Daily Dose of Greatness

I’ve been going there for lunch for a few months now, and with the exception of one time where I forgot my wallet, I always get the same thing: the “daily special” for $9.85. It’s perhaps the most well-rounded lunch special in the `hood, with a hearty sandwich, soup or salad, veggie snack, and some chips, as well as a mug for coffee or tea. All of the coffee is fair trade, there are many organic options, and as of my last visit they carry Stone Hammer beer. Stone Hammer is brewed by F&M in Guelph, so it’s nice to see the local connection there!

The sandwich is always a little different, from turkey and roasted red peppers to pastrami and sauerkraut. Check out the details of the special on their menu, which doubles as a take-out order sheet (genius). There are different daily gluten-free soup as well! The variety here is excellent.

Generous, fresh, and tasty.

I’ve heard great things about the breakfast sandwich, but not having tried it myself I don’t feel right commenting (it’s probably just as fresh and satisfying as the rest of the menu, and yet another reason to go visit).

Ordering Made Easy, Please

If you’re not ordering the special, or the breakfast sandwich, the ordering process is a bit arduous. Kind of like Vincenzo’s when you’re in a hurry. I’d love to see more pre-packaged lunch or breakfast combos, so I can just say “number two with beef on rye”, rather than itemize each feature one by one (I often don’t care and would rather have the food wizards in the back office decide on some recommendations). When the serving staff was new, I’d find myself in an awkward silence contest followed by “and then?” … so I just stick to the special now.

As I hope you will too.

The Record reported on the upcoming closure.  I had a chance to speak to some of the staff about it, and sure enough it’s due to complications arising from the situation that the Eaton Loft block is in.  The restaurant was supposed to move to the MCL building at the corner of King and Water (where Desire2Learn used to be before moving to the Tannery), but City Hall red tape and nit-picking discouraged everyone involved (or that was the gist of it).

Loudlunch would like to lend our vocal support to the restaurant and its ownership.  If you can, please continue to operate in the area.  I understand that the family also owns a Bolero at the Kitchener Market, but the atmosphere, lunchability, and operating hours there just aren’t the same.

Get in there while the getting’s good.

Pho Dau Bo is one of the most authentic Vietnamese cuisine in the KW region. It is located on King Street in Kitchener, directly opposite the Kitchener Market. Its decor is simple and clean, nothing too fancy. However, this restaurant has managed and continues to charm customers with the best Pho in the region.

Pho, is pronounced as “fer” rather than “fou”. It simply refers to a bowl of rice noodles in soup, served with bean sprouts and lime on the side. The key is definitely the broth. After being simmered for a  long time, the broth is extremely tasty and flavourful. With a cow’s head as the store logo, this place’s signature dish is of course its beef noodles. Pho Dau Bo has never failed to satisfy my cravings for a warm bowl of noodle soup.

My dining partner very bravely ordered the Extra Large Rare Beef Noodles.

A Basin of Noodles

Beware beware beware. To everyone who is tempted to challenge this huge basin of noodles, I would advice you to proceed at your own risk. Despite my ravings over how fabulous this dish is, I have yet to meet someone who is able to finish it (yes, my dining partner was unfortunately unable to). If it is your first visit, it might actually be a good idea to split this bowl with a friend and order a side dish.

Mango salad with pork and shrimp

Vietnamese appetizers are usually very refreshing and light. Other than the papaya or mango salad, the spring rolls are also a healthy alternative as they differ tremendously from the typical deep fried Chinese version. For those with a sweet tooth, Pho Dau Bo offers a wide variety of unique ice desserts. Do try out the various milkshakes – durian, avocado or papaya are great choices. I’d never leave that place without having one.

My sister went to Vietnam last summer and fell in love with the local pho. When she first tried the pho at Pho Dau Bo, she actually said it tastes exactly like what she had in Vietnam! Now that speaks a lot about the quality of food at this restaurant! Compared to other fancy Vietnamese fusion restaurants, this one offers the true authentic flavour of Vietnam.  No frills and great deals.

Get directions and other reviews on .

So what goes better with a pubby happy hour than a kebab?  Rana Taste of Turkish is a family-owned gem on that drag sports a very simple menu, delicious, fresh food, and genuine hospitality. There’s already a fairly faithful lunch crowd, especially amongst those who demand Halal.

The menu is decidedly simple – my favourite being the chicken plate with rice (rather than fries).  I opt out of the hot sauce, and usually ask for cucumbers and beg for pickled turnips.  Prices are totally reasonable (all options are under $10!).  One time I asked the nice lady if they could start stocking Five Alive, and sure enough, they had some next week.  Little things like that make my day, and create fans for life.  So this week my friend Phil and I visited Rana because we needed lunch in a snappy 15 minutes.   They’ve done some recent redecorating, and the change is very positive.

This picture sums up Phil’s opinion of the joint, and I’m going to have to agree with the general assessment of “Yep, pretty great.”

I love you thiiiis much.

I wish I had some of my regular snappy advice, but I don’t really have any to impart.   I’m not entirely sure of their hours, but I’m pretty sure they’re more family friendly than drunk-at-Dallas appropriate.  Could be a huge cash cow?

There are two, both somewhat secret.  Casa Salsa in the Kitchener market, and the constantly-name-changing Mexican place across the street from CIBC on King St. possibly called Taco Delight, probably.  I eat at both somewhat regularly, where regular meals top out around $11 with a soft drink – though the food court value of Casa Salsa can bring the price of a complete meal to around $8.

Casa Salsa

I met the proprietor of Casa Salsa at one of those downtown food events, and was sold on hiking down to the Kitchener Market for lunch.  The menu isn’t spectacularly large, but all of the basics are done exceptionally well.

First off, it’s in the Kitchener Market, so if you happen to change your mind you or your date can go for something Croatian, Caribbean, or organic.  The food court is frequently cited as a drawback, but I’ve learned to love the options. The side of tortilla chips are delicious, the tacos are delicate and wonderfully prepared. The person serving me knew what horchata was, and prepared the delicious beverage, that you must try.  The meal was inexpensive, well done, and outside of being in a food court, the experience was solid.

Comparing it to a super-authentic Mexican place like Mexi-Taco on Bloor @ Shaw in Toronto isn’t fair. For what Casa Salsa offers, it’s near the top of my personal Mexican restaurant list.   I wouldn’t want to see it grab a nice storefront, turn into Margaritas, and start charging for itty bitty guac (which I heard is delicious) to make Uptown rent.

Taco Delight/Delite/Bite

The first time I visited the Taco Delight, I think I just got lost in the sheer excitement of being in a seemingly authentic Mexican restaurant right downtown.  Hurray!

Tacos at Taco Delight

Though completely unlike Mexico, the portions are small, I can’t order beer, they didn’t know what Horchata, pico de gallo, or Jumex were. At that point I started to seriously doubt the Mexicanity of the joint, and mentally checked out.

Though I have to go back to Taco Delight soon, because the service seems to improve with every visit. The back patio is really convenient and never busy. All of the tacos that I tried were good, the corny soft shell tasting delightfully un-Canadian.  The food feels home prepared, and the family vibe of the staff gives me the warm-fuzzies. Bang for buck is a solid 7/10, and the patio is welcome in the summer. Really, as long as you don’t care what part of the Latin world your server is from, and love lettuce, this place makes a great lunchtime destination.  If I were to give them any advice, work on the branding and presentation, as the low quality of both is having a negative effect on how the food is perceived.

Not Mexican

I know that Medalla isn’t Mexican, but I miss the simplicity and light nature of both the food and drink in Puerto Rico. Is there a Boriqua joint around town?

How to be Puerto Rican: Don't order minty cocktails.

There is a poster hanging on the cork board at work, but no URL to share. Looks pretty sweet!

A Taste of Downtown at City Hall

The text goes like this:

A Taste of Downtown
Here’s your chance to discover downtown Kitchener restaurants – and sample some of their delicious menu options!

Monday March 29
11:30am – 1:30pm
The Rotunda, Kitchener City Hall
Free Admission

More than 20 restaurants attending.

Updates

Great event! Really well attended, so the local restaurateurs were obviously busy.  The Best-of-Show goes to Botanica, the Indian restaurant at the Delta Hotel.  Honorable mention goes to the generous coffee, desserts, and smiles from Coffee Culture.

Scene at City Hall

Help Me Help You! (by finding patio bars)

If anyone knows of any sweet, underrated patios between downtown Kitchener and uptown Waterloo, please share! I will update this list as I find awesome places.  They will be in my unscientific order of preference.

Kitchener Patios

• Bobby O’Briens – Large patio right dowtown, complete with beach volleyball court and a bar right there on the deck. Good lunch specials.
• One Eyed Jacks – Sketchy and cheap, convenient location, inexpensive deliciously greasy food.  Great for after-softball.  Opens for the summer season only.
• City Cafe Bakery – Small, quaint, and super busy on nice Saturday afternoons.

Waterloo Patios

• Ethel’s Lounge – Great patio with questionable service. Taco Tuesday is the best day ever, weekly. The long patio season and a diverse crowd make for a local success!
• Heuther Hotel – 2nd Floor – The serious local favourite.  (Thanks CJ)
• Symposium Cafe – Out the back of the cafe, which has great breakfast and fancy coffee.
• University Plaza – McGinnis Front Row, Mongolian Grill all have fun patios. (Thanks Dave)
• The Bombshelter – On campus but still a great patio (Thanks Dave)

This restaurant truly is a bright spot for Kitchener lunch. There is widespread recognition of that amongst people at the ol’ office, especially those who like “good” food.

Big Smiles

The first thing that I want to note is Elvis Ellison’s, the owner and chefs, welcoming and cheerful demeanor. This restaurant is one of the few places where you can talk to the chef about what you’re eating, how things are, and feel that you’re doing something appreciated by dining there.

Big smiles abound, especially amongst the guys coming in for the famous lunch-time take-out special. The lunch menu seems like a great value in general, but the take-out specials are worth exploring if you’re just passing by and only have a $5 bill.

From the lunch menu, I had the jerk chicken with some rose-hip tea. The chicken was a great bang-for-buck, but I sincerely regretted not starting with the pumpkin soup. Jeff let me try some of his; yeah, order it, it’s fantastic.

Jerk Chicken, No Soup for Me :(

Get Busier

The only thing I would like to see happen is for Ellison’s to get .. busier.  More people need to eat here, as the food is delicious and the restaurateur vibe is real.

Part of the solution is for the community to show up to eat at place like this.  But this restaurant needs to meet people half way.  I have a question about the take-out special: Why bother?  Every time I’ve gone in there to get the take-out special, the restaurant is quiet.  Let me just eat there, at that price.  I promise I’ll buy more (a drink, an appetizer, dessert etc.) if I sit down.  Hopefully sometime soon, when I’m looking for the best Caribbean food this side of Toronto.

Blak's in Windsor is the Champion of Ontario

Why Pastries? What are Pączki?

The idea is that Catholics used to give up things like lard and sugar for Lent, so they would splurge and make a whole ton of sweet things to eat for Tuesday thru Thursday.  The most popular of these desserts, at least in North America, are pączki.

If you’re wondering where there are Polish bakeries in Kitchener/Waterloo:

• Nougat Bakery on Queen, east of Highland. Just the best fancy deli/cafe in town.
• Mike’s Deli, Lawrence near Victoria and Belmont. Never been, but the butcher in me is curious.
• Glogowski Euro Food on Highland near Westmount.  It’s a very large grocery store that carries a lot of Eastern European bread, deli, pastry, dairy, etc.

If you’re in Guelph, there are several there as well:

• Klops Meat & Deli – 500 York Road, 519-837-8705
• Romex Deli & Meat – 11-130 Silvercreek Pkwy N., 519-836-0307

If there are any other sources for good paczki in town, on Mardi Gras or otherwise, feel free to comment!

The casualty of this down-home goodness is, alas, the presentation and general dining experience.   Finding a Carribean place that you would willingly take a new girlfriend to for Saturday lunch is … often challenging.  Rest assured, Rainbow Caribbean Cuisine suffers from all of these conditions, especially the dripping rich, homey food part.   We went for lunch this week, and lost one on the way because the place looks like an expensive cafeteria.  Once we finally ordered the “small lunch” for $9, seriously enjoyed the soup on a cold winter day, and barely finished our meals we knew we did the right thing.

Soup Goat Love

I’ve been complaining a lot about the poor restaurant feel in Kitchener lately. The lunchtime vibe downtown is pretty weak unless you’re willing to shell out $20 every time you leave the office (ie. go to Bolero). And seriously, Rainbow is one of the worst offenders. It feels like a high school cafeteria, especially since there’s a crowd of people lined up at lunch getting styrofoam to-go orders.

Yet the reality is that there is a line-up. Every lunch, a crowd of young people come in for the most filling, non-deep-friend lunch special on King St (just north of Frederick St.). For $9+ you get a soup or salad (get the soup), plantain, and your choice of meat.  The choices are standard Caribbean fare like curried goat and jerk chicken. My friends got the chicken, I got the goat, and either way you can’t go wrong. It’s coupled with rice, noodles, and tastes very home-made.

Small Lunch aka lies.

What else is there to say?  The “small lunch” describes this feast poorly.  Get some Irish Moss if you like Mexican horchata (or milky seaweed products).  This is my third time here for lunch and I’ll be going back whenever I have a cold and feel the need for comfort food.  The soup alone constitutes a small meal.

Downtown Kitchener is actually blessed with two top-notch Caribbean joints, Rainbow and Ellison’s Bistro.  Ellison’s I’m a fan of (as are many people), and will write about a little later.  In the mean time, feel free to stop by Rainbow and congratulate them on how little their decor changed given that their storefront was torn down and replaced a few months ago.  And enjoy.