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Review
Update - April 14, 2007
Seasons change, chefs change and Canoe's
kept up reasonably well. Still a lot better under Truffles
management than it ever was before, there is still a bit of slip and slide. The new menu is a bit of a snoozer, but has a few good
core dishes - don't worry, the Cobb salad remains (the best in town I
think).
Patty and I were in the mood for burgers, so
off we went. I had a veggie burger with a Caesar salad and he had a
beef burger and fries. I was happy the server didn't lie, when asked
if the 'house' veggie burger was really 'house' made. She answered,
no it wasn't, but also that it wasn't factory made - the answer I was
looking for. The burger itself was decent, if a little heavily curry
flavoured and in need of a condiment for moisture. The Caesar salad
was made with good quality lettuce and decent parm, but wasn't
tossed - looked good, but was less satisfying to eat. Patty's beef
burger was cooked medium. If it was intentional, it was a nice
change, but considering how many people balk at undercooked burgers,
it's hard to imagine it was by design.
Having declared the food to have passed muster, we must note
the decay of the physical surroundings. Things are starting to need
a clean-up, finishes are starting to scuff and the paint needs touch
ups. As for the crowning glory of upkeep - they still haven't managed to
get the toilets in the bar area in working order. I don't think I've
ever visited Canoe to find those toilets and the cool two-sided
sink working properly. Often times they're out of service
completely. Is there a gremlin at work here? Are the managers of
Canoe battling the underworld in their mission to provide running
water for patrons?
All in all Canoe stands up to the litmus test
for pubs. There is a slide, but for now it seems fairly limited.
Value of food 74/100
Quality of food 75/100
Service 74/100
Ambiance 73/100
Average 75/100
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What a turnaround!
I used to really dislike the Canoe Club, the former incarnation of
Canoe - the food was processed and the service consistently some of the
worst I've ever experienced. I had been very reluctant to return.
However, under the management of the Truffles Group, Canoe has
transformed itself into one of the better downtown pubs for food and
beer. While not the most charming pub downtown, the architecture is cool
and sophisticated and the atmosphere relaxed in a yuppie kinda way.
While we all know how much I might hate the use of the term gastro pub,
Canoe is closer than anywhere else in town with regard to defining
itself that way. That said, I really appreciate them not trying to use
this term to describe themselves.
After a day of Christmas shopping, we like many, needed alcohol to
recuperate. Since we were in Chinatown, Canoe was the obvious choice. We
were attended to quickly and given the option to sit in the bar or
restaurant. While we would always choose the bar, the restaurant is nice
option for people with kids.
For a Sunday afternoon, we were astounded by the number of service
staff on the floor. Probably more than they needed, but the service was
strong. A brewpub, their beer list includes four signature beers and one
or two seasonal specialities. Patty, our Little Piggy beer aficionado,
is a fan of the Beaver Brown Ale, but also enjoyed a pint of the
seasonal winter ale. He noted, winter ales are all the rage at the
moment and to be careful how much you drink of them, because they tend
to pack a alcoholic whollop. I had a glass of the Mt Bourcherie
Gewürztraminer and the Rosemount Shiraz. Both nice glasses of wine and
part of an above average wine list for a pub. However, I'm always
disappointed that so little of the wine list is available by the glass.
Patty had the Chili Prawn Pizza ($15). A nice thin crust pizza,
albeit fortified with a lot fat. The fat, of course, makes it delicious,
but could be little deceiving if you were calorie conscious. The flavour
of the pizza was good, though not especially spicy. The prawns were
healthy and plump and the bacon was a nice touch.
I had the Mezze Platter ($13.5). Likely one of the best values on the
menu and ideal for sharing. The presentation was awesome and I was
delighted with the hearty serving of marinated olives (my fave.) The
hummus was lovely and creamy, although we were slightly less impressed
with the sun dried tomato dip. The beet terrine, was interesting and
brightened up the presentation of the dish. The risotto balls, were
similarly an unusual choice, but worked because this dish benefited from
a warm selection. A little much for one person, we thought they might be
better offering a smaller portion at a lower a price for one, and
slightly larger portion at higher price for two.
We're delighted with the turnaround this location has made, since you
can never have too many good pubs in our opinion.
Value of Food: 72/100
Quality of Food: 81/10
Service: 86/100
Ambiance: 75/100 (a little
too trendy for our taste, but a beautiful space nonetheless)
Wine and beer list: 88/100
Reviewed:
December 18, 2005 |
