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!

Khao San Road

Restaurant: Khao San Road
Address: 11 Charlotte St.
Phone: 647-352-5773
Operating Hours: Lunch Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM, Dinner Mon-Sun 5-10 PM
Website: www.khaosanroad.ca

Interior

Downstairs view from second floor

Second Floor

Review

My Order: Pad Gra Prao, $16

I went to Khao San Road some years ago at their old location. The internet raved about how pretty the new location is so I decided to check it out. I went on a weeknight and was a bit disappointed that you weren't allowed to be seated until everyone from your party was there (not sure if this was the case for their previous location as well). I had to wait on the second floor in the meantime. By the time I could be seated, all of the individual tables were filled up and I was seated at one of the communal tables on the first floor.

If you're seated at a communal table, there are hooks under the table for you to hang your bag and coat (though they are quite low if you have a longer jacket). The chairs for the communal tables are also high without a back rest, so there might be difficulty finding a place to hang your jacket during the winter time. They have more seating on the second floor (that can be booked out for events), which also has a bar.

I had the Pad Gra Prao and it came out as expected, vegetables with fried pork over a fried egg and rice. Prices are $15.50 or $16 for their main dishes. Khao San Road is comparable in terms of menu and cost to Pai, which is just down the road. Overall, a cool and casual restaurant to check out and catch up with friends.

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

Interior

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.

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

Interior

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!

Nota Bene

Restaurant: Nota Bene
Address: 180 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-977-6400
Store Hours: Lunch | Mon-Fri 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM Dinner | Mon-Wed 5-10 PM, Thurs-Sat 5-11 PM
Website: www.notabenerestaurant.com

Interior

Menu

Review

I got a gift card to Nota Bene and decided to cash it in during Winterlicious. I was eager to try this high end restaurant with my boyfriend. It was a three course meal and we both chose different plates that suited our palate.

Although I could probably make it at home, I enjoyed the Quinoa, Wild Rice, and Squash Salad. It was sweet and much different that a plain old salad. I had the East Coast Fish Pie for my main entree. It was similar to a Chicken Pot Pie but with fish. The pie was slightly bland but I still liked it. Lastly, the Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie wrapped up the meal nicely because it wasn't too filling.

The only complaint I had, which I guess was my fault, was their $4 bottled water. I thought that when they offered bottled water at the beginning of the meal, it was going to be free. Since that is the assumption when you go to any restaurant usually. My jaw dropped when I saw the $8 price tag for the two bottled water we have asked for (still and sparking). $8 for water!! I could have gotten something else much more worth it for $8! After this incident, I will remember to ask for "tap water" the next time I am in a fancy restaurant.

Overall, aside from the water incident, I really enjoyed the quality of food at Nota Bene. The restaurant interior design wasn't exciting in my opinion. I wished it looked nicer for a high end restaurant. But even so, I still recommend Nota Bene for some delicious (and expensive) meals.

Pai

Restaurant: Pai
Address: 18 Duncan St.
Phone: 416-901-4724
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 10 PM, Sun 5 - 10 PM
Website: www.paitoronto.com

Interior

Menu

Review

I attended a Zomato Meetup where I caught up with fellow food bloggers and ate delicious Northern Thai cuisine! Pai is one of the many Thai restaurants owned by Chef Nuit and her husband, Jeff. You might not know them, but you probably know their most popular restaurant, Khao San Road!

Chef Nuit

I had the pleasure of trying a variety of dishes during this event that are also on the regular menu. The Som Tum Tad (Papaya Salad) was the starting appetizer. I was confused by the set up of the dish, because it looked like it was a one person portion. Regardless, everyone tried to take equally small portions for themselves. It was my least favourite dish out of everything we've tried.

The first main dish was the Gaeng Kiaw Wan (Green Curry) served with rice. I enjoyed this curry quite a bit. To make it more fun, it was served in a coconut! Shortly thereafter, our second main dish was Chef Nuit Chicken Pad Thai Platter. The pad thai was quite delicious too. The third dish was a surprise dish. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a hold of the plate's name. Judging by the ingredients from their online menu, I guessed it was the Plah Nua (Beef Salad). For this dish, you have sticky rice and cooked beef. You take the rice and scrunch it up into a ball with your hand. Then, you stick the beef onto the rice and eat it together using your hands. It was a new experience for me. I wasn't crazy about this plate compared to the pad thai and curry. It was cool to try regardless.

Lastly, we had dessert. It was mango sticky rice and I enjoyed it more than I expected! The sweetness of the mango along with the sticky rice made a great combo. Despite having a couple of my own drinks, I got to sample a fellow foodie's cocktail. I HIGHLY recommend you order the Tea Ross (not pictured). It's a delicious spiked Thai iced tea. I would go back to Pai for this drink and I never order cocktails or alcohol at a restaurant (only at pubs).

Overall, I loved my experience at Pai. I would definitely recommend it if you have tried Khao San Road or want to eat some Thai food.

Thank you Zomato for this awesome #ZomatoMeetUP!

Touhenboku Ramen (Entertainment District)

Restaurant: Touhenboku Ramen
Address: 261 Queen St. West
Phone: 416-596-8080
Store Hours: Mon - Sun 11 AM - 12 AM
Website: www.touhenboku.ca

Interior

Menu

See full menu here: www.touhenboku.ca/menu/

Spicy Touhenboku Ramen, $10.50

Review

My Order: Garlicky Touhenboku Ramen, $10.50

Touhenboku Ramen is a ramen restaurant on Queen Street West. My friend wanted to try it out because she loves ramen. I passed by this restaurant many times but never paid attention to it. I was up to give it a shot.

We arrived on a Sunday evening and it wasn't as busy as I expected. There were a few patrons but overall, my friend and I had our space to chat without having to worry about the noise and crowd.

At Touhenboku, you customize your ramen. You get to choose the type of noodles you want, the seasoning, and more. Extra toppings cost extra. All ramen comes with nori, scallions, mushrooms, and an egg. If there is a topping that already comes with your ramen that you do not want, you can substitute it for another topping for free (excluding Chasu meat). It's perfect for people who like to customize their food to their preferences. I usually choose a spicy dish but I decided to change it up this time. I ordered the Garlicky Touhenboku Ramen and was satisfied with my choice.

Touhenboku Ramen is a good spot to hit up if you love ramen.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar (Entertainment District)

Cafe: Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Address: 125 John St.
Phone: 647-748-7700
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7 AM - 6 PM, Sat-Sun 9 AM - 4 PM
Website: www.darkhorseespresso.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Roasted coffee beans from Detour Coffee and 49th Parallel Roasters

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all
- Dairy-free available

Review

I was invited to meet up with the marketing manager of Zomato awhile back to discuss the website launch. Our original meetup place was The Office Pub, except they didn't have Wi-Fi. So we ended up at Dark Horse Espresso Bar just a door down. Dark Horse Espresso Bar was always on my cafe list to visit. I passed by often but never went in. They have four locations and the one in the Entertainment District I visited is their latest addition.

The cafe is underground, which is pretty cool. However, it consists mainly of bar stools against the wall. There are a couple of tables, but not enough if a large group comes by and wants to socialize. They do have a patio though with tables that seat 2-3 people each.

I ordered a lemonade and was not a fan because it was completely sour. The Muscle Masala snacks were interesting though. I tried the Vanilla Fig Saffron and the Chocolate Cherry Cardomon. I forgot which one I preferred, but they were unique. They are protein snack bars that are made locally in Toronto.

This particular Dark Horse Espresso Bar isn't so bad. I like how it is underground. Though I think I would rather prefer their Spadina location because of the open concept and windows.
 

Le Neuf Cafe

Cafe: Le Neuf Cafe
Address: 9 Clarence Square
Phone: 647-351-6855
Store Hours: Mon 5 PM - 11 PM, Tues-Fri 7:30 AM - 11 PM, Sat 8 AM - 11 PM, Sun 8 AM - 5 PM
Website: www.leneufcafe.com

Wi-Fi?: Yes
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Coffee beans from Rufino

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Vegan and vegetarian only
- Offers soup and quiche
- Freshly baked goods everyday

Review

My Order: Iced Cappuccino, $3.75

I tried out Le Neuf Cafe this summer when Paypal was promoting their mobile app. They had a coffee week where you could receive $5 off from a bunch of different cafes if you used the app. Le Neuf Cafe is a Parisian cafe that is perfect for any brunch date. All the employees there speak French, to ensure that you receive a great Parisian experience (and it's also a great place for bilinguals to work at!).

Overall, I really like the concept of Le Neuf Cafe because I don't know of many Parisian/French cafes in Toronto. It's such a cute place to catch up with girlfriends or sit down on the patio (during the summer) for a lunch break.

The Coffee Bar Inc.

Cafe: The Coffee Bar Inc.
Address: 346 Front St. W
Phone: 416-792-8840
Store Hours: Mon-Wed 6:30 AM - 9 PM, Thurs-Fri 6:30 AM - 11:30 PM, Sat 7:30 AM - 11:30 PM, Sun 7:30 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.thecoffeebarinc.com

Study Appropriate?: Yes
Wi-Fi?: Yes
Stamp Cards?: Yes

Interior

First Floor

Crossword available to play while waiting in line!

Second Floor

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Soy and almond
- Will iced drinks for no charge
- Roasted coffee beans from Velvet Sunrise

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Offers toast cups
- Sandwiches from Foodbenders
- Sweets from Cafe Novo (My review of the cafe here)
- Cupcakes from Bite Me Bakery
- A dozen Bite Me Bakery mini-cupcakes available for $15 and you can mix-and-match

Lavender Shortbread Cookie, $2.50

I Like It Raw, $1.50

Review

Drink of Choice: Velvet Latte, $4.50

Food of Choice: Agave Espresso BBQ Chicken Sandwich

I had the pleasure to come in and review The Coffee Bar Inc. a couple weeks after its grand opening. The cafe is located on Front and Spadina, an area which is saturated with condos and commercial quick-serve restaurants. When I arrived, I was excited to find out that there were two floors to the cafe. There weren't many cafes out there that had a second floor, so The Coffee Bar Inc. was the first one I visited. I really liked the upstairs space, which provided comfortable couches and a fireplace. The cafe had a rustic modern design with some personal touches. The owner and her family own a farm and horses so their decor reflected that traditional barnyard feel. I definitely enjoyed a couple of the the plates they had on the wall! Another thing I thought was fascinating was that they collected wood from old barns and refurnished them into furniture. Each hand-carved wooden furniture had a name plate stating how old the wood was and where it originated from. They also have some fun art done by their barista (shown at the bottom).

When I spoke to the owner, Marie, about what inspired her to open up The Coffee Bar Inc., she told me she saw there was a lack of community space within the area. This is very true for those who are familiar with Front and Spadina. Most of the businesses nearby are fast-food joints. Marie wanted to offer a community space for the residents and so far she has been receiving great response!

I got to try a few items that they offer at the cafe. I highly recommend the Velvet Latte. It tastes exactly how it sounds, very smooth and great for latte lovers. I really liked the Lavender Shortbread Cookie from Cafe Neon, which I tried to savour but failed because I kept eating it until I was done. Also, I got to taste one of the mini Bite Me cupcakes for the first time so that was a threat as well! I think my favourite was getting to try the Agave Espresso BBQ Chicken sandwich from Foodbenders. The Turkish bread on the sandwich was absolutely delicious. I sort of wished that I asked for my sandwich to be heated up because I'm pretty sure it would've tasted ten times as amazing. So if you haven't tried Foodbenders' sandwiches yet, I highly recommend them! I can definitely see why they are becoming popular in cafes.

To involve the community, The Coffee Bar Inc. has open mic every Monday and Tuesday starting sometime in April or after. There is also yoga every Sunday morning from 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM and a 5K run club right after at 10 AM. For anyone who is successful in completing the 5K route (the route is different each time), you'd be able to get 50% off your Americano when you make your way back to the cafe. So definitely a great opportunity for you to connect with your community and have some great coffee!

Just to note, the cafe has no outlets available for any who plans on bringing their laptop to do work. The baristas would be more than happy to charge it for you while you wait but there are no outlets available by any seating areas. So if you are like me and have a laptop that dies after 10 minutes without being plugged in, I don't recommend you bringing it to the cafe.

Thank you to The Coffee Bar Inc. for the food and drink provided for this review!