Galway Arms - Queensway Pub

Needed a family Winter adventure to chill us up with a destination in mind to warm us down.  That's one of the many things that Irish pubs are for isn't it? So the missus and I packed up the excursion stroller and mushed our mob of munchkins on over to the Queensway and into The Galway Arms.  This is a jolly good pub with a warm Irish Canadian atmosphere and great friendly service.  A first trip for our family unit, The Galway accomodated the kids handily - there were also several other ruddy faced runtus about with Mums, Ds and Grans.  Please don't get the wrong idea, The Galway Arms is not some sort of hybrid Chuck-E-Chipsn'Curry Keltic Romper Room.  It is an Irish Pub proper, with scheduled hi-def viewings of live rugby and football akin to local supporters of the favoured firms at play. The decor is what I'd imagine a modern regular working / middle class pub in the great green homeland would be like with plenty o' tell tale accents about.  A real bonus of The Galway Arms is the fact that they pour a mighty lovely pint of the Goodness (one of Bob's personal favourite beverages). The Sunday menu was pretty simple; cabbage, ham and boiled potatoes / beef and roasted potatoes / chicken fingers and fried potatoes and a few other dishes that ryhme with "tomatoes" - they also have a typical "pub grub" menu and specials.  We ordered some things that the kids would eat and they actually noshed it up. The missus and I filled up on the same - she enjoyed it ... did I mention they pour a mighty lovely pint of Guiness..?
Great reception, jovial clientele and excellent service all add up to a future repeat expedition to The Galway Arms.

Price: Good
Rating: B+

840 The Queensway Toronto, Ontario
416-251-0096

Read more...

Cafe du Lac - a taste of Quebec

Winterlicious blew a massive busy front into the southern most region of Etobicoke
and Cafe' du Lac got buried by a "lac effect blizzard". It was indeed Winterlicious and I had signed up to experience Cafe du Lac's fixed price offerring with a group of friends for the second sitting on a Friday night when the Lakeshore  bistro was getting totally slammed!
Cafe' du Lac bills itself as a "Quebec Style" restaurant and on this night it operated about as efficiently as the FLQ's Victoria Day picnic party or Montreal City Hall on any given day. To be fair to the good people at Cafe' du Lac, the popularity of Winterlicious can be a challenge for even the most seasoned Toronto restauranteurs but this was actually my 3rd visit and the machine was not well oiled on previous occasions either. I do like the ambience, location and the spirit that Cafe du Lac represents but there is a lot of "hit n' miss" wrinkled up in the whole equation that needs some ironing out. We eventually got over "the hump" and settled in to have an really enjoyable time.
The down side: Our party was left waiting for far too long (40 mins) without beverage to ease the awkwardness even though some transition libations were subtly suggested, then outright requested to the staff. The place was under staffed and a bit frantic (needed at least one more server and a bartender/sommalier)  - another set of patrons just gave up and left (but I think that's pretty lame personally).
Our group was able to cover all aspects of the fixed menu - we are good enough friends to sample each other's plates and although there are some very rich and tasty dishes, some were actually a bit too rich and left a slightly heavy feeling...

The up side: The proprietors (hailing from la belle Province) are interesting, energetic and well intentioned. The food is pretty tasty on whole - the duck confit was delicious, it was our big winner on the Winterlicious menu and their signature short rib poutine was a hit across the board.
Prices are very reasonable and it seems that they make a sincere effort to bring something unique to the neighbourhood (blues night, open mike night etc.). Desserts were top notch and just the right portion size (about 4 morsels worth of maple tart, chololate mousse or upside down berry cake)
Just like Montreal itself; a city that I have lived in, visit often and have a special fondness for, Cafe' du Lac is far from perfect but has a certain "je ne c'est quoi" that will probably bring me back to it again - just not during Winterlicious, Habs play-off games or St. Jean Babtiste Day. Perhaps for a semi-annual "bring back the Expos" fan club banquet..??
Je me souviens...

Price : very reasonable ($35 fix price)
Rating: C

2350 Lakeshore Blvd. W.
416-848-7381

Read more...

Sliders - not your ordinary burger

A new Burger joint / Breakfast Diner has emerged on the Queensway stretch just east of Royal York. Don't let the box seat view of the House of Lancancaster throw you off, this is a family friendly fast food eatery (although window seats may come at a premium during shift changes at theinfamous gentleman's club...). Junior and I popped in for an inauguaral visit and shared a classic cheeseburger, fries and drink combo. Fries are fresh cut, hot and crispy - the cheeseburger was divine and desrves the "homeburger" moniker that Sliders attaches to it. The menu offers an interesting range of well known sandwiches (philly steak, chicken breast,
back bacon etc.) aswell as mouthwatering breakfast suggestions and old fashioned milkshakes. Ambience was fresh, clean and modern with lively colours, television and tunes. It's a start up family run endeavour headed up by proprietor, Dino Petsopoulous. Keeping pace on the crowded Queensway burger scene can most assuredly be a grind (although not quite the same
"grind" as their cross-street neighbours) but Sliders has the right elements in place to distinguish itself - let's see how it goes. I'll be returning - let us know what you think.

Price: $10

Rating: B

Sliders - 416-503-8232
704 The Queensway

Read more...