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| - I really wanted to like Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill, but it fell way short of expectations. Toronto is my hometown but I have moved away for a number of years now and I never explored the Distillery District until recently.
My mother and I were exploring the area looking for a suitable dining option. Being the Yelper that I am, I researched the area beforehand and had my sights on Boku for sushi. Unfortunately, Boku was closed. We wanted to dine outside and Pure Spirits had the second most appealing patio (besides El Catrin), so in we went.
We ordered the Shucker's Dozen of oysters for around $32. I think it changes on a daily/weekly basis, but we were offered 3 different types: Fanny Bay from BC, Beausoleil from New Brunswick and also Pickle Point from PEI. I tend to like West Coast oysters for their sweetness, but the New Brunswick Beausoleil oysters were actually my favorite. Out of the 3 they were the most sweet and least briny.
My mom ordered the Ontario Pickerel for $27. I tried a few bites and it was good. Crispy skin with a moist meaty interior, the fish was perfectly cooked. The accompanying tomato-based sauce was a bit on the bland side. It tasted clean and "healthy", but besides hints of tomato and sour from the pickled sunchoke, there was no lasting flavor. With that said, I would probably still order again.
My dish, however, was the real downfall of the dinner and the impetus for my 2-star rating. I ordered the Blackened Yellowfin Tuna for $31. I find it difficult to come up with a single good thing about the dish. I guess it can be considered "healthy." However, the tuna was over-seasoned and too peppery, overpowering the taste of the tuna itself.
Another odd part of the dish was the accompanying egg sabayon. What a strange addition to a fish entree. I don't think it belongs in a fish dish. First there was way too much of it. As you can see from the photo, it occupied half the plate. Secondly, it was too sweet and tasted out of place when combined with the salt and peppery tuna. Dessert tuna...yuck.
To make things worse the "millet hash" (carbohydrate portion of the meal) was almost inedible. I've never had millet before, but I am almost certain it was not thoroughly cooked through. It was dry and cardboard-like. I described it as "rabbit food" to my mom.
Looking back, I should have probably sent the dish back (especially when it's a $31 dish). I tend to just hold it in and complain later. The service, ambiance and even the rest of the dishes were decent. My tuna dish was just so terrible that it totally destroyed my entire dinner experience. It was definitely one of the worst dishes I've ever had. I don't think I could even go back.
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