Scarpetta

I had heard many great things about Scarpetta - both for the food and the fun atmosphere. I finally had the opportunity to check it out last week, and despite being a little bit skeptical given its location in the uuber 'king-west hotspot' thompson hotel, it was an excellent meal, and a unique patio experience. Very worth checking out.

• Relish: the food lived up to the hype - an Italian menu, with chef Scott Conant not disappointing on the pasta (that according to the waitress is his specialty).  We shared a bison short rib on a corn and vegetable risotto, a delicious handmade pasta with wild boar sausage, rapini and summer beans (broad beans and peas) - it was gorgeously yummy, every bite packed with flavour, and a hint of mint or fennel added a bit of summer to it. That was followed by a sliced duck breast, served with greens and duck sausage, cranberries and a house made couscous. Everything was enjoyable, but the duck and wild boar pasta stole the show hands down! What I really loved was that they happily plated each dish, split into two for us - and the presentation was beautiful. Oh, and I almost forgot the bread. A basket of bread arrived that included 4 different types of bread, one of which was a house-made focaccia style with cheese and salami and spices throughout the dough - delicious when paired with the lemon infused olive oil or the tomato antipasti that accompanied it.
• Quaff: the wine menu was good - focused primarily on Italian whites and reds, with decent pricing (roughly 45 and up, but quite a few options between 45 - 50). We quaffed a bottle of the 2008 Barbera D'Alba, Rocca Giovino. Cassis, some earthy tones and healthy acidity combined to make it a fantastic pairing for the duck and wild boar. Delicious! This place also looks like it knows its cocktails.
• Feel: this is where Scarpetta both won and lost for me, so I'm a bit conflicted. We sat outside, in the most gorgeous patio - a long table that could probably could sit about 60 people at varying heights (chair height, bar stool height, mid-bar height) in groups of 4-6. The table has been enclosed in a funky metal lattice that allows you to feel as though you're in your own little candle-lit room, but also as part of the surroundings; you look across the street to a park from one side, and at a reflecting pool and park by the thompson condo on the other side.  The part I wasn't thrilled about was the feel inside....very 'see and be seen'-esque, and the washrooms were messy and bland (I know washrooms don't need to be fancy, but at a place like this, you at least expect a slight step up from hospital-style soap dispensers)! 

Overall, I would definitely go back for a dinner on the patio, and maybe even inside for a night when I felt like getting a bit done up and making a night of the king-west scene!


web: Scarpetta Toronto

Sidedoor

Asian-fusion-tapas is the main focus at Sidedoor. A recommendation from a colleague, it's tucked in the alley (or courtyard) off of York street in Byward market, just in beside the restaurant Eighteen. This makes for a very cute little spot surrounded by old stone buildings. The patio has a mix of wooden tables, trees and lounge tables with couches.

• Relish: The menu here is all about sharing plates, tapas-style. The highlights: the crispy fish tacos with trout, coriander, avocado and jalapenos, the steamed shrimp dumplings packed full of shrimp, and the 'melt in your mouth' braised beef with curry and roasted peanuts over rice. Other honourable mentions: the papaya salad, stacked with mango, papaya, mint, thai basil, and the broiled black cod with butter lettuce wraps and home-pickled pickles. Not worth a mention was the tuna sashimi - too much seasoning drowned the tuna.
• Quaff: A great wine by the glass list, with 3 oz and 5oz options. Some very unusual grape types available by the glass - a white auxerrois, cortese, ribolla gialla, chardonnay musque, and a red agiorgitiko from greece. I kind of want to go back and try all of these interesting grape-types! Decent beer choices, although the focus is definitely on wines and cocktails. The agiorgitiko was more complex than I expected, a bit of a 'cherry bomb' off the nose, but serious undertones of leather and cedar helped mellow the mouthfeel. Low tannis and average alcohol - I would definitely pick up a bottle and pair with spicy foods - it was great with the braised beef. (Agiorgitiko, 2009, Gaia, Nemea, Greece).
• Feel: Relaxed and enjoyable. The patio was cute, surrounded by old stone walls, but maintaining a modern feel due to the different table styles and leafy trees, while the inside of the restaurant felt a bit imposing, but multiple levels and exposed stone made it classy yet relaxed. Lots of groups of 6+ sitting at larger boot-like tables, while on the patio most of the tables were dates or smaller groups of friends. Made me feel comfy - and I would happily have stuck around for a second glass of wine and relaxed after dinner. 

I'll absolutely be back - both the wine and the food were delicious!

w: sidedoorrestaurant.com

e11even

The new condo's around the ACC are providing some very interesting new options for the condo-land-condo-dwellers in the area.  E11even is a new-ish addition to the area, right by the ACC...and they've just added in a new patio...one of few in the area.

• Relish: Overall a pretty varied menu, steaks, fish, oysters, and some interesting looking salads. You could easily bring a group here and find something on the menu that would make everyone happy. A special summer '11 by 11' menu provided 11 sharing appetizer options each for $11 - the kobe meatballs were ok, but missing something...a bit bland. Mini grilled cheese with bacon were standard, although did not disappoint, and a chop salad was packed with yummy veggies and a deviled egg...just a bit too much dressing that masked the veggie flavours. I was excited to try the grilled artichokes, but they fully missed the mark (tasted a bit like soap). Overall, the food was good - not perfect - but good, and I would completely feel comfortable recommending this place to a group who was looking for something 'nice' like a keg, but offering more variety.
• Quaff: about 15 wines by the glass for both reds and whites, and some interesting and unusual options (a gruner veltliner, two reisling options, some unusual reds) . I especially LOVED that they served wine in the appropriate glasses, and the Carmel Road Pinot Noir was absolutely lovely. They also have the coolest wine list...ON AN IPAD! Make sure you ask to see it...they don't seem to bring it out to the patio unless requested. It was so much fun to play around with, and some great wine selection at decent prices. You should also check out the wine cellar en route to the washrooms - beautifully displayed.
• Feel: Big business bar is how I would describe the feel in this place. Big tables, high ceiling - it's a good pre-game or pre-concert venue, and a good option for a night out with a big group of friends. The patio is nice, but would suggest it for a weekend or well after rush hour, as it gets loud -  unfortunately not loud from great conversations - but from the construction cranes and cars driving by en route to the gardiner. That being said, it's a great new patio for the condo/acc area, and has a nice unpretentious but upscale feel inside.

I did really enjoy the beautiful lighting fixture right above the patio - reminded me of sparkling embers in a campfire...slightly mesmerizing. 

w: e11even

The Queen and Beaver

A sweltering summer evening deserves a great patio. This week I discovered The Queen and Beaver, a little gastro-pub nestled away on Elm street for late evening drinks with a few good friends. We sat on the upstairs patio, which has a lovely secluded feel as you’re just about at the leafy part of the trees from the street below. It’s a super cute, very ‘old english’ pub. Although it was a great patio, I’m putting this place on my list to try in the winter, when the cosy-comfy pub style would make for some nice evenings away from the cold.     

• Relish: The food looked fantastic, very gastro-pub-esque – something I’ve missed since London! Staples like mussels and frites, fish and chips, pot pie, and a smattering of salads and lighter options as well – I’m absolutely coming back here for dinner or lunch.
• Quaff: I had a lovely glass of Pinot Grigio, and they have about 5 whites and 5 reds by the glass. A nice mix of old and new world options, some of the usual with the whites (the Cave Springs seems to be the only Reisling option at restaurants in this city), but the reds were a bit more out of the ordinary. The cider or multiple draught options also looked delicious. 
• Feel: Even just walking through the pub to get to the patio, this place made you want to pull up a chair and sit down and have a pint. They had a big screen playing what else – soccer (oops – football), but it was positioned so tastefully over the fireplace, that it didn’t seem to detract from the warm and friendly feel. As I left, for a split second was able to pretend that I was coming out of a gastro pub in South Kensington...then jumped into the diamond cab and realized, nope – I’m still in Toronto.

It might be worth mentioning that this place was one of the ‘best new restaurants 2010’ by Toronto Life.

w: The Queen and Beaver Public House

DEQ at the Ritz

DEQ is a little patio hidden away behind the new Ritz-Carleton hotel downtown - a great spot for an afterwork (or pre-Munk debates) glass of bubbly. Walk through the impressive main lobby, out to the back bar, and you'll discover a little semi-oasis in the city. Oh, and one of the best parts is that you get to say 'meet me at the Ritz' - so fabulous.

• Relish: Great smaller sharing bites to accompany the bubbly / wine / cocktails, pretty standard selections (bruschetta, flatbreads, sliders, charcuterie), but executed nicely. The crab dip was warm deliciousness of crab with super-thin crispy pita crackers. 
• Quaff: This is where DEQ makes me happy. A great selection of bubbly by the glass, and some pretty interesting ones that you don't find at the LCBO. The wines by the glass are also impressive, and they have a good selection of cocktails - enjoyed lounging in the couches by the open air fireplace just makes everything taste even better!
• Feel: It reminds me of the patios at bars in Cape Town -only surrounded by tall buildings. Great staff, different sizes and shapes of tables and lounge chairs and couches, open fireplaces and greenery...all filled with people enjoying being beautiful. It has a bit of an 'i'm seriously chic' attitude, but with the right company, that blends into the background and becomes a fun people watching spot.  

Totally recommend it, although I think it has it's right time and place. I'm not sure I would want to spend the whole night there, but a drink or two before moving on to a night out or a restaurant is ideal. Great after work spot. 

Windermere House

There is absolutely nothing more perfect than a patio overlooking a lake on a long summer weekend. The 'Wasabi' sushi spot at Windermere House in Muskoka is a random combination of sushi spot and chill veranda bar at a classy cottage style hotel. You have a sweeping view of the lake from every seat, framed by the stone pillars. The comfy couches and lounge chairs make an ideal spot for afternoon cocktail hour (and who am I kidding - I've been sitting here now for about 3 hours reading and enjoying a glass or two of Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc). I never would have guessed that sushi fits into this picture, but the light, small plates make for perfect snacking at just about any time of day/night. Apparently O&B took over the food options at Windemere House last year, and they've nailed the veranda.

• Relish: The food served on the veranda is standard sushi, with a small selection of additional pub-style appetizers. It's good sushi. The seaweed salad is delicious.  
• Quaff: This is absolutely the spot for a cocktail hour drink or a glass of wine at dusk. A good wine list with ~20 wines by the glass (typical O&B selections) is accompanied by a few signature cocktails - the servers are excellent and happy to make suggestions. 
• Feel: Very relaxed. People wander up from the lake (or the boats they drive up to the dock), enjoy a drink or two, then take off again. Guests at the hotel linger a bit longer (e.g., the multiple hours I've now spent here today), and diners heading to the Rosseau Grill for dinner have an aperitif on the patio. It creates a nice atmosphere of a busy, happening spot. The servers are excellent - very friendly and professional. 

I would absolutely recommend it - the only thing better might be if you have your own cottage-veranda overlooking lake Rosseau, and your own sushi chef...in which case...invite please?

Enjoy!
w: Windermere House