Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse @ Hilton Niagara Fall. (Road Trip Day 8 + 1, Dancing the Victory Dance)

Lured by the promotional falls view package by Hilton at Niagara Fall which include 40 dollar Dining Credit at Brasa and Breakfast Buffet for 2 and a falls view two bed room suite.  We decided to stay here for the final destination of the 8 day cross North America road trip.  As we checked in, I see a promotional poster about all you can eat at Brasa for only 39.95 and I have a bad feeling.

As my friend filled up with Ben&Jerry, I am starved to death as we checked in at around 7:30.  We quickly waltzed into the restaurant at end of the Hilton tower and thinking we could just order 1 or 2 dishes with the 40 dollar dining credit.  After all we don’t have big appetite.  As we arrived, we quickly realized that all you can eat is the only option and we need to throw in yet another 40 dollar for this meal.

:(

If both of us are really hungry, then it probably is ok. The 40 dollar is quite standard at the most touristy place on earth.  But my dear friend was completed wasted by the Ben&Jerry ice cream. Oh well, we gotta eat. The restaurant is very spacious. There is huge walk room everywhere in the restaurant.  The table are widely separate so it is quite a nice setting to carry out your conversation.

The meal consisted of the salad bar w/ some hot features as well as endless of meat on the sword. If you are familiar with the Brazilian steakhouse.  The red coaster on the table give the waiter the signal to come toward you with huge stack of meat on their long sword.

The salad bar actually has some really excellent grilled vegetables as well as Salmon and rice dish.  There are abundances of greens that are quite fresh.

In the past, I often avoid Brazilian steakhouse because they are usually overcook. But this place does their meat quite well. Nice and tender and pink in the inside for all their beef dishes.  Parmesan chicken, rib eye, tenderloin, it’s all pretty good. 

We waited for bacon chicken wrap all night and it turns out to be the disappointment of the night. The chicken is super dry and the bacon is overcooked. Shouldn’t the fat from the bacon protect the chicken from being too dry? 

The only view of the restaurant. So Brasa doesn’t offer any view but I meant there is falls view right at your room!

I enjoyed eating here but if I have to spit out 80 dollar plus tax + tip for two people. I am definitely passing next time. I love meat but I can’t handle too much to make it worth it. For those of you that are champion carnivore. This is a great place for you!

Worth the drive?
Food: 20/30
Ambience: 20/30
Service: 23/30
Price: $50 +

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Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill–The Victory Breakfast.

 

May 31st, 2011. After 44 hours of driving, countless of foggy road, hitting the flood, snow block, I am finally back to Canadian Soil again. The air is just taste fresher for some reason. Probably because of the relieve. The road is yet again foggy, the fog has been around me through out the trip. There is only 2 hour left in driving after I passed the Sarnia border and pass by Lake Huron.  Sarnia is a good border to cross to avoid passing through city of Detroit, which many warned me about the safety issue. The scenery is back to the typical farm. What I have noticed is that the farm infrastructure in Ontario looks a lot nicer than say South Dakota.  But, I have no clue about the farming industry I just think they are prettier to look at.

At last, we arrived at the North York district of Greater Toronto District. North York is heavily populated by Asia immigrants, most of them are from Korea. I met up with the other RLs. As we ready for our self for the Victory Breakfast.  My road trip partner is a die hard egg fan. So I advised my brother to take me to the best brunch place in town. So here we are at Oliver & Bonacini Café Grill.  The restaurant chain is owned by obviously Peter Oliver and Michael Bonacini. The vision of restaurateur Peter Oliver is to served lunch better than any one else. With such great vision, I just can’t wait to see how the brunch will go.

 

We are seated quickly after the reservation through OpenTable.  We were greeted by a upbeat server that tends to make a little bit too much joke. But, no matter this is the Victory breakfast. Nothing can really spoiled my mood. There are variety of daily special breakfast drink available, the fruit smoothies, and fresh juices are really really good. You can tell the fruit used are best of the quality, and the smoothies is blended finely so the texture was extra soothing.

Since this is an egg haunt, what is better than the Egg benedict? The salmon egg benedict with baked herbs potato. This is a definitely a great combination to start off your day. The salmon does not have enough flavour. It tasted to me like Norwegian salmon, I am kind of disappointed. The fat was not there and the flavour is missing. I meant this is great salmon for anywhere else in the world. But we are in Canada :( . (Maybe I am too spoiled by the west coast of abundance of salmon). The eggs was cooked very well. The hollandaise sauce is very light in taste which goes very balanced with everything else. The bake potato with herbs are very tasty. The potato is baked til with lightly crusted. The herbs are doing its job to bring out the flavour of the starch.

 

The ham and spinach crepe is definitely a very fine dish. The wilted spinach and smoked ham really mixed well together with the combination of the thunder oak gouda. The gouda was surprisingly light in flavour, which is very refreshing in the morning. One down side is the crepe, I felt the crepe is a little bit crepe. In addition, the waiter let out a little secret when we want to exchange the smoke ham with smoke salmon. He said everything is premade because otherwise it would take too long. Really? Crepe? Too long? hmm… I don’t know I see lots of places make crepe right off the spot, the taste is just different when it is made freshly on the spot rather than reheat. For a upscale restaurant like this, I find that a little bit disappointing.

 

I didn’t have the salad. But just a picture for reference. It does look delightful.

 

Oliver & Bonacini offers excellent brunch menu with unbeatable fresh fruit drink that can start your healthy weekend activity.  I really liked the ambience here. Hip and upscale. As for if it is the best brunch that is served, mmm, i have to say i am not agreeing. 

 

Worth the drive? Pick one in your neighborhood.
Food: 22/30
Ambience: 24/30
Service: 21/30
Price: $15~20 for Brunch.


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Tokyo Kitchen–Solid Home Style Japanese food in Downtown

 

After a very expensive afternoon drinks at Sassafraz, we decided to look for something budget. But what is budget and taste good in the Downtown area?

Good Japanese cuisine basically spells expensive meal in the city of Toronto. But Tokyo Kitchen begs the differ. If you want solid home style Japanese food in Downtown with reasonable price. Then this is the place for you.  Tokyo Kitchen offer generous portion of typical home quick meal for their patrons to indulge.

Some healthy greens with typical Japanese vinegrette salad dressing with mashed daikon. Crunchy greens with the balance acidic and sweet dressing. It kicks off your appetite right away.

The chicken cutlet is nice and tender. The sauce is a little bit too strong for my taste. It may be very well comes from the bottle. But I really enjoyed the moist chicken.

Shrimp tempura dinner, 10 medium size battered Shrimp tempura is very very generous for the price of 15 dollar. The shrimp is decent quality with the right amount of texture. A very good meal in turns of ROI.

The inferior of all the dish. The Tonkatsu don (porkchop rice) is a little soggy.  The sauce is really unbalanced making the taste inconsistent through out the bowl.  The egg is dropped in carelessly as well. It did not enhanced the don but rather ruined it a little bit. But I am being a little bit harsh on it. It is very ok for the price.

Finished it up the oiliness meal with some refreshing tea by UCC.

Worth the drive? No. Definitely only drop by if you are around. Its fulfilling but driving to DT is just not worth it.
Food: 20/30
Decoration: 17/30
Service: 20/30
Price: $15

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Cheesecake Etc…–Best (and only) Cheesecake in Town~

 

If you have a sweet tooth and you are a night owl, The French influenced Cheesecake joint is the perfect spot for you. The secret family recipe has been in Vancouverists heart for a long long long time. The owner’s love affair with jazz and cheesecake make this place exceptional for late night dating scene. The live music scene has not been as active as it claimed once was.  The cheesecake is absolutely fabulous. Made daily in the morning, the cheesecake has amazing soft smooth creamy texture.  The cheesecake is light with cheese flavours. The sweetness is very balanced as well. Adding on top the mouth watering strawberry sauce. It is one perfect cheesecake.  I used to love their whipped cream because it has a very strong milky taste. But it doesn’t seems to be the same anymore.

Back in the day I often stray away from the regular order. However, I don’t think they really works for me.  Unless you like chocolate exceptionally, their chocolate cheesecake is alright. The other topping I often find doesn’t really work with the cheesecake that well. Their coffee is alright. The tea selection is minimal. But the price is ok too. It is not too bad to have a latte that is under $2.75.  You don’t get that kind of price around anymore.

Worth the drive? Yes. Definitely, especially you have girl that has sweet tooth.
Food: 27/30 (strawberry cheesecake only)
Decoration: 20/30
Service: 18/30
Price: $10

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Kingyo (Gold Fish) Izakaya– Tasty Food in Style~

 

There are 4 major Japanese Izakaya chains established in Vancouver. Guu, Zakkushi, Happa, and Kingyo. They all have its own features but when you want stylish food. Kingyo has to be the top of the list. Situated on the popular Denman St on the west end of the downtown,

Kingyo is a two stores wide establishment with a big wooden door that is very modern Japanese.

( Chef’s Protégé focusing on the creation)

It is interesting that all Izakaya like to preserved a little bit of Japanese tradition. Japanese culinary master like to do daily creation and create the menu with calligraphy. Therefore, you can easily see this kind of special menu that is written freely with calligraphy character. However, this is just a photocopy from the original copy and does not change daily. (it changes from time to time)

(Salmon Carpaccio)

The Salmon Carpaccio is drenched with vinaigrette sauce mayonnaise. The sauce is quite rich which works quite well with the strong taste of the salmon.  The salmon is absolute at the peak of its freshness. The salmon is quite thick which is just slightly thinner than the regular Sashimi slice. If it were paper thin like the typical beef carpaccio, I think the texture would go in the next level. (Sushi Master should have the ability to create paper thing sashimi with no problem)

(Ebi Mayo)

The Ebi Mayo here is nice and crunchy with burst of seaweed flake flavor. The secret mayonnaise is absolutely to die for.  This mayonnaise definitely has some kick to it.  The fried batter is a little bit off, as you can see it is not in its golden state.

(Stone grill Beef Tongue)

The Beef Tongue is grilled on hot stone. I remember they have the best beef tongue in Town. But, tonight the meat is lacking a bit of flavor. It is still very good. The dab of hot sauce is what making this dish great.

Mackerel pressed sushi. Lightly seared and soaked with sweet soy sauce, the Mackerel is fresh and sweet tasting. The mackerel is a hard fish to deal with raw. It is really hard to get rid of the fishy smell. The mackerel is done beautifully here,in combination of the pressed sushi rice. It makes a great filling dish.

Chicken karage with three types of salt. Now this is fried chicken to perfection. The meat is juicy and tender with perfect crusting. The salt gives the chicken different types of flavoring. Hint of mountain and ocean. I kinda wished the salt is here when I am grilling my beef tongue.

Three Flavours Beef – Tender stir fried beef slices with excellent original teriyaki flavor. To keep things more exciting and playful, the two side dressing provides different acidic flavouring and some kick to the beef!

To finish up the meal, perfect grilled cod fish with miso sauce. The tenderness is incredible. The special miso sauce beautifully accompanied the fish. The fish meat is glowing with transparency. I would call it the signature dish at Kyngyo!

The after meal desert, frozen grape. This is the smartest invention of all. Yum!

Kingyo offers unconventional Japanese food at the highest level without breaking your budget. If you want to impress any visitor from out of town. This is the place to be! After a stroll in Stanley Park or English bay.  This venue would complete your night and impress whoever you are with! Dining at Kingyo is never a dull experience.

Worth the drive? Yes!
Food: 26/30
Decoration: 24/30
Service: 22/30
Price: $30~$45

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Yuzu Sushi & Sake Bar, Toronto

 

Recently, Sushi & Sake bar is sprouting everywhere hitting Toronto food industry like a storm. It is odd that Toronto is quite behind on this type of food trend. Guu from Vancouver opened its first store in Toronto and rapidly become the talk of the town. Whereas, lounge style Japanese dining is now taking off like a hot air balloon.

This kind of new contemporary take of Japanese cuisine has to come from the traditional Kaiseiki Ryori, where the quality preparation (slow food) and display artistically is focused. The new fusion style is a simpler take of such interpretation.  Enough talk, let’s dive in.

seaweed salad /w sesame vinegar dressing

A great opener for the meal. The seaweed is prepped nicely, which gives of the right tenderness and crunchiness. In combination of the vinaigrette and light sesame aroma,  this wakame salad really grows on you and ready you for the meal.

Naban style fish

Naban refers to a vinaigrette sake based sweet and sour dressing. In combination of the freshness fish it brings out the sweetness of the fish nicely. The fish was cooked perfectly tender and juicy. Nicely executed.

Shrimp Karage

I don’t like the name shrimp karage for this dish, because karage generally refers to heavier battered. The grapefruit yuzu sauce gives off very fruity citrus flavors that really accompanied the sweetness of the shrimp. Its yuzu sauce is impeccable, no wonder it is in its name. 

O-Toro

O-Toro Sushi, beautiful cut, but in my opinion it is a little bit too well formed for O-Toro. It definitely DID not melts away in my mouths. For O-Toro it is definitely lacking the fatty substance. I really wonder if this is true O-Toro. Without the melts away, decorating it with gold leafs is the least they could do for 8 dollar a piece.

I came here for the Nigiri and Maki as this is the sister restaurant of Japango. Yet again, I was disappointed. The vegetable rolls were bland, carried out from the back kitchen not from the sushi bar, Salmon roll is quite tasteless as well. The salmon is already lacking of its integrity.

Overall, the hot appetizer is all very well executed. The restaurant did not miss the expectation of its Yuzu name. Nigiri and Maki, however, are way over priced and did not delivered.  This is a place to go if you want to have a fancy night out. Probably focusing on the lounging rather than the eating.

 

Worth the drive? Maybe
Food: 22/30
Decoration: 25/30
Service: 24/30
Price: $50~100

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