Saffron's - Tasteless & Overpriced

Celebrating Canada's Day with friends is always a great marker of a good summer. Having to work on the wards on Canada Day this year, I met up with a bunch of fellow residents for dinner and drinks on the patio. The location of choice, Saffron's Restaurant in the heart of Corydon Avenue.

Saffron's is located on busy Corydon Avenue with plenty of foot and car traffic. Curiously the main building is tucked away behind the main attraction, the large sprawling patio that almost obtrusively pushes itself onto the walking paths. One cannot miss the joy and laughter of party revelers milling about on the patio, nor of the delightful smells wafting in the air. Thankfully the service staff was attentive during busy Canada's Day.

The menu is decidedly pedestrian, choosing to focus on pub grub favourites. The usual sandwiches, "gourmet" thin crust pizzas and boring pastas adorn the mains. Thankfully the appetizers take on a much more appealing form including lettuce wraps, steamed mussels or Mediterranean sliders. A decidedly Mediterranean feel is evident with the inclusion of Chicken Souvlaki and a gyro or chicken pita. Nevertheless there is nothing here that warrants a second look as everything on the menu is ordinary.

These Lettuce Wraps were a huge disappointment. Featuring a tasteless and bland mixture of chicken, noodles and vegetables all covered in a thick hoisin based sauce wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves that were too large and cumbersome to use; this entire dish failed to deliver on a supposed Asian inspiration. In fact, the massive leaves of lettuce completely overwhelmed the overcooked chicken and soggy chow mein noodles. A disgrace at any price, not withstanding the outrageous $16 charge associated with this dish.

The Chicken Souvlaki equally disappointing. At least here the chicken was tender and cooked well enough to be edible. In truth though, it was missing any semblance of the supposed oregano and garlic marinade but instead tasted all of drizzled lemon juice. The accompanying salad boring and pedestrian; and the swapped side of Yam Fries ordinary and under-seasoned.

There is nothing worthwhile to eat at the extremely overpriced and tasteless Saffron's. It reeks of a decidedly ordinary restaurant whose sole claim to fame is a busy and bustling patio; and while it might succeed in drawing customers in once, it gives them no reason to return again.

Falafel Place - Fun Tasty Middle Eastern

With my new rotation I have found a sudden wealth of free time during the daytime when I previously had spent it in the hospital. Coincidentally co-ensiding with the onset of spring means more reasons to dine out and continue with my tour of the Winnipeg eateries. One of those I had always meant to try was Falafel Place. Initially introduced by a medical student I was working with, I was told of their legendary breakfast and brunch options centering on ... what else ... their falafels. Heralded in the community, a quick peak at Urbanspoon also revealed mostly positive reviews and delectable pictures from previous diners. Well that's certainly enough for me! So on a wonderful post-call day I grabbed a fellow resident for a quick bite at Falafel Place.

Fun, zany and eclectic are only the beginning of the definitions for Falafel Place. Located on the corner of Corydon and Wilton Avenue, this busy restaurant is a beautiful marriage of hipster culture with excellent food. My initial impression was that of the cacophony of noise that greeted me from the filled-to-the-brim restaurant. The service staff beckons you forward to a empty table with a quick nod and a large smile; another quickly brings you a menu and off you go.

The menu is mostly Western Brunch and Breakfast diner options. Patrons have the option between a number of meats including Salami, Montreal Smoked Beef and Corned Beef and can combine them with any combination of eggs, omelets, toast or pancakes. A deeper perusal, however, reveals their Middle Eastern origins with Falafel taking up a significant portion of their vegetarian and vegan options. Standard fare like Tabouli and Bubba Ghanoush also take prominence in their menu. Definitely something there for everybody, but for a place called Falafel Place, we had to go with their falafel and Middle Eastern fare.

The Shwarma Platter was a huge mixture of tender grill top warmed shwarma (lamb) served on a bed of couscous and a salad on the side. While the initial presentation is lacking, the food more than makes up for it with tender, juicy and moist lamb that went well with the accompanied tart garlic sauce. Finishing the lamb on the grill top gave it a nice crispy charred exterior. The accompanied couscous and salad were nothing special and as you would expect.

Of course we had go go with the Falafel Breakfast. Here, eight large balls of the fried chickpea are accompanied with two eggs (done any way you like) and a bounty of hash browns. Enveloping the beautiful balls of fried falafel are a healthy portion of tahini and hummus. Words cannot describe how deliciously tender the falafel was with its crisp exterior but extremely tender and moist interior. But truly it was the interplay between the soft undertones of the falafel with the sharp tahini and smooth hummus that made this dish work. The eggs and hash browns are there merely as breakfast add-ons but in truth does little to add to the dish.

Falafel Place is a fun and zany restaurant that should appeal to anyone in the mood for breakfast, especially those in the area. Their falafels wonderfully crisp and tasty, the shwarma tender and moist, they have successful married Middle Eastern flavours and recipes into traditional Western breakfast and brunch food, despite their lazy presentation of the food. An instant recommendation.

Nikos - Tasty Greek

I am not well versed in Greek cuisine. My knowledge prior to residency consisted of Greek salad, Souvlaki, Pitas and Tzatziki and little of the intricacies of Mediterranean food nor the contexts in which they became so popular. However with such a vibrant Greek population in Winnipeg and so many working in pediatrics, I have had the honour and pleasure to see Mediterranean art, taste its food and explore its culture. With that, I knew I had to frequent the typical Greek restaurants in town, starting with Nikos.

Nikos is a well known popular Greek joint on Corydon Avenue. Consistently ranked as one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the city, Nikos was also a staple amongst the pediatric residents (Greek and non-Greek alike). The bright blue signage and modern white lettering make an attractive entrance and beckons one forward to its Greek delights.

The menu is extensive and features a litany of items ranging from their signature submarines sandwiches to large breakfast items to full on dinner options. Reading about the restaurant and perusing through the menu you get a sense of authenticity in their food; in fact, according to their website, Nikos has been family owned over the last 22 (!) years.

A majority of Urbanspoon patrons seem to swear by the Avgolemono Soup, a chicken and lemon based broth soup filled with chicken breast and rice. The initial spoonful provided an overwhelming tart lemon-y flavour, almost rendering any other flavours null. However, after a few more bites my tastebuds adapted to the tartness and began to appreciate the hint of salt, a playful amount of sugar and the creaminess of the rice. In fact, by the end I was unashamedly shoveling the addictive soup down.

Wanting to try a variety of things I ordered the Roast Lemon Chicken Dinner. It started off with a "Authentic" Greek Salad which was, in fact, the North American version featuring lettuce, cucumbers, a wedge of tomato, onions and feta in a olive oil vinaigrette. I was rather disappointed by the authenticity of the salad but had no qualms with the taste and portion size.
 

The dinner includes Roast Lemon Chicken, Roast Lemon Potatoes and Pita Bread. Nikos here does not skimp on the protein and delivers three large pieces of tender roast chicken. The chicken had a nice lemon-y aroma and a hint of rosemary and sage on the semi-crisp outside while juicy and tender on the inside. Although tasty I did find the tartness of the lemon a little overpowering, especially after the initial overload of lemon flavour in the soup.

The potatoes here were excellent with a beautiful flaky tenderness and a sharp rosemary aroma. Again the major flavour here was of lemon, but I did not mind it here as the creamy dull potatoes needed a strong counteracting taste. The pitas were as you would expect, warm and toasty.

Overall Niko's offers solid Greek cuisine and is easily one of my recommended restaurants for anyone looking for Mediterranean cuisine. I feel they went overboard with the liberal use of lemon and would have appreciated a more balanced attack of Greek flavours, but they nevertheless offer tasty, large portions at reasonable prices.

Ramen Aji Kura - Ordinary Ramen

There are lots to enjoy about winter, especially in Winnipeg. Living in Canada, one has to brave the forces of nature and endure the long and, usually, cold winters no matter where you are. Winnipeg winters are a new kind of cold, a macabre bone chilling sensation that would send the most strong-willed of hearts home. The citizens have adapted finely though, with thick warm parkas, balmy conditioned interiors and, most importantly of all, warm winter food solutions. Such was Ramen Aji Kura. I had noticed it during my many trips down Corydon Avenue and always made a mental note to try it, specifically on a cold wintry day. The perfect opportunity arrived when, after finishing my mountain of paperwork, I made the trip to Corydon for some ramen.

Ramen Aji Kura is on Corydon Avenue closer to the Eastern gates. It is a brightly lit, attractive structure akin to old school Japanese noodle houses. The huge sign in front beckons you forward as you approach the neon signage on top of the actual building. The interior are functional and modestly decorated and tread a nice balance between gawdy and classy. The lone waitstaff at the front of house welcomes everyone enthusiastically with a huge smile and promises of delightful food.

The menu is rather sparse. Harking to their namesake, Aji Kura focuses on their ramen and offers a good range from the typical tonkotsu pork broth to the shoyu (soy) and miso ramen. On top of their noodle offerings, Aji Kura features a number of meal sets centering around a decent variety of rice bowls. A functional menu and one geared towards what they do well.

Tonkotsu Ramen is the standard upon which all ramen restaurants should be judged upon. The base is a creamy pork broth and should be filled with tender crunchy ramen noodles, pork and vegetables. Unfortunately the broth here is lacking and missing a richness and depth in flavour one would expect, rather it tastes thin and dull with a hint of MSG. The noodles were nice and crunchy and one cannot fault them for the good array of toppings.

Oyako-Don meal set is Aji Kura's take on a traditional Japanese rice bowl featuring simmered chicken and egg on top of sushi rice. The dish was handsomely decorated and presented with the feature in the middle surrounded by few sides.

The Oyako-Don itself was nicely presented and had a wonderful aroma that wafted throughout the restaurant. The key ingredient is the egg which envelops the chicken and adds a luxurious smooth component to the dish. The chicken itself was simply ordinary with a slight crisp crunch to the outside with a tender interior while fried onions add much needed sweetness and a textural balance to the dish. Overall tasty but the ratio of rice to topping was overwhelmingly rice.

Miso Soup was delivered with the main dish. Nothing too exciting and tasting as you would expect with a strong miso flavour and filled with silken tofu and seaweed.

Chawanmushi was the other side given with the meal set. Nicely presented in a teacup, the egg custard had a nice smoothness to it, but overall lacked any flavour. I would have appreciated a salty or savoury component to the custard to counteract the dull flavour profile of the egg custard.

Ramen Aji Kura was simply ordinary. From the decor to the food there was nothing exciting about the restaurant. Certainly not the worst in the city but there are better alternative ramen places in the city. Nevertheless, if one is found stuck on Corydon with a craving for ramen, its relatively inexpensive decent cuisine are an attractive option.

A Bear-y Special Visit: Bonfire Bistro

After spending the entire day outside at Festival du Voyageur, we felt the need to warm our hearts with a proper supper. The Bonfire Bistro, offering Sicilian style wood-fired pizzas, has consistently been one of the highly rated restaurants on Urbanspoon. In fact there is a pediatric co-resident who swears by one of their delicious pizzas. Thus it was a no-brainer while perusing for restaurants and we quickly packed our things to go the Bonfire Bistro.

Aptly placed on Corydon Avenue, Bonfire Bistro is a modest establishment on the outside. We initially had some problems finding the place, as the green and yellow sign did not stand out in the night sky. In fact I felt the signage and exterior of the restaurant could use some updating, featuring a tacky combination of neon and billboard signage.

It is a completely different story when you arrive inside. Handsomely decorated, the restaurant is a vast space with bright lighting, smart oak tables and comfortable seating. You cannot help but marvel at the wood fired oven, the centerpiece of the restaurant, nor at the chalk written boards showcasing the specials of the day.

In need to fulfill our vegetable intake of the day, we started with a Caprese Salad for the three of us. Handsomely presented, the salad combines arugula, tomatoes, red onion and bocconcini cheese all served in a nice balsamic reduction. We enjoyed the interplay of the smooth cheese and the beefy tomatoes with the slightly sweet and sour balsamic dressing. Not over dressed, Bonfire Bistro does well to showcase each ingredient in the salad.

A special of the day was the Hot & Sour Soup. Served with Prawn and Fish dumplings, this was well needed after spending the entire day in the cold. The broth was a highlight here: rustic, aromatic and full of fish and shrimp flavour. Add on top of that deliciously firm and tender "dumplings" (they were more like fish balls) and finished with a host of vegetables, this dish was excellent. Only area of criticism was the sharp sliced radish which was a unnecessary contrast to the smooth flavours in the rest of the dish.

Wild Mushroom & Maple Bacon Pizza, a simple sounding pizza with fantastic results. A trifecta of mushrooms (porcini, portobello and oyster) are paired with maple bacon and finished with blue cheese. I loved the interplay of the flavours here: the fatty bacon, the meaty mushrooms and a hint of roasted garlic in the sauce.. I applaud Bonfire for using blue cheese here as it was strong and aromatic enough to maintain its flavour beside the bacon and mushrooms.

One of our group ordered the pizza special of the night, Smoked Arctic Char Pizza. I initially had some concern that the char might be lost here, but Bonfire does well to showcase the smoked fish by pairing it with lighter ingredients: arugula, mozzarella and goat cheese. I appreciated the shaved pickled beets on top which added a bright, crisp, sour and sweet component to the dish. Overall well done!

Look at this gorgeous Gnocchi with Braised Boneless Beef Short Rib. Wonderfully presented, the tender gnocchi is flooded by a demi glace cream sauce with wild mushrooms, peas and red onion. The star was the perfectly tender short rib, a modest portion too, which added a rich proteinatous component to the dish. Only gripe was the runny-ness of the sauce which did not envelop and soak into the gnocchi as much as we had hoped.

To finish off we had the Apple & Pear Crumble with Ice Cream. A nice finisher with tender and soft fruit paired with a crumble and topped with ice cream. A great way to end a delicious meal, I especially enjoyed the lightness of the ice cream with the tender fruit.

Bonfire Bistro was dynamite. Featuring Sicilian style pizzas, incredible mains and great specials, it runs highly on my list of go-to places in Winnipeg. While pricey, this certainly is not somewhere one can frequent too regularly, but it does offer fantastic food and great service for those looking for an excuse for upscale Italian fare.

The Grove, Cut Above the Rest

Another venue for our CaRMS suppers was The Grove. A local favourite and well renowned for their pub style food, I entered with some trepidation. I had just been disappointed by the Cornerstone and knew that the Grove was a sister restaurant with some ties to them. However being related does not render the same judgement on all and thus I entered with as much an open mind as possible.

The Grove is a large establishment on the corner of Stafford and Corydon Avenue. I am told this used to be two restaurants, a bar and a restaurant which amalgamated to become the current rendition. I was impressed with the decor and the attentive wait staff. Furthermore it possessed a vibrancy and energy from the packed crowd. I was excited.

The Grove features a stable menu of standard pub fare. Furthermore they offer daily specials which range from an appetizer, main and dessert. Rounding off the menu are local beers and cocktails, should you be in the mood for some alcohol hydration.

As we were ordering for a group we started off with a number of appetizers. The Cheese Platter featured Blue Cheese, Brie and Chevre and was served with crackers, crostinis and fruit. The addition of fruit here was a nice balance to the creamy cheeses.

Their special was the Chicken Wing Platter. Deep fried wings with a homemade honey garlic sauce served with vegetables and a blue cheese dip. The wings themselves were as you would expect, but went well with the creaminess of the cheese dip. Overall solid!

Billed simply as Fancy Fries, this was a monster serving of poutine. I enjoyed the thick cut fries which were topped with nice squeaky cheese and finished with a beef based gravy. Overall this was a good dish but altogether ordinary.

Wanting to try something new we ordered the Chevre & Pequillo Pepper Croquettes. These croquettes were panko crusted, deep fried and served with a roasted pepper dip. This was a nice inventive take on cheese balls. The chevre added a creaminess that was cut by the spiciness of the pequillo pepper. Well done!

To add some heartiness to the meal we went with The Duffy pizza. A nice offering with crusty dough topped with mozzarella, hoison, spicy chicken, tomato, avocado and sriracha. I enjoyed the interplay between the salty Hoison sauce with the creamy avocado and smooth mozzarella. I would never have imagined them working together but somehow The Grove has managed it. On the other hand, the Sriracha sauce feels tacked on and unnecessary in an already flavourful dish.

Wanting to order a main I went with The Stafford Burger. This came highly recommended by many people, and it did not disappoint! A fresh fatty with the usual fixings, avocado, blue cheese and bacon jam. The interplay between the fresh avocado, sharp blue cheese and fatty bacon jam with the crisp vegetables make this dish work. The patty itself was well done and cooked perfectly, but it was the toppings and fixings that took it to another level. I still can taste that bacon jam!

Despite being sister pubs, The Grove does a much better job than The Cornerstone in food delivery and creativity. I enjoyed the interplay of multiple flavour profiles and welcomed the creativity displayed in their dishes. Ultimately the Grove does a fine job on delivering modern pub fare with a twist and is worth the visit, if not just to try the bacon jam!

Tuesday Thai, Sabai

During one of my first trips down Corydon Street, I took notice to Sabai Thai Eatery. It was a unassuming looking building with a big simple sign that spoke of bold flavours and promises of delight. So after a delightfully long day at the hospital, I made the quick trek over to Corydon.

Sabai specializes in Thai cuisine. I will be comparing this to the, in my opinion, current king in Bangkok Thai. The menu offerings are a little more sparse; the prices similar. The ambiance and decor were high marks for Sabai. With a distinctly modern look, its mostly hipster clientele this evening further accentuate the chic vibe I was getting from this restaurant.

The hallmark of any good thai restaurant is their (Khao San) Pad Thai Chicken. The version here was presented artistically with the delicious noodles topped with a crown of bean sprouts.

Special mention must be made to the ground thai chilis in the foreground. I am told they are authentic from Thailand and forewarned of their spicy kick. Indeed it added a new dimension which worked well with the noodles.

Feeling a adventurous side today, I went with a Three Mushroom Panang Curry Beef as well. The most striking part of this dish was the contrast of the tender beef and the soft smooth mushroom. Overall a well done dish but lacked the punch that the Pad Thai gave.

Overall, Sabai Thai was good. My main complaint lies in the value department. While Sabai uses good flavours and presents their dishes well, I cannot help but wonder if they consciously diminished serving sizes. In a city with a laundry list of Thai establishments, it is difficult for me to recommend a restaurant with this practice.