adale's Profile
SF Culinary Delights from a Canadian
Thanks. Should have known. I also forgot about my lunch at Slanted Door - a tourist classic I guess. I will give it a 3.5. Loved the flavors of chicken in clay pot...bit of heat, a bit of sweetness...overpriced though. The asparagus I got was fine. Beautiful patio. It was very good.
SF Culinary Delights from a Canadian
Did about 4 days in SF solo last week and experienced some culinary delights. I'm from Toronto and we have some great restaurants so I had high expectations. Thanks for all of your tips - I feel like I owe you guys a review for your help! All ratings out of 5:
Dinners:
Atelier Crenn - 4.5. Exceptional meal, one of my best ever. Did 5 course tasting menu (and each course also had an amuse bouche so I was very full by the end), plus cheeses and wine pairings. Truly artistic presentation and wonderful flavors. Highlights - Walk in the Forest (mushroom and meringue dish - how do mushrooms taste so good? truly felt like I was walking through the forest given the presentation) and Dessert (I'll leave this as a surprise to you...mind blowing). Found the squab to be OK, and seafood dish to be fine but not the best I've ever had. The soup was fantastic, fresh, and artfully presented, and the cheeses were delicious. Overall, impeccable, friendly service and beautiful, delicious food. I did request some California wine pairings to replace a few of the French ones (as we don't import CA wines very well in Canada) and the team appeared to be accommodating until they levied a charge of about 30 bucks on me for doing this - I didn't appreciate this. All in all though, a great experience.
La Ciccia - 4. Felt like I'd stumbled into someone's home kitchen. Very friendly and welcoming, and not a bad place for a solo dinner - very "neighborhoody". Had the burratta cheese / flatbread special, along with the homemade spaghetti with fish roe, and steelhead salmon special. The fish was exceptional and fresh, and the cheese appetizer was great. I walked out quite full. I did find the pasta to be a bit oily and heavy (as I did the braised cabbage below the fish) but overall I wouldn't hesitate to go here.
Ame - 3.5 / 4. Very good, but doesn't hold a candle to Crenn in terms of the one-starred restos. The service was fine, but not as friendly and "into it" as it was at Crenn. Modern / minamlist / Japanese ambience. Did the tasting menu and replaced the pig with NY steak. The sashimi taster was delicious albeit small, spring onion soup was lovely, and the signature sake cod was amazing (I got the last portion of the night...how do you run out of the signature dish?). I found the steak to be mediocre and the camomile ice cream dessert very good but not mind blowing. At this price point, I don't think it's a rip off, but could take it or leave it.
Lunches / Snacks:
AQ - 4. Had the beef carpaccio and panckackes. Devoured both. Carpaccio was a decent portion (not so razor thin as you sometimes see; you actually felt like you got a bit of meat); and impeccably prepared with horseradish powder. Mmmmmm. Pancakes were delicious with raspberry compote and almond butter. The space was very artistic and urban / modern as well. Surprisingly not busy for a post Bay to Breakers Sunday afternoon? Service was OK but for food purposes, wouldn't hesitate to go here.
Tacqueria Cancun - 2. Was not a fan of the chicken tortas. Fresh roll but didn't satiate me and it didn't really taste like chicken. Disappointing! I was so excited because we don't do great Mexican in Toronto.
La Tacqueria - 4. Delicious chicken burrito! Fresh, flavorful. And a friendly and happening place. Great agua fresca. Had the melon. Knocking off one star for price - found it to be a bit pricey for a burrito.
Taco truck in Delores Park - 3. My first tamale. Was OK. Good watermelon agua fresca
Other: I love your produce! Got some delicious organic green grapes and organic fuji apples and granola on Valencia street. MMMMM. If only decent organics were as easily accessible here!
Perbacco vs. La Ciccia
Thanks Robert; I thought Ame leaned more towards the Japanese side?
Perbacco vs. La Ciccia
Thanks Ruth. Are you saying that because Toronto may have similar styles of restaurants to Danko? The main alluring thing is that the reviews are phenomenal.
Perbacco vs. La Ciccia
And one more - is it worth "ditching" any or all of these restos if I can get into Gary Danko (sitting at the bar?)
Thanks again.
Perbacco vs. La Ciccia
I am hitting San Francisco for the first time this weekend (from Toronto). I have dinner reservations for both Perbacco and La Ciccia (Friday / Saturday), and Ame on Sunday. Note that I am a solo diner.
Questions:
1) Is the Friday / Saturday combo "Italian overload?" I like Italian and realize it is a quite a broad category but want to experience the best of what your city has to offer in terms of genres.
2) I was thinking of cancelling one of Perbacco / La Ciccia. Any thoughts? The La Ciccia reso is a late one (but maybe that means I don't have to "wait" before going out to party after). I am not a millionaire, but since it's vacation, let's say price isn't a major issue here - I'm more concerned about food.
3) I see an opening for Atelier Crenn at the same time as my Perbacco reso - do you think Atelier and La Ciccia would be a good combination (versus Perbacco / La Ciccia)?
So excited to see what your city has to offer!
Thanks a bunch.
Bolet's Burrito - Solid Burrito in No-Frills Type of Surrounds
After months of walking by the sign, popped into Bolet's Burrito (a bit apprehensively) in the name of supporting a local joint. (Lower Sherbourne just south of Front and just north of the Esplanade)
The surrounds are no frills but the burrito was solid - and cheap. Style is very similar to Burrito Boyz and about 40% less in terms of price.
(Burrito Boyz has been my preference in TO - we don't need to compare relative to other cities, as has been done often on this board. My issue with the ZTeca and Freshwest type places are the fast food style tubs of meat that arent cooked to order. Even if they turn over in a few minutes, I want to have the feeling that my whole burrito (incl meat) is being grilled fresh for me.)
Same kind of made to order style on the grill, nearly identical, generously stuffed toppings (plus sweet potato). I had the daily special - tuna melt (I know, not classic Mexican but still good) - for 4.99. 1/4 Mexican chicken plus rice past 3 pm is also sold for 3.99. I will return over the next few weeks to try a meatier option without having to wait in line for 20 minutes or more for something similar at Boyz.
Bolet's may very well be a good DT East hideaway.
In case you're interested, they also have a 4 or so bar 2-person bar tables if you want to sit for a few.
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Burrito Boyz
218 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5H1W7, CA
Downtown Butchers - Whitehaven Meats
I just wanted to get some feedback from you all on the top places downtown to get reasonably priced and excellent quality beef and chicken (I don't eat pork). Doesn't even have to be an official butcher...can be a grocery store too!
I live near the St. Lawrence market (near the Distillery) and have had excellent experiences (consistently) with Whitehaven Meats' chicken (I believe all of their stuff is organic). Their marinades are excellent and once a week I try to pick up a piri piri breast (or today I did jerk kebabs) to pop in the oven for dinner...excellent to throw on a bed of greens with tomato, cucumber, carrots, avocado, etc.
Any other suggestions in terms of grocers/butchers either in the market or in the broad vicinity that is, say east of Bay Street, south of Queen that have great beef/chicken/turkey/etc?
Thanks!
Are there any NYC style wine bars in Toronto?
downtown foodie, Jamie Kennedy sold JK Wine Bar and Hank's (sandwich/coffee cafe0 recently. (Aparently this was the result of some financial difficulty, though I'm not 100% certain). I assume that the new name of the wine bar is a result of this change. The new owners, according to a couple of behind the counter workers at Hank's, worked for JK in the past. I noticed a couple of subtle changes at Hank's. Sandwiches are made in the back kitchen, and not at the counter. And they are offering JK's burger at Hank's now, unlike before. Not sure how the wine bar has changed, if at all, but I wouldn't assume anything major.
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Jamie Kennedy
9 Church St, Toronto, ON M5E1M2, CA
Looking for TEA! Almond tea.
I'm an avid tea drinker and Tealish's Toasty Almond blend (they are pretty renowned for it) which contains carmelized almonds, baked apples, beetroot, and a couple of other items is spectacular and not worth missing.
Turkish Delight at David's Tea also has almonds in it, but in terms of almond, Tealish takes the cake.
David's and Tealish are my two favourite tea shops in TO
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Tealish
198 Walnut Ave, Toronto, ON M6J, CA
Can we revisit the PATH?
I love the Sandwich Box, with a couple of caveats. The Sandwich Box opened in the last year under the Royal Blank Plaza (PATH-accessible) and closed its location on Queen West quite awhile ago. I used to go when working in the Queen West area and the prices were so much cheaper, the lines less busy, and the feel less "assembly-line." It's one of the city's top sandwiches, but you may have to wait.
Davids Tea on Queen West
No idea about the paper cups for sit in customers...I'll be sure to have a look next time at whether it's common. I'll admit I have not sat in yet.
I'll also be sure to try Tealish - thanks! I always need tips on where to go in this city for the best tea.
Davids Tea on Queen West
I'm a tea fanatic and make an effort to taste local teas when I travel the world (loose leaf - not bagged). I never hesitate to pop into looseleaf tea shops wherever I see them.
Davids Tea on Queen West in Toronto is an awesome find in my books - one of the city's best. I was a bit skeptical at first because of the location - Queen West - which made me think they just want to be "trendy." I was wrong.
When you walk in, they have a tea of the day on hand and you can have a free taste to warm you up. The staff is very friendly, knowledgable, and efficient. They all have personal favourites and seem to know the teas inside out. The selection is extensive but not overwhelming because it is well labeled (sometimes I can't grasp the selection at Tea Emporium because I can't see the labels behind the counter). Their stuff ranges from your basic greens, blacks, and herbals to far more innovative stuff, which is my preference.
They have an incredible "Turkish Delight" tea - black tea laced with apple tea, coriander, and little chunks of Turkish Delight - that I have never seen elsewhere and is absolutely delicious. Because of my initial skepticism and frugality, I stuck with 50 grams of this and was so impressed (as was my mother who doesn't even like fine teas) that I went back yesterday and grabbed some basic jasmine in addition to some "Lime Bang" - green tea with chunks of lime peel, pineapple, apple, and natural fruit essence. It's delicious. For tea with a flare, David's is a great bet.
Where to Go for 19th Birthday?
Never been to Mitzi's Sister but Mitzi's (the related restaurant) has amazing breakfast so I'm sure you can't go wrong with the food.
Leslie/Finch plaza asian restos - which are good?
The Congee Wong there is pretty good - cheap and massive portions. I went at like 3 pm and it was still pretty hopping for lunch. There is an authentic HK-style bakery in the plaza too.
good places to go in the suburbs?
Nagomi Sushi, Sababa, and Me Va Me within a 10 second drive of each other
(NOTE: this place is very hard to Google. If you want to go, look up Sababa, which is 2 doors away in the same plaza, for directions.) Ever since my trip to Japan, Toronto's sushi has been subpar for me and borderline nauseating because of a lack of freshness. That being said, there is an excellent new sushi place in Thornhill near Steeles and Hilda (which is approx. midway between Bathurst and Yonge, a bit closer to Yonge). I find the fish to be extremely fresh and smooth (especially the tuna and salmon) and the chefs usually throw in some free toro (fatty tuna) for me when I ask! In addition, you normally get a free house special soup in addition to your miso. I really do enjoy it and come away satisfied - and I do have pretty high standards. The prices are quite reasonable for the quality. With tax and tip, I pay about $16 for the 12-piece sushi and sashimi lunch, miso soup, house special soup, salad, ice cream, tea. The 42 piece, 2-person sushi and sashimi boat is also excellent and you can specify what you want if you like. NOTE: CLOSED on Mondays because you can't get fresh fish in TO on Mondays! This a sign of good quality.
If you are doing a trip to this area, Nagomi is right beside Sababa and a 10 second drive from Me Va Me Express (takeout version of the restaurant at Bathurst and Steeles with essentially the same food). Both are popular for Middle Eastern fare. Me Va Me is my preference - massive portions, excellent chicken breast and dips. I tend to go a minimum of once a week. Note that "Express" is a bit of a sham - it's almost always busy and you will certainly have to wait, usually 10 minutes or more unless you phone in your order.
Chocolate Hanukkah Coins Downtown
I'm pretty sure most mainstream grocery stores in TO will have them at this time of year!
