6.Cuba: Julie's Cuban Restaurant

Julie's Cuban
202 Dovercourt Rd
(east of Dufferin, between Dundas and Argyle)
416 532 7397
Reservations recommended.

Ideal restaurant service is friendly, fast and efficient and not condescending or "in your face". The service we received at Julie's Cuban Restaurant came very close to that ideal. The ambiance on a freezing Friday night was enchanting. Picture a retro snack bar in a downtown residential neighbourhood that's been preserved and jazzed up, Cuban style. However, we got an icy blast every time customers did not close the entrance door firmly behind them - this needs fixing.
After starting with a traditional soup - Potaje de Frijoles Negros (Black Bean) that was thick and tasty, I chose two veggie options from the tapas menu: the Tostones Rellenos - green plantain cups stuffed with a creamy avocado and onion mixture (pictured here) was exceptionally good both in presentation and taste; and Yuca con Mojo which was nicely cooked if a little bland. Yuca, known variously as manioc and cassava, is a starchy root vegetable and a staple food in the tropics. It is also what tapioca and the "bubbles" in bubble tea are made of. In Cuban cuisine, mojo is sauce made with garlic, olive oil and a citrus juice, frequently lime.
The tapas menu and entrees are good value for money. The Camarones al ajillo (garlic prawns), $7.25, were very good and Pollo con Platano Maduro (chicken breast stuffed with plantain), $16.95, was a huge portion if a little bland. We found the wine list (no house wine, cheapest bottle $33) and the peppermint tea at $3.50 a cup to be pricey. The Key Lime Pie was heavenly. Total cost incl tax for three persons $111.89 plus tip.

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

5. Malta: Malta Bake Shop

Malta Bake Shop
3256 Dundas Street West
(just east of Runnymede)
416 769-3254

The Malta Bake Shop is a cheery, clean cafe with scenes of Malta around the walls. We chose a Window seat so we could watch the film crew setting up across the street. On this Saturday afternoon it seems the cafe caters mainly to the folk of Malta Village. A TV showing an NFL game like a sports bar detracted from the atmosphere somewhat.
We selected a trizzi at $1.50 (pictured above), a rock cookie, and imquarett (date filled, deep fried pastries). The savoury pastizzi, cheese filled flaky pastries, were thought to be a bit bland. The apple strudel with cherries, however, was well received.
There is basically counter service, but the counter girl came around with the coffee pot with free refills.
A down-to-earth cafe worth stopping by for coffee and cake or take away service.
Iggy's comments: "My first impression upon entering the cafe was not only the Maltese artwork in the walls but the display under the TV and the cabinet just inside the door that contained Maltese souvenirs, some for sale. I noticed several people looking at the memorabilia that seemed to attract the attention of both patriots and patrons alike.
My second impression was the large display counter containing an array of goodies and the anticipation of selecting some of them to snack on."

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

4. Czech Republic: Prague Fine Food Emporium

Prague Fine Food Emporium
638 Queen Street West
(West of Bathurst, at Palmerston)
416 504 5787

We waited a full twenty minutes to get seated at Prague, on a busy Saturday lunchtime, in this Bohemian part of Toronto. We probably came at the busiest time as customer arrivals were somewhat tidal. The restaurant was buzzing - a home-from-home for East Europeans. The deli counter was also busy serving a range of imported foodstuffs, including Hero jam.
We chose a Cucumber Salad - cucumbers in yogurt dill dressing - $4.00 for a shared starter followed by Palacinky [crepe] stuffed with strawberry, banana, and orange, covered with yogurt & blueberry compote for one main course and Wiener Schnitzel with Classic Czech Potato Salad for the other. The food was well presented but not exceptional.
Good strong coffee followed, also Chai tea. The waiter decided he should have served the drinks with the meal so gave us a Kolache pastry to take home. The service was good once seated with the busy waiter placating other customers with an easy style. This restaurant is not an alternative to fast food.
Lunch for two came to $24.64, $30 including tip - good value for money.

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

3. Mexico: Mexitaco Restaurant

Mexitaco Restaurant
828 Bloor St West (east of Ossington, at Shaw)
416 537 6693

Mexitaco is a small corner cafe on a very ethnic strip of Bloor Street West. First impression: It looked more like a U.K.- type cafe in a downbeat neighbourhood. It was entirely lacking in "Mexican" ambiance, save for some Mariachi music piped from a TV digital audio channel and a colourful mosaic tile sink in a clean but cramped washroom tucked into the corner of the kitchen. The one server in the room greeted us as strangers in a room that seemed full of "locals" though she warmed up a bit as the meal progressed. Our mains were unimaginative in presentation and varied in quality: Chorizo Tacos - topped with spicy sausage made fresh on the premises topped with cilantro and onion; Enchilada pollo - four tortillas filled with chicken baked in a zesty sauce served with rice and salad; Chile Relleno - poblano pepper stuffed with cheese then battered and fried, served with rice, beans and tortillas.
Desserts were a highlight: Cajeta Burrito - mini burrito stuffed with cheese, deep fried then covered with cajeta (caramel); Flan - homemade sugar custard pie. Unfortunately they were not yummy enough to save a disappointing eating experience.

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

2. Mauritius: Blue Bay Cafe Restaurant

Blue Bay Cafe Restaurant
2243 Dundas Street West
(south of Bloor, before Roncesvalles starts)
416 533 8838

Opened in 1985, The Blue Bay has special memories for Mauri as the place her husband of twenty years first took her for dinner when they were dating. We meet there on a rainy Friday evening.
Mauritius is an island country that lies east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean and is part of the Mascarene Islands. About two-thirds of the population are of South Asian descent, and most of the rest are of mixed European, South Asian, and African ancestry. True fusion cooking, that highlights fish and seafood, has naturally evolved here.
For a starter, Mauri orders a Samosa. When my Okra Fricasee (pictured here with mango juice on the side) arrives the colour is so vibrant that I wonder if it's properly cooked. It is in fact done to perfection and quite delicious. Mauri's Fish Vindaye - sole in mustard sauce, with sliced onions and my Fish Rougaille - sole in Tomato Sauce are served with rice (shown here). One small portion of a cole slaw type salad arrives at the same time. We would have liked a few veggies on the side as well. Both entrees are clean tasting and well seasoned.The service which had been prompt, tapers off after our main course and there is a long gap between when we're finished eating and when we are offered coffee or tea. The restaurant is only a third full but there are several people who come in to pick up take-out orders. The wait for the bill is even longer, but we are enjoying our conversation and so are not really inconvenienced.
A number of interesting abstract serigraphs by Mark Kellett are currently on exhibit and the background jazz music added to the dining experience.

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

1. Turkey: Anatolia Restaurant

Anatolia Restaurant,
5112 Dundas Street West (east of Kipling),
416 207 0596

A nondescript strip mall in former Etobicoke is the last place you'd expect to find a warm, welcoming and somewhat exotic family run restaurant. The cheery Mediterranean interior of the Anatolia Restaurant makes you feel you're in for a treat - and you are.
Iggy, Guppy and I agreed that our shared appetizers were the best part of the meal. We started with Sigara Boregi: six crispy, light pastry fingers stuffed with feta cheese and parsley and Meze Tabagi (four spreads pictured here): Hummus, Ayse's Walnut spread, Patlican Ezmesi (eggplant pureed with olive oil and lemon) and Domates Ezmesi (a blend of fresh tomatoes, green peppers, onions and herbs) served with superb freshly baked bread.
I opted for Imam Bayildi - stuffed eggplant with Bulgar rice and shepherd's salad ( tomato, green pepper, cucumber, onion and olives in an olive oil ,pomegranate, lemon dressing) and am not disappointed. Iggy ordered Ezmeli Kebab - marinated and grilled lamb shish kebab - and found it well seasoned but not as tender as he would have liked. Guppy chose the Anatolia Mixed Plate which is a selection of the restaurants most popular meat dishes.
The service was prompt & professional although somewhat detached.
We found the wine list unimaginative and over priced. The Chilean house red, Gato Negro, was unremarkable but reasonably priced at $16 for a half litre. We round out the meal with Turkish coffee and Turkish delight, pictured here.
Rating:
Ambiance (4)
Service (3)
Food Presentation (3)
Food Quality (3)
Value for Money (2)