maenadde's Profile

Great Breakfast!
I have to say that I'm surprised at some of the more negative reviews. We go to Cora's when we want a great breakfast, and have never had experiences like that ("stuff" happens, even to the best of us, so I don't include the occasional slip-up).

It is pricier than some other places, but I consider the quality of the food, ample portions, and fresh fruit on nearly every plate – actual fruit, not just a dried up orange/cantaloupe slice – value for my dollar. The food is consistently fresh & cooked properly, and the staff are friendly and efficient. The restaurant is always clean – even the bathrooms on a Sunday morning, with a junior Olympic team in the kiddie-room.

We haven’t had everything on the menu, but we’ve not had anything that wasn’t at least good, if not all rave-worthy. (I think it’s important to recognize that a blueberry pancake in January isn’t going to be the same blueberry pancake in August) The artsy fruit-on-the-side is a tasty & healthful addition (fair trade for the delicious Québec-style sugar fudge I nip on the way out). The coffee & tea aren’t stellar, but they're good, and the fresh juices are always fresh.

The variety of dishes shouldn’t be overlooked, either; if you’re like us, and you want 2 slices of cholesterol smothered with artery-clogging goodness-sauce, or you’re more the type for a poached egg-white omelette that takes more energy to chew than it gives you – you’re in luck… there’s a breakfast for you, and chances are it’ll be good.

As big fans of breakfast out, Cora’s is our favourite - and we're not alone - there’s a reason the line is so long to get in.

(One quick note: I’m sure most folks who eat at restaurants on a regular basis know that food is handled without gloves fairly regularly in professional kitchens everywhere – especially kitchens where the cook isn’t walking over to the cash register to take your money, or change the garbage bag.)

We’ve been to this location a few times, hoping it would improve. Sadly, no. The service is inattentive at best, and at worst they are impolite & complaining. The food is a lot like a deconstructed TV dinner; the “homefries” are grainy, pre-fab, frozen potato cubes. It would be just as satisfying to draw a picture of one on your napkin, & eat that. (It would be more “home-made”) The eggs are typically over-cooked, and the meat is average. The toast has a bizarre burned-on-the-outside/cold-in-the-middle thing going on that puts it somewhere outside of actually being toast. The coffee & tea are run-of-the-mill. The “fresh” orange juice is about as authentic as the “homefries”. The bottled grapefruit juice was fine – check the date, though, as the first one was expired by a month (the guy at the next table downed ½ of his before we could tell him). They have a nice-looking waffle iron that temporarily displaces the burnt toast smell with a nice waffle-y vanilla (never tried them though), but don’t look for exotics, like ice in your water. The tables & chairs are rickety, and you can tell what shampoo your neighbour used. After you get past the fantastically bad paint job & missing trim, you are struck by the grungy feel of most exposed surfaces. That strike comes from a 2x4 if you go in the bathroom (don’t). They have recently changed the wait staff (no noticeable difference), and on this last visit, the floor wasn’t strewn with food, but truth be told, if you’re going to spend money on breakfast out, you’ll be disappointed here. We gave it one last shot, after a long hiatus… but we definitely done with this place.

I'm a big lover of Chinese takeout - & this place is the best we've had. The food is wonderfully fresh, generously portioned, perfectly cooked, and wholly delicious. I'm particularly picky about my Lo Mein, which I love (I usually get 2 orders), and can't stand it when a restaurant just dumps a load of soy & ginger on over-fried noodles - Mei Ling's makes them tender & delicious, like everything else on the menu. The spare ribs not only have meat on them, but when you take the container out of the fridge for leftovers, you don't have to fight through 3 inches of solidified fat to get to them. The fried wings are positively addictive - hot or cold. The drivers are always courteous, and they always arrive somewhat before they tell you they will. Delicious food, and good value.

The name may confuse some diners into anticipating a well-crafted meal. “Sports Bar” – definitely. “Bistro” – I think not. While there are obviously loyal followers out there, this is certainly NOT the place to bring folks for great wings. They are overcooked, and the sauce is average, at best. I have no clue how they could possibly be considered the best of any category. The prime rib was ample, and not terrible… though the gravy is canned, with a ton of salt added. Those “onion chips” are really great. The server was very pleasant & knowledgeable – though she would have been just as charming (if not more so) with an addition or 2 to her tube top & miniskirt. This is the place to go for a few beers (don’t look for a brand that you can’t find on a baseball hat) after work, if your satellite’s out, not for a great meal. It’s an aging, dark little bar with lots of big televisions. I doubt we’ll go back, and if the Aurora location (where we went) is the better of the two, we certainly won’t be visiting the Newmarket one.

We eat here regularly. The food has been excellent on all but one occasion (too much raw garlic – which they rectified satisfactorily). I have never seen any evidence of bread recycling (thankfully) – the bread is almost always cut at the bread station, while we watch. It’s fresh & nice with the oil & balsamic. The pasta is always cooked perfectly, and the sauces are very well done. We always sit in the section of our favorite waitress (Yvonne) who is very good; we have had less satisfying service from others. The only complaint would be that the martinis come in Jr. size. On the upside, the tiramisu is just bloody fantastic! The best I’ve had.

Great restuarant. Fish is exceptional, with a great, light batter not laden with grease, fries are fresh, hot, & very tasty. I prefer the Haddock, which is surprisingly good. Very well done, good value. Staff are very friendly, as well. Definitely worth a visit.

Never had the buffet (perhaps there's a difference), but we get takeout platters often. The staff has been very polite, the portions are very ample, it's wonderfully fresh, and the taste is great. In comparison to other sushi places I've been to, it's a good value - and above-average in taste. The hostess (?) will often offer us tea while waiting for our pickup. We eat there regularly.