Restaurantica

- 10 Food
- 8 Service
- 7 Other
8.3

Very authentic!
Review By sassychef for Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum in Markham on 7/16/2008
2 diners, $0-$10 per person on Jul 15 2008
Orderspicy beef tripe, xiao long bao, vegetable spring rolls, beef rolls
ReviewThe dim sum here is the most authentic I’ve ever had, and lucky for me, it’s Shanghai-style as opposed to Cantonese-style. That means, no carts rolling around and plenty of xiao long bao for all!
All the dim sum items we ordered were delicious. The xiao long bao was perfect, and the beef rolls tasted like heaven! And the price is quite reasonable! I will be back again for sure!

This Review was Accepted

- 6 Food
- 8 Service
- 8 Other
7.3

Food was unimpressive
Review By sassychef for Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill in North York on 7/16/2008
7 diners, $26-$60 per person on Jul 15 2008
OrderWatermelon & Tomato Gazpacho, Preserved Lemon & Chili Chicken, and Warm Strawberry & Rhubarb Buckle
ReviewThe restaurant was busy but the waiters were nonetheless attentive and quick to take our orders. We ordered off the Summerlicious menu, which was pleasantly varied and a great deal ($25 + tax and tip) for a three-course meal. The appetizer was a disappointing start to the meal, as it was too sour for my tastes, so I didn't touch it. The entree chicken breast was dry and tasteless and the yoghurt sauce was just plain weird. The dessert was excellent however. The buckle was crumbly and sweet and warm and hit all the right spots. Service was actually quite good, our server was very attentive and came often to remove our finished plates and refill the water. I wouldn't come back again though, especially not at the regular prices on the menu.

This Review was Accepted

- 9 Food
- 9 Service
- 9 Other
9

Pleasantly surprised
Review By sassychef for Zen Gardens in London on 7/10/2008
2 diners, $11-$25 per person on Jul 10 2008
OrderBBQ pork bun, sticky rice wrap, curry vegetable with mushroom, fried rice
ReviewMy friend’s BBQ-pork bun came out fantastic, with a perfectly soft and fragrant bun (the bun is actually where the skill-level of the chef is deduced) that I never in a million years thought I’d find in London. The filling was sweet and saucy, and although not real pork, tasted incredibly similar.
My sticky rice wrap was also incredibly authentic. It had a savoury mushroom filling, but the real treat was the sticky rice, which was cooked to perfection.
For the entree, I ordered a curry vegetable dish and my friend ordered a fried rice (what kind exactly I forget). Both our dishes had a surprising taste, the kind of surprise that makes your eyes go wide with delight as your taste buds start to react to the first spoonful. For her, it was the sweet pineapple, for me it was the curry sauce. I didn’t expect my dish to come out looking like it did. I thought it would be a curry vegetable stir-fry or something, but it came out looking more like a stew, in a heavy pot with a thick sauce. The sauce was an absolute delight, and I have no idea what kind of curry they used. The mushrooms made it especially savoury, and I loved the subtle spicy taste that developed over time as I consumed more of the dish. One of the ingredients that also surprised me was okra, something I’ve never had before but found quite interesting.
The dessert menu was disappointingly short, so we decided to go elsewhere for dessert, but the tea menu was was quite varied and extensive.
The whole experience was a pleasant surprise, and I made it a point to meet the chef(s) after our meal.
Both my friend and I will definitely be back!

This Review was Accepted

- 9 Food
- 9 Service
- 9 Other
9

Excellent Sushi
Review By sassychef for Gozen in London on 7/7/2008
2 diners, $11-$25 per person on Jul 5 2008
OrderSeoul Set for Two
ReviewExcellent sushi! One of the best I've had in London. It was fresh and tasted incredible. Our set came with spicy salmon maki rolls and california rolls, as well as 4 different types of sashimi, a plate of tempura (lots of shrimp tempura, as well as a few pieces of veggie and yam tempura), and bulgogi.
The bulgogi was sweet and tender, the tempura was not greasy at all, and the maki was rolled expertly. The rolls were not falling apart at all, unlike some of the sushi I've had in London. Exceptional service as well, the waitress was very attentive!

This Review was Accepted

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sassychef's 4 Restaurant Reviews