Singapore is a fascinating City State where the mythical Merlion watches over the Sea.
A city that promotes & embraces it's culinary background and diversity thru Hawkers.
A city infamous for infinite Hawker Stalls, each with it's own well-known specialty dish.
Imagine the day when Toronto will have it's very first Hawker Centre. One can Dream.
Until that day, I truly appreciate Lion City's efforts to showcase Singaporean here.
As in Singapore, Hawker Stalls of the same dish will vary in style from one-to-another.
I've had mediocre Chicken Rice as well as ones that Anthony Bourdain approved.
Lion City simply tries to do too much with too little, and maybe changes are needed.
A lone Singaporean restaurant in GTA cannot produce every dish to top standards.
For what Lion City does, many dishes are very much within expectations. ~3.5'd~
Focus on the promotion of Singapore Food & Culture is big enough a task itself.
The unusual surprises came to me in form of Pine-Cone shaped Pineapple Cake.
Buttery crumbly pastry with a filling of Pineapple fresh sweet slightly fibrous filling.
Beef Rendang was a dish I have given up on it after a trials at various restaurants.
The bland flavours, mushy overcooked Beef turning into shreds. Nightmares.
The one I had here was not scared of flavours/spices and Beef just moist enough.
The cons to those lovely dishes is that as many are not as write-home worthy.
The same issue seems to happen to various other Southeast Asian resto in GTA.
Catch 22 it seems as I do not wish them to take the really good dishes off Menu.
The service does seem lacking but it's more of a slower pace due to understaffing.
This does make a challenge to bring dishes out steaming hot when diners hunger.
Speed of Kitchen-to-Table will help satisfy some, hopefully without lack of quality.
One factor I hope GTA can appreciate is that even if they do not love Lion City,
at least they should appreciate the friendly and willingness of Lilian(owner/chef).
Her wealth of knowledge/experience in SG Cuisine to offer GTA is an asset.
I look forward to go back and try dishes not too common in these parts of Ontario.
I simply cannot wait until I go back for Singapore's ICONIC dish. -anxious-