When we heard they were closing doors for good, we decided to pay a visit to a once considered toronto institution for innovation. It seems like they have been through a few chef changes over the 3 year run and they finally decided that now is the time to try something more approachable and in line with the neighborhood they are in.
We were very keen on the tasting menu but decided against it at the last minute since we were not too hungry. Apparently they serve you different dishes if the table opts for the tasting menu. The place is very unassuming and has an easy going vibe. We ordered the shrimp and grits and some cornbread with pork butter. The grits were nothing memorable but I liked the addition of the mushrooms. The cornbread was a huge portion and took some time since they bake it on demand. I was thrown off by the smoky taste of the pork butter and the heaviness of the corn bread.
For our main course we had the mushroom and hominy dish with generous shavings of black truffle and farm egg. I loved the earthiness of the mushrooms but it wasn't something I have not had before.
Our service was top notch all through. For dessert we were in a dilemma between the apple crisp and the lemon tart. Our meal had been so rich that we opted for the lemon tart to cut the richness. To our surprise we were also served a small tasting of the apple crisp which was a nice touch.
It's sad to see them close but I wish them well in their next venture.