Seafood in the summer, right around the corner from home? Count me in. The Ossington/Queen West area is oozing with restaurants, most of which are collectively oozing with no-reservation policies, yet thankfully, many are in the worth-the-wait category, with food that will leave you satisfied, and drinks that will leave you tipsy. Read on for an honest review of two new seafood joints in the West part of town…
Rock Lobster
Rock Lobster is a new addition to the Ossington strip, adding a fresh and equally hip seafood blend to the pizza-burger-cocktail-beer-and-dance-heavy street. With a second location just opened on Queen West as well, it hasn’t taken long for this newcomer to gain popularity. Offering an inspired and often quirky take on all things lobster, the menu is quite varied and reasonably priced, a great place for lobster lovers to indulge, without the market price tag of a full critter (although that is of course an option).
For those who love a good Ceasar, you’ll surely enjoy the “Rock Lobster Ceasar”, which comes complete with your usual Ceasar fixins’ along with a Nova Scotia lobster tail!
The lobster-infused options range from poutine to mac ‘n cheese, and your classic roll. Other options include Surf & Turf Steak Tartare, Jerk Crab & Shrimp, and seafood towers for the ultimate enthusiast.Vegetarian options are limited to a beet salad with carrots and radish, or a Ceasar salad (no real surprise there).
The lobster and shrimp ceviche was fresh and light, a good option for a shared appetizer at $12. The lobster roll was done as expected, with the usual bun and lobster mash. The mac ‘n cheese was a group favourite, quite a big portion for one, but doable given the deliciousness factor. We finished the meal with a Whale Tail (the sea’s version of a Beaver Tail in name only), which was a nice treat but not necessarily as good as the classic Beaver Tail us Canadians have come to love.
Lobster & Shrimp Ceviche Bowl ($13) Nova Scotia Lobster, Shrimp, fresh orange juice, shallots, fresh lemon and lime juice, Boston bib lettuce wrap, crostini
Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese ($14) Fresh Lobster, Aged Canadian Cheddar, Panko Crust
Lobster Roll ($14) Nova Scotia Lobster, Yukon Chips, McClure’s Pickle, Top-Loader Bun
Whale Tail ($7) Creme Anglaise, Cinnamon Sugar, Maple Sugar
All in all, Rock Lobster is a great place to bring friends for a laid-back seafood experience, it’s a vibrant scene and the food is quite pleasant. Reservations are not accepted, but they will text your cell phone once your table is ready, allowing you to grab a drink elsewhere while you wait. I can’t say it blew me away, but it’s nice to see some casual seafood joints spring up, when the norm is often fancy when you’re looking for the real deal (perhaps we know why!)
Cool City Oyster Yard
When Cool City Oyster Yard opened at 99 Sudbury just a few weeks ago, it was exciting to know that Oyster Boy had a little competition in the neighborhood. I was also intrigued by the location’s outdoor-only seating, an ideal environment for oyster slurping and cocktail sipping. While I was under the impression this was a pop-up restaurant, I soon learned that this is a permanent location for Cool City, where in the winter months, service will move inside.
The oysters were, as expected, fresh and tasty, and the three mignonettes offered a variety of choice for toppings. The guacamole, which was on special that day, was delicious, but the serving was small for the number of chips provided – what a tease! The beet and carrot salad was divine, with hints of caramelized ginger that made the dish a little more unique. The Spring Flirt cocktail was my favourite part of the experience – Gin, Apple Juice, Cucumber, Mint, Lemon Syrup – I could have sipped them all night if what I’m about to type weren’t the reality….
The service. was. a. mess. It’s unfortunate to call them out when we all had such high hopes for a little oyster escape at 99 Sudbury, but it’s the sad, sad truth. Verified by other sources, too. It was evident that tables had not been assigned and the computer system was dysfunctional, as we were repeatedly asked what we had ordered, and my dinnermate’s beer – served in a BOTTLE – came 20 minutes after a reminder and an apology for the delay (did the opener go missing?) Even more sad is that the place is quite small, so under staffing was not at play here, more so a myriad of disorganization.
If you’re looking for a new place for oysters in Toronto, I wouldn’t rule out Cool City, as the kinks of a new place can hopefully be ironed out in weeks to come. While serving sizes are quite conservative, prices aren’t too inflated, so ordering a variety of options may be the best call if you’re seeking a full tummy (who isn’t?)
Cool City Oyster Yard accepts reservations. Be sure to check their hours as they change quite often.
Beets ‘n Carrots ($12) Roast Beets, Carrots, Cherries, Caramelized Ginger, Crushed Pink Peppercorn, Tarragon
Guac + Chips ($8)
Spring Flirt Cocktail ($9) Gin, Apple Juice, Cucumber, Mint, Lemon Syrup
Any personal stories/reviews to share on these new restaurants?
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