Izakaya Ju

Izakaya Ju is a a Japanese restaurant located inside J-Town located on Steeles Avenue just east of Woodbine Avenue.  At night they tend to serve dinner menu and alcohol while during the day they have some set lunches in a menu and on a board.  When we got in they had a long table for my family and our fellow friends.  Since it was my first time there, we decided to go with a split menu in that we would share all the food that was there.  We went with four different dishes which included: Takitori Don, Takisakana Black Cod Lunch, Gyu Dan, Deep Fried Chicken Knuckle Bones and Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus. 

Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus

All the meals all arrived at once.  A couple of the dishes also came with miso soup and salads which we divided amongst ourselves.  The first thing we tried was the Deep Fried Chicken Knuckle Bones.  This dish was only $5.00 and it came with about 12 pieces.  It was basically the ends of the chicken drumstick breaded and battered in oil.  The pieces were soft and not overly greasy.  It was pretty tasty, with the outer portion crunchy and the inner part soft.  Interesting appetizer to start off the lunch. 

Gyu Dan

Next we tried the Takisakana Black Cod.  There wasn't anything too impressive with this fish.  Basically it was a cod then was cooked in a butter like sauce and serve with white rice.  This was of the meals that came with a miso soup and salad.  The fish was de-boned and was mixed well with the white rice. 

My favorite of the afternoon was the Gyu Dan.  This rice mixed with shredded ginger and marinated raw tuna was very  very good.  The tuna was freshed and tasted very good.  Despite the marination, the true taste of tuna remained throughout each bite.  There was a gingerly sauce mixed with the rice which gave the rice "life".  It was definitely something worth trying if you are planning to go into this restaurant. 

Takitori Don

The next best dish I thought was the Osaka Fried Rice with Octopus.  The octopus was shredded into small pieces but one can still make it out in the rice.  The only difference between this rice and the last one was that it was just a tad drier.  Otherwise this one would have earned equal marks compared to the Gyu Dan.  It also had some shredded vegetables in it.  The dish was not greasy and was something also worth trying for if you are planning to go to this restaurant. 

The last one was the Takitori Don which basically was chicken teriyaki mixed with its rice.  Some of the pieces of the chicken was slightly burnt.  Personally looking at the five pieces of the chicken, I would have to say if the chicken was not as dry as it was, it would have been better.  I understand that it is a teriyaki however, the meat was a tad too dry and chewy as a result of the searing and cooking of it.  Even my daughter with all her might had a difficult time chewing on it. 

Overall it was a pretty good experience.  The two rices I would highly recommend and try again.  The staff was pretty courteous and with all the food, it was approximately 15 dollars per person tax and tip included.  With plenty of free parking on the outside, it is definitely a restaurant worth trying.  I would give this place a 3.75 out of 5. 

Izakaya Ju
3160 Steeles Avenue East  Markham, ON L3R

(905) 474-1058

Golden Court Abalone Restaurant

Last night we were invited to a 10-course meal at Golden Court Abalone Restaurant located on the northwest corner of Highway 7 and West Beaver Creek Road in Richmond Hill for a wedding.  Normally I don't do weddings but a few people said that it was a pretty good experience and that I should put my two cents worth towards the food. 

The traditional ten-course meal usually covers has the same foods from one event to the next however wedding parties and event organizers can certainly customize their own personal choices by removing or adding to the existing menu. 

The first thing to arrive was the roasted pork.  The pork itself was nicely glazed however our pork had very little to no meat on it.  Surprisingly there was quite a bit of bone on some of the meat considering they usually just serve the top layer and rarely get to the bottom layers. The skin was crispy and it was served with traditional gelatin.  If there was not as much bone to it, I would have it given it full marks. 

Next to arrive was the crab claw.  The crab claws lately have become more complex.  In the past, where most places would just serve meat and crab, many places are starting to add small pieces of shrimp to them to give it that extra flavor.  With a bit of vinegar added on the side, it made it a nice crab claw to have. 

Pork

Crab Claw

Scallops and Mushroom

The scallops and mushroom were next to arrive and to me this was the best dish of the night.  The scallops were slightly overcooked or seared on the outside but the inside was very juicy and tender. Only a simple garlic and onion sauce was used.  The mushrooms were also sauteed quite nice and although this whole dish might have been just a tad heavy on its MSG and flavor, the dish alone is something I will order the next time I am at the restaurant. 

Next was the shark fin soup.  Since many places in Toronto are about to ban this delicacy, Richmond Hill residents can still enjoy this wonderful Chinese delicacy.  It came in a huge bowl and as far as I can see, each bowl served had plenty of shark fins in it.  The stock was beautifully done as well. The chefs certainly took good care in making this dish. 

The snow peas and abalone were next to arrive.  The wedding party's family however had relatives who brought in their own abalone so we had fresh abalone to eat.  It would be have been great to eat the abalone here just to see if there stuff is as good as their name but none the less it was prepared very well and the abalone's rubber texture was perfect. 

Shark Fin Soup

Abalone and Snow Peas

Roasted Garlic Chicken

The lobster arrived next and it was baked in garlic and onion sauce.  The pieces unfortunately were pretty chewy and the meat was stuck inside the shells pretty good.  The chewiness suggests either we had quite an older lobster or the meal was overcooked.  The taste however was fine. Certainly no complains there. 

 The chicken was okay.  Nothing remarkable here.  Sprinkle with some roasted garlic, the meat was both dry and juicy pending on which area you got.  The only question I had was what ever happened to the shrimp crackers.  It seems many of the restaurants are doing away with that lately.  

Each table got two fish and it appeared to be tilapia fish.  Easy steamed with onions, this fish or bass is commonly used at weddings.  Although the fish was tasty, I believe it was tilapia simply because of the amount of bones that came out of it.  Most weddings normally use bass because there are less bones and scales but this would be the choice of the wedding party.

Lobster

Dumpling Noodles

Fish

The final dishes to arrive are the noodles and rice.  The rice looked dry and for whatever reason did not look as appealing as the noodles.  The noodles were different in that the wedding party chose to have noodles with dumplings which was actually very good and with its soup base made it a nice way to end the evening's meals.  I personally think that it was an excellent choice of change and that all restaurants should consider doing this. 

Overall it was a good night.  The food came pretty much on schedule and there were no major delays.  The food was tasty and with the exception of the lobster, all the other foods were very good.  I have also had the dim sum here as well during the day before and I have to say this place does meet standards.  We had a good night and the staff was very courteous.  Overall I give this place a 4.25 out of 5. 

Golden Court Abalone Restaurant

270 W Beaver Creek Rd
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Y9

(905) 707-6628

Dickens (Brand New)

I had previously posted about a Dickens that I had gone to in Richmond Hill and of a Rural Chinese Restaurant in Scarborough.  Well we found out very recently that Dickens had taken over the Rural Chinese Restaurant over at the Scarborough location so we decided to go pay them a visit.  Funny but most of the staff was held over from the previous restaurant.  As well, the place was renovated and cut almost in half.  Regardless we went in there with high expectations.

When we looked at the new menu, it was almost a hybrid of the previous restaurant's menu and the Dickens menu.  I decided to go with their 12 ounce T-Bone steak while my wife went with the meat sauce cheese pasta.  The steak was priced about $14 dollars.  For an extra $2.50, we got a salad, a vegetable soup, a cold drink and ice cream dessert.

Meat Sauce Pasta

12 ounce steak

Our meals arrived rather quickly.  Bread and butter was served which was a nice starter to have.  The vegetable soup was a tiny bit spicy but nothing that one could not handle.  It was mostly a tomato and celery soup.  It was tasty and delightful.  They also had a cream of broccoli that day for those not interested in the vegetable soup.

Next came the salad and it too was very good.  The salad was a normal garden salad with french dressing.  The salad was certainly acceptable and quite refreshing as well.

Finally came the steak.  I had asked for a medium rare steak and it was made to perfection.  The interior was pinkish-red and with a bit of onion sauce on top and some side vegetables, the steak was certainly very tasty and a must have tonight.  The meat was soft and juicy and certainly lived up to its billing.  Of importance, one could actually change the side vegetables to a rice or fries instead at no extra charge.

I also had a bit of my wife's pasta and it too was quite good.  There was a simple tomato sauce mixed with ground beef mixed into the spaghetti and truthfully it was quite good.  Absolutely no complaints with the taste, the texture or the overall appearance.  The portions were definitely quite filling. 

We were all very pleasantly pleased with the results.  Although we will miss the old restaurant, the new restaurant with its new menu and old staff was a definite hit.  We will definitely be coming back again in the very near future.  Overall I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

Dickens

8 Glen Watford Drive
Scarborough Ontario

416 321 3354

New Regime Restaurant

So this past weekend we decided to scour the Scarborough area to see which restaurant we hadn’t been to in quite some time.  We stumbled upon this place called New Regime Restaurant which I swear to you was named something else back in the days.  Although they serve a variety of fresh seafood including lobster and crab, they also have personal meals which one can enjoy. 

I went with the Pork Chop Tomato Sauce In Rice.  I decided to go safe and easy although I did notice a couple of tables with lobster rice for brunch. 

Pork Chop Rice in Tomato Sauce

It arrived within 15 minutes and it came in hot!!!.  The plates were steaming so I assume that they were taken straight from the oven.  Appearance wise, the outsides of the tomato sauce was slightly seared.  When I started mixing the rice with the sauce, some of it I could tell was that bottom of the barrel type rice where you need to “scrape” the bottom to get to it.  However, if you like “crunchy” rice, then one can not complain at all.  As for the whole meal, the pork chop was nicely baked.  It was not over done to the point where it was extremely chewy.  The tomato sauce was very good.  The combination of the crunchy rice and the tasty tomato sauce and pork chop made quite an impression.  Whether this was done on purpose or accidentally I do not know but the contrast in texture and the overall taste of it was definitely something worthwhile. 

With a nice cold ice tea to wash the food down, it certainly was a pleasant surprise to have.  I hadn’t been here in 2 years and I know that the previous owners were no longer there, however the new folks certainly know how to cook up a good meal.  No disappointments here.  I give this place a 3.75 out of 5. 

New Regime Restaurant

19 Milliken Blvd

Scarborough , Ontario

416-298-0818

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

After a long day’s work, we were treated to dinner on the penthouse floor of the Sheraton Hotel located in the heart of Downtown Toronto.  The restaurant overlooks City Hall and the north part of Toronto and produces quite a spectacular view. 

It was a set menu tonight where there was a soup, salad, chicken and dessert served for the evening.  The waiters brought us towards a slightly more private area where it was a little bit more secluded.  There was a mini bar at the entrance and they had about three tables set up for us. 

Within 5 minutes of sitting down, they brought down the soup of the day. Mind you I really didn’t get the name of the soup however it was almost a like a butternut squash mixed with tomato soup.  Whatever was in it, it was damn good.  The texture was a little bit creamy and the flavor was magnificent.  If I actually get the name of this soup I will certainly update it on any future blogs.  A gourmet salad was also served shortly after the soup was served which contained most of your daily salad vegetables.

Soup

Next served was the chicken.  It was a simple chicken served with asparagus, carrots and potatoes.  The chicken was thick and dry but it came with its own sauce.  The sauce was like a gravy like sauce and it helped put a little moisture in the chicken.  Personally I like my chicken meat to be a little bit juicy.  It was just a tad bland and dry for me.

Chicken

Last was the dessert and again I believe this was Apple Crumble Pie.  If indeed it was then it was not bad at all.  The apple pie was sweet flavor and contained nice sized chunks in the middle.  The pastry was crusty and nicely burnt on the top. This plus the soup was by far the best thing on the menu tonight. 

Apple Crumble Pie

Overall it was a decent meal.  It was simple and tasty for the most part.  The only thing I didn’t like was the chicken being a little too dry and thick.  It didn’t allow the flavor or the sauce to get right into the meat.  I like my meats juicy and this one missed the mark a little bit.  Otherwise it was decent.  The staff took good care of us.  Overall I give it a 3.25 out of 5. 

Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel

123 Queen Street West

Toronto Ontario

416 361 1000

 

Moxie's Bar and Grill

I never really had brunch over at Moxie's Bar and Grill before.  I've had many dinners there and although the place is literally a stone's throw away from my workplace, it was a place that I hadn't been to in quite some time.  Having said that, I still decided to head east over to the Scarborough Town Centre location to have brunch over there instead.

We got there shortly after it had opened and we were quite surprised that it was quite busy.  We were however able to get a seat right away and with a little one in tow, we were also given crayons, some paper for the little one to draw on and a booster.

Having not been here for quite some time, it took a little while to figure out what we wanted but in the end I went with the Double Stacked Turkey Club sandwich while my wife got the Scallop and Crab Cake Benedict.  Despite being a more upscale restaurant, they still serve kid's menu and the little one ended up with a Kid's Penne.

The turkey club sandwich came with lightly toasted wheat bread.  It also had some mayonnaise, lettuce, bacon and of course turkey.  I also went with some fries as a side dish to the main course.  The sandwich was a tad bit chewy by the time I had sunk my teeth into it however it was still acceptable.  The problem with slightly toasted sandwiches is that if it you wait a tad too long to serve, the bread becomes chewy as was the case here.  There wasn't anything spectacular otherwise.

Double Stacked Turkey Club

The Scallop and Crab Cake benedict was surprisingly very good. I really didn't know what to expect but one bite into it and one can instantly taste the crab and scallop inside the cake.  The seafood was mashed up pretty good and it was very "seafood" tasting like.  With zero expectations to this particular dish, I have to admit it was surprisingly pretty good and something that I would definitely try once again.

Scallop and Crab Cake Benedict

Not knowing what to get for the little one since she is only 18 months old, we went with the Kid's Penne.  Although she did not really like the cheesy taste to the pasta, it certainly wasn't anything out of the ordinary.  In fact it was delicious.  The meal also came with some chocolate syrup vanilla ice cream and that was quite yummy to the tummy.  It's too bad my daughter doesn't know how to enjoy good food just yet because my wife and I ate all of the dessert.

Overall it was a good experience.  Staff was very courteous and checked on us every ten minutes.  The food was a little bit more pricier than what the previous Moxies use to have but still reasonable somewhat.  The Benedict was certainly something that gave the overall experience a few extra marks. Altogether I would give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Moxie's Bar and Grill
300 Borough Drive  Scarborough, ON M1P 4P5

(416) 296-8803

Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant

The other evening I went over to Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant to have dinner over there.  This restaurant is located near the GO Train Milliken Station just at the border of Markham and Scarborough.  It is a rather small Vietnamese restaurant that is served in an isolated house across the street from Pacific Mall. 

The restaurant itself has about 10 tables.  The four of us were given a menu with multiple Phos and rice dishes.  They also had a variety of specialty dishes that one can order and share.  I went with the beef and tendon pho while the four of us decided to share a Shrimp Green Bean Cake. 

Beef and Tendon Pho

The pho noodle was decent and was comparable to the other phos I have had at other Vietnamese places.  The soup base was good and all the meat was well cooked in the soup. 

Shrimp Green Bean Cake

The special Shrimp Green Bean Cake was however a little disappointing.  It looks like a shrimp stuck in a muffin and unfortunately that was about as good as it got.  The entire dish was very dry and although one can smell the shrimp, there was absolutely no taste of it in the cake.  Having said that, one could not even taste the green bean either. This was by far the blandest food I have ever tasted.  I only took one bite into the shrimp cake and put the rest down.  It was not good at all. 

Overall, if I had ordered just the pho, it would be a fairly decent place to go to.  The specialty dish unfortunately was not special at all. The place is isolated from the nearby Chinese malls although one can eat there and walk to any one of the 3 major Chinese malls nearby.  If you isolate the pho, I would have given it a 3.5 out of 5.  With the shrimp cake,  I would not go over 2.5 out of 5. 

Kim Po Vietnamese Restaurant

550 Hwy 7 E
Unit 6162A
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Z4

905) 763-8338