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| - The first time I came to R&D they had been open for only a few months. The main draw was to go to a restaurant run by the very first winner of Master Chef Canada, Eric Chong. The place was a nice hipster alternative in Chinatown but with such a high price point we definitely wanted to be wowed. Inside the restaurant was a mix match of aesthetics. You enter into a cozy lounge area which precedes the open kitchen, while the back is loud and brash, using street art and leather booths to create a setting that is at once upscale and grungy. Look up and you'll bear witness to an impressive light installation that is reminiscent of a cacophony of steel drums. There's nothing subtle about the design, everything is loud and in your face, very Alvin Leung.
We ordered the Chicken and Waffles, Baos, and the Watermelon Salad plus a teapot of their signature cocktail. Everything felt underwhelming. The chicken was dry, the salad was small (two pieces of watermelon for $8? Really??). At the end of our meal we spoke with Eric but no one had the heart to tell him that the food...just wasn't that good.
Luckily someone did tell him because the second time around and a year later, the menu had been altered slightly and the food was a vast improvement. We ordered the Long Beans, Son In Law Eggs and The Best Duck in the City. The simple dishes were good. The more inventive dishes were great. I loved the inclusion of two beautifully poached eggs over tuna tartare. The flavors were there and the yolk complimented the tuna really well.
The menu is tapas style but has been separated into Sui (small) and Dai (big) plates so you can control the portions you are getting. I would also recommend a third category: Ho Dai since ordering an entire duck was definitely an overwhelming experience for two people! I suggest that for a party of four or five. Or a small village.
Was it the Best Duck In The City? I guess Very Good Above Average Duck doesn't have the same ring. The preparation process is impressive and the duck was delicious with very little fat... but for an Asian hipster joint to declare they have the best Pekin duck when there's so many established restaurants that offer a similar dish for a fraction of the cost...well, you be the judge.
All in all, a really good experience at R&D and happy to know that they've listened to feedback and made changes to the menu. On a side-note, It does boggle my mind that no one has commented on how much Chef Steven Kwon looks like Glenn from Walking Dead. The resemblance is uncanny. And cue that awkward moment when the waiter catches you pulling up a picture on imdb to do a quick side by side. I had a lot of Red Star Punch by this point.
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