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| - With Summerlicious prix fixe meals, I never expect anything above decent. What I've always gotten in the past were dishes that were "child-size", albeit presented in large plates/bowls. The quality of food was also always debatable, because sometimes you would get dishes that feel as if they were pre-made hours before, dishes that were hashed together using smaller amounts of spices/seasoning, dishes that were sloppily presented, and so forth. Notwithstanding my hesitation, Sambucas' Summerlicious dinner menu was well-received!
I visited with a Scarborough meet-up group and we were seated at the back. The servers were all very responsive, polite, and amiable. The interior design seems to capture both intimacy and the everyday, with its predominantly brick walls, dim lighting, and the white tablecloths with standard silver cutlery. What really adds flavour to the interior design though is the plethora of art pieces from diverse styles that hang from the walls. I am very appreciative of restaurants that put effort into their interior decor. It adds to the experience, and Sambucas did a quality job on this criteria.
For my Summerlicious bundle, I ordered:
- Mussels as my appetizer:
Sambucas' chefs don't skimp out. My entire table ordered the mussels and each of us received a plate that was mountain-topped! The mussels were well-cooked; they were neither too raw nor overcooked. The sauce was delectable with its coconut base that was combined with various herbs and diced tomatoes. By contract, many mussel platters that I've ordered at other Italian restaurants often came with a tomato-based sauce instead. I'm not exactly a fan of cooked tomatoes and I'm quite a devout coconut-lover, so this appetizer was both delicious and aromatic! This was my personal favourite of the night and would have enjoyed it as my appetizer, entree, and even dessert!
- Swordfish as my entree:
Many of my colleagues ordered the Steak and Lobster. Heck, for an affordable price of $28 dollars (for a 3 course meal), I would assume most would jump on that bandwagon. I, however, don't exactly have a penchant for steak, so I opted for a fish that I don't commonly come across. Personally, I think I got the jackpot of the night because, while my colleagues were complaining about the toughness of their "medium-done" steaks and chewy lobster meat, I thoroughly enjoyed my dish! The swordfish was grilled and then subtly softened by a white sauce that seemed very similar to tartar sauce with extra cream/coconut and herbs. It came with half a lemon to add a citrus zing to the meat, but I found that it worked well without it. Additionally, the texture was not tough nor too soft. It was firm and held well on its own, unlike halibut and other fishes you often find at general fish and chips joints. Sambucas really likes to load you up on their sauces by the way. For some dishes (like the veal), the volume of sauce is excessive, but for the swordfish entree, it was perfect, as it helped to flavour the rice and vegetables hiding underneath the large slab of fish. I can't say too much about the carrots, green beans, and rice that accompanied the fish. They were just standard fillers, but the fish was well-portioned and masterfully cooked.
- Rhubarb Tart as my dessert:
I am not a chocolate enthusiast, so I opted for the tart instead of the usual tartufo that my colleagues ordered instead. I enjoy berry-based desserts, so rhubarb was a good alternative. The crust on the tart was not too thick and the overall taste of the dessert was excellent. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly so because the sweetness was accompanied by a subtle sour undertone, which I enjoyed. Topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, the dessert was well-packaged. The only caveat was that it came lukewarm. I really love getting my crumbles/tarts steaming hot so that it would meld better with the vanilla ice cream on the side.
Holistically-speaking, Sambucas provided me with the best Summerlicious experience that I've had so far. The interior decor, food, presentation, and service were all great. The portion size was up an ante compared to other Summerlicious restaurants because you can certainly end your night with a full belly here. I highly recommend coming here for any Summerlicious/Winterlicious deals and will be frequenting it myself in the winter.
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