I should have ordered the mac and cheese - an extra star just for that.
I used to walk by The Gabardine everyday on my way to and from work. Walking between huge skyscrapers on Bay St, you get used to the stone cold, lifeless buildings. Garbardine seemed to stick out as an escape from the greedy corporations of the financial district.
The atmosphere appeared really comfortable, but the tables are too small and too close together for my liking. I might as well have joined the party beside me. The staff, while acceptably competent didn't seem that engaging or even welcoming. When I asked for parm cheese, my server acted as though I had inconvenienced her in some way.
For dinner I had the risotto of the day featuring leeks. It didn't have much flavour at all and the rice was on the crunchy/undone side - hence my urgent need for parm cheese! My friend's meal fared much better. Her mac and cheese was so creamy with a wonderful bread crumb crust and huge cubes of ham. It just looked so cozy and warm... unlike my experience at The Garbardine.
I'm not going to be making any future plans to go, but maybe I'll revisit it if I happen to be passing by and feeling optimistic.