General Food, Dining and Nightlife News

[panamaniac]

I also find most restaurant portions far too large, although I tend to leave the uneaten food behind.  To avoid so much waste, I increasingly go out for styles of foods that I know I can handle (eg. tapas/small plates, soups, shared portions, etc).

Why would you leave it behind?  The odd time I'll stare at it in the fridge a couple days, but most times the leftovers are eaten the next day (or within a couple hours, depending on the food).

The few times I've heated up restaurant leftovers, I've found them to be disappointing, so now I usually just don't bother shlepping it home.  I almost did the other week, and got it boxed up, but then forgot to take it with me when I left the restaurant!  As I said, I most often try to order things that I'll be able to finish.

[plam]

How small is the quantity? Fine French dining small? Less than American-size small? Somewhere in between?

I personally find that many restaurants have huge portions, so we end up taking food home almost every time. "Right-sized" portions would be good for us.

Leftovers are a bad thing? 

I did just eat leftovers today. But like panamaniac I try to not order more food than I should eat because it's tempting and very human to eat all of the food in front of us even when no longer hungry. So I prefer smaller portions.

[JoeKW]

Crafty is a lot better in Guelph, I hope they reach that level in due time.

The portions are pretty small and the price is pretty high but that's just a sign of gentrification.

[tomh009]

How small is the quantity? Fine French dining small? Less than American-size small? Somewhere in between?

I personally find that many restaurants have huge portions, so we end up taking food home almost every time. "Right-sized" portions would be good for us.

Leftovers are a bad thing? 

Home-made leftovers are a good thing, at least for us. Restaurant leftovers vary, depending on that it is; some things don't reheat so well. And I hate Styrofoam take-home containers.

[panamaniac]

I ate at La Cucina the other night, something I had been wanting to do for some time.  My impression is that it is a step up from other Italian spots in the Region, both in terms of service and in food offerings.  Fairly nice offering of Italian wines as well.  I found the decor a bit bland, but nothing really wrong with it.

[tomh009]

I had dinner at Crafty Ramen recently. It was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it very highly. App quality is good but the quantity is very small for price. The kid's ramen is just noodles and the plainest broth you can imagine. I know it's kid's ramen and what do you expect for four dollars, but it's actually something of a pet peeve of mine when kid's meals are low quality. Add some naruto or an egg or something and put it in some decent broth. The noodles themselves don't have quite the right texture.

The broth for the two bowls we had was nice, especially the vegan option. If you have vegan friends in town and are looking for a place to take them, Crafty would be an interesting option. But having been there once was enough for me.

OK, so we finally ate there. We had a dandan and a vegan salaryman. Of the two, I think the salaryman was better, with sesame-encrusted tofu and a nicer broth. Neither one is "authentic" as such, but, rather, ramen adjusted to Canadian expectations. It was pretty good, I was not disappointed, but then I'm not a huge ramen fan to start with so maybe my bar was low.

Total was about $40, though, with just the two bowls and a plate of gyoza (which I did approve of!) and no drinks. Definitely it's not the cheap salaryman dinner that you might find in Tokyo. And, as Philipp said, the portions are not very big: we both finish our bowls, which is rare enough, and that was after eating a couple of gyoza each.

On the other hand ... they have a decent beer selection, so as a place to sit and have some drinks after work with friends or colleagues, snacking on some appetizers, it makes for a much better izakaya than Kinkaku. I might try this approach sometime soon.

[jgsz]

Happy New Year, Everyone / Bonne année à tous

Last year was a very good year for food and dining in Waterloo Region.

Towards the end of the year I discovered two fabulous soups.  

The first was the Tortilla Soup at the Cactus Mexican Restaurant in Waterloo. One bowl of this tasty, rich, Mexican soup is almost enough for lunch.  The soup comes with a nice slice of avocado (in the soup) and if you really want to jazz it up ask for some extra hot sauce.

The other soup was the Sambar Soup at Classic Indian Restaurant, also in Waterloo.  This is a spiced-up lentil soup that may be too spicy for some but it is super delicious if you can handle it.

My all-time favourite soup is the Hot and Sour Soup at Cameron Chinese Seafood Restaurant.  I just can't get enough of it!

Although it opened in late 2018, my favourite new grocery store is T&T Supermarket in Waterloo.  I just love that place.  Too bad it's not closer to downtown Kitchener.

Although it also opened in late 2018, NARANJ Syrian Restaurant is one of my favourite new finds in 2019.  It's a bit expensive compared to other Middle Eastern restaurants but the food is delicious with rich and exotic flavours.  The presentation is always amazing and the restaurant is very clean.

We live in downtown Kitchener so a number of times we've taken the ION to the end of the line to have lunch at Mashawi in Waterloo or to have pizza at the Pie Co Pizza Bar in Kitchener.  Both restaurants opened in 2019.  Mashawi has a very delicious, affordable, lunch special.  Their web site shows what's on special that day but all the specials are available during the week.  A bit confusing but worth the trip.  

Raja Fine Indian Cuisine on Belmont also has a tasty, affordable, lunch special.  Unfortunately they don't advertise their specials on their web page.   

Barnacle Bill's in Cambridge is our favourite Fish and Chips place in Waterloo Region. 

Pho Sunrise is our favourite restaurant for phos and other Viet-Thai dishes.

Worth mentioning are restaurants we've eaten at more than once in the past year.  Of course all the restaurants mentioned above are on the list.  Others include: La Cucina, Kinkaku Izakaya, Pho Tran, Arabesque, Joey's Seafood Restaurant, Highland Halal Shawarma, Chic Pea, Kitchener Market, Marks Caribbean Kitchen, Sahar's Kitchen, Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine, Golden Dynasty Restaurant, Fork and Cork Grill, Anna Mae's Bakery and Restaurant in Millbank and a few others.   Yes, we even get our very basic, typical, Canadian-Chinese food from Mei King Restaurant.  

Over all, not a bad year for eats...

[panamaniac]

Mark's Caribbean Kitchen vs Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine vs Ellison's Bistro - DTK is spoiled for choice when it comes to Caribbean cuisine.

Fork and Cork is a spot that has surprised me - I had doubts about whether it would succeed, but it seems to do well.

[Rainrider22]

The chef at Fork and Cork is amazing. I have never been disappointed there. Every time I drive by the parking lot has a decent number of vehicles in the lot..

[Rainrider22]

Happy New Year, Everyone / Bonne année à tous

Last year was a very good year for food and dining in Waterloo Region.

Towards the end of the year I discovered two fabulous soups.  

The first was the Tortilla Soup at the Cactus Mexican Restaurant in Waterloo. One bowl of this tasty, rich, Mexican soup is almost enough for lunch.  The soup comes with a nice slice of avocado (in the soup) and if you really want to jazz it up ask for some extra hot sauce.

The other soup was the Sambar Soup at Classic Indian Restaurant, also in Waterloo.  This is a spiced-up lentil soup that may be too spicy for some but it is super delicious if you can handle it.

My all-time favourite soup is the Hot and Sour Soup at Cameron Chinese Seafood Restaurant.  I just can't get enough of it!

Although it opened in late 2018, my favourite new grocery store is T&T Supermarket in Waterloo.  I just love that place.  Too bad it's not closer to downtown Kitchener.

Although it also opened in late 2018, NARANJ Syrian Restaurant is one of my favourite new finds in 2019.  It's a bit expensive compared to other Middle Eastern restaurants but the food is delicious with rich and exotic flavours.  The presentation is always amazing and the restaurant is very clean.

We live in downtown Kitchener so a number of times we've taken the ION to the end of the line to have lunch at Mashawi in Waterloo or to have pizza at the Pie Co Pizza Bar in Kitchener.  Both restaurants opened in 2019.  Mashawi has a very delicious, affordable, lunch special.  Their web site shows what's on special that day but all the specials are available during the week.  A bit confusing but worth the trip.  

Raja Fine Indian Cuisine on Belmont also has a tasty, affordable, lunch special.  Unfortunately they don't advertise their specials on their web page.   

Barnacle Bill's in Cambridge is our favourite Fish and Chips place in Waterloo Region. 

Pho Sunrise is our favourite restaurant for phos and other Viet-Thai dishes.

Worth mentioning are restaurants we've eaten at more than once in the past year.  Of course all the restaurants mentioned above are on the list.  Others include: La Cucina, Kinkaku Izakaya, Pho Tran, Arabesque, Joey's Seafood Restaurant, Highland Halal Shawarma, Chic Pea, Kitchener Market, Marks Caribbean Kitchen, Sahar's Kitchen, Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine, Golden Dynasty Restaurant, Fork and Cork Grill, Anna Mae's Bakery and Restaurant in Millbank and a few others.   Yes, we even get our very basic, typical, Canadian-Chinese food from Mei King Restaurant.  

Over all, not a bad year for eats...

Great review, thank you for taking the time to do this.  The last time I asked for opinions on places to go for breakfast, I got an amazing response and my family has checked most of them out...This site is a great resource of local knowledge..

[panamaniac]

Meanwhile, I'm disappointed that there has been no news from Ignite Restaurant Group about the revamp of the Black Forest Inn in Conestogo, since it was announced a year and a half ago. I was really looking forward to it.

[neonjoe]

They lost on their Facebook page from time to time. As of the last post in November it seems like the renovations are extensive.

Search for Crowsfoot Smokehaus on Facebook

[Acitta]

The chef at Fork and Cork is amazing.  I have never been disappointed there.  Every time I drive by the parking lot has a decent number of vehicles in the lot..

This was posted on their FB page in December.    

[panamaniac]

They lost on their Facebook page from time to time. As of the last post in November it seems like the renovations are extensive.

Search for Crowsfoot Smokehaus on Facebook

 Seems promising ....

[tomh009]

Happy New Year, Everyone / Bonne année à tous

Last year was a very good year for food and dining in Waterloo Region.

Towards the end of the year I discovered two fabulous soups.  

The first was the Tortilla Soup at the Cactus Mexican Restaurant in Waterloo. One bowl of this tasty, rich, Mexican soup is almost enough for lunch.  The soup comes with a nice slice of avocado (in the soup) and if you really want to jazz it up ask for some extra hot sauce.

The other soup was the Sambar Soup at Classic Indian Restaurant, also in Waterloo.  This is a spiced-up lentil soup that may be too spicy for some but it is super delicious if you can handle it.

My all-time favourite soup is the Hot and Sour Soup at Cameron Chinese Seafood Restaurant.  I just can't get enough of it!

Although it opened in late 2018, my favourite new grocery store is T&T Supermarket in Waterloo.  I just love that place.  Too bad it's not closer to downtown Kitchener.

Although it also opened in late 2018, NARANJ Syrian Restaurant is one of my favourite new finds in 2019.  It's a bit expensive compared to other Middle Eastern restaurants but the food is delicious with rich and exotic flavours.  The presentation is always amazing and the restaurant is very clean.

We live in downtown Kitchener so a number of times we've taken the ION to the end of the line to have lunch at Mashawi in Waterloo or to have pizza at the Pie Co Pizza Bar in Kitchener.  Both restaurants opened in 2019.  Mashawi has a very delicious, affordable, lunch special.  Their web site shows what's on special that day but all the specials are available during the week.  A bit confusing but worth the trip.  

Raja Fine Indian Cuisine on Belmont also has a tasty, affordable, lunch special.  Unfortunately they don't advertise their specials on their web page.   

Barnacle Bill's in Cambridge is our favourite Fish and Chips place in Waterloo Region. 

Pho Sunrise is our favourite restaurant for phos and other Viet-Thai dishes.

Worth mentioning are restaurants we've eaten at more than once in the past year.  Of course all the restaurants mentioned above are on the list.  Others include: La Cucina, Kinkaku Izakaya, Pho Tran, Arabesque, Joey's Seafood Restaurant, Highland Halal Shawarma, Chic Pea, Kitchener Market, Marks Caribbean Kitchen, Sahar's Kitchen, Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine, Golden Dynasty Restaurant, Fork and Cork Grill, Anna Mae's Bakery and Restaurant in Millbank and a few others.   Yes, we even get our very basic, typical, Canadian-Chinese food from Mei King Restaurant.  

Over all, not a bad year for eats...

I'll add three suggestions to your list, since you are in DTK: Sahar's Kitchen (at King St E & Scott St), Izna (on King St E between Scott St and Frederick St) and Egg Roll King (at Courtland Ave E and Peter St). Sahar has excellent Indian fare, Izna has a nice (not quite authentic, again) donburi selection, and Egg Roll King has a good selection of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, including the best Singapore-style vermicelli (which is really from Hong Kong) in town.