acho que não

So last night was the chowhound dinner at the Tapas bar in Chiado. There were four of us there, Kathleen, Diane, Randy and I.

My first impression of the tapas bar was less than stunning, in that it's not immediately apparent from outside how to get in. It turns out that you have to go through Chiado to get to Senhor Antonio, but it would be nice if that were clearer when you're standing on the street.

We ordered 8 tapas plus bread and olives for the four of us. There was a salt cod salad (interesting, and not at all what I expected), grilled sardines (very good), grilled tiger shrimp with piri-piri (the piri-piri was something exceptional, tangy and smokey and just plain great), a bean and rapini casserole ( decent, but at little red pepper oriented for my tastes, doesn't make it bad, just not my preference), mushroom risotto (excellent, and a healthy portion size for a tapas), grilled chourizo and blood sausage (this was a revelation, I hate blood sausage, but thought this was fabulous), tomato and cheese salad (light and refreshing) and grouper carpaccio (light and flavourful).

For dessert we tried a vanilla pudding (which was very much like a creme caramel) and a squash flan. The squash flan was an exceptionally interesting dish. It had a texture almost like a potato rosti and a delicate sweet taste. It was forky when you tried to cut it, but didn't seem particularly heavy when you ate it. An excellent dish.

It was a fun evening, and I look forward to the next chow gathering.

Restaurant Info:

Chiado Restaurant
864 College
Toronto, ON M6H1A3
Phone: (416) 538-1910
Hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5pm-11pm; Sun 5pm-10pm

Related Links:
Chowhound's Toronto / Ontario board
Chowhound Post
Get invited to Toronto Chowhound Dinners - email the organisor
Chiado and Senhor Antonio's

Ultimately, this is what we opted for.

The service was excellent. We were given a choice of tables and chose one in the front window with a view of the street. The waitstaff was pleasant and attentive without being annoying or overbearing. Recommendations were given cheerfully and specifically. Slight irritation when two different people tried to clear away a plate we weren't finished with within minutes of each other, but that was a very minor quibble.

We started with the anti-pasto platter for two which was an interesting and enjoyable mix of things. It would have been nice if there was some indication what the spoonful of sauce was meant to go with, we eventually ate it with the quail. The salad greens were dressed with a light, sweet dressing that was absolutely heavenly.

We both ordered our main plates off the specials menu. I had a butternut squash ravioli, while my dining companion chose the grilled vegetables with cheese and rice balls and salad greens. The cheese and rice balls (she shared) were really amazing. The textures were just lovely and the flavour quite nice. Unfortunately, she said the salad greens were not given the same wonderful dressing as in the appetizer plate. Rather, she barely ate them because the dressing was so puckery and acidic. The ravioli had a nice subtle, nutty flavour and sauce was incredibly flavourful and a bit spicy. Unfortunately, for the dish as a whole, the flavourful, spicy tomato sauce completely overwhelmed the suble flavours of the pasta. The sauce would have carried a dish all on its own with just a plain pasta, while the ravioli would have been far better served with a simpler sauce - a light cream sauce, or maybe butter / white wine.

Though the choices were pretty run of the mill, dessert was quite good. We ordered a chocolate mousse and a creme brulee. I found the creme brulee had been overtorched, but the creme part of it was nicely done. The chocolate mousse was really excellent. It was topped with bits of crunchy hazelnut and chocolate and a thin layer of ganache. My dining companion, on the other hand, much preferred the creme brulee, so I think we can call dessert a toss-up.

The wine list was extensive and offered a significant range of prices from $30-$150. I can't say much really about the variety of wines, since I know little about wine. There were a half dozen by the glass choices. We ordered a half bottle of something or other Shiraz that was good.

Restaurant Info:
Superior Restaurant
253 Yonge St. Toronto, ON M5B 1N8
Phone: (416) 214-0416
Fax:(416) 214-9785
Hours: Mon 11:30am-9pm, Tue-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun closed

Related Links:
Chowhound's Toronto / Ontario board
Original Chowhound Post
Superior Restaurant

A sad story of self-interest and political naivete. A Washington Post feature about a small group of Chinese students and the government reaction to their political discussion group.