Tucked away in an obscure alleyway between King and Eastern is this little jewel of a restaurant. I would venture to say it's one of the best lunch spots in the city, thanks to Jamie Kenney's brilliant take on yummy, satisfying, slow food. Everything here is top-notch quality. It might seem expensive for what you get (sometimes), but after you try the peameal bacon sandwich or the cheese, meat and grainy mustard-laden ploughman's plate you'll recognize why it comes at a premium. SO GOOD.
But what makes me come back time and time again (other than the amazing coffee--which I buy by the pound now) is the mind-blowing daily poutine. There is some sort of potato artist/angel in their kitchen, because Gilead Café's fries are heaven sent--crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. All of the specials are amazing, but I usually hold out for the BBQ pulled pork poutine. I can't find words to describe this stuff, but I will say one thing: I've been sampling this elusive Canadian specialty since I was a wee thing, and Gilead Café's Southern-meets-Northern fusion version comes close to the best of the best.