Coach and Lantern
384 Wilson St E
Ancaster, ON
L9G 2C2
http://www.coachandlantern.ca/
Coach and Lantern is one of those neighbourhood standbys that I just can't stay away from. The atmosphere is the main draw. This British pub is in the - reportedly haunted - stone building that was once the old hotel. Its creepiest claim to fame was as the location of trials for the "Bloody Assize" of Ancaster just after the War of 1812. The decor reflects the British pub style, the stone walls seem original, and the furniture fits the theme: heavy, dark wood. There is also a great but narrow patio - get there fast, because it fills up quickly on nice nights!
The menu is mostly pub grub, but it's well done. My favourite dishes are the perogies with bacon and caramelized onions ($8.99 - listed as "Lighter Fare" aka Appetizer; you might want a salad on the side); the Classic Coach Burger ($9.99 with side, definitely tastes homemade); and - oh yes - their mashed potatoes which made with redskins and always fresh. The dessert menu seems to rotate slightly, but I've never been disappointed.
Beyond that, there's other classic pub fare, and a few standout peculiar offerings. Try out the deep fried dill pickles ($7.99) or the "Irish Nachos" with potato instead of chips ($12.99) - I haven't gotten brave enough to yet.
There is always something going on, whether its live music or trivia night. The management is friendly and helpful.
That said, there's something I've been missing the last few times - good service. Maybe it's because I've been sitting on the patio, but the last three visits I had issues. Someone needs to tell the waitresses that even if someone is enjoying themselves on the patio with a drink, they still might want to order something - please ask, I usually want my dinner! And then there was the waitress that never brought cutlery and then disappeared. Hm. But they're generally friendly and apologetic, at least.
All in all, I would definitely recommend the Coach - for casual dinner in the cozy indoors, drinks on the patio, or listening to some music.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Stoney's Bread Company, Oakville
Stoney's Bread Company
321 Kerr St
Oakville, ON
L6K 3B6
I didn't know what to expect when I arrived, except the order of service: you make your order, then you pay, and finally you sit to wait for your food. I was pleased to see that it was a classy place with a slightly shabby chic vibe. Lots of heavy wood tables with chattering girlfriends and older couples scattered throughout the restaurant.
The menu is certainly creative, if also carb-focused (look out Atkin's types!). There is a big list of 'real' pizzas with classy, well-thought-out toppings, a sandwich list with the same description, a good number of pastas, and - yes - salads. The Sunday brunch menu made me wish I could be there on a Sunday morning too.
After much deliberation, I settled on a 4-cheese penne. . . hold the penne - I requested a change to linguine, which was no problem at all. It came out quickly, and was a good size: not the usual restaurant 'giant', but an edible portion. The cheese was to die for, and the dish was accompanied by garlic toast on a nearly-nutty bread.
Harry ended up getting the sandwich of the day - a bison burger (so tender) with a hefty list of toppings, including goat cheese, on a whole wheat panini bun. Also well-planned and different from the usual restaurant fare.
Even our drinks were special - we both chose a pop from the independent soda line they sell there. Mine was "Diet Cream" (which done right, is not pink), and his was Black Cherry. Yum yum. A great addition to the meal.
The bill came to just under $40, which is reasonable for what we got. Stoney's is a pizza/pasta/sandwich place upgraded to a chic hangout, with a menu to match. I definitely hope to return.
321 Kerr St
Oakville, ON
L6K 3B6
I didn't know what to expect when I arrived, except the order of service: you make your order, then you pay, and finally you sit to wait for your food. I was pleased to see that it was a classy place with a slightly shabby chic vibe. Lots of heavy wood tables with chattering girlfriends and older couples scattered throughout the restaurant.
The menu is certainly creative, if also carb-focused (look out Atkin's types!). There is a big list of 'real' pizzas with classy, well-thought-out toppings, a sandwich list with the same description, a good number of pastas, and - yes - salads. The Sunday brunch menu made me wish I could be there on a Sunday morning too.
After much deliberation, I settled on a 4-cheese penne. . . hold the penne - I requested a change to linguine, which was no problem at all. It came out quickly, and was a good size: not the usual restaurant 'giant', but an edible portion. The cheese was to die for, and the dish was accompanied by garlic toast on a nearly-nutty bread.
Harry ended up getting the sandwich of the day - a bison burger (so tender) with a hefty list of toppings, including goat cheese, on a whole wheat panini bun. Also well-planned and different from the usual restaurant fare.
Even our drinks were special - we both chose a pop from the independent soda line they sell there. Mine was "Diet Cream" (which done right, is not pink), and his was Black Cherry. Yum yum. A great addition to the meal.
The bill came to just under $40, which is reasonable for what we got. Stoney's is a pizza/pasta/sandwich place upgraded to a chic hangout, with a menu to match. I definitely hope to return.
Pho Dau Bo, Hamilton
Pho Dau Bo
15 Cannon St E
Hamilton, ON
L8L 1Z6
More Vietnamese, yes please. I figured I'd try out this 'staple' Vietnamese restaurant in Hamilton that people on review websites seem to rave about - it's also a chain throughout Southern Ontario.
Harry and I started with the fresh shrimp spring rolls. They seem to be uniformly tasty at any authentic Vietnamese or Thai restaurant, and these were no exception. Oddly, they came after the rest of the meal showed up (all within a matter of minutes though).
I couldn't resist going for a 'bun' vermicelli bowl, though I was a bit disappointed to see there was no meat + shrimp + spring roll combo's. I went for a grilled pork + spring roll 'bun' - served over shredded carrots, shredded lettuce, shredded cucumbers, and vermicelli, with a sauce to pour over it. It was very tasty, but I've been spoiled by the 'bun' at Little Saigon (66 Mall Road, Hamilton). The Pho Dau Bo vermicelli was thicker than I consider to be vermicelli, there wasn't quite enough sauce to pour over it, and, yes, my favourite combo option was missing.
Harry got the original pho with rare beef, and was definitely not disappointed by the huge spicy bowl of broth + beef + noodles presented to him (and it was the small size!). He didn't know the size would be quite so large, and also got a massive Pad Thai, which was a spicier, less sweet version than the ones I usually have.
To top it all of, we got milkshakes. Coconut for him, strawberry for me. We each preferred our own flavour. They were a bit smaller than we were expecting, but sufficient.
All in all, the meal was reasonable ($30 total for way too much food), and tasty. But I've been spoiled by Little Saigon, so that's where I'll return when I'm craving 'bun'.
15 Cannon St E
Hamilton, ON
L8L 1Z6
More Vietnamese, yes please. I figured I'd try out this 'staple' Vietnamese restaurant in Hamilton that people on review websites seem to rave about - it's also a chain throughout Southern Ontario.
Harry and I started with the fresh shrimp spring rolls. They seem to be uniformly tasty at any authentic Vietnamese or Thai restaurant, and these were no exception. Oddly, they came after the rest of the meal showed up (all within a matter of minutes though).
I couldn't resist going for a 'bun' vermicelli bowl, though I was a bit disappointed to see there was no meat + shrimp + spring roll combo's. I went for a grilled pork + spring roll 'bun' - served over shredded carrots, shredded lettuce, shredded cucumbers, and vermicelli, with a sauce to pour over it. It was very tasty, but I've been spoiled by the 'bun' at Little Saigon (66 Mall Road, Hamilton). The Pho Dau Bo vermicelli was thicker than I consider to be vermicelli, there wasn't quite enough sauce to pour over it, and, yes, my favourite combo option was missing.
Harry got the original pho with rare beef, and was definitely not disappointed by the huge spicy bowl of broth + beef + noodles presented to him (and it was the small size!). He didn't know the size would be quite so large, and also got a massive Pad Thai, which was a spicier, less sweet version than the ones I usually have.
To top it all of, we got milkshakes. Coconut for him, strawberry for me. We each preferred our own flavour. They were a bit smaller than we were expecting, but sufficient.
All in all, the meal was reasonable ($30 total for way too much food), and tasty. But I've been spoiled by Little Saigon, so that's where I'll return when I'm craving 'bun'.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
My Thai - Ancaster
My Thai
43 Wilson St W
Ancaster, ON
www.mythai.ca
(+ 4 other locations - Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, & *NEW Waterloo)
This is one of my favourite restaurants, and one I continually return to. The original restaurant was the Hamilton location, but it's the Ancaster branch that I go to again and again. I'm glad to hear they are expanding even further with their new Waterloo locaton!
I had lunch there on Friday. They have a shorter, cheaper, seasonal lunch menu, though the portions are still very filling. For about $10 I got a huge order of Pad Thai which came with deep fried spring roll.
A few menu favourites:
- Pad Thai - I have to really make an effort to get anything else. Pad Thai is one of my favourite foods, and My Thai's Pad Thai is excellent. The sauce is sweet (not too much spice in this one), and the tofu cubes are plentiful ( my favourite part). It also comes with shrimp and chicken and, of course, egg, peanut, and bean sprouts. Fabulous.
- Fresh & Fried Spring Rolls - both everything you'd want in a spring roll, both come with sweet chili dipping sauce
- Siamese Beef - thin strips of perfectly grilled, tender beef (slightly peppery) served with a spicy and sweet chili sauce
- Cashew Chicken - big juicy chunks of chicken in a somewhat sweet sauce, with peppers and orange slices - great on their jasmine rice
- Satay - skewered, barbecued strips of the same juicy chicken with a touch of coconut flavour served with a delicious peanut dipping sauce (even though I barely like peanuts, this sauce is awesome!)
All in all, we've never had a bad experience with My Thai. The servers are always friendly, the service is speedy, and the restaurant is decorated very nicely. It is a bit dim, but it sets a nice mood for chatting and dining. It's a great restaurant for take-out, as well!
43 Wilson St W
Ancaster, ON
www.mythai.ca
(+ 4 other locations - Hamilton, Burlington, Brantford, & *NEW Waterloo)
This is one of my favourite restaurants, and one I continually return to. The original restaurant was the Hamilton location, but it's the Ancaster branch that I go to again and again. I'm glad to hear they are expanding even further with their new Waterloo locaton!
I had lunch there on Friday. They have a shorter, cheaper, seasonal lunch menu, though the portions are still very filling. For about $10 I got a huge order of Pad Thai which came with deep fried spring roll.
A few menu favourites:
- Pad Thai - I have to really make an effort to get anything else. Pad Thai is one of my favourite foods, and My Thai's Pad Thai is excellent. The sauce is sweet (not too much spice in this one), and the tofu cubes are plentiful ( my favourite part). It also comes with shrimp and chicken and, of course, egg, peanut, and bean sprouts. Fabulous.
- Fresh & Fried Spring Rolls - both everything you'd want in a spring roll, both come with sweet chili dipping sauce
- Siamese Beef - thin strips of perfectly grilled, tender beef (slightly peppery) served with a spicy and sweet chili sauce
- Cashew Chicken - big juicy chunks of chicken in a somewhat sweet sauce, with peppers and orange slices - great on their jasmine rice
- Satay - skewered, barbecued strips of the same juicy chicken with a touch of coconut flavour served with a delicious peanut dipping sauce (even though I barely like peanuts, this sauce is awesome!)
All in all, we've never had a bad experience with My Thai. The servers are always friendly, the service is speedy, and the restaurant is decorated very nicely. It is a bit dim, but it sets a nice mood for chatting and dining. It's a great restaurant for take-out, as well!
Monday, July 27, 2009
SSO at Summerlicious - Hot House Cafe, Toronto
Hot House Cafe
35 Church St
Toronto, ON
M5E 1T3
http://hothousecafe.com/
(Church & Front)
I wanted so badly to like the prix fixe $25 Summerlicious menu of Hot House Cafe: the restaurant was packed and looked funky with its red & purple accents, the location is great - nice big patios and big windows for people watching in the St Lawrence Market area, and the descriptions of the dishes seemed excellent. I guess I just made the wrong choices.
My sister, Heather, loved her starter: two different types of breads with three different types of spreads (a tapenade, a goat cheese spread, and a sundried tomato spread). I was less lucky with my deep fried croquette bites filled with brie and risotto. Served with a thick handmade tomato sauce, I could picture this being delicious if it was just the brie. Unfortunately, with the risotto inside it just made it taste like I was biting into a pile of deep-fried mush. Hm.
I will say that the leek, chive, and mascarpone mashed potatoes had a big, different taste and were much enjoyed. The rest of my main wasn't as great. My rib eye steak was done properly and had a nice BBQ sauce, but I had to cut it to pieces to find pieces that weren't fatty (I am not a fan of fatty steak!). Heather didn't have trouble with hers, the lucky dog. And the mixed vegetables were a toss up. The cauliflower, zucchini, and pepper were flavourful and delicious but the broccoli and carrots were flavourless. In fact, they even seemed like they may have been frozen. Very suspicious.
After such an up-and-down dinner, we were both looking forward to our blood orange sorbets. They looked beautiful and were covered with fresh berries. . . but the taste didn't match! They were very bitter, almost like it was made only with blood orange rind, and none of the sweet parts. We ate a bit and finally let our sorbets melt.
All in all, I thought the location was great and with the pleased-looking crowds they must be doing something right with their regular menu. I was salivating as I saw pizza and pasta dishes passing me by. I would definitely go back to try their regular menu, or for their Wednesday Pasta Bar Buffet or the Sunday Brunch that the folks on Restaurantica seem to rave about.
In the neighbourhood: Stroll down Front Street, or hit the St Lawrence Market right around the corner.
35 Church St
Toronto, ON
M5E 1T3
http://hothousecafe.com/
(Church & Front)
I wanted so badly to like the prix fixe $25 Summerlicious menu of Hot House Cafe: the restaurant was packed and looked funky with its red & purple accents, the location is great - nice big patios and big windows for people watching in the St Lawrence Market area, and the descriptions of the dishes seemed excellent. I guess I just made the wrong choices.
My sister, Heather, loved her starter: two different types of breads with three different types of spreads (a tapenade, a goat cheese spread, and a sundried tomato spread). I was less lucky with my deep fried croquette bites filled with brie and risotto. Served with a thick handmade tomato sauce, I could picture this being delicious if it was just the brie. Unfortunately, with the risotto inside it just made it taste like I was biting into a pile of deep-fried mush. Hm.
I will say that the leek, chive, and mascarpone mashed potatoes had a big, different taste and were much enjoyed. The rest of my main wasn't as great. My rib eye steak was done properly and had a nice BBQ sauce, but I had to cut it to pieces to find pieces that weren't fatty (I am not a fan of fatty steak!). Heather didn't have trouble with hers, the lucky dog. And the mixed vegetables were a toss up. The cauliflower, zucchini, and pepper were flavourful and delicious but the broccoli and carrots were flavourless. In fact, they even seemed like they may have been frozen. Very suspicious.
After such an up-and-down dinner, we were both looking forward to our blood orange sorbets. They looked beautiful and were covered with fresh berries. . . but the taste didn't match! They were very bitter, almost like it was made only with blood orange rind, and none of the sweet parts. We ate a bit and finally let our sorbets melt.
All in all, I thought the location was great and with the pleased-looking crowds they must be doing something right with their regular menu. I was salivating as I saw pizza and pasta dishes passing me by. I would definitely go back to try their regular menu, or for their Wednesday Pasta Bar Buffet or the Sunday Brunch that the folks on Restaurantica seem to rave about.
In the neighbourhood: Stroll down Front Street, or hit the St Lawrence Market right around the corner.
SSO at Summerlicious - 5th Elementt, Toronto
5th Elementt
1033 Bay St
Toronto, ON
M5S 3A5
(Closest intersection: Bay & Wellesley)
http://www.5thelementt.com/
I headed up to 5th Elementt (yes, the extra 'T' is not a typo) with three friends from university. The large amount of choice in their Summerlicious prix fixe menu (six each of appetizer and main!) meant that everyone could be happy. When we heard "Indian/Italian fusion" we were picturing curry pasta, but it was a lot more subtle.
Amanda, Katie & I all started with seafood. I got to sample the bacon wrapped scallops and the skewer of big, beautiful, butterflied shrimp. The scallops were melt in your mouth soft, and the saltiness of the bacon was a great contrast. The shrimp were perfectly grilled, and came in a light parsley butter sauce. Both came with sides of greens. Ro was the only one who chose the rack of lamb and mashed sweet potato appetizer - quite a feast for an appetizer, and she found it especially tasty as well.
The baseball steak main was one of the best steaks I've had in a long time. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I was glad I had over-ordered though - I asked for medium-well, and I got what I considered medium (which I actually prefer). They had no problem with my switch to mashed potatoes for the side, and Amanda enjoyed her side of sweet potato frites, which seemed almost like they might have been baked rather than fried. Katie & Ro got "mehti crusted tandoori chicken" with a side of rice. However, the chicken was in a curry-flavoured sauce - and generally, in my experience, tandoori is dry. They did enjoy it though.
We chose two of the desserts: the lightest version of mango cheesecake I had ever tasted - almost like a mousse in cake form; and a "peanut butter chocolate feast" which was a cheesecake with Reese's Pieces topping. Very rich, but good if you're a huge chocolate peanut butter fan!
This was my best (of three) experiences at Summerlicious 2009. It seemed like they didn't go wrong on any dish. I was pleased when the manager dropped by the table to see how we were doing, and pleased to see the place was bustling with others who recognized the quality of 5th Elementt. My only problem? The bathrooms! The sketchy decor and mothball smell did not match with the hip restaurant.
Newsflash: 5th Elementt's Summerlicious menu is still running until August 2, so get it while you can!
1033 Bay St
Toronto, ON
M5S 3A5
(Closest intersection: Bay & Wellesley)
http://www.5thelementt.com/
I headed up to 5th Elementt (yes, the extra 'T' is not a typo) with three friends from university. The large amount of choice in their Summerlicious prix fixe menu (six each of appetizer and main!) meant that everyone could be happy. When we heard "Indian/Italian fusion" we were picturing curry pasta, but it was a lot more subtle.
Amanda, Katie & I all started with seafood. I got to sample the bacon wrapped scallops and the skewer of big, beautiful, butterflied shrimp. The scallops were melt in your mouth soft, and the saltiness of the bacon was a great contrast. The shrimp were perfectly grilled, and came in a light parsley butter sauce. Both came with sides of greens. Ro was the only one who chose the rack of lamb and mashed sweet potato appetizer - quite a feast for an appetizer, and she found it especially tasty as well.
The baseball steak main was one of the best steaks I've had in a long time. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I was glad I had over-ordered though - I asked for medium-well, and I got what I considered medium (which I actually prefer). They had no problem with my switch to mashed potatoes for the side, and Amanda enjoyed her side of sweet potato frites, which seemed almost like they might have been baked rather than fried. Katie & Ro got "mehti crusted tandoori chicken" with a side of rice. However, the chicken was in a curry-flavoured sauce - and generally, in my experience, tandoori is dry. They did enjoy it though.
We chose two of the desserts: the lightest version of mango cheesecake I had ever tasted - almost like a mousse in cake form; and a "peanut butter chocolate feast" which was a cheesecake with Reese's Pieces topping. Very rich, but good if you're a huge chocolate peanut butter fan!
This was my best (of three) experiences at Summerlicious 2009. It seemed like they didn't go wrong on any dish. I was pleased when the manager dropped by the table to see how we were doing, and pleased to see the place was bustling with others who recognized the quality of 5th Elementt. My only problem? The bathrooms! The sketchy decor and mothball smell did not match with the hip restaurant.
Newsflash: 5th Elementt's Summerlicious menu is still running until August 2, so get it while you can!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
SSO Away: Laurentian View Dairy - Deep River, ON
Laurentian View Dairy
33387 Highway 17
Deep River, ON
K0J 1P0 --> Cross Street: Ridge Road
A few friends and I visited Deep River, Ontario, halfway between North Bay and Ottawa, for a friend's wedding.
We stopped by the Laurentian View Dairy Bar (known locally just as "The Dairy") because my soon-to-be-married friend had worked at it when she was younger - and, yes, because it's one of the few restaurants in town. It's half ice cream shop and half 50's-style diner. We even wondered if the menu was also the same as it had been in the 50's: it was that good, cheap, somewhat fattening diner food.
The best part of The Dairy, however, is that it is an actually dairy! They make their own dairy products (the local grocery stores sell their milk, etc.). The ice cream, therefore, was delicious!
While we were there we talked about how the LVDB would be a suitable candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (if only they visited Canada too), and then were surprised when the bill arrived. For a grilled cheese sandwich, a burger & fries, a pop, an ice cream cone, and a milkshake: under $18. Beautiful.
In the neighbourhood: Get outside! The 'river' in Deep River is the Ottawa River, and DR is in a great location to take advantage of everything the Canadian Shield has to offer.
33387 Highway 17
Deep River, ON
K0J 1P0 --> Cross Street: Ridge Road
A few friends and I visited Deep River, Ontario, halfway between North Bay and Ottawa, for a friend's wedding.
We stopped by the Laurentian View Dairy Bar (known locally just as "The Dairy") because my soon-to-be-married friend had worked at it when she was younger - and, yes, because it's one of the few restaurants in town. It's half ice cream shop and half 50's-style diner. We even wondered if the menu was also the same as it had been in the 50's: it was that good, cheap, somewhat fattening diner food.
The best part of The Dairy, however, is that it is an actually dairy! They make their own dairy products (the local grocery stores sell their milk, etc.). The ice cream, therefore, was delicious!
While we were there we talked about how the LVDB would be a suitable candidate for Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (if only they visited Canada too), and then were surprised when the bill arrived. For a grilled cheese sandwich, a burger & fries, a pop, an ice cream cone, and a milkshake: under $18. Beautiful.
In the neighbourhood: Get outside! The 'river' in Deep River is the Ottawa River, and DR is in a great location to take advantage of everything the Canadian Shield has to offer.
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