Toronto Uncovered

Posts Tagged ‘Toronto Restaurant’

Long time no contribution. I must admit, I’ve been slacking off a little but here’s why – it’s summer! Patio season is here folks so slather on the SPF and get your mmm on outside like I did the other day.  Java House, located at 537 Queen Street West on the southwest corner of Queen and Augusta, is without a doubt a hipster hot-spot. Personally, I’m not all that hip but I still appreciate quality food that doesn’t break the bank.

Their eclectic menu features lighter pub fare and a variety of Thai entrees in the $5, that’s right $5 price range, not to mention daily specials, all day breakfast, and a good selection of coffee, teas and cheap pitchers.

Upon first impression, Java House looks like a dive bar and a coffee shop had a one night stand, but that’s precisely the restaurant’s charm. Though be warned, the bathrooms are of the, to quote my friend Angela “flush with your foot” variety.

On busy days, inside can be a little cramped with a line-up for the large patio. Luckily for my friend and I we arrived at Java House before yesterday’s dinner rush. We were promptly seated outside at a wobbly table but brushed it off as that small price we were willing to pay for sunshine.

Service at Java House is whimsical. If you go in expecting to be treated like royalty chances are your expectations will not be met. I’ve returned to Java House many times and I’ve had adequate service and terrible service but never the type of service to sing praises about, but then again I’m not picky. What keeps me coming back to Java House is the great prices, yummy food and, as I fancy myself a people watcher, the quirky clientele. Still, I don’t want to speak ill of the servers at Java House. It’s not that the servers are rude to their customers, rather in most cases they are in general a bit green and sometimes forgetful. Our server yesterday spilled our water (though the wobbly table was partly to blame) and of another server my friend requested an ashtray, which never came. Neither of those things particularly irked either of us,  as said before we weren’t all that concerned about the quality of the service. We were just hungry.

We both ordered the stir-fry and vegetables. Angela had the tofu option while I went with the chicken. Portion size was large enough that Angela didn’t finish her rice where as I stopped short of licking the plate when I was finished. We also shared a pitcher of Amsterdam Blonde between us. In the end, the sum total for everything was around $28 and we left Java House happy enough with our experience yesterday that I’m sure we’ll both continue to gravitate there this summer and many summers thereafter.

Last Saturday I decided to try Harlem Restaurant on Richmond. I had been once or twice before for drinks and dancing, but had never been early enough to catch their dinner service. We arrived around 8pm, taking our chances without reservations. The restaurant was packed, and we were lucky enough to score their last table.

Dimly lit chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling, providing just enough light to take in the rustic decor. Live vocals from CarolynT filled both the up and downstairs with jazz, soul, and reggae. The overall atmosphere left little to be desired.

The menu was filled with all sorts of Southern dishes: Jambalaya, BBQ Chicken, Braised Short Ribs, Seafood Fondue, and my personal best friend Mac-n-Cheese. I’ve always had a healthy appetite so I started with a Hummus and Avocado appetizer, served with homemade crisps and just the right amount of Southern heat. This was followed by BBQ Chicken and sides of Cornbread and Mac. I could not have been happier. The chicken was so tender it practically fell apart on the plate and should most definitely have been served with an extra pile of napkins. If you’re OK with getting your hands dirty and having the odd bit of BBQ sauce on your face, this is the dish for you. Polite eaters beware!

The services was also fantastic. We were never without food, and our wine glasses were never empty. The total bill came to about $120.00 for two people, including tax and tip. All in all, a great experience. I would highly recommend Harlem to anyone looking for a fun (and filling) way to spend an evening.

- Heather