Epic at Royal York Hotel

 

So we went to Epic only because I had Fairmont $25 coupons (x4) for food at a hotel.  We have been before to their brunch, but unfortunately they have discontinued it, and we were left with dinner only. 

Epic wouldn't have been the first place I would eat at. Even looking at the menu, food seems over priced, potentially small plates, and lack selection. 

After ordering, we got a big bread

 

I ordered a squash soup with goat cheese to start.

I ordered the Scallop Pasta. It was actually very good, and I've never had such good scallop ever! It was tender and soft, and didn't even taste like scallop.  The pasta was creamy and yumy.

Alexey got a tuna. We weren't too sure about the suggestable shape to the right.

For dessert was a creme brulee that was covered by fruit and a biscotti. It was good, but with some maple syrup in it and it was weird. 

 

Overall it cost with 2 glasses of wine around $110. We only had to pay $10. It was okay... but still wouldn't go there on my own.

Southern Accent

I've been wanting to this quaint little place beside Honest Ed's for a while. back 3 years ago, Alexey and I bought some spicy bbq sauce from the Hot and Spicy Festival from Southern Accent. I looked up the place, and especially since Cluck, Grunt and Low closed down, I was looking for a place where we can have slow cooked southern food.

I've been in the area before, and this small multileveled house, all lit up with lights, has so much character. I would love to come here again in the summer.

We got there, and the hostess took us up thru the winding staircases and narrow hallways up to a room which housed about 15 people. All lit up and decorated for Mardi Gras, it was colourful and festive. We sat in an intimate corner, with a curtain hanging up overhead. It was quite romantic.

The server was friendly and talkative.

They have an in-house pyschic (which you have to book before hand). It was $30 for one reading.
It was interesting, and I'm always skeptical about these things. She told me some things that I would like to hear, who knows if it will be true. But it was fun.

The food itself, was good, but I can't say it was spectacular. I'd come again, maybe in the summer. I would imagine their winter/summer licious menu would be good.

Unfortunately, all the lighting in there was red/orange, so my pictures were all red !!

We got the Spicy Cajun Calamari for an appetizer. It was really good. Big plate, we took some home. and super awesome on the 2nd day!

I got the Braised Beef. It was tender and the mashed potatoes were good.

Alexey got the blackened spicy chicken.  A little dry, but good, it came with some dipping yogurt.

The dessert, we got the bread pudding. YUM.

Ame

12.04.2009 (see my preview below)

You pass by the red walls with black cherry blossoms, and you wonder where the entrance is. Enclosed by 2 large steel double doors, you enter another world. A huge difference from what Rain used to be, this place has so much character and feel. Ame = Rain in Japanese

I ordered a Hot Sake for $14. It was nice after a Cold cold walk. Went down very smooth.

We started with Edamame covered in sea salt.

We got two orders of sashimi, 6 pcs around $13 each. This was the Sea Bream. Thin slices, but didn't have much flavor.

We also got the Salmon Belly. It was good, but didn't really see the difference between that and regular salmon. Regardless, it was very fresh. The Salmon belly had a miso drop on it.

Next was the Grilled Black Cod. Very flavourful. And Crispy. It was my favourite.

Then the Robata Grill Butter fish. Not as good as the Black Cod. A little rubbery.

We got tempura $10 for 6 pieces. Perfectly crispy and battered, and served with Wasabi Soy dipping sauce.

I never tried Wagyu beef before. Karmen said that the Flatiron wasn't that good ($28) but the Sirlion was $55. We went with the short ribs. It tasted like chinese "ban yook". It was tender and chewy and served with a berry sauce.

The last dish was a Watercress salad. Served in boquets and with soy beans and seasame 'tota' (some japanese candy. we weren't sure what it was.

For dessert we had the Liquid Chocolate. It was mousse filled with melted chocolate and covered with more chocolate and and wafer. All desserts $9.

We also got the Apple + Chestnut. There was a lot going on in the dessert, and I can't describe it all.

Overall, it was a good restaurant, and worth trying, however be careful with your orders to make the experience worth while. And be prepared to spend some money.

I would come again, but not in a long while.

They also didn't know how to refill my hot water.

Just don't get these guys mad

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New Japanese restuarant called Ame opened up on Mercer where Rain used to be. Ame means Rain in Japanese.

According to the review on blog.to: http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/ame this place looks unique and worth trying out.

Not sure if it's a glitch on my browser but I can't view the entire menu on their website, but maybe you will have better luck: Website

The Sashimi there is priced between $12-16. Nigri platter 12 for $36.
True, this isn't the most cheap place, but seems affordable, and hopefully fresh and good quality.

The Robata Grill looks yummy, and offers some things I've never tried before. mmm Butterfish

Butterfish, Salted Miso Plum Broth 19

Pork Belly, Tonkatsu  16

Wagyu Flatiron 30 "A Wagyu flat-iron steak is paired with braised oxtail stuffed in bone marrow ($28). The steak is nicely marbled, juicy and charred to perfection, while the braised oxtail is tender and well-seasoned."

 The cocktails don't look exteremly appetizing on first glance, but look VERY interesting and worth trying. They can't put it on the menu if it tastes bad!

Gin Kim chi 14
Gin, pickled ginger, pickled daikon, cilantro, kojuchang, lemon juice, simple syrup

Budou Cocktail 14
Grape infused Vodka, house made bitters, pressed grape juice, ginger-concord grape foam, edible flowers

Interesting:

"We're told that there are some intriguing plans for AME in the new year. A cocktail school is in the works, while a lineup of celebrity chefs (including Iron Chef Morimoto) will also grace AME's kitchen."

I am posting this as $$$$ (as opposed to $$$) because I'm not sure you get too much quanitity for the meal.

Spring Garden Pho Korean and Thai

Just a random drop in for dinner. We were looking for Pho, and passed by this one on Spring Garden. It's wierd because it's called Spring Garden Pho on parts of the menu, then Korean and Thai on other parts.

They have a nice clean, modern decor. Korean dishes, and pad thais on the menu, and Pho and Buns.

We ordered a spicy seafood noodles. It was SO spicy!

I ordered a Stone Bowl Bim BimBap ($8.95). The quiet waitress had a hard time understanding that I wanted the bottom of the rice crispy.  I've been to a place before that told me if I don't ask that, then they don't make an attempt to do it. But at the same time the bowl is so hot and sizzling, I wonder if it's just a matter of me leaving it alone for longer before I start stirring at it.

My meal also came with a Miso soup, and 3 small kimchis and bean sprouts.

I was SO full from brunch earlier, but the rice was a perfect crispy at the bottom, and it wasn't a huge portion, but I ate it slowly. I would come here again.

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

C5

http://www.c5restaurant.ca/

Came here with my parents for a psuedo thanksgiving dinner, Oct 10, 2009. Surprisingly it was easy to make a reservation via OpenTable tonight. Good view if you sit to the east. Although I still hate the crystal and it's awkardness, the high ceilings make the room spacious, and the glass windows give the room light. There is a lounge area, that was empty, but seems like a nice place to have drinks and dessert. It wasn't busy at all, but maybe because we ate at 6pm and finished around 8pm.

Their menu isn't extremely diverse but has enough choice of excellent food. There are 2 salads. My dad got the poached salmon salad. 4 pieces of salmon, delicately poached, melt in your mouth softness, with juices and fruits surrounding it.


They have appetizers to share. A set of vegatables, or meat, or chachuturie, or seafood. Each around $15 per person. we didn't try it.










I ordered the Rack of Wild Boar. The menu says glazed with Coffee, Pancetta risotto with raisins. The meat was not as tough as I thought it would be. It's seared sides actually was crispy and full of flavour. The risotto was creamy and tasted yummy. It was a good portion and filled me up just enough.

My mom got the Squab and Foie Gras. She's a sucker for the seared liver, and it was good, but a very small portion, because it's so pricey. Served on top of a polenta. It wasn't really that filling at all, but it was very good.

My dad got the Pan Seared Halibut. It was tender and very flavourful. That green thing on the side was like a spinach puree.

For dessert, I had a choice between the Lemon Olive Oil cake with gelato, or this Apple Whiskey Baba.  Many things in here. Here is the menu entry:

Apple Whiskey Baba

Crab Apple Sauce, Cider Jelly, Salt & Pepper Gelato, Squash Leaves, Maple Fudge

It was really interesting. 

Crab Apple Sauce (more like a cake) is the round thing

Cider Jelly is the pink maple leafs

Salt & Pepper Gelato on top like ice cream

Squash leaves were crispy and the golden things on the right

The Maple fudge is the crunch bits in the middle

As the night fell, the place got REALLY dark, and took a long while to adjust. Not sure if they can do something about that.


I would recommended, and the best part is that AFTEr dinner, we walked around the museum... free! (Well no one stopped us) And the gift store was still open!

5th Element

Bay and Wellesley

East Asian Fusiony