On a Rol San

Rol San Restaurant
323 Spadina Ave
Toronto, ON, M5T2E9
(416) 977-1128

Rating: 4 Stars

Food - 4.5

Value - 4.5

Service - 3.5

Atmosphere - 3

Price - $$

So yes, I've been a bit slow in adding new reviews, but it's my new years resolution to get back on that!  So why not start with what I'd like to consider THE BEST CHINESE FOOD IN TORONTO.  I know, that's a bold statement, and I also know, that I haven't tried every single Chinese restaurant in the city, but I've tried a lot, and it's actually quite impossible to conceive that there is any food tastier.

The restaurant itself is super clean especially in comparison to so many of the other restaurants in Chinatown.  It's simple and the tables are not on top of each other, so you can actually push your chair out to stretch after you've eaten 200 lbs of food (you'll want to - trust me!)

I have been going to Rol San for several years, and the food is consistent and always hot, fresh, and delicious.

They have all day Dim Sum too, which is decent enough, although doesn't really compare with a full out dim sum restaurant.  I would stick to the menu items, only because they will blow your mind!

Here are a few of my favourite dishes:

Crispy Beef in Ginger Spicy Honey Sauce - You will wake up in the middle of the night and have cravings for this!  When you put this is your mouth for the first time you will most likely be in a state of shock because of it's amazingness.  I've seen this happen on several occasions!  I'm serious, don't say I didn't warn you.
Stir-Fried Snowpea Leaves with Garlic - These leaves are amazingly green and tender and always delicious.
Moo-Shoo Chicken - Hands down the best Moo-Shoo I've ever tried.  The pancakes are fresh and steaming hot with a very nice texture, and stay together without breaking the way I've seen many others do.  The chicken is tender and juicy and the sauce is truly delicious.

As a side note, if you put a little of the Ginger Spicy Honey Sauce into the Moo Shoo Pancake you will be incredibly happy!

Animals just.. taste good!

The Stockyards - Smokehouse and Larder

699 St.Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M6C 1B2
phone 416 658 9666
fax 416 981 7275

3.5 Stars
Lunch for 2 $30.00

So I was not expecting such a place when I walked into the restaurant.  A friend highly recommended The Stockyards to me as being an awesome place to fill up on animal flesh - which of course, I'm a big fan of!  The front of the place looks like it would be semi-decent inside, and you walk in, and it's an 'on the nice side' greasy spoon.  The kitchen is on the outside so you can see what's being cooked, there's a fridge for you to grab your own drinks opposite the cash register.  Worst part, stools only - which was the only real downside, since some people - myself including, just don't feel very comfortable on tall wobbly seats. 


Putting all this aside, the food was fabulous.  I can certainly see why it came highly recommended.  I originally ordered the grilled cheese just because it sounded amazing, and the waitress looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head, she explained to me that they are known for their meat - her comment wasn't unwarranted by the way, I actually asked her what was good.  She told me the burgers were great, and I ordered one of the on special burgers.  The Lucy Goosey ( or Juicy Lucy?).  Cheese infused burger with mustard and deep fried pickles.  I mean who ever heard of a deep fried pickle anyways?  Cooked perfectly, juicy, dripping cheese, crispy pickles, tang of mustard, it was truly a well thought out burger. 

Fresh Cut Fries on the side, thin and perfectly seasoned not to mentioned cooked to a light golden colour.  Absolutely delicious.

In addition to the wonderful meal, were the magnificent drinks.  Limade with mint, and ice tea with ginger.  Both were extraordinary. 

Would I eat here again?  Without question, in fact, I really want to go back and try that grilled cheese. (Aged Cheddar, sauteed cremini mushroom, and green apple served on fresh sourdough)

Now that was exhausting!

So I was gone for two years because I was trying all the restaurants in the GTA so that I could report back to all of you, on what's awesome and what's just not worth wasting the calories.  I've wanted to write, and kept on coming to the page to start and then it just never happened.  But, I had some inspiration last night, and here we are.  So, expect something great soon!