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| - As if the abundance of cupcake boutiques and brunch spots weren't enough, the happy convergence of two of Toronto's favourite fried things -- doughnuts and chicken -- recently took place in the form of Paulette's.
Vibe: Draped in sea foam green, the tight but cute-as-a-button space is outfitted with a take-out window, and behind it, dapper staff are kitted out with bowties and old-fashioned hats reminiscent of '50s-era soda shops. The overall branding and look-and-feel is spot-on with the vintage theme. A glassed-in display case sets the doughnuts off like fine jewels, while silver stools afford a view of the street. There are no tables, however, so be prepared to head elsewhere or take a seat on the vintage bench out front.
Goods: Ordered the snack pack; chicken was beautifully crunchy on the outside and super juicy on the inside. Apparently, it's a hybrid of fried-chicken styles -- more Korean than Southern, the chicken is brined and fried twice for extra crunch.
The two pieces were a good size, especially for lunch. Don't head here if you're aiming for your health, but what it lacks in outright nutrition it makes up for in down-home goodness. This is chicken soup for the soul, minus the soup. The tandoori BBQ as a dip had tasty consistency and its bite complemented the taste of the chicken. The garam masala flavour on the doughnut dots was nice, but the dots themselves were a bit of a disappointment. They were somewhat dry and boring. Overall, awesomely indulgent eats at a price just a tad on the pricey end of the scale.
Service: Friendly conversation from the staff left a lot to be desired. Blank expressions from staff when asked about themenu made it feel as though the eating public should already damn well know how the joint operates. Customer service needs a kickstart.
Bottom line: Great idea especially in a trend-hungry neighbourhood like Leslieville. It's a little on the pricey side and they should ideally get a counter in this winter. But Paulette's should become a regular fixture for locals and commuters alike. Tip: take your doughnuts and head next door to Mercury for some coffee-dipping goodness.
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