13. Tibet: Little Tibet

Little Tibet
712 Queen St West
(West of Bathurst at Manning)
416 306 1896

Little Tibet is a spacious, light and airy restuarant with woodwork and yellow paint and a colourful frieze. It's on trendy Queen Street West, which comes with a hint of menace.
Our starters included: Tenchung soup - red lentil and garlic $4.25; Teme-dhangtse - chickpea and cucumber salad $4.65; Temae - steamed green soybeans (it's like snacking on peanuts) $3.95; shogokatsa - a Llasa style spicy potato salad which was hot and filling $4.95. We shared the tse momo - steamed veggie filled dumplings with salad $9.50 [pictured here].
The tse nanzem - shrimp in a garlic ginger sauce, was tasty with plenty of seafood, $13.95. The vegeterians and vegans chose: tse-tofu - snowpeas, peppers and tofu, $9.25; potse veg - spinach, tofu in garlic and ginger ,$8.95; shogo-ngopa - sliced potatoes, spinach and cilantro ,$8.75, and were not disappointed.
We round out the meal with a tasty rice and dried fruit dessert, Mindha, $5.50. The Tibetan herb tea, which promised stress relief ($2.50) and ginger tea ($2.75) were very well received. Sawmill Creek, an Ontario red wine was $16.65 for a half-litre. Total for 5 people - $137.54 plus a gratuity of $20.63 came to $158.17.
The service was friendly and helpful and we were not under any pressure to leave after the meal on this busy Saturday night.

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

12. Sri Lanka: Rashnaa

Rashnaa Restaurant

307 Wellesley Street East
(at Parliament)

416 929 2099

This unassuming Tamil restaurant is somewhat off the beaten path. A large part of their business is take-out and this detracts from the dining room experience. We asked for water which took a long time to materialize. The mango chutney and poppadoms we ordered never did arrive. The rectangular wooden tables have no table cloths. Background sitar music & traditional art work add to the ambiance but the rather tatty menus need replacing.
All that being said, the food was excellent and the portions generous. Our starters - Ulunthu Vadai (crushed lentil donut shaped dumpling, deep fried and served with coconut chutney), 2 pieces $3.45 and vegetable samosas (potato, carrots, green peas and spices in a savory pastry deep fried and served with a sweet spicy sauce), 2 pieces $3.45 were very good.
Our main courses were equally tasty: Butter chicken - Tandoori marinated barbecue chicken cooked in a tomato based sauce flavoured with a touch of butter and a dash of cream
$9.95; Vegetable Delight - Ghee basmati rice, aromatic with curry leaves and accompanied by dishes of kalla curry (eggplant, breadfruit, potato), cashew and green peas curry, potato in a mild creamy gravy and achar) $8.95; String Hopper Kottu [pictured here]- Red (roasted) rice flour noodles chopped and sauteed with onion, green peppers, eggs, spices and vegetables $7.95
We round out the meal with coffee, chai tea and Vatalapam - a scrumptious flan with Kitul syrup (made from the sap of a palm tree) shredded coconut and cardamon, $3.25. The house red wine, at $12.25 for a half-litre, was acceptable.
Total cost for three was $71.49 - $83.00 including tip. Overall, well worth visiting for the food.

Rating: Ambiance (2)
Service (2)
Food Presentation (3)
Food Quality (4)
Value for Money (4)

11. Poland: Krak Restaurant

Krak Restaurant
153 Roncesvalles Ave
(at Garden Ave)
416 536 6119

The name of the restaurant derives from Krak as in Krakow [Kraków]. There was a bearded figure in Tartar costume on the front of the menu, which harks back in legend to 1287 and the defeat of the Tartars at Krakow.
We started with clear beat soup with potato and fresh dill [above]. The chicken noodle soup scored a three out of four among the company. A full plate of Viener schnitzel à la Krak [Kotlet wiedeński], was $7.95. Potato pancakes [Placki ziemniaczane], a snip at $5.95. Pierogis with a variety of fillings, for example cheddar cheese and potato, were $7.50.
An acceptable house red wine came in at $5 per glass, a welcome change from recent restaurants. The interior was decked out for Christmas, with old guys drinking beer out of bottles and CBC on the TV. The restaurant has a genuine down home feel. Good size portions and remarkable value lunch at $62.10 for six! Don't miss this.

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

10. Peru: Boulevard Restaurant

Boulevard Cafe
161 Harbord St
(between Bathurst and Spadina)
416 961 7676

We were greeted cordially and then ushered through a kitchen area upstairs where we were somewhat left to our own devices to choose a table. We sat at the top of the stairs with a view of the washrooms. Service was fairly prompt and genial.
The food rated highly. There must be umpteen restaurants in Toronto selling chicken, rice and veggies in differing styles and this one proved to be near the top of the list. We tried one of the daily specials the Pollo Gitano - grilled chicken breast in a spicy spinach, garbanzo (chick peas) and wine sauce served with garlic rice and veggies, $18.95, and the Camarones Ajillo - marinated and grilled shrimp in a spicy garlic, pimento and wine sauce served with rice and vegetables, $23.00 from the regular menu. Both are ample portions. The vegetables were colourful and crunchy and the shrimp were done to perfection, not overcooked.
We share the recommended "authentic" Peruvian starter from the specials board: Humita - creamed corn with basil wrapped in a corn husk and fresh salsa, $12.95, which was excellent.
The cheapest wine on the list is $35 a bottle but we manage to negotiate a half-litre of house red off menu, an Argentinian Cabernet, not a snip at $26. A small pot of fresh mint tea, although delicious, is overpriced at $4.00.
Understated holiday decorations and pleasant Latin background music added to the overall effect. Dinner for two came to $111.30 including tax and tip. A good restaurant for a treat.

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

9. Portugal: Caldense Bakery

Caldense Bakery
3497 Dundas St. West
(just east of Jane)
416 761-9499

Although part of a small chain this bakery qualifies due to its authentic local feel. Their speciality is the Portuguese custard tart, well received on our visit. Another fine choice was the chocolate éclair which was filled with custard, different but very acceptable in a town where a proper éclair is hard to find. Both choices $1.60. Also the tulipa, a chocolate flower-shape filled with layers of mousse and sponge cake, the pièce de résistance. It was an exquisite treat and a bargain at $3.07 - see picture.
The bakery features counter service with orders delivered to the table. The staff were helpful in explaining the different house specialities. The cafe also serves sandwiches, wraps, omelets and breakfasts. The coffee at $1.42 was good and strong. If you are on Dundas West don't pass this!

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

8. Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba

Queen of Sheba
1051 Bloor St West
(just east of Dufferin)
416 536 4162

Note: This restaurant is NOT at 1198 Bloor St West, per the web.

We had a lengthy look at the menu while waiting for the remaining six in our party of eleven to arrive. We order vegetarian or beef samplers which arrive on large circular platters lined with injera, a pancake-like bread made of teff flour [$7.50 for one, $7 per head for two or more]. The injera has a slightly sour taste. There are several kinds of watt or stew to sample, including Yemeser Watt with lentil, and a lettuce based salad in the centre. Also a Beef Tibbs, spicy beef stew with injera, good value at $9 and very filling.
There is only one server trying to cope with too many tables and mistakes are made with the bills; soon rectified. This restaurant is for the more adventurous eater; don't be in a hurry.

Rating: Ambiance (2)
Service (1)
Food Presentation (3)
Food Quality (2)
Value for Money (3)

7. Vietnam: Sai Gon Palace

Sai Gon Palace
454 Spadina Ave
(near College)
416 968 1623

The Sai Gon Palace (since 1979) is a noisy canteen-style restaurant offering excellent value for money. The staff quickly moved tables and chairs to seat our party of eleven. Complementary green tea arrived with the menus which was most welcome on this sub-zero Saturday. The customer fills out an order blank at the table which avoids confusion. We started with Wonton Soup, small $4, large $5 and Veggie Spring Rolls, Vietnamese style $3.80. Followed by stir-fried vegetables with tofu and mushrooms on vermicelli $5.75 and a pork chop with rice $6.75. Portion sizes were ample - avoid the temptation to over order. A selection of Asian beers are available. There is a brisk take-out trade. A great place for lunch when visiting Chinatown or Kensington Market with streetcars nearby.

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