I work around Yonge and Eglinton and my husband Stephen typically travels for his job. He comes home late in the week and we spend the weekend juggling our social calendar between family and friends. This means when we do have a Friday to ourselves, we try to take full advantage of it, especially if Stephen’s working downtown. One of our favourite spots to grab an after work drink and bite is Beer Bistro at Yonge and King with their expansive beer menu and delicious mussel bowls.

Atmosphere: There are two dining areas in Beer Bistro, one in front of the bar with casual seating, and a more formal dining area that takes reservations. On a Friday night, the casual area was full of suits, boisterous and crowded. When we arrived at 6pm, the seated table area was quiet but quickly filled up. The restaurant is a popular spot and I’d recommend making reservations if planning to visit for dinner.

Service: Our server was great, she was friendly and attentive without being obtrusive. When I was choosing the beers for my flight, she answered all of my questions about each beer and made recommendations based on my tastes. She checked in on us throughout the evening to see how I was enjoying each beer and made sure we had plenty of loaves of sourdough bread to dip into our mussel broth.

Food: To accompany our beer, Stephen and I ordered just a few dishes to nibble on. Many of the menu items include beer as an ingredient from using the beverage in the marinade to beer breaded croutons. We started with the steak tartare, served with a golden egg yolk, and breadcrumbs to be mixed together at the table. On the plate were also lettuce leaves, capers, mini cucumbers and toasted crostini. The steak was well seasoned and creamy from the egg yolk. I always order the Belgian Frites at Beer Bistro. The generous cone of perfectly crispy fries is served with mayonnaise and smoked ketchup, and absolutely delicious. Even with the large portion size, I finish every last fry.

For our main, Stephen and I opted for New England Style Mussel Bowl with beer bacon, leeks, potatoes, smoked cheddar, parsley, shallots. I’ve tried every mussel bowl on the menu and also like the Belgian White (garlic, parsley, lemon) and the Brussels Mussels (smoked sausage, sweet peppers, lime, cilantro). When we’re really hungry we’ll order one bowl each, but I find sharing a single bowl filling enough. Especially since each bowl comes with a loaf of sourdough bread that can be refilled. The Staub bowl was designed with a grate that catches the mussels, granting easy access for dipping the bread in the broth. When our main arrived, and the lid lifted, the aroma was heavenly. Stephen and I dug in and even forgot to take photos until we were near the bottom of the bowl. The broth was creamy, savoury, and I loved the light beer flavour.

Overall, Beer Bistro is a great spot for casual drinks or dinner. I would also recommend their Beer Ice Cream and Cheese and Lager Fondue.

Last year, the owners of 120 Club took over the first floor of their building and turned the space into a diner and live performance space. I was invited to check out their menu and stay for a show. During that visit, I found 120 Diner served up delicious classic comfort dishes like nachos but felt short on others like a rice bowl. Recently, I was invited to revisit the diner with Karen and Sandi, which had pared down their previously expansive menu to focus more on what they did best, bar food.

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

Atmosphere: In terms of decor, the restaurant was unchanged from my previous visit. 120 Diner have ramped up their live performance schedule though and have music or comedy performances every night. On the night we visited, we were entertained by two jazz acts. All regular jazz shows are Pay What You Can with a suggested amount of $10-$20. I would say the focus of the evening was the performers and most of the diners were there for the show. As a respectful audience, customers were asked to keep noise level minimal.

Food: I chatted briefly with Todd (the owner of 120 Diner) about how the menu had changed over the past year. His answer was that the menu was pared down and more focused. Before, I was impressed with the breadth of of selection but also overwhelmed with the number of choices, and with such a large number of menu items, there were bound to be a few duds. The revised menu still had a great variety of dishes, including plenty of comfort food and healthier choices, and some delicious new desserts.

Sandi, Karen and I each chose 1 or 2 dishes to order and blog about. I chose the Bruschetta, Hogatropolis Poutine and Strawberry Tall Cake. We also had some amazing Mac and Cheese and Ravioli that Karen has the details on.

The Bruschetta had chopped red and orange tomatoes, served on a toasted baguette with basil, and topped with shaved parmesan cheese and a drizzle of balsamic. I really liked the combination of the fresh tomatoes and balsamic. The parmesan added a hint of umami to the dish and the portion size was quite generous. I did have trouble tasting any basil in the dish, a stronger herb flavour would’ve added even more.

Since I tried and loved the nachos on my last visit, this time I chose a poutine, one topped with cheese curds, chicken gravy, pulled pork and double smoked bacon. Delicious. My favourite part of this dish was the thick, savoury gravy that melted the cheese curds and was soaked up by the fries. A blanket of pulled pork in a sweet BBQ sauce covered the plate. To me, each bite of this dish was a good balance between sweet and salty, satisfying both cravings at once. Crunchy bacon bits also added some texture.

Dessert was the highlight of the evening. A play on strawberry shortcake, the Strawberry Tall Cake was a mountain of vanilla soft serve, vanilla cake and fresh ripe strawberries. Pretty much all of my favourite things together on a plate. The portion size was also generous and could easily be shared with one or two other people.

My eyes light up when a new restaurant opens in my neighbourhood. While there’s plenty of Asian fare in North York, Western cuisine is harder to come by, especially brunch. I usually make the trek down to St. Clair or Dupont when the need for waffles or hollandaise sauce kicks in. Thus, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into the brunch menu at the newly opened Union Social Eatery.

Atmosphere: Union Social Eatery has taken over the space that used to be Estrella Taqueria (who used to be Smokey’s). There was a new paint job, some of the decor has changed but overall the restaurant layout has stayed consistent. Tables were lined against the store front with doors that could be opened for fresh air, there’s plenty of booths and room for large groups. Music was loud and the atmosphere relaxed.

Service: The Hubby and I met my friend and her one year old at the restaurant. Our server could not have been more friendly and accommodating. She checked up on us often, made silly faces, and was great at taking care of our table. Unfortunately, our food took almost 30 minutes to arrive. We were the first customers that day at 11am, not early for brunch and few tables were occupied shortly after. If there wasn’t a small child keeping us busy and entertained, the wait would have been painful and far more pronounced.

Food: While we focused on the weekend brunch menu, Union Social’s full food menu was available to order from as well. Each plate was served with fresh watermelon slices and a shot of strawberry yogurt. I chose the breakfast burger ($12.95) while The Hubby had the Eggs Benedict with Pancetta ($14.95). Both dishes also came with a side of smashed potatoes.

For what was plated, I thought the menu prices were a bit high. Both dishes were satisfying but had a list of pros and cons that overall left me feeling meh. Between the two, the eggs benedict was better seasoned and stronger flavours. However the hollandaise sauce looked like it was baked, had formed a crust and was not even remotely liquid. This was pretty disappointing and wasn’t stated in the menu description. I also found the yolk not runny enough.

My breakfast burger was the more filling choice and I enjoyed each bite, but it wasn’t a dish I couldn’t cook at home myself. I would not have missed the small shot of strawberry yogurt.

Overall, I need to re-visit and try their regular menu before settling on a final opinion. On brunch alone, It feels like there are still wrinkles to be ironed out in the kitchen and the hollandaise sauce needs a facelift.

Club 120 is a nondescript nightclub occupying the second floor of a small building on Church St. The owners have been running the club for almost 9 years and recently took over the restaurant space on the main floor as well. Their aim was to create a relaxed, modern diner that features live comedy or music each night. I was invited by Todd, one of the owners, to stop by and sample their menu.

Disclaimer: All drinks and dishes were provided free of charge by the restaurant. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Atmosphere: The space used to be a Spring Rolls and the decor still features many of their signature red elements, however not knowing ahead of time, it would be hard to tell. A full bar was situated at the back of the restaurant, a stage was set up along one wall and comfy booths lined the wall opposite. Several tables and chairs were set up to face the stage, allowing diners to enjoy their meal and the show. Although the kitchen opened at 5pm, the space was pretty empty until the show started at 8pm. On the night I stopped by, there was a comedy podcast live recording and most of the comics were pretty funny. The content was PG-13, but nothing super scandalous.

Service: Service was great, friendly and efficient. Todd was there to answer any questions I had and came to check on me while I waited for my late friend. All of our food arrived from the kitchen piping hot and empty dishes were cleared away promptly. As the crowd grew louder with the show, Todd and the server continued to check-in and take care of each table.

Food: While I browsed the menu at 120 Diner, I was impressed with the wide selection. There were wraps, burgers, salads, sandwiches and other entrees. I also appreciated the many vegetarian (veggie burger, wrap or rice bowl) and healthy options. Basically for any of the mains, the protein could be substituted for haddock or salmon.

For both the appetizer and entree, I decided to try a classic bar item, and something unique. With the appetizer, I was immediately drawn to the “Build Your Own Nachos or Poutine” section of the menu. Starting with a base of fries or chips, there was plenty of add-on options including meatballs, double smoked bacon or garlic shrimp. I chose the Mexican Spiced Ground Beef. To offset the comfort dish, I ordered the Grilled Calamari with Puttanesca Sauce as our second, healthy, appetizer.

Both dishes were great. The puttanesca sauce had lots of flavour and was heavy on olives and garlic. I did find the squid a bit on the raw side, but better than overcooked and tasty. I loved the nachos; crispy chips, melted cheese, generous toppings, spicy jalapeno and the Mexican spiced ground beef added even more heat. The portion was also more than enough for two people.

With entrees, my friend went with the 120 Grilled Cheese Burger and sweet potato fries while I went healthy with a Rice and Grilled Vegetable Bowl, topped with homemade meatballs. Hands down, the cheeseburger won this round. The burger was really more grilled cheese than burger and there was so much delicious melted cheese. The rosemary focaccia “bun” was toasted perfectly and spicy mayo added just a touch of heat. Her side of sweet potato fries were also crispy, sweet with a dash of salt. Compared to this decadent burger, my rice bowl didn’t really hold up. The rice was a little wet and I couldn’t taste the cilantro or coconut. I was expecting the rice to be more like Chipotle rice. There was a lot of grilled vegetables, but the meatballs were underwhelming.

Overall, 120 Diner does good comfort food. While there’s plenty of healthy options, the kitchen shined with  classic bar dishes. That Grilled Cheese Burger was worth every calorie

From middle school to high school, my daily afternoon snack was two hot dogs, microwaved with a healthy helping of ketchup. Then during my university days, grabbing a grilled hot dog (oh street meat) was a treat in between classes. Let’s Be Frank puts a new spin on the simple hot dog with their creative menu, full of fusion dishes and classic flavours, providing a whole new reason to eat hot dogs regularly.

Disclaimer: All drinks and dishes were provided free of charge by the restaurant. All opinions expressed below are wholly mine.

Let’s Be Frank has been 5 years in the making, starting with festival booths, then a food truck, a temporary pop-up home and now a permanent location at Spadina and College. Our group of bloggers were introduced to the three owners and heard the story of how their business came to be. Through plenty of hiccups and successes, their enthusiasm for creating and sharing great food has grown stronger.

Each specialty dog at Let’s Be Frank can be ordered in slider (3.5″), regular (6″) or big dog (8″) size, all priced under $10. The Hot Dog’s served are all Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, juicy, meaty and some of the best dogs I’ve tasted. Let’s Be Frank is always trying out new recipes and with weekly specials like the Doritos dog. They also feature have a great drinks menu with a good selection of cocktails and Tall Boys (even Stiegl Radler Grapefruit!).

We sampled four different dogs in the slider size, two sides and a “hot dog” dessert:

Pulled Pork Po’Boy
Slow-cooked pulled pork, tangy coleslaw, zesty homemade BBQ sauce & hickory sticks
The first and my favourite of the night. I liked the tangy coleslaw, the spicy BBQ sauce and the crunchy hickory sticks
Katsu Dog
Panko crusted, deep fried, with wasabi mayo, sesame BBQ sauce & green onions
This was a really interesting dog, lots of crunch and the dog inside is so juicy, I would’ve liked a touch more wasabi mayo on the bun
Corn Dog
A frank doused in our own batter, deep fried, and topped with Dine Alone Foods’ Southern Blues BBQ sauce
Can’t go wrong with a corn dog and the one at Let’s Be Frank was good with a sweet batter and tangy BBQ sauce
Hot Dog Wings
Hot dog bites, breaded and fried, tossed in buffalo sauce
These were similar to the Katsu dog in breading but a totally different taste profile, very close to a boneless chicken wing but even better, because it’s a mini hot dog
Mac & Cheese
Creamy, sharp, topped with bacon bits and Southern Blues BBQ sauce
All of the strong flavours mixed well in this dish, I found the cheese a little runny
Hot Dog Gravy Poutine
Seasoned fries topped with fresh curds and our signature hot dog gravy
With fresh cheese curds from Kensington market and a creamy hot dog gravy, a solid poutine
Ivana Banana Dog
Deep-fried banana with peanut butter, jelly & Nutella
Self explanatory, the deep fried banana was sweet and creamy, the addition of Nutella to peanut butter and jelly, genius

Let’s Be Frank transforms hot dogs into awesome new delights. There’s chili, kimchi, cheese curds and bacon involved , but if you’re looking for something simpler, the Naked Dog is always available as well.

Etobicoke is not my neighbourhood, but it was the compromise between Toronto and Mississauga where I met up with friends from high school to catch up. I chose Azaria’s Restaurant based on positive reviews online and their menu, which had great variety.

Atmosphere: Our group stopped by on a Monday night around 8pm, not exactly peak hours but quite a few tables were occupied. Tables were well lit and black and white photos decorated the walls. Speaking to the owner later, we found out that many of the pictures were of her dad (where Azaria comes from) and friends. We were seated comfortably in a booth that provided privacy and lots of elbow room. The restaurant was elegant and intimate with dark furniture and bif leather booths.

Service: Being a quiet night, our table ended up being the last to clear after two bottles of wine and dessert. The owner was friendly and welcoming, ensuring we should take our time and not feel rushed as we neared their closing time. Our server was efficient, equally friendly and dishes were served quickly. With Azaria’s tapas style menu, our server let us know we could increase portions from 4 to 5 right off the bat.

Food: 99% of the menu was priced from $8-$12 and were a good portion size. Between the 5 of us, we ordered 10 items and barely had room for dessert. Not all of the dishes are pictured below. While waiting for everyone to arrive, I started with an order of fries that came were crispy and came with a delicious spicy mayo.

We then ordered both the Fish Taco, special of the day and Spicy Shrimp Taco. Both had thin shells and lots of flavour. I liked the fish taco better, which had a big chunk of meat while the shrimp was heavier on the batter. For vegetables, we tried the Brussels Sprouts, Sauteed Collard Greens and Cauliflower and Leek Smash. While I found the cauliflower smash interesting, it was a little too reminiscent of baby food for me. My favourite was the roasted brussels sprouts, topped with cheese and bacon bits.

After the fish taco, my second favourite dish of the night was the Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders. The flavours were authentic and the slices of meat were piled high was globs of yellow mustard. We also had the Risotto and Beef Tenderloin (not pictured), which were both well done. I couldn’t help but order a Tiramisu, one of my favourite desserts and a great way to end a meal.

Overall, the tapas menu at Azaria’s was solid with lots of highs, a handful of okays and only a few lows.

During university, going out for cheap wings with friends were a monthly, if not weekly meal. Now, it’s more of an indulgence and it’s harder to schedule with work and family commitments. I’m lucky to have a group of friends who all live in the North York area and enjoy eating. We met up at St. Louis on a Tuesday to take advantage of their half priced chicken wing special.

Atmosphere: The St. Louis location in North York is made up of two restaurants. There’s a normal St. Louis on the first floor, and the second floor is called The Lounge with more seating, a nice patio and louder music. The Lounge serves the same menu as downstairs and offers the same specials. There’s lot of TVs with sports and the tables are packed together. If you’re stopping by on a Tuesday, get there before 7pm. Our group was second in line and it was only a 10 minute wait for a table. As we were leaving at 9pm, the line snaked all the way down the stairs and out the door.

Service: Our service wasn’t terrible but it also wasn’t great. At first our group was split between two tables of 4 that were diagonal from each other. When a table cleared up next to one of them, we were able to move easily and the servers were helpful. It was a busy night and it was hard to flag someone down. I felt the service was a bit disorganized and not the most efficient.

Food: When the baskets of wings arrived, I took out my camera and all of my friends snickered. “Are you going to take the same picture of each basket of wings?” they asked. I had to oblige once the challenge was put forth (I’m only posting 6 though, the other two baskets were more fry than wing).

St. Louis runs specials every day of the week but the Tuesday offer is the best value for wings. With a drink order, 1lb and 2lb wings orders are half priced from 4pm to close, making the price/pound being $8 after tax and tip. I am also a big fan of St. Louis’ fries and their signature garlic dill sauce, going through a good package-2 per basket.

For wing flavours, we tried the plain, lemon pepper, cajun, medium dry, hot and honey, Caribbean jerk, chili lime and honey garlic. In general, I liked the dry spice wings better than the saucey ones. Of the dry flavours, my favourite was the lemon pepper. The acidity was crisp and the spice from the pepper was light. Between the three sweet flavours, I had a hard time telling them apart. All of them were fine and none stood out as amazing. I really liked the Cajun and the Caribbean jerk was my least favourite. Each chicken wing was small to medium sized and there was an even ratio of drumstick to wing. I was full after 6 or 7 wings while the boys at the table had a few more. Each basket came with ~8 wings.

At the end of the night, our bill came to $15/head which was a great deal.

On my way to work, I noticed a change in one of the restaurants along Yonge. A neighbour of Nome and Kenzo, previously an Italian restaurant, bore a simple new sign with the name “The Fry”. After reading a blog review and finding out they specialized in KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), my next dinner out was decided.

Atmosphere: The interior decor of The Fry hasn’t changed much from the previous occupants. The wooden tables and booths seem a dated but the lighting has been dimmed and the music turned up. Another difference was how full the restaurant was. We were lucky to get a table before the line started forming outside and the queue was steady throughout the night. Diners ranged from young families to boisterous friends all enjoying the fried chicken and pitchers of beer.

Service: I only saw two servers taking care of the floor who were responsible for seating guests, taking orders, serving plates and clearing tables. Our order arrived quickly and hot, but it was a busy night and it was challenging to flag down one of the girls to refill side dishes or water. The service was professional but another body could have eased the rushed vibe and made time for a warmer interaction.

Food: Korean Fried Chicken differs the most from North American style in the cooking process. KFC is fried twice, resulting in a crunchier, less greasy skin. I found the chicken pieces were also smaller and more tender than at Western bars.

Every time I’m hungry I make the same mistake of listening to my stomach over my brain. The menu lists all different ways KFC can be enjoyed with different sauces, portions and cuts. There are also beer and chicken combos at three different price ranges. Since both The Fiance and I were hungry, we thought we needed at least a Large portion of the chicken and ordered the Half and Half Beer Combo C. This combo allowed us to try two flavours and wash it all down with a pitcher of domestic beer. We chose the dry and classic sauce options.

After we placed our order, a sectioned plate with side dishes was served along with our pitcher. The three side dishes provided was an iceberg salad, pickled radish and macaroni salad. I’ve always loved sweet pickled radish and the cubes at The Fry were perfect, crispy, sweet and sour. We ordered refills throughout our meal.

The chicken lived up to all of my expectations and more. The skin was crispy, well seasoned and the meat tender and moist. One of the best pieces of fried chicken I’ve had in Toronto. I enjoyed the tangy classic sauce while The Fiance preferred the dry option. Both were excellent and I can’t wait to go back to try the spicy sauce. All cuts of the chicken were used, which resulted in some boneless pieces and a nice ratio or dark and white meat.

I do have to caution that a large portion is too much chicken for two people. We were one piece away from finishing our meal, but it was a belt-loosening, wish I had worn stretchy pants kind of finish. Next visit, I’ll be prepared.

Beer Bistro is one of my go-to restaurants in the financial district because of it’s great location (right at King and Yonge, King TTC station) strong food menu and of course their vast beer selection. I stopped by this year on St. Patrick’s day for a few drinks and real food before heading off to more “Irish” venue.

A great option for trying out beer flavours if the “flight”, which includes any 3 samples from their extensive draught menu. The servers are helpful and knowledgeable with recommending choices and I love how the draught menu is categorized based on flavour profile. My usual order is something from each of the “fruity”, “quenching” and “crisp” categories. You can also order by the bottle, and there is even more variety.

Since this was our first stop of the day while waiting for the rest of our group and everyone had already eaten breakfast, we only ordered a few items from the food menu. Beer Bistro does offer a brunch menu on the weekends from 11am to 4pm  with a selection of different toppings with eggs benedict. On this visit, we ordered the fries  cooked in duck fat, kobe beef tacos and cheese and lager fondue.

I always order the side of fries, they’re crispy and savoury (from the duck fat) and comes with smoked ketchup and fresh mayonnaise. The beef tacos had heat and were great to split between people, but weren’t amazing. I really enjoyed the cheese fondue, the flavour was light and not overpowering. The texture could have been creamier and the bread pieces weren’t toasted. My usual dinner order is a mussel bowl and several loaves of the sourdough bread it comes with to soak up as much sauce as possible. I would happily lick the bowl clean after each visit. Beer Bistro strives to incorporate beer in all of their menu items, including dessert. I’m a big fan of their homemade “Beer Scream” and Creme Brulee, both options are a sweet end to the night.

It’s winterlicious time again in Toronto and this year I decided to try something different. I usually visit 2-3 restaurants every time the “licious” season rolls around but that means by now I’ve tried a lot of the staples (Canoe, Auberge de Pommier, etc.) and have loved some, been disappointed at others. For the loved, I’d rather go back to taste their normal menu so this year my plan is try the restaurants with good reviews, lower price range, and that I’ve never heard of before. Habits Gastropub fell nicely into these criteria.

Atmosphere: The restaurant lives up to their marketing, it feels like a bar with high tables, stools, flat screen TVs showing the hockey game behind the bar but also refined with stainless steel and wood finishes. Using a large chalk board area was cute near the plating area and with events such as live music, I could see it being a lively venue for a couple of drinks.

Service: Our server was really friendly and patient with us while we talked instead of looking at the menu. Each course came out quickly from the kitchen and dishes were cleared.

Food: What makes me choose a restaurant for winterlicious is a smaller menu, 3 or 4 entrees, where I want to try everything. The dishes are being mass produced each night and with fewer options, I feel like more time and energy are focused into each dish. For appetizers, we ordered the Rabbit Terrine and Waldorf salad. While the rabbit was good, I enjoyed the salad more. The celery root added a great crunch and the blue cheese dressing was very light. A sauce with pistachios was served with the terrine and I thought the flavour of the pistachios really didn’t match with the sauce or protein at all making the dish a miss for me.

For entrees, I had the pork tenderloin over sweet potato mash with dried apricot jus. My friend had the roasted pickerel fillet over lemon risotto. Both dishes were amazing; flaky fish and moist pork. I could have eaten a whole other bowl of just the risotto or sweet potato mash, they were both very creamy and rich. A complete bite with pork, mash and pieces of apricot hit all points for savoury sweet and a touch sour. We both ordered the creme brulee for dessert and it was good. Again, rich with a smooth custard. My favourite part of creme brulee is the burnt top layer so I would’ve loved to see a crispier top, but it was a nice finish to the meal.