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.

Pearl Diver

Restaurant: Pearl Diver
Address: 100 Adelaide St. E
Phone: 416-366-7827
Store Hours: Mon-Wed 12 PM - 12 AM, Thurs-Fri 12 PM - 1 AM, Sat 4 PM - 1 PM, Sun 11 AM - 12 AM
Website: www.pearldiver.to

Interior

Review

Note: This is not a full restaurant review because I attended Pearl Diver for Yelp Elite.

Pearl Diver is a small seafood restaurant near Adelaide and Jarvis. During the event, I got to sample the oysters and they were great snacks. I don't feel I ate enough food to be able to comment on their menu though. However, I did get to try the Oyster Stout. If you are a beer lover and you love trying new beers with unique tastes, you should give Oyster Stout a go. If you are like me and you don't like dark and heavy beers, avoid it. I personally couldn't finish my drink because the taste was absolutely strange and gross for my taste buds. I have read that other people enjoyed this drink so it really depends on your beer preferences.

As a restaurant, it has a nice and intimate setting for a small group of friends or a place to take your date. It is perfect if you love seafood.

The Chase Fish and Oyster

Restaurant: The Chase Fish and Oyster
Address: 10 Temperance St.
Phone: 647-348-7000
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 AM - 1 AM, Sat 5 PM - 12 AM, Sun 5 AM - 10 PM
Website: www.thechasefo.com

Interior

Menu

See the full menu here: www.thechasefo.com/menus/THECHASE_F&O_MENU_WEB.pdf

Clambake, $64

Review

Over the holidays, I stuffed myself with food as usual. One of the dinners I had was at The Chase Fish and Oyster near Queen and Yonge. Not to be mistaken with The Chase, The Chase Fish and Oyster is the lesser expensive restaurant of the two within the same building. However, prices are still pretty steep. My foodie friend chose this restaurant for our holiday gathering. Although The Chase Fish and Oyster was out of my budget, I was willing to try it at least once.

The menu selection was pretty limited. My main concern was that the portions were going to come out small. The waiter recommended that my friend and I split the Clambake instead of ordering our own dish (around $64). A Clambake is basically a huge bowl with everything seafood in it (lobster, crab, fish, clams, etc.). He told us it was the best bang for our buck and that the portions were going to be filling. He was definitely right about the portion size. My friend and I tried to evenly split the Clambake and we were both stuffed by the end of it.

I called the restaurant to double check the price for this review. I was told it was $50 although when I went, I'm sure it was around $64. I'm unsure if the price changed due to the availability of the ingredients being used in the Clambake or if it was the lunch time price (I called during lunch).

Either way, once at The Chase Fish and Oyster was enough for me. The food was good (nothing I was crazy for though), but I would not come back if I have to pay out of my own pocket again. If you work for a company that takes out clients and foots the bill, then you could give this seafood restaurant a shot.
 

Little Fin

Restaurant: Little Fin
Address: 4 Temperance St.
Phone: 647-348-7000
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 8 PM
Website: www.littlefin.ca

Interior

Updated: February 11, 2015

Menu

Updated: February 11, 2015

Review

My Order: Fin Burger Cheeseburger with Single Patty, $9.25

Little Fin is a new seafood take-out restaurant near Yonge and Queen. I went in to claim my free Fin Burger with a coupon I received as part of their promotion. I was quite excited to try out the place because the photos on their social media looked amazing. The first thing I noticed when I entered was the space. It struck out to me that there were tables along the windows but no chairs. Luckily, it was only temporary because I recently checked and saw that they now have chairs. They also have a patio which is great for the warmer days. I ended up taking my food to McDonald's and eating it there instead because there weren't any seats at the time.

My favourite aspect of the Fin Burger are the black buns. They didn't taste that much different from regular buns but they definitely added to the burger aesthetically. Regardless, the burger was still tasty. Although I enjoyed the food, I am hesitant on going back. The only reason is because I think the prices are a bit steep for a take-out place. However, Little Fin is meant to be a gourmet take-out restaurant so I think it will appeal to others who are willing to spend the extra money.

Little Fin is great if you love seafood and trying new food items that you wouldn't typically get elsewhere. I also think their Instagram account and graphics are simply adorable!

Review Updated: February 11, 2015

My Order: Large Lobster Poutine, $16

The people at Little Fin were kind enough to provide me with a free meal after they saw my original review. They added seats and changed their menu so I was told to drop by to check it all out. I finally returned about three months after their grand opening. 

When I got there, it was jam packed. All the seats were filled during lunch hour. Since I was unable to score a seat, I once again took my meal to McDonald's to eat.

This time, I ordered a large Lobster Poutine because people have been recommending it. When I opened my container, the poutine's aroma was amazing. I haven't smelled poutine that good before! I recommend the large for two people or if you plan to save it for later because it is a big portion for just one person. 

Overall, my feelings on Little Fin improved. From observation, I believe they cut back on their menu offerings. Though I preferred their original menu board because it suited the theme of the restaurant compared to the new one. Prices are still approximately around $10.