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| - I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Toronto's upscale casual chain dining scene. The past few years have seen a proliferations of Milestones and Moxies, Pickle Barrel Grandes and Joey-whatever-mall-you're-ins. And that's just up at Yorkdale.
Most of these chains seem to vie for the title of placeholder, for when the Cheesecake Factory finally arrives and blows them all out of the water.
Funny enough, a few western chains have slowly crept onto Ontario streets. Funnier still, these places seem to do a much better job with the concept than their predecessors. What they lack in deep-fried french toast, they make up for with more adventurous meals, friendly (and let's face it, more attractive) staff. and a greater sense of style.
The room is huge, dominated by plush leather banquettes suitable for gawking at the rubes on the street. Sleelly attired servers offer water and take drink orders, and make sure our glasses are never half-empty. The food itself is a step or two above other chains. Chicken curry is pleasant, but could use more heat and less salt. It's a massive portion, though; and I've got naan to spare. Beer battered fish is suitably flaky if a bit pale; the chips are properly crisp.
Hardly the best meal I've had, even on this tourist trap-saturated stretch of King. The room and the view make up for a lot, though.
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