Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar

Restaurant: Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar

Address: 1498 Queen St. W

Phone: 416-551-0997

Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 9 AM - 9:30 PM

Website: www.momocafe.ca

Exterior

Menu

Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar is a Tibetan takeout place in the heart of Little Tibet and Parkdale. This is where you would go to get your fix if you would like something cheap and yummy! Not to mention, Tibetan food is it's own unique palate in the world of Asian cuisine.

The restaurant specializes in Tibetan momos. What are momos? Momos are stuffed dumplings that are a traditional delicacy in Tibet and Nepal. You can find a variety of different momos at Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar. You can get their vegetarian and meat-filled momos pan-fried, steamed or fried. If you decide on their fusion with sauces, it varies from Butter Chicken to Sweet and Sour. What if you are not in the mood for momos? Then they have a variety of combo meals that will fill you right up! The restaurant is more of a takeout place, however there are seating inside and plenty of patio seating during the warmer months.

They also do charitable work such as providing free lunch to the homeless and hospital workers within their community. If you are looking to try Tibetan food in Parkdale and love to support businesses that give back, take a look at Momo Cafe & Zomsa Bar!

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Sho Izakaya

Restaurant: Sho Izakaya
Address: 1406 Queen St. W
Phone: 647-350-1406
Operating Hours: Mon CLOSED, Tues-Thurs 5-10 PM, Fri-Sun 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Website: www.shoizakaya.com

Interior

Menu

Wasabi Tako, $4

Black Pepper Steak

Spicy Avocado Rolls

Black Bean Noodles, $7

Pork Belly Ramen, $9.50

Mackerel Boxed Sushi, $11

Review

I went to Sho Izakaya for my first ever food Instagram meet. I met a couple of cool Instagrammers and we bonded over some delicious Japanese food. Sho Izakaya is a fairly new restaurant on Queen West that's quite low-key and provides a limited, but very affordable izakaya items! Since they are a newer establishment, they are still in the testing stages of the menu.

The restaurant was kind enough to let us try a couple of things that were not yet on the menu, including the Black Pepper Steak and Spicy Avocado Roll. My favourite dish would have to be the Wasabi Tako. It was my first time ever trying it, so I was excited to consume a lot of wasabi. The Black Bean Noodles were surprisingly a lot bigger than any of us expected. It was basically a full size bowl, which one could consume as an entree instead. There's currently only one ramen dish, which is the Pork Belly Ramen. So if you are looking for a variety of ramens, then I recommend checking elsewhere. However if you do order this bowl, it would be great to eat regardless.

I highly recommend Sho Izakaya if you love izakayas but you can't afford places like Kinka Izakaya without crying over your bill. Sho is not only wallet-friendly but provides delicious food and Japanese-quality service. Plus, if you go now you don't have to worry about the craziness of lineups before it actually gets the recognition it deserves.

Antikka - Cafe & Records

Cafe: Antikka - Cafe and Records
Address: 960 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-792-1855
Operating Hours: Mon-Thurs 8 AM - 9 PM, Fri 8 AM - 10 PM, Sat 9 AM - 10 PM, 9 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.antikka.ca

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Specializes in Armenian Coffee
- Coffee from Hale Coffee Roasters
- Tea from Genuine Tea
- Cold brew coffee from Station Cold Brew

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to vegan and gluten-free
- Vegan sandwiches available
- Gluten-free pastries available
- Fresh sandwiches everyday

Chaiwala Chai Latte, $4.75

Small Armenian Coffee, $3.50

Review

Antikka is a cafe and record shop on Queen West that recently opened. With a mix of rustic and indie vibes, Antikka let patrons enjoy a great cup of coffee and discover their next favourite vinyl. The name of the shop pays homage to the owner's grandmother, who often used the word to describe something outdated (similar to antique).

They specialize in making Armenian coffee, a process that uses sand to heat up the coffee to a boil and has to be done twice before serving. If you choose to get their Armenian coffee, they are served in specialized handmade coffee cups from a merchant straight from Armenia. If you prefer your coffee to be sweetened, do tell them in advance. It's recommended not to add any sugar or sweetener afterwards but during the brewing process instead. I also had the chance to drink their Chaiwala Chai Latte, which is not overly sweet or bland either. I did not have to add any sweetener since it had a mild sweet taste to it already.

Antikka will be bringing in live music performance starting January so you check their social media for more information. They will also be opening their patio during the summer time, which you can look forward to in the warmer months. If you are a student living close by, this cafe is perfect since there are plenty of outlets and WiFi for you to use. If you are normally on Queen West, drop by for a drink or come and sell your preloved vinyls.

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.

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.

[Event] Toronto Common: Wine Tasting at H Bar

Event: Wine Tasting at H Bar
Location: 859 Queen St. W
Date: September 16, 2015
Website: www.torontocommon.com

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Menu

Toronto Common partners up with different restaurants in the city to create food events. In order to attend, you pay a flat price to try a set menu. It is a great way to try something new at a low cost (think of it as Groupon for foodies)!

I booked my first restaurant event as a brand representative for Toronto Common. It is a monthly series of wine tastings at H Bar on Queen West, a recently established bar/brunch restaurant. There are three events in total, one each month from September to November.

The wines that H Bar feature at each event are from the brand Malivoire. You get to try four wines with amuse bouche pairings at the tasting.

If you are a wine connoisseur, I highly recommend this event. I met a couple of Toronto Common regulars who absolutely loved wine and enjoyed learning about the different pairings at H Bar. However, if you love to eat and want to have large quantities of food, this event is not for you (check out Toronto Common's other events!). The next event is going to be on October 21st. You can buy your tickets at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/wine-tasting-at-h-bar-tickets-18804559945
 

Rock Lobster (Queen West)

Restaurant: Rock Lobster
Address: 538 Queen St. W
Phone: Mon-Tues 5 PM - 12 AM, Wed-Sun 12 PM - 1 AM
Store Hours: 416-203-6623
Website: www.rocklobsterfood.com

Interior

Menu

Review

I went to Rock Lobster with my foodie friend (Toronto Foodie) as a plus one for an exclusive media event a few months ago. It was for the premiere of Super Snack Bros (a food show featuring iconic dishes with a twist!) on the Food Network. I've never been to Rock Lobster before and have heard good things about it. We got to try an array of awesome food that were featured on the show. However, the dishes served were not on the regular menu. Based on what I got to try, I am curious to come back and taste one of their main dishes since one of the hosts of the show is the chef/owner of Rock Lobster, Matt Dean Pettit (and punk rock podcaster and foodie Damian Abraham being the other host).

Rock Lobster has a very cool and laid-back vibe. It's great if you want to get some grub and beer with friends. It is a place unwind at if you don't want to take yourself too seriously.

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.

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.

Aroma Espresso Bar (Queen St. W)

Cafe: Aroma Espresso Bar
Address: 535 Queen St. W
Phone: 416-603-2727
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 AM - 9 PM, Sat 8:30 AM - 9 PM, Sun 9 AM - 9 PM
Website: www.aroma.ca

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

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Yes to all

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

View full menu here: www.aroma.ca/menu/download-our-menu

Review

By now, everyone should be familiar with Aroma Espresso Bar. This post will serve as another cafe marker on the imaginary Toronto cafe map I have going on (which is a great idea I might put together one day). However, as you may know, I like to try out new food every time I enter Aroma. One of my favourite items that I discovered at their Queen St. West location was their Italian Cheese Croissant. I highly recommend it because I actually think it's sorta better than their sandwiches! The cheese and vegetables in the slightly toasted croissant made a delicious combination.

Although this is not quite my favourite location (the undone floors makes it look unfinished), it's a convenient location for everyone along the Queen/Bathurst and Queen/Spadina areas.

Thank you Aroma Espresso Bar for providing coupons used for this review!