This was our second visit to Lee since we moved to Toronto earlier this year and I must admit that this is quickly turning out to be the kind of place where the food is great, atmosphere is electric and service is top notch. The service was a bit rushed but we did not mind it since we were all super hungry. The plates come out as they are ready and are meant to be shared family style. Last time we were seated at the bar and it wasn't a comfortable experience but this time around we got a nice table for 4. We instantly ordered the sangria pitcher. Their sangria was unique in the sense that they blend 10 different fruits and use peach liqueur and prosecco. This one was knock your socks off good. We ended up ordering 5 different plates of food which was perfect to be shared amongst a group of 4
My personal favorites
* Singapore slaw - yummy !!! How could I not order this last time around. Next time I will eat the entire thing myself (or maybe share a morsel or 2 with my wife). Just order this, no questions asked!!! The server mixed everything up at the table. It seemed like there were a lot of components to this dish although it looked pretty simple. I could get subtle hints of ginger which added a nice balance.
* Black cod with caramelized onions - Again, the mere mention of black cod gets my mouth watering. Very well composed dish although it is difficult to share between 4 people since the portion is tiny
* Top chef green curry chicken - I wanna be a top chef judge if this is the quality of the food that is put out under such severe time constraints. Simply wow !!! I actually think I liked it more than last time although the dish is still prepared the same way. The pineapple was a nice touch to the dish
* Mango and passion fruit panna cotta with coconut sauce - Beautiful way to finish a fantastic dinner. Simple dessert but something you can keep going back to without feeling guilty.
Some dishes that did not necessarily wow me but were still good on their own
* Lettuce wraps with summer corn and the works - This had a mexican twist to it with cotija cheese. Perfect for the season but overall the flavors were muted (didnt really cause a party in my mouth)
* Lobster Ravioli - Loved the XO sauce but wish there were more of it ..
There is also a guy going around upselling dishes from the sister restaurant - Bent which is an interesting option for the instinctive souls. This would definitely be the place I would take family and friends to !!!