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| - Never ate at their original Yonge-Davisville restaurant, but when Tabule set up shop 'round-corner-from-all-the-way-home here in the east end, I quickly made a note to eat there once it is open. Its presence has broken up the monotony of western/gwai lo cuisine dominating Riverside-land, this side of the Don.
Photos and description cannot accurately convey how stunning the insides is--it really is like something ripped out of an interior design magazine. Modern colour choices complementing Arabic geometric patterns, wood tones, and eclectic light fixtures transforms the space into a new Queen Street neighbourhood gem, and with the front windows wide open, it might make you feel like you are somewhere far away.
Walked in on a Sunday for lunch--was the first customer of the day, but the place filled up soon enough. Good thing all the tables are well-spaced out in this generously-sized location.
Started with a falafel salad, which was lovely. Nothing could bloody compare to the Kefta Banadura ($19, if I remember right), the skewered lamb pieces was grilled just right, going well with the sublime tomato garlic stew, which had me drooling with a great tomato paste texture and a rich sweet and warm taste. If I could have a dish with nothing but just the stew, yes please I would. Meals are on the uppity side, even compared to their original location.
I enjoyed the food here, and would be back if I could muster a few more friends to join me for a belly dancing show they have on Saturday nights. That would certainly be more interesting.
{TTC: any Queen streetcar to Saulter or Boulton. Tabule is right next door to that lineup magnet Bonjour Brioche at the NW corner of Queen and DeGrassi. Do yourself a favour and follow a local's advice for once: skip that bloody lineup and eat here instead.}
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