If there's one thing I've learned, it is that the opinion agreed upon by the collective usually always end up being stupid, and completely fallible.
Some people may feel angry about not being able to afford this place, as it is rather expensive. But that is simply no ones problem than you poor blokes.
Step aside beatniks, while I execute a real review of this place!
A dinner here with with your friend will cost you on average your week's worth of groceries. And I'm not talking about your local Chinese supermarket. It's at the Hazelton Lanes Hotel for blood sakes, so anyone who venture here and is surprised by the astronomical prices, they're the actual pretentious fools. And yeah, in the summertime, ONE sections off their respective property for what is perhaps, the most 'happening' patio of the city. All of Toronto's up-and-coming socialites can be found here during all four seasons. The place starts buzzing as early as nine..the lounge at front at least.
There are two place for your mingling, the bar/lounge, and the restaurant itself. The full serviced bar gives seating to about ten people, and the rest of the place are lightly occupied by leather sofas, chairs, and wall mounted seating. Nothing is overdone. It is a perfect place for cigar smoking. But that luxury is long gone, thanks to Toronto's cry babies.
A cocktail will start from fifteen dollars, and their definition of cocktail is anything with more than one form of liquid in it. So drink up quick before your ice melts....just kidding.
The second portion, and the focus is the restaurant. The space is simply Posh. The chair's arm rest are too low to allow any resting of your arms, but aside from that, the decorations are perfection. Everything fits!
I was sat towards the kitchen, with a commanding view of the atmosphere. Every minute here was pleasant. The large table slightly behind me sat eight smartly dressed restaurant staff sampling a potential new menu. One of them looked like Bas Rutten, so I had to resist the urge to stare.
Their wine menu is more extensive than I imagined, and one can manage to acquire a bottle of dessert wine from South America for as low as sixty bucks!
It was difficult choosing from a menu where almost everything seemed appealing. But in the spirit of the venue, I ordered the seared foie gras appetizer, and medium venison with fries (I overheard from the next table that the fries here were "amazing"). My company got the special, 'vinegar grilled chicken'. I was very skeptical.
Redbull & Vodka......fifteen bucks.
Our service was VERY attentive, and extremely polite. Almost to an uncomfortable degree. I think there wasn't once they didn't apologize to us for..whatever they did.
I'm sorry, would you like another drink?
I'm sorry, are you still working on it?
I'm sorry, would you like more water?
I'm sorry, here's your food...
But, that's hardly anything to complain about.
The venison came medium rare, as the chef originally have suggested, as opposed to my demand of medium. However, I think his choice was more applicable to my dish.
Vinegar chicken...my friend loved it. Me?
Well, you know when you order the 4 piece combo from Popeyes', or KFC? And you get that big, but super tough piece that nobody really likes? That's the part she cut off for me to taste.....and it was tender. That's all I have to say about that.
The foie gras was another story. First, before you start freaking out, it was a normal sized liver. Not the force fed kind that is yellow. Although, I have no objections to such delicacy. It was DELICOUSSSSSSSSSSS..!!!!!!
Served on some kind of pastry, with..fruit..and honeycomb? Oh Em GEE...the flavours hit my taste buds one after the other. My friend whom was kind of a animal activist was reduced to a sympathizer at best. I really should just have ordered 5 servings of the foie gras instead. Really, I'm thinking about it.
The restaurant also offered sturgeon caviar, the beluga kind I think, judging from the price. But it's okay, the place has Ketel One Vodka!
I wanted to see what would happen if I gave a tip that was less than average, despite being treated with great hospitality. Sure enough, the over friendly service quickly lowered to just civilized. I had another drink, secretly eavesdropping on the white guy beside my table cuddling his Asian prostitute.
I tried very hard to find something wrong with ONE, and having experienced five star establishments, I debated with myself whether to award this place the first five star I've given to any Toronto restaurant. My conclusion, obviously is because even though after the sheer fulfillment I was basking in, there still feels like something was missing. I don't know what, but no five star establishment should leave me debating. I wish to give it four and a half stars.
The next time I come here, I'm booking a room upstairs. Foie gras this good needs to conclude with sex. read more