BUCA

BUCA

LOCATION:

604 King Street west

Toronto, On

M5V1M6

RATINGS:

Ambiance: 3 . 5 /4

Service: 3 / 4

Food: 3 . 5 / 4

Price: $$$

Buca has been on my must-go restaurant list for some time now so  finally, AM and I made our way there for a romantic dinner out. At first, we were a little worried because we could not find the restaurant because it is down and secluded, dark alley way.  However, as you open the door to the restaurant you know you are about to have a unique dining experience. The high ceilings, exposed brick and interesting decor make you feel like you are about to eat in a modern Italian salter house. As like other trendy restaurants in the Toronto right now, they have no signage; you must make reservations and no there is no menu on line.

 We started with the small CHARCUTERIE. All the meat is stored in glass faced meat lockers that decorate the rustic restaurant. Trying this fresh, hand-cut, cured meat was a must. We got the chili salumi, bresaola and the parma ham. Pretty standard but, as always AM loved it.

When I was in Italy, one of my favourite things to eat were the "garlic balls." So when I saw the NODINI on the menu, I convinced AM to pay for bread. The small bread knots are smothered in olive oil, rosemary, salt and loads of garlic.  The outer crust is crispy, but when you bite in they are soft and outstandingly tasty. Be careful, they are surprisingly messy!

Next,  we ordered the ORECCHIO DI MAIALE. We are always interested in trying new things, so we had to give the pigs' ears a chance. These treats  are deep-fried and served with wild fennel salt. I was a bit nervous at first, so I let AM take the lead. They were crispy and a little chewy, so I was amazed at how tasty they were quite tasty. However, the portion was too large for two people; we each ate about three and had to leave the rest.

 As a recommendation by our waiter we tried the ARROSTICINI.  Four large lamb skewers served with grilled lemon, olive oil, oregano, and ricotta salata. The lamb was tender, juicy and well seasoned.  

Finally, we shared a pasta dish. We decided on the SCALATIELLI ALLE VONGOLE. Fresh, house made pasta served with BC clams, chili, smoked eel and minutia. Boy, did I love this pasta. The portion was small so we had to fight for it. The fresh pasta was unique in texture, reminding me of an udon noodle,  interestingly enough. The clams were a harmonious pair to the smokey flavour of the eel.

Would we go back? We may take my dad one time; we think he would really like it.

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:

Scalatielli Alle Vongole

THE BURGER'S PRIEST

THE BURGER'S PRIEST

LOCATION:

1636 Queen St E  

Toronto, ON M4L1G3

theburgerspriest.com

RATINGS:

Food: 3 / 4

Price:$

If you have not made your way to The Burger's Priest then you have been missing out. This tiny burger joint makes a mean burger. They are known for their interesting burgers and a secret menu for the more edgy burger eater. If you plan to go to The Burger's Priest and want to order off the secret menu,  make sure you do some google searching (or look at their website under the section titled 'secret menu)because when you get there, the secrets are not posted and the staff will not give them up. 

I ordered the PRIEST BURGER which  is one of the restaurant's signature  burger. The all-beef 4 oz patties are accompanied by, 'THE OPTION': which is two breaded deep-fried Portobello mushroom  caps stuffed with cheese. I  finished it off with all of their standard toppings: tomatoes, lettuce, and sliced onion. I added one secret menu item which was the 'SMOKES': which are panko-crusted jalapeno peppers. The bun was soft  and reminded me of wonder bread. The meat was juicy and well-seasoned, however,  the impressive part was the crispy crusted Portobello and ozzy, melted, stringy cheese. 

Would we go back? Yes

GRAZIE RESTORANTE

GRAZIE RESTORANTE 

LOCATION:

2373 Yonge St

Toronto, ON

M4P2C8

416 488 0822

www.grazie.ca

RATINGS:

Ambiance: 3 / 4

Service: 3 . 5 / 4

Food: 3 . 5 / 4

Price: $$

Whenever we are looking for good bowl of pasta, we always make our way to GRAZIE. There are a lot of Italian restaurants in Toronto, but  I would have to say Grazie is one of the best. The food is consistently good, whether the place is packed or almost empty (which hardly ever happens). The menu provides a large assortment of pizzas and pastas; most people rave about their pasta for it is made in-house daily. The service is always friendly and attentive, and if you go as much as we do they even begin to remember your order and make you feel part of the Grazie family.

AM ordered the PAESANA. A rich tomato sauce with fresh peppers and ground Italian sausage piled high on fresh Fettucini.  What's nice about this dish is that they leave the sausage in large chucks so you can really taste the flavours of the meat in each bite you take. This large, rustic bowl of pasta is sure to fill you up. Although, if you are like AM, you will need to save some bread to ensure you don't leave any drop of sauce or meat behind.

My go-to dish is always the TERAMO. This delicious bowl of fresh spaghetti comes with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, green onions, parsley and a large dollop of goat cheese. Its dressed with dressed with an olive oil and garlic which sounds rather simple but as you mix the goat cheese into the sauce it becomes creamy and packed with flavour. I always try and recreate this at home, but  can never get it to taste like there's.

Would we go back? Yes

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:
Teramo although AM would say the Paesana!

 

ORIGIN

 ORIGIN

LOCATION:

107 King Street East Toronto, ON M5C 1G6
(416) 603-8009

http://origintoronto.com

RATINGS:
Service: 3 / 4
Ambiance: 3 . 5 / 4
Food: 3 / 4
Price: $$$

Origin - with its open kitchen and large back patio has a funky and eclectic vibe, however, the dining lounge is quite dark and can get quite loud. We sat near the open kitchen, which allowed us to see all the interesting dishes being prepared. All the dishes are suggested to be shared, in a tapas style. overall, we found the flavours to be an interesting mix of European and Asian. We decided to pick Origin for my father's birthday, as he has always wanted to try their famous 38 oz steak.

From the raw bar we ordered the JAPANESE STYLE TUNA SALAD. The salad was so nicely presented that we didn't want to dig in at first. They used a spicy ponzu dressing to pickle and marinade the radishes, cucumbers and Asian pear, which garnished the large pieces of tuna sashimi and avocado. All of the flavours worked magically together.

Whenever we go to a restaurant that has beets on the menu my mom has to order it. So we got the BEET AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD. It was served with one large beet, dressed with a sherry dressing and garnished with walnuts, pickled red onion and a yogurt goat cheese mixture. My mom loved it, but to me beet salads are all the same and can be reproduced easily at home.

Then came the famous SPICY SPANISH FRIES: Crispy fresh-sliced fries with chorizo, shredded Spanish Manchego cheese, all toped with a spicy mayo.  The men at the table went crazy for these fries, that I like to think of as the Spanish Poutine.

Next up was the wonderful BANGKOK BEEF SALAD. The beef was served with crunchy peanuts, mint, green mango, fried shallots,  vermicelli noodles all soaked in Nam Jim broth. The beef was tender and cooked to a nice medium-rare just how we like it. The mangos were a little sour, which was a nice contrast to fried shallots and cilantro. It was hard to share I could have  eaten this dish all to myself.

As suggested by our waiter, we ordered the CURRIED SHRIMP AND NAAN BREAD.  The curry was intensely flavoured, with an overwhelming taste of ginger, and the contrast of the cold fresh veggies atop the hot curry, was a little strange for me.

We also ordered the Crispy Calamari with caramelized peanut sauce and pineapple. The long strips of calamari were nicely battered and lightly fried. The peanut sauce was drizzled, but hard to find on our plate, we wish there was a little more.  The pineapple added an interesting flare to the mix, but overall the dish wasn't too exciting compared to the others we ordered.

Finally, the menu item we had all been waiting to see the 32 OZ RIBEYE AND CHIMI CHURRI. Our waiter told us it would be really large about two pounds of meat. My mom was worried it would be way too much. Upon arrival, we realized that the bone contributed to most of the weight; there was not one piece of the meat left at the end of the night. The Ribeye was cooked to a nice medium-rare, it was quite fatty, but all Ribeyes tend to be.

We don't do dessert too often - none of us have a real sweet tooth - but it was my dad's birthday, so we ordered the DULCE DE LECHE. It was a interesting combination of dulce de leche, lemon sponge, raspberry ice, caramel and sea salt. If you like sweet and salty, this is for you. If not stay away.

Would we go back? Yes

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:
Spicy Spanish Fries

HAWKER BAR

HAWKER BAR

LOCATION:

164 Ossington Ave

Toronto ON

M4J2Z7

www.hawkerbar.com

RATINGS:

Service: 3 / 4

Ambiance: 3 / 4

Food: 2 . 5 / 4

Price: $$

After a day full of DIY projects gone wrong, my friend DF and I decided to go out for a nice dinner. Together, we are always looking for new places to try, and one of us had heard of a good review about the tiny little fusion restaurant Hawker Bar tucked away on the Ossington strip. This eatery does not take reservations, so they recommend you come earlier than you want to eat to get your name down on the list. The place only seats about 20 people, with only two tables that seat more than 2 guests. 

We started off with the 1LB OF SINGAPORE STYLE CHICKEN WINGS. The wings were flash fried and tossed in a sweet chili soy sauce and sliced fresh red chilies.  Let me tell you, I have never had such tasty wings in my life. They were just the right mix of sticky, sweet and spicy. Although this menu option is under the snacks column, this is a dish that needs to be shared; we each had about 5 wings and were quite full when we were done.

At first we were a little sad about how full we were because we had lots of food still coming; but when we saw the HAINAESE CHICKEN RICE arrive, we were no longer sad. The poached chicken was served over fragrant rice, and accompanied by chili sauce, ginger puree and sweet dark soy sauce. It sounded much more exciting than it turned out to be, particularly because we had to mix the ingredients into a sauce ourselves. The dish tasted as bland and boring as it looked. 

It was the  HAWKER LASKA LEMAK which specifically drew us to the restaurant. The coconut chili soup was served in a large bowl with rice noodles, tofu puffs, snow peas, red peppers eggplant, broccoli, crispy noodles and a deep-fried egg. The broth was very thick and resembled more of a coconut curry than a soup.  I would suggest ordering a side rice to go with this dish; it was too rich on its own. Beware it can be very spicy; DF had a hard time getting through it.

Would we go back? only for the wings

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:

The Singapore Style Chicken wings

LEE

 LEE 

LOCATION:
601 King Street West
Toronto (416) 504 7867

www.susur.com/lee/

RATINGS:
Service: 3 . 5 / 4
Ambiance: 3 .75 / 4
Food: 3 . 5 / 4
Price: $$$$

As a huge Top Chef fan, LEE has been a on the top of my must go list for the past while. When my mom's birthday came around, I knew it would be a great time to check this restaurant out. Although on the night we went Susur Lee was not in, we still had a fabulous meal enjoying his unique creations. The decor is classy yet causal,  providing both lounge and restaurant seating depending on your preference.  Our waiter recommend we order about a dish and a half per person, so we ordered six of the family-style dishes for the four of us. We found that to be plenty for us.

As soon as we saw the CHEESE BURGER SPRING ROLL we knew we would have to give them a try; when else would we get a chance to try this? The hot, crispy spring roll was stuffed with seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese and drizzled with a smoked chili mayo which packed some heat. Our waiter informed us that the chef intended for the roll atop iceberg lettuce and  pickled veggies  to be eaten as a one package deal.  It really did taste just like a cheese burger. It was definitely a must try once menu item, but  I don't know if we would order it again.

Of course we had to try the famous SINGAPOREAN STYLE SLAW, one of LEE's most well-known dishes. We were all impressed by the presentation of this dish and couldn't wait to dig in. The waiter explained the ingredients - all 19 of them. He then tossed the slaw for us explaining that it needed to be mixed thoroughly in order to get all 19 flavours in each bite. My mom could not stop raving about the tastes. She loved the sweet, sour and spicy mix that came from all items blending together.

We also ordered the GARLIC TIGER SHRIMP. They were grilled with a tangy spiced tomato jam and soya bean crumbs. The huge  shrimp were well flavoured. The spicy jam went well with the fresh pickled green papaya which lay on top of the succulent prawns. The dish also came with two potato pea croquettes. The croquettes reminded me of a veggie samosa because of their light curry flavour. Mmmmmm - all of the elements on the plate were to perfection.

If you know my family then you know we love scallops. So the SPICED CRUSTED DIVER SCALLOPS were a no brainer. The crust was made of spiced Chinese bean pesto, which added a nice texture to the smooth scallops. Atop each scallop was  a slice of fresh grapefruit and crispy fried bacon. The citrus from the fresh grapefruit was a pleasant companion to the salty bacon and earthy flavour of the scallops.

Since I was the Top Chef fan at the table, I convinced my family to order the TOP CHEF GREEN CURRY CHICKEN(Susur's winning dish as made in the show). Large chunks of chicken were splashed with the spiced tomato jam, chili mint and coconut green curry sauce. The chicken was accompanied by a pea polenta pancake that was delicious - better than the chicken, to be honest. Although it was award-winning on the show, it was not our favourite dish of the night; as we found the chicken to be a little dry.

Lastly, was the succulent JERK SPICY PORK RIBS. The ribs were coated in a scotch bonnet sauce, ginger, fresh mango, diced veggies and a mango puree. The pork was juicy and extremely tender; it easily fell of the bone. This dish left us all licking our fingers.  We could not get enough of that scotch bonnet sauce.

Would we go back? Yes

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:
Garlic Tiger Shrimp

MARBEN

MARBEN

LOCATION:
488 Wellington St W
Toronto, ON
M5V1E3
(416)9791990

www.marbenrestaurant.com

RATINGS:

Ambiance: 4 / 4

Service: 3 . 75 / 4

Food: 3 . 75 / 4

Price: $$$

We arrived at Marben late one Friday night. The restaurant was buzzing. Luckily we had perfect timing and were able to be seated right away. We sat at the back in a cozy spot near the open kitchen.  The restaurant had an interesting edgy, yet rustic vibe; as the night went on we continued to notice more aspects of the decor.  The staff were all very hip, welcoming and very knowledgeable about the items on the menu.  

As we sat down our server was quick to bring us WARM BREAD, inform us about the menu and their daily specials, and take  our drink orders. Right away, we could tell the service was going to be great.

We started off with the MARBEN'S CHARCUTERIE BOARD. It was served with pickled carrots, seasonal jam, toast and house mustards. We appreciated the classic meat choices but our favourite was the grilled salumi, which was a unique add to the otherwise standard charcuterie.

To go along with our mains we decided to try the PATATAS BRAVAS; house cut fries, toped with spicy tomato sauce, smoked paprika and garlic aioli. The fires were hot, fresh and well seasoned, and the spicy tomato sauce was tasy, but more smoky than spicy.

Our mains were both small but extremely tasty. I had the PASTA SPECIAL, which was house made ravioli stuffed with fresh scallops and covered in a rich, chunky lobster bisque and crispy red apple slices. The fresh pasta was so delicate it melted in your mouth; the soft, smooth scallop filling went harmoniously with he crisp sour apple, and the rich lobster bisque. Thank goodness the portion was small, because I would not have been able to stop myself until it was finished.

AM ordered the DINGO FARM'S ROASED RED ANGUS BEEF: 6 week dry-aged grass-fed beef, with bacon and crispy green beans. Once again the portion was quite small but large in flavours; the meat was perfectly cooked and well seasoned.

Would we go back ? Yes

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:
Pasta Special

TABLE 17

TABLE 17

LOCATION:

782 Queen Street East
Toronto, ON M4M1H4
(416) 519-1851

http://www.table17.ca

RATINGS:

Service: 2.5 / 4

Ambiance: 3 / 4

Food: 2.5 / 4

Price:$$$

We finally made it out to Table 17, a cute little restaurant in the Riverdale area. The decor was simple, but made an impact: plenty of small tables for two in a modern-country atmosphere. We arrived at about 7:45 and the restaurant was starting to fill up, so make sure you make a reservation if you're interested in giving it a try. We really wanted to love this restaurant; the menu had all of our favourites. However, in the end it just didn't come together for us. The food was fresh, but nothing wowed us.

We started off with the SALUMI BOARD:  a selection of local artisanal cured meats, accompanied by a small portion of picked vegetables. We were not overly impressed by the selection of meats, and they were all sliced so thin we could barely taste them.

Next, we had the OYSTERS. That days variety were the Kumamoto. They were creamy and fresh. As always, we asked for some hot sauce to top them off.

I chose the DIVER SCALLOPS which were roasted with fresh bay leaves, served with creamed corn and tomatillo salsa. The scallops- nicely seared and cooked perfectly- were the most enjoyable dish of the night.

We also ordered the BEEF TARTARE. The cold chopped tenderloin of Ontario beef was  mixed with roasted beets, and served with country toast and frites. We were so excited to dive into this dish. Unfortunately all we tasted were the roasted beets, which overwhelmed the flavour of the tenderloin.

The  FRITES, accompanied the beef tartar, they were crispy, hot and well salted. However, the lemony mayonnaise for dipping was not to our taste. 

Would we go back? Most likely not

STAND OUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:

The Diver Scallops

KINTON RAMEN

KINTON RAMEN

LOCATION:

51 Baldwin Street

Toronto, ON, M5T1Y9

www.kintonramen.com

RATINGS:

Service: 3 / 4

Ambiance 2 . 5 / 4

Food 2 . 5 / 4

Price: $

There have been a lot of Ramen restaurants opening up in Toronto, but Kinton Ramen has really made a name for itself in the ramen market. It's a tinny little restaurant tucked away on Baldwin Street. The restaurant has an open kitchen with bar seating and one large communal table. As a result, the small space gets quite busy, often causing lines outside.

We started off with the KIMCHI which was tasty, however, it was quite spicy. It's freshness and crunch was a nice accompaniment to our ramen.

We also shared the SPICY GARLIC RAMEN with regular broth. It was toped with bean sprouts, green onions, pork shoulder and shaved garlic. The noodles were cooked well and had a nice texture, but the broth itself was rather bland, lacking punch and heat. The garlic ended up masking the flavour of the pork broth, and the fresh toppings had no chance to stand out.

Would we go back? Probably not. For  hot noodle soup, we would prefer to get some Pho.

SPUNTINI

SPUNTINI RISTORANTE & BAR

LOCATION:

116 Avenue Road Toronto, ON M5R 2H4 (416) 962-1110 RATINGS: Service: 3 / 4 Ambiance 3 . 5 / 4 Food: 3 . 75 / 4 Price: $$$

We made our way to Spuntini for a wonderful romantic dinner. The interior was small and intimate, full of candlelit tables nestled into the cozy exposed-brick room. The dinning area was bustling, as Spuntini attracts a multitude of people ranging from businessmen and families to celebrities during TIFF. Sputini is know for its large and interesting wine list, with selections from various price ranges moving from affordable to high end.

As you all know AM and I both love carpaccio, so we had to order the CARPACCIO DI MANZO. The thinly sliced tenderloin was served with the traditional arugula, parmigiano regiano shavings and olive oil dressing. It was so fresh and tasty, we could have each ordered our own plates.

Next came the POLPO ALLA GRIGLIA grilled Moroccan octopus served on a bed of Romano bean salsa. It was divine: firm yet tender at the same time, it had a nice charbroiled flavour that intertwined well with the bean medley. 

The mains continued to impress. I ordered the GAMBERI AND CAPESANTE. All of my favourite ingredients on one plate: large pan-seared scallops and shrimp with crimini, shiitake, and portobello mushrooms, and roasted green onions tossed in a Pernod cream sauce and placed on a bed of linguine. The cream sauce was rich, yet very delicate; the pasta was cooked perfectly; and the seafood was large and plentiful. MMMM, I'm drooling just thinking about it. 

AM ordered the BISTECCA SOFIA ALLA GRIGLIA. The grilled 12 oz sterling silver strip loin was cooked to a nice medium-rare served  and with a natural jus reduction  that really brought out the flavour of the meat.

Would we go back? YES please!

STANDOUT DISH OF THE NIGHT:

Gamberi and Capesante