[Toronto] Smith

Location Review
533 Church Street
Toronto, Ontario
(416)926-2501
Website

Unassuming from the outside, this Church Street establishment is well known by locals for its brunch. When you enter Smith (@SmithToronto), you almost forget that this is Toronto. It is quaint and cozy, and felt like an elusive secret spot for only those in the know. But judging by the number of people who were already seated when we arrived, as well as the abundant 3 floors of seating, this most likely was not the case.

Everything about this restaurant feels intimate. The warm oak fixtures, candle lit ambience, freshly cut flowers, porcelain plates, and elegantly aged silverware; almost makes you feel like missed putting up some sort of white picket fence outside. Despite this, Smiths was unintimidating, relaxed, and perfect for the cordial catch-up brunch I was about to have.

Smith

[Toronto] The Queen and Beaver Public House

Location Review
35 Elm Street
Toronto, Ontario
(647)347-2712
Website


Team Burger Eaters started off as a group of people hoping to try all the best burgers of the city. But as time moved on, we've clearly diversified to just trying out good food, period. That's right, a self-proclaimed group of foodies who get together periodically to eat. Life doesn't really get much simpler than that sometimes. Anyways, following the meals of The Harbord Room and Bestellen's suckling pig dinner, Team Burger Eaters strikes again with a trip to The Queen and Beaver Public House (@QueenBeaverPub).

The Queen and Beaver Public House is a British themed gastropub, serving up traditional English classics in a cozy British decor to match the part. While they certainly have an a la carte dinner menu, they also have a special feasting menu, which allows everyone at the table to share a family-style meal. The cost is based on the number of people you have, and the price includes the roast of your choice, potatoes, and seasonal vegetables (drinks excluded).

Thornbury($7) and Innis & Gunn ($7.25)

[Toronto] Bellwoods Brewery

Location Review:
124 Ossington Avenue
Toronto, ON


So what do Carmen (@carmenhungry), Grace(@foodinthecityTO), Jessica (@wherejessate), Vickie (@kiki_BFF), and I, have in common? Let's not jump to the most obvious two answers in relation to our genders and ethnicities here! Give up? Turns out, we've all never been to Bellwoods Brewery (@bellwoodsbeer) before, and it has been on our restaurant radars for a while!

So a little while back (yes, I'm still extremely delayed on these posts, I apologize!) the five of us girls headed over to Toronto's newest brewpub (opened just this April) in the Ossington area to see what their beer and snacks menu had to offer.

[Toronto] Jacobs & Co Steakhouse

Review Location:
12 Brant Street
Toronto, ON


I actually considered not blogging about my dinner at Jacobs & Co Steakhouse (@jacobsandco) because it was that one odd day where I didn't have my camera on me. And anyone that knows me, knows that it almost never happens. But my experience that night was so unforgettable that I thought it was worthy of a post; even if I didn't have the perfect pictures to do it justice. A big thank you to my boyfriend for taking these pictures on his phone, knowing that I might change my mind and need photos afterall. You know me too well! :)

Let's keep this intro part short so we can get to the part where I get to talk about the food. Jacobs & Co Steakhouse is probably one of the best steakhouses I've been to.

[Chicago] Cafe Ba Ba Reeba

Location Review:
2024 North Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
773-935-5000

Menu

Even before my visit to Chicago, I had heard so much about the great Spanish cuisine in the city. And after personally visiting the city, I can definitely see why. During a lunch time visit to Cafe Ba Ba Reeba (@cafebabareeba), I had the pleasure of tasting some dishes from their Spanish tapas menu, crafted by Chef Tim Cottini. If you're not interested in ordering small plates, they have regular lunch and dinner menus that offer classic Spanish entrees. Regardless of what you settle on ordering, you can be assured your meal is as close to Spanish roots as it gets:  the charcuterie, cheese, olive oil, rice and spices are imported directly from Spain!

[Ottawa] Shawarma Palace

Review Location:
464 Rideau Street
Ottawa, Ontario






This place was actually the very first place we ate at as soon as we made it to Ottawa. I was almost not going to post this review because I wasn't able to take very good pictures, but decided that it was quite good and was worth sharing.

Curtis, who is the Ottawa expert, told us that Ottawa has some of the best shwarma because the town is highly populated with Lebanese people. This was something I wasn't initially aware of. I guess now I know.