QUATREFOIL RESTAURANT 

16 Sydenham Street, Dundas On. (905) 628-7800 Tues - Sat  12:00 pm to 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm to close     

Located in the heart of Dundas, the Quatrefoil has become the restaurant that is attracting a lot of attention in this town and the GTA.  It is run by the husband and wife team of Fraser Macfarlane and Georgina Mitropoulos who met as sous chefs at Scaramouche, a legendary restaurant in Toronto.  They converted a Victorian house to a calm but glamorous and sophisticated fine dining venue.  Their creations are based on fresh local ingredients with a French flair. 

The seating varies from quaint tables to large beige leather banquettes and benches.  There is a bar for patrons who are waiting to be seated.  There is also a large patio for summer evenings and afternoons and it can be quite busy outside in the summer months.

We made a reservation for Friday at seven and it was packed when we arrived.  There were five of us (we were celebrating my younger sons birthday) and we were ushered to a wonderful banquette in an alcove.  The noise level was low considering the number of diners in the room.

There is also seating upstairs, which can be reserved for large parties.  There is a good wine list with a wide variety of choices and prices.  We ordered two bottles of French 2007 wine ($55 a bottle) it was smooth and delicious.

After we were seated a wonderful selection of breads appeared that melted in your mouth.  They were house made.

We began with an amuse bouche of goat cheese and lentils served on a large boat like spoon that was gratis, it was an unusual way to start a meal

Four of us had the cauliflower soup which was divine and full of flavours that we could not even describe.  One of us had the seared sea scallops which were large and melt in your mouth with fennel, chorizo, fingerling chips and romesco sauce.

cauliflower soup - divine!

scallops cooked perfectly

I had the Barramundi fish feature which was encrusted with potato and baked.  It was served with fingerling potatoes and young beets, carrots, and other ingredients too numerous to mention.  This dish was substantial and had such a variety of flavours on the plate, it was hard to tell the taste of the fish.

barramundi fish surrounded in various flavours

Two of us had the Cumbrae's beef tenderloin with mushrooms, roasted leek , cheek cromesquis, smoked potato puree, bacon crumble which was perfectly grilled medium rare.

Cumbrae's fillet cooked medium rare with potato  puree

Two of us had the Willowgrove Hill boneless pork chop crispy belly, mustard greens, sweet potato, cranberry and peppercorn glaze.

boneless pork chop with greens and sauces

We all decided on the same desert; the creme brulee with ginger bread and orange sorbet, it was delicious and filling (notice the birthday candle).  We had the French press coffee to go with the desert. 

creme brulee with ginger snap and sorbet  

macaroons and chocolates - complimentary

The meal, which seemed more like an event, ended with the server providing a complimentary selection of macaroons and chocolates and the bill.  The service was very professional and everyone worked as a team from the greeters at the door to the waiters and waitresses in the restaurant. Though expensive it included two bottles of wine and a gourmet selection of food that turned the evening into a celebration, not just a meal. (Just think of what 5 leaf tickets would cost).


http://quatrefoilrestaurant.com/

ELEPHANT & CASTLE 3.5 out of 5

Entertainment District, 212 King St. W. (416) 598-4455  hours: 11:30am to 2:00am 

Four of us decided to have some drinks and apps at the Elephant and Castle on King Street in the entertainment district (they have 20 locations throughout North America).  We have been here many times before, for dinner specials and just drinks (good selection of draft beers).  For our apps we ordered, the bruschetta and an order of nachos with chicken.  The bruschetta was thin and kind of unusual and we didn't care for it.  The nachos were very large portion, which allowed the four of us to fill up quickly. They were delicious.

We drank a selection of draft beers including, London Pride, Stella Artois, Innes and Gun and Kronenbourg 1664.  This is a large Restaurant-Pub that has many different sections on the main floor including a long bar, a poolroom area and a large patio on the side in good weather.

It is always a lively place and can get very busy, especially after 4pm.  During the week a number of sections are occupied by various office folk letting off steam and can get very boisterous.  Service can be very slow - they could use more waitresses and bar tenders at busy times.  All in all if you want a good draft (a little pricey), some good pub food and a friendly atmosphere this is always a good choice.

bruschetta - very thin

large tray of nachos

NEW YORKER DELI 

1140 Bay St. Toronto On., (416) 923-3354, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Four of us went to the New Yorker Deli on a late Friday afternoon.  We have been here a number of times and have never been disappointed.  It is virtually guaranteed you will have a good satisfying, reasonably priced, simple meal.  Two of us had the chicken pot pie and salad with house dressing.  One of us had the chicken club sandwich and one of us had the whole wheat chicken wrap.  

All of our choices were well prepared and delicious.  The service was efficient and without fault.  They are noted for making their own lemonade and freshly squeezed orange juice.  Also, each table has at least three to four different mustard choices.  My son's favourite is the honey mustard which is absolutely delicious.  The fries are delicious and filling.

located at Bay and Bloor across from Bay Bloor Radio

eerie painting of the two towers has been on the walls for years

clean and simple - notice the mustard bottles

chicken pot pie and salad with dressing - delicious 

chicken club sandwich, coleslaw, fries

whole wheat chicken wrap - need two hands to hold it 

 SPENCER'S AT THE WATERFRONT 

1340 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1B1, (905) 633-7494, Mon - Sat 11:30 to close, Sunday 9:30 to close

Went to Spencer's at the waterfront in Burlington for my son's birthday.  There were five of us Monday for dinner.  We have been here before for drinks and apps, but never for a full dinner.  We arrived at about 7 and the restaurant was more than half full.  We were ushered to a banquette table which was comfortable for five people.  I ordered a couple of bottles of french Merlot wine and we began ordering apps, including the warm olive selection, lobster dumplings kaffir lime caramel, scallops and pork belly cider braised fennel.  They were all absolutely scrumptious!  We slowly savoured the apps and ordered our mains.  My son (birthday guy) and his girlfriend ordered the red fife and ricotta gnocchi with cauliflower chantrelles, poached egg, brown butter.  My wife and other son ordered the arctic char with cauliflower risotto, chorizo and brown butter.  I ordered the heritage chicken with salsify, gnocchi, sweetbread, maitake, brussel sprouts.  All of us thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

For desert my sons and my wife ordered the smores cheesecake covered in a chocolate shell.  My son's girlfriend ordered the sorbet. They raved about the delicious desserts.  My wife and I had the cappuccino and it was delicious.

The ambiance of the restaurant and its location added to the enjoyment of the evening.  Monday night when every one moved a little slower, made it enjoyable and calm, which allowed us to enjoy each other's company with no rush.

It was one of the best restaurant experiences I have ever enjoyed.  The only drawback was the cost.  But you only live once!!

lobster dumplings app

scallops with pork belly

warmed olive selection

arctic char and cauliflower risotto

chicken - absolutely divine

gnocchi with poached egg

foamy cappucino

selection of sorbet

smores cheesecake

http://www.spencers.ca/

BEDFORD ACADEMY 4 out of 5

36 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto, On., M5R 2J9, (416) 921-4600 Mon - Fri 11:00 - 2:00, Sat - Sun 10:00 - 11:00

Went to the Bedford Academy after seeing the BYOW ad on their website.  I emailed them to find out the details and they responded right away with the details indicating that I had to bring the receipt that showed it was purchased at the LCBO, come after 5 pm and pay a corkage fee of $5.  After checking the menu in advance online we had noticed that they called themselves a gastro pub.  The food was definitely different from a pub, but they had a laid back pub like atmosphere.

We came at about 6 pm and were greeted and seated in the dining area, which seemed cramped with too many tables.  We ordered some appetizers and the waiter opened the wine that we had brought.  It was a nice Chianti.  We shared our apps including calamari fritti with Chipotle aioli and pomes frites.  I ordered the dry rubbed char grilled pickerel fillet on a grilled vegetable salad drizzled with garlic butter.  The pickerel was awesome, but there were too many grilled vegetables in the bowl and they overwhelmed the taste of the fish ($19).  My wife ordered the butternut squash ravioli with caramelized apples and brown butter sauce ($16). She liked the ravioli, but it was in too much oil.  My son had the prosciutto wrapped beef tenderloin with truffled potatoes and seasonable vegetables, and he liked it ($19).

The room was very noisy due to a group that really should have been in the bar area.  Also, we were sitting at a very dark table and my flash wasn't working, so the only pictures I could get were of the room itself, and even these were very dark.

The service was very good, and I like the BYOW touch.  We will probably try the Bedford again either in the summer on the patio, or on a brighter day, when we can see our dishes.

We have been here many times since our first experience and have come to like the Bedford.  The service is excellent and everything we have tried here is fabulous.  They have improved their wine selection and have kept the $5 corkage on Saturdays.  Their specials are always unique and tasty and we find their prices reasonable.  We would recommend you try this restaurant.

http://www.thebedfordacademy.com/

EMMAS BACK PORCH 3.5 out of 5

2084 Old Lakeshore Road, Burlington, On., L7R 1E3, (905) 634-2084, Mon, Tues 11:00 am - 12 am, Wed 11:00 - 2:00 am, Thurs 11:00 am - 12:00 am, Fri 11:00 am - 2:00 am, Sat   10:00 - 2:00 am, Sun 10:00 am - 12:00 am

Went to Emmas with one of my sons for dinner.  It was about 6:30 on Friday evening and it was packed in the bar and restaurant area.  

It has a great location with a patio right on the lake and an outside bar that is open in the summer.  The inside has a large bar and dining area and a dance floor some evenings with a DJ.  

My son had about three pounds of wings, two pounds with lemon pepper coating and one with a curry coating.  They are relatively dry wings and he really enjoyed them - taking some left overs home with him.  I had a thinly sliced roast beef on a bun au jus and it was tender and delicious (the juice was a little too salty).  I ordered an ice tea and it really tasted like tea!  The manager came over and asked if we liked our choices.  He was talking to each table individually (this is a nice way to keep patrons coming back).

It is a large restaurant and is packed with a variety of ages - a friendly kind of place.  The noise was somewhat deafening but it was just laughter and people talking loudly. It was not a quiet place to have a meal on this particular night.  The prices were reasonable and the food was very good.  We will definitely be coming back.

great patio view even in fog

variety of clientele and very busy

excellent wings

melt in your mouth roast beef au jus

http://www.emmasbackporch.ca/