phoenikia

I finally got a chance to try Nota Bene. Overall, I was a little underwhelmed. The presentation was beautiful, the service was exceptional, but I found the food to be quite bland and not exactly interesting. The portions were more generous than I expected. I started with the Yucatan Hot and Sour soup, which wasn't really spicy or sour, and I'm not sure Yucatan or Mexican would come to mind when one tastes the soup. The broth was rich, but I tired of the flavour pretty quickly. The scallops came with jicama, snap peas and cilantro. Perfectly cooked, exceptionally fresh, but the elements of this dish just didn't come together for me. The side of roasted beets were fine as sides, as were the onion rings. I did enjoy the lobster salad, the lobster meat was surprisingly sweet and fresh tasting compared to most lobster dishes I've had in Toronto. I liked the contrast of avocado, romaine, corn and lobster, although I found the buttermilk dressing to be on the rich side considering the richness of the avocado and lobster. I would think a citrusy dressing would spark up the salad more, but maybe they are trying to refer to the taste/texture/memory of a lobster roll through the creamy dressing. I probably would order the lobster salad again, if I return. The breads were dense and delicious, and the yogurt lemon pannacotta (served with berries) was quite a nice dessert. I'm happy that Nota Bene has opened so close to the Four Seasons Centre giving operagoers a good option for dining before performances. The quality of the ingredients seem to be among the best I've found it Toronto, but I can't say that anything I ate was spectacular.

good to know, Endy. Glad to hear he's chill about that type of thing.

Great pictures;) Can't wait to give a the new Omi a try. But I gotta say, I'm happy they have a carte in addition to the omakase- sometimes I just don't have the time or patience for a string of courses, and sometimes I don't feel like being surprised. Does anyone know if Chef Lee is willing to vary his omakase if a diner has food preferences?

Thanks for suggestion- I love crab cakes, so I'm hoping to give b/Side a try on my next trip;)

Thanks for the suggestions...have added them to my list for my next trip!

Are there any upscale restaurants in Ottawa that attract a thirtysomething crowd? I've enjoyed meals at Domus, would be hoping to find something at a similar quality level with regards to both food and service.

If I was looking for interesting, inventive cocktails, I'd head to Nyood or the Drake (which happen to be located in the same neighbourhood). The Drake has some interesting concoctions. I like the Dorothy Parker cocktail they serve. I didn't see it on the most recent drinks menu, but I'm sure they would still make it. I didn't try any of the cocktails at Nyood (stuck with wine), but the ones mentioned on their drinks menu did look interesting. They also have 4 different sangrias IIRC. My friend really enjoyed the white wine and berry sangria. Nyood mentions the name of their mixologist on their drinks menu, which is unusual in Toronto (but I can't remember his name right now). Also, in the past I've had interesting cocktails at Czehoski on W Queen W. They used to serve a mixed berry julep that was really delicious. I also love the raspberry mojito at Trapezzi. That's the only cocktail that has wowed me at Trapezzi, though. I wouldn't consider Trapezzi a destination spot, but it's great if you already are on the Danforth. Caren's Wine Bar in Yorkville also has an extensive cocktail list, including some champagne cocktails, but I haven't tried any yet. Spice Route on King West is a bit of a hot spot right now, but I've found their cocktails are hit or miss, depending on which bartender you approach. In fact, I have had one bartender say they are all out of mojitos (?) to find out an hour later that the bartender 10 metres away was still making them. I guest bartender No. 1 was too busy to muddle any mint. Pravda has a great selection of vodkas and vodka cocktails. Also, there's Reposado, (a tequila bar) on Ossington that I haven't tried, but might be worth a visit. I don't think the Reservoir Lounge is a drinks destination- just a bar with live music.

Wanted to thank you for mentioning La Folle Avoine. Had a lovely dinner there last night, starting with a sesame shrimp with gaspacho and salad, followed by grilled cuttlefish and roasted artichokes. The fraicheur de fruits (I think), that was served afterwards, included fruit salad and a green apple sorbet. But the highlight at our table was their raspberry tart, filled with raspberries and raspberry sorbet, and topped with freshly baked meringue. It was a tremendous deal for 30 Euros, the service was friendly and the atmosphere was cozy. Currently, the drinks are not included in the prix fixe at dinner time, but they are included at lunch iirc.

I just wanted to report back that I had a nice experience at L'Ambroisie in Quimper. The menu includes a list of the sources for all their ingredients used in their kitchen. Eating at L'Ambroisie was the highlight of my 3 days of eating in Quimper. Their dessert featuring Plougastel strawberries, included marinated strawberries with pepper, some sort of crispy tuile filled with strawberry fool, and a strawberry ice cream, were fantastic. The nicest use of strawberries I have encountered. The Epee Brasserie, one of the few restaurants open on Sunday nights (the night we arrived) served coutriade, but I was disappointed to find much of the fish was overcooked. I was surprised to see that their stock seemed to include tomato, as most traditional recipes I've seen do not. Monday night, another night when many of the better restaurants are closed, we tried another restaurant billed as a 'traditional' restaurant, but I was disappointed to find my duck in framboise sauce tasted rancid. I was happy to find each crepe I ordered in Brittany was delightful in its own way, regardless of whether it was found in a commercial district, a commercial district, or on a quiet street. Over 4 days, I tried a salted butter caramel, feve de tonka ice cream and chocolate crepe in Rennes, a honey lemon crepe in Rennes, a 3 cheese crepe in Vannes (mostly different goat cheeses), and a crab galette in Quimper (at L'Ambroisie).

Are there any particular specialties in Avignon that are worth seeking out during my stay?

Are there any places you would recommend in Quimper?

Are there any specific foods/cuisines your kids like to eat? If your kids like Greek food, I'd suggest Mythic Grill on Albert. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations. Prince Albert Diner might be fun for kids, too, with all their milkshakes, etc. Or Joe Kool's during the day ( it' more of a bar at night). The kitchen sink nachos might be a bit of a novelty for the kids. ← Well, he's only 3. But, we did Italian yesterday, Ethiopean tomorrow, so he's up for pretty much anything as long as the spice level isn't too high. Loves hummus and cheese most of all. And anything we tell him is a treat. And Kools - brings back memories. Feast of the Maumaus - where are they now? Cheers, Geoff ← Since he likes hummus, I'd head to Barrakat. It looks like a fastfood Middleeastern place, but their food is delicious.. It's on the corner of Albert and Richmond, where the Eastside Marios used to be located. Their hummus is great, as are their mezzes, shawarmas, lentil soup. Massey's Fine Indian Cuisine on King east of Richmond is another option, since they have lots of mild Northern dishes. I really like their version of muttar paneer, and their makhani dal (with kidney beans). If you like coriander, they have a tandoor cooked fish that is quite good. Too bad Say Cheese is long gone! Your son also might like a trip to Merla Mae, for a soft serve sundae. It's now located on Adelaide near Huron. If I think of anywhere else, I'll post some more;)

Are there any specific foods/cuisines your kids like to eat? If your kids like Greek food, I'd suggest Mythic Grill on Albert. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations. Prince Albert Diner might be fun for kids, too, with all their milkshakes, etc. Or Joe Kool's during the day ( it' more of a bar at night). The kitchen sink nachos might be a bit of a novelty for the kids.

Thanks for your feedback. I'll keep your suggestions in mind for my next trip. These are the places I visited during my time in Saskatoon: Koutouki Taverna: delicious mezes, generous portions. The mains (the moussaka and a lamb, artichoke and fava bean fricasee) were massive. The lamb was unbelievably tender, but it was too salty for my taste. I tend to like mezes better than mains in most Greek restos, so I'd probably stick to mezes on a future visit. The feta that came with their horta was creamy- one of the best fetas I've tasted.Their dolmades were some of the best I've ordered in a restaurant- and that's a dish I usually order if it's offered. Their village salad (horiatiki) was a good one- really liked the olive oil they use in their kitchen. Faculty Club at U of S: The lunch buffet was decent, but not too memorable. A week later, I can't remember what I had, apart from the Waldorf salad and the Vegetable curry. Pretty much the same as my last visit a year ago. The chocolate dessert- sort of a fallen chocolate cake, was delicious. Truffles Bistro & Patisserie: Their fish special, the Lake Diefenbaker trout was delicious- too bad it was slightly undercooked along one edge. I really enjoyed each part of my Salad Trio as well. Boffins Club: The housemade porcini noodles with tomatoes and a cream sauce were served al dente. Toothsome and delish. Beautiful atmosphere and great service. I hope to visit this place on future trips to Saskatoon. The Ivy: I was pleasantly surprised by the Ivy. Shared some appetizers with friends. Their fried calamari was tender and had a crisp coating. Their spring rolls were tasty- something I didn't expect. The Eggplant Parmesan was surprisingly good. More crisp/al dente than traditional versions, but I really enjoyed it. The Willows: Was a guest at a wedding reception here. The food was good, but not special in any way. I kind of expected something more contemporary- this was a standard Saskatchewan buffet wedding fare. Might have had more to do with the bride and grooms' taste than the Willows' kitchen's capabilities. Potato salad, crudites, a pickle and olive tray/ roast potatoes, broc/cauliflower/carrots and roast chicken. Genesis: dim sum at Genesis. This place is still great. Pretty much equal quality and value to Rol San on Spadina in Toronto. Saskatoon Station Place: One big family dinner ended up taking place here. The youvarlakia & village salad were ok. A little generous with the onions and skimpy with the feta on the salad, but I guess that's better for my waistline. Never know what I should order when I end up at this place, since I'm not a big meat eater and I avoid imported and/or frozen shellfish/ocean fish which usually make up most of the seafood options in family restaurants. Windows at the Sheraton: Had a couple breakfasts here. Such a nice setting, facing the park. Too bad the food continues to be mediocre. Had the buffet once- quite disappointing, since I don't really like eating imported fruit, especially during saskatoon, strawberry and cherry season, and I'm not a croissant/waffle/ scrambled egg kind of gal. As soon as I started to fill my plate, I realized I should have stuck with the carte. The next time I had breakfast at Windows, I had the smoked salmon, cream cheese and bagel off the menu. The bagel and smoked salmon were standard supermarket quality, and there was only about a tablespoon of cream cheese on the plate, but all in all, it was fine. I wish Windows would add some more savoury/ non-egg breakfast dishes to the menu. I didn't end up having much control over dining destinations on this trip- hope to visit Weczeria & Bliss on my next visit;)

Dan, thanks for the restaurant updates. And thanks for the recommendations, Zucchini Mama! Has Bliss Fine Foods opened yet?

Thanks for your input, Dan. Would you recommend any specific breakfast dishes at the Broadway Cafe or the Park Cafe? Didn't have a very good experience at Simon's last summer, but I'll try to give Calories and Truffles a try, in addition to Weczeria. Looking forward to the trip, and visiting your restaurant!

http://www.masseys.ca/ Massey's is my favourite Indian restaurant in London right now. The chef really knows his craft. He worked in the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi before coming to Canada. The spicing always seems balanced, even fragrant. Tandoor Macchi Tikka( a coriander-crusted fish cooked in a tandoor), Khumb Mattar, and Dal Makni are some of the dishes I have enjoyed. The Gobi dil Khush and Palak Paneer are also quite good. I've tried most of the lamb and chicken curries, and the gravies have been rich and tasty, and the meat has been melt-in-your-mouth tender, but I still tend to focus on vegetarian dishes when I visit. The service is friendly, and the atmosphere is a little more upscale than Jewel of India or Curry Garden. It's a little more expensive than the other Indian restaurants in town, but it's the best tasting by far. Massey's has a buffet at lunch, but I've only tried their dinner menu. Another Indian place that is quite delicious is the take-out place called Good for U in the food court at Cherry Hill Village Mall (formerly Westown Plaza) where the Baskin Robbins used to be located. Her samosas and other Indian treats are quite good, although sometimes a little greasy.

Four Seasons is a Greek-owned family restaurant on Fanshawe Park Road. They have both Greek and family restaurant standards on the menu. It is fine for a family restaurant, but I don't really think of it as a Greek restaurant. It's the place I often take picky, non-foodie guests from out-of-town, since it's open daily and there's a large menu so picky eaters are bound to find something they like on the menu. At the Four Seasons, I'd recommend the Greek platter which comes with a little bit of everything (pastitso, dolmades, souvlaki, salad, roast potatoes, spanakopita, etc.), but be warned it is a generous platter. I don't mind their stuffed grapeleaves or yiouvarlakia (an occasional special) They usually have a few daily Greek and non Greek specials, as well as a busy Sunday brunch buffet. I wasn't impressed by Santorini. The grilled octopus was fine, and the serving of horta was generous, but the dishes weren't seasoned with care. It tasted heavy-handed. Mykonos has slipped in the last couple years, some of their food tastes like it was pre-frozen. It just doesn't taste as fresh as it used to taste. For better Greek food in London, I'd recommend Mythic Grill on Albert Street. Everything I have ordered has tasted fresh, although I wish they had a few more options on their menu. Unfortunately it's a small space, and they don't take reservations, so arrive early!

I'll be visiting Saskatoon in June, and I'd love to hear about e-gulleters' favourite restaurants, and any particular dishes you would recommend. I'd especially be interested in restaurants/establishments that tend to use Western Canadian ingredients, rather than imported. I am hoping to finally try Weczeria on this trip. What are your favourite dishes at Weczeria? I will be attending a wedding at the Willows, so I'm hesitant to make a return trip to the golf course, unless the food in the dining room is outstanding. The choices on the Willow's dinner menu looked a little ordinary to me. What are your other upscale favourites? I'm bound to end up at a few family restaurants in Saskatoon, so I'd love to hear which family-style restaurants e-gulleters consider their favourite. Which has the best ribs? Or the best frajolaki? Which restaurants (any price point) serve the best desserts in Saskatoon? And best breakfasts? Also, are there any upscale bars or lounges serving good cocktails that attract a mostly 30something crowd? Thanks for any of your input!