| rev:text
| - Czehoski is kind of a misleading place. It's billed as a Polish restaurant, but the only Polish on the menu is the pierogis. It's billed as comfort food/gastropub, but the mac & cheese and burgers are not stellar. What it really is is a Queen West establishment. Most of the people who frequent Czehoski, myself included, come because it's hip, trendy and good for people watching (even if you don't know who you're looking at). There are always whispers that one of the magnificent duo of Kenny & Spenny (we never know which one) is somewhere inside. Come for the atmosphere and delicious mixed drinks. Don't delude yourself that you're paying for overpriced homecooked meals.
I recently dropped in for an early dinner and had a great experience. The place gets loud ~8pm on weekends, so be sure to book it if you like eating quietly. Each floor has its own features. The main floor is cozy and comfortable with the raised booths, the second floor showcases the fireplace and beautiful canoe, and the third is basically the patio, which is a delightfully intimate space for anyone wanting to get away from the dirt of the city.
My memory of the dishes I've eaten over the years is pretty strong, so here's a quick summary:
Beef Poutine - Delicious! The cheddar curds are not squeaky like one would get in Quebec or at Poutinis, but it's a tasty gravy (not oversalted or runny) and great proportions.
Blue Crab Cakes - I love the addition of pickled ginger in these crab cakes, though on occasion they have been dry. They are also a bit small, so don't count on this as a substitute for a main.
Salmon Carpaccio - This was a seasonal item and done totally right. Rich Atlantic salmon with an excellent lemony tang.
Czehoski Burger - This burger comes with a hefty amount of frites and can leave you very full. The jalapeno works well. Mustard and ketchup come on a spoon.
Turkey Burger - My friend swears by this burger, stating something ridiculous like it's better than Utopia. I've heard the spicy aioli is to die for.
Mac n Cheese - I love this. There are other places in the city that do gourmet mac & cheese, but this one is my staple. The portion is filling and the taste is amazing. Goes well with a good IPA or wine. Don't flinch at the price and think you could make this at home.
Blue Crab Claw Mac n Cheese - I ordered this once and thought it wasn't worth the $7 premium on the basic mac & cheese. Blue crab is best enjoyed fresh and alone, and I find the mac & cheese distracting.
Pierogis - Yes, your oma makes it better. We all know that, but does she come downtown ever? I love the sweet potato and have tried to replicate this, but failed miserably. This dish is filling, despite its small size. Totally yummy.
Angus Beef Ribs - These beef ribs are massive! The braised kale and smashed potatoes are an excellent side to it. I love this dish for a hearty rainy night with a nice glass of red.
As for drinks, you can count on all the mixed drinks to use Zubrowka if they have vodka in it. Zubrowka is delicious, especially with something tart like apple sourz. The teacher's pet is a solid cocktail. Right now they are also serving a hot cider with Zubrowka and mulled wine as part of their warm drinks. Both hit the spot on a cold windy day.
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)