C5 Restaurant Lounge

Bloor and University/Avenue inside the ROM

Restaurant type:  Fine dinning

Entrée price range:  $24-30

Wine price range: $40-Hundreds

We recommend this restaurant for:  Romantic night out, a night out with like minded food snobs…lol.

Overall:  Stewart  5/5  Nancy  5/5

Stewart’s Review:  Hands down, the best dinning experience I have ever had.  Great food, service, and décor.  I can’t wait to go back.

Nancy’s Review:   I loved everything about this place.  From the food to the décor to the service everything was fantastic.  It was the perfect night out.

Food:  Stewart  5/5  Nancy 5/5

Stewart’s Review:  The night began with a wonderful amuse bouche and it just continued to get better as we moved through our apps, mains, and cheese platter.  Our food was put together and presented in a way that I have never seen before, and I was tasting flavours and textures that I had never experienced before.  I was thinking about the food for weeks afterwards.

Nancy’s Review:  The food was delicious. I especially loved the cheese fondue. The vegetables were cooked perfectly and they used vegetables I never would have thought to use for a fondue.

Service:  Stewart 5/5   Nancy 5/5

Stewart’s review:  The food was wonderful and the service complimented it perfectly.  The service was friendly,  prompt, and informative.  Our server gave us great little blurbs of information about all of the food we ate.  This extra touch really added to our enjoyment of the night.

Nancy's review: The service was fantastic. Our wine glasses were never empty and there was always someone around to make us feel like the most important guests in the restaurant.

Décor/Ambiance:  Stewart 4.5/5   Nancy 4.5/5

Stewart’s review:  The restaurant is broken up into a bar and dinning area.  The bar area is decorated with a black theme and the dinning area has a white theme.  Each side is a bit bleak, but that is the point.  There are large windows which allow great views of the city.   I know the theme is black and white but I would have liked a little more colour to bring it to life a bit.

Nancy's Review: It was a romantic setting but the tables were a little close to each other. Great view of the city.

Value for Money:  Stewart 5/5    Nancy 5/5

Stewart’s review:  We really treated ourselves with food and drinks, and the final bill was very reasonable.  If you go,  I would recommend that you treat yourself to everything you want.  The final bill will be high, but the food and the whole dinning experience are definitely worth the price!!

Nancy's review: It was my birthday dinner so I wasn't looking at the price but i would pay whatever we ended up paying again!

Domus Cafe (Ottawa)

Location:  85 Murray St (Ottawa)

Restaurant type:  Fine Dinning/Local cuisine

Entrée Price range:  $30-35

Wine price range: $37 and up.

We recommend you visit this restaurant for:  Romantic dinner or an intimate night out with friends

Overall  Stewart 3.5/5  Nancy 3.5/5

Stewart’s review:  The experience was enjoyable but not mind blowing.  The décor was a bit dull, and it was a bit pricy, but I enjoyed the food, and the service was really good.  On top of that it serves a local/seasonal menu, which is always a plus.

Nancy’s review:  There were opportunities to make the food better, but overall the service and atmosphere made up for any short comings.

Food  Stewart 4/5  Nancy 3/5

Stewart’s review:  I ordered the elk medallions, which came with tasty green beans, mashed potatoes, and a pulled pork and potato croquette.  It was the first time that I had eaten elk and I really enjoyed it.  The beans and potatoes were the perfect side for the elk (though I would have enjoyed a lot more mashed potatoes).  The only low-light was the croquette.  I didn’t like the taste at all (and I found a bone in it).  The plate would have been much better without it. 

Nancy’s review:  The barley risotto appetizer had unpleasant texture and it left a bad taste in my mouth.  My main was seared scallops with shitake mushrooms and butternut squash.  It was good, but would have been more flavourful with a sauce or seasoning on the scallops.

Décor/Ambiance  Stewart 3/5  Nancy 4/5

Nancy’s review:  I thought that this was the perfect setting for a romantic dinner.  I loved the open kitchen and even though the restaurant was a big open space it felt intimate.  The prints on the wall could use a change.

Stewart’s review:  Unfortunately we ended up in a little nook at the front of the restaurant.  Nancy had a decent view of the restaurant but I could not see anything, so I can’t give much of a décor evaluation.  The only thing I could see were some wildlife prints which seemed a little out of place in a fine dinning restaurant. 

Service:  Stewart  4.5/5  Nancy 4.5/5

Stewart’s review:  The service was really great.  It was a big part of what made the evening enjoyable.  The servers were friendly and prompt.  When they noticed the bone from the croquette they immediately offered a free dessert (I took a Baily’s on ice instead).

Nancy’s review:  I agree with Stewart.  Our server was especially friendly and prompt.

Value for money  Stewart 3/5  Nancy  3.5/5

Stewart’s review:  The total bill was pretty reasonable but I did think that the mains were overpriced.  Overall, I would say that it was worth the money but there is some room to pick it up a few notches. 

Nancy’s review:  For a fine dinning restaurant the prices were reasonable.  I especially liked that they had a lot of affordable local wine.

DisGraceland

965 Bloor Street West
On Bloor just West of Dovercourt

Date Visited:  September 2010

Please note that for all of our reviews 3/5 is considered average.  We start with an overall review and then break it down and focus on food, decor/ambiance, service, and quality for price.

Overall:  Stewart  3.5/5   Nancy  4/5   Price Range:  Entrees $8-15
Stewart's Review:  We went for a late lunch and the place was fairly empty but it had a nice grungy decor.  I enjoyed the food and service, and I appreciated the fact that they had a ton of veggie food options.  I think that the place would have a great atmosphere at night.

Nancy's Review:  I was fighting an evil cold when we visited but still could appreciate the restaurant.  I really liked the ambiance, and even with a limited appetite, the food was delicious.

We recommend you visit this restaurant for:  Vegetarian food, beers and pool, a night with friends, good music, and just an overall good time. 

Food:  Stewart  3.5/5  Nancy  3.5/5
Stewart's Review:  I ordered a tempeh wrap and I really loved it.  The Tempeh had a nice smokey flavour and the rest of the wrap was really tasty.  There were many choices for sides, and I chose the bean corn salsa.  I have to say that it was a bit of a disappointment.  I didn't really want to finish it.

Nancy's Review:  I ordered the chipotle beef sandwich and it arrived with pulled pork instead.  I still liked it and the fries were exceptionally good.  Had to knock a few points off for the order mix up.

Decor/Ambiance:  Stewart 3/5  Nancy 4.5/5
Stewart's Review:  The place had a cool but unoriginal "grungy" decor.  We were there during the day, and it is clearly a place whose decor shines after the sun goes down,  so it is a bit had to make a full evaluation.  I am definitely up for another visit at night.

Nancy's Review:  I loved it as a brunch spot and I am excited to go back for a night time beer.

Service:  Stewart  3/5  Nancy  3/5
Stewart's Review:  Not much to say.  Service was average

Nancy's Review:  Service was ok.  We were more in a lunch mood and were given the brunch menu at first.  We had almost walked out but the server caught us and brought over a lunch menu.

Quality For Price:  Stewart  4/5  Nancy 4/5
Stewart's Review:  The food was really good and it was nice and cheap.  Definitely a good deal!

Nancy's Review:  Ditto.  A repeat visit is in order.

Cinquecento Trattoria

109 Atlantic Avenue
Close to King and Atlantic, right beside the LCBO and near the Goodlife gym

Date Visited:  August 2010

Please note that for all of our reviews 3/5 is considered average. We start with an overall review and then break it down and focus on food, Décor/ambiance, service, and quality for price.

Overall:  Stewart  3/5   Nancy 3.5/5    Price Range: Entrees $13-22
Stewart's Review:  Overall I enjoyed my visit.  The decor and set up is nice, the service was very friendly, though very slow.  My food was horrible to put it mildly, but I tried a bit of everyone else's dishes and I thought they were fabulous, though a bit oily.

Nancy's Review: This restaurant is better than most of the other ones you find in Liberty Village. It has a nice rooftop patio (although it doesn't serve the whole menu). If you have to choose between Liberty village restaurants, I would go here, but I wouldn't go out of my way.

We recommend you visit this restaurant for: A night out with friends, rooftop patio drinks,  People watching on the ground level.  Because they don't start serving until 6 p.m. it might be hard to get a bite in before a TFC game. We went before visiting the Ex.

Food:  Stewart 0/5 (my meal), 4/5 (the three other meals that I tried)  Nancy 3.5/5
Stewart's Review:  I ordered the fish special and it was the most awful thing that I have ever had in a restaurant.    It was Salmon, covered in a pineapple sauce.  I thought that it would come with some pineapple on it (rather than a sauce) but when it came it had a a thick yellow sauce that was horribly sweet.  As my friend stated when he tried it, "it tasted like fish with a lemon meringue pie on top."  The veggies on the side were dripping with oil.  I always finish my meals but I could not take more than two bites of the fish.

Since my meal was inedible, I finished off everyone else's food (gnocchi, pasta, pizza).  All of those meals were really fantastic, though a bit oily!!

Nancy's Review: My pizza was good - except for the olives. They still had their pits! Who wants to eat olives with pits on their pizza.

Decor/Ambiance:  Stewart  4/5   Nancy  4/5
Stewart's Review: The restaurant has a nice layout.  There is a nice ground level patio, as well as a second floor patio (where for some strange reason you are only able to order pizza).  The ground level has large windows, including the big garage door type which can be opened.  The large windows and patio space make it a great place for a summer night!

Nancy's Review: I am a fan of the rooftop patio. Sip a glass of wine on this patio with friends on a summer's night.

Service:  Stewart  3.5/5  Nancy 3/5
Stewart's Review:  When we arrived the place was empty and our server was very very friendly and attentive.  As it got busy we got a lot less attention so I wonder how she would have been with us if we had arrived when it was busy.  She asked why I had barely touched my meal, and I politely told her how terrible it was.  I was suprised not to have it removed or discounted from the bill.

Nancy's Review: We sat down just after 5 p.m. and were advised that dinner service didn't start until six. Once six rolled around, the restaurant got very busy and it took forever to get our food. Start serving earlier and this problem is solved.

Quality for Price:  Stewart  3/5  Nancy  3.5/5
Stewart's Review:  Looking at, and trying, all of the meals that everyone else had I would say that it was definitely worth the price.  My meal, even if it had been good, was overpriced.  The portion was very small and it was a lot more expensive than everyone else's meals.  Most of the meals were in the $12-18 range.  My special was about $21

Nancy's Review: The meals were a little overpriced - which is expected in this neighbourhood. Limited choices means that restaurants can bump up their price.

Delux

92 Ossington Avenue
Between Queen West and Dundas West on the west side of the street
No name on the sign. An arrow and the number 92

Date Visited: September 11, 2010 (our anniversary dinner)

Our Review: Please note that for all of our reviews 3/5 is considered average. We start with an overall review and then break it down and focus on food, Décor/ambiance, service, and quality for price.

Overall: Stewart 2.5/5   Nancy 4/5  Price Range:  Entrees= $17-25
Nancy's Review: I am a big fan of Delux. I loved my dinner and outside of the temperature of the restaurant, I was really happy with the dinner. It wasn't the best choice for our anniversary dinner, but i would go back

Stewart's Review: I was not a big fan of Delux.  The portions were small and average tasting, the chairs were very uncomfortable (to the point that I had to change seats) and the restaurant was very hot and loud.

We recommend you visit this restaurant for: a night out with friends.  This place would work best for a group of 3 or more, but make a reservation and ask for a booth.

Food:  Stewart  3/5   Nancy  4.5/5
Stewart's Review:  The food was ok, but no more than ok.  I had roasted chicken with potato dumplings, peas, and chorizo sauce.  My portion was very small and it did not come anywhere near filling me up.  The potato dumplings were fabulous but I only got three of them and they were tiny.  There was a leafy veg mixed in with the peas that really overwhelmed the other veg.  The chicken was ok but the sauce wasn't great.

Nancy's Review: I had a different experience. The appetizer oysters were delicious. Stew wanted more lemon but i enjoyed the flavour. I had the Steak frites. Steak was cooked perfect and well seasoned. I'm not sure how to explain why the fries were so good, but they really tasted great. We aren't really desert people but order the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. They were okay but nothing overly special.

Decor/Ambiance:  Stewart 3/5     Nancy 3/5
Stewart's review:  The place had a nice ambiance and a few nice pieces of art.  It has a nice room in the back that is good for bigger groups.  In the front, I think that the booths would be comfortable enough, but the tables were very close together (so close that the waiters had to move the tables to allow us to sit) and they had uncomfortable seats.  On top of that it was very very warm.  The temperature made us leave earlier than we would have otherwise.

Nancy's review:  I agree with Stewart on this one.  The heat was unbearable by the end of the meal.

Service:  Stewart  3/5   Nancy  4/5
Stewart's review:  Not much to say.  It was average.  The food did come very quickly though.

Nancy's review:  Good service.  The staff was friendly and the food came quickly.


Quality for Price:  Stewart 2.5/5   Nancy 3/5
Stewart's review:  I felt like the place was overpriced.  For the food quality, and especially the portion size I thought it was expensive.  My meal was $23 + tax/tip and I was still hungry after it, even though we had had an appetizer  The wine was very expensive.  The cheapest bottle was $43.  In my mind there is never a reason that a restaurant should not have at least one bottle of wine in the $30 range.

Nancy's review:  After tip, our meal came to $150. With that, we had oysters, two mains, a desert and a bottle of wine. A very typical amount for a nice night out - expect for that Stew was still hungry. I'll give it an average rating for this category.

Sushi 101

513 Bloor Street West
One block west of Brunswick, south side of the street
Date visited: September 2010

Please note that for all of our reviews 3/5 is considered average. We start with an overall review and then break it down and focus on food, Décor/ambiance, service, and quality for price.

Overall: Stewart 3.5/5 Nancy 3.5/5  Price Range:  $8-13
Nancy’s Review: I don’t really know why there is a line up at Sushi on Bloor and no line up at Sushi 101. The sushi is good and the service is decent. If it were a little busier, the ambiance would be better. But I would choose this restaurant over its neighbour in a second.

Stewart’s Review: This place beats its sushi competitors in the annex in almost all categories. I don’t understand why it is so empty. Get a few more butts in the seats and the place would be great on all fronts.

We recommend you visit this restaurant for:  A Quick night out when you want a good meal at a great price.  Not recommended for a fancy night out or a first date.

Food Quality: Stewart: Sushi 3.5/5 Korean 3/5 Nancy 3.5/5
Stewart’s Review: I usually eat sushi at this restaurant but this time I ordered a Korean dish, and Nancy and I shared some of her Sashimi.
Korean dish - Vegetarian Bibimbap. The dish was ok but it was not as good as the bibimbap I have had at some other restaurants. It did not come with an egg on top, which I definitely missed.
Sashimi dish - To start, they gave me all of the sushi sides (soup and salad), despite the fact that I ordered a Korean dish. I was very happy about this!! The sashimi, as always, was great!

Nancy’s Review: I had one of the Sashimi combos. The salmon and tuna were delicious, but I avoided the red snapper (which I tend to avoid at most places). The soup is good – hard to go wrong but the salad was nothing to write home about.

Décor/Ambiance: Stewart 3/5 Nancy 3/5
Stewart’s review: Sushi 101 has a nice décor (including a very nice sculpture near the entrance) and an interesting colour scheme. I have always enjoyed the décor and ambiance in this restaurant, but, the restaurant is usually ¾ empty. If you are the type of person who loves a busy restaurant, this may not be the place for you

Nancy’s review: Although Sushi 101 has some nice aspects of their décor, being empty doesn’t help the ambiance. Not a place to go on a first date.

Service: Stewart 4/5 Nancy 3.5/5
Stewart’s Review: I have been to sushi 101 many times and I have never been disappointed with the service. This visit was no exception. Always friendly and prompt. That being said our meals did arrive at different times which is obviously not ideal.

Nancy’s Review: The service is generally fast, but if you are ordering from the Korean and Sushi menus, don’t expect to get your meals at the same time.

Quality for Price Stewart 4/5 Nancy 4/5
Nancy’s Review: Decent food, great price. The $13 sashimi meal can cost upwards of $15 dollars at other restaurants.

Stewart’s Review: Good food, great price. My Korean dish only cost $8 + tax/tip. It was definitely worth the money