Hestia

Cafe: Hestia
Address: 66 Wellington St. W
Phone: N/A
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 7:15 AM - 4:30 PM, Sat-Sun CLOSED
Website: https://en.hestiatea.com/

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all, including oat milk!
- Hestia has their own tea blends, straight from Montreal
- Coffee beans from De Mello Palheta
- Milk is steamed in all the lattes
- All drinks can be iced upon request, no extra charge

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Baked goods from Desmond & Beatrice, La Bamboche, and Bunner's

Review

Hestia is a Montreal tea bar that opened their second location in Toronto last August. It's located within The Path, so it's only opened during office hours on the weekdays. If you are not familiar with The Path, it's an underground network linking different business buildings and subway stations together. It can be quite a maze for someone who doesn't work in the Financial District. I looped around a couple of times trying to find Hestia, which was tucked away in a corner.

Hestia's mission is to serve you the best tea possible, with blends sent straight from Montreal. They serve the finest selection of tea and their matcha is the highest grade from Kyoto, Japan. This location does have espresso-based drinks for people that need their coffee before work. However, try the tea lattes if you can! Each tea leaves have already been measured out in vials, so you can guarantee that your drink will be steeped just right.

I definitely recommend their Matcha Latte and Chai Latte. They normally don't change out their menu because they want to do the classics. However, you can expect at least one seasonal drink on the menu. Hestia is perfect for tea lovers that are looking for their perfect blend that isn't from a teabag.

The Haam

Restaurant: The Haam
Address: 342 Adelaide St. W
Phone: 416-977-7258
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM - 3 PM & 5 - 11 PM;
Website: www.thehaam.ca

Menu

Cerviche, $14

Seaweed Sashimi Salad, $12

Spicy Chicken Karaage, $14

Panko Soft Shell Crab, $14

Miso Eggplant, $10

Unagi Pressed Sushi, $15

Tokyo Rose, $11 (front)

Review

On their website, The Haam states that they serve Korean food. In actuality it's more like Asian fusion with a mix of Korean, Japanese, and Mexican. I had the chance to try a few of their appetizers. I quite enjoyed the Panko Soft Shell Crab ($14) and the Miso Eggplant ($10), but I thought all the appetizers were quite good.

I got the Tokyo Rose cocktail, which was quite pretty look-wise but taste-wise it was simply a-ok. By the time my Unagi Pressed Sushi ($15) came out, I was already quite full from the appetizers alone. The Unagi Pressed Sushi is still an excellent dish and I wished I had more room in my stomach to enjoy it properly without overstuffing myself.

The restaurant is not that big so I suggest you make a reservation if you go in the evening or weekend. I think the diverse menu and atmosphere makes it a cute date spot. It's not overly fancy or intimate but the space is small enough to give you that cozy feeling. Not to mention they have some adorable menu covers, ranging from Studio Ghibli to Disney!

Four Four South Village

Restaurant: Four Four South Village

Address: 474 Yonge St.

Phone: 416-413-9802

Operating Hours: [Soft Opening Hours] Mon-Sun 11 AM - 11 PM

Website: www.facebook.com/FourFourSouthVillage

Interior

Menu

Milk Tea Slushie with Tapioca, $5.99; Jade Cucumber, $4.99

Counterclockwise from top: Spiced Edamame, $4.99; Black Fungus in Vinegar Sauce, $4.99; Jade Cucumber, $4.99; and Braised Beef Shank 

Braised Beef, Tendon, & Tripe Noodles Soup, $15.99

Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles, $11.99

Braised Beef, Tendon & Tripe Rice, $15.99

Snow Cake with Red Bean & Coconut, $2.99

I had the pleasure of attending Four Four South Village's soft launch last week! It's a newly opened Taiwanese restaurant located near Wellesley Station and named after a residential district in Taipei. It's a spacious restaurant decorated with a simple but Asian-influenced design. When you are seated, there are menu sheets for you to fill out, similar to what you would get at an AYCE sushi restaurant.

My friends and I ordered one dish from each section. The cold dishes were like appetizers but none really stood out to me to order next time (I admit, I am spoiled with Korean restaurants that serve these side dishes for free). My favourite dishes were the Braised Beef, Tendon, & Tripe Noodles Soup, $15.99, and the Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles, $11.99. I found the prices for certain menu items to be a bit pricier than other Asian restaurants I normally go to. I personally would come here for the Noodles with Sauce options because they're more in my price range. The Milk Tea Slushie with Tapioca is also quite fun to drink. Unfortunately at the moment they have a very selected number of drinks available. 

If you are a fan of Taiwanese food and don't have the time to trek to areas such as Markham to get your fix, Four Four South Village would be a great place to check out!

[Event] Kinza: Vegetarian Thai Curry With Sachin

Event: Kinza: Vegetarian Thai Curry with Sachin
Location: Sachin's Home (Near Sherbourne Station)
Date: April 22, 2018
Website: kinza.life
10% Discount Code: DIANA10

Kinza is a Toronto start-up that produces small-scale events for people to learn new things or share conversations over a private dinner at a host's home. I had the pleasure of checking out one of the events this past Sunday where I had a group dinner with one of Kinza's co-founders, Sachin.

The event consisted of six people, including the co-founders Sachin and Kate, along with the co-founders of a new foodie dating app called PB&J. It was a pleasant evening of food and conversation that started at 7 PM. This event included vegetarian thai curry with unlimited portions (though I was full after the initial dish since I ate and drank prior).

Kinza is geared towards people who are looking to make new friends but are unable to find a venue to do so or are new to the city. Kinza doesn't only do private dinners but other events, such as painting and silk-screening classes. It's similar to Meetup but much smaller, allowing attendees to get to know everyone at the event.

Does Kinza sound like it's up your alley? You can go onto their website for their calendar of events. If you use my personal discount code DIANA10, you get 10% off your purchase!

Ricarda's - Summerlicious 2017 Edition

Restaurant: Ricarda's

Address: 134 Peter St. 

Phone: 416-304-9134

Operating Hours: Mon-Wed 7 AM - 10 PM, Thurs-Fri 7 AM - 10:30 PM, Sat 9 AM - 10:30 PM, Sun 11 AM - 3 PM

Website: www.ricardas.com

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Summerlicious 2017 Menu

Ricarda's Quiche

Pan-Seared Red Snapper

Tiramisu

Review

This past summer, I tried Ricarda's for the first time for Summerlicious. The lunch menu was $23 plus taxes for their three-course meal. I had the Ricarda's Quiche, Pan-Seared Red Snapper, and Tiramisu. I enjoyed my Summerlicious meal thoroughly, and after looking at Ricarda's regular menu, this was quite a steal! The three course meal was not overly filling and hit that sweet spot of contentment. The restaurant's atmosphere is lovely, perfect for a weekend brunch or an evening dinner date. I definitely recommend checking out Ricarda's if you are looking for a slightly higher-end restaurant downtown for a date or other special occasion. If you find that it's out of your budget, definitely try it for Winterlicious or Summerlicious! 

Hot Black Coffee

Cafe: Hot Black Coffee
Address: 245 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-840-6141
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 6 PM
Website: www.hotblack-coffee.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Almond only
- Seasonal drinks available; including Green-Eye (mint-infused drink) and Kenyanade

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all

My Review

My Order: Coffee Popsicle, $0.50

Hot Black Coffee is a cute cafe located near Queen and University. It has a very simple and clean interior with a back patio that is perfect for the warmer weather. There aren't too many seats on the inside (enough for 10 people at most), but plenty in the back patio if you want to gather three or four friends to hang out with.

I didn't end up buying a drink because I was pretty caffeinated the day I dropped by. I saw the coffee popsicle on the menu and thought that was pretty neat. It was warm the day I went so the popsicle was perfect to cool down with. I love how Hot Black Coffee is situated in the midst of a busy fashion and food district. It serves as a sweet escape for those who want to unwind and get away from the city noise.

Lucullus Bakery [CLOSED]

Cafe: Lucullus Bakery
Address: 31 Elm St.
Phone: 416-792-1886
Operating Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30 AM - 9 PM Sun CLOSED
Website: www.lucullusbakery.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: None

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegetarian and gluten-free only

Review

My Order: Fried Rice with BBQ Pork & Small Drink, $6.50

Lucullus Bakery is a Chinese bakery chain with locations in Toronto, Markham and Richmond Hill. I never heard of this chain until I caught up with a university acquaintance who suggested meeting at the Toronto location. It is tucked away on Elm Street in an inconspicuous older building, making the bakery practically invisible if you weren't looking for it. I was told that lot of students liked to study here. My friend said she discovered the space when she couldn't find a study spot at Ryerson since our campus was so small.

I got some fried rice with Hong Kong milk tea for only $6.50. The price wasn't bad for the combo. I wouldn't say the fried rice was anything amazing but it made for a substantial snack. Lucullus Bakery makes an excellent study spot because they have a lot of seats on the second floor. This is definitely a great alternative work space for students overall. The price is affordable as well. Many customers come here to buy Asian pastries to go.

Sweet Jesus

Cafe: Sweet Jesus

Address: 106 John St.

Phone: 647-348-2266

Store Hours: Sun-Mon 7 AM - 10 PM, Tues-Sat 7 AM - 11 PM

Website: www.sweetjesus4life.com

Review

My Order: Red Rapture, $6.50

Sweet Jesus is often mentioned when it comes to getting ice cream in Toronto. It also doubles as a coffee bar but I didn't try any during my visit so I can't comment on their drinks.

When my friends and I first arrived, we had to wait outside in line briefly. We had the opportunity to check out their menu before ordering when we went inside. I decided on the Red Rapture because I saw the words "red velvet". I never looked up any reviews of Sweet Jesus prior so I wasn't sure what to expect. I saw a lot of colourful photos of their products in the past and they seemed appealing. So with my order, I assumed it would be made with red velvet ice cream. It wasn't, just regular soft serve (it didn't register in my mind that it would be soft serve despite being listed under the "Pimped Out Soft Serve" section, my bad).

This was the first time in over a decade where I was greatly disappointed by ice cream. Despite the various toppings, I found the Red Rapture to be blandly sweet. The soft serve itself was mediocre, making any ice cream truck's swirly soft serve amazing in comparison. The toppings did not combine well with the soft serve at all. Two of my friends shared the cookies and dough version (I forgot the name) and they couldn't finish it despite it being split between them. Price was also a big factor to why I wouldn't come back here. The cost was too much for the ice cream quality. It should've been no more than $5 with tax included but even then, I feel that I'm being generous.

If you want some amazing quality decked out ice cream, I highly recommend Booyah! and Dutch Dreams, both in Wychwood over Sweet Jesus.
 

The Red Tomato

Restaurant: The Red Tomato
Address: 321 King St. W
Phone: 416-971-6626
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 5-10 PM
Website: www.redtomato.ca

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Menu

Review

Pizza of Choice: Peking Duck Pizza, $18

I attended a media event for The Red Tomato, a pizza and pasta wine bar underneath Fred's Not Here (both owned by the same owner). I rarely eat on King Street West so I always assumed that prices at the restaurants would be super expensive. However, when I saw The Red Tomato's menu, I was pleasantly surprised that the prices were quite fair (ranged from $13-$18 for a full size pizza).

My friend and I got to try a nice array of pizzas that were offered at the restaurant. My absolute favourite out of the bunch was the Peking Duck Pizza ($18), which was one of their Asian fusion items. If you love Asian food, I do recommend the Peking Duck Pizza! My friend however thought it wasn't that great and preferred "The Hangover Cure" ($16) without the egg. I enjoyed every single pizza at The Red Tomato that I got to try (which is rare!). Each pizza is savoury and you can taste how fresh they are!

I highly recommend The Red Tomato if you want to get some delicious and uniquely flavoured pizzas at an inexpensive price!

Balzac's (Ryerson)

Cafe: Balzac's
Address: 122 Bond St.
Phone: 416-597-1700
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 9 PM, Sat 9 AM - 9 PM, Sun 9 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.balzacs.com

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Menu

Review

My Order: Medium Parisian Mist, $3.95

I never went to Balzac's when I was a student at Ryerson. It was always busy and packed with students and non-students. I'd rather go to other cafes where I had more space. Recently I caught up with a friend at the cafe who was still a Ryerson student and worked by Yonge and Dundas, making it a convenient meeting place.

I arrived sometime at 2 PM and as expected, it was crowded. I was lucky enough to grab a seat when a table freed up just in time. I decided to try the Parisian Mist because it sounded interesting. I liked the drink because it was sweet on its own if I recalled correctly.

Balzac's is a lovely cafe and each location has its own vintage designed poster (which you can check out here). However, expect the Ryerson location to be constantly busy for most of the time. I don't recommend trying to meet up here during peak hours.

Bareburger

Restaurant: Bareburger
Address: 111 Dundas St. W
Phone: 647-345-2273
Store Hours: Mon-Thurs 11 AM - 10 PM, Fri 11 AM - 11 PM, Sat 12-11 PM Sun 12-10 PM
Website: 111-dundas-st-w-toronto.bareburger.com

Interior

Menu

Review

My Order: Socal, $11.85

A group of friends wanted to meet up for a movie and dinner. Originally, the restaurant suggested was on Danforth whilst the movie screening was going to happen downtown. It would be a hassle to go from point A to B. I suggested Bareburger because it was a newly opened restaurant that I saw on BlogTO and it was much closer to the theater.

Bareburger is a pleasant restaurant with a modern take on the cabin theme. They emphasize on "all Bareburger meats are free-range, pasture raised, humanely raised, antibiotic, gluten-free, and hormone-free". This is great if these points are important to you when buying meat.

I scanned through the menu to realize that none of the burgers came with fries or some sort of side. I was not happy that I had to pay $11.85 for a burger that wasn't big and had no sides. Had I done my research beforehand, I wouldn't have chose to come here. That's just the penny-pincher inside of me huffing and puffing. The burger was decent, but it didn't stand out tremendously either. I understood where the price point was coming from, but still, no fries with that??

If you don't mind paying premium for organic burgers with no sides, then try out Bareburger.

Oja

Restaurant: Oja
Address: 689 Yonge St.
Phone: 416-944-8371
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 11 PM
Website: www.theoja.ca

Interior

Menu

Tempura Bento, $8.50

Review

One of my friends started working by Bloor station and I met up with her for lunch. We decided to try out Oja nearby, a Korean and Japanese restaurant with plenty of options. I was surprised with how cheap everything was! I got the Tempura Bento box and it was incredibly filling. Mainly because I had to finish everything less than an hour. It may not look much but if you have limited time to eat, you will get bloated fast!

I will definitely come back here again for a cheap lunch. There are a lot of options and it's at a good location.