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| - Me and a companion traveled downtown and decided to eat here for lunch before heading off to Snakes and Lagers slightly west of here. We arrived at around 3:15 and the lady at the front asked if we would be coming in for coffee. I said we'd be eating some lunch and she told us that the kitchen usually closes at around 3:00 PM before opening up again for dinner later on in the day. After a quick check in the kitchen she told us that they would still be able to cook. Success!
I ordered the Keema Curry with minced pork and beef ($14) whilst my partner had the Baked Vegetable Loaf open sandwich board ($15). Both dishes came with curried butternut squash soup and three salads as a side.
As the side soup and salads came out, my first impression was that everything looked absolutely gorgeous! The mixed greens had an interesting soy based vinaigrette and bell peppers shaved paper thin. The roasted beets were simply made but absolutely delicious. The curried soup was vibrant and flavorful, slightly sweet with a fragrance of curry without the heat, and was portioned in a tea cup to have just enough to enjoy without being too filled with the creamy soup. The mixed beans were somewhat forgettable, especially compared to the other three. Overall it was a refreshing and amazing start to the meal, especially considering how it was just a "side" to the main dish.
My Keema Curry was absolutely delicious. The brown rice it was served with was textured on the tooth but fluffy on the outside. It looked a lot more rustic than the other elegant plating designs. The flavors were reminiscent of home cooking, though executed in a way that I would not be able to recreate at home. I would have to say that this would probably be the least healthy thing on the lunch menu, but the taste was well worth it. The portion size was relatively large, especially considering the sides that came with it prior. Although every bite was flavorful, the portion size made the last few bites not as special as the first. I still finished the plate completely, quite happily.
I took a few pecks out of my companion's veggie loaf. It was a lot more dense than I expected - chock full of nuts, beans, mushrooms - it was texturally pleasing in its variety of ingredients and doneness. It had a killer homemade ketchup on top that made it feel all the more like a coarse meatloaf. It came with three breads, baked in house - nice and crusty with distinct flavors and textures without taking away from the veggie loaf. It also had a homemade jalapeno relish (more tart than spicy) and some pickled vegetables (a really nice palate cleanser) to round out the platter.
Throughout the meal, the waitress made sure to stop by and make sure we enjoyed our food whilst giving us ample time to each other undisturbed. Our drinks were refilled often. Empty plates were picked up promptly, and the progression from side to main was well paced.
The food was amazing, and the price was reasonable for what we got, there were a few minor problems that may have notched off half a star to a 4.5. What makes me happily give a 5 out of 5 instead was towards the end of my meal when the owner was talking to what I believe was artist about painting a mural, he also talked about the restaurant's plans to make a community garden for the children in the area during the summer time, and to have them cook what was grown inside the restaurant. He seemed legitimately passionate about having that happen. It made my day and makes me wish for more entrepreneurs who work towards actively engaging communities around the city.
TLDR:
+ Absolutely gorgeous food and restaurant decor - thematically bright and fresh.
+ Delicious and well portioned food that makes you feel healthy: Local/Seasonal.
+ Owners that work towards engaging/growing the local community and broader social justice issues.
- The kitchen apparently closes at around 3:00 PM so if you're running for a late lunch, some of the menu might not be available. Go in anyways and maybe you'll be lucky like I was and have them still be running!
5/5 - will go again!
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