Jim B.
Yelp
Was staying at a hotel nearby and a relative recommended this place for lunch, brunch or whatever. As this particular relative has questionable tastes, I turned to Yelp and opted to go here based on Kris U's review.
We entered the restaurant for lunch on a Saturday at around 12:30. The first impression is "Wow, this place is small", which unfortunately for us meant a substantial wait for a table. The woman who came to the door advised us that we could sit at the bar and dine there, or wait for a table. As we were starved and pressed for time, we opted to sit at the bar. I am NOT a huge fan of sitting at a bar or a counter, but when it's your only option, you make do.
Let's start with the staff...they're all stellar. There weren't many working the floor (we counted 3....two men and a woman). We interacted at some point with all of them and each were fantastic. They were warm, engaging and seemed genuinely concerned that you enjoy your meal.
Based on the bartenders recommendation, my partner ordered the Beef Stronganoff lunch special. It was black peppercorn beef on noodles, with sauce, sour cream and onions, for $15. With it he ordered a Bloody Caesar. He raved about the stroganoff...claimed the beef was tender, flavourful and ample. Despite the huge portion size, he woofed it all down and said it was one of the best he's ever had. The Caesar was spicy and a perfect accompaniment.
I opted for the smoked turkey club. It was loaded with turkey, bacon, cheese, tomatoes and a wonderful honey Dijon mustard, all on a brioche bun, with a side order of fries. It was the perfect lunch for a rainy day. For $13, it was an excellent price considering the amount of food and quality you get.
Warm ambiance, great staff, delicious food...we'll definitely go back if it the area again.