Bistro Camino

Ada suggested this place after hearing really good reviews on Chowhound.  On the Danforth, but VERY far east: past woodbine on Main Street.
It's hidden among some sketchy stores that were "half open".

The chef's name is Hiro. Him and the servers in the Restaurant are all Japanese and speak Japanese. But they serve an interesting array of Western Food. The decor was a little outdated. Looked like a Thai Restaurant transformed. It was very homey. I probably wouldn't have predicted the awesome food and presentation.

There was a 3 course menu for $25 or $28, depending on what main course you ordered.
Choices included Rack of Lamb, King Fish in Miso Butter Sauce, Duck Confit, Braised Ox Tongue, Cream Crab Croquettes.

We decided to get the Braised Ox Tongue and the Cream Crab Croquettes. We first started with the "hors d'oeuvres" that came with the soup of the day (Duck Consumme, or Cream of Asparagus). She described what kind of things would be on it, but we didn't understand...

First came the warm bread, which was clearly Japanese bread, light and fluffy and toasted.

There was the soup, boccacini cheese and tomato, some cold sausage, and smoked chicken. Not really sure what the other things are but they were yummy.

The Braised Ox Tongue was SO tender and soft. Not like the rubber that we like to eat at the Chinese HK Style cafes. 

I decided on the cream croquettes because it's not something I can get anywhere. Inside was fresh (not from can) crab, and some sauce. It was light and yummy.

The greens were dry and not enough dressing. 

For dessert we can choose anything from their dessert menu. It ranged from Creme Caramel and Creme Brulee and Cheesecake to Tempura Ice Cream. All around $3-5. We both chose the special. Baked Pineapple in Rum with Coconut Ice Cream.

Petit Dejeuner

http://www.petitdejeuner.ca/
*see below post for info about the resto*

Came here for a quick lunch/brunch. There was a short line up at around 12pm. We waited maybe about 15 mins. Then around 12:20 there was no line up, and then another one when we left at 1:30pm. But they serve food really fast.

I have been here for lunch a few times (and each time ordered something from their all day breakfast) but brunch here offers a really good selection.

I am always drawn to the Eggs Benedict each time I go to brunch. I feel it's something I can't make at home, because of the hollandaise sauce. The Benny with Vodka Smoked salmon caught my eye ($14) but as you scroll down, they also have Waffles, with the Benny of your choice. The best of both worlds! ($12.95, but you only get one)

We both ordered the waffles with the benny.

The eggs benny was on top of a smoked salmon. The hollandaise was creamy and lemony. The egg was poached perfectly and liquidy when opened. I wish there was more than one.

The waffles were amazing, and I glad I tried it. They were light, crispy, and thin! So delicate.

It was a perfect ending, and complemented the apple salad side. 

see below for restaurant information
~~~~~~~~

11.20.2009

I've been here a few times for lunch. I came across this when search for a good Saturday brunch place.  I love the smallness and quaintness of it. They have a good selection of food.

Brunch is served 7 days a week.

Toast Champignon with a Poached Egg a halved bagel topped with sautéed mushrooms, bacon*, herbs and onions. Served with apple coleslaw and potato rosti. 10.95

*Vegetarian available with spinach and peppers instead of bacon

Eggs Benjamin with vodka-smoked salmon  14.00

 Ham & Cheese crêpe filled with sautéed ham, piperade topped cheddar & chive sauce 10.95

Croque Madame Ham and swiss and dijon topped with a sunny side egg 10.95

They also have no breakfassy foods

Flemish style beef stew
Lean angus beef stewed with brown beer and
served with a side salad and belgian fries   10.00

And Dinner!

Benjamin Brussels' Style Waffle - Poached egg, hollandaise & vodka smoked salmon  13.00

Steamed P.E.I Mussels “Lobster Bisque”
P.E.I mussels in a lobster soup with toasted challah,
served with fries 16

Confit de Canard - Duck Confit
Served with salad or fries and sweet and sour apple chutney
The method of poaching it in its own fat and then rendering makes it tender like pulled meats and less fatty 23.00

Now I want to go there for dinner!!!!
Hours:

Week-end Brunch Menu

Sunday - 10 am to 3 pm

Saturday - 9 am to 3 pm

Weekday Lunch menu

Monday to Friday breakfast is served from 8 am to 3 pm

Monday to Friday lunch is served from 11.30 am to 5 pm

Dinner menu

Tuesday to Friday 5 pm to 10 pm

Saturdays from 6 pm to 10 pm

$ for lunch, brunch, $$ for dinner


King and Jarvis

Manpuku

www.manpuku.ca

I've been wanting to try this place ever since I went to Night Market last year and Ada told me this is the only place where I can get my Takoballs on a regular basis. But they have funny hours and not open on Sundays, and close at like 8pm.

SO YUMMY

I got take out, as I was on my own and in the area. What a GREAT IDEA. The food probably tasted extra better as I was sitting at my tv watching 90210. Yum.

It's small, but I was glad it wasn't busy. I sat at the bar area, and contemplated my order. They have their regular menu, but a special menu that looks like it changes regularly on the wall. I got my Takoyaki, but for 4.99 you get 6 of them. I could have probably eaten that all myself and not ordered anything else, but can't be a fatso like that. For $2.99 you can get Takosen (Takoyaki, served on a shrimp cracker) You only get 3 or them, but worth the extra money for me so I don't overindulge. But I think if ever I go again with people, the Takoyaki 6 pieces is more worth it.
Waiting 20 minutes was worth it. The shrimp crackers didn't do much.

Yum.
I got the ShirueDon. It's friend egg with yummy mayo on top of rice. Now I think I should have gotten the beef instead. It was cold by the time I ate it tho, because I opened it up to take a pic. Still yummy! $8.99

For $2.99 I wanted their pudding. I think it was like a Steamed Egg Custard. At least that was what it looked like in the picture. I saw her take it out of the fridge and put it in a styrofoam. It was just a creme caramel. Good, not phenomenal.

Would definitely want to go again and try other foods on the menu. Need 2 people at least for that. And I didn't want to bring home soup in case I spilled it. The place has a great selection of traditional authentic and unique japanese favourites.

Madeline's

used to be Susur. Still under his direction.

Looks fusiony. http://www.susur.com/madelines/menu.html

Crispy garlic Cornish hen with 17

gorgonzola cheese sauce and
sautéed apple

Hand rolled spinach ricotta     18

gnocchi with garlic, chili, basil,
pine nuts, portobello mushrooms,
lemon juice, aged reggiano and olive oil

Slow cooked pork belly with 17

celery root, potato, cilantro
seedling and currant jam

Toronto Life Review: (2.5 Stars)

Even though Susur Lee is busy with his Manhattan project, he has held on to his old place on King West, reinventing it as a simpler spot that can run without him. Named for his mother, the restaurant has undergone an opulent make-over, creating a mood that’s somewhere between a cozy Moroccan tea room and a New Orleans bordello. Lee’s long-time sous, Dominic Amaral, is chef and collaborator on the menu of European apps that begins with Welsh rarebit toasts, the molten cheese-and-beer mix spiked with summer truffle compote. The recipe for braised pork belly comes from the eponymous Madeline: the meat is sweet, paired with currant jam and potato-celeriac mash. A hold-over from Susur, the small, eclectic wine list is full of cult producers, but, with few bottles under $80, it’s disconnected from the restaurant’s scaled-back intentions. Mains $18–$25.

Colborne Lane

Always a familiar name, and something I've been meaning to look into.

http://colbornelane.com/

Looking at the menu and photo gallery, this definately a place where presentation presides over the quantity of food. At least I know before hand to expect small portions. I guess that's why they call it Molecular Gastromony. I'd like to try it, but not high on my priority list.

See the chef's profile here: http://www.dine.to/profile_features.php?feature=chef&id=4684

Types of food look fusiony, but not too much to the east where I will be complaining about the value of my money.
They have 2 different tasting menus (dining room vs kitchen table). Not sure what that's about. Each menu has about 10 different dishes. not sure how much it is.

aloe vera snow + compressed melon + cucumber water + ketel one vodka

sockeye salmon sashimi + yuzu vinaigrette + black sesame caviar + ponzu meringues + avocado + breakfast radish + shiso leaf



tea smoked squab breast + organic beetroot + sultana raisin + blueberry + wild leek + pickled mustard seed



wild mushroom soup + enoki mushroom tempura + silken tofu + brown butter + truffle



foie gras + spiced apple terrine + brioche + coriander blossom + puffed quinoa



miso glazed black cod + sesame panna cotta + green onion sauce + pistachio + puffed tapioca



lamb shortloin + merguez + caramelized eggplant + israeli couscous + black olive + micro mint



dulce de leche + blackberry granita + murray river sea salt



warm doughnut + nitro crème fraiche + passionfruit



iced coffee bomb

five $$$$$ because of small portions.

Lucien

http://lucienrestaurant.com/

Best Restaurant in Canada
Best New Restaurant By Toronto Life

This place is pricey, but seems worth a try. Food selection is pretty Canadian or Contintental. Chicken, ONtario Lake Bass, Pork Loin, Lake Erie Pickeral, Ontario Red Deer.

They also have a 3,4,5 course tasting menu that go for $70, 85, 95 respectively.

Toronto Life Review:

Referencing many ethnic sources, as well as molecular techniques, chef-co-owner Scot Woods has honed a meticulous, sometimes miniaturist style. The molecular pyrotechnics that caused such a buzz last year have mellowed, yet details still astonish. An amuse, for example, might be a morsel of seared tuna coated with ground pepper and coriander seed, paired with chopped green beans, a tiny confited potato, a minuscule poached egg, a sliver of black olive topped with a wafer-thin olive crisp, and dots of a rich, chili-spiked sauce. Japan is the inspiration for ribbons of Kobe topped with mushrooms, Asian pear and shaved truffle, sharing the bowl with mushroom dashi and potato. Co-owner Simon Bower makes fine wine matches from a list that’s strong in unique U.S. bottles. Service suits the kitchen’s serious intentions. Mains $28–$39.

The 3 Brewers (Toronto)

A franchise from Montreal (or France, I'm not sure) opened up recently in Toronto across from the Eaton Centre. The 3 Brewers doesn't roll off the tongue as smoothly was Les Trois Brasseurs, but still worth a try to see if it was up to par with it's Montreal counterpart.

We started with the sampler of their 4 beers that they micro brew at the restaurant. $6.95 for 4 mini shots of beer was perfect for me, but I only liked 3 of the 4. You have your Dark, Amber, Blonde, and in between golden colour.

Although one of the specialties is the 'Flamms' (crunch Flatbread pizzas that hail from Alcase, France), I've never tired one. [But after trying the dessert Flamm, it was really good and I will try it)  I can't pass up the Pork knuckle (or in English it was just the Braised Pork Shank). They also don't have as many "Moules" (mussels) as in Montreal. Only one type.

Sorry for the crappy quality photos, as this is what iPhone gives you.

Their presentation doesn't seem their forte. To the left, Alexey ordered the Beef Stew (I thought it would come in a pot, $10.99). Served with rice, and salad and a small Challah.

My blurry pic on the right is the Braised Pork Shank, $13.99. A pig's hoof, slow simmered in a beer infused broth, the meat fell right off the bone. What they don't tell you on the menu is that it comes with a baked potato, butter and sour cream, salad (no dressing and plain), and hidden coleslaw that looks like sauerkraut.

When I had this in Montreal, I clearly remembered having a hard time finishing this, but it was easy, and we were hungry out of all of it.

Don't get me wrong the food was really good, but I guess expected more. I would suggest getting an appetizer next time.

We decided to order dessert.

For $3.95, you get an Apple Flamm. It's deceivingly good. The picture didn't look to appetizing. For $1.00 you get an ice cream. Could have added other toppings but we didn't. It was a crunchy cracker, covered in apple, and sweet goodness.

The menu here didn't seem as comprehensive as the one in Montreal. Slightly disappointed, but a good choice if you're in the area. Different and unique foods you wouldn't get at Jack Astor's, or Milestones.

Montreal: http://restodiary.blogspot.com/2009/09/les-3-brassuers