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| - Ginger has been at the centre of Toronto's gaybourhood for years and I have been their loyal patron for a while. This is a no-frills restaurant, often reminding me of how restaurants outside the western world can be- noisy, chaotic and devoid of waitresses with a fake ear-to-ear smile.
Ginger serves Vietnamese food; I don't know how authentic it is but a number of my Vietnamese friends seem to like the close approximation. I have tried a variety of dishes here: noodle soup (Pho), lemongrass noodles, few soups, rolls and rice curries. Each dish is full of flavours and spices.
Take the Pho for example: The restaurant serves a hot-and-sweet vegetarian version with tofu and lots of vegetables, besides the standard chicken and beef soups. The stock is hearty, properly hot and sour and the constituents are immersed at the perfect temperature so that nothing is overdone, Ask for some bean sprouts and basil, and you will be set.
My second favourite dish is the lemongrass noodles, either with tofu or with chicken. The protein is nicely drizzled in a spicy sauce and the noodles are cooked to the right consistency most of the times. I always thought they could add more vegetables to the plate, but that might be too much to ask for the price.
I like that this restaurant is not pretentious. You get a number when you order the food, find your own table, get your own water, add lime if you wish, then stock up on the chili sauce, peanut and other assorted condiments. Food arrives promptly by the time you settle down.
I guess this setup is not for everyone, certainly not a place to bring a date (although I admit doing that on one occasion). It's very cheap; cheaper than you think, and very humble.
Secret tip: Order the tofu-avocado hand roll, it's not on the menu!
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