33. Lebanon: Falafel World

Falafel World
2396 Bloor Street West
(just east of Jane Street)
416 769 9336

No matter when you drop in, Falafel World always seems busy. It's counter service and, to give them credit, they dish it out quickly. This family run business is popular with the Bloor West Village locals but it will never win an eco-friendly competition. Even if you dine in, you're served on foam plates and have to struggle with plastic cutlery.
That being said, the food is consistently tasty, filling, good value for money and there are many veggie options. I order a Falafel Plate - cabbage salad, hummus, tabbouleh, three large falafel balls, tahini dressing, whole wheat pita, $7.00. Add a bottle of apple juice and tax - $8.50 for a generous dinner.
There are a few faded posters of the middle east but they fail to cheer up the gloomy, cafeteria style decor. It's not surprising that much of their business is take-out.
Rating: Ambiance (2)
Service (2)
Food Presentation (2)
Food Quality (3)
Value for Money (3)

24. Jewish: Free Times Cafe

Free Times Cafe
320 College Street
(between Bathurst and Spadina)
416 967 1078

The Free Times Cafe, which opened in the south Annex over 25 years ago, has three areas: the bar, the bistro and a larger room at the back which hosts live music nightly. We sat in the bistro section where the decor is a fusion of Victorian parlour and urban chic. Before long, two young ladies at the table opposite were skyping on their laptops.
Like the venue, the menu is divided into sections - Canadian, European Jewish Deli and Israeli Middle Eastern cuisines. Highly recommended is the sweet potato, carrot and ginger soup, small $3.95. We order the Shistawook (marinated grilled chicken breast ) pita with fries $9.25 and the small sized blintz and latke combo, served with apple sauce and sour cream, $7.95.
The Premium house red wine, Masi Valpolicella, was reasonably priced at $6.95 a glass, as was the fair trade, organic decaf coffee at $2.25. Total for two dinners $38.91 plus tip.


Rating: Ambiance (4)
Service (3)
Food Presentation (3)
Food Quality (3)
Value for Money (4)

19. Iran: Pomegranate

Pomegranate

420 College Street
(just east of Bathurst)
416 921 7557

Reservations highly recommended.

To the Pomegranate restaurant on a Saturday night. We arrive at 5 o'clock, just as the doors are opening. Soon tables are filling up in this well patronized restaurant. They're not open for lunch and they rely on two sittings each night so if you're planning a leisurely meal, it's best to let them know. Many folk, without reservations, were turned away while we were there.
We enjoyed a shared starter: noon-o paneer-o gerdu which included creamy feta cheese, black kalamata olives, herbs and walnuts served with warm Barbary bread, $5.95.
Our main courses were: mirza qasemi with baqali polo - charred eggplant purée in a mildly spicy garlic tomato sauce served with saffron basmati rice and salad, $12.95; Adas polo - lentils, dates and sultana raisins blended into a saffron basmati rice topped with crispy onion and barberries, $9.50; morasa polo - jewelled rice (slivers of seville orange peel, almond and pistachio with diced carrots and barberries blended in saffron basmati rice) served with a braised lamb shank, creamy yogurt and salad, $14.95; aloo gheysi - bokhara plums and dried apricots in a saffron sauce with boneless chicken pieces served with creamy yogurt, $13.95.
We round out the meal with Robert’s Rock South Africa Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Persian tea, Persian rose-water ice cream with slivered pistachios and pomegranate seeds. This restaurant scored high all round with good food that was beautifully presented, pleasant service, exquisite decor and reasonable prices.


Rating: Ambiance (4)
Service (3)
Food Presentation (4)
Food Quality (4)
Value for Money (4)