| rev:text
| - Rising from the ashes of Estrelo do Mar (not literally) is a new spot called Habits Gastropub. It's yet another addition to the area around College and Dovercourt where the nights are getting livelier. This restaurant serves as an excellent option for dinner with a concise one-page menu and wine list to match.
With a trio of lamps illuminating their sign, Habits wants to be noticed. The hanging plants and wide open French doors invite you in. Save for their shiny terrazzo floor the decor is pretty understated, but they compensate by being enormous. The restaurant curves all the way around their open kitchen, and there are seats everywhere. Because they weren't too busy on their opening weekend, I snagged a spot near the front enjoying the fresh air from College street.
Like their Portuguese predecessor Habits has an array of seafood on the menu. Some appetizers include grilled sardines, mussels, and calamari and there are a few whole grilled fish as mains. My and the DC shared a half pound of PEI mussels ($12) and a vegetable carpaccio ($9) served with this crazy good truffle vinaigrette and smoked salt. Awesome. The mussels were good also, but served with a very disappointing cornbread. I'd have preferred white bread instead, and that's a strong statement.
The prices here are pretty reasonable with mains averaging about $18. I ordered the morel ravioli which was topped with chevre and asparagus and my DC opted for the pappardelle with tiger shrimp. Mine was decidedly better. Very light and the greens were fresh and really crispy. Conversely, the shrimps in the papardelle weren't that exciting, and the pasta was kind of heavy.
This place has promise and I will surely return. A few other items on the menu looked tempting, especially their fish and chips battered with Beau's beer. They also are offering a $5 opening special for Muskoka pints. A nice touch to support some local brews.
Obligatory Title Pun: New HABITS try hard.
Menu Readability: Times roman on a speciality paper obtained from Staples. Tsk, tsk.
Need to mention: Their wine glasses are frosted with their name. I can't decide if this is tacky or not.
What this place teaches me about myself: I just know what to pick on a menu. Call it a gift? Maybe it's "THE SHINING."
|