coconut milk, curry and even a pinch of salt. But, there was a decent amount of seafood including calamari, shrimp and fish. Just watch out for the hot plates as we weren’t warned and I burnt myself; a week later there’s still a mark on my finger.


The baked Bolognese with mushroom and ham with rice ($8.99; we switched from pasta) was a touch more flavourful from the addition of ham. But, I found it was still too subtle and lacked the rich tomato sauce essence. Perhaps it’s because I ate these after having the more powerful borscht that everything paled in comparison.


Blue Ocean’s Hainanese chicken rice ($8.50) was definitely the best of the three; in fact, one of the better ones I’ve had. The chicken is braised in a rich broth and became tender, warm and had a great salty taste. It had such great flavour that I didn’t even need the ginger oil or sweet Thai chili sauce on the side.

All in all, good portions at even greater prices but a bit too bland for me. However, if you’re eating here regularly, than something with less salt may be the healthier choice. 
Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10
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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!

Pops of Champagne and Watershed (Chicago)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 601 N State Street
Website: http://popsforchampagne.com/
                  http://watershedbar.com/
Type of Meal: Drinks and Snacks
Wanting a relaxed environment for drinks and small bites, we ended up at Pops of Champagne. I loved the mix of modern décor (beautiful metallic high top tables), yet Pops hired a jazz band to mellow out the mood. 

Of course, Pops is known for champagne with 100+ bottles on their menu ranging from $42 (for a half bottle) – $700 (for a jeroboam one). Not wanting an entire bottle, my friend and I ordered champagne cocktails instead.  Her the stunning La vie en rose ($14) an easy going drink made with elderflower liqueur, bitters, Brut champagne and a sugar cube. While I got the high sage ($11), a beloved concoction of Hendrick’s gin, prosecco, cucumber and sage syrup.


Oysters go so well with champagne. We ordered a dozen for the table ($28), containing a selection of four types (unfortunately, I can’t remember their names except one has to do with a cowboy). But, there was a contrasting selection of lighter, stronger and a creamy varieties. Lemon, house hot sauce, horseradish and apple mignonette arrive on the side for dressing.


The Wisconsin cheese curds tempura ($8) was an upscale take on the mozzarella sticks. I loved the gooey elastic cheese wrapped in a crispy salty batter.  On the side was a slightly spicy harissa romesco and a cooling ranch sauce. As a warning, you want to order these in larger groups as even with our table of four they were a little gluttonous feeling by the end.


Perhaps, it’s due to us ordering another deep fried dish – the crispy black tiger shrimp togarashi tempura ($16). The flavours were there but the batter could have been thinner (especially if it was supposed to be tempura). On the side was a light pineapple-habañero sweet & sour sauce to give it extra flavour.


After the drink and light eats we made our way downstairs (literally look for a doorway with a W above it and walk down) and entered Watershed a laid back speakeasy / basement bar.  The two lounges could not be more different. Watershed is retro and cozy while Pops is modern and contemporary. Instead of a live jazz band, a simple vinyl record player sat in the corner.

Not seeing anyone working, we grabbed menus and sat ourselves. Low and behold, on the first page of the menu you’re instructed to clap for service. So we did and I tried out their Chicago fizz ($10) a frothy bubbly cocktail made with Tailwinds Amber rum, Tawny port, lemon, egg white and club soda.
Both Pops of Champagne and Watershed offered great cocktails and a wonderful environment. It was the perfect way to enjoy Chicago’s night life without having to deal with lines and crowds. And for that, I say “cheers”!



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Jake Melnick's Corner Tap (Chicago)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 41 E Superior Street
Website: http://www.jakemelnicks.com/index
Type of Meal: Lunch
We found Jake Melnick's Corner Tap by chance while looking for a place without a wait and close to the Magnificent Mile. It was a great find with their laid-back friendly staff, hearty food and monstrous portions. Trust me, you want to share your food. Especially if you order the cobb salad, as the plates are platter sized.

My husband’s sloppy pig ($11.95) was absolutely delicious. A great combination of 14-hour slow smoked pulled pork in a thick sweet sauce, melted cheese, onion frizzles and something spicy (pickled jalapenos perhaps)? I loved how juicy it was and just ate forks of meat and cheese with fries, making my own poutine in the process.


Meanwhile, my BBQ beef brisket sandwich ($12.95) was decent but not nearly as good as the sloppy pig. The sandwich had plenty of 17-hour slow smoked brisket but didn’t have enough sauce, so it was rather bland. I would have loved to have a squeeze bottle or small dish of BBQ sauce on the side so that I could add more when necessary.


The fries were my favourite part – hot and freshly made with real potatoes. Additionally, there was a side of coleslaw which was creamy and sweet (not the best combination for me and hence didn’t put it on my sandwich) and slices of juicy dill pickles which was great at cutting the brisket’s richness.

All in all, I wouldn’t consider Jake Melnick’s to be a restaurant you have to go to while visiting Chicago. But, if you’re in the neighbourhood, it’s a great choice for larger groups and will fill you with enough energy to last the day.
Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
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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!

Lou Malnati (Chicago)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 439 N Wells Street
Website: http://www.loumalnatis.com/
Type of Meal: Lunch
I vowed to not leave Chicago until I tried deep dish pizza. It’s strange, because the thought of the sheer amount of toppings didn’t appeal to me – at heart I’m a thin crust, adequately topped Neapolitan pizza type of girl. But, to not try something so iconic would be a shame.

Having been recommended Lou Malnati as an option from Chicago Food Scene, my husband and I happened to walk by it while exploring Old Town. So, we decided to stop for brunch, thinking this heavy dish would be more than enough for two meals.

Since the pizzas are prepared fresh, it takes about half an hour to make; so, we started off with a Caesar salad ($5.25). Oddly, their menu only offers the salad with grilled chicken, but we asked for the meat to be removed. It was a decent Caesar dressing that wasn’t too thick but still garlicky enough for my liking. I also enjoyed the diced tomatoes that were added to it.


My husband and I shared the small Malnati Chicago classic ($14.25) made with sausage, tons of stringy cheese and large pieces of vine-ripened tomatoes. It was much better than I expected. Of course, there was tons of toppings, but the sausage was lean and not too salty and the cheese was fresh and not oily. Personally, I preferred the toasted crust on the side so broke pieces of it off and put toppings on that; the bottom crust was a tad soft for my taste. Deep dish pizza to me is like eating quiche but with a harder crust and different filling.


The menu noted the small size feeds two individuals and we each ended up getting two large slices. I actually would have just preferred one slice as it's so rich and filling. My recommendation is ordering one size smaller than the menu suggests and sharing a salad & appetizer to make it a more well-rounded meal.


Overall, I’m glad I had a chance to try deep dish and was pleasantly surprised with the experience. Despite not thinking I’d enjoy it, the deep dish at Lou Malnati’s was delicious.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
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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!

Frontera Grill (Chicago)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Chicago, USA
Address: 445 N Clark Street
Website: http://www.rickbayless.com/restaurants/frontera-grill/
Type of Meal: Lunch
Having arrived 10 minutes just before Frontera Grill’s opening time (11:30am), there was already a line up down the length of their patio. Luckily, the line was actually for two restaurants (Frontera Grill and its slightly more upscale sister restaurant Topolobampo) and once the doors opened patrons were sat quickly.

What makes Frontera special is their dishes made with simple fresh ingredients. Take their guacamole ($9.50), it seemed to be comprised of the bare essentials - avocado, onions and maybe some salt. Without the typical zing of lime and jalapeños the guacamole tasted surprisingly creamy and somehow richer. The accompanying chips were crispy and not oily while the subtle salsas were also good when mixed with the guacamole.



The quesadillas ($14) were chocked full of grilled chicken and Indiana jack cheese (and pretty much just that). On the side was more guacamole, thick refried beans and some dressed lettuce leaves (covered in a Parmesan-type cheese). Overall, it was a satisfying quesadilla but personally I would have liked it more if there was some stronger salsa accompanying it.



My chicken in mole amarillo ($15) was a bit timid. I imagined a rich mole stewed for hours with tons of ingredients (Oaxaca mole amarillo guajillo, tomato, tomatillo, hoja santa, corn masa was what was listed on the menu). Nonetheless, the tender pieces of smoked chicken and fennel braised in the sauce were nice, especially with the warm fresh tortillas. I jazzed it up with the red chili sauce on the table and even sprinkled some tart and peppery arugula salad in the wrap for good measure.


All in all, Frontera Grill offers traditional options that may seem a bit bland to those who grew up on Tex Mex and the crazy fusion tacos in today's restaurants. But, if you want to get back to the simpler side of things than they are the place for you.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
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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!

Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant (Scarborough)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Scarborough, Canada
Address: 58 Redlea Avenue (but multiple locations throughout the city)
Website: http://kimpovietnamese.com/
Type of Meal: Lunch


With seven locations across the GTA, Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant’s Scarborough location seems to be the most run down. Located off a small street across from Pacific Mall, the building looks like a converted house with minimal parking spots (but tons of street parking). Luckily, once we made our way inside the interior was nicer having been upgraded. In reality, all I was looking for was a hearty bowl of noodles so esthetics mean little - as long as the broth is rich and noodles not overdone I’m happy.

Having heard about their house special Fukein noodles ($6.50), we decided to order this instead of pho. The change was a nice; the bowl contained two types of noodles (a thicker yellow “oil” variety and a thin vermicelli). It still had plenty of hearty rich broth (Kim Po’s not overly oily and clean tasting), thinly sliced beef & Vietnamese ham and was topped with an oversized prawn chip complete with dried prawn in the centre.  


Tackling the chip first, so that it wouldn’t get mushy from being left in the soup, it was crisp and had a deep shrimp flavour. The duo of noodles helped to add a texture contrast but there could have been more of it as it seemed like with a few scoops everything was gone. Mixed into everything was plenty of green onions, fried onions and a rigorous sprinkling of black pepper. All in all, I don’t know if I’d replace the beloved pho with Fukein noodles but it’s a good alternative.

The chicken in their BBQ lemongrass chicken with rice ($7.50) was nicely marinated and grilled. Tender and filled with flavour, I would have loved to have the chicken with a bowl of pho. The rice that accompanied the dish was one of the worse quality I’ve ever had. It was a cheaper variety so the grains were broken into many small pieces and lacked any fragrance. It’s a shame that such a delicious chicken was paired with the subpar rice.


Kim Po’s deep fried spring rolls ($5.50) were on point, with a fair amount of filling (a mixture of taro, noodles and pork) encapsulated in a very crispy crust. Served with some extras (cold springy noodles and vegetables) they were also great for dipping into the vinegary fish sauce.


In the end, Kim Po’s a decent Vietnamese restaurant with some inventive offerings on the menu you may not normally find at competitors. But, with so many choices around the area, it wasn’t my favourite and generally found their portions a tad small. A saving grace is they are opened until 4pm; so, if it were for a late night snack than perhaps Kim Po would be a satisfying choice. 

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
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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!



CLOSED: Izakaya Tsuki

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 5182 Yonge Street
Type of Meal: Dinner
Walking into Tsuki, their dim lighting and ample group seating sure feels like an izakaya. But, after sitting down and tuning into the strange mix of music playing in the background (some top 40, folk and country) you can tell already it will be a bit different. Tsuki attracts groups of friends ready to have a great time. With pitchers of Sapporo for $16.99 and bottles of soju for $13.99, drinking is certainly affordable and makes the night more interesting. 

The buttered squid ($8) is a dish I’d recommend ordering. Not only is it delicious, but also such a great deal! An entire squid is grilled and basted with butter. The result is a smoky and tender squid with plenty of pieces to share amongst a group.



As a warning, come with a large group if you're going to order the seafood pancake ($12) - its huge and enough to feed ten. Cut into thick wedges, each has big pieces of green onion, beans and calamari mixed throughout. Personally, I’d like the pancake thinner so there's the chance to develop more crust and the middle wouldn’t be as mushy. Also, a varied selection of seafood such as shrimp and clams would be even better as I found in most dishes we ordered squid was prevalent. And finally, the batter needed more salt; when you ate it without dousing the pancake with the spicy soy sauce on the side it was rather plain.



The cheese buldak ($16) was essentially strips of spicy chicken covered with cheese on a bed of vegetables (onion, cabbage and bean sprouts). The gooey melted cheese over everything gave the dish a sense of eating a protein rich poutine. The thin chicken strips did tend to get a bit dry if they weren’t eaten quickly but generally wasn’t a bad dish.



My friends, who have been numerous times, swears by the spicy snail ($15). It’s served cold and the snails cut into smaller pieces and mixed with sweet and spicy douchouchang sauce and lettuce. If you’re squeamish about trying snails, this is the dish for you as its all covered and hard to see. On the side, were cold vermicelli noodles that were sadly overcooked so it became mushy and stuck in clumps. All in all, I enjoyed the flavours and the refreshing nature of it.



Tsuki’s tako yaki ($7) were disappointing. Indeed, it had enough sauces and bonito flakes on it to give them flavour, but the batter was so mushy that it resembled eating a glutinous rice ball more than the crisp fluffy tako yaki you’d expect.



There was a hefty portion of tempura ($9) with plenty of shrimp and vegetables (asparagus, sweet potato and pumpkin). Each piece was crispy and the light sweet green onion soy sauce on the side was a nice change.



 Maybe it was due to when I received the dish, but found the pork kimchi durachigi ($14) needed more meat – there was simply so much kimchi! Served in a sizzling pan everything stayed piping hot and released an extra level of spiciness to the cabbage. Personally, it wasn’t my favourite as found it was mostly just hot kimchi.



 The maguro tataki ($14) is another passable dish. Although nicely presented it lacked the bold citrusy flavours from being lightly marinated in an onion sauce I normally enjoy. 



 Tsuki’s menu is not all about hot dishes, they also have a variety of sushi rolls. All the ones we ordered were made with a vibrant black rice (actually purple in colour), and similar to what accompanies the soon tofu at Buk ChangDong Soon Tofu. The dynamite roll ($9) was decent with the classic tempura shrimp, creamy avocado and crunchy cucumbers. In Tsuki’s case it is drizzled with a sweet terryiaki glaze.



 The spicy salmon roll ($6) had tons of the spicy mayonnaise on it; not the most esthetically pleasing to look at, but provided a great kick of flavour. There were no tempura battered bits with it at all, but rather a simple large piece of salmon which I enjoyed.



 A great idea for some fun is the Russian roulette roll ($7). The maki itself is just salmon and avocado topped with a tangy mayo sauce. The novelty is that one piece (out of six) has tons of wasabi mixed into it. So, tables are encouraged to have everyone grab a piece and bite into it together – it’s quite entertaining to see the look on the unlucky person’s face (needless to say it wasn’t me!)




All in all, Tsuki offers great service and decent food at very reasonable prices. They are a popular restaurant in the neighbourhood with every table occupied during our weekend visit. The staff are amazingly friendly. Our waiter David was so helpful throughout the night – he even went around to find us extra soju bottle caps for drinking games (who would have known a simple cap could offer so much entertainment)! 

My suggestion is to come in larger groups (six would be ideal) as there are tons of dishes to try and more than enough of each to pass along. Plus, it’s the type of place you can get loud and rowdy and other patrons just don’t seem to mind.


Overall mark - 7 out of 10
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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!

CLOSED: East Thirty Six (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 36 Wellington Street East
Type of Meal: Dinner


To clarify, East Thirty Six is not affiliated with Lucien or the Oyster Bar which previously resided at the space. The menu and ownership is completely new. Indeed, when you walk inside, the dining room has been updated with a large illuminated bar and more size appropriate furniture. It actually feels airy and spacious compared to the former supper club.

The large bar works well as East Thirty Six wants to be known as a place for cocktails. For the after work crowd, on weekdays from 4-7 there are happy hour specials - $5 for a Mill Street beer or mixed drink and $8 for a martini. Alas, despite a tall refreshing looking cocktail being displayed on the happy hour menu, there are no deals for these. However, their martinis are a nice substitute, my French martini was deliciously made with vodka, Chambord raspberry liqueur and pineapple juice.


Drinking the night away could get messy without food, so two friends and I opted to share several of their offerings. The bone marrow ($16) was our favourite. It was well-done, smooth and even had some excess oil for dipping. Some may find it overcooked but I personally prefer marrow cooked through so there's no bloody pieces. Flavoured with an herb mixture and salt it was great to spread across the grilled bread. On the side, a dish of smooth chicken liver parfait to include a slightly sweet element to everything.



 The smoked sweetbreads ($15) was another great find. Tender pieces of battered sweetbreads were cut into nuggets and deep fried crispy. On the side a great smoky and vibrant poblano and romesco sauce that went well with the neutral sweetbreads. On the bottom a simple slaw with some pistachio mixed throughout. A great easy to share plate for large groups.
 

Generally, we found their larger "mains" were good but the small plates which arrived earlier were better. Overall, the mains had great flavours and were artfully composed but, with the exception of duck confit, were a tad overdone. The shortrib ($21) needed a jus drizzled over top to give it more moisture as we found it dry for a shortrib. The accompanying spicy potato, arugula pistou (similar to pesto made with garlic, olive oil and arugula), sweet corn and turnips were nice and gave the dish an Argentinian flare.


The Berkshire pork belly ($20) was beautifully presented with a ricotta salata (a salty ricotta cheese which has been pressed and dried) topped fried egg. I thoroughly enjoyed the crispy pan fried gnocchi and broccoli sides, which with the egg were the dish highlights. The pork belly, while nicely flavoured, was tough to cut through. The skin could be thinner or rendered more as it was a bit chewy. Perhaps even just blow torching the top prior to serving would help to crisp up the skin.


One of my favourite dishes is duck confit ($23)… but it does mean I've had many versions of it throughout my lifetime. East Thirty Six's was decent and delicious - the duck tender, hot and flavourful. The sous-vide cooked duck egg was a great touch, adding a silky, creamy sauce over the pecorino semolina "grits". On the side were plump maitake or hen-of-the-wood mushrooms. Overall, the best of the three meaty dishes, in my opinion.


Our fellow diners also ordered a variety of dishes. Some of the interesting ones I snapped pictures are below. The octopus ($23) looked great and was served with smoked potatoes, a creamy tonnato sauce, olives and red mustard.


The cauliflower ($8) could be a great side with the meaty dishes with it slightly toasted and flavoured with capers, preserved lemon, brown butter, hazelnut and parsley.



I welcome East Thirty Six to the neighbourhood. They take reservations, service was great and there’s plenty on the menu to meet all desires. And of course their happy hour menu doesn’t hurt as well.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
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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!



CLOSED: County General (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 798 Queen Street East
Type of Meal: Brunch
Upon arriving at County General Riverside for weekend brunch, I was shocked to find the place empty. Sure, we had decided to meet earlier (10:30) to avoid the rush, but for me to be able to pick wherever I wanted to sit? Well that’s just refreshing. In fact, everything about County General is laid-back from their décor, staff, mismatched plates and non-rushed service. It takes some time for the food to arrive, but once it does you realize it’s worth the wait.

Wanting to have something savoury and sweet, my friend and I decide to split their famed chicken thigh sandwich ($12) and save room for “dessert”. The thick piece of fried chicken is delicious – oozing with juices, will brined and encased in a crunchy exterior. It’s actually the closest dish to reliving my lunch at Willie Mae’s Scotch House.


Slathered with a creamy avocado chutney, tangy pickled onions and a fair amount of fresh cilantro, these lightened the sandwich so it didn’t feel too gluttonous for the first meal of the day. We substituted the regular salad for kale ($2 supplement) which is well flavoured with a creamy roasted garlic sauce, fried capers, croutons and tons of shaved Thunder Oak gouda.

I’m so glad we decided to share so we could each enjoy a butter milk pancake ($4). Firstly, I must commend County General for selling their pancakes and French toast by the piece. It really helps indecisive individuals like me with being able to have a bit of everything. Generally, I lean towards ordering savoury dishes, but pancakes and French toast are those little made breakfast items I also crave.


County General’s pancake is unique; it’s denser and without the airy pockets. However, given its thinness the pancake still feels light. But, what makes it stand out is the deep crust that forms on the bottom (it’s a deep brown colour that if given another minute could border along burnt). This crust adds a great caramelized taste and smell to the pancake. Topped with plenty of maple syrup and stewed strawberries it’s worth saving room for.

Pictured below, but I did not try, are some of their other entrees my friends ordered. The croque madame ($12) made with pulled pork (instead of ham), fried egg, mornay sauce (a béchamel with cheese) and BBQ sauce. 


And the sausage and eggs ($12) served with tomato jam and hash browns. The sausages were served in a deep fried nugget form rather than links.


I’m so glad more restaurants are starting to open in the East end of the city. Since I live Uptown, the drive down is much easier, parking is a breeze (there’s unpaid street parking around the restaurant) and everything just seems calmer. After all, brunch should be a leisurely affair – who wants to feel hurried and arrive at a restaurant only to find a line-up?
Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10
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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!



CLOSED: Los Colibris (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2014 by
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 220 King Street West (2nd floor)
Type of Meal: Dinner
It’s about time Toronto has a restaurant that serves upscale Mexican cuisine. Don’t get me wrong, I love tacos, burritos and chips with guacamole. But, I’m also intrigued by what authentic culinary creations Mexico has that don’t involve refried beans and cheese. As it turns out, there’s plenty. Dishes tend to have a Spanish flare augmented with a spicier kick.

Unlike their sister restaurant downstairs, Los Colibris is not a tequila bar. Nonetheless, their cocktail list still includes a variety of delicious sounding drinks. I started with the Zona Rosa ($12) a beautifully presented hibiscus margarita. Despite its vibrant pink colour and rimmed glass, it was thankfully not a sweet “girly” drink. Made with Tromba white rum, flor de Jamaica (a hibiscus tea), basil, mint and lime juice the cocktail was refreshing and light, great for the summer months.


Sharing the pulpo a la parrilla ($16) as an appetizer, it was a great start to the meal. Succulent pieces of plump grilled octopus were served with a refreshing basil, jalapeno & coriander oil sauce on the side. It was tender and meaty, tasting great by itself or wrapped into a fresh warm corn tortilla. With four tortillas and plenty of pieces of octopus, this is an excellent dish for sharing.


At first when the huachinango a la veracruzana ($24) arrived I was a little nervous. Sitting on top of the red snapper were tons of green olives and capers – two ingredients that are okay but I generally avoid. Little did I know that the spicy veracruz sauce was one made with tomatoes, olive oil, capers and olives. After taking a bite, I was pleasantly surprised as it was nicely balanced with salty, sweet and spicy elements. The olives and capers must have been soaked to rid it of the powerful briny taste. The sauce complimented the tender and flaky red snapper quite nicely and was also delicious at flavouring the poblano rice.


Sitting near the open kitchen, we were treated with the most intoxicating smells throughout our meal. Chef Elia Herrera didn’t seem present during our visit, but someone else was at the helm artfully plating the dishes in front of us. Many of the creations looked delicious, so much so that a return visit may be warranted to try some of their meatier offerings.


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
  • 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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