| rev:text
| - Although rated among TO Life mags' 'Top 10 of 2010', I wasn't expecting much from this place, given the mixed reviews I'd read re: both food and service. But curiosity trumped hesitation and my DC's are the food-sharing types, so...
Overall, the tapas we chose (9 items, plus 2 desserts) from the extensive menu were mostly good, but that's probably because I'd been alerted by other foodists to stay away from the specific, supposed 'misses', of which there are many, apparently (e.g. tostones/guac, miso-glazed cod, curry shrimp, hamchi ceviche, etc. - and most of the desserts). That said, Origin loses points for innovation and subtlety -- *everything* was loaded w/ inordinate amounts of butter, cream, salt and -- in many of the items -- some form of pork, so...how can it NOT be tasty?
And sure, it might be over-priced, but tapas isn't code for 'value' is it, especially when an established chef is at the helm. So best to accept that before you decide to dine there.
The server recommended we start by ordering 2 per person (we were a group of 4) and, even though the portions are small, that felt about right, given the degree of richness of it all.
- Burrata w/ a pesto/eggplant/roasted peppers combo ($16):scrumptious
- Spicy fries w/ chorizo and cheese ($9): incredible!
- Devilled eggs w/ pancetta ($5): mediocre, but fun presentation (pancetta 'disc' placed into eggs'
- Creamed corn w/ peaches and - of course! - smoked bacon ($): very tasty
- Spicy tuna handroll w/ apple, shiso and miso-mayo ($9): tasty enough but not special
- Calamari w/ peanut sauce and pineapple $15): hardly novel, but very tasty
- Chinois duck tortilla w/ cucumber, hot sauce, hoisin and sour cream ($17): sooo rich, therefore, delish - a highlight
- Chorizo w/ manchego rice and poached egg ($15): again, very rich...and very tasty - a highlight
DESSERTS ($10): i should've known from the server's lacklustre tone while describing them all that they'd be forgettable. Still I needed my dose of sugar, so we sampled these 2;
- Dulce de leche with lemon cake and raspberry: this was a hit, beautiful layers of lemon cake, yogourt and caramel, beneath frozen, nitrogened raspberry bits for a flavourful crunchy topping.
- Hot chocolate cake w/ citrus and ice cream: how does a high-end restaurant mess up a classic like molten lava cake? Dr Oetker's from the box is loads better than this version, which was thoroughly devoid of chocolate flavour, barely citrus-y and with tasteless - though homemade - vanilla ice cream
THE SERVICE: initially attentive, server enthusiastically shared her tapas recommendations, and staggered them to the table appropriately. but then was AWOL for the most part.. One item was forgotten about, and then it took forever to get the bill.
Would I return? It was a pleasant dining experience (and a beautiful- weather eve on their patio) but that may have had more to do with my fab companions and the sharing concept inherent in tapas. They'd have to change up their menu before I'd consider going back.
P.S. interior design note: one impressive decor item was the unusual, beautifully-textured light fixture hanging from the ceiling in the stairwell to the bathrooms (I need that!).
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