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!

[Product Review] La Holjaldreria Artensal

Company: La Holjaldreria Artensal
Product Type: Mexican pastries
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lahojaldreriaartesanal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lahojaldreriaartesanal

Review

La Holjaldreria Artensal is a local Toronto catering business specializing in Mexican pastries. The owner reached out to me to try her pastries and share my thoughts. I am always open to product reviews and am happy to see what local businesses have to offer.

I got to sample the Puff Cheese Balls. The puff pastries were originated in France but the concept of French baking was later introduced to Mexico. The puff cheese balls are now known to be a Mexican pastry, with a lightly sweetened puff shell on the outside and flavourful packed cheese bit on the inside. I am a fan because I absolutely love savoury items. The Puff Cheese Balls are great for people that prefer savoury over sweet pastries.

La Holjaldreria Artensal is available to order online and will be delivered by the owner in person. You can contact for availability and check out their social media for more baked goodies!

Fonda Lola

Restaurant: Fonda Lola
Address: 942 Queen St. W
Phone: 647-706-9105
Operating Hours: Mon Closed; Tues-Fri 12-2 PM, 6-9 PM; Sat 11 AM - 3:30 PM, 6-11 PM; Sun 11 AM - 3:30 PM, 5-8 PM
Website: N/A

Interior

Menu

Review

Fonda Lola is a Mexican restaurant by Trinity Bellwoods that serves a variety of tacos and magaritas. I had the pleasure of trying some of their menu items while sitting at their back patio on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The manager recommended a couple of their best-selling items, which were the Candied Jalapeno Bacon and the Baja Fish Taco. I ended up loving both of those items! The Candied Jalapeno Bacon has a spicy kick to it, but is still manageable for people who usually avoid spicy food. I thought the Baja Fish Taco was absolutely delicious. It has a great combination of flavours that melts into your mouth. The other taco I tried was the Tacos al Pastor. I say to pass on these. The pork was not very tender and the pineapple did not make for a great combination.

I ordered one of their margaritas, the Guadalupe. It was alright, I wasn't completely wowed by the drink as it was a bit more sour than sweet. I did try the Horchata for the first time and loved it. It's non-alcoholic as well! It's a light and naturally sweet drink. I learnt that people would drink horchatas to clean their palate while eating. I highly recommend drinking this if you order some spicy food!

Fonda Lola has a great array of food, which some are hits and others are misses. The downfall is probably their price point. The portions are smaller and best if you want to eat something light to share but don't mind spending a little bit more on.

Grand Electric

Restaurant: Grand Electric
Address: 1330 Queen St. West
Phone: 416-627-3459
Store Hours: Sun-Tues 12 PM - 12 AM, Wed-Sat 12 PM - 1 AM
Website: www.grandelectricbar.com

Review

Food of Choice: Baja Fish and Pork Belly Tacos, $3.60 per taco

I was job shadowing in Parkdale when I came across Grand Electric. Having heard many favourable reviews, I decided to pop in for lunch. The bar had a very relaxed vibe. There was loud hip hop music playing and the staff were in casual clothes. The space wasn't very big but luckily I came at a less busy time because apparently the wait time to be seated takes forever during certain hours.

There were no hand-out menus and their entire menu was on a chalkboard. Therefore, the choices were pretty limited. When I saw that the tacos were $3.60 each, I cringed a little. I hummed and hawed for a bit before deciding on one Baja Fish taco and one Belly Pork taco.

When I received the tacos, I understood immediately why people warned me about how pricey Grand Electric was. The size of the tacos were so small! Someone who enjoyed having more substance in her meal, I wasn't too please with the portions. There was no way I was going to order another round to get a satisfying lunch because I knew it was going to cost me a hefty penny.

I definitely love the Baja Fish taco. It was extremely tasty and unique. The pork belly was also good, but being Asian and having to eat a lot of pork belly already, it was nothing new. If you come to Grand Electric, you would definitely appreciate the gourmet tacos.