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| - Underwhelming. Overpriced.
~$30 + Tip pp
Accepts Visa (Cash preferred)
Sunday Dinner
Reservations recommended
This restaurant is a landmark. Located at Steeles and Warden, most people will know this place by description as that house turned restaurant although I suspect few people have eaten there. I'm guessing because the pricing is a bit too "aspirational" and I haven't heard many verbal recommendations for this place.
Went there recently for dinner. The food served is good quality Chinese food and they certainly get points for presentation (Chinese food in Toronto is generally very good, with little or no attention put into how it's served). For instance, Casa Imperial had the most well presented seafood bird's nest dish I've ever seen (a personal favourite dish of mine). However, considering this is Toronto there are a plethora of much cheaper, much better alternatives.
The old Victorian paintings on the wall make this place feel like Hong during the peak of British colonialism. They also try to imitate European/French style serving (meals portioned out, ladies first from the left) as much as they can, which is a bit awkward given that Chinese meals are generally more "family style". They get points for attention to detail, but it feels like a clumsy imitation. Other than feigned attempt at European style serving, it certainly has all the hallmarks of a typical Chinese restaurant waitstaff.
Not sure which demographic this serving style is supposed to appeal to but there seems to be a disconnect between the food and the atmosphere. Normally, that's not a big deal, but the price seems to reflect the opinion that there is an unwarranted premium associated with that. Go somewhere else.
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