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| - If I could hack into Yelp's HTML coding and invent another star, I would definitely give Woodlot 6/5! Nestled in the neighbourhood of Little Italy - the Woodlot Bakery & Restaurant is truly a Toronto gem. Newly opened since November 2010, Woodlot prepares classic dishes with a lot of love, and a whole lot of flavour!
The restaurant itself is reminiscent of a loft, with an open concept kitchen, communal table and bar on the ground floor, and a more proper sit-down dining area on the second floor above.
After thoughtful consideration, debate, and input from the bartender as to what we should choose as our main "the pork chops vs. the pot pie" - and then having the couple next to us chime in unison the pot pie! - we placed our order.
We were served a sour dough and fife bread with a pot of butter. I must say, being quite a bread nazi (i.e. always wanting it served warm), that I preferred the bread at Woodlot unheated. The first reason, is that I find that the sourness is really pronounced in sour dough bread when it is heated. The sour dough bread was crusty on the outside, and soft on the inside. The fife bread was a denser bread, but it was yummy!
We started with the Winter Arugula Salad. The mandolin-thin vegetables absorbed all the flavours of the vinaigrette. There was a speck of anise flavouring which I suspect came from the fennel. This dish brought together a mélange of different flavours and textures. You got the crunchiness from the carrots, fennel, and red cabbage, coupled with the crispness of the pear, the creaminess of the blue cheese, and the extra nuttiness from the walnuts.
The Smoked Ham Hock & Chicken Pot Pie was to die for. I will never eat a frozen, store-bought pot pie again! The chicken and pork just melt in your mouth with slow-cooker goodness. The outside crust was very buttery, and the centre was very creamy. The smoked ham hock added substance and flavourful saltiness to the dish and enhanced an otherwise plain chicken pot pie. The vegetables used in this pie are anything short of ordinary. Rutabaga, Jerusalem artichoke, celery root, and turnip - who wants boring potatoes? It was also seasoned with thyme, rosemary, parsley and chives.
We had also opted for a side of Gnocchi with Sage Brown Butter. Definitely no regrets. Gnocchi is usually served in a cream sauce and is very soft, but the Woodlot added a twist by lightly searing it on the outside for an added dimension of texture. It was also dusted lightly with a very mild cheese. The kale chips that accented the dish were nicely salted.
Usually at this point in the evening, if the food has been disappointing, I ask for the bill. Not so fast partner! Because I love a good cappuccino, we ordered the Soma Chocolate Pot de Crème with Hazelnut Praline to polish go with. And boy am I glad we did! The hazelnut praline topping added a nice crunch to complement the underlying smooth crème, and had a hint of citrus flavour. The bit of salt in the praline also did a great job of highlighting the sweetness of the dish. The cappuccino was nice and frothy, and although I usually don't add sugar, it was a little too bitter and sharp for my tastebuds. Once I added a tad bit of sugar, my cappuccino became heaven in a cup!
The Woodlot definitely gets 5 stars in my books. I am starting to think that the conspiracy theory of great dining revolves around the Trinity Bellwoods and Palmerston Village area in Toronto, away from all the overly-hyped, grandiose restaurants in the downtown core.
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