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| - Hands down, Fish Pie and Roasted Brined Pork Chop.
I came upon this place based on a recommendation from a friend that lives in Toronto. I looked up the Yelp reviews and there wasn't much to complain about.
The Gabardine is located in downtown Toronto; so, prepare yourself to find a place to park that costs a billion dollars. Luckily, there is a surface lot around the block that costs $10C on the weekends. This is a very unassuming place; you wouldn't think of this place as a great dine in establishment. The place is narrow and small, with a dark setting and a small bar. Seating was tight and we were only able to land 3 stool seats at the bar, right by the front door (it was cold!!!).
After ordering something to wet my whistle, I browsed the menu for something to mellow my hunger pains. The menu is very simple, appetizers, salads, sandwiches and mains. A few items caught my eye, which I ordered; the chicken liver pate and the fish pie (yes, FISH PIE!).
The pate was great! Served on a small plate with crispy toast and house pickles. Very creamy and quite tasty; not as liver tasting as many people would think. It's a great starter for those with a little bit of adventure! The fish pie arrived and came packed with with clams, mussels, haddock, smoked trout on a bed of mashed potato and a buttermilk biscuit. Let me tell you, this was an amazing dish and even more amazing if you're a seafood fan. What an amazing collision of flavors, starch and fresh seafood. The creamy sauce is something else! You have to try this dish, I promise you won't be disappointed.
My co-worker got the Roasted Brined Pork Chop. This is no small chop that you'd expect to get; this was a monster chop, about 2 inches thick, served on sautéed kale and split peas. I tried it and it's another item you simply have to order!!!
Don't kid yourself, find time to make your way to this hidden establishment of downtown Toronto!!!
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