Pizza Libretto

45 King St W, Toronto, Ontario                                                                Rating: Poor

"Pizza Crust Should Never Be Bitter"

I love pizza and I rarely eat it because of the calories. So when I do tuck into a thin crusted margherita pizza, I want it to be good. Unfortunately, something is very wrong with the pizza crust at this restaurant. It was bitter, and I mean suck-the-saliva-out-of-your-mouth bitter. It was so bad that I ended up eating the center of the pizza and leaving the entire crust uneaten. I looked around at my colleagues, and at least half of them had done the same thing. It was a work function so I wasn't going to complain but when I got home and googled the question of how in the world could pizza crust be that horribly bitter. Answer: Bad dough. Rancid flour. Thanks Pizzeria Libretto for ruining a not-so-cheap pizza. The chefs need to TASTE THEIR PIZZA. I've never had a worse pizza in my entire life.




http://pizzerialibretto.com/

Biff's Bistro

4 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E 1B2                                                          RATING: Good

"The French know their quiche"

Owned and operated by Oliver & Bonacini, this upscale French bistro was surprisingly quiet for a Friday lunch with my coworkers. It was my first visit to this restaurant that borders the Toronto financial district and the Front Street entertainment venues. The three of us bypassed the busy patio and headed in to the mostly empty restaurant. It's formal, caters to business folks and is air conditioned for suits and ties.

This restaurant has numerous seafood and fish offerings that looked truly delicious. But my eyes zeroed in on the Quiche Du Jour with mixed greens. I hadn’t had quiche in months and my mouth was watering in anticipation. My co-worker Nick is a club house sandwich guy and he immediately went for the Chicken Club with bacon & barissa mayo while Kelsey and I ordered the quiche. It wasn’t just your average ham & egg quiche. It was made with pork sausage that had a bit of a kick and topped with a slice of brie. The pastry was firm but literally melted in my mouth when I bit into it. I ignored the voice at the back of my mind that was counting the calories. Any time a pastry melts in your mouth, add a few zeros to the calorie count. But this quiche was worth it. The brie was young and firm, and the quiche filling was something to write home about: perfectly cooked egg and a smattering of vegetables with bite sized pieces of zingy pork sausage. It was accompanied by a side of salad greens. The dressing was a Champagne vinaigrette, but I’m not a fan of vinegar so I opted for straight olive oil. Unfortunately the salad consisted of whole lettuce leaves and nothing else, and I had to do a lot of carving and folding to make bite-able pieces. It may look nice when plated, but salad served this way is a royal pain to eat. I soon gave up trying after a few pieces unfolded just as the fork reached my mouth.

My colleagues devoured their meals.  Nick had his plate clean in a matter of minutes.  Kelsey and I were neck and neck until she took a break to answer some questions and fell behind. When the waiter cleared our plates, there was only lettuce left behind.

All in all this meal was good.  It wasn’t cheap because a wedge of quiche and some lettuce leaves were $17 plus tax and tip. 

If you’re a seafood fan and a lover of French food, I would recommend giving this restaurant a try. 

Restaurant Website:  http://oliverbonacini.com/biffs-bistro.aspx

Mitzi's Cafe

100 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto, Ontario                                                   RATING: Good

"Neighbourhood Delight"

This restaurant sits smack dab in the middle of a vibrant bedroom community in upper Parkdale. Built into the main floor of an old house, the huge front windows let in a lot of light and the surrounding trees gives it a homey yet still urban atmosphere. We arrived shortly after their 9 am opening which was fortunate because it filled to capacity quickly, including the eight or so tables on their covered patio. Clearly their baked goods were well sought after because I watched a steady stream of customers arriving for take-out  muffins, bagels and pastries. The table beside us ordered the french toast with banana and whipped cream which had me shamelessly ogling. 

Within seconds of being seated we were served delicious bottomless coffees and left to peruse the chalkboard menu. I didn’t want anything elaborate because I’m watching my calories so I chose a basic Mitzy’s breakfast consisting of poached eggs, bacon and rye toast. The meal came with a side of mini-potatoes that were tossed in a dark sauce which I can’t comment on because I didn’t try it. A complete no-no for a food blogger but I just plum forgot about my duty to try everything on my plate. The poached eggs were served in a tiny bowl set in the middle of the plate. They were perfectly cooked because the yolk was soft and runny, although they didn’t ask my preference so it’s a good thing I like them cooked that way. The only downside to a runny poached egg served in a bowl, is the likelihood that they were cooked in a pot of boiling water with vinegar added to keep the white attached to the yolk. You guessed it, runny yolk and vinegar is not appetizing but I come across this unfortunate combination fairly frequently.  Mitzy, please I beg of you, invest in a proper egg poacher because not everyone likes eggs that taste like vinegar.  

The bacon was well cooked and delicious, and the rye bread was either homemade or purchased fresh from a local bakery. It was finger smacking good to the last crumb.  My breakfast mate ordered the same meal as me, except her eggs were in an omelette. They must have used 8 eggs in her dish because it could have fed three people. She barely got half way through before requesting a doggy bag. It seemed like there was a teenage boy behind the grill who was anticipating his own breakfast, but I will quote my husband and say "never complain about there being too much food".  Fair enough.

We sat for 2 hours and watched as a line formed and then disappeared. Never were we encouraged to hurry up and finish so they could seat someone else. 

My breakfast came to just shy of $14 for a basic bacon and egg breakfast with coffee (the latter is separate).  That’s not cheap, but the quality of the food is good and the atmosphere is pleasant. 

I would definitely give this establishment my repeat business.

Restaurant website:  http://www.mitziscafe.com/

Spoon & Fork, Japanese and Thai Cuisine

1233 the Queensway, Toronto, Ontario M8Z 1S1                                                            Rating: Average to Good

"Overeaters' Delight!"

I’ve never been a sushi lover, but having spent six months in Thailand in the 1980’s, I love Thai food and always enjoy seeking out new Thai restaurants. My husband and I had achieved a life milestone and chose The Spoon & Fork on the Queensway for our celebratory dinner. It was an opportunity for him to enjoy some sushi and for me to indulge my love of Thai food. 

We made reservations for 7:30 pm and given that it was the eve of a long weekend we fully expected the restaurant to be busy. Upon arrival we reminded the harried hostess of our request for a booth and promptly received a sarcastic wise crack in response. Not a great first impression. We were eventually seated on the mezzanine level of the restaurant that overlooked the main floor. The ceilings are very high and the room somewhat cavernous, which unfortunately resulted in an unholy din that became even more alarming as the restaurant filled to capacity around 8pm.

There are two dining options at Spoon & Fork. The usual a la carte menu, or an all-you-can-eat tasting menu for a flat rate of $27.99. A word of warning! Read the fine print on the menu, because if you choose the all-you-can-eat option and don’t end up eating what you order, a bill will be presented at the end of the evening for the uneaten dishes. The obvious negative result of the flat rate is that it’s very difficult to avoid falling into the trap of overeating. We definitely dove head first into that particular trap.

We ordered several appetizers including vegetable and shrimp tempura, won ton soup, Thai dumplings and coconut shrimp. My husband ordered a variety of sushi while I tucked into an 8 piece avocado cucumber roll. I was completely stuffed after the appetizers, which had me in a bit of a panic because we had teriyaki beef, green curry chicken, pad Thai, pineapple fried rice with chicken, beef and shrimp still on the way! The beef teriyaki was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth. The pad Thai was a beautiful blend of lemon, peanut and garlic flavours with tender shrimps over rice noodles. We enjoyed the tempura which was nicely cooked although a bit more oily than it needed to be. The coconut shrimps were slightly overcooked making the shrimp too chewy and the deep fried coconut coating a bit tough to get through. My husband quite enjoyed his green curry chicken and found the sushi to be fairly good. Not fantastic, not horrible, but good. The Thai dumplings were lovely, although the peanut sauce was too plentiful and too sharp a flavour for such a mild dish.   

After the appetizers, I began eating like a machine in order to clear the plates and avoid an extra bill at the end of the evening. I wasn’t sure how seriously they took that threat, but I wasn’t about to test the waters. At the end of the meal I practically waddled out of the restaurant and even a late evening march around the neighbourhood with our dogs didn’t liberate my overstuffed stomach. I freely admit that it was a discomfort of my own making.

The food at Spoon & Fork was good; there was no doubt about that. But the experience was overshadowed by the clack and clatter of dishes and people shouting to be heard over the noise. Plus we had the added stress of having to eat everything we ordered. At $27.99 per person, I’m sure the restaurant is doing well, because we noticed that the more expensive food, such as the beef and shrimp, were presented in small portions whereas the rice and noodle dishes were plentiful. Our bill for one drink each plus the all-you-can-eat rate was $90 including tip. Yes, those drinks were pricey.

I gave this an Average to Good rating; however we agreed that we would not choose this restaurant a second time because the food wasn`t good enough to compensate for the awful atmosphere. Well done on the food front, Spoon & Fork, but some noise cancelling headphones should be handed out with the menus upon arrival.

Restaurant link:  http://www.spoonandfork.ca/queensway.php

Taste of Thailand

5310 Dundas Street West, Etobicoke ON                                                     Rating: Fair

"Shrinking Portions and Expanding Prices"

On a bitterly cold February evening, my husband and I decided to order in to avoid heading outside in search of food. We had frequently ordered from Taste of Thailand in the past, but stopped a few years ago and for the life of me I couldn't recall why. I wish we'd remembered because it would have saved us from a big disappointment. Our order for two people came to $52 dollars for three dishes plus some steamed rice. If either of us had been really hungry there would have been no leftovers. And what happened to the complimentary shrimp chips with accompanying peanut sauce?  

I wouldn’t mind the price if the food was as good as it used to be and as plentiful as it used to be. No and no. The food isn’t fresh, and it can’t be blamed on the delivery time because it arrived quickly. The steamed rice had clearly been sitting in a pot for hours, and the pad thai was a lump of congealed rice noodles with a tired orange slice. But my biggest beef was with the Chinese Broccoli and Shitake Mushrooms, because the container had very little in it and it was $11.95!  I usually need my arm twisted to choose anything containing broccoli so the fact that I used to like this dish speaks volumes. But this order was a bunch of stems floating in a watery liquid. No thanks.

Taste of Thailand, you've cheaped out and we won’t be ordering again. “Fool me once shame on you...”

http://www.tasteofthailandcuisine.com/

Fox Bistro, Raddison Hotel

640 Dixon Road (neat Pearson airport), Etobicoke, ON                                        RATING: Poor

"Beware weary traveller!"

A group of my friends decided on the Fox Bistro as a good dining location that was central to all.  While waiting for my group to arrive, I ordered a glass of wine at the bar located at the back of the dining room. It was a glass of Wolf Blass Chardonnay for $10. I gave the bartender $15 and waited for change. Realizing that I wasn't going away, he came back to tell me that he had to go find change but it would take some time. Seriously? So I told him to just keep it and he didn’t even say thank you, not even a smile. Rude and surly set the pace for the waitstaff at this restaurant. 

My friends ordered the minestrone soup for their appetizer. None of them finished it because it seemed to be right out of a can, and not a good can at that. I chose the Caesar salad which was a mistake because the lettuce was swimming in a cheap dressing. They must have a dumpster full of uneaten meals out back because this food was not good.  I’m not sure who the ‘chef’ is, but I had an image of a couple of teenagers working the grill with vats of sauces and pre-made entrées at the ready. 

I chose the salmon as my entrée and if the fish hadn’t been pink I wouldn’t have known it was salmon because of the insanely spicy sauce that was doused over the top of the poor fish. It could have been a slab of soggy Kleenex and I wouldn’t have known because of the shock to my senses and a seared palate.  

The third course had promise because it was chocolate cake and if it had been a really good rich dark chocolate cake, I might have forgiven all.  But given my experience so far, I was afraid to take the plunge.  I asked the waiter if it was mousse or cake and he said, ‘both’. Ok, that was a little helpful but I wanted a bit more information so I tried again and asked if it was dark chocolate, and he sneeringly said, “well it’s not white.”  Maybe he was having a bad day, but in my worst moments as a waitress I would have made a bit more effort than that.  I ate the cake because I was desperate for something good to come out of that meal but it was a poor imitation of a chocolate cake and full-on stale. I doubt they make anything from scratch in this restaurant nor do they use fresh ingredients. 

Pull up your socks Fox Bistro because your food is pathetic. You have a captive audience with all the unsuspecting travellers passing through Pearson, so please start serving up some decent fare because you’re giving Toronto a bad name.

The Open Cork Eatery & Lounge

2101 Dundas St.E., Mississauga                                                                            RATING: Poor

"Very Poor Food"

We went to the Open Cork for the first and last time. The décor was pleasing, but that's pretty much the only positive comment about this travesty of a restaurant. The food was appalling and the service disappointing at best. 


I ordered the Grilled Calamari with Pernod caper tomato sauce for my appetizer and my husband ordered a Caesar salad. The calamari arrived and it would have easily fed three people. That`s not necessarily a bad thing, but this was three slabs of charred overcooked calamari. My first bite tasted like charcoal and it had that unfortunate texture that all overcooked calamari has, rubber. But this was burnt rubber. I couldn’t eat it and when the waiter came to ask how we were enjoying our appetizers I told him that it was overcooked and burnt. He then explained to me that this was the way it was meant to be cooked. Sorry, but it’s not. He took it away and quickly came back to ask if I wanted another order prepared and I said no. He said, ‘no charge’ so I agreed thinking that I would see how they prepared it a second time and if it was equally as terrible it didn’t matter because I wasn’t going to be charged.  You can see where this is going to end.... 

The second order of calamari appeared quickly and it was not charred. It was relatively tender and decently cooked, so my focus changed to the sauce it was floating in. Imagine cheap thick bottled tomato sauce with 20-30 capers thrown in, then add some undercooked crunchy green peppers and that was the sauce. I struggled through about half, but It was truly terrible.  

For a main course I ordered Mediterranean Spaghetti and my husband ordered Fettucini Primavera in a cream sauce. The sauce in his dish had the appearance of brown soupy broth. Note to the ‘chef’, if you cook mushrooms in butter and then add a cup of milk, it will turn brown. And you have to THICKEN a cream sauce otherwise it will be soup. Under cooked vegetables completed this dish. My poor husband managed to get through half of it before putting down his fork with a pained look on his face. 

My dish was awful. More thick tomato sauce from a jar with under cooked vegetables and clearly the cheapest spaghetti pasta that they could order in bulk. How any chef could send this food out to customers was beyond me. When the bill came, of course the calamari was on it. I guess his ‘no charge’ meant that I wasn’t going to be charged for two orders. It was a $70 waste of calories. My kind-hearted husband tipped 15%.   

Unfortunately I did not look up any reviews of this restaurant until after we returned home. A number of people have given this place a good review mostly because it has a summer patio, but there were also some bad and almost frightening reviews about the sanitation. Save your money and your palate and stay away from this restaurant.

This was my first restaurant review.  After reading the good ratings, I could not, in good conscience, let this horrendous dining experience go.  One of the worst restaurants I have ever visited. 

Restaurant website: http://www.theopencork.com/