Weekend Eateries

Along with the home cookin', I managed to make it out to two restaurants this weekend. Since I want this blog to be more than just my own kitchen adventures, I'm going to provide quick reviews of the restaurants I eat at - perhaps they'll come in handy for one of you (since the proliferation of eateries in Toronto can be bewildering).

Restaurants are rated on a grade scale, from A+ to F-.

Poor John's (A+)
1610 Queen St. W., 647-435-2688
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat. 9-5, Open Sun. for brunch from 10-3

My new favourite brunch spot, the best time to hit up Poor John's is on Sunday, when they roll out a Very Special brunch menu that features what is quite possibly the best french toast in the history of the Earth. Three thick slabs of Portugese bread are drizzled with real maple syrup and topped with a generous dollop of whipped cream (also real) and a scattering of fresh berries - decadent and certainly addictive (around $8.95 and worth every penny). The special menu also boasts a variation on the 'two eggs any style' breakfast, roasting the home fries with more of that maple syrup for an unexpected flavour experience. The normal brunch menu is slightly more typical, the 'two eggs any style' ($6.75) the responsible big brother of the flamboyant Sunday option, the potatoes instead packing a subtle chili heat. Yogurt and granola loaded with fresh fruit and a filling omlette round out the selections, and a cup of chamomile-mint tea or the feature fair trade coffee provides the perfect pick-me-up drink to go with the delicious food.

For those of you who like to sleep in far past the 3 p.m. brunch cutoff, Poor John's also offers lovely sandwiches with fillings like avocado and curried tuna. The quirky atmosphere, where vintage formica tables, couches and exposed-brick walls come together with a lone chandelier, encourages meandering conversation and the staff shows off great serving chops, making the Poor John's experience enjoyable throughout.

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Swan (A)
892 Queen St. W, 416-532-0452
Hours: Open for lunch Mon-Fri 12-4, dinner Sun-Wed 5-10:30 & Thurs-Sat 5-11, brunch Sat & Sun 10-4

Swan's unassuming decor (more formica tables and exposed pipes on the ceiling) belies the artistry of its food, though a diner arriving later on in the evening might be tipped off by the crowds of trendy young folk filling the brown leather booths. My starter, a thick black bean and roasted corn soup, was brimming with flavour and slow chili heat that left me reaching for the bread basket by the end of the bowl. The soup was followed by a beautifully presented spinach salad, leaves bundled together by a strip of crisp cucumber, surrounded by a handful of pumpkin seeds and raisins and a swirl of vinagrette. My fellow diners enjoyed more typical mains, one of which (a pork chop) came with a sweet potato puree that had the most stunning silky texture and melted on your tongue, as well as a flavourful chunk of corn bread. We indulged in dessert as well, a maple syrup creme brulee that had a perfectly crunchy upper layer. I'm certainly planning to return, as there were a few other menu items that appeared quite tantalizing.