Tummy Yummies

West End Italian Fare

2008-02-29T16:37:00.008-05:00

After a very long absence, and frequenting a lot of franchise restaurants ... a new post! There are a couple of others to come.

I just want to apologize in advance if these are out of order - it's the nature of Blogger, I suppose. Here goes ...

A friend who couldn't make it out to my birthday the previous week wanted to meet up. I admit, I was pretty indecisive about where I wanted to eat. But a horrible snowstorm that day forced me to make up my mind pretty quickly.

Restaurant: Villa

Where: 2277 Bloor Street West (west of Runnymede). This is completely accessible via TTC.

When: Friday, February 1st

The Set-up/Decor: Villa - which is located right next door to sister restaurant, Strata - is a fair-sized restaurant, but it provides a cozy set-up. The interior's sleek and crisp.

The Food: Being an Italian restaurant, I wasn't going to say no to pasta. If I remember correctly, I started off with a Caesar salad, followed by the Penne Roma. Both quite good and VERY filling.

Staff/Service: I really liked the service. Our server was really nice, with a sense of humour to match. If you can make me laugh, you're likely to get a decent tip from me :). The food also came fairly quickly, so no complaints on this end.

Price: I have to admit, I skimped a bit - I didn't have any wine, mainly because I'd been feeling under the weather. But my bill plus tip came to $25. That's probably one of the better bills I'd gotten in a while.

Overall: The pros: The food was great, and so was the service. Two thumbs up all round.

A Little Polenta and A Little Lamb ... Five Doors North

2008-02-29T16:19:00.010-05:00

So my friend invited me to help ring in her 30th birthday (or second 29th, if you were to ask her). But she had a hard time deciding where she wanted to go to ring in the occasion with friends and wanted me to help her in her decision.

Where to go on a cold February night?

I thought this one sounded the most interesting.

Restaurant: Five Doors North

Where: 2088 Yonge Street (west side, just north of Davisville)

When: Friday, February 22

The Set-up/Decor: From the name of the restaurant, you'd think it would be literally five doors north of Davisville. Well, it was more like five blocks north, between Davisville and Eglinton - so if you're walking, it's a wee bit of a hike. Good thing they had the five brightly-painted doors above - or "north" of the front door!

The set-up has got a mix of tables and the bar halfway in. You walk through a couple sets of curtains upon entering, and there are some curtains which section off a couple of the sets of tables. And if you look up, you'll see the odd off-kilter lamp or two.

I will give the restaurant points for something that seems to be hard to come by these days in dining and drinking establishments: hooks by the front entrance! And on a cold night like that one, they were definitely needed.

The Food: The food was decent. I started my meal with a glass of white wine and - as an appetizer - polenta with goat cheese, sundried tomato and pesto. I'd never had polenta before, so I found it very tasty.

Next I moved onto my main dish, which was a plate of grilled lamb chops, with roasted garlic caramelized onion jus. I also had to order a side of zucchini since, well, all I got was meat. Everything was tasty; my only reservation was that the lamb chops were a tad fatty. At one point, one mouthful I chewed was nothing but fat.

Staff/Service: The waitress we had was okay. She was courteous, and our orders came relatively quickly. We even managed to get separate bills, which was a plus.

Price: For a restuarant where the menus were photocopied pieces of paper, it was a a bit pricier than I expected. Not that I think this means the food should be dirt cheap ... but still. My bill - including tip - hit somewhere around $51.

Overall: I can't say anything bad about the place really, but nothing really stood out for me, either, I'm sorry to say. Just call it a low-key evening with friends, celebrating a birthday. The food was pretty good, and the service was decent. But I'd have to say a slight drawback for me was the price. If you're like me and trying to save a few bucks, then save this place for a special occasion.

A Slice of Tehran, Toronto Style

2007-05-06T21:37:00.000-04:00

Last week, my friend was racking her brain, trying to figure out how on earth she was going to celebrate her 30th birthday. Well, I have to say she did it with style, and she was inspired to do it while walking past this place ...

Restaurant: Banu Iranian Kebob Vodka Bar

Where: 777 Queen Street West

When: Saturday, May 5

At the risk of incurring mass annoyance from folks who want reviews from non-downtown establishments, I couldn't NOT mention this place. It was that good.

The inspiration is said to be "'pre-revolution Iran", with the Toronto influence. Since it opened last year, it's gotten rave reviews from folks like Bonnie Stern, CBC and Franz Ferdinand's lead singer, Alex Kapranos. No wonder. If you're not open to trying new cuisine, then stop right here. Otherwise read on.

The Set-up/Decor:

Don't let the small facade and tiny patio out front fool you. Despite its svelte size, this place is sleek in its design. Being a biased fan of blue anything, I loved the use of blue throughout the place, from the tiled tables to the painted wall designs and the chairs at the bar. It's offset by the white leather chairs placed throughout the length of the bar. There is apparently a room which can reserved for special occasions, but we didn't see it, since we were sitting in the half of the restaurant closest to the window.

The bathroom downstairs was also cool (but I can only speak for the ladies'). Since some people tend to have the habit of writing on bathroom stalls, the staff seemed to decide to have a little fun with it. The bathroom stall walls are chalkboards, as well as the wall next to the sink. And yes, you have your choice of pink or blue chalk. Awesome idea!

The Food:

To say that the food was excellent does not do this place justice. I'm not even sure if there would be an adequate enough word to describe the quality and freshness of the food. All the meat served is organic, so you're guaranteed excellent flavour. There are a few options for vegetarians too, so don't fret that this is a meat-lover's paradise.

We received small bowls of pistachos, and later on, bowls with bread, to chew on while we waited.

There are several choices for appetizers and three salads on the menu. My friend and her boyfriend had Nan O Paneer - sesame bread with sheep's milk cheese and fresh herbs, which they liked very much. Another friend and I had indvidual bowls of Shirazi salad, a bowl of diced tomato, cucumber, scallions and Spanish onion in lemon juice and olive oil. The salad itself was refreshing, but I found the onion stronger than what I was used to.

Main dishes had at our table included chenjeh (beef tenderloin in citrus yogurt marinade), mahi (fresh daily fish) and baneh (lamb chops), which I had - it was absolutely delicious! I had to stop myself from continuing to chew on the bones after, lest I look like a completely uncouth lout in front of my friends.

The chenjeh, baneh and another dish all came on a huge platter with a thin bread lining, garnished with grilled tomatoes and lots of mint and parsley. We also received a small container of sumach, a spice similar to paprika, to sprinkle on our food.

The staff encouraged us to eat the garnish, and also to eat with our hands, which some of us did. Lemme just say this - mint is EXCELLENT when you add it to whatever meat you're eating. I was skeptical of stuffing my mouth with mint leaves at first, but it only enhanced the flavour of what I ate.

One thing none of us ate, but is on the menu, is a little dish called Dom balan - lamb testicles marinated in vodka. They're nicknamed 'Urban oysters". (If anyone has the guts to try these, let us know!)

Drinks run the gamut from beer to Banu's signature drinks, to various juices (I had a skinny glass of pomegranate juice).

Staff/Service:

I can't say enough about the staff. They're a small crew, but ever so nice! They helped us hide our friend's cake in the back and put in the candles. (We just had to give our server a piece afterwards!)

Another thing to mention, that we didn't get to try: they offer shisha (NOT a drug OR tobacco based), and have hookah pipes and menus available for those interested. Flavours include apple, orange, grape, blueberry and mint.

Price:

Of course, all these good qualities about Banu doesn't come with a small price tag. They are on the expensive side. My bill was $39.90; including my tip, the meal was $50 easy.

Overall:

Pros: The food was excellent, with service to match. Con: It was pricey. But definitely worth the occasional splurge. Even if you don't plan on being a repeat patron, at least try to go just once.

We Lied. AGAIN! Sorry ...

2007-05-06T21:16:00.000-04:00

Hey folks,

So we lied when we said we'd post more.

Then we told you we were going to go to Winterlicious and return to posting more reviews ... again we told falsehoods.

Many apologies for not following through. Many things have been getting in the way, mainly life.

Whenever possible, we will try and have the odd post. But we can't guarantee anything.

And there's a strong chance we may be moving our "reviews" to another venue in cyberspace. When that happens we'll try and keep you apprised.

But for now, please visit. And if you have any suggestions for places you want us to try to scout out, please let us know.

Remember, a number of places we've mentioned in the past may have been downtown, but we're a bunch of surburbanites. We can go somewhere new or not known to us if someone flags it. And please - no restaurant franchises.

An Evening in Little Italy ...

2007-04-19T18:38:00.001-04:00

A friend and I decided to make long-overdue plans for a bit of catch-up and a bite to eat. And what says "long time no see?" better than some really good pasta?

Restaurant: Giovanna Trattoria

Where: 637 College Street

When: Wednesday, April 18

The Set-up/Decor:

Really nice and simple, actually. I don't know exactly to describe it without being a bit stereotypical, but you knew you were in an Italian restaurant. Nice-sized dining room, nice, bright decor. Not busy and not plain.

Staff/Service:

Couldn't really complain about the service. It also helped that there weren't very many people in the restaurant. I think, until we reached dessert, my friend and I and a couple of other people were the only diners in the place. There was a bit of confusion at dessert when I ordered something and I didn't get what I wanted. But it wasn't a big deal.

Food:

Decent menu. I forgot what my friend ordered, but I ordered something called strozzapretti, which apparently translates to "strangled priests" in Italian. Quite the dish.

Price:

The pricing here was not that bad, actually. I think including tip I paid just over $20.

Overall:

For dinner on a Wednesday night, I really can't say anything bad about this place. It was decent. I wonder what it would have been like, had we gone there on a Friday or Saturday night. Perhaps this place warrants a second visit.

New Year Greetings...

2006-12-31T16:12:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody,

Okay - so we lied. We said we'd post, but we never did. Sorry! But things get in the way of good eats - like life, for example.

But we're hoping to change that in the New Year. We've already been talking 'mongst ourselves to try and make it out to Winterlicious this January, since it's a chance to see a couple restaurants we'd NEVER make it into normally. So you're bound to see at least one post from us - consider it our New Year's resolution!

On behalf of the Tummy Yummies crew, we want to wish you a happy new year - and good eats in 2007!

Suggestions, Anyone?

2006-11-05T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hey there,

Just wanted to let anybody reading this blog that after a long spell, we'll have a new entry up in the near future.

We've gotten a couple of comments about the blog from those passing through. For that, we thank you.

Some of you that have read the entries say you liked the postings so far, but wanted reviews of places to eat that aren't located in downtown Toronto. We admit, half of these have been downtown, but not necessarily because we live there. We're suburbanites, and if you've been following, we have also done one review each for restaurants in Unionville, North York and Etobicoke.

The problem is finding restaurants in other parts of the city that aren't parts of franchises. And it's hard, 'cause if you've noticed, a couple of the reviews on this blog have fallen into that category.

So here's your challenge, if you're up for it: if you know of, or have heard of decent restaurants located outside the downtown core - ie. Scarborough, North York, Mississauga, whereever - let us know. And we'll be happy to check it out.

Remember, we're looking for either little-known gems and are willing to try different types of cuisine. No franchises (ie. Kelseys, East Side Mario's, Milestones, Montana's, Jack Astor's ... you get the picture). If you can make the case, we'll gas up the cars and make the trip.

Now get to suggestin'! We'll be waitin'.

Burger Heaven Resides in Bloor West Village

2006-09-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

Hope you all are enjoying your September and the dying throes of summer.

You know, sometimes, you want clean up a bit, go out and have a little sophisticated fare for dinner. And sometimes, you just want some good ol' pub grub ...

Restaurant: The Yellow Griffin Pub

Where: 2202 Bloor Street West, just east of Runnymede

When: Saturday, September 16

This dinner venue was at the suggestion of my friend Christine, who raved about "the burger condiment place". I admit, I was a bit skeptical, 'cause while I love my condiments, what's so special about THESE condiments? I found out, all right.

The Set-up/Decor:

Nothing too breathtaking about the place (not that it was the reason I went). The place is easy to find, with its black awning with crisp yellow lettering. There's a nice little patio out front, and the pub itself is somewhere between small and medium. It's definitely a place where the locals hang. They also apparently have a private party room just above, which we were partly privy to ... the door was open, so we could hear the cheers and jeers of a bachelor party above us. But a pretty mellow crowd nonetheless.

The Food:

This, my friends, was the main attraction. There's not five, not 10, but 35 burgers to choose from. Aaaand, you get your choice of meat - beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork or veggie. (Just think - that's, like ... carry the one ... 210 different burgers!).

Burgers range from the Plain! Plain! Plain! burger ("Nottin, you get nottin ...) to the artery-clogging English Breakfast Burger (baked beans, HP sauce, and a fat ol' egg on top), to the bizarre Skinny Dipper (crunchy peanut butter, melted ON TO the patty. Guh). Oh yeah, and you get a side with it (your pick of various types of fries or salad).

I opted for a turkey Salty Silician (black olive tapanade, sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese) and sweet potato fries with hickory dip -- mmm! My friends had a turkey Healthy Kick (eggplant, grilled red peppers, sundried tomato pesto and feta) and a turkey Bangkok Betty burger (veggies in lemongrass, along with a little Betty's Thai sauce). They also had sweet potato fries.

Staff/Service:

The staff was nice enough. From what my friend said, the service can be a bit slow. On this night, while our service wasn't bad; it was just a leetle slow for my liking. And my friend had, at one point, gotten the wrong burger. Our server realized it just as my friend slapped her top bun on top of the burger. But it was rectified, so no worries.

Price:

For three people (burgers and drinks), the bill totalled $91.57, not including tip. I found it kind of expensive, but that may have been due to all the various pints we had.

Overall:

If anything, go at least once, if only to gape at the menu. You'll spend at least 20 minutes trying to decide what to get; and by the end of the meal, if it's that good, you might plan your next visit.

DIY All-You-Can-Eat Stirfry

2006-08-31T23:00:00.000-04:00

Long time, no post!

It's been a busy summer. And with August - and the season! - almost over, why not end things with a bit of all-you-can eat cuisine that's fit for a warrior?

Restaurant: Genghis Khan Mongolian Grill

Where: 900 Don Mills Road, Unit #2

When: Thursday, August 31

Starving after a long day of work with no lunch break, I met up with my friends Jen and Mark for a little late evening dinner. And we ate ... we saw ... we waddled.

The Set-up/Decor:

Having never been here, I wasn't sure what to expect. This place is one of two Mongolian Grill restaurants I know of, the other being at Pacific Mall in Markham. But I was surprised when we showed up. This place is decent sized; the decor is clean and not cluttery.

The Food:

This place is a make-your-own-stirfry/all-you-can-eat venue, so the food spread is pretty big. So. Much. Food!

And the make-your-own stirfry concept was interesting, since I'd never done it. You basically fill a bowl with your choices of meat, vegetables, noodles, and sauce, follow the line to the big counter, which separates you from this big grill (which essentially looks like a ginormous wheel) while two chefs take turns taking your plate and cooking it up in front of you. When you're done, you take your new bowl, add rice and voila!

And you can go back as many times as you like ... there's noodles, fried rice, eggrolls, spring rolls, chicken balls (my favourite!) chicken wings, crab legs, soups, scallop bread, dumplings, sesame buns ... and desserts up the yin-yang. It was a bloating experience. I definitely had met my match.

Staff/Service:

The cooks were good - very fast and efficient. The staff was good with us, clearing our plates when finished and topping up our water. They seemed decent, but they were so busy flitting around from table to table - and we were so busy stuffing our faces - for us to think otherwise.

Price:
For three people (not including tip), it was just under $65.

Overall:

Actually hit the spot for me, late on a Thursday night. And service was good. I'd definitely say give Genghis a go, at least once.

Holidays and Ghetto Big Macs

2006-07-31T00:23:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

Just to let you know, there were some other places we visited this month, but just have been too busy to work on them. Keep watching this space - they're in the works.

Also Tummy Yummies will be one less contributor - at least for the next three weeks anyway. I (Diane) am jumping the pond for a bit. But before I left you, thought I'd leave something funny.

A few weeks back, we were joking about how one of our other contributors, Lee, should do a column on all the MacDonald's restaurants he visits.

Hey, Lee - ever thought of what to do, should you be cravin' MacDonald's but just don't have enough cash?

These guys have - check it.

(YouTube via Best Week Ever)

Mi Casa es Su Casa...En Barcelona

2006-07-11T00:44:00.000-04:00

Summerlicious is finally here! For some of us, it didn't come fast enough but we managed to snag a reservation on the event's first weekend.

Yes, this is my first entry to this blog and I must admit that it's pretty intimidating, especially when one of the contributors seems to have an excellent flair with words....yes, you, Diane. =)

But here's my synopsis...

Restaurant: Casa Barcelona (http://www.casabarcelona.ca)

Where: 2890 Bloor Street West (east of Royal York)

When: Sunday July 9th, 2006 (The day the Italians won FIFA 2006, in the rare case that you have been out of normal civilization and haven't yet heard...)

Set-Up/Decor: Nice cozy atmosphere. For once in my life, the chairs that looked plushy were actually comfortable. The restaurant interior had a touch of elegance without too much pretentiousness (or "frou-frou" as some would say.) I really enjoyed all the Spanish adornments hanging on the walls.

The Drinks: We've all had either red/white sangria at some point in our past lives, so we decided to be a tad adventurous and order a litre of pink sangria for the five of us. OK, technically, it was 4 glasses and 2 sips. To sum it up, the pink sangria was simply splendid...refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.

The Food:

Appetizers

Chicken & Sausage Croquettes Alioli Sauce

I didn't order this but verdict says that there wasn't much chicken nor sausage in these croquettes. Rather, it was just filler but was a good size for an appetizer.

Crab Cake Spicy Alioli Sauce

Diane and I both had this and it was mutual. We loved the crabcake. The sauce was delectable and the only thing I could have wished for was huger portions.

Entrees

Assorted Vegetable Paella

This pic makes it look somewhat like an Asian stirfry but it sure didn't taste that way. Helen's palate found it to be a bit dry and when she couldn't finish it, guess who got to be her tapeworm...yours truly. I must admit, it tasted good at first but eventually, it became more difficult to swallow. I think this was too much rice for an entree (and me, being Chinese? That's a rare thing to say!)

Beef Tenderloin Organic Mushroom Sauce

Lee ordered this and thought that the portion size was good. The beef was very tender.

Fresh Fillet of Salmon Saffron Sauce

Diane and I ordered this for our entree and we weren't disappointed with our selection. I am learning that saffron can go with many types of meals. It was especially intriguing to have it with salmon and I found it to be simply delicious. Again, I must admit that I did wish that that sliver of salmon was just a tad bigger...

Desserts

Fried Apples Topped With Ice Cream

According to Lee, it was dessert extraordinaire. It was good and simple. Helen was not too keen on this dessert. The neopolitan ice tasted as if was store bought and the apples didn't taste like they were truly fried.

Creme Brulee

According to Veronica, the creme brulee was absolutely divine. The picture here doesn't even do it justice.

Churros

Great minds must think alike. Diane and I (yet again) ordered this traditional Spanish dessert and it was basically like a deep fried doughnut dipped in heated chocolate. I don't usually enjoy doughnuts but this dessert was surprisingly light and tasty. I think that the chocolate really brings out flavor of the churros.

Staff/Service: The servers were friendly and extremely attentive. They even went the extra mile and let us use their scotch tape so that we can mend an expensive piece of legal tender that someone had unintentionally tore. I'm not sure whether it was the lack of patrons present at this venue or whether it was Summerlicious but the service was excellent. Our courses came in quickly and quelled our eagerly awaiting tummies.

Price: Since it was Summerlicious, the price turned out to be $25.00/person, not including taxes and gratuity. It was a pretty sweet deal, considering that entrees in this joint started at $17.00.

Overall:I think collectively, as a group, there were mixed feelings about this one. I really enjoy trying out new restaurants but I feel that it's a great place to frequent to if you live near the area or just happen to be there. I'm not sure if I would be willing to travel so far to come and dine there. The food was good but wasn't truly excellent by my standards. The highlights, in my opinion were the pink sangria and the crabcake spicy alioli sauce...how do you pronounce that word anyway?

P.S. I'm not sure whether we had walked off our dinner when we were exploring or whether the portions simply weren't huge enough to satiate us all, but we had to make a pitstop at the good ol' Golden Arches to fulfill our grease addiction. =)

Pub Grub on Bloor

2006-07-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

It's been a crazy post-holiday week in July so far ... this is a belated entry.

Also, watch this space for our next entry - it'll be the first time we'll actually have pictures!

For now, though ...

Restaurant: The Spotted Dick

Where: 81 Bloor Street East

When: Thursday, July 6

My friend Yen and I decided to hang out for the first time in ages. Neither of us felt particularly decisive or adventurous ... and what says "low-key" better than a pub?

The Set-up/Decor:

Your typical pub requirements -- long, slightly ornate bar, lined and stock with all the hard liquor and beer one needs. It was actually a very quiet night, so we pulled up two high chairs and hung out at the bar.

The Food:

You can never go wrong with pub fare - it's standard comfort food, right when you need it. Yen had started on some garlic bread with cheese when I arrived from the gym, starving. She didn't have much else; I once again sat on my good sense and decided to have an Empire burger with Swiss cheese and fries. Ignored the fries, wolfed down the burger.

It also happened to be Martini night. I forget what Yen had. I had one called a Woo Woo. I don't remember much about it except (a) the name and (b) that it was damn tasty.

Staff/Service:

The waitress/bartender behind the bar was just fine. I did have concerns when her colleague opened up the fridge holding the cold drinks, and there were a couple sparks. Apparently something was leaking (likely onto something electrical) and setting it off - possibly the freon, but we're not sure. Our bartender got a couple as well. Luckily neither of them were burned nor hurt. Hopefully they get that fixed.

Price:

I'm pretty sure it hovered somewhere under $40, not including tip.

Overall:

I wasn't really going for esthetic here. It was okay. The fact it was almost empty, save for about 8 or 9 people, didn't bother me. No obnoxious drunks. No rowdy types. It was the perfect atmosphere for a low-key catch-up session with a friend.

Patio Eats in Unionville

2006-07-03T22:05:00.000-04:00

Ah, what a perfect summer evening for a little patio time ... and what better place than on Main Street in historic Unionville?

Restaurant: The Chophouse Restaurant & Bar (formerly The Village Steak & Chophouse)

Where: 149 Main Street, Unionville

When: Monday, July 3

Hanging onto the final hours of freedom from work, Jeannie, Lee and I decided to take in one more evening out before returning back to the daily grind. We'd passed by this restaurant earlier in the year, and thought about eating here. Now was our chance.

The Set-up/Decor:

We never saw the inside of the place, since we opted for the patio on such a lovely evening. Situated along picturesque Main Street, you can take in the cute buildings lining the street and pedestrians milling past. It was the perfect weather and time of day for this. Just enough sun, just enough breeze.

The Food:

Not too bad. I ordered whole wheat ravioli, which was pretty good. Jeannie had the Atlantic salmon, which she enjoyed -- she said it wasn't overcooked at all. And Lee -- well, he was pretty much sold when we first stopped to look at the menu and he saw "ribs". Enough said. He also had a side of sweet potato fries, which was excellent.

Jeannie and I each had a glass of this Italian Pinot Grigio, which wasn't bad at all (and, I noticed, generally, about $1 less than the Pinot Grigio I had at Il Fornello). Lee had a good ol' rye and coke. Good man.

Staff/Service:

We seated ourselves on the patio, and the service was all right. The food came quickly. No complaints here.

Price:

For three people, it was $96, not including tip. (Take that, Il Fornello!)

Overall:

It was a nice little dinner on a perfect summer night. And it wasn't crowded on the patio at all. I think at one time, there may have been five or six patio tables filled with people. But I do want to return and dine indoors to see what it's like.

A Little Italian In The Beach

2006-07-02T14:15:00.000-04:00

The Canada Day long weekend continues ...

And what better way for a foodie to celebrate our national holiday than by travelling from one end of Queen Street to the other for more tasty morsels?

Restaurant: Il Fornello in The Beach

Where: 1968 Queen Street East (just west of Waverley Road, just east of Woodbine Ave.)

When: Saturday, July 1

Walking around Queen Street to kill a little time before a meal and fireworks, my friend spotted this restaurant and thought it a good place to eat.

I immediately had my reservations, given my awesome -- and inexpensive -- meal the night before. But I eventually changed my mind (especially when it started raining and we were caught out there without an umbrella). In the end, it wasn't such a bad choice after all.

The Set-up/Decor:

It definitely has that breezy, leisurely neighbourhood feel to it, with the brick walls and local art hanging throughout the restaurant. A lot of the patrons came as they were.

But the restaurant definitely has that air about it - you know, the yuppie/hipster sensibility that wafts through this part of town. It's probably not unique to this restaurant, as it's one of nine locations, including those at Yonge and St. Clair and Bayview Village.

The Food:

No complaints here. I had the Penne Capri - comprised of pasta, grilled chicken, wild mushrooms, spinach, diced tomatoes, with lemon garlic olive oil, and garnished with some grana padano cheese. My friend took on the Atlantic salmon. She said it tasted as good as the way it was presented.

The wine list wasn't also too bad. As someone just starting to get into wine as a beverage with dinner, I wanted to try out a South African Sauvignon Blanc. They didn't have any, so I had a white Pinot Grigio instead, which wasn't too bad. My friend - used to Spanish or Chilean wines - had problems finding one she wanted to try and settled on an Italian red wine, which she said she liked in the end.

We also split a Molten Lava Cake for dessert. It was the perfect size for two women who didn't want to take on a huge dessert and risk wrecking the good, full feelings in our stomachs with gluttonous over-eating.

Note: This restaurant (and its siblings) have alternative menus for people looking for gluten-, yeast- or wheat-free options. Check out the link to the Web site above.

Staff/Service:

The place was packed, but we only ended up waiting about 10 minutes for a table. When we did get a seat, they were courteous and checked up on us fairly often (but not too much as to be annoying). Considering how packed it was when we got there, our food came relatively quickly.

Price:

I found it pricey, but it depends on what you get. All the food we had -- appetizer, main courses, wine (I had a glass; my friend a half-litre) and dessert -- hovered around the $93 mark, not including tip.

Overall:

This place was definitely doing some brisk business. There was a cross-section of families, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, and husbands and wives all wanting a night out at a nice Italian restaurant.

The huge number of people did affect my dining experience, though. The tables for two were fairly close together, and with everyone talking at once, it was a bit too noisy. I also didn't feel like my friend and I could really have a really personal conversation, because we had to talk over the noise a bit, and I kept feeling like we were yelling and telling everyone our business. It only got better towards the end of our meal, when more patrons finished and left.

I think the "cozy" feel the restaurant is going for -- which I also think is due to the size of the space they're working with -- probably is really nice on those days when the place isn't rammed full of patrons. I'd want to see what it's like during lunch, or (if I was one of those super-late dinner eaters) later on in the evening. But it felt a bit too crowded for me, and given the time of night we went, we got what we paid for.

I originally didn't want to go here for dinner because of the price. While I am glad that I did suck it up in the end and go here, I wouldn't make it a regular occurrence. I'd probably only go here once in a while for a special occasion.

A Slice of Ethopia on Queen Street

2006-07-01T13:49:00.000-04:00

Happy Canada Day folks!

Welcome to the first entry of Tummy Yummies ... sorry it took so long, but we've been all busy doing our own things, and just eating to keep from starving, not for pleasure. But now that the summer's here - bring it on.

Restaurant: Addis Ababa Restaurant

Where: 1184 Queen Street West (on the corner of Queen and Northcote, just east of Dufferin, in Parkdale)

When: Friday, June 30th

My work friend and I were taking in the beautiful summer weather and after our two glasses of white wine on a local pub patio and milling around a couple of shops, were deciding on where to eat.

I mentioned to her that I'd always wanted to try Ethiopian food - there was this restaurant I'd passed by a number of times, but had never had a chance to go in.

About a 25-minute walk later, there we were.

The Set-up/Decor:

It's such a cool little place! I actually was surprised how quiet it was when we got there - there was no one around. But it was perfect - we had our pick of the tables inside. We sat near a window near the entrance, where they had this cool little fountain running next to the window, and Ethopian and jazz music played over their sound system. Nothing fancy - actually nice and cozy, with various African-themed posters. And a decent-sized space. Totally down to earth.

Addis Ababa also has a nice little fenced patio, which we didn't know about until some other young neighbourhood foodies arrived sometime later.

The Food:

It was great! You can choose from various vegetarian, beef, chicken or lamb dishes (although when we went, they didn't have any beef. It happens). My friend and I had a vegetarian spicy dish made with split peas, a lamb dish and salad.

If you're a stickler when it comes to cutlery, this place is NOT for you. It's all hands-on -- literally. The dishes are served on a huge platter, lined with special bread, which actually on taste and feel, are more like gigantic crepes. You tear off the bread and wrap those morsels around the spread in front of you.

If you're worried about the sanitary aspect, not to worry. Each diner gets a steaming warm washcloth to clean their hands before digging in. And you keep it with you the entire meal (at least, we did).

We didn't get a chance to try this out, but they also offer authentic Ethopian coffee, which is supposed to be excellent. If you're a coffee drinker, don't pass it up.

Staff: Very nice folks.

Price: Ridiculously reasonable. Our bill, not counting tip - just under $25.

Overall:

Great little neighbourhood restaurant - but of course, people who live in the area already know about this little gem. It was definitely nice not to go somewhere overly crowded and noisy, but I'd love to see this place with a few more people.