Took the TTC from Agincourt to come here with a couple co-workers. A hole in the wall place across from the ROM. So what's so great about this place, compared to any other Vietnamese restaurant in Agincourt? Banh xeo - it's the only reason I come to Pho Hung.
There are mixed reviews on the pho out on the interwebs but that's not what I come here for. If you've never had banh xeo, you must try it.
If you know where to find it in or near Agincourt, please please PLEASE let me know where! I'd much prefer a closer place, but there isn't any!
Date/time of visit: Fri, June 24, 2011 2:00pm
Food: The banh xeo is wonderful; pretty much just like my mom/relatives make it.
Service: Ok - it takes a while to make the banh xeo (which we were warned about), so if you are extremely hungry, order an appetizer. Or if you`re in a hurry... don`t bother!
Portions: Ample. It was enough for lunch.
Cost: Fair value. $8 for banh xeo.
Atmosphere: Kind of old, nothing fancy, but lots of seating. (416) 963-5080. 200 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M5S 1T8. You probably have to pay for parking as it is downtown. Take the TTC instead if you can, and exit at St. George station.
Ate:
Banh xeo! $8. Really tasty! Came with all the fixings - fresh lettuce, Viet mint, bean sprouts, picked carrot and chinese turnip, nuoc cham
I like to cut up the omelette part of it in bit size pieces then tear the lettuce and mint over top and then pour the nouc cham over everything and then feast. I could definitely have more than one of these at a time - that is what we used to do as a family when I was a kid! Someday, I will try to make it myself - and once I learn... I may have to open up my own banh xeo restaurant, or else I`ll eat it all myself!
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Asian Legend (Chinese cuisine at Sheppard & Brimley)
Came here with a couple co-workers. Fantastic atmosphere. Kind of like Congee Queen, which I think they are competing with. This is a chain - there's another location at Leslie and Finch. Go to their website for more info on other locations.
We plan to return with a larger group next time.
Date/time of visit: Mon, June 20, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Very nice.
Service: Good - fast.
Portions: Ample. It was enough for lunch.
Cost: Fair value. Ordered three dishes. Came to about $33. See menu on their website.
Atmosphere: Beautiful decor, open and airy, bright and clean. Lots of seating; enough for large groups.
Other info: http://www.asianlegend.ca/ (416) 298 8081. Reservations accepted. 4452 Sheppard Ave. E. Scarborough. Free parking; additional parking available behind the building.
Ate:
Steamed Soup Filled Dumplings with Carb meat & Pork(6) $7.25 - delicious. Comes with the traditional ginger sauce. I think I like Dumpling King's more, but this one was also good.
Rolled Onion Pancake with Sliced Beef - $5.95 - also delicious. Similar to Dumpling King's but not as greasy as DK's. The scallion pancake wrap was really nice and crisp and very scallion-packed. Mmmm...
Surimi with Broccoli $13.95 - YUM. Not as good as some other dim sum places I've been to (i.e. Very Fair Chinese Restaurant aka "Basement dim sum"), but still good. I never knew this was the name for this dish, and based on wikipedia's definition, I actually don't think surimi is the right word. Anyway, it is basically soft egg with crabmeat on top of steamed broccoli. It's usually served with a kind of vinaigrette poured on top. This version was different from others I've had in that the egg was fully cooked when we got the dish. Normally, it's just sitting on top and you mix it into the hot broccoli/crabmeat. (sort of like the Korean dish bibimbap) Also this dish didn't have as much crabmeat as the Basement dim sum place; and it had grated carrot on top. So, still good, but that's the difference.
We plan to return with a larger group next time.
Date/time of visit: Mon, June 20, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Very nice.
Service: Good - fast.
Portions: Ample. It was enough for lunch.
Cost: Fair value. Ordered three dishes. Came to about $33. See menu on their website.
Atmosphere: Beautiful decor, open and airy, bright and clean. Lots of seating; enough for large groups.
Other info: http://www.asianlegend.ca/ (416) 298 8081. Reservations accepted. 4452 Sheppard Ave. E. Scarborough. Free parking; additional parking available behind the building.
Ate:
Steamed Soup Filled Dumplings with Carb meat & Pork(6) $7.25 - delicious. Comes with the traditional ginger sauce. I think I like Dumpling King's more, but this one was also good.
Rolled Onion Pancake with Sliced Beef - $5.95 - also delicious. Similar to Dumpling King's but not as greasy as DK's. The scallion pancake wrap was really nice and crisp and very scallion-packed. Mmmm...
Surimi with Broccoli $13.95 - YUM. Not as good as some other dim sum places I've been to (i.e. Very Fair Chinese Restaurant aka "Basement dim sum"), but still good. I never knew this was the name for this dish, and based on wikipedia's definition, I actually don't think surimi is the right word. Anyway, it is basically soft egg with crabmeat on top of steamed broccoli. It's usually served with a kind of vinaigrette poured on top. This version was different from others I've had in that the egg was fully cooked when we got the dish. Normally, it's just sitting on top and you mix it into the hot broccoli/crabmeat. (sort of like the Korean dish bibimbap) Also this dish didn't have as much crabmeat as the Basement dim sum place; and it had grated carrot on top. So, still good, but that's the difference.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Pho Vietnam (Kennedy, south of Ellesmere)
Came here with a couple co-workers. Was pretty good. I heard the pho isn`t that great (not as good as Pho 88 at Warden and Steeles, supposedly), so I tried the vermicelli instead which was good. I`ll come back again. I don't think they had Rainbow Ice Drink (Three-colour drink) on the menu. Wah. :( And they definitely didn't have Banh Xeo, but I'll be having that next week with some friends downtown on Bloor across from the ROM at Pho Hung. Can't wait!
Date/time of visit: Thu, Jun 16, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Decent. I had the vermicelli with Vietnamese spring roll and shrimp paste on sugar cane. There were bean sprouts, mint, pickled carrot and white turnip, lettuce, fried green onion, with fish sauce on the side. Very fresh. Spring roll was as expected.
Service: Good - fast.
Portions: Ample. It was enough for lunch.
Cost: Fair value. 7.50 for my vermicelli.
Atmosphere: Nice decor, bright and clean.
Other info: No website. (416) 755-0909. 1280 Kennedy Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2L5. Free parking.
Date/time of visit: Thu, Jun 16, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Decent. I had the vermicelli with Vietnamese spring roll and shrimp paste on sugar cane. There were bean sprouts, mint, pickled carrot and white turnip, lettuce, fried green onion, with fish sauce on the side. Very fresh. Spring roll was as expected.
Service: Good - fast.
Portions: Ample. It was enough for lunch.
Cost: Fair value. 7.50 for my vermicelli.
Atmosphere: Nice decor, bright and clean.
Other info: No website. (416) 755-0909. 1280 Kennedy Road Scarborough, ON M1P 2L5. Free parking.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Big Boy's Burgers (Burger joint in Pickering - Whites Road)
Went to Big Boy's Burgers in Pickering with some co-workers - 3 "big boys" - so yeah, as a petite, 100-something pound female, I had my work cut out for me!
Date/time of visit: Thu, June 2, 2011 12:00pm
Food: AWWWW YEAH! Deeelicious.
Service: Good - fast. You order up front and take your food to a table or take-out.
Portions: It isn`t called Big Boy`s for nothing.
Cost: Fair value. About $8 - see the website for details
Atmosphere: Only a few tables. 50s style. The chairs are racecar seats - COOLIO.
Other info: http://bigboysburgers.com Free parking.
Ate:
The Original Burger - AWESOME - quarter pound burger comes on a toasted kaiser bun and your choice of toppings. I think I could have taken on the Big Boy Burger - half pound!
Onion Rings - AWESOME.
Fries - Really good. I had a deal to share half and half of the Onion Rings and Fries.
Deep Fried Mars Bar - we split this baby to taste - really befitting dessert to our heart attack inducing lunch!
Note: If you are any shorter than me (about 5 feet), you will probably need a booster seat at the tables - the seats are really low-riding and non-adjustable!
Another Note: You would think that I would have been in a food coma for the rest of the day after this meal (as I normally do even after McDonalds or Wendys), but I actually felt OK, amazing enough! What is the secret ingredient - if you figure it, let me know!
Date/time of visit: Thu, June 2, 2011 12:00pm
Food: AWWWW YEAH! Deeelicious.
Service: Good - fast. You order up front and take your food to a table or take-out.
Portions: It isn`t called Big Boy`s for nothing.
Cost: Fair value. About $8 - see the website for details
Atmosphere: Only a few tables. 50s style. The chairs are racecar seats - COOLIO.
Other info: http://bigboysburgers.com Free parking.
Ate:
The Original Burger - AWESOME - quarter pound burger comes on a toasted kaiser bun and your choice of toppings. I think I could have taken on the Big Boy Burger - half pound!
Onion Rings - AWESOME.
Fries - Really good. I had a deal to share half and half of the Onion Rings and Fries.
Deep Fried Mars Bar - we split this baby to taste - really befitting dessert to our heart attack inducing lunch!
Note: If you are any shorter than me (about 5 feet), you will probably need a booster seat at the tables - the seats are really low-riding and non-adjustable!
Another Note: You would think that I would have been in a food coma for the rest of the day after this meal (as I normally do even after McDonalds or Wendys), but I actually felt OK, amazing enough! What is the secret ingredient - if you figure it, let me know!
Matsu (Japanese/Thai cuisine at York Mills & Don Mills)
Went to Matsu (in the same plaza as Dragon Pearl Buffet) with a couple of fellow foodies from work for the All-You-Can-Taste lunch menu. It includes sushi, sashimi, grilled items, appetizer, salad, soup, dessert, curry, noodle and rice options. An awesome selection! Check out the website for this lunch menu.
I'll be back (after I work off all the calories). Next time I will try the weird rolls I've never heard of before, e.g. Jungle roll, Rock n Roll, Virgin Sunshine roll.
Date/time of visit: Fri June 10, 2011 2:00pm
Food: Great! Ordered from All-You-Can-Taste menu. The serving sizes for most of the items are small so that you can taste a bigger variety!
Service: Good - the food came to us pretty fast with minimal screw-ups. And if they do screw up, it's no biggie. You might get to try something you wouldn't have otherwise!
Portions: Small so you can order a bigger variety. The sushi comes in 6 pieces so it's good to try what others have ordered. The noodle/rice bowls are sort of on the larger side (a bit larger than a standard Chinese rice bowl), so you may want to share these as well.
Cost: $12.99 for M-F lunch - check out the website for other pricing; an AMAZING value for the quality and selection
Atmosphere: Elegant decor; casual; great for friends, coworkers, family.
Other info: http://www.matsucuisine.com/ Free parking.
Ate:
Miso soup - very good
Seaweed salad - very good (nice small portion)
Coconut Shrimp - EXCELLENT
Sushi - Rainbow roll, California roll, Dancing Eel roll - All were good, the eel roll had cream cheese in it I think though - I think I would prefer it without which I'll order next time (under the Sushi/Sashimi section)
I also tried my buddy's spicy salmon roll, which was good - an interesting observation was made that the salmon is kind of.... "lemony" - which we weren't used to. It isn't bad, per se, just... different.
Beef roll with enoki - EXCELLENT - the beef rolls grilled items and are tiny so you might want to order more than one, but give it a try first!
Beef roll with asparagus - very good
Green curry with chicken - very good, comes with a small roti
Deep fried banana, vanilla ice cream, mango ice cream - you get 2 slices of deep fried banana - EXCELLENT
I'll be back (after I work off all the calories). Next time I will try the weird rolls I've never heard of before, e.g. Jungle roll, Rock n Roll, Virgin Sunshine roll.
Date/time of visit: Fri June 10, 2011 2:00pm
Food: Great! Ordered from All-You-Can-Taste menu. The serving sizes for most of the items are small so that you can taste a bigger variety!
Service: Good - the food came to us pretty fast with minimal screw-ups. And if they do screw up, it's no biggie. You might get to try something you wouldn't have otherwise!
Portions: Small so you can order a bigger variety. The sushi comes in 6 pieces so it's good to try what others have ordered. The noodle/rice bowls are sort of on the larger side (a bit larger than a standard Chinese rice bowl), so you may want to share these as well.
Cost: $12.99 for M-F lunch - check out the website for other pricing; an AMAZING value for the quality and selection
Atmosphere: Elegant decor; casual; great for friends, coworkers, family.
Other info: http://www.matsucuisine.com/ Free parking.
Ate:
Miso soup - very good
Seaweed salad - very good (nice small portion)
Coconut Shrimp - EXCELLENT
Sushi - Rainbow roll, California roll, Dancing Eel roll - All were good, the eel roll had cream cheese in it I think though - I think I would prefer it without which I'll order next time (under the Sushi/Sashimi section)
I also tried my buddy's spicy salmon roll, which was good - an interesting observation was made that the salmon is kind of.... "lemony" - which we weren't used to. It isn't bad, per se, just... different.
Beef roll with enoki - EXCELLENT - the beef rolls grilled items and are tiny so you might want to order more than one, but give it a try first!
Beef roll with asparagus - very good
Green curry with chicken - very good, comes with a small roti
Deep fried banana, vanilla ice cream, mango ice cream - you get 2 slices of deep fried banana - EXCELLENT
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Pan on the Danforth (Greek cuisine on Danforth & Pape)
I know - this is not in Agincourt, but thought it was still worth sharing. Went with my family to celebrate Mother`s Day and we all ordered from the Panfest Lunch menu - a fixed price of $19 for a choice of appetizer, entree, dessert.
Date/time of visit: Sat May 7, 2011 2:00pm
Food: Very good! Ordered from the Panfest Lunch menu. Website states that it is Hellenic fare - I suppose is differs slightly from the typical Greek food you`d find at Mr. Greek.
Service: Fantastic! The fellow that served us was an older man who was obviously having fun with his job. When he delivered the waters, he called it uzo. :) Pretty refreshing service in this day and age. They could rename this place the ``Very Friendly Greek``
Portions: Very good portions - not too much or too little - plenty for me - I didn`t even finish my appetizer and I took half my entree home. But keep in mind I`m a petite lady.
Cost: $19 for prix fixe Panfest Lunch menu - prices are posted to the website menus.
Atmosphere: Very cozy and pleasant and inviting. Casual. The decor was interesting - interesting artwork, light fixtures etc. A small but nice place to take your family, friends. Check out the Gallery on the website.
Other info: http://www.panonthedanforth.com This is downtown so yeah, you will probably have to pay for parking . As it was 2:00pm, the place was not very busy but still had some tables filled. No waiting required to be seated.
Ate:
Triology Of Spreads (Vegetarian)
A Combination Of Taramosalata, Humus, And Tirokafteri
Served With 3 wonderfully warm and soft Pita Bread.
- This was really nice.
Exohiko
Cured Chicken Breast With Onions, Sweet Peppers, Mushrooms, And
cream Cheese, Slowly Cooked To Develop Meltingly Tender Flavor,
wrapped In Phyllo Pastry, Served With Baby Greens.
- I expected more than one layer of phyllo but it was still good - Really nice, lightly creamy sauce! Looking forward to eating the leftovers with rice later. 2 others of us had the lamb on orzo in tomato broth which looked really good. The bifteki (ground beef) entree - well, it was kind like meatloaf, so I would not recommend that one, only cuz it is not that interesting.
Loukoumades
Honey Balls Topped With Distilled Greek Honey
served With White Chocolate Mousse.
- Really really sweet. They are kinda like those Indian dessert balls but not as dense. A little too sweet for me, but I do not have a sweet tooth. I probably would have done better with the rice pudding or creme caramel. Or baklava--my sweet tooth temporarily grows in for this one!
Note: Paid for 2 hours parking at the green P (about $4) south of Danforth on Pape. Made it back just in time.
Date/time of visit: Sat May 7, 2011 2:00pm
Food: Very good! Ordered from the Panfest Lunch menu. Website states that it is Hellenic fare - I suppose is differs slightly from the typical Greek food you`d find at Mr. Greek.
Service: Fantastic! The fellow that served us was an older man who was obviously having fun with his job. When he delivered the waters, he called it uzo. :) Pretty refreshing service in this day and age. They could rename this place the ``Very Friendly Greek``
Portions: Very good portions - not too much or too little - plenty for me - I didn`t even finish my appetizer and I took half my entree home. But keep in mind I`m a petite lady.
Cost: $19 for prix fixe Panfest Lunch menu - prices are posted to the website menus.
Atmosphere: Very cozy and pleasant and inviting. Casual. The decor was interesting - interesting artwork, light fixtures etc. A small but nice place to take your family, friends. Check out the Gallery on the website.
Other info: http://www.panonthedanforth.com This is downtown so yeah, you will probably have to pay for parking . As it was 2:00pm, the place was not very busy but still had some tables filled. No waiting required to be seated.
Ate:
Triology Of Spreads (Vegetarian)
A Combination Of Taramosalata, Humus, And Tirokafteri
Served With 3 wonderfully warm and soft Pita Bread.
- This was really nice.
Exohiko
Cured Chicken Breast With Onions, Sweet Peppers, Mushrooms, And
cream Cheese, Slowly Cooked To Develop Meltingly Tender Flavor,
wrapped In Phyllo Pastry, Served With Baby Greens.
- I expected more than one layer of phyllo but it was still good - Really nice, lightly creamy sauce! Looking forward to eating the leftovers with rice later. 2 others of us had the lamb on orzo in tomato broth which looked really good. The bifteki (ground beef) entree - well, it was kind like meatloaf, so I would not recommend that one, only cuz it is not that interesting.
Loukoumades
Honey Balls Topped With Distilled Greek Honey
served With White Chocolate Mousse.
- Really really sweet. They are kinda like those Indian dessert balls but not as dense. A little too sweet for me, but I do not have a sweet tooth. I probably would have done better with the rice pudding or creme caramel. Or baklava--my sweet tooth temporarily grows in for this one!
Note: Paid for 2 hours parking at the green P (about $4) south of Danforth on Pape. Made it back just in time.
Saturday, 9 April 2011
Dragon Pearl (Asian Buffet at Don Mills/York Mills)
When I first got the flyer for Dragon Pearl, I was very interested. Folks at the office had planned a lunch to go, but I was unable to join. But the raving reviews got me even more excited. So when I finally had the opportunity to go recently, with my work team - 35 of us! - I was jazzed! Like a kid in candy store!
Date/time of visit: Thu April 7, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Great! The food quality/variety was much better than Mandarin. Variety was fantastic and... entertaining! Watch them fry the Dragon Pearl and also throw the Single Strand noodles. Which are very tasty, btw!
Service: Fantastic. For a group of 35, there were no complaints about not having enough water, napkins, anything. The waitstaff were very quick about taking drink orders, taking away empty plates, etc. When they brought the actual Dragon Pearl dessert out, there was one of the waitstaff there to assist - he may have been a manager, not sure - and was very friendly.
Portions: Unlimited!
Cost: Average for a buffet. $12.99 per person for lunch buffet - with tax and tip, about $16.50. I didn't order a drink. Check out the website for prices throughout the week. More expensive than Star Walk buffet ($8 lunch), but worth it for the food quality and atmosphere. One thing Star Walk has additionally is more dim sum and nigiri sushi (not just maki)
Atmosphere: WILD. The decor is stunning. Lots to look at, not too bright, there are booths that look like bird cages, a boat table, chairs with backs about 10 feet high. REALLY NEAT. I will definitely take my family there next time they visit.
Other info: http://www.dragonpearlbuffet.com/ Free parking. The team had reservations of course - with a group of 35 you pretty much have to at any restaurant. There were other restaurants and an artisan bakery in this new plaza as well so I'll have to return to visit them! It was busy but not too bad. The lines moved quickly.
Ate:
Single Strand noodle soup - I chose the beef with spicy sauce - the sauce wasn't spicy, but it was good anyway - the noodles were kind of chewy and yummy, similar to udon.
Sushi - a great variety of maki - very good quality. I enjoyed the shrimp tempura roll, spicy salmon roll, california roll, and there was another roll with pickled, crunchy green stuff in it I really liked. The wasabi was nice and spicy too.
BBQ/Grilled stuff - I sampled several items from this section - really good cuttlefish. MUST HAVE the yam cake. Fried, chewy goodness!
Main stuff - There was a dish that was called Brains Tofu with Pork. So yeah, I had to try that! Ok, so it didn't have brains in it (at least I highly doubt it did); we've come to the conclusion that they must have been braised? Or are we kidding ourselves here? Anyway it was good! Also had some shrimp dumplings (good), the salty/spicy shrimp (really good), and some veggies. Nothing was bad!
Dessert - amazing variety of desserts+ice cream. I'm not much a sweets person, but it was all good - the flan, green tea cake was great. The Dragon Pearl was crunch/sticky - they give you topping choices for it too (whipped cream, blueberry jam, and something else) but I decided to try it naked (the dessert naked, that is). I think I also saw tofu dessert which I'll have to try next time (like tofu fa).
Other - Other stuff which I didn't get to have but are available - salads, fruits, soups (like hot and sour).
Note: If you're looking for spicy foods, this isn't the place for you. The food was great, don't get me wrong, but if you're in the mood for spicy, try the other restaurants I've recommended: Lin Garden, Iqbal Kebab, Cielito Lindo - depending on how you like your spicy!
Date/time of visit: Thu April 7, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Great! The food quality/variety was much better than Mandarin. Variety was fantastic and... entertaining! Watch them fry the Dragon Pearl and also throw the Single Strand noodles. Which are very tasty, btw!
Service: Fantastic. For a group of 35, there were no complaints about not having enough water, napkins, anything. The waitstaff were very quick about taking drink orders, taking away empty plates, etc. When they brought the actual Dragon Pearl dessert out, there was one of the waitstaff there to assist - he may have been a manager, not sure - and was very friendly.
Portions: Unlimited!
Cost: Average for a buffet. $12.99 per person for lunch buffet - with tax and tip, about $16.50. I didn't order a drink. Check out the website for prices throughout the week. More expensive than Star Walk buffet ($8 lunch), but worth it for the food quality and atmosphere. One thing Star Walk has additionally is more dim sum and nigiri sushi (not just maki)
Atmosphere: WILD. The decor is stunning. Lots to look at, not too bright, there are booths that look like bird cages, a boat table, chairs with backs about 10 feet high. REALLY NEAT. I will definitely take my family there next time they visit.
Other info: http://www.dragonpearlbuffet.com/ Free parking. The team had reservations of course - with a group of 35 you pretty much have to at any restaurant. There were other restaurants and an artisan bakery in this new plaza as well so I'll have to return to visit them! It was busy but not too bad. The lines moved quickly.
Ate:
Single Strand noodle soup - I chose the beef with spicy sauce - the sauce wasn't spicy, but it was good anyway - the noodles were kind of chewy and yummy, similar to udon.
Sushi - a great variety of maki - very good quality. I enjoyed the shrimp tempura roll, spicy salmon roll, california roll, and there was another roll with pickled, crunchy green stuff in it I really liked. The wasabi was nice and spicy too.
BBQ/Grilled stuff - I sampled several items from this section - really good cuttlefish. MUST HAVE the yam cake. Fried, chewy goodness!
Main stuff - There was a dish that was called Brains Tofu with Pork. So yeah, I had to try that! Ok, so it didn't have brains in it (at least I highly doubt it did); we've come to the conclusion that they must have been braised? Or are we kidding ourselves here? Anyway it was good! Also had some shrimp dumplings (good), the salty/spicy shrimp (really good), and some veggies. Nothing was bad!
Dessert - amazing variety of desserts+ice cream. I'm not much a sweets person, but it was all good - the flan, green tea cake was great. The Dragon Pearl was crunch/sticky - they give you topping choices for it too (whipped cream, blueberry jam, and something else) but I decided to try it naked (the dessert naked, that is). I think I also saw tofu dessert which I'll have to try next time (like tofu fa).
Other - Other stuff which I didn't get to have but are available - salads, fruits, soups (like hot and sour).
Note: If you're looking for spicy foods, this isn't the place for you. The food was great, don't get me wrong, but if you're in the mood for spicy, try the other restaurants I've recommended: Lin Garden, Iqbal Kebab, Cielito Lindo - depending on how you like your spicy!
Monday, 4 April 2011
Iqbal Kebab & Sweets Centre (Halal Indian/Pakistani cuisine at Sheppard/Don Mills)
The hubby and I have been looking for a good non-buffet, Indian restaurant in the neighborhood and got the flyer for Iqbal Kebab`s new location at Sheppard and Don Mills, on Parkway Forest Drive across from Fairview Mall. Ever since Tiffin (on Ellesmere and Vic Park) shut down, it has been slim pickins.
Date/time of visit: Fri April 1, 2011 7:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy, not greasy; we noticed there was no ghee sitting on top of any of the entrees which was nice
Service: Service was a bit slow at first. Our orders were taken pretty quickly, but we waited about 15 minutes to get our drinks. We had to ask for water 3 times, and when we finally go it, they brought a pitcher of water and 2 styrofoam cups--a bit strange, especially since we got the mango lassi in a nice glass before the water came. Even though the service was a bit slow for a bit, the lady was very helpful when it came to selecting the desserts to go after we finished our meal.
Portions: Fair.
Cost: Reasonable. Came to $23 per person for 2 people including tax/tip. We had a whole meal leftover too AND desserts to go, so we probably could have managed with just 1 order of garlic naan instead of 2, and just 2 entrees, instead of 3. Without the extra naan and entree and desserts, we could have gotten away with about $15 per person.
Atmosphere: Casual, clean, modern - they obviously renovated whatever store or restaurant was previously located here. We would go here for a casual dinner or lunch with some friends.
Other info: http://www.iqbalkebab.com/main.html for the menu. Free parking. There is a Foodland grocery store in the plaza too, as well as a sushi restaurant which we may need to investigate! Did not make reservations; they told me there was no need when I called beforehand. Was not busy in the restaurant - though there were a few folks who came in for takeout.
Ordered:
Mango Lassi - was pretty good; I think I just prefer regular mango juice though
Butter Chicken - MUST HAVE, one of the best I have ever had and will definitely get this again
Palak Paneer (Spinach with cheese cubes) - VERY GOOD, will get this again; spicy!
Shish Kebab Curry ( Beef ) - good, comes with small salad with raita
Garlic Naan (2 orders) - MUST HAVE, nice and fluffy and crispy; will order just 1 next time since we will likely get the rice too again
Basmati rice - plain (1 order) - good
Ordered less than 1 lb of mixed methai (desserts) to go - my favourite as the carrot burfi
P.S. I noticed a Lunch Thali for $6.95 which I may have to try in the near future.
Date/time of visit: Fri April 1, 2011 7:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy, not greasy; we noticed there was no ghee sitting on top of any of the entrees which was nice
Service: Service was a bit slow at first. Our orders were taken pretty quickly, but we waited about 15 minutes to get our drinks. We had to ask for water 3 times, and when we finally go it, they brought a pitcher of water and 2 styrofoam cups--a bit strange, especially since we got the mango lassi in a nice glass before the water came. Even though the service was a bit slow for a bit, the lady was very helpful when it came to selecting the desserts to go after we finished our meal.
Portions: Fair.
Cost: Reasonable. Came to $23 per person for 2 people including tax/tip. We had a whole meal leftover too AND desserts to go, so we probably could have managed with just 1 order of garlic naan instead of 2, and just 2 entrees, instead of 3. Without the extra naan and entree and desserts, we could have gotten away with about $15 per person.
Atmosphere: Casual, clean, modern - they obviously renovated whatever store or restaurant was previously located here. We would go here for a casual dinner or lunch with some friends.
Other info: http://www.iqbalkebab.com/main.html for the menu. Free parking. There is a Foodland grocery store in the plaza too, as well as a sushi restaurant which we may need to investigate! Did not make reservations; they told me there was no need when I called beforehand. Was not busy in the restaurant - though there were a few folks who came in for takeout.
Ordered:
Mango Lassi - was pretty good; I think I just prefer regular mango juice though
Butter Chicken - MUST HAVE, one of the best I have ever had and will definitely get this again
Palak Paneer (Spinach with cheese cubes) - VERY GOOD, will get this again; spicy!
Shish Kebab Curry ( Beef ) - good, comes with small salad with raita
Garlic Naan (2 orders) - MUST HAVE, nice and fluffy and crispy; will order just 1 next time since we will likely get the rice too again
Basmati rice - plain (1 order) - good
Ordered less than 1 lb of mixed methai (desserts) to go - my favourite as the carrot burfi
P.S. I noticed a Lunch Thali for $6.95 which I may have to try in the near future.
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Cielito Lindo (Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Pickering)
I love authentic Mexican cuisine - we have visited Mexico a few times and the sauces are amazing and lately I've been craving guacamole too. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with the wonder that is avocado.
If you like Mexican too, I dare you to recommend a Mexican restaurant to me near Agincourt. Taco Bell does NOT count - I have never eaten at Taco Bell but the idea of it grotifies me somehow.
There are Mexican restaurants downtown, of course. I've been to an OK one on King St with tasteful decor, but it is on the pricier side, plus you have pay for parking and face the traffic of downtown T.O.
So when I google mapped Ceilito Lindo, read the great reviews and saw the menu/prices on the website, I was as giddy as a schoolgirl.
Date/time of visit: Fri March 18, 2011 7:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy
Service: SLOOOOOW to take the order, we sat their for at least 15 minutes without water or nachos; this place is SMALL - only about 8 tables - if we lived closer, I'd probably order takeout. A complete grumpy gills, my hubby was starving and prepared to leave. When our order was taken, and drinks arrived and then the nachos/salsa/guac, we were happy campers. I think it was just very busy, and there was only 1 guy who takes orders and serves, 1 woman who serves, and the cook in the back. And they are kind of quiet and might come off as disinterested. Just smile and say gracias and enjoy the food!
Portions: Big. You may need to request a refill on nachos but no extra charge for that - I think it's not such a bad thing that they limit the quantities to avoid waste.
Cost: Reasonable. Came to $25 per person for 2 people including tax/tip. This is because we had an appetizer (guac) and I had a margarita for Happy Time.
Atmosphere: Small. Lots of great tacky Mexican decor - sombreros hanging on the walls, tons of parrot figurines! Also the music was... Mexican but not my taste. It was not mariachi or anything traditional which I would have preferred. They actually played Achy Breakey Heart IN MEXICAN. With the margarita in me, it was pretty entertaining!
Other info: http://www.cielitolindo.ca/ for the menu. Free parking. Did not make reservations; not sure if you can or not. Was very busy. There were some customers waiting outside--luckily it was pretty warm out.
The food, decor, servers seem very real to me - very authentic. Keep in mind - the focus is on the food here. Do not expect an elegant dining experience.
Ordered:
Margarita - pour moi - yum, they did not skimp out on the booze
Can of Coke - for the hubby - I don`t think you get free refills here, but we didn`t ask.
Guacamole - it was good and enough for the 2 of us, but you don`t get an awful lot - there`s a picture on the website of it - the pestle is huge and takes up the space of most of the bowl
Nachos and salsa come with your meal - we requested more nachos, after I saw others doing so
Tabasco Combo (One beef burrito with spicy red sauce and one chicken enchilada with green tomatillo sauce) - this was my order - yummy, spicy goodness, both sauces were fantastic
Enchiladas (Two corn tortillas with your choice of filling baked with either red, green, mole or spicy Diablo sauce and topped with cheese) - the hubby selected the mole, which was AWESOME - I will order this one next time!
This was a HUGE amount of food for the 2 of us - the entrees come with rice, beans and salad. Next time, I think we`ll order one entree (with mole!) and maybe 2 appetizers, or maybe 1 appetizer and dessert. In any case, I will be dreaming about our next visit!
Tip for this restaurant: If you live nearby, order takeout to avoid the long wait, or probably go on a weekday (not Fri or Sat)--though I may be wrong about this; they might be this busy everyday! It is a small establishment, after all. If you do not care about the wait, just GO already - your taste buds will thank you.
Interesting fact: "Cielito lindo" is a popular song commonly played by mariachi bands. In the lyrics they sing about a cielito lindo (pretty darling) who has a mole next to her mouth. Obviously, the song was written about me! Nyuk nyuk nyuk.
If you like Mexican too, I dare you to recommend a Mexican restaurant to me near Agincourt. Taco Bell does NOT count - I have never eaten at Taco Bell but the idea of it grotifies me somehow.
There are Mexican restaurants downtown, of course. I've been to an OK one on King St with tasteful decor, but it is on the pricier side, plus you have pay for parking and face the traffic of downtown T.O.
So when I google mapped Ceilito Lindo, read the great reviews and saw the menu/prices on the website, I was as giddy as a schoolgirl.
Date/time of visit: Fri March 18, 2011 7:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy
Service: SLOOOOOW to take the order, we sat their for at least 15 minutes without water or nachos; this place is SMALL - only about 8 tables - if we lived closer, I'd probably order takeout. A complete grumpy gills, my hubby was starving and prepared to leave. When our order was taken, and drinks arrived and then the nachos/salsa/guac, we were happy campers. I think it was just very busy, and there was only 1 guy who takes orders and serves, 1 woman who serves, and the cook in the back. And they are kind of quiet and might come off as disinterested. Just smile and say gracias and enjoy the food!
Portions: Big. You may need to request a refill on nachos but no extra charge for that - I think it's not such a bad thing that they limit the quantities to avoid waste.
Cost: Reasonable. Came to $25 per person for 2 people including tax/tip. This is because we had an appetizer (guac) and I had a margarita for Happy Time.
Atmosphere: Small. Lots of great tacky Mexican decor - sombreros hanging on the walls, tons of parrot figurines! Also the music was... Mexican but not my taste. It was not mariachi or anything traditional which I would have preferred. They actually played Achy Breakey Heart IN MEXICAN. With the margarita in me, it was pretty entertaining!
Other info: http://www.cielitolindo.ca/ for the menu. Free parking. Did not make reservations; not sure if you can or not. Was very busy. There were some customers waiting outside--luckily it was pretty warm out.
The food, decor, servers seem very real to me - very authentic. Keep in mind - the focus is on the food here. Do not expect an elegant dining experience.
Ordered:
Margarita - pour moi - yum, they did not skimp out on the booze
Can of Coke - for the hubby - I don`t think you get free refills here, but we didn`t ask.
Guacamole - it was good and enough for the 2 of us, but you don`t get an awful lot - there`s a picture on the website of it - the pestle is huge and takes up the space of most of the bowl
Nachos and salsa come with your meal - we requested more nachos, after I saw others doing so
Tabasco Combo (One beef burrito with spicy red sauce and one chicken enchilada with green tomatillo sauce) - this was my order - yummy, spicy goodness, both sauces were fantastic
Enchiladas (Two corn tortillas with your choice of filling baked with either red, green, mole or spicy Diablo sauce and topped with cheese) - the hubby selected the mole, which was AWESOME - I will order this one next time!
This was a HUGE amount of food for the 2 of us - the entrees come with rice, beans and salad. Next time, I think we`ll order one entree (with mole!) and maybe 2 appetizers, or maybe 1 appetizer and dessert. In any case, I will be dreaming about our next visit!
Tip for this restaurant: If you live nearby, order takeout to avoid the long wait, or probably go on a weekday (not Fri or Sat)--though I may be wrong about this; they might be this busy everyday! It is a small establishment, after all. If you do not care about the wait, just GO already - your taste buds will thank you.
Interesting fact: "Cielito lindo" is a popular song commonly played by mariachi bands. In the lyrics they sing about a cielito lindo (pretty darling) who has a mole next to her mouth. Obviously, the song was written about me! Nyuk nyuk nyuk.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Lin Garden Restaurant (Indian Hakka Cuisine at Sheppard/Pharmacy)
Visited Lin Garden for the "Monthly Restaurant Review" with my work crew.
Date/time of visit:Wed March 16, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy, garlicky goodness
Service: Fast
Portions: Big
Cost: Cheap. Came to $9 per person for 10 people including tax/tip. Had lots of leftovers - would do without the noodles next time.(Lunch specials available for $5-ish)
Atmosphere: Functional, not fancy-shmancy in any way.
Other info: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/133051/restaurant/Scarborough/Lin-Garden-Toronto for pictures of the menu. Free parking. Made reservations. Was pretty busy, but didn't see any lineup.
Ordered:
2 House Shrimps (fantastic - MUST HAVE - comes with 10 shrimps)
2 Fried Green Beans (fantastic - I think there may be anchovies - really nice saltiness to it)
Chili Chicken (really good and spicy)
Combo Pakora (really good - like giant crunchy popcorn chicken with a great indian flavour)
Sweet and Sour Chicken (good - has pineapple, green bell pepper in it)
Beef Oodles of Noodles (a strange flavour and it's RED - HUGE portion - wouldn't order it again)
Large bowl of steamed white rice
2 kettles of tea
2 pops
Tip for this restaurant: If you're going on your own or as a couple/small group, go up to the counter to pay the bill instead of waiting. Otherwise, you may be waiting for a loooong time.
Date/time of visit:Wed March 16, 2011 12:00pm
Food: Excellent, spicy, garlicky goodness
Service: Fast
Portions: Big
Cost: Cheap. Came to $9 per person for 10 people including tax/tip. Had lots of leftovers - would do without the noodles next time.(Lunch specials available for $5-ish)
Atmosphere: Functional, not fancy-shmancy in any way.
Other info: http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/10/133051/restaurant/Scarborough/Lin-Garden-Toronto for pictures of the menu. Free parking. Made reservations. Was pretty busy, but didn't see any lineup.
Ordered:
2 House Shrimps (fantastic - MUST HAVE - comes with 10 shrimps)
2 Fried Green Beans (fantastic - I think there may be anchovies - really nice saltiness to it)
Chili Chicken (really good and spicy)
Combo Pakora (really good - like giant crunchy popcorn chicken with a great indian flavour)
Sweet and Sour Chicken (good - has pineapple, green bell pepper in it)
Beef Oodles of Noodles (a strange flavour and it's RED - HUGE portion - wouldn't order it again)
Large bowl of steamed white rice
2 kettles of tea
2 pops
Tip for this restaurant: If you're going on your own or as a couple/small group, go up to the counter to pay the bill instead of waiting. Otherwise, you may be waiting for a loooong time.
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