11th Review - Origin - $$-$$$

Greetings again Food lovers! This week SpoonfulofReviews has yet another review instore - and this time we've gone a bit upscale with this week's restaurant review. Another downtown Toronto, heavily hyped&griped about spot: Origin!  With a fork in hand let's dive right in:

So Origin is located on King St East - Major intersection: King St. E & Church St. and is more of an upscale  restaurants, much different than any of the previous restaurants reviewed so far on SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com. Upon first entering you notice the upscale atmosphere almost instantly. Though you notice how upscale this restaurant appears to be, the atmosphere created reflects the chic city it exists within, with close attention paid to the finer details in the restaurant, such as the pink barbed wire. Though a much classier joint than what has been reviewed before, it shouts modern, reflecting an urban culture but in a much more polished and refined way as opposed to most upscale restaurants which could be described as elegant. When first entering the restaurant I thought I was forgotten about as there was no host/hostess for several minutes. When the hostess did appear, it didn't seem to faze her that we'd been waiting a while, no apology for this inconvenience was offered and the table she chose to seat us at hadn't been cleaned from the previous patrons. She had us wait while she removed the existing plates and cutlery and wiped the table down then proceeded to seat us at this table. As this was very off-putting, a member of my party asked her to seat us somewhere else, which she did with obvious disdain- I was definitely glad she wasn't our server as well. So I can tell you already the service wasn't the greatest, and after reading a few reviews about Origin, it seems many other Toronto food lovers have had similar experiences. Enough about the crappy service- onto the good stuff...

Upon looking over the menu, the first thing you notice is how extensive it is. Though extensive I must say it isn't overwhelming. The variety of choices showcase choice dishes from different cuisine styles (i.e.Origin's cuisine is a fusion of Italian, Asian, Latin influences which work together harmoniously...)- I didn't have a hard time determining what I wanted because of the lengthy menu but rather I had a hard time zeroing in on what I wanted because everything sounded so good. When our server came around, though a bit flustered at first he offered some great suggestions of how to pair up the different menu options so that they'd compliment each other. After placing our orders we waited approximately 25 minutes and finally received our dishes.

We started with the deviled eggs- and they were quite pretty to look at, but you do tend to notice how few of them you receive for the price you're paying. They had this big piece of panchetta on the top and souffletine puffs mixed into the creamy yolk of the eggs... they were actually quite delicious,  and had a great texture to them- they've definitely changed the way I'll have a deviled egg in the future, that's for sure. The next thing I ordered was the tostones and guacamole... again- very small, pretentious serving sizes for much more of moola than I would have liked... anyways the tostones, which are basically flattened pieces of plantain in some sort of deep fried batter, were excellent, and went well with the guacamole. 

For my entree I had the curried shrimp and naan bread which was quite good... So nicely plated, I took a picture... The curry was not as spicy as I would have liked it but the presentation was nice, and the naan was soft, warm and flaky... it was a very good dish... My compadres ordered other entrees as the serving sizes were very small- I however did not as I'd had a larger lunch that day and was still somewhat full. They had the scallops topped with orange caviar and the duck chinois which they described as good, though the duck was a bit tough- this however comes from the members of my group and not necessarily from my own opinion, so order with discretion!

As we'd already racked up quite a hefty bill we decided to skip out on dessert and asked for the bill... It was a bit depressing to look at as the food was definitely good, but didn't feel quite worth so much because of how small the serving sizes were. 

Overall I would recommend this restaurant to someone who was going for drinks and a light dinner. Oh I also forgot to mention- they have a mozzerlla bar- so if you're a big cheese lover, you'd probably love this feature... this also brings me to my next point- the food at Origins, is definitely more on the fatty side... they don't scrimp on the good stuff, which is perhaps why the serving sizes are much smaller than what most of us are use to living in a society over-populated by fast food joints and the option to super-size everything... Anyways- the cuisine is definitely good- the service does need some work, and you'd probably enjoy your experience more if you weren't a student on a budget such as myself. Toronto definitely offers a wider array of great eats with great service and excellent food for much less- still Origins was a good experience...

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Origin:

Service:    ¶¶ 

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶  

Experience:         ¶¶¶ 1/2 

10th review: Salad King - $

Hi again Foodies!! SpoonfulofReviews brings you another review this week on the great King of Salad... okay maybe there's so such thing but this review is on the Salad King restaurant, located in Downtown Toronto on Yonge St. (close to UofT, St. George campus)... 

So getting straight into the good stuff: Salad King is  a Thai restaurant... I think. They are definitely Thai influenced but I wouldn't call this joint an authentic Thai restaurant- it's more modern, or commercialized rather... walking in it's a blast of colours and smells to the senses... I was seated rather quickly in a booth of this small, vibrant restaurant with a really young crowd. I was told by a friend of mine that ordering from the Salad King for the first time is really a hit-or-miss kind of game. You sort of have to do your research because there are some items on the menu that are really great, and others that completely miss the mark... Trying to be completely unbiased despite the warnings of my friends I decided to order whatever sounded good...

I ended up ordering the mango salad to start, the mini-shrimp spring rolls as an appetizer, and the Green Curry Chicken and Islamic noodles, as an entree, and finally the lychee ice cream for desert. 

So my eager server, was nice enough and was quick to bring me my orders. Starting with the mango salad, I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't thoroughly impressed either. It was tangy and lacked sweetness, which I feel it desperately needed for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It wasn't the worst precursor to a meal I've had and I wasn't about to let the mediocrity of this salad taint my expectations for the dishes to come. Anyways, next was the mini-shrimp spring rolls. These were actually good- I liked these a lot- then again I'm a big fan of shrimp so this could be my own biases taking the spotlight, but they were well cooked, not too chewy and flavoured well. Then came what I was most looking forward to- the green curry chicken and islamic noodles... So the green curry chicken was decent enough. I feel like it lacked a little flavour- it needed some more spices or something... it was just a little too bland for my liking... but the Islamic noodles definitely saved the meal. These were very good- nothing incredible but definitely good... Lastly the lychee ice cream was a nice ending to an okay meal- it definitely was my favourite part of the entire experience.

Overall SK needs to step up their game. They've got a nice restaurant, central to many students both from Ryerson and UofT, and the atmosphere reflects downtown adequately, with it's colourful decor and youthful clientelle, it's modern and chic. However the food didn't reflect this for me. The food was adequately proportioned- as I couldn't finish my meal and had to take a doggie bag home- and they're also well priced- I spent just under $20 for my meal, not to mention the great service they have, however the food didn't stand up to these great points. Either it was a little too dry or bland, or tasted just okay- there was nothing special about anything I ordered or anything that made me excited in the anticipation of a future visit. I would recommend SK to the busy student who is looking for a nice little place in the busy heart of downtown Toronto, for a quick, inexpensive meal with some classmates or friends, who isn't expecting a whole lot for a little money. Other than that I wouldn't really recommend Salad King at all... and also- why is it called Salad King when 85% of their menu options are meat or actual entree dishes??

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Salad King:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶

Experience:         ¶¶¶ 

9th Review - The Burger's Priest - $

Hey fellow food lovers! SpoonfulofReviews is back yet again with another review- any takers for what this week's review was about? I don't know why I keep asking when it's already been given away in the title of this post! So this week's review is based on the good, ol' fashion burger- something most of us who have grown up in a Western country can recognize and appreciate. So I decided to scope out The Burger's Priest, a Toronto joint located on Queen St. E. So let's get into the deets:


The Burger's Priest focuses on simplicity. Walking into the restaurant it's perhaps the first thing you notice. No gimmicks, no flashy lights or signs, no over-the-top decor. Just a plain looking restaurant that shouts "all-american". TBP is such a simple, tiny restaurant, so I guess it's expected that you walk in, place your order, pay and leave, rather than eat in... their simplicity is such that they even serve their burgers in brown paper with no logo on it... something about the simple presentation just make it seem way more authentic. 


Walking in and noticing how tiny the place was, I started to wonder if that was a reflection of the size of burger I was going to get. I ended up ordering a veggie burger since I'm not a beef-eater- no offense to any beef-eaters out there... Now I've had my share of veggie burgers. They aren't always horrible as they're made to seem, but then again they aren't always the best either so I was a bit skeptical. So I ordered my burger- oh and I should mention the girl taking my order was so friendly and patient, and when I had ordered a coke with no ice with my order, and received a coke with ice and told her about it, she apologized profusely and was so quick to get me exactly what I had ordered. Anyways, back to the burger... So as I waited for my order, I took note of just how many people were coming into TBP- this place has quite the reputation on the east end... Finally when I got my burger I sort of let out this half- laugh because it was so much bigger than I was expecting. Now that's a burger- McDonald's who?... anyways- the size was impressive, and definitely the infinite amount of people popping in and out was a testament to just how great these burgers were, but the real test was how it tasted...


Let me just say- I don't think I've ever truly had a burger until I had that veggie burger. It was incredible... it was juicy, and greasy, and just crumbled in your mouth... it's one of those things you just can't describe- you need to have it to understand where I'm coming from... I wish I took a picture- but I was too busy enjoying it to have been bothered with immortalizing it with a picture... The veggie burger isn't your typical veggie burger- i.e. ground soy chunks and artificial flavours... rather its a portobello mushroom, stuffed with cheese and covered in a batter and bread crumbs... this is an intense burger... a must try- even for those carnivores who claim to have allergies to vegetables!


The fries were also very good but the burger is the star of the show... and the fact that TBP offers patrons gluten-free and vegetarian options is an added bonus as I've often found it somewhat difficult to find great tasting vegetarian cuisine in Toronto- even as multicultural a city as we are... As most of the burgers on the menu do feature beef patties, I decided to ask a few customers who had ordered after me how they found the beef burgers... they claimed that they were to die for... one guy even said when he dies, he'd like one of those burgers to be buried with him... so whether you're a carnivore, herbivore, or omnivore, I'm sure TBP has a burger that'll suit your preferences. They are definitely worth a try and I highly recommend them!

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for The  Burger's Priest:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶¶

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶ 1/2 

8th Review: Pizzeria Libretto - $$

Welcome back to SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com! This week I bring you yet another exciting review of another great find in Toronto! As the title of this post has given away the latest restaurant to have been reviewed by SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com is the Pizzeria Libretto located in the heart of Little Italy and bordering Portugal Village. I guess it's about time a review on pizza came along- it is after all a staple to many youths... and who doesn't enjoy pizza? And better yet, if it's authentic how can you resist?!


So let's get straight into the good stuff. PL can be found on Ossington Ave. in Toronto, and seems to rarely have a disgruntled customer. I went in on Saturday and of course to no surprise the place was jam packed. But it was a nice busy atmosphere and the staff was so welcoming and worked quickly to find me and my tiny entourage a booth. Once we were seated and brought the menus, I knew before opening it what I wanted... Pizza duh... But like every pizza joint in this city- corporate owned or individual restaurants- there are TONS of options when it comes to Pizza... 


So we started with the fried zucchini fritters, and ordered a pizza with basil leaves and ricotta cheese... The  food took approximately 20 minutes to hit the table- not bad at all... the fritters arrived at the table first and were gone in a blink of the eye- they were amazing! They were nice and crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside, literally melting in your mouth- a delight for anyone's taste buds. Given such an outstanding precursor to the main meal, needless to say my comrades and myself were looking forward to our ricotta cheese-basil leave pizza... when it came to the table it wasn't very appealing to the eye... it looked like someone had overcooked a thin crust, put some strained tomatoes on it, sprinkled whole basil leaves and placed a dollop of ricotta cheese in the centre of the pizza... however we weren't about to let it's appearance deter us from accurately judging how great it might be... unfortunately I was disappointed yet again... the thin crust was floppy and the tomato sauce, though warm was runny... not to mention, the ricotta cheese was cold and tasteless. It goes without saying that this was somewhat disappointing... it seems like many in the restaurant were enjoying their meals however, so perhaps we didn't pick such a great entree this time around... We had decided to pass up on dessert the disappointing ricotta cheese- basil leaf pizza deterred us from doing so...


Regardless, the service was great though I felt the restaurant was a tad over-crowded so thumbs up on that note... This restaurant definitely has superb appeal given its' authentic dishes and location and I would still recommend it to anyone who was looking for authentic Italian cuisine... I would however steer them clear from the entree I had chosen... I guess there's always a chance of a swing and a miss when it comes to reviewing restaurants- thankfully it's been pretty good so far- fingers crossed... well until next week- stay safe, and eat well!!

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Pizzeria Libretto:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶

Experience:         ¶¶¶

7th Review: Raw Aura Organic Cuisine - $-$$

Hello yet again! SpoonfulofReviews is back with- yes you guessed it- yet another review about an excellent restaurant right here in the T dot. So what was it this time? Well as the title of this post has given away, this review is based on the service and cuisine of Raw Aura Organic Cuisine located on Lakeshore Rd. East - major intersection: Lakeshore Rd. East & Elizabeth St. North. RAOC is a tiny little spot, almost bistro like, amid many other restaurants and shops along Lakeshore Rd. East, but it's just one of those places that you'll keep going back to after that first taste...  Before I give away too much, let me give you a little background on this Vegan/gluten-free/dairy-free gem of a place...

Raw Aura aims to provide its patrons with familiar foods but they've managed to tweek it so that it's nutritious, flavour-packed, and incredibly healthy for you.  They don't serve meat. Or dairy, or anything with gluten... Nor do they cook anything above 43 degrees Celcius... Doesn't sound very appetizing I know, but don't discredit them before you've tried what they have to offer.... So what exactly do they have to offer? They offer their customers raw food of course... They serve their cuisine a raw state as it retains digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals that are usually lost in the heating/cooking process most foods we consume endure, which in turn doesn't make it as healthy for us as we are led to believe... Raw foods are better for digestion, and the flavours are fresh and pure and stand out on their own. RAOC aims to serve only organic foods that are harvested in a responsible way that helps to promote environmental sustainability... So not only do you leave RAOC feeling energized by your meal, but you can also leave knowing that you've aided in reducing our environmental footprint... Okay I know what you're saying at this point- that's cool and all but enough with the jabber- tell me about the food- so lets get into it...

So upon entering RAOC I couldn't help but notice how tiny it looked which would perhaps not be best suited for larger groups, but don't let that stop you from trying out the food at RAOC. Once I'd been seated and handed a menu I was surprised at the list of menu items... It didn't seem possible that they'd have appetizers like nachos with no "real" cheese... And by real I'm referring to dairy cheese... They had quite a few familiar menu items and I couldn't seem to grasp how it'd be possible to make some of these dishes- like the pizza- without a dough crust, or dairy cheese, or pepperoni for you meat lovers out there... Being a big pizza lover I decided to give this one a shot... I ordered the nachos and the pizza... As I waited I noticed a woman beside me who'd just received her order... I asked her what it was she ordered as it looked delicious... She replied that it was the "beet ravioli" and proceeded to eat her meal which by the look on her face seemed like it was excellent... I'll probably try that the next time I visit this establishment...

Approximately 20 minutes later, and I had my meal in front of me, nachos complete with non-dairy cheese and all the raw fixings, and my pizza... Let me just say I didn't think raw food could be prepared in such a way to exude so many flavours but RAOC definitely found a way to do so... This was by far one of the best meals I'd ever had and I couldn't believe it was all raw. Everything was flavourful and I felt healthier by just eating it (lol)... And then there was dessert... First let me say that if you're not crazy about the idea of eating raw-meatless-dairy-less foods just try a dessert... It will change your life... I couldn't decide between the banana chocolate cake or the mint ganache cake... I ended up choosing the mint ganache cake and made a mental note to come back for the banana chocolate cake because it sounded amazing... Anyways I took my first bite of the Mint ganache cake and couldn't believe how good it was... It doesn't seem possible that it was completely vegetarian/vegan, dairy and gluten free and taste that amazing... Yes I had my cake and ate it too... I highly recommend the dessert above anything else!

And of course they get bonus points for doing their part to preserve the environment and for having friendly service. My only criticism would be that it's not an ideal location for larger groups... But other than that it's totally worth a try- you won't be sorry!

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Raw Aura Organic Cuisine:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶¶

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶¶

6th Review: I Love Sushi - A Taste of Japan - $-$$

Konnichiwa! SpponfulofReviews is back yet again this week, bringing you yet another review! As the greeting to this 6th blog has perhaps indicated, this week's review was based on Japanese cuisine. For this review, I chose a well known spot in Etobicoke, named I Love Sushi. ILS is a little restaurant between many other well reviewed establishments on Dundas St. W- Major Intersection: Bloor St. W and Islington Ave. ILS is almost obscure among the many restaurants that surround it but upon having the prepared dishes from this establishment you perhaps won't miss it upon future visits.

Upon first entering ILS, you'll perhaps notice how small and cozy this restaurant is. Definitely not a great spot for a larger group as there are many small tables and booths decorated in traditional Japanese decor. The restaurant is dimly lit, perhaps adding to the "cozy" atmosphere. The hostess quickly approached me upon entering the establishment, and she allowed me to take a seat wherever I felt comfortable. Finally taking a seat in a booth, I was brought a menu and asked for my choice of beverage. Taking a look at the menu can be a little overwhelming, especially if you're new to Japanese cuisine. However, I personally liked the variety of menu options because there were familiar items and items I'd never heard of or tasted. Also because ILS (like many Japanese restaurants) don't believe in wasting food, you can order as many pieces of the majority of menu items, and order more once you've determined what you like and what you're not quite fond of. When ordering, because there are so many options, each table comes equipped with small pads of paper and pencils, and as you run down the menu items, you mark off the numbers associated with your options, and how many pieces you'd like.

I should also mention that you can either choose the "all you can eat" option or order pieces from their "take out/dine-in" menu as shown in this picture:

However, if you accumulated the prices of all the items you might want to try, it's definitely more worthwhile to go with the all you can eat option.

Anyways, once my options had been made I handed my list to the server and within 20 minutes she had arrived with several plates of all the different items I'd ordered. I ordered the crab meat roll, spicy salmon roll,  shrimp tempura, teriyaki chicken skewers, and a mango salad. Let me first start off by saying that everything tasted incredibly fresh- I mean apart from the "raw fish" thing- it was freshly made and delicious, not to mention so nicely plated. The mango salad was well seasoned- it was coupled with some pickled vegetables but the mango still stood out and was refreshing for my palette. The shrimp tempura was some of the best tempura I've ever had- it was still rather hot as it was made upon order, and the accompanying condiment complimented this item well. The spicy salmon roll and crab meat roll were also very good- I enjoyed both items, especially the spicy salmon roll, as they apply a type of spicy sauce on top of the maki pieces that really kick up the flavour. Lastly, my favourite part: the teriyaki chicken skewers. They were still hot, a bit spicy and cooked to perfection- I was sad I hadn't ordered more... of course you do have the option of ordering more, but as with all "all you can eat" buffets, you can't necessarily take home any left overs and by this point I was stuffed. Also as you can't really waste any pieces of food, as sushi grade meat is much pricier, if you do choose to throw out the pieces you can't eat you will be charged an extra $5... in such a case it's perhaps best to visit this restaurant in small groups or couples.

My only criticism would be that the bathrooms weren't very clean which was a little bit of a downer once visiting the restrooms after the end of the meal. Other than that I received excellent service and the food was fantastic.

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for I Love Sushi - A Taste of Japan:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶ 1/2 

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶

5th Review: The Crooked Cue - $$ - $$$

SpoonfulofReviews back with yet another review- this time not on ethnic cuisine, but North American favourites from a local establishment with a long history: The Crooked Cue. 

The Crooked Cue is located in Etobicoke/Mississauga area on Islington Ave. Major intersection: Islington Ave. & Bloor st. The Crooked Cue is a restaurant/pub/pool hall with a bit of an upscale elegance about it. Because it is located on Islington ave, a rather busy road- there is no designated parking area and few legal parking spots on the street, so parking can often be a bit of a difficulty especially for larger groups of people. Upon entering the doors to TCC past the double glass doors are a pair of stairs going upwards, carpeted with brass railings. Once you've reached the second story of TCC, on your immediate left is a bar and 6-9 pool tables. On your right is a formal/comfortable dining area, complete with a fireplace, comfortable leather seats and lounging area, as well as several tables that seat 4-6 people comfortably. This establishment would be perfect for larger parties of people as it is a spacious yet cozy environment, complete with a second more elaborate bar, and 4 huge flat screen televisions, on which they usually air major sporting events.

The server was attentive and friendly asking our choice of beverage upon giving us menus to look at. The menu items had many familiar dishes such as chicken wraps, chicken tenders and fries, souvlaki entres, nacho and potato wedge appetizers etc. Though the menu items seem to contain regular items you might find on menus at other Canadian restaurants, the items fit the setting and theme of the restaurant well. I also particularly liked that the menu featured a short bio about the TCC and it's somewhat unorthodox history. Unfortunately I was unable to get any photos within the establishment as my phone had died just after I snapped the above picture.

After placing our orders we waited for approximately 25 minutes to receive our meals which were well prepared and featured large portions. I ordered a chicken wrap with a side of sweet potato fries which were very tasty though the wrap was a little on the dry side.  TCC offers comfort food, and that seemed to fit well with the atmosphere created within the establishment.

Upon finishing your meal, you're welcome to take a shot at your pool shark skills as there must have been at least 30 pool tables in a section off to the side of the dining/lounging areas. Going rates are $15 an hour per table. Even if you aren't a pool shark it's a great form of entertainment offered by this establishment and again, fits well with the history of TCC.

My only criticism would be that TCC wouldn't be a "family" oriented establishment in that, families with small kids would perhaps be more comfortable at establishments that cater to younger children. TCC definitely caters to an older crowd, of young adults to much older people.

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for The Crooked Cue:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶ 1/2 

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶

4th review: Mosaic Mediterranean Grill - $-$$

It's SpoonfulofReviews back again with another review fresh from the... well in this case- grill. This post will be a little shorter than what you're probably use to as it's a bit of a rushed week on my end but I really wanted to share this review as I've never had Mediterranean food and was impressed by this first experience...

This review is based on a place in Brampton called Mosaic Mediterranean Grill. They are located on Mountainash Rd- major intersection: Bovaird Dr. E & Airport Rd.  So the restaurant upon first entering seems small, but once you walk further in it appears much larger and is a really nice comfortable setting.

They have a nice, clean restaurant, and the hostess was very friendly and eager to show me to my seat and offer me a choice of beverage to start me off. As I waited I must have been a little too preoccupied watching the flat screen television they have available to keep customers entertained while they wait for their food, because when my server had come back with my beverage I hadn't yet looked at the menu.

Upon (finally) opening the menu, there were many options available both in vegetarian and meat options which I can appreciate because I eat meat occasionally. There were a few items I was unfamiliar with and upon asking the server to elaborate she gave a clear, accurate description of the food items and offered personal recommendations based on her own preferences. Her knowledge about the different items aided in making me more comfortable in ordering a cuisine formerly unknown to me. I finally decided on ordering the Baba Ganoush (an eggplant dish, flavoured with various seasonings and served with pita bread ) and the falafal balls (round dough-like balls made of chick peas and served with a medley of vegetables). These items had taken approximately 20 minutes to arrive in front of me, but they looked quite appetizing and upon first tasting them, it was well worth the wait. As the server brought these dishes you could see the warm steam and smell the delicious aroma these dishes produced even before she arrived with the dishes in front of me. The dishes were fresh, and warm- definitely made from scratch. I wasn't entirely fond of the falafal balls but the baba ganoush was tasty and reminded me of roasting eggplant in the summer. The server was very attentive and seemed to have given me special attention as she was aware this was my first encounter with Mediterranean cuisine. The highlight of the experience was the chef coming himself to introduce himself, and spoke so passionately about his preparations, which I appreciated as his passion reflected the dishes I had ordered. Though both dishes were not quite my favourites I would still recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a taste of authentic Mediterranean cuisine. This establishment, especially this cuisine is great for anyone who may have certain food restrictions (i.e. Vegans, vegetarians etc) as they offer many options. I will be visiting this restaurant at a future date and perhaps order something much different the next time around.

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Mosaic Mediterranean Grill:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶ 1/2 

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶  

3rd Review: Freshly Thai - $-$$

It's SpoonfulofReviews back with a new review after a somewhat relaxing long weekend! So what's the 3rd review on? We move onto Thai food, and chose to review the Thai food from Freshly Thai... So let's get into it :)

Freshly Thai is located in Brampton on Queen St N- major intersection: Queen St N & Main St N. Upon first stumbling across this establishment I noticed that it was a rather small venue in a plaza setting. Walking in my first impressions were rather positive- the establishment has a nice cozy atmosphere, which is again probably not the greatest for large groups or parties as I can imagine it would feel incredibly clausterphobic- however for small groups or couples it's perfect.

Upon first entering FT, I was greeted by the Hostess who was friendly, polite, welcomed me and immediately showed me to a seat, offered me a menu and asked if she could start me off with a beverage. I ordered a water while I perused the menu.

I noticed the menu had a list of many, MANY, items which I personally enjoy because I like to have variety. After about 10 minutes of running down the menu items I ordered the Pad Thai and Thai Chicken Barbeque. The food did take a while to arrive- approximately 25 minutes, but was well worth the wait. The Pad Thai tasted very fresh- I'd had Pad Thai in the past that had a "ketchup" sort of flavour to it, and this was definitely ketchup free. As much as I enjoyed the Pad Thai I thoroughly enjoyed the Thai Chicken Barbeque- Delicious stuff!  It wasn't your average barbeque chicken as it was rubbed in a variety of herbs that impressed the taste buds almost instantly. All the spices and flavours complimented each other very well and the spring rolls that accompanied the meal were incredible. I can't seem to stress enough how fresh everything tasted- I was very satisfied with this experience.

All in all it was a great dining experience and well worth the money. My only criticism was a lengthy waiting period from ordering my food to actually receiving it, however it was well worth the wait. Also the server was a little forgetful bringing me the wrong dish the first time around but she was overly apologetic and attentive which made up for her small errors. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who is willing to give their taste buds a wake up call and try some really great fresh cuisine for a change of pace! Definitely looking forward to another visit to this restaurant!

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Freshly Thai:

Service:    ¶¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶  1/2 

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶   

2nd Review: Lena's Roti & Doubles - $-$$

Hey again! It's SpoonfulofReviews back with another review. So what kind of cuisine was chosen for Review #2? Yes you guessed it (and even if you didn't I'm still going to tell you) West Indian Cuisine. Let's get right into it:

Using a urbanspoon app on my phone I found a little spot called Lena's Roti & Doubles located at the major intersection of Albion Rd. And Islington Rd. In Etobicoke in a plaza surrounded by Indian grocers, ethnic clothing stores and an Indo-Caribbean Salon. The plaza LR&D is located in is rather narrow which makes parking a bit of a challenge, and because the plaza borders the adjacent 4 -lane Albion Road, it's a likely possibility that you might miss this restaurant altogether because you can't necessarily slow down and look for the establishment. Luckily I was able to locate LR&D though obscure and find a somewhat far parking spot within the plaza's vicinity. The establishment is rather small and can perhaps seat approximately 30-40 people comfortably, however when I went in, the establishment must have had more than 40 people as it was a packed house. Though it was over crowded I hoped that this was a testament to how great the food was.

I joined the lineup at the front of the restaurant to place my order and then managed to find a seat close to the entrance. While I waited for my order I took note of the surrounding atmosphere- apart from the noisy gathering of people waiting for their orders or already chowing down on their food, I noticed two televisions both depicting various West Indian songs, as well as the various menu options they had listed on the lit display boards above the front counter.

LR&D offer patrons traditional West Indian favourite dishes such as lamb, beef goat and chicken curry all wrapped in a small or medium sized roti. LR&D also allow you to choose your spice level so if you're a fan of spicy foods like myself or really not into spicy foods that much you can choose from mild, medium and hot levels of heat for your taste buds. I ended up ordering a small chicken roti (curried chicken securely wrapped in a small roti- a flaky pita bread). I also ordered a "doubles" (curried chick peas sandwiched in between 2 soft "barras" - or a soft, dough-like pastry made from flour and ground split peas). The lady at the counter called my order approximately 20 minutes after I had placed my order, to which I went up to the counter to retrieve my food and then take my seat again.

Taste- wise, everything was delicious. It was all warm and tasted fresh. The chicken roti had delicious authentic West Indian flavours all conveniently wrapped in a nice roti... Personally I tend to be a messy eater but the chicken wrapped in the roti is convenient even on the go, as I made a minimal mess eating this dish. The doubles was also very tasty... I chick peas were a little saucy which made the barras a bit soggy which I didn't enjoy but the overall taste was quite good and very flavourful. Though the food at Lena's was good I've had better so my opinion here may be somewhat skewed. There are no "actual" servers as you basically place your order, and then go up to retrieve your food once it has come out of the kitchen, however I did receive my food within 15 minutes of placing my order so the service was adequate.

I would recommend this establishment to anyone looking for great tasting West Indian cuisine, however I would find this place to be a bit problematic for larger groups of people given the limited parking spots available and the small size of the establishment. Though I did enjoy the food at LR&D I would like to also mention that part of the below rating will be somewhat biased as my favourite West Indian cuisine establishment is Alima's Roti & Pastry located on Kenview blvd. and Finch ave. I did not choose to review this establishment as it is a take-out only establishment. 

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Lena's Roti & Doubles:

Service:    ¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶ 1/2 

Experience:         ¶¶¶ 1/2 

1st Review: Sweet Mahal in Rexdale - $-$$

Hello and welcome back to SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com...Hopefully you're following this blog, and now can keep track of when new blogs are posted! As the title of this post indicates, this is the very first review on SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com... The titles of all posts will include the food establishment name and dollar signs to indicate price points in case anyone was wondering... So let's get to it :)

The first review was done on the cuisine found at the restaurant Sweet Mahal. As the title of this post suggests Sweet Mahal (SM) is located at the intersection of Rexdale blvd. And Humberline Dr. In a fairly large plaza. SM is a fairly new establishment, severing Indian cuisine and are moderately priced - also indicated by the title of this post. They offer take-out, dine-in and catering options, and serve mainly vegetarian cuisine though they have recently introduced meat options through their catering menus.

Being a fan of Indian food myself I was excited to try out the dishes at SM, given the reviews a quick google search had rendered. Upon first pulling into the plaza where SM was located, I noticed adequate parking- making SM a great choice for large groups or a party of people, and a large lit sign above its' entrance- allowing this restaurant to be highly visible and hard to miss from the bustling of the main road the plaza borders.

Entering SM I first noticed plenty of seating and huge pictures portraying what I might assume life in rural India might look like. They also had 2 large flat screen televisions positioned in two visible areas of the restaurant portraying popular Indian songs at a respectful volume, which I found helpful in setting nice atmosphere. Their menu could be found on place cards on each table, and was also highly visible on lit displays above the main counter area.

To order one's meal is a little different at SM. You must first approach the counter, place your order and sit wherever you'd like. They usually come by and ask for your beverage order, and bring that along with the order you placed. I found this helpful as I was unfamiliar with the names and pronunciation of every dish available, however, they have all their main courses made in huge batches, under a glass display, with heat lamps to keep the batches fresh and warm, and you can point out what you'd like to order, then take your seat.

The proprietors at SM only took roughly 10 minutes to bring over my meal which is another point I liked about this establishment as it's a feature not often accomplished by many other restaurants. When placing an order for a "taali" or your dish, you're able to choose 3 different curry options, and a dessert option. Your order comes with a mixed vegetable salad and a cold yogurt dressing/condiment referred to as "raita".

The items I chose were the palak paneer (spinach cooked into a sauce-like mixture with small chunks of cheese), mattar paneer (peas and cheese in a spicy, sweet curry sauce), and shahi paneer (cheese in a creamy tomato sauce). I had these with naan (an indian flat bread). In a nutshell the food was warm and gratifying. It wasn't overly spicy for my personal preferences, however if you're a not a huge fan of spices, Indian food altogether may not be the best option for you. It definitely was some of the better Indian food I've had, though not the best I've had. My favourite dish was the shahi paneer by far, and the naan was also very delicious though it was a little too burnt for my liking. The best part of this meal was the dessert option- I chose to have a Gulab Jamun (warm, sweet dough ball soaked in a sugar syrup) and it was the perfect ending to this satisfying meal. It wasn't overly sweet, had a nice texture was a great ending to this experience.

The service provided by SM was also good. The servers were attentive and friendly- though somewhat pushy, at one particular moment when the server suggested a few different items for me to try and I kindly declined, she kept suggesting other items and rolling her eyes. But overall that was perhaps the one downfall of the entire experience. Still this restaurant is definitely a great one to try with your family or a group of friends looking to try something a little different. They also have a large selection of sweets which I did not try at the time, but may definitely be worth a try upon my next visit, and I do intend to visit this restaurant again.

SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com - Overall Rating (out of 5 stars) for Sweet Mahal:

Service:    ¶¶¶  

Food:                     ¶¶¶¶

Experience:         ¶¶¶¶ 

Hello - Welcome to SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com

Welcome to  SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com. I'm not sure how you ended up here but however you did, I hope you'll find this blog helpful and eye opening to all the great eats in around the Greater Toronto Area.  As a Torontonian I consider myself fortunate to be living in such a multicultural city for a variety of reasons- particularly for the plethora of foods from all over the world that are easily accessible to us. It just goes to show that you don't have to travel all over the world to have a taste of any international cuisine in the vicinity of your own localities.

The intent with this blog is to highlight some of the great local food joints (and warn against the not so great ones) in and around the Toronto area.  Hopefully with the honest reviews found here on SpoonfulofReviews.blogspot.com, it will inspire you to explore your localities and join the hype. Keep a look out for my first review to be posted soon!