VIP Vietnamese Cuisine is a Vietnamese restaurant located in the plaza of First Markham Place in Markham, ON. It should be noted that VIP Vietnamese Cuisine is Chinese owned and a majority of their customers are predominately Chinese so the menus are printed in English and Cantonese. If you are looking for authentic Vietnamese food, then this is not the place for it. 

The menu does offer an extensive list of dishes ranging from soup, rice, meat and noodles. I ordered an appetizer, drink and a main noodle dish as my meal.

The durian milk shake ($4.00) was horrible and tasteless. I took two sips and couldn't finish the rest of the drink. The drink was completely watered down; to the point of where I could barely taste the flavor of the durian. It was a complete waste but I honestly couldn't finish it.

I also ordered spring rolls ($5.00) as an appetizer, and it came with two pieces. The size of the spring rolls was average, and it tasted okay despite being a little burnt. 

My boyfriend ordered the medium beef pho ($6.00). I had a little taste of the pho and it lacked a lot of flavor. Although there was a decent amount of beef and tripe in the soup. 

I ordered the vermicelli with pork chop and chicken ($7.95) as my main dish. I thought that the portion was generous as there was a lot of meat. The pork chop and chicken were both decently grilled but the noodles were too hard that it just ruined the entire dish.

VIP Vietnamese Cuisine appears to be family oriented as many of the tables were large in size (fits about 4-6 people). The restaurant was decent in size and it had good lighting. Although, I did not like the food as much; I thought that the service was pretty decent as our waiter was attentive and not pushy.

RATINGS:

Quality of Food: 2.6/5

Service: 3.5/5

Dining Experience: 2.9/5

Price: $

Address 3229 Hwy-7, Markham, ON, L3R3P3

I had to deal with some personal issues, and therefore was unable to blog for the past 2 months. Anyways, my first review back is of my dining experience at Yuzu Sushi & Sake Bar from back in August 2012 (sorry major delay). 

YUZU-NO-HANA Sushi and Sake Bar is a mid-sized Japanese restaurant located within the clubbing district in downtown Toronto. The restaurant provides a clean and contemporary atmosphere with decorative sake bottles stacked behind the sushi counter. There are also seating all throughout the restaurant, and enough spaces in between tables for those who want to enjoy an intimate dinner. 

I made reservations about three days prior to the dinner on a Saturday as we wanted the omakase (which required a 24 hours notice). The omakase at Yuzu is $80.00 per person for a 9 course meal, and it is basically a selection of dishes made by the head chef.

For those who are curious .... omakase is pronounced as oh-mah-kah-say.

Yuzu exemplifies all of the qualities that I look for in a great Japanese restaurant; high quality food, the freshness of the fish, creativity in the dishes and knowledgeable and friendly staff.

What makes a great restaurant is not only the delicious food, but also the service and hospitality of the staff. I believe that great services enhance customers' experiences, and it is something that I take into consideration when deciding on tipping amounts (15% being the standard for me and it goes up from there), whether to return or not, and also recommending to friends and readers. With that being said, I thought that the service was excellent at Yuzu Sushi & Sake Bar, as our main server and waitresses were very efficient, professional, and friendly. We had the most interactions with the main server, Kaz, as he was the one who brought out our dinner (omakase and bento box). Kaz was friendly, personable, and was knowledgeable about the omakase dishes and fish.

As an appetizer, I ordered the calamari ($12.00) which was grilled squid with herbs, marinated in shoyu, and salada greens. The salad that accompanied the squid was crisp and refreshing. The citrus dressing provided a very tangy taste, which I enjoyed.

For my main course, I decided upon the Yuzu Bento ($30.00) which was a two layer bento box that came with beef teriyaki, rice, miso soup, sashimi, sushi, tempura, and some veggies as side dishes. The beef teriyaki was really delicious as it was very moist and tender.

Now onto the omakase ($80.00 per person).

The 1st course: Oyster shooter (fresh oyster, quail egg, tobiko, yuzu ponzu, uni and green onion). The shooter came out in a decorative long-tubed glass and who knew that raw oyster and quail egg would actually taste good ... I sure didn't. 

The 2nd Course: Edamame (paste). Unfortunately, I passed upon this dish so I don't know how this tastes like at all. I did try the edible flower though.

The 3rd Course: Assorted appetizers platter. I was impressed with both the freshness of the fish and also its presentation.

- Egg/eel

- Baby clam wrapped with seaweed

- Baked egg yolk

- Seared eggplant

- Salmon

- Japanese yam with uni (sea urchin)

The 4th Course: Assorted sashimi (chef's selection). The three pieces of sashimi were fresh and the rice had the right amount of seasoning without being overly overwhelming. 

- Yellow jack

- Suzuki (sea bass)

- Red snapper

The 5th Course: Sweet fish (ayu) with miso paste. The fish was grilled and the sauce was made using ginger stock. The name is quite deceiving as the fish was not sweet at all; instead it was extremely salty. According to the chef, salt is needed to marinate the sweet fish so that it won't burn. 

The 6th Course: Grilled duck. I really liked the duck as it was flavorful and tender. The presentation of the dish was also aesthetically pleasing. The only complaint that I really have of this dish would be the small portion as there were only three slices of duck.

The 7th Course: Assorted sushi (chef's selection). The overall quality of the fish was excellent and the chefs did a great job with the nice smooth cuts.

- King salmon

- Hamachi (yellow tail)

- Searobin

- Seabream 

The 8th Course: Cold sōmen (white Japanese noodles) wrapped around a thin egg wrapper with shiitake mushrooms and shrimp. The combination of the noodle and egg wrapper provided an unique taste. However, this was probably my least favorite dish of the night as I have never been particularly fond of cold noodles.

The 9th Course: Yuzu crème brûlée. I was hoping to try their green tea flavored one and was a little disappointed when Kaz told me that they don't make it anymore. However, they are now serving a  traditional flavored vanilla version, so I ordered it since I absolutely love crème brûlée. The caramelized top was good, the fresh fruits were sweet, but I thought the custard base lacked a little sweetness.

Overall, I highly recommend Yuzu Sushi & Sake Bar for its offering of beautifully presented authentic Japanese food, and great service. Additionally, the chefs (in the kitchen and sushi) all use high quality ingredients to ensure an unique and tasty experience, especially with their omakase.

RATINGS:

Quality of Food: 4.5/5

Service: 5/5

Dining Experience: 4.5/5

Price: $$$$ || Online Menu

Address: 236 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON, M5H 1W7

I went to dinner with a few girlfriends of mine at O&B Canteen last week. As many may know; this is one of the many restaurants under the Oliver & Bonacini umbrella (some others are Canoe, Luma, Bannock, Jump, etc. …). The restaurant is conveniently located on the busy corner of King St W & John St, and their outside patio is always busy now that the weather is warming up.

This is a great place for casual dining and one of the charms of the establishment is their open concept (kitchen/eating space). Additionally, O&B Canteen offers both table service with its communal tables, and take-out with its "grab and go" counter. Their takeout counter offers baked goods, sandwiches, salad, and many other items for affordable prices. Overall, the vibe is very casual, and modern; which provides a great atmosphere for socializing.

Brittany got the roasted pumpkin soup ($7.00) as a starter. She enjoyed the soup and liked the fact that the taste of the sweet pumpkin flavor wasn't too overwhelming.

I opted for the grate Canadian grilled cheese ($16.00), which apparently was the 2012 winner of the Niagara Gold cook-off. I enjoyed the sandwich a lot and loved how the cheese just melted in my mouth with each bite. It was probably one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches that I have had so far (Joey's lobster-grilled cheese being the close second). Additionally, the prosciutto and arugula provided a nice tangy flavor to the sandwich.

Both Feena and Suzy got their own Mac & Cheese ($16.00); a dish that I'd considered to be a comfort food. O&B Canteen's version features the usage of garganelli noodles and accompanied by cheddar and smoked ham. I was able to try a spoon of the mac & cheese and found the pasta texture to be a little dry. Perhaps because I chose to scoop from the corner hence the dry noodle pieces/lack of cheese. So this isn't a fair review of the dish on my part, but both seemed to have liked their meals so it must have been good.

Brittany opted for the pappardelle ($16.00), and I got a sample of it. I usually don't like the taste of braised rabbit, but I thought that this dish was pretty well executed. The pappardelle (thick and flat noodles) was fresh and cooked perfectly.

If you're into gourmet burgers then there is the beef burger ($16.00) on the menu; which was what Varina ordered. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for her opinion on the burger so I don't have a review on it for you guys.

In regards to the service, I thought that our waitress provided great service. She was quick to refill our empty cups of water, took our empty dishes away, knowledgeable about the dishes, and even took the time to take a couple of group photos for us. If you're in the neighborhood, then I would highly recommend O&B Canteen for a good and filling meal.

RATINGS:

Quality of Food: 4.3/5

Service: 4.5/5

Overall Dining Experience: 4.3/5

Price: $$ || Online Menu

Address: 330 King St W, Toronto, ON, M5V 3X2

I finally got to try out Electric Mud BBQ; a popular Southern-inspired barbecue establishment in Parkdale. I heard that it can get quite busy around dinner time so my companion and I decided to have an extremely late dinner.

We arrived at Electric Mud BBQ a little past midnight. The kitchen actually closes around 1:00 am so we still had time to eat and there was no wait. Also note that this restaurant is run by the same people as Grand Electric.

The displayed menu at Electric Mud BBQ is fairly simple and straightforward as it is divided into different sections; BBQ, sandwiches, sides and desserts. A great about having a small menu is that restaurants are able to perfect the small selection of food that they do offer.

As this was my first time at Electric Mud BBQ, I don't know how the service is when it's fully packed. I can only base it on my personal experience that night (which was after the busy dinner hours). I thought that the service that we received during our dinner was really good. Not only was our server friendly and efficient; he also took the time to answer questions about the menu and popular dishes.

We started off with the crack rolls ($3.75). The basket arrived with four rolls, and they were warm, golden, and fluffy. The whipped butter spread that accompanied the rolls was absolutely divine as the butter was made from the fat dripping in the smoker.

Another side that we got was the coleslaw ($3.50). I am not a huge of coleslaw in general, but I really liked the one from Electric Mud BBQ. The reason why was that the dish wasn't completely drenched in mayonnaise and it had a nice tangy taste to it. 

The fried chicken ($9.50) was absolutely delicious and I'd return just for it. The outside was lightly seasoned and its skin was ultra crispy. I really liked that the inside of the chicken was moist and juicy with a lot of flavor. Additionally, the dish was served with a side of honey sauce and Tabasco hot sauce. In my opinion, the two sauces definitely helped to accentuates the flavor of the chicken pieces.

The beef rib ($15.00) wasn't really my favorite of the night, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. The dish consists of one piece of mid-sized beef rib and topped with green onions. The rib itself was tender and the smoky flavor was infused into the meat.

 We were informed around 1:00 am that the kitchen was closing soon. So we decided to end the night off with ribs ($14.50). The dish came with four pieces of delectable bones of meat, and topped off with peanuts and green onions. The flavor of the ribs was well balanced as it wasn't overly sweet, or too smoky tasting. Additionally, I liked the overall presentation of the dish as it looked both tasty and aesthetically pleasing.

Address: 5 Brock Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6K 1L4

For the Canada's Day long weekend, my friends and I went to Montreal, QC, to hang out.
 On our last night there, we split into three different groups for dinner (the other two groups went for Greek and Sushi respectively), and six of us went to Au Pied de Cochon.

Au Pied de Cochon is a popular culinary establishment in Montreal. It has been a few years since I last dined at Au Pied de Cochon (the last time was with my family), so I was elated when my friend, Tim, made the reservation for 6 people. The six of us arrived for our 9:30 pm reservation on the Saturday night and the place was still booming with diners. The restaurant interior was narrow and long, and its decor had a rustic wooden feel to it. The overall atmosphere was quite lively and loud.

One of the great appeals of the restaurant is their extensive menu. The menu at Au Pied de Cochon offers concoction of dishes that entails the uses of animal parts that are not always found in other restaurants.

We were seated in the back and after a few minutes, our server arrived to take our orders. He went over the menu and told us about the restaurant's specials. We were given home-made bread and butter to snack on as we wait for our dinner. The bread was warm and very soft on the inside. I also enjoyed the creamy texture of the butter, which tasted great with the bread.

 For a starter, I chose the Foie Gras Cromesquis ($3.50). The dish arrived with two deep-fried cubes containing foie gras. As soon as you take a bite, the warm foie gras (fat liver) explodes with a burst of flavor in your mouth, resembling a rather cheesy flavor.

Brittany chose the Tomato Tartlet ($6.50) as an appetizer. This dish was basically sweet tomatoes and melted cheese on top of a pastry crust. For those who are health enthusiasts, many of the items on the menu are very fatty so you won't be able to find anything healthy. However, I believe that this dish was probably the healthiest out of the bunch even if it's slightly rich.

 Angelina chose the Duck Carpaccio ($13.00) as an appetizer.

Ray went for the Tarragon Bison Tongue ($7.50) as an appetizer.

Both Raymond and Brittany ordered the Duck in a Can ($43.00).  Pictured above is the unopened can that contains the "cooked duck".

Both of them were given a plate decorated with celeriac puree on top of a piece of bread; the duck in a can would then be poured on top of it.

The novelty of the dish is that the server would open the can containing the cooked duck, and then poured it right onto the plate leaving a neatly presented dish (which is pictured above). Be forewarned though, if you have a small appetite then this dish is probably not for you, as it is both fattening and filling. Both of my friends' plates contained heavy chunks of duck and foie gras swimming in a pool of rich oil.

I opted for the Bison Ribs ($28.00) as I have tried their foie gras before on my previous visit a few years back. The portion was extremely large, and I could only finish 3/4 of it before getting full. The bison meat was flavorful, meaty and slightly tender.

The fries (in duck fat) ($4.75) was pretty good as it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Angelina ordered the Cured Foie Gras & Boudin Tart ($28.00) as the main course.

Tim ordered the Stuffed Pied de Cochon with Foie Gras ($45.00) as the main course. You can probably tell from the picture alone but the portion was huge.

Tim's friend ordered the special of the week which was a 1.5 lbs lobster roll toped with fois gras ($48.00).

Brittany and Ray ordered the Lemon Meringue Pie ($5.75).

Even though, I was very full from my meal, I could not resist getting dessert. Especially when I saw that they had Crème Brûlée ($7.00) on the menu. I wished that I didn't order it as it was a very
 underwhelming dessert. The reason being was that my caramelized top was 75% burnt, and the taste of it seeped through into the custard. Therefore, I was left with a strong burnt after-taste and smell. The dessert was disappointing but everything else was good.

RATINGS:

Quality of Food: 3.9/5

Service: 4/5

Overall Dining Experience: 4/5

Price: $$$$ || Online Menu

Address: 536 Avenue Duluth Est, Montreal, QC H2L 1A9

About: Spring Sushi is an AYCE that is housed in the same building as the Cineplex Odeon Yonge & Dundas Cinemas. As for location, it's conveniently located steps away from the Eaton's Center.

Atmosphere/Decor: Our group of four arrived for our 6:00 pm reservation. We didn't wait too long for a table to clear. I thought that the overall décor was very modern and clean looking.

Price: My friends and I went on a Thursday night so it was $23.99 per person. For weekends, and holidays; you'd need to add $2.00 more to the adult prices. Compared to other nearby downtown AYCE, some may find the prices at Spring Sushi to be a little steep.

Menu:  One of the great appeals of Spring Sushi is the novelty of using iPads to order. The iPads are available at every table and the orders are sent directly to the kitchen staff. I know of a couple of other AYCE that have also implemented the uses of iPads for taking orders as it does somewhat speed up the processes and also allows the restaurants to digitally showcase their menu. Spring Sushi's execution by using the iPads was pretty decent as the interface was both easy to use and the pictures were colorful.

Food: Spring Sushi offers the typical AYCE fare but their menu was a little more extensive than others as they also have Thai and special sushi dishes. Their sushi and sashimi offering was decent and edible, but the rice in the sushi had a rather overly wet texture. Additionally, I thought that the cooked food was either a hit or miss. I enjoyed a majority of their grilled and deep fried dishes. However, their take on Thai dishes such as pad thai, satay skewers and coconut shrimp was just not very good. For example, the pad thai lacked immense flavor, and the noodles was excessively wet and soft. Although, I was happy that the servings weren't too big so that my friends and I were able to try out multiple dishes.

Service: We ran into a minor problem with the iPads during our second round of ordering as we didn't receive half of our orders. We flagged down a waiter and he apologized for the inconvenience, and promptly took down our orders by hand. I thought that the staff were attentive and efficient as our water was being refilled throughout the night and our empty plates were taken away right away.

RATINGS:

Quality of Food: 3.7/5

Service: 4/5

Overall Dining Experience: 4/5

Price: $$ || Online Menu

Address: 10 Dundas St E, Old Toronto, ON, M5B 2G9