Browne's Bistro (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2016 by

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.

Overall mark - 7 out of 10
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

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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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Browne's Bistro Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Simply Snacking: Mediterra Bars

Posted on Monday, August 01, 2016 by

I’m particular with granola bars – I don’t like when the main ingredient is granola and they’re especially bad if the bar’s really sugary. Hence, most of the run-of-the-mill boxed varieties found in supermarkets were never appealing. Over the years, I’ve found brands that remove some grains and replace it with additional fruits and nuts, cutting down on the sugar also helps.

It wasn’t until recently that I’ve discovered Mediterra bars, which has an entire savoury line inspired by the Mediterranean diet (think greens, whole grains, olive oil and olives). 


By far my favourite is the kale and pumpkin seeds, milder in flavour compared to the ones packed with olives, sundried tomatoes or capers, but nonetheless extremely satisfying as an add-on during lunch or a snack to tie me over until dinner.


The bar was chocked full of hearty ingredients including cashews, pumpkin seeds, crispy kale bits and dots of apricots to give it chewiness. In lieu of granola, Mediterra incorporates pea crisps (a blend of pea protein and rice flour) and some amaranth puffs for crunch. I’ll admit, the first bite was a bit strange as I’ve always associated food bars with a sweet taste. But, for a person who yearns for chips in the afternoon, the sea salt, olive oil and rosemary helped satisfy the craving.     

Of course, Mediterra also offers the traditional sweet varieties. The yoghurt and oat bar with cherry or apricot has the sweet glaze on one side, but isn’t as sugary as the popular grocery store brands. Adding pistachio to the blend was a good choice as it’s a mellower nut.

Sundried tomato and basil savoury bar
If you’re craving something even sweeter, the pistachio and honey one is indulgent enough to replace a doughnut or cake. Mediterra modelled their sesame energy bar line after the Greek pastel. Like the sesame seed bars, there’s a honey binder except the consistency is chewy and soft. Considering an average doughnut is about 500 calories, the fact that the bar’s only 200 makes it a healthier alternative.

Finally, a brand that makes a savoury food bar. If you want to try some for yourself, Mediterra is offering Gastro World readers a discount code to receive 10% off their online order until January 31, 2017. Just head to MediterraNutrition.com and type in SAVE10 at the checkout (please keep in mind it’s a US company).

Disclaimer: The above snacks were provided on a complimentary basis. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I would never promote something I didn't actually enjoy.

Nutritional information for the kale & pumpkin savoury bar

MORE: Back to Simply Snacking

How To Find Them

  Website: MediterraNutrition.com or Loblaws
  Approx. Price: US$23.95 for 12 bars

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CLOSED: Red's Midtown Tavern (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2016 by

Reds Midtown Tavern is a great place for gin and tonics: with 29 types of the spirit and three different tonic waters, you can customize whole heartily. If you’re like me and the selection stumps you, they also have a selection of G&T cocktails (all $9 on Fridays). The foxy lady (normally $13.25) is ultra-refreshing made with my favourite Hendrick’s gin and Fevertree Mediterranean tonic. For a drink that looks rather plain, every sip brings an array of flavours given its also incorporates rose water, mint bitters, and an infusion of strawberry and cucumber.

Their food on the other hand, is average at best. Even for a person who loves salty foods, I found the truffle fries ($8.75) over seasoned. The freshly made fries were good but with so much salt and parmesan the truffle essence became lost.

And it’s likely my own fault for the passable main – why would I visit a restaurant in downtown Toronto specializing in fancy cocktails and order low country fried chicken ($18.95)? Never order to what you’re craving and rather to the restaurant (despite their fault for offering something on the menu). I would have been better off with a steak sandwich.

The restaurant’s first mistake was using boneless chicken – sure it’s much easier to eat but the juiciness and wonderful Southern specialty is non-existent. Truthfully, the chicken was tender, but aside from the salty breading the dish lacked flavour. If it’s renamed “boneless fried chicken” or “fried chicken tenders”, at least there would have been a warning and I’d stay away.


Unlike the truffle fries, the ones that accompanied the chicken weren’t as salty so you could actually enjoy the potato flavour. The coleslaw, dressed in a sweet and spicy vinaigrette, is an interesting choice and goes rather well with the fried chicken helping to cut the grease. But, with a light sweet side, I would have preferred the dipping sauce to be more savoury instead of the honey Dijon, which reminded me of the slaw itself.    


Despite the run-of-the-mill food, Reds’ service was great and being a large restaurant, you don’t feel bad sitting at the table longer and starting with a round of drinks before moving into dinner. And if you’re not particularly hungry, trying their gin and tonics is a good enough excuse for a visit.

Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10

How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 382 Yonge Street
 

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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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Taverna Mercatto (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, July 30, 2016 by


If it weren’t for Taverna Mercatto’s proximity to work, the ACC, and Roger’s Centre, I wouldn’t have found the spacious restaurant. Their shaded patio is popular for after work drinks and unlike other Financial District places, you don’t need to get there before 5pm to secure a table. Needless to say, I’ve had my fair share of wine at the place.

Whereas it’s an excellent location for liberations, their food leaves me wanting. Their appetizers aren’t bad and I could make a light meal from the arancini ($11) and misticanza ($9); the later a spring mix salad with celery, radish, and an amazing salty aged sherry vinaigrette. The arancini has a nice crispy crust, is stuffed with provolone cheese, and smothered in a thick spicy tomato sauce. Although the cheese is melted, the risotto ball could be hotter.   


Taverna Mercatto’s pizzas, on the other hand, is a mess. Like their Eaton Centre location, the margherita ($15) arrives looking promising – wonderfully thin, golden toasted edges, and a fair amount of toppings (in this case fior di latte and basil). However, as soon as you reach to grab a slice the centre barely holds together and the waterlogged crust is evident. Good luck eating this without a knife and fork. 


 Overall mark - 6.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 120 Bremner Boulevard

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Taverna Mercatto Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

CLOSED: Artisan Noodle 老碗 (Toronto)

Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2016 by

Having walked by Artisan Noodle on numerous occasions and seeing waiting throngs, it’s apparent the restaurant’s good. Of course, its small dining room that seats less than 20 people likely isn’t helping alleviate the long lines either. Trust me, if there’s only a couple of people ahead of you, the wait is worth it.

Surprisingly, for such a small establishment, they have a surprisingly large menu dedicated to the biang biang hand-slapped and pulled noodles originating from China’s Shaanxi province. The namesake biang biang mian ($8.99) features the noodles topped with a cacophony of ingredients: diced root vegetables, tomato, beef, scrambled egg and scallions. You mix everything around vigorously creating a light dish suitable for warm weather. My husband enjoyed the dish, but its lukewarm temperature and absence of soup made me want something else.


If you can handle the heat, the spicy stewed beef noodle soup ($9.99) is good. The beef broth salty and satisfying, the noodles simply adorned with tons of tender beef, scallions and cilantro. I only wish the spiciness wasn’t derived from chili oil as the slick layer of it floating on top made it difficult to enjoy the soup.


Artisan’s noodles are a remarkable length (good luck trying to eat it in a mouthful) and unlike the knife shaved style, their thickness remains consistent throughout. Springy but still soft, the noodles are substantial and leave you full afterwards.

A great first experience with biang biang noodles. So good that I plan on returning to Artisan Noodle to try the stir fried version. Hopefully, we’ll be lucky again and miss their long lines.

 Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 5421 Yonge Street
 

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
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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CLOSED: Lobster Burger Salad (LBs) (Toronto)

Posted on Saturday, July 23, 2016 by


Lobster Burger Salad, shortened to “LBs” but pronounced “pounds”, opened quietly in the Financial District this summer. Nonetheless, my food loving friend caught sight of their wrought iron lobster signage and we were immediately excited. However, with the luxury ingredient, prices would be steep so who knew when we’d have a special occasion to try the place?

Trying to combat the mentality where lobster needs to be charged at expensive market prices, LBs devised a menu with four mains all costing $22: a 1.25 lb lobster, lobster roll, lobster salad, and the sole non-seafood dish … the 6oz. bacon cheese burger. There’s also a lobster poutine ($20) for sharing and a selection of larger 2-6 lb lobsters ($75 - $185).

I wasn’t leaving LBs without having the lobster, so the 1.25 lb dinner was a good choice. The crustacean arrived separated with shells split, eating it was a breeze. There was more than enough melted butter accompanying the dish, but really with sweet succulent lobster meat, I rather have it plain. And it was cooked well, not a rubbery bit at all.


Although I wouldn’t suggest using them for the lobster, LBs also offers a selection of premium sauces (truffle aioli, lobster butter or gravy) for an extra $4 as a special fry dip. Personally, I found the side fairly salty already, so it really didn’t require any further condiments. What a delicious combination: lobster and fries.

My friend’s lobster roll looked great with its butter toasted bun and ample amount of meat. Since the roll is offered at their takeout window during lunch for $16 (including chips), I’ll need to arrange a lunch date soon.  

While the mains are relatively affordable, LBs cocktails is where margins are made. The citrusy grapefruit cordial in the rich girl ($16) goes nicely with the lobster and the mezcal is spiked with a mellow chili so there’s an interesting aftertaste that turns an otherwise plain drink into something special.

As soon as you step into the restaurant the smell of cooking shellfish is intoxicating - perhaps one of my favourite food scents. With plenty of seating and reservations accepted, enjoying a lobster could not be made any easier.

Overall mark - 7.5 out of 10



How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 100 Yonge Street


 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:




CLOSED: Lisa Marie (Toronto)

Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 by

With the Elvis Presley motif on the wall, it’s clear where the inspiration for Lisa Marie’s name came from. As Kitchen Project notes, the King enjoyed Southern stick-to-your-rib food, exactly what the restaurant serves. But, where Elvis didn’t like strange foreign sounding ingredients, Lisa Marie uses things like kimchi or queso fresco, extremely popular ingredients in their own native lands, to jazz up the King’s favourites.

As part of the Summerlicious menu ($28 for dinner, regular prices listed in post below), kimchi was used in the Alabama tailgaters ($11) and Seoul fried chicken ($19); both meaty dishes filled with flavours. The tailgaters have nothing in common with the steak of the swamps, rather is sliced beef and aged cheddar, rolled up and wrapped in bacon. They’re salty and tender, not as heavy as I expected. Although the kimchi became lost, there was a light chili garlic sauce on the green beans, which helped to cut through the grease.


A pile of cabbage kimchi sat beside the Seoul fried chicken. If it’s too spicy, the sweet red sauce covering the dish helps calm the sting. The bone-in pieces of chicken were juicy and the breading substantial enough to withstand the thick glaze so it retained its crispiness.


Soft creamy queso fresco made its way inside the flautas ($9), combined with white cheddar cheese for the stringiness. The tortillas cylinders were crispy to contrast against the molten cheese, it was a nice starter topped with crema and a refreshing roasted tomatillo sauce.


Lisa Marie’s carne asada ($19) incorporated tons of char on the pichana steak, yet remained a moist medium inside. The smoky meat was complimented by creamy guacamole, heirloom cherry tomato salsa and of course the soft crumbled queso fresco. Of all the dishes we had that evening, it was actually the lightest, even incorporating grilled shishito peppers for a further portion of vegetables.


I can’t leave Lisa Marie without having some pad thai fries ($5) - fries tossed in a very spicy pad thai sauce with crunchy raw bean sprouts to cool the zing. They’re normally fantastic, but were lukewarm that evening so a tad less impressive.


Elvis must really have a SWEET tooth, as all the desserts were fairly sugary. After one spoonful, I couldn’t have more. The Elvis ($7) is like a Southern trifle, boozy zambaglione dotted with bananas and French toast. Of the three being offered, it was the tastiest to me.


The small skillet was really cute for the s’mores, but its heat did little to melt the milk chocolate chips on the bottom. Mixed with Nutella and topped with toasted marshmallows, I assure you it’s as sweet as it sounds. The graham crackers were closer to a hard shortbread, so all together the dish really didn’t remind me of s’mores at all.


You certainly need a cup of milk after having a bite of the homemade Oreo: a crunchy chocolate cookie filled with the sweet cream that’s synonymous with the famed cookie.


Although the desserts weren’t for me, all the savoury dishes from Lisa Marie’s Summerlicious dishes were absolutely delicious. Everything was full of flavour and certainly stick-to-your-ribs - you’re not leaving hungry… the King would approve.

Overall mark - 8 out of 10
Is Summerlicious worth it (based on my meal selection)?
Summerlicious - $28
Regular menu - $37 - Alabama tailgaters ($11), fried chicken ($19) and dessert ($7)
Savings - $9 or 24%
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 638 Queen Street West


 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
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!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:




Welcoming the all new Mary Brown's

Posted on Sunday, July 17, 2016 by

Mary Brown’s Famous Chicken and Taters has undergone a rebranding, complete with new logo: Mary's lost her bonnet and sports a blowout bob instead. If you live in Toronto’s downtown core, it not surprising if you’re not familiar with the fast-food chain. Growing up in Scarborough, I’ve had my fair share of take-out from the Canadian restaurant, generally located in the suburbs.

Subsisting solely on the chicken and taters as a child, the grand re-opening party was my first taste of their chicken pop-ins ($5.39), Big Mary sandwich ($5.49), and poutine ($7.99)! My how Mary’s evolved with the times.

The pop-ins and poutine could easily be combined to make a winning combination: the chicken bites moist and well breaded, while the poutine smothered in hot gravy so the gooey cheese curds really gets a chance to melt. Put the two together and you’d have an epic poutine!


Meanwhile, the chicken patty on the sandwich is thick and actually a slice of chicken breast – it can flake a part and isn’t the formed burgers found at some competitors. Although the Big Mary sandwich provides a choice of regular or spicy, the latter is really just the addition of sriracha mayonnaise on top. Presumably, using the same patty is much easier for their operations, but takes away from the spicy experience as the spices aren’t actually worked into the batter.


As for the taste of their famous bone-in deep fried chicken and taters itself ($6.99 for three pieces and taters)? It was just as salty and moist as I remembered … the dry non-greasy skin giving way to the hot chicken juices. However, I think Mary’s done something to the breading recipe as it’s not nearly as crusty and crunchy as in the past.


Indeed, their prices are a couple dollars higher than the Colonel, but the quality is also a step above. After all, even without the bonnet, Mary can cook … honest to goodness.

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: 3199 Dufferin Street

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:

Mary Brown's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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