vinojoe's Profile
Taking my older family members to dinner - Hollywood to Aventura
I am coming down to South Florida from Toronto and will be taking my father and aunts to dinner. They are in their 80s/90s and my dad is in a wheelchair. I want a place that they will be comfortable (wheelchair accessible and not too noisy/dark), and where we will enjoy the food. A good wine list or byob would be a plus. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Small lovely wine bar/cafe?
You might want to try Fat Cat Wine Bar at 331 Roncesvalles Avenue, which is quite close to Bloor West Village. The website is here: http://www.fatcat.ca/fatcatwinebar.html. My wife and I have enjoyed our two visits.
Globe Bistro - quick update review
My wife and I have eaten here twice in the last 6 weeks. I was very impressed the first time and previously posted on that great meal. As is usually the case, the second time seemed less magical, but our dinner and the overall experience were still very good. I think you've very fairly captured the place except in two aspects. First, I agree with Westwardho below that Globe does qualify as "fine dining" in terms of the quality of food, decor and service. I also wouldn't want people to think that the portions are not filling. I had the Canada Plate for my most recent dinner and ende up taking some of the meat home. As far as wine, the list has some excellent and hard to find choices. They also allow BYOW. I'm sure to be back.
Globe Bistro – Firing on all cylinders
Four of us had dinner at Globe Bistro on Saturday night and it was one of our most enjoyable meals of the year in all respects. The food was outstanding. I started with the smoked Arctic Char which came with maple bacon pieces and very nice salad greens. The dish was flavourful and substantial with three good-sized pieces of the fish. Others starters included a Dungeness Crab appetizer and a beet salad. Each dish was beautifully presented and well received. The mains were equally successful – both in taste and presentation. I had the duck breast, which came with duck sausage, haricot verts and Jerusalem Artichokes – roasted to perfection. Again, the portion was generous, but not over the top. One friend had the house plate, which features local seasonal ingredients. On Saturday it consisted of herbed rack of lamb with three different purees and other things that I forget. She loved it. Two had the squash agnolotti and both thought it was great.
Service was efficient and friendly. We brought wine and it was handled appropriately and a decanter was provided for one bottle as requested. The restaurant is well designed with clean modern lines. We sat in the back, which was full, but not crowded or noisy. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food, service and decor, but this is clearly a high-end dining experience. I had been to Globe Bistro before and enjoyed it, but on this visit, it was even better than I remembered. We had an excellent evening.
BYO in Toronto
I have a different take on Ontario versus Quebec and byow in general. I think that the Ontario system is superior as it maximizes choice for the restaurants and the public. A restaurant doens't have to choose - it can both offer byow and offer its patrons a wine list. Customers then have the option of buying off the list or bringing their own.
I regard byow as one of the best innovations in the Ontario dining system over the past few years. Like everyone else, I would prefer if corkage were a bit lower, but I recognize that wine is a high margin item and that restaurant owners need to make up that margin if they are to make a living. Customers can decide if the corkage is worth it or not. When I think that the restaurant is charging excessive corkage for its quality, I go somewhere else. But for me, the chance to drink a great bottle of mine with some great food is a privillege worth paying for, particularly if the wine service is good.
In terms of finding byow restaurants, the Toronto Life restaurant website lets you search for byow in a particular area or throughout their entire data base. While not perfect, in my experience, it is the best currently available. Too bad they don't list the corkage fee, but you can always call and ask.
delux on ossington
I really like this place because they can cook. Everything we've had on our two visits has been good to great. The crab & avocado and beet salads are two good starters. Last time we also had a foie gras and rabbit boudin that was exceptional. With reasonable corkage, decanters on request and friendly service, this place is a winner. My only caution is that it can be quite loud.
Restaurant East of DVP near the 401
Thanks for all the suggestions. I ended up at the Hopper Hut and had "masala dosai consisted of a large crepe folded over curried potatoes and accompanied by a quartet of sides -- a brothy stew, a tomato compote, some coriander paste and a sweet orange-tinged coconut sambal" Good and very filling. Nice people. I will try some of the other recommendations for my next trip east.
Restaurant East of DVP near the 401
I am a west end guy going east to Pickering for a meeting tomorrow afternoon. Any suggestions for a good lunch restaurant on the way that is relatively close to the 401? Chinese or Indian food are both among my favourites. but I am happy to hear about anything that's good. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Bloom
Bloom is our neighbourhood restaurant. With Lemon Merangue gone, it is the best local spot for a night out - good food, byow, and prices that are generally reasonable for what you get. My wife and I went over the weekend and were delighted to find that the food was better than ever. I started with a ceasar with crisp romaine and great little chunks of double-smoked bacon. My wife had grilled calamari that was perfectly cooked and accompanied by a nice shaved fennel and dill slaw. For a main course, she had this amazingly flavourful risotto with truffle paste, celery, leeks, mushrooms and crushed walnuts. I had swordfish served with hearts of palm that were battered and deep fried, both were good, and white asparagus, which were pretty tasteless. Service was friendly and efficient.
Winston Churchill and the QEW Dinner Suggestions?
There is a Bombay Bhel at Winston Churchill and Dundas ( 2525 Hampshire Gate
Oakville, Ontario, L6H 6C8 ph. 905.829.1040). Not fancy, but the food is quite good. The service can be a bit slow.
Saravana Bhavan- Richmond Hill or Scarborough location
I have only been to the Mississauga and Scarborough locations. I thought Mississauga was a bit nicer (newer and brighter) in terms of decor, but the food was great in both locations. I had Kara Dosa (Spicy rice crepe filled with a spicy stuffing of onions & potatoes, chilli powder & special Masalas) one time and Rava Masala Dosa (Cream of wheat & rice crepe stuffed with spicy potatoes & onions) the other. The cream of wheat sounded odd, but it was a delicious dosa. Enjoy !
Cowbell - Not Quite Ready for Prime Time
My wife and I decided to try Cowbell last night. While the place showed hints of promise, it was disappointing. It was packed and the two waiters and a counter-person had trouble keeping up. We started at the Bar with a bottle of Rosso di Montalcino from Fanti (expensive at $55) from a fairly limited wine list. We moved to a table and ordered an appetizer and our mains. 45 minutes later, the mains showed up, but no appetizer. After convincing the waiters that we had ordered an appetizer, the waiter who had taken our order re-appeared and told us that the appetizer appeared on his order slip, but not on the one in the kitchen. He apologized and asked if we still wanted it; we declined.
By 7:30 they were out of the chicken ballontine, which I had wanted so I had the beef pot pie. It had good flavour and pastry, but was under-salted. My wife had the veal blade steak, farm raised in Paisley, Ontario. It was very tender and had good flavour. To make up for the appetizer snafu, the waiter offered us free champagne, but we had finished the bottle of wine and didn't want any more alcohol. We split a complimentary dessert - Clafouti that was simply awful -a few sweet and sour cherries on a spongy cake that tasted more like an omelet,
The restaurant had some nice touches (the floor and the bathroom), ok seating and an ugly ceiling. The dinner took two hours from the time that we arrived (some of that was waiting for out table). The menu has only a few choices and by the time we left, they were substituting for most menu items.
We live relatively close, so I might go back in a few months, just to see if they have gotten it together, but then again, I might not - too many other good places.
Italian food comparable to NYC standards
While there are many good Italian Restaurants in the GTA (see this post http://www.chowhound.com/topics/362300 for a discussion), there is nothing that matches Babbo (or Oliveto or A16 in the San Francisco Bay Area) for that matter. That said, I am aware of no Portuguese restaurant in New York that touches Chiado.
Best/Worst BYOW Restaurants?
Now that BYOW has been in Ontario for a while (since the end of January 2005), I thought it would be interesting to see what others regards as the the best/worst BYOW restaurants. Here I am focusing on the BYOW experience assuming the restaurant is a place I would patronize. In other words, if I don't like a restaurant's food it doesn't matter whether they do good job at BYOW. For me, BYOW involves several dimensions - corkage fee, quality of wine service (decanters when appropriate or requested, proper stems, knowledgeable servers) and receptivity to customers bringing their own wine. I have occasionally posted some places that I think do a good job on BYOW. What do others think?
foxley- on ossington
I am the "other poster" mentioned in Kasia's post. We drank two temperanillo blends. One from Nepethe, Australian, $40 for the bottle and one from Finca Antigua , Spanish, $38 for the bottle. The Finca Antigua was more complex and a better balance with the food. As far as cost, we ate a ton of food (nine dishes) and three bottles of wine for $235 before tip.
foxley bistro and bar
This is one of the reasons why I like Chowhounds! I was looking for a place for Saturday dinner with my wife and another couple and saw this post. Based on the positive review and fond memories of dinners at Tempo, we decided to give it a try. We had a great time. We like everything we ordered and we ordered a lot. In rough order, our favourites were - Sea Bream Cerviche (with mango, cilantro lime and onions), side ribs in a rich barbecue sauce, lamb and prosciutto dumplings, fresh rolls and the crispy shrimp. Next time, I would peel the shrimp, rather than eat them with the shells, but they were fresh and cooked with the heads. The wines were interesting and reasonable - our favourite was a tempranillo blend from Finca Antigua - rich and smoky and a good buy at $38.
This is a small neighbourhood place with very good food at good prices. They are still working out the kinks, but service was friendly and attentive. Its a real find. Thanks Kasia
Spadina Garden closed?
I talked with one of the owners today. He says that they will re-open in the middle of next week. The reno took a bit longer than forecast - a familiar tale.
Red Wine Recommendations - $50 range
I would recommend:
SAN FELICE VIGORELLO 2001
Italy VINTAGES 726463 | 750 mL | $ 54.00.
This is a good medium to full bodied Sangiovese 60% and Cabernet Sauvignon 40% blend wine from Tuscany. Excellent vintage. You can find which LCBO stores carry it here:
http://www.lcbo.com/products/productsearch.shtml
Salute
BYOW Restaurants in the Northern GTA
I am planning to take some friends out who live in the Northern GTA. I would like to find a good BYOW restaurant anywhere in the area from Stouffville to Woodbridge. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Best Wine List/Sommelier?
I don't usually rely on sommeliers, so I can't really speak to that part of your question. As far as the best wine lists go, it depends on what type of wine you are looking for. In the regions that I tend to focus on, Barberians is quite strong in older vintages of California wine. Opus also has a very extensive wine list, and as previously mentioned, so does Via Allegro. I find the list at Boba always has interesting wines from California that are not easily found in Toronto. Spuntini has a excellent cellar for Italian wines.
chinese food in bloor west village
While I can't say that I agree with you on this generally being a good food neighborhood(Bloom being the notable exception), you are certainly right that it lacks Chinese food. The nearest place that I have found is the Westwood Grill on Annette near Runnymede. It is mostly a take out place, but they do have tables. The address is 519 Annette and the phone is 416-604-8822. The food is good. Try it and see what you think.
Five Hour Layover at MIA
Thanks for your response. If you ever need Toronto info, just post on the Ontario Board and I'll be sure to respond. I looked at Ortanique, but they don't start serving until 6, which is too late for us (the bar opens at 5). Are any of the other places likely to be open earlier? Thanks again!
Five Hour Layover at MIA
We have a five hour layover at MIA on a Friday afternoon. We arrive at 3:20pm and leave at 8:30. Any ideas for a good dinner that we can accomplish in this time frame. I realize it is pretty early for fine dining, but any interesting suggestions would beat hanging out at the airport. Thanks!
Good, cheap lunch in Bloor West Village?
I often eat lunch at Falafel World (2396 Bloor Street West). The falafel and chicken shwarma are both good. The beef shish kabob is also very tasty, but takes about 10 minutes to cook. They let you customize the sandwiches for a small fee. I usually add some eggplant to my chicken shwarma. The folks who run it are very nice.
Toronto Restaurants - Has BYOW influenced your choice? [moved from Toronto]
Expensive places tend to have higher corkage - whether the food is great or "deplorable." Some places where I have eaten recently with very good food and relatively less expensive corkage fees are:
Boba - $25
Bloom - $20
Mildred Pierce - $25
These places all provided appropriate wine service with nice glasses and decanters as needed.
I am glad to hear the Susur has lowered his corkage, it was definitely $60 about a year ago, when I visited last.
Toronto Restaurants - Has BYOW influenced your choice? [moved from Toronto]
I think the point where we differ is that, unlike the food, the restaurant didn't make the wine. They bought it, just like I did. The question then comes down to allowing me the option of consuming the wine that I have selected rather than that selected by someone else, who may have different taste and may not purchase the type and variety of wine that I can access.
Toronto Restaurants - Has BYOW influenced your choice? [moved from Toronto]
While it is always great to find a place with a low corkage fee, I want to offer an alternative to your view of the economics of BYOW and disagree with the generalization that most places allow BYOW reluctantly. On the economics, lets say I have a bottle that I bought for $30. If that bottle were to appear on a restaurant's wine list, it would sell for a minimum of $60 (more likely $70-80). If I pay a $20 corkage fee, my total cost is $50 so I am ahead by at least $10 and maybe by $30. I use some of this savings to increase the tip I leave to recognize the fact that I would have spent more than the $20 corkage on wine for my wife and me. More important than the savings, however, is the fact that I get to drink the wine from my cellar that I picked for dinner that night.
I also think that the comfort with BYOW is growing. Many restaurants provide very good wine service when I bring my own bottle. They offer appropriate glasses and decanting when necessary or desired. If I sense that the server is interested in the wine, I will often offer a taste. Most servers appreciate the offer and usually are happy to taste a different kind of wine or an older vintage. If you combine this with an increase in your normal percentage tip to recognize that BYOW has reduced the total of the bill, places will be even more gracious about BYOW when you return.
Toronto Restaurants - Has BYOW influenced your choice? [moved from Toronto]
As my login name proclaims, I like wine and have a fair number of bottles at home. For my wife and me, BYOW has definitely influenced our selection of restaurants. At the very high end, most restaurants now allow BYOW, although the silly corkage fees at some (Perigee = $70 and Susur = $60) makes me wonder why they bother. For more moderately priced restaurants, the practice is much more variable. Some of our favourites don’t allow BYOW. We still go to these places, especially if they have good wine lists (interesting bottles reasonably priced), but probably less than we would if we could bring our own wine. On the other hand, we have definitely tried new places primarily because they allow BYOW. Has BYOW influenced your restaurant selection or the frequency of your visits to certain places?
Amuse Bouche – Disappointing
We actually have eaten at Rosebud and thoroughly enjoyed both the food and ambience. Now if they would only allow BYOW...
Amuse Bouche – Disappointing
We ate at Amuse-Bouche last night and were disappointed with the quality of the meal. It started off well. We sat outside on a lovely evening. We brought a nice Pinot Noir (corkage $30) and they responded by bringing appropriate burgundy glasses. I had scallops wrapped in smoked duck (ham-like texture and taste) with a morel cream sauce. The scallops were well cooked and the dish worked well. My wife had beet carpaccio with a watercress salad; a little sweet, but good. When the mains arrived, the meal deteriorated. My wife had tuna with in a cashew, panko crust, the tuna was flavourless and the crust added nothing. I had the butter poached lobster with a crab and lobster black ravioli. The dish had multiple faults – small, expensive ($33), tough and tasteless except for the broth, which was over-infused with vanilla. It is a pretty place, and we wanted to like it, but the sub-par food would preclude a return visit.
