NANDOS FLAME GRILLED CHICKEN

832 Bay Street, Toronto, On. (416) 925-8888, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm every day, except Fri. and Sat. 11:00 am to 12:00 am

Originating in South Africa in the late 80's Nando's quickly became a success story due to it's Portuguese style rotisserie chicken with a peri peri sauce that sure has a kick.  It has since spread around the world and recently opened a spot on Bay Street in downtown Toronto (it also has 5 other locations in the GTA).

The interior is rather cramped when it gets busy and very noisy and the Brazilian music is quite loud.  The furniture is sourced directly from South Africa and is very colourful and unique.

Upon entering you may find yourself in a line (we have been here a number of times and it can get very busy) that may include take out patrons.  You are seated as the line moves and are given a menu.  Here is where it gets tricky - you select from the menu for your table (you have to remember your table number) and place the order at a counter where you will also pay for the entire order including any drinks and alcohol!  You better remember what each person in you group wants because once you pay for it if someones order is wrong, or someone wants to add something - you will have to get back in line!!  This may work in South Africa, but I find it a silly process.  Next, you have to go to a counter to collect all the utensils for your table.  The food is prepared and then delivered along with any alcohol ordered.  Soft drinks are self serve.  On a very busy evening it can be a nightmare.  We saw an employee being a waitress, busboy, cook and maitre d.  Our only conclusion here - cost savings!!

Pop machine is self serve and includes coca-cola and various flavours like vanilla, cherry, strawberry etc. that can be added to it.

We chose their Catedral red wine (we have had this wine here many times) and it was very good and not expensive.

My son Mark ordered their hummus dip with pita as an appetizer. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of it - but it contained a good portion of hummus and an unequal portion of pitas.  When we asked for more (not to waste the large amount of hummus left in the bowl) we had to pay 85 cents!!
For his main he ordered the quarter chicken with leg (with medium peri peri) and peri peri fries.  The fries where very tasty and the chicken was very meaty and tender.

My wife ordered the quarter chicken with breast and coleslaw.  She really liked the coleslaw and found that even the breast meat was very tender.  I ordered the half chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and coleslaw.  The potatoes were filling, the coleslaw was delicious and the chicken was tender and meaty.

All in all we have found the food here quite good and filling and reasonably priced for the portion received -unlike Swiss Chalet where they look more like pigeons than chickens. The wine is very reasonably priced and tipping is not necessary, since you are paying at the cash and are not really assigned any waitress.  The only problems here are the ordering process is very annoying and the noise can get quite loud. We have been here several times and found things much the same each time.

http://www.nandos.ca/

CANTINE 

138 Avenue Road, Yorkville, Toronto On., (416) 923-4822, Brunch 10 am - 3 pm Sat. & Sun. Lunch Mon. - Fri. 11:30 - 2:30 pm, Dinner 5 pm to close 7 nights

On a bitterly cold and windy February Saturday evening, my son Mark (http://www.markallen.ca/) and I decided to try Cantine.  We arrived at about 6:30 and were quickly seated (luckily) at a casual table in comfortable leather armchairs. They were a little awkward to eat from, but very comfortable to sit in. The interior of this restaurant is very comfortable and invites relaxation.  Most patrons were drinking vodka martinis during the evening.  We began by ordering a nice bottle of Refosco wine.

A nice bread platter quickly arrived with spicy olives and olive oil for dipping.

I ordered a fried calamari appetizer.  It was tender and nice and hot.  They were accompanied by a lemon and a chipotle mayo that was rather bland.

Mark ordered the crab cakes.  He really enjoyed them.  They were also accompanied by a chipotle mayo.

I ordered one of this evening's specials.  It was a house made ravioli dish filled with portabello and crimini mushrooms, onions and garlic.  They were tender and outstanding.  The ravioli were covered in a white wine cream sauce, that was light and very tasty.  Between the ravioli were short spears of very tender asparagus.  A sprinkling of parmigiano reggiano completed the flavouring of this plate.  This was a wonderful light dish that I would order again.

Mark ordered from the regular menu and had the grain fed boneless half chicken, with veal jus reduction and seasonal vegetables, that included bok choy and broccoli and mashed potatoes.  Unfortunately, the picture did not do this dish justice since it was to dark.  Mark really liked it.

We both complete our meals with a wonderful tiramisu that was light and delicious.  It was accompanied by sliced strawberries and chocolate sauce.

Our meals were very good and well presented.  The food was not heavy and the sauces were light and tasty.  The service was timely and efficient.  A number of patrons seemed to know each other and probably were regular patrons.  The restaurant was filled by 7:30, so reservations would be a good idea. We found the restaurant very comfortable and will definitely return to try other dishes.

http://www.cantine.ca/

THE KEG STEAKHOUSE and BAR 

26 The Esplanade, St. Lawrence Market District, Toronto, (416) 367-0685 Dinner and Late Night seven days a week.

On Saturday night in early November, we decided to have dinner at the Keg in Toronto on the Esplanade - behind the Sony Centre.  Bon Jovi was playing a couple of blocks away at the Air Canada Centre, so the area was unusually busy.  We have been to this Keg before, for appetizers and drinks before a Leafs game a few weeks earlier and we wanted to try it for a full meal, since it had such a comfortable ambiance.

 While reviewing the menu we ordered some beer and wine.

A nice fresh warm loaf arrived with butter to get us started.

Our son Mark ordered the bacon wrapped scallops with a martini sauce as his appetizer and he enjoyed them, though they were rather small.

Our son Thomas ordered the baked garlic shrimp with herbs, Jack and cheddar cheeses for his appetizer.  He found them delicious.

I ordered the escargot stuffed mushroom caps in a curried butter sauce.  These are always amazing and the butter bun is great for mopping up the remaining sauce.

My wife opted for the caesar salad - it was cool crispy and delicious.

Mark ordered the Creole Chicken with shrimp and scallops sauteed in Creole seasonings, accompanied with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. He really enjoyed this dish.

Thomas had the Teriyaki sirloin steak done medium rare with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables.  He found it very satisfying.

My wife had the Zesty grilled salmon fillet basted with a sweet and mildly spiced sauce, with rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables.  She said it was very good.  I tasted some of it and she was right.  It was a delicious piece of salmon.

I had a perfectly cooked sirloin with baked potato and butter, with seasonal vegetables - it was classic keg - the steak was tender and the taste was pure steak!

We all completed our dinners with the classic keg dessert Billy Miner pie, a mocha ice cream on a chocolate crust with hot fudge, caramel and almonds.  It doesn't matter how full you feel there is always room for this dessert which tastes lighter than it looks.

At this point we were treated to a nice surprise.  When we first arrived, our very efficient and personable waiter asked whether we were here for any occasion, or just dinner.  I had mentioned that we were here to celebrate our sons' birthdays (they were both near the end of October).  They received complimentary Billy Miner pies with sparklers!  This was a nice surprise which we did not expect.  

Also, the restaurant General Manager arrived with two cards wishing them happy birthday!  

A very nice touch, which we all really appreciated and will certainly bring us back.  Thank you Keg Esplanade, it was a very enjoyable evening.

http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/en/locations/ON/toronto/esplanade-keg/

CHARRED ROTISSERIE HOUSE 

244 James St. North, Hamilton, On. (289) 396 - 0662 , Lunch and Dinner Mon. - Sat.

On a blustery rainy Saturday afternoon my sons Mark (http://www.markallenrealty.ca/) and Thomas (http://rebuildhamilton.com/) and I decided to try a new restaurant on James Street North in Hamilton.  It features charcoal rotisserie chicken and piri piri sauce. It is located in a rapidly changing community of restaurants, bars and art galleries.

There is a chalkboard menu on the exposed brick wall that can be a bit confusing, but they hand you a simplified version on entry.

The interior space is clean and simple in design.

My son Mark decided on their Pulled Charred Chicken Sandwich with peppers and onions, topped with aged cheddar homemade piri piri mayo and cilantro ($7 plus $3 with fries and coke).  The sandwich was tender, tasty and filling.  

My son Thomas and I decided on the 1/2 chicken with fries and a coke.

The chicken was juicy, tender and very good.  The piri piri sauce was a little bland.  The bread was fresh and the fries were great ($13).  Charred has a nice atmosphere, great chicken and worth a visit. The people are friendly here and the prices are reasonable.  We will definitely come back for more delicious chicken.

http://charred.ca/

INSOMNIA 

563 Bloor Street West (The Annex), (416) 588-3907, Toronto On., M5S 1Y5 Open for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night 

Located in the Annex section of Toronto near Bathurst and Bloor, Insomnia is open from breakfast to late night.
The inside is funky but refined, with a large bar seating area and a variety of seating options. My son Mark, my wife and I came on a hot Saturday evening in June at about 7 pm and were seated promptly near the front of the restaurant.  Because it was hot the windows facing Bloor Street were open.

Mark and I began by having a cold Pabst beer while my wife had a glass of pinot wine.  We then ordered a couple of appetizers.  My son began with chicken tacos in a soft tortilla with avocado, picco de gallo, lettuce and chipotle aioli.

He enjoyed the tacos and would order them again.  My wife and I split an order of calamari fritti that were served with a juicy lemon and tzatziki.  They were tender and delicious. 

For his main Mark ordered the butter chicken with broccoli, roasted tomato and coconut rice.  It was delicious and filling.

My wife ordered the grilled salmon, potato kale hash, sugar snap peas, citrus beurre blanc.  She really enjoyed the salmon which was perfectly cooked and a generous portion.

I had the spice-crusted chicken supreme with garlic mashed potatoes and buttered broccoli.  The chicken was very tasty and arrived piping hot.

The meals were going so well we decided to order the evenings featured dessert.  A blueberry cheese cake with whipped cream and fresh blueberries.  It was delicious and light.

Our server who had a flower in her hair was very personable and efficient.  The food was well prepared and quite delicious.
They have a great martini and cocktail list, however they need to improve their wine list by adding some Californian, Italian and French choices.  Also, the room was quite noisy due to its acoustics, but it added somewhat to the atmosphere.

We will definitely come back to try some more of their dishes and enjoy the atmosphere.




http://www.insomniacafe.com/