These days, Stephen and I order take-out at least once a week. As much as we have our favourite spots, it has become a struggle to decide what to order when options in our neighbourhood are limited and with Stephen being a great cook. Eating out was starting to lose its lustre until this weekend when we were spoiled with a 5 course tasting menu by Chef Jef Edwards from Ration at Home. The meal reminded me of everything I love about dining out and how much I miss Toronto restaurants.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Our five course menu for two was delivered in two bags, one hot and one cold, with a note at the top to put the gelato in the freezer. Each dish was packaged individually with sauces separate and detailed plating instructions were included. Even in takeout form, it was clear each dish was packed and delivered with care and attention. The burrata was beautiful and not a grain was out of place in the risotto. The meal was designed to be served family style, but could easily be divided into courses with the Duck Tartare and Burrata as appetizers and Risotto and Confit Duck as entrees.

I was so excited to see tartare and burrata, two of my favourite dishes that I haven’t had in over a year, on the menu. The duck tartare was served with raw endive leaves that had a slight bitter taste, which paired nicely with the savoury duck. The seasoning of the tartare was on the milder side for me, but the quality of ingredients really shone through. Oh my the burrata, *chef’s kiss*. Served on a bed of greens with pickled green tomatoes, and drizzled with an herb oil and olive oil vinaigrette, every bite was heavenly. There was the creaminess of the burrata, crunch from the tomatoes and richness of the olive oil. Stephen and I devoured this dish, what lactose intolerance?

Alivia’s favourite non dessert dish was the duck confit, and there was plenty to share between the three of us. Crispy skin and sweet relish rounded out the tender duck leg. Between the burrata and the relish, the slices of sourdough bread were well taken care of. Stephen’s favourite dish was the creamy spring pea and samphire risotto. While there was the occasional crunch, the flavours and seasoning were superb with the seasonal ingredients.

Dessert was a smoked chocolate tart with truffle honey and vanilla gelato. I loved how the smoke flavour of the chocolate and the earthiness of the truffled honey was mellowed by the vanilla gelato. Again, such strong flavours, in balance with each other.

Overall, Ration at home was such a treat. A reminder for my taste buds of being blown away by combinations of flavours and textures, the delight of enjoying a fine crafted meal, with enough leftovers for the next day. To order Ration at Home for pick up or delivery, visit https://www.exploretock.com/rationathome.

Last year, back during warmer days and patio weather, my friends and I stopped by Parallel for a relaxing weekday lunch. I enjoyed their hummus so much, I bought a jar of tahini home for Stephen to try. Service was friendly and accommodating for myself, a carnivore, and my friend, a vegetarian. Located on Geary Ave., Parallel has a large dining room, a take-out counter and a great patio. Geary Ave itself is a fascinating street mixed with local restaurants, artisans and auto shops. With Darkhorse and Famiglia Baldassarre down the street, Parallel is in good company.

We started with sharing the seasonal salad, which featured watermelon, feta, balsamic and arugula. Refreshing, fresh ingredients and a delicious combination of sweetness and acidity, creamy and crunchy. I also enjoyed the slices of red chili pepper that added a touch of heat. A great salad that I totally plan on replicating at home, or at least attempting to. For our main, we ordered the Lamb & Beef Ragu on Hummus. As we asked our server questions about how meaty the dish was, she let us know it would be easy to serve the lamb and beef ragu separately from the hummus, a perfect option for us. Dishes arrived with little wait (before I was even done taking photos of the salad) and our server checked in on us throughout our meal.

The hummus was so creamy and rich, enough of a meal all on its own with the soft pillowy pita (no charge refills!). We cleaned up that plate of hummus and tahini. I didn’t need the lamb and beef ragu, but it was a tasty addition. Not too gamey, savoury and well-spiced.

Overall, lunch at Parallel was relaxed and a treat. The hummus really is the best in the city and elevates a dish I usually think of as a snack to a full meal.

Since going back to work after my maternity leave, finding time for just Stephen and I to connect has been a challenge. We’ve had the best intentions for monthly date nights but between work, constantly having a cold and trying to find time for ourselves, going out has not been realistic. What has worked is aligning our work from home days and going out for lunch dates! We’re exploring our neighbourhood and get a chance to feel like an adult. One such date took us to Toshi Ryoriten, a Japanese restaurant at Major Mackenzie and Leslie with a more upscale menu.

Atmosphere: Although Toshi Ryoriten is located in a strip mall next to a grocery store and Tim Hortons, the restaurant had all the trimmings of high end sushi bar. Plenty of natural wood decor, modern pendant light fixtures and a live edge counter at the sushi bar. At lunch on a weekday, the clientele was casual and moderately busy. There were seats at the sushi bar, tables at the front of the restaurant and more booths around the corner, in an almost separate dining room. Stephen and I sat at the sushi bar and next to us was an older group who sounded like regulars, greeting the chef by name and talking about catering for a private event. Cozy and familiar.

Service: Sitting at the sushi bar, most of our interaction was with the sushi chef. There was one server who greeted and seated us and brought us tea. Our meal was prepared quickly from the kitchen and sushi bar. I do wish the chef had listed the fish that were on the plate instead of silence. With how separate the dining areas were, it was a challenge for her to manage both areas once the restaurant became busier. We did have to wait a bit to get our bill, but not unpleasantly long. Chef Shinji Mori was very friendly and lively with the group of regulars next to us, which did create a feeling of different levels of service.

Food: Originally, I had planned to order the Chirashi Sushi Lunch ($17) but Stephen convinced me to splurge on the Premium Sashimi Platter that came with chutoro and uni ($60). My platter was beautiful and the quality of fish was top notch. The uni and chu-toro were on par with omakase restaurants in the city, not a surprise as Toshi Ryoriten does offer omakase at dinner and feature fish flown in directly from Japan. The uni was excellent in flavour, rich, creamy and tasted like the ocean with no aftertaste. It was also a generous portion.

While the quality was superb, I was a bit disappointed by the variety, only 6 types. Without any info from the chef (I’m aware I could have asked), I recognized sea bream and amberjack, but something unique or a more diverse selection would’ve taken the meal from good to exceptional. In hindsight, ordering the Chirashi Lunch ($17) and adding an order of Uni Sashimi ($16) would’ve been a better value.

Stephen balanced my splurge lunch with his Tempura lunch bento. The bento box was packed with tempura, rice, salad and a complementar bite of beans with a sesame dressing. The tempura was light, excellently cooked and fresh, not at all oily. All of the vegetable pieces were just cooked, sweet and in season.

Overall, lunch at Toshi Ryoriten was ok with glimmers of amazing. The menu is extensive and ranges from casual Japanese fare to premium sushi. They would be a good choice for a group of diners with varying paletes and budgets.

Tachi opened early 2018 and brought a whole new way of eating sushi to Toronto. The restaurant, located in Assembly Chef’s Hall, has only 8 standing spots and serves an omakase menu in under 30 minutes. I’ve been drooling over their social media posts since doors opened and seriously contemplated visiting while babywearing Alivia. Fortunately for her (and me), I had the chance to attend a private tasting while she hung out with Daddy and Grandma.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: Inside the crowded, bustling industrial style food hall, Tachi was a moment of zen. Diners waited outside until their reservation time. Once inside, a large door slid closed and created a wonderfully intimate and cozy feel. Two chefs stood behind a wooden L shaped sushi bar, expertly serving piece after piece of edomae sushi. Each standing spot was marked with a small wooden block bearing a number in kanji and set with a bamboo leaf where the nigiri was placed. The focus was all on the sushi. I loved how peaceful and calm the space felt.

Service: While the meal was quick, every interaction with the hostess and sushi chefs was welcoming and efficient. Outside the restaurant, a digital clock shows “Tachi Time” and counts down to the next seating. Once I picked my spot, number 7, the server took my drink order and I hung my coat on one of the many wall hooks available. There was also a convenient shelf underneath the sushi bar for bags. Every spot had a prime view of the sushi chefs at work.

Food: Tachi’s menu changes often and is posted at their entrance, 12 pieces for $55. There is also typically a daily special like uni or wagyu that can be added for an additional charge. The selection of fish was diverse, including premium pieces like uni, otoro and scallop while the quality was on par with other, far more expensive, omakase restaurants in the city. There was also less common fish served like sea bream, fluke and bonito. In fact salmon wasn’t even served that night and I didn’t miss it, instead savouring my pieces of ikura and anago. Each piece of fish had a great texture and tasted incredibly fresh. The flavour of the seasoned soy sauce was salty and sweet without masking any of the natural fish flavour.

Overall, the omakase experience at Tachi was delicious and such a steal for the quality and variety of fish. The first lunch seating is at 11:15pm, last at 2:15pm (a perfect splurge lunch) while dinner begins at 5:15pm and ends at 8:15pm. I would highly recommend reservations.

Last year for our anniversary Stephen made reservations at Alo months in advance, as required, for their Kitchen Counter tasting menu. Then we found out I was expecting. I called the restaurant to ask about the menu and sadly over half the courses had raw ingredients that I couldn’t eat. Cry. This year we decided to forgo the ordeal trying to get a reservation and celebrated at their sister restaurant, Aloette. Being on maternity leave, I had the luxury of meeting Stephen for an early dinner, 4pm, without any worry of missing Alivia’s bedtime.

Atmosphere: Arriving at 4pm, we had no trouble getting a table. It was also still Aloette hour (3:00pm – 4:30pm), which meant $10 cocktails and wines by the glass. Sun streamed into the long narrow restaurant adding to the cozy fell of the space. Padded wood booths lined one wall and a classic diner bar ran along the opposite. While the afternoon light made the restaurant feel comfortable and relaxed, I could easily imagine the transformation to bustling bar and place to be by the evening.

Service: I really liked our server, who was friendly and seemed genuinely happy. She explained why their famous uni toast wasn’t on the menu that day (supply issues) and recommended her favourite dishes to try. She separated our order into two courses for us, which I always appreciate when there aren’t clear appetizer/entree delineations. All of the dishes arrived promptly and with a brief introduction. This was our first outing since Alivia’s birth and at one point we were checking on her via her nursery camera. Our server noticed and asked a few questions about her then let us know how baby friendly they were. In fact the other occupied table that afternoon had a stroller pulled up beside it.

Food: It’s been 6 months since our meal at Aloette and I still think about their cheesy brioche toast. The slices of thick, cheesy, sweet bread topped with a healthy slab of butter were heavenly and dinner hadn’t even started yet. This was just the complimentary bread.

For our actual dinner, we ordered the Roasted Squid with pork belly and kimchi, the Parisienne Gnocchi with snails and the Aloette Burger and Fries. Both the squid and gnocchi were spectacular and wonderfully balanced in terms of flavour and texture. The squid was tender and the pork belly crispy. The kimchi added acidity and heat while cubes of compressed melon and slices of watermelon radish made each bite unique and varied. The gnocchi were pillowy and chewy, perfect really and the beans fresh and sweet. I only wish potions were bigger because I could’ve eaten so much more.

The Aloette burger was actually the weakest dish of the meal. This was still an excellent burger. Delicious with a meaty patty and wonderfully melted cheesy layer, but compared to our other two plates not as interesting or quite as special.

I had the pleasure of tasting Aloette’s Iceberg Wedge Salad at the Best New Restaurants 2018 unveiling in October and was surprised by how much I could like a salad. Each bite had layers of texture and flavour from the crunchy lettuce to the creamy avocado and topped with curls of parmesan and puffed wild rice. Needless to say I went back for several bites.

We can all agree that aesthetic is an important part of meals. When a dish makes me drool just by looking at, that’s a plus. At least until the first bite. In today’s age of Instagram visual appeal has become an even more important part of marketing and how restaurants gain popularity. However, taste is still key and should be the primary focus. No matter how pretty a restaurant’s interior is, how many succulents they house or how many edible flowers they use to plate, if the food tastes only ok, I just don’t see longevity. Aburi Room had a lot of promise. High quality torched sushi at a mid-range price and their aesthetic was on point (especially the takeout option). After eating lunch there, I’m not super surprised they’re already re-branding.

Atmosphere: Located in the first floor of a condo in North York, I was excited to venture back to our old neighbourhood for lunch at Aburi Room. This was one of our first outings with Alivia and I scoured pictures online to make sure there was plenty of room to fit a stroller next to our table. We made a reservation for 11:30am, right when doors opened and were the first diners seated. Tables were nicely spaced out with a few for large groups and comfy armchairs. Decor was modern with lots of greenery, pendant lights with an exposed industrial ceiling. Lunch was relaxed and busy but not to capacity.

Service: Our server was friendly and patient. Being our first time out in awhile, we were busy catching up with friends and took some time to decide on our order. The pace of the meal was comfortable and when our Smoked Chirashi Tart arrived, she was happy to wait for Stephen to get his camera and pose for our shots. Our reservation was made with a baby and our table had been set up with a high chair, an added touch that I now truly appreciate.

Food: After my lengthy intro I have to start with, the meal was good. Not amazing, but pleasant. My biggest challenge with the Omakase at Aburi Room was that for the price, I’d much rather spend either a bit more for amazing quality and fewer pieces (lunch at JaBistro $28 for 7 pieces) or much less for quantity ($15 Chirashi from Ichiban on Spring Garden). The menu relied heavily on the trend of aburi style sushi and presentation to distinguish themselves, which almost worked. It’s a hard neighbourhood to compete in when there are multiple Japanese restaurants every block.

Stephen and I both ordered the Signature Omakase (10 pieces + 2 hand rolls) for ourselves and split a Smoked Chirashi Tart with our friends. First to arrive were three square bowls with edamame, a cabbage salad and two slices of sashimi on seaweed. The sashimi was a white fish, very fresh and sweet; a good start.

The 10 pieces of aburi sushi was served on a rectangular white plate. There were 6 pieces of torched nigiri and 4 pieces of pressed, then torched sushi. Each piece was paired with a unique garnish ranging from jalapeno to tobiko and a thin slice of okra. I really enjoyed the salmon and truffle shrimp sushi, which were sweet and flavourful. The yuzu peel garnish on the scallop was interesting, a tart and bitter contrast to the sweet seafood. I liked it but not everyone at the table agreed. With the pieces of pressed sushi the layer of mayonnaise was generous and caramelized to a delicious flavour after being torched. However, it did mask the flavour of the fish a bit and all the pieces aside from mackerel tasted the same.

I admit, I ordered the Smoked Salmon Chirashi for the visuals and it did not disappoint in that department. Served on a round plate under a glass dome filled with smoke, presentation was on point. As for actual flavour, there was a lot of sauce. The layered tart of rice, chopped salmon sashimi and avocado was smothered with spicy mayo and nikiri sauce. This was not a subtle dish and I couldn’t really taste much smokey flavour.

We had almost forgotten about the two hand rolls when they arrived, which were filling and completed the meal. A piece of tamago would have been a nice touch. Overall, lunch at Aburi Room was good and I am happy to have tried the omakase. I’m interested in seeing how the restaurant evolves as there is a lot of potential.

Byblos is one of the vegetarian friendly restaurants I’ve been wanting to try out for years now with my friend and her fiance. It’s taken us this long to actually go because securing a reservation at the restaurant has been impossible with less than a week’s notice, sometimes even two or three for a Friday night. I had much better luck aiming for a Thursday night, which was still fully booked by the night of.

Atmosphere: The unassuming facade led to an intimate and vibrant restaurant decorated with geometric tiles and a beautiful wall length bar. Lighting was dim, which helped make every table feel more private, and the round tables were paired with cozy large chairs. Most of the diners were dressed up a bit more than t-shirts and tables really filled up at 8pm. That night, no walk-ins were accepted.

Service: Our server was friendly and professional, starting with asking if it was our first time at the restaurant. Once we all nodded yes, she explained the menu in detail and pointed out the dishes that were strictly vegetarian. With the menu being tapas style, she also made a recommendation on how many we should order from each section of the menu and explained some of the more exotic ingredients. Dishes arrived quickly and were sent out coordinated in two courses. During our meal, my friend recognized another diner who was meeting someone for dinner. He came by our table to say hi and our server quickly pulled up an extra seat for him, without any prompting so we could chat while he waited.

Food: The dish sizes at Byblos were on the smaller side and we were recommended to order 3-4 plates per person to have a satisfying meals. I would also say that the plates were also on the pricier end of the scale as well for the portion size so I’d categorize the restaurant as more of a special occasion or date night vs everyday dinner.

For the 4 of us, we picked a few balance of dishes to share between the meat eaters and enough vegetarian dishes for my friend’s fiance. To start we ordered the Citrus Mixed Olive, Roasted Red Beets, Eggplant Kibbeh and Turkish Manti Dumplings (filled with smoky eggplant). The olives were good, a mix of varieties with some very large, meaty ones. I really enjoyed the beets, which were bursting with flavour and so sweet. I also loved the barbari bread that came with the dish, delicious dipped in the labneh with beet juice. Between the two eggplant dishes, I much preferred the Kibbeh that was flavourful and crunchy without being oily. The manti were good, the more filling dish, but I found the flavours all muddled together with each bite.

To share, we ordered two of the “larger” plates, the Tah Dig (basmati rice with braised lamb) and Middle Eastern Fried Chicken. I’d skip the fried chicken, it was ok but for the price, Stephen’s fried chicken is pretty tasty. A warning on the hot sauce though, it packed a lot of heat. If you’re going to try it, start with one single drop. I also found the Tah Dig to be disappointing. The dish was served upside down with the topping underneath a bed of crispy rice. While the lamb was tender and flavourful, there just wasn’t that much of it and once split 4 ways, I didn’t taste much of the other ingredients.

We rounded out our meal with a plate of Mejadra (lentils), a Chanterelle Mushroom Pide and side of Seared Cauliflower. Both the texture and flavour of the pide won me over, reminding me almost of a paratha, while the cauliflower sounded better on paper then executed. With duck fat, tahini and sesame, I thought the side would be a sure win, but the texture of the cauliflower didn’t quite fit the heaviness of the sauce. The lentil dish was a good filler, not memorable.

Overall, the dishes I liked at Byblos, I really liked while the rest were lacklustre. When you order over 10 dishes though, that’s not a super surprising outcome, but I had high expectations. If you have an appetite, be prepared for a hefty bill to leave full. If you’re stopping by for a snack and drinks, there are some true gems on the menu (beets, eggplant and pide), the service was amazing and the decor beautiful.

Roscioli was a restaurant that Stephen and I stumbled on by chance. After an afternoon of exploring Rome, we were ready for dinner but also ready for home. So we ducked into a cafe to rest our feet and wi-fi access to look for a restaurant on the way back to our Airbnb. Roscioli was just a few blocks away and well rated, but reviews warned about how hard it might be to get a table. We decided to take a chance and luckily managed to get a table (right by the door).

Atmosphere: Roscioli was half deli half restaurant with one wall lined with wine bottles. The counter displayed gorgeous legs of ham at all different price points and shelves behind the counter was lined with a large variety of other meats. The restaurant was bustling and filled to capacity the entire night. We saw many people turned away at the door.

Service: Our server was very friendly and especially helpful with suggesting a bottle of wine to pair with what we had ordered. We didn’t have any issues with a language barrier and she answered all of our questions about the menu. When we ordered the artichoke, she made sure that we knew how to eat the dish dish and walked us through how much to peel off. I appreciated that the price for a basket of bread was clearly listed on their menu.

Food: Since Stephen and I spent the entire afternoon snacking, we weren’t super hungry. To start though, we opted to try an order each of Italian and Spanish ham. I liked the Spanish ham we choose more, as it was slightly more fatty, but both were flavorful and delicious. With a glass of wine, the plate of ham with fresh toasted bread was the perfect meal.

For mains, we ordered grilled Lamb Chops and a bowl of Cacio e Pepe. The lamb chops were so tender and just fell off the bone. I loved how cheesy the pasta was, which was cooked perfectly al dente. To round out our dinner, we had a side of artichoke hearts in olive oil as our vegetable. I would’ve loved to also try Roscioli’s carbonara and some more salumi, but we were stuffed with our few dishes (and a second bread basket).

I am very good at finding excuses to eat out. Heading to a concert, show, Raptor’s game? Obviously we’ll have to grab dinner beforehand. e11even’s convenient downtown location (within walking distance of Union Station, the ACC and Roger’s Centre), sophisticated dining room and spacious patio makes it a great spot to grab a drink, some bites or splurge on the ribeye for dinner. Also, their Double Cut Bacon, a must-order. Also, if you’re hungry afterwards, e11even is also open for for any post-game (Maple Leafs, Raptors, etc.) food and drinks as well.

Disclaimer: All food and drinks reviewed below were provided complimentary. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: Walking into e11even, I was worried for a second that Stephen and I were underdressed. The large dining room was all dark wood, high ceilings and leather booths. I saw lots of suits and ties, but when we moved to the patio outside, the attire was much more laid back. e11even’s partially covered patio ran along the entire restaurant and was breezy and comfortable. We were able to catch the sunset between buildings and enjoy the late summer evening. The menu was presented via a sleek iPad app, which had plenty of mouth-watering photos to reference. There was also an extensive wine list (and a gorgeous wine feature wall inside the restaurant), but I still have 5 months to go before my next glass of wine.

Food: To start, Stephen and I ordered the Spinach and Artichoke Dip and the Double Cut Bacon with a maple sherry glaze. The dip was cheesy and creamy with a nice toasted top layer while the chips were salty and crispy. A touch more seasoning in the dip would’ve balanced out the two components even more. I loved the Double Cut Bacon. Each thick slice was perfectly grilled, meaty and a perfect bite of sweet and savoury. Being able to order this dish as an appetizer was great and it would make a delicious add-on to any entree.

For mains, Stephen opted for the 14oz Dry Aged Ribeye with a peppercorn gravy while I choose the daily fish special of Grilled Red Snapper. Stephen’s steak was cooked to a perfect medium, served carved and with a side of lemon arugula salad. The peppercorn gravy was flavourful but could have benefited from a pinch of salt. I personally like my steaks pretty seasoned, so a heavy-handed sprinkle of sea salt on either the steak itself or in the gravy would have worked. The quality and the marbling of the steak was excellent and I liked how sour the salad was with wedges of fresh lemon.

Reading through the menu of side dishes, I couldn’t resist the Truffled Mac N’ Cheese. The baked bowl of goodness was cheesy with a hint of truffle that wasn’t too overpowering. My red snapper was served whole with skin on a bed of fingerling potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Both the fish and vegetables were well-seasoned and I really enjoyed the taste. The fish had a perfectly crispy skin and the flesh was tender and flaked easily with a fork.

We were too full to tackle dessert but I was eyeing the Sticky Toffee Pudding hard. In hindsight, with limited stomach capacity, I would’ve traded the giant plate of chips and Spinach dip for a slice of dessert.

Overall, dinner at e11even was satisfying with a lively atmosphere. I’d recommend getting a table on the patio if possible and most definitely the Double Cut bacon.

The restaurant scene in Toronto has always been hectic with dozens of doors opening and closing each month. In the competitive landscape, many new spots don’t hit their one year birthday. I usually try to visit restaurants only once they’ve hit the 6 months mark, giving them the opportunity to smooth out any service wrinkles and fine tune their menu. Many of the newly opened restaurants have caught my eye including Canis, Grey Gardens and Doma. So far, I’ve been able to visit Doma, a French inspired Korean restaurant located in Little Italy.

Atmosphere: Doma’s aesthetic was clean and minimalist. The white dining room was filled with square wood tables and seats alternated between wood and black metal ones. Both the plates and utensils were simple, unadorned and and modern. I felt a touch underdressed, having come straight from work, compared to other diners who were in more “date night” attire. The restaurant was quiet, perfect for conversation and not too busy on the Thursday night.

Service: My friend and I had reservations for 5:30pm, when Doma opened. When we arrived a few minutes early, service wasn’t ready just yet and we wandered around around the neighbourhood for a bit before returning 10 minutes later. We were seated quickly and a server by to take our drink orders. Once we had some time with the menu, our server returned to ask if we had any questions before we placed our order. Service was professional and efficient with dishes arriving at a good pace in courses. I couldn’t quite place why, but during few of our interactions with the servers, they felt a touch aloof.

Food: Doma’s menu was compact and changes monthly, keeping only 2-3 of the previous month’s most popular dishes. To taste the full menu was $65 per person, a great deal. For the two of us, we decided to share 3 dishes, Tuigim (deep-fried summer vegetables), Grilled Octopus and Uhsun Mandoo (a seafood dumpling). All three dishes were very good and varied in how much Korean and French influence was present.

Before our main dishes arrived, an Amuse Bouche was served, which was a sip of cold gazpacho, sweet, tart and seasoned with lots of herbs. The first dish to arrive was the Tuigim that came with dollops of three sauces. I really enjoyed how fresh the vegetables were, the light crispy batter and the variety of sauces. Each vegetable was cooked to a great texture and there wasn’t any hint of oiliness. Next up was the Grilled Octopus surrounded by a next of julienned vegetables and a Korean mustard dressing. I felt a lot of Korean flavours in this dish in the cabbage, dressing and seasoning on the charred octopus. The octopus itself was tender and had a nice char. I also liked the different textures of the salad and the sweet, sour flavours.

The last dish of the night was the Uhsun Mandoo, served with daily fish, scallop, prawn, spring pea puree, soy chili beurre blanc and radicchio. I have such mixed feelings about this dish. On one hand, this was one of the best radicchios I’ve ever had. The soy chili beurre blanc balanced the bitterness of the vegetable and made each bite sweet and interesting. The seafood was fresh, but none of the components really stood out or wowed. I was a bite disappointed in the mandoo, which was a very Western interpretation and reminded me much more of ravioli. The flavours of the filling and texture of the wrapper was good, but not what I was expecting. I was also surprised at the lack of spice or any fermented ingredients.

Overall, dinner at Doma was solid, but I was expecting more of the Korean side to shine through than it did.