After sunset, with candlelight casting interesting shadows in a monochromatic room, and the deep bass of a house dance track playing, Leslieville's TOMI-KRO certainly feels more like a lounge than a resto. Add to the mix arty-looking servers table hopping, and it feels like a night out even though we're here to eat.
Prohibition
696 Queen Street East
416-406-2669
Lunch for two with all taxes, tip, and a bottle of imported beer: $89
Prohibition, born "Booze Emporium", was renamed when its liquor license came under threat as the title was deemed inappropriate. There were several articles published that relayed this incident, but nary a review. More digging lead to long discussion threads on Chowhound that had widely varying opinions. I was curious about its gastropub and oyster bar promises, but it was the recent addition of a lunch and weekend brunch menu that prompted a visit.
It was a Sunday afternoon and the place was quite empty. Just as quickly, someone's genteel mother arrived with menus and took beverage orders. Between her and the attentive and friendly male server (who must be "the bartender" everyone had raved about online), we were taken care of very well. The service was friendly, fast, and efficient.
The menu tried to be cute, naming categories like: "ruffage" (salads) and "hand-held" (burgers/sandwiches). Late night offerings like: calamari, wings, nachos, "flat pies" (pizza) with various toppings. Meat 'n bread items were the same as lunch. There'd been mention of a Kobe burger in the Chowhound posts, but the only one listed was made with bison. Brunch items started from $8.95 with the usual eggy suspects. It was a minimalist menu, but all sounded tempting, like the apple wood smoked cheddar grilled cheese or the fried goat cheese salad with candied nuts.
We started with the Caesar salad ($6.95 on the menu) which turned out to be disappointing. Homemade croutons and fresh grated parm couldn't make up for brown wilted leaves or a bland mayonnaise-like dressing. Not to mention, I didn't notice until too late that we'd been charged $7.95 for it.
The open-faced steak sandwich ($14.95) was a completely different story; one definitely worth retelling. Arriving on a platter about 2 feet long, it was flanked on either side by two lightly dressed salads: one dominated by spicy celery stalks, the other, a fennel slaw. It was also accompanied by a mound of of thin, fresh-cut fries, soft with a bit of crunch. Then there was the sandwich. Six ounces of lean and tender strip loin crowned with melted Brie, caramelized onion and mushrooms, sat atop thickly cut, buttered, flaxseed-flecked multi-grain bread.
As dessert, we ordered one of the brunch specials, French toast with raspberries and white chocolate ($9.95). My jaw dropped when again as a platter was brought out, carrying a serving fit for three. Unfortunately, the whipped cream had melted by the time it landed on our table, but that didn't diminish its impressiveness. Challah slices, about an inch thick, in crisped richly eggy coating were topped and stuffed with at least a pint of plump, fresh sweet tart berries and drizzled in white chocolate. Real maple syrup came with. Despite a possible tummy ache in finishing such a generous serving, it was all wolfed down.
If a gastropub equates a huge laid back space, with interesting aspects like a grand piano and Speakers Corner-esque video booth, that serves better than average, hefty-portioned casual fare at a slightly higher price point, then this fits the bill. Without any nearby pub peers, there's no prohibition to its potential.
WINGS IN SOY GINGER good marinade, not as gingery (as Leah had before), but meat a bit overcooked so that it was on the dry side and the skin chewy - yet the group thought they were yum
PRIME RIB BURGER - I didn't try it, but word was that it was surprisingly good for a burger
STEAK PIE IN MILL ST. COFFEE PORTER GRAVY - good pastry, rich, flaky, tender and done (I hate pies that have that undercooked doughy bottom) with adequate stewed beef in robust dark gravy. mash was textbook, peas surprisingly tasted fresh (as opposed to frozen) & sweet
STEAK WRAP - I had a small bite as (you can't tell in the pic) it was huge! too big to take a full bite out of. Liked the grill smoke taste in the meat. The eater's comment was that it got soggy from the juices, and could have used more cheese.
MINIBURGERS ADAPTED FROM WINTER 2008 LCBO GUIDE RECIPE
CUPCAKES FROM SWEET BLISS BAKERY ON QUEEN STREET EAST 
LEMON MERINGUE CAKE FROM ALTITUDE BAKERY ON QUEEN STREET EAST 
lucky me! had a special bday dinner ...
Excellent ramen - qq (al dente) noodles, beef slices deeply flavoured, sweetly teriyaki. The soy broth a good level of salt. Costs under $7. There's also a miso flavoured one. Both types have a vegetable noodle soup (but veggies - check that they don't use meat broth as well, you never know)
Also sushi, curry, katsu, bento also on the menu. Seems like Japanese run - or at least the waitress was. They have copies of Bits Magazine.
I went there because Balzac was too packed and Soma looked to spartan. It's comme ci comme ca. This carrot cake square and a latte cost almost $8. The cake was ok, nothing special and a bit dry around the edges like it was sitting there since 6am and I got there at 2pm -but still fresh tasting (on the inside).
The food looked good (lasagna, panini and that ilk), but was just as expensive as going to a pub for a sandwhich ($8-$10). Outlets and free wifi though, and you can sit there all day.
It's classic dinner food at a tyical dinner.
I got the benny of course. It was about $7.50 and included coffee + refills. The serving is just enough. It looks small, but it's a good size. The challah bread is so buttery good. The grilled ham, tender, and a good level of saltiness to the yolk & hollandaise. Unfortunately the sauce is packaged, but it tastes fine. Potatoes taste like good home cookin'
FYI this place is BYOB ok
I pass this place on College all the time and it looks just like a coffee shop. One night after a rousing couple of hours skating at Harbourfront (or rather, shuffling slowly as I clung onto Boyfriend for support), the three of us decided to grab a drink.
You know when you just want somewhere chill to talk (aka no blaring music) and can order food (that's not ridiculously expensive)? Anyhow seeing that they served booze, we tucked in. It was seat yourself, and service provided by this one dude was excellent. He was considerate and fast. We ordered a large pizza and it was around $11 for a large with 2 topppings. It was a substantial looking beast, like 14 or 15 inc, a medium thick crust, lots of cheese, but not overkill.
Everyone's food looked super yum. A definite new fave spot!
