HappyFull Restaurant Review

London Brakes For Confit

Paul M. — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:34:11 +0000

Not the actual photo I took.

Daily life in a large city may seem to be predictable (should I say conservative?) at times, but there are little things that happen occasionally that demonstrate what a great city London is to live.
Today was a beautiful sunny spring day in London and I headed out for a walk to get some lunch. Wanting something refreshing, I decided for a Greek salad instead of the usual bland and overpriced sandwich or deep-fried goodness. Sammy’s Souvlaki may not always be the most value-focused or healthy option (why do you think it is such a staple for the late-night crowd? Overconsumption numbs the taste buds for the questionable hygiene while dulling the sense that the food is not expensive) but their Greek salad is delicious.
Yes, it is true that the salad is not authentic. Sammy’s does have the prerequisite tomatoes, green cucumber, onion, olives and feta, but it is a knock-off suited to the mass audience. Adding lettuce and dumbing down the dressing commercializes the salad, but in such a great way. The combination of vinegar and salt blends well with the refreshing sweetness of the cucumber and other vegetables. Add to it the fact that everything is well marinated really brings out the whole flavor experience.
Anyway, I am standing by the food truck at the tracks on Richmond by Piccadilly (who designed that area? when will there be a drunken fatality at 3:30 am?) with my salad ordered and waiting impatiently for my lunch when the surreal begins!
A small crowd standing by the entrance of Molly Bloom’s caught my attention and I tried to figure out what was happening. Nestled into a dark recess could be seen a mother duck and her newborn chicks. The little family broke out of their huddle and started walking across Richmond, mother strutting proudly and the fluffy babies struggling at a hurried frenzy to keep up. Now this story could only continue into one of two possible directions: 1) mass hysterics as the flock is mowed down by uncaring speeding motorists, or 2) something incredible would happen. And I am not speaking about the selfish memory of confit that rushed to my taste buds. Fortunately, I witnessed the latter.
The crowd of spectators sprung into action and walked into traffic, arms raised to motioning the cars in both directions to stop. Although Londoners are used to having to be held up at this train crossing (again I say, who designed this area where a major traffic artery is cut off several times a day?), halting to watch a flock of 13 new born chicks trailing behind their mother to cross the street is pretty unusual.
The ducks waddled casually across four lanes of road, past the on-lookers, right past my lunch wagon and off to the grassy area beyond with nary a care in the world. I tried to get a picture of the moment, but my iPhone’s camera really isn’t the best part of that technology. And while I originally expected some adverse reactions by impatient motorists, smiles abounded and I am sure that innocent memories of childhood flooded everyone’s heads. Who could possibly be annoyed by such a cute display of the best in human nature? Traffic resumed and the moment was gone.
I thought about the ducks’ little adventure, wondering how they ended up at Molly Bloom’s in the first place and where they would be headed, while I munched on my phony Greek salad. The memory of the 13 cute fluffy baby chicks and the warm spring sun warmed me as I headed back to the artificial realism of my corporate office. It was a welcome break from responsibility and a fun distraction that rejuvenated my faith in the power of nature to inspire.

Wednesday’s Appetizer

Paul M. — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:32:06 +0000

There are lot of exciting dining events and news happening in the city these days. From restaurant openings to a huge array of charity events, HappyFull has compiled the latest and greatest to help you decide where you want to go. From the Taste for Life to LobsterFest, the only thing better than enjoying a great meal, is knowing that you are making a positive change in London by enjoying a great meal!

Restaurants:

Linda Wayne has just opened the Briscoe Cafe on Wharncliffe Rd. at, yes you guessed it, Briscoe St. Wayne quit her teaching job before opening the East Village Coffeehouse and then the Briscoe, which has a grand opening on May 1.
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2010/04/26/13719966.html

Drinks:

Chris Blackmore owner of The Wine Expert with a new product, Twisted Mist. It tastes like popular cocktail cooler drinks, but with more kick.
http://www.lfpress.com/money/businessmonday/2010/04/26/13720311.html

Food:

Michael Smith’s “Cook the Book” Event to support Bethany’s Hope is sold out
http://www.bethanyshope.org/Cook%20the%20Book%202010%20-%20Electronic%20Poster.pdf
http://www.lfpress.com/life/eat/2010/04/27/13742266.html

Our reporter went looking for the farms that produce the raw materials for junk food and found that they take up almost half of the cropland in Ontario
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/708661

Special Upcoming Dining Events in London:

Taste for Life
Wednesday, April 28th
http://www.atasteforlife.org/_cms/index.php?london
http://www.lfpress.com/life/eat/2010/04/27/13742381.html

Tastings Premier Wine & Food Experience & Action
Thursday, May 6, 2010
London Health Sciences Foundation (dale.wilson@lhsc.on.ca)
http://www.lhsc.ca
Join us on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the London Hunt and Country Club for this black tie event supporting London Health Sciences Centre. The evening features an elegant epicurean experience for guests, pairing delectable menus, from some of the finest well known chefs and restaurants from our region, with exquisite wines of the world.
http://www.lfpress.com/life/eat/2010/04/27/13742101.html

Upcoming Charity Events:

“Lions Fight for Sight” Yellow Perch Fish Fry
Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 5:00pm
London Central Lions are hosting their 7th annual Benefit Night “Lions Fight for Sight” with proceeds going towards their $50,000 commitment to fund a new examination suite at the Ivey Eye Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Includes an all you can eat yellow perch fish fry dinner, silent and live auction plus entertainment. To be held at the South London Community Centre, 1119 Jalna Blvd., London. Tickets are only $35.00; Corporate tables of 8 for $245. Contact 519-857-2108.

Lobsterfest 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010, 5:30 pm – 12:30 am
Craigwood Youth Services (khogan@craigwood.on.ca)
http://www.craigwood.on.ca
Join Craigwood Youth Services for their 6th Annual Lobsterfest on Saturday May 8, 2010 at The Carousel Room, Western Fair, London, Ontario.
An evening of East Coast cuisine, live entertainment provided by The Sheridan Band, with Jim Swan as the MC of the evening! Full buffet dinner: 1/4 lb. lobster tail, roasted ribeye of beef, chicken with fresh herbs and much more!
All proceeds go to support recreational and leisure activities for our youth.
Great fun, great food and for a great cause!
Tickets available at: lobsterfest@craigwood.on.ca or by phone at 519-432-2623.

Gala Evening at the Races
Friday, May 14, 2010, 6:00 pm – 1:00 am
Big Brothers Big sisters of London & Area (info@bbbsola.org)
http://www.bbbsola.org
An elegent evening with cocktail hour, dinner, dance, horse racing and silent auction. Proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters of London & Area’s mentoring programs for children and youth in the community. Contact 519-438-7065 or visit our website for further information www.bbbsola.org

Cello Supper Club

Paul M. — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:29:26 +0000

Type of Cuisine: Upscale contemporary fine dining
Overview: Fashionable and funky dining with a sophisticated urban vibe

Address: 99 King Street, London, ON N6A 1C1
Telephone: 519-850-8000
Website: www.cellosupperclub.com

Rating: 4 / 5
Meal Ordered:
Price: $122.77 for two, including drinks and tax but not tip

The location at 99 King Street (at Talbot, across from the John Labatt Centre) has proven to be unlucky for several previous restaurants. From 99 King in the early ‘90s (I liked their blackened turkey breast), to Nove Nove, to the Red Goat, many have tried but failed in what is an otherwise fantastic location. With Cello, we must believe that it has the potential to be the lucky success story. And luck will have nothing to do with it.
Styled after the funky and sophisticated business models that work so well in Toronto, Cello is destined to be a popular eatery for the successful young profession and stylish urban hipster. The restaurant features an incredible minimalist artistic décor, a captivating menu and event a cool live disc jockey.
On a cold February Friday night, four of us cabbed over to our 8:00pm reservation. After being met by a courteous doorman (in a suit and tie no less!), we were quickly seated in the main room by the front window. We each ordered from the specialty martini menu (my dirty martini contained way too much olive juice that made it overly salty) that were designed to be novel, featuring pop-rocks and other fun ingredients. The appetizer selection consisted of the trendy and the classic, but mostly smaller versions of their main courses. It creates the opportunity for some interesting combinations that provide a wide array of flavours. I ordered scallop risotto to start and osso bucco as my main. The food was delectable and my osso bucco was tender and fall-off-the-bone delicious. I can not get enough of that succulent marrow. Wines were suggested on the menu and paired really well with each course. Food is only part of the success of an evening, and our service was courteous and friendly. However, at times the pace between courses stretched out.
The staff was surely not to blame but by some perception, was way too young. The age of the staff fits in well with the overall vibe of the restaurant and their lack of maturity did not detract from good service. Perhaps additional training will improve the overall level of food knowledge, but the lacking was not essential to our good experience.

Overall, our experience was much more reasonably priced and enjoyable than I had anticipated based on Cello’s hip and trendy marketing. Perhaps the atmosphere – loud funky music that can be sometimes intrusive – may not be everyone, but Cello has a recipe for success for the youth market who want a Toronto-styled upscale eatery.

Cello Supper Club
Reviewed by Paul M. of HappyFull.ca on April 16, 2010.
With a funky, minimalist decor and cool vibe, Cello has a recipe for success for the trendy youth market who want a Toronto-styled upscale eatery.
Rating: 4

Cello Supper Club spends a great deal of time and effort appealing to the cooler (hip?) demographic in London. Most notably, they had a large and brash central booth at the London Food & Wine Show in January 2010 (second year in a row). It works well enough to fill the restaurant up on a Friday night, but does this marketing misrepresent how good the food actually is? They do a great many things very well. The menu, for instance, changes seasonally, if not more often.

Near the end of our meal, the staff quietly and efficiently removed unused tables and shifted couches around to transform the restaurant into more of a lounge and night club. We finished our drinks and moved on, but it appeared that the venue’s night had only begun. The key for business success is always to focus on core strengths and what they do best. Dinner was certainly delicious but the concern that Cello is trying to be all things to all who are young and trendy might be their undoing. Focus will continue to be the key so that Cello Supper Club does not end up as just another King Street memory.

Detailed Rating:
Location: 27 / 30
Service: 26 / 30
Food: 36 / 40
Overall: 89 / 100

Bring Your Own Wine in London

Paul M. — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:35:43 +0000

In January 2005, the Ontario Government (AGCO actually) finally allowed restaurants to apply for a BYOB licenses where customers could – for a corkage fee – accompany their meal with a wine brought from home. Participating restaurants benefit by earning the same profit but with less carrying costs, while customers win by matching their dinner with a more exclusive and nicer bottle of wine at a lower cost. While most restaurants keep their mark-ups on wine fairly reasonable, higher priced vintage wine are either out of most people’s budgets or are simply unavailable.

If you have a particular favourite bottle that can not be found on most wine lists, then frequenting a restaurant with a BYOB license might be right for you. Generally the corkage fee (to offset labour costs and glass service) is modest, averaging about $20 per bottle. The added benefit is that if you do not finish the entire bottle, it can be re-corked and brought home. Each restaurant varies with its rules, so it is best to check ahead.

Although a lot of restaurants have moved to building their wine lists using private wine agencies, (partly so you will not know what the original cost is and hence their mark-up rate) there is no guarantee that you will be able to find that perfect bottle for the occasion. The BYOB system works best if you plan on bringing an expensive bottle of wine where the corkage fee is going to be much less than the mark-up. Once you try it, you will no doubt find that it is a nice option to have.

HappyFull is providing you with a list of current London BYOB restaurants and a few details about their programs. If you know of any other restaurants that are involved, or want to get your favourite on the list, please contact our editor.

LONDON RESTAURANTS THAT LET YOU BRING YOUR OWN:

Aroma, 215 Piccadilly Street, London
Corkage Fee: $10 per 750ml
They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

Bertoldi’s, 650 Richmond St, London
Corkage Fee: $25 per 750ml
They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

Braywick Bistro, 224 Dundas St, London
Corkage Fee: $15 per bottle
No other rules or details at this time

The Keg – South London, 1059 Wellington Rd South, London
Corkage Fee: $15 per 750ml
The wine can’t be on their wine list. They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

Keg, London Station, 664 Richmond Street, London
Corkage Fee: $15 per 750ml
They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

London Hunt & County Club, 1431 Oxford Street West, London
Corkage Fee: $20 per 750ml
They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, 465 Sunningdale Road West, London
Corkage Fee: $25 per 750ml
They let customers: Take Home the Rest (THTR)

Timber’s Chop House, 855 Wellington Road South, London
Corkage Fee: $15 per 750ml
They don’t do: ‘Take Home the Rest’

Compiled from:BringMyWine.ca

Basic details about how the “Bring Your Own Wine” program works are available at the following sites:
https://smartserve.org/faq_byow.asp
http://www.agco.on.ca/en/t.tools/t3.3.LLA.Reg.Changes.faqs.html#

How to Become a Regular

Paul M. — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:04:05 +0000

Want to seem influential and powerful among friends and strangers? One of the ways to pull it off is to garner favours and personal attention at the best restaurant in town. Perhaps it is a little easier said than done, but there are tips you can learn that will help.

HappyFull has collected some great articles that deal with the subject of being treated as a regular and how to win that higher level of customer service. We have also provided a look at the restaurant business from the other side: a link to an article that discusses what restaurants look out for by way of bad customers. You certainly do not want to get on their target list!

Image Courtesy of Macleans

From GrubStreet (New York):
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2009/07/how_to_be_a_regular.html

From Toronto Life:
http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/culinary-curiosities/2009/08/05/cash-and-booze-are-the-keys-to-becoming-a-resto-regular/#more-9028

From Macleans:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/12/18/how-to-get-on-a-restaurant%E2%80%99s-hit-list/

Under the Volcano

Paul M. — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:43:04 +0000

Type of Cuisine: Mexican and Southwestern Comfort
Overview: Casual dining with familiar Mexican favourites in a fun atmosphere

Address: 7-215 Piccadilly Street, London, ON N6A 1S2
Telephone: 519-435-1197
Website: www.iloveunderthevolcano.com

Under the Volcano
Reviewed by Paul M. of HappyFull.ca on March 30.
Aside from the ubiquitous fajitas and quesadillas, the selection of chimichangas, chonitas (a Mexican-styled panzerotti) and flautas are prepared with a consistent appeal. Its casual flair and modern style is welcoming and fun.
Rating: 4

Rating: 4 / 5
Meal Ordered: Chicken enchilada combination plate
Price: Around $60 for dinner for two with drinks

Located just off Richmond Street on Piccadilly Street, Under the Volcano is a large space divided into several rooms with a large raised patio. Although the view from the patio is less than spectacular, drinking a cold Mexican beer on a warm, sunny summer day there is a true pleasure. Both the décor and the menu are profoundly Latin cliché in flavour. Aside from the ubiquitous fajitas and quesadillas, the selection of chimichangas, chonitas (a Mexican-styled panzerotti) and flautas are prepared with a consistent appeal. The menu is designed around combinations and giving customers a wide choice, even if from only a select few ingredients. We are talking about Mexican food here after all. Chicken and fish are front-and-centre but vegans and vegetarians are more than welcome. With or without protein, dishes are offered from “mild to wild” in their spiciness. The “Drunken Chicken” for instance, quickly brought beads of sweat to my dinner guest’s forehead from the aroma alone when she ordered “hot.”

I enjoyed my beef enchilada combo that was served with brown rice, refried beans and a green salad with an avocado dressing. It was a filling meal that was somewhat predictable but good. During each of the several times I have visited Under the Volcano, service has been efficient albeit without much enthusiasm.
Under the Volcano is a good choice for a casual evening of comfort dining, especially with a few drinks (try the daiquiris). With a little searching, it is easy to find coupons and other discounts from one of their many marketing programs that provided added value.

Unlike Mexicali Rosa’s which occupied the space previously, Under the Volcano offers a more authentic Mexican menu that is very approachable and familiar. While there are more true Central American and Mexican restaurants in the city, Under the Volcano is fun and festive for the unadventurous, and ideal for groups. The décor borders on the cliché, but it is comfortable and inviting. Private rooms are available. Pricing is fair and no one will be disappointed by what they receive. For the right occasion, Under the Volcano is a good and predictably good choice. Be warned, however. Parking is trolled by ImPark who are quite predatory in their enforcement. There is no free street parking in the area so guests musts be mindful of using the pay lot otherwise tickets are frequent and severe. My father received a $75 fine for being 15 minutes over the limit.
Under the Volcano, aside from building more of a visual presence in such an incredible building and area of town, really needs to negotiate a better parking arrangement. Otherwise, they could suffer a dwindling client base, one which the average food and menu will not be strong enough to prevent.

Detailed Rating:
Location: 24 / 30
Service: 25 / 30
Food: 31 / 40
Overall: 80 / 100

Tuesday’s Appetizer

Paul M. — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:07:16 +0000

News Bites about summer overnight parking in London, British developments in alcohol that are without harmful effects, and a job posting for the junk food lover’s dream job. Please click on “Continue Reading” for details and links.

Free Overnight Parkng Returning For Summer (London Free Press)

After a pilot project earlier this winter, it looks like the City of London is going to offer free overnight parking again in the summer of 2010. This is certainly good news for those who like to go out for dinner downtown but then are faced with the dilemma of either having a few more drinks and taking a cab home (and facing a large ticket), or missing out and going home early. As London’s Downtown Associations try to encourage more traffic to businesses in the core, free parking certainly has to be a positive incentive.
London Free Press

Harm-free alcohol? Compiled by Michael Kesterton (Globe and Mail)
A British scientist is developing a drink that he claims will give a similar kick to spirits but without the harmful effects, Maurice Chittenden writes for The Sunday Times of London. “The small liquid shot would give the same lift as a few drinks after work. But those enjoying its benefits could then take an antidote before driving home. There would be no hangover and no damage to the liver. David Nutt, chairman of the government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs until he was dismissed last year, is developing his synthetic alcohol at Imperial College London. He says the ‘Nutt slammer’ could be on the market by the end of 2012 if money is available for clinical trials.” The drug could pose serious questions for lawmakers over whether it is a safe drug to take before getting behind the wheel.

Wold’s Ultimate Food Job
Proactol Ltd. is looking to hire someone for about $37,000 a year to eat 400 extra calories a day of greasy, high-fat food. As part of a research project project to test a fat-binding diet supplement, the winning applicant will work from home and eat things like take-out Chinese food, pizza, fish and chips and other typical fast foods.
Proactol UK

Monday’s Appetizer

Paul M. — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:09:42 +0000

HappyFull would like to present News Bites, a selection of London restaurant and food-related articles for your enjoyment (click “Continue Reading” for links):

Entrepreneur, Alex Kappos, is trying to bring healthier food options to London’s school children. London Free Press

The “Cooler Not Sweeter” people from BlackFly Beverages are in the news again, this time as a final nominee for “Small Business of the Year.” London Free Press

If you have news you would like to share, please contact Paul M. at paulm@happyfull.ca.

Braise Food & Wine

AntheaR — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:29:15 +0000

Type of Cuisine: Upscale contemporary Canadian
Overview: Focusing on local and seasonal ingredients in a modern, sophisticated style

Address: 125 Dundas Street, London, ON (parking is available underground at the Covent Garden Market off of King Street)
Telephone: 519-433-1414
Website: http://www.braise.ca/

We had a great meal at Braise Food and Wine. Although I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t remember what my main course was, I do remember that it was delicious – and that for an appetizer we had the Trio of House Charcuterie. (You’ve got to order meat at a place called “braise”, right?)

Saturday night at 7:30 was of course a busy time, so the only table left was at the bar. But we still had decent service and a lovely meal. The decor was lovely, with lots of intimate dining and lounging areas.

The only thing detracting from the experience was the fact that the bartender couldn’t confidently recommend a wine for our meal, and the sommelier was too busy with other guests.

The Bungalow

Paul M. — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:57:20 +0000

Type of Cuisine: Casual Gastro-Pub
Overview: Upscale neighbourhood pub for gourmet burgers and pizza

Address: 910 Waterloo Street, London, ON N6A 3W9
Telephone: 519-434-8797
Website: No Website yet

Rating: 4 / 5

Meal Ordered: Lamb, Buffalo & Beef Burgers, Beef & Swiss Melt
Price: $108 after tax (for four people with appetizers and 2 drinks each)

Following in the footsteps of the former North Restaurant, located at Cheapside and Waterloo in Old North, The Bungalow was opened by a group that includes the current owners of The Tasting Room. The same standards of service (and quite a few familiar faces) from the Tasting Room have transferred over to this upscale local watering hole.

Known foremost as a great place to grab a drink and a few bites after work, Bungalow has developed quite a following for their easy-style and comforting approach to casual dining. Guests are invited to grab a stool at the long bar or enjoy one of the plentiful booths in this stylish and modern restaurant. I have visited a number of times to watch a hockey game (and one in particular where Canada’s juniors lost to the United States in overtime thanks to a goal from former Knight John Carlson) and recently to their private room upstairs to host a work function. Bungalow features a broad range of beers on tap or by the bottle and a comfort menu of pub classics, but done in a more gourmet fashion.

In addition to a large array of gourmet personal pizzas (carne, vegetarian plus some wildly original choices) and pre-designed burgers, Bungalow’s menu is designed around the concept of choice. Especially with the “build-a-burger” model, guests can choose their protein (lamb, buffalo, portabella, salmon, tuna, beef), the bun (focaccia, kaiser, etc.), type of cheese, and then a selection form a huge list of specialty toppings. Chorizo, double-smoked bacon, guacamole, grilled onions are only a few from the five-columns of choices. Fatty Patty’s on King has long used the same methodology, but with not as fancy of ingredients. It is a winning idea that burger lovers must try!

For an older, more suburban crowd, Bungalow is a good place to sit with friends, relax and enjoy an evening out. Its casual flair and modern style is welcoming and fun. Since they have yet to register their presence online, it is a good idea to drop by and take a look at this restaurant that is quickly making a name for itself. Parking is limited so be wary of parking on the street because the neighbours like to have tickets issued.

Bungalow Restaurant
Reviewed by Paul M. of HappyFull.ca on March 21.
For an older, more suburban crowd, Bungalow is a good place to sit with friends, relax and enjoy an evening out. Its casual flair and modern style is welcoming and fun.
Rating: 4

Aside from the issue of limited parking and street ticketing in this conservative part of Old North in London, Bungalow does suffer from time to time with poor server attitude and some painful delays in receiving your order. Some of the staff is consistently friendly and courteous while others seem to be merely going through the motions. Especially when Bungalow gets busy, it would be nice if the customer service would not drop.

Food quality was inconsistent when Bungalow first opened (one instance in particular where our burgers were way over done because the cooks were out back smoking instead of attending to the grill) but since that time, meals have been incredibly good. The portions are very generous and no one has ever walked away hungry. Being a close staggering distance from home is a good thing to have in a local pub too.

Detailed Rating:
Location: 23/30
Service: 25/30
Food: 35/40
Overall: 83 / 100