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All About Toronto:
Places to eat...
Flow Restaurant (133 Yorkville Avenue)
YOU WANTED TO KNOW
Summerlicious has come and gone in the T. Dot, but I was lucky enough to get a sample of the menu at one of the finest restaurants in Yorkville (psst…it's a very posh section of Toronto).
A few friends and I (and my sis) went for dinner at Flow Restaurant about a week ago. I had never heard about the restaurant before they told me about our impending reservation, but I was more than willing to try something new.
The restaurant itself is quite unassuming. It's not that chi-chi on the exterior, but once you enter, you are given a feast for your eyes. The spacious layout, the streamlined decor, it is a minimalist's dream. Hence, I was very happy! Conversely, the splash of blue, gray and brown tones on the wall gave the restaurant a funky feel.
If you are afraid of the dark, then this is not the eatery for you. It is kinda dark, which is a perfect setting for lovebirds. (Don't worry: single people are welcome there, too.) The lightning consists of flickering flames of countless votive candles strategically placed on each table. My friends and I didn't seem to mind the lack of light. We were more interested in checking out the food.
We started off our dining experience with drinks. I had a sour apple martini, my sister had the Ocho Rios drink (this is the strongest drink that I've ever tasted! I wish I had ordered it!!! I swear they used a whole bottom of rum to make it), and my friends had a fruity martini drink.
After we sipped our cocktails for while, we moved onto the appetizer. We all ordered the peppered chili shrimp dish. Mmm, mmm. This was good! Three heavily seasoned plump shrimp sat on a bed of lettuce, which was lightly doused with vinaigrette. This tasted so good, I actually contemplated going to the kitchen and getting some more.
After 20 minutes, we were still smiling from the shrimp dish. We just sat there in a daze, quietly anticipating our entrees' arrival. We thought that if the appetizer was so delicious; the entrée would undoubtedly be tantalizing. I was looking forward to the red snapper with Jasmine rice, bok choy and fennel salad that I ordered.
When my meal hit the table I felt as though my eyes were playing tricks on me. Either that, or they gave me a meal from the kid's menu. The portion was a lot smaller than I expected, so I tried to eat very slowly so that I could savour every morsel.
The red snapper tasted okay. The ginger gave it a nice flavour, but it needed a little more kick to it. The bok choy and the rice tasted good.
By the time that I put the last forkful of food in my mouth, I was still a little hungry. I wasn't too concerned with the rumble in my tummy because I knew that dessert was coming up soon.
Ah yes! Dessert was served! I ordered the plantain spring roll with white chocolate ice cream. I was very anxious to see what the plantain spring roll looked like. Fried plantain is made in practically every Caribbean household. My mom makes it at least twice a week, so I was very curious to see how they would prepare this dish.
The dessert was served on a narrow white, rectangular plate. The spring roll sat at one end and the ice cream sat on the other end. The spring roll looked more like a flaky turnover with fried plantain peeking out than a spring roll. It was okay - a little different from what I envisioned, but it was still okay. The caramel sauce that was drizzled over it tasted yummy. The ice cream was good, but I wanted more (sorry, but they were a little skimpy on the ice cream!). It was creamy, rich and very smooth. Next time I go there, I'm asking if they sell it by the tub.
It was the end of the meal, and my friends and I looked content. Not full, but not hungry. Overall, we all enjoyed dining at Flow. Our waiter was funny and very nice, which made the night more enjoyable. The food was good, the ambience was fantastic, but if I ever go back, I will remember to have a light snack beforehand. For more information, contact the restaurant at (416) 925-2143. ¤ Michelle