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| - I found myself leaving disappointed with what was an otherwise ok place.
I am a huge fan of gourmet pubs in Toronto like the Queen and Beaver and House on Parliament, who have locked down the balance between refined and casual, and pricing that gives you great, unique food that is worth all the money. It is a treat to go to places like that. I think this wine bar was trying to be that, but wasn't quite.
It left an uncomfortable gap between what the place was supposed to be and what we actually got.
The food items are good, and presented on pretty plates, but portions are small, and leave a gap in your belly. Pan Seared Flat Iron Steak was done well--tender and good flavour. You just might be left hungry after eating the few slices. It's priced to make you wonder about ordering another: $15. Apps seem affordable, but there were so many burnt, charred unusable pieces of the toast that came with the cheese plate that was meant to DIY your own hors d'oeuvres type thing. My fingers actually turned black fishing around for the few edible pieces of bread and my tongue numbed to the monotonous tartness of the one variety of aged cheese offered on the cheese plate. Who knows, maybe it was the end of the night and supplies were low.
This just doesn't happen at a place with gourmet fare.
Another reviewer wrote that the manager actually confronted his/her group about expecting a larger tip--at least 15% after tax, instead of 15% before tax. There was nothing ostensible or class-less like that in our case, but there was a sense of...being side-eyed when the pre-tax 15% wasn't what was expected. Restaurants need to start building in service fees or, they need to pay their staff more. So stressful, everyone leaves feeling badly. As well, our group had a common bill and when it was my turn, the waitress asked me about my stuff, I told her exactly what my portion was with tax, then, she inexplicably rounded it up. Why? Dunno.
Maybe this establishment has self-styled itself on being slightly higher end and expects people to catch on to that. A successful manifestation of this wouldn't be so...fraught. That just confuses the 20-somethings who are used to the relaxed bars in the neighbourhood.
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