Peaktop Chinese Cuisine

Peaktop Chinese Cuisine is located in the plaza across from Vaughan Mills Mall. I have been to Peaktop a number of times during the day for their Dim Sum menu but I have never tried their dinner menu. I was excited to try them out because I was told they were actually very good. I went there yesterday with three of my friends and here is what we ordered.

 Egg-White Seafood Fried Rice

Stir Fried Crab

 Sweet & Sour Pork

 Stir Fried Beef with Musroom Ginger Green onions

The Egg-white Seafood fried rice was my favourite. It was not only healthier with the egg white, but they were generous with the shrimp and scallops as well. The service was moderately good and the food was very flavorful and served steaming hot and fresh. The dining room was clean and spotless even though they seem pretty busy during the evening time. I am not a big fan of Crabs but these were fried to perfection. Some parts you could even just eat the shell the way it has been fried. The Sweet and Sour Pork was very well cooked as well but the mushrooms in the Beef Mushroom stir-fry could have been cooked a bit longer but the texture of the beef was perfect, overall the food was very tasty. This is defiantly a spot to lookup whenever you are in search of authentic Chinese food in Vaughan.

Food 8/10

Service 7/10

Experience 7.5/10  

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

Time for something awesome and unhealthy! To Five Guys!!! So this particular place is not any run of the mill burger and fries joint. There are articles everywhere in this restaurant about their award wining burgers. They are a company that originated from New York, a city that is known for having the best burgers. The fact that Five Guys was able to compete in such a competitive city really proves something.

So I noticed that when I entered the restaurant everything was bright red and the employees were very polite. I ordered the Cheeseburger, Cajun fries, and a drink. The way Five Guys works is any burger you order, it is automatically a double. Unless you ordered a kids burger then it will be a single patty.

So I received and double cheeseburger with my choice of toppings and instead of just a cup of fries, I was given a paper bag of fries with a cup in it… LOL it was insane how much fries they give you. I also noticed that every time an order was ready the employee would walk the food all the way over to the customers seating area and present it to them with a smile. I guess this is part of the Five Guys image to be very customer friendly. It is very hard to find good service in regular burger joints. When I bit into the burger it was so juicy and tender. The meat was cooked perfectly. The fries were way too much; they literally give you a bag of fries. I thought the food was pretty amazing and the service just really tops it off.

Food 8.5/10

Service 9.5/10

Experience 9/10

Ambassadors Dim Sum

So the destination today was Ambassadors Dim Sum located in Richmond Hill. Dim Sum is a style of Chinese foods prepared in small portions like appetizers. Usually eaten for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. So I heard many good things about Ambassadors and it was known for having the best Dim Sum in the area. The service seem very average not too much to talk about there. However the food was very tasty and fresh. I’ve been to many different Dim Sum locations in my lifetime as I am a big fan of Dim Sum and I must say that Ambassadors is a top choice. I couldn’t complain about any of their dishes that came out. I ordered the following:

Rice Noodle Roll w/ Shrimp

Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings)

Deep Fried Squid Tentacles

My favourite would have to be the Rice Noodle Roll with Shrimp because unlike every other Dim Sum location Ambassadors actually customized it by adding veggies in their rolls to distinguish them from the rest. I suppose the service was not up to standards due to how busy it was when I was there. I guess this place really is known for their Dim Sum because it was really packed on a Sunday morning. Overall the food was great, the environment was good, and the service was not the best but the food really makes up for it.

Food 9/10

Service 6/10

Experience 7.5/10

Canyon Creek Chophouse

So it was a beautiful day today and that means it was perfect patio weather. I went with a few friends to a steak house I heard only good things about. Canyon Creek is a well reputable restaurant and they cater to more sophisticated customers. I found the menu to be even more expensive then The Kegs. When we entered I noticed the dim lighting and expensive looking furniture and fixtures. Right then I knew this place is going to hurt my pockets J. So when we seated, the waitresses was very polite and accommodating to any questions we had. She started us off with drinks and this place even gives out complimentary starter whole-wheat rolls with some sweet butter I never had before. You can never go wrong with free bread and butter. This butter was amazing though; they made it their own by adding some sugar or sweetener to give it a great taste. So I ordered a large Grilled New York Steak with fresh vegetables and a loaded baked potato. When I took my first bite I knew exactly what all the hype was about. The steak at this restaurant was just phenomenal, no other place like it!

I noticed the server would constantly check up on us to see whether we needed a refill or if the food was okay. I really appreciated good service and this place offers very good service. So of course good service equals good tip. Although this place is a lil on the expensive side I thought it was definitely well worth it.

Food    9.5/10

Service 9.5/10

Experience 9.5/10

Memphis BBQ

So today I will be trying out a small little rib and wings joint that I heard so much about. Apparently the ribs were the best ribs around. Memphis BBQ is located north of Highway 7 on Islington. It is a very small location and the first thing I noticed when I entered the small establishment was the trophy shelf. They had won many awards for best ribs and wings, so I was excited to try it out. Although this place was a small store with limited seating we still eventually got a seat after about 5 minutes due to the surprisingly amount of people coming in just for pick up orders. I also noticed there were bulletin boards piled up with different business cards throughout the years, which I thought was pretty neat how people were networking. The server was extremely polite and accommodating to our needs. So I ordered the Elvis Platter. You were able to choose what kind of sauce on the wings and ribs as well. All meals came with complimentary beans, corn bread, and coleslaw, which was pretty awesome.

When I bit into the ribs it was so juicy and I just loved the way it fell right off the bone. I can honestly see what all the hype was about now. The ribs were to die for! I have never had ribs like this before. The way the sauces complimented the ribs and wings amazing, a blast of flavour in every bite. I guess this goes to show you that you cannot judge a book by its cover, because from the outside of this establishment it seem very small and the location wasn’t great either. However the food here was superb. I am definitely returning in the near future and would recommend this restaurant for rib lovers everywhere.

Food 9.5/10
Service 8.5/10
Experience 9/10

Grazie Ristorante

 

 The restaurant of choice for today is a local Italian restaurant Grazie, just outside Vaughan Mills mall along Jane and Rutherford. Grazie has a fine reputation of great service and authentic Italian cuisine. I had wen to Grazie today with a couple of friends to have some dinner. I was excited to experience the big hype about this restaurant for a while now.

 When I first arrived the restaurant was quite packed, not surprising seeing that it was dinner time. We waited for about 15 minutes before finally being able to settle down. The servers were very well organized. I noticed the arrangement of servers divided into groups managing certain sections of the restaurant, overall very organized. I was also very impressed by the quality of service Grazie provided. Generally I find during rush hours customer service tends to lack due to the amount of customers vs. servers. At Grazie I still received quality service regardless.

 My dinner choice of the night was the Prato, fettuccine with grilled chicken and diced green onions. Flavor wise I was satisfied; the chicken was very moist and well-seasoned. As for the pasta, the noodles were cooked to perfection overall enhancing the texture of the dish. The combination of the grilled chicken went very well with the fettuccine pasta. My only complaint was that my dish was slightly cold when it had arrived. I would have liked for it to be hot as I consume my meal, it was a little disappointing. 

 My overall experience at Grazie was satisfying. The food was great and the service was excellent. Perhaps some improvement on timing could be made for the kitchen staffs who prepare the meals. I recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a good Italian restaurant around Vaughan!

Food: 7/10

Service: 9/10

Experience: 8/10

Chako

Today on a lovely Monday I decided to eat at Chako - apparently one of the best Korean restaurants in town that serve traditional Korean food. Desperate to try something new, Chako was a clear choice since I have never eating a Korean dish in my life. This would be a new experience for some good food. Chako is the best restaurant and certainly has an exciting experience. It was fun trying new food from a different culture.

My first impression of this restaurant was as expected. The wait was quite a bother; I would strongly recommend making reservations for those who would like to give this restaurant a try. I was waiting in line for about half an hour before I was finally able to settle down. This restaurant is certainly jam packed during prime dining hours. The long wait had definitely paid off once the food arrived.

There was a very wide selection in meats as well as traditional Korean dishes. The meats ranged from classic pork, beef and chicken to delicacies such as ox tongue! I narrowed my choices down to beef bulogogi and pork bone soup. I was amazed by the mixture of savory sweetness of the beef. It was very well marinated; I couldn’t get enough of it! Not to mention the pork bone soup! The blend of spices with the fall-off-the-bone pork chunks and potatoes was a mixture of perfection. Both dishes were delicious! To my surprise with every meal, complimentary side dishes are always offered in Korean restaurants. I was given traditional sides such as pickled radish, seaweed, tofu, bean sprouts and the all-time must-have kimchee. I really liked the idea of complimentary sides, it was such a surprise! 

Pork Bone Soup

Beef Bulgogi

Complimentary Side Dishes

The service was great; the servers were very efficient with their duties. My glass was never empty and there was never a problem with finished used plates on the table. There were some communication problems due to the language barrier but it was not unbearable.

Overall, Chako was a nice dining experience, I am excited to explore and try other Korean restaurants around town!

Food: 9/10

Service: 7/10

Experience: 8/10

Koganei - Japanese Seafood Restaurant

As you all know I simply love sushi! Today I went to Koganei, a very popular sushi restaurant in Woodbridge. I normally go to all-you-can-eat sushi restaurants just to get more variety for a cheaper price. Though Koganei is not an all-you-can-eat restaurant and fairly pricey I've heard many great reviews about it. I went to give it a try this afternoon.

Koganei was a little bit hard to find seeing it was blended within the other plazas very well. The interior isn't decorated with lavish furniture but more bamboo earthy-like decorations. The way the restaurant is decorated presents a sense of calming peace, very relaxing.

My waitress was a very polite lady. She was aware my needs but kept her distance respectfully. Normally servers would be circling around me to ensure that everything is going well, which can be a little irritating. Since Koganei was a new experience for me I took some of her recommendations of the restaurant's specialty and favourites.It didn't take very long for my order to arrive. I was excited to try it all!

The rice used for the sushi was cooked to perfection; each grain was cooked right through. Normally, when rice is made into sushi the grains may become very mushed together which alters the taste sometimes. The rice at Koganei was different; each grain retained its texture and flavor. My favourite roll of the day was the Koganei Roll a classic roll with crab meat,avocado and cucumber. What made this roll spectacular was the topping. The topping was a blend of tempura batter, red caviar and spicy mayonnaise; this combination added a fantastic kick to each piece!

 Koganei Roll

Sushi Pizza 

 My Sushi Platter

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Koganei. The service was good and the food was great! The only downside would be the fairly expensive prices for each dish, though it is understandable due to all the fresh ingredients use. I strongly recommend Koganei to all the sushi lovers around town!

Service: 8/10
Food: 9/10
Experience: 8.5/10

Galaxy Diner

I woke up this morning craving for some good ol’ bacon and egg, but of course knowing me there was nothing in my fridge. I decided to go to ‘’ Galaxy Diner’’ it looked very unique from the outside. It’s not like most breakfast restaurants , they have a very ‘’50’s’’ theme inside. Posters and pictures all around the bathroom and hallways, it was quite interesting actually. From the tables and tiles to the counter tops and walls its not modernized at all. It’s nice to see a family owned business that still keeps their originality like that.  I really enjoyed eating at Galaxy Diner, the servers were so welcoming and cheerful, and not to mention real good food served hot and fresh.

I took a while to order my food, my server was extremely patient with me; there were just so many items on the menu I wasn’t sure which one I wanted the most. After a few more minutes of decision making I decided to go with the Classic Galaxy Special. French toast, 6 strips of bacon, 3 scramble eggs, white toast and home fries

When my food arrived I dug into it right away, breakfast made just the way I want it. Fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, crunchy home fries. Mmmm Mmmmm good!

Overall , I would say that Galaxy Diner is a top choice for a great breakfast experience. If you are ever missing the diners from the good ol' days this is the place to go to. Good food, great service just awesome!

Food: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Experience: 8.5/10

Montana's CookHouse

I ran into a good friend today after my morning classes. We decided to hang out and catch up on each others lives so we headed to a local restaurant near by for a quick bite. We ended up at Montana's Cook House just outside Vaughan Mills Mall along Rutherford.

Montana's has always been a local favourite around Maple. The service never fails to meet expectations. The servers are extremely friendly and knowledgeable which is it much easier for communication. Customer service is always a plus for me, especially since the last trip to Destiny was just plain awful.

I love the atmosphere inside Montana's. They provide a very ''at-home'' comfort feeling, its a really great place for family gatherings actually. Today I ordered the Kapow Shrimps, the Cook House Platter and of course a couple rounds of good ol' beer.

The Cook House Platter

 

The Kapow Shrimp

The Cook House Platter: Cheesy garlic bread, Spinach Cheese dip, Nan breads and yogurt. Mmmm Mmmm Good!

The Kapow Shrimp: Oh yes, it was KAPOW for ya' ! Fresh breaded fried shrimp tossed in sweet chilli sauce along side with the lemon wedge added a nice zesty kick. It was my favourite dish of the day, to bad the portions were so small.

Overall, I would say I was very satisfied with my meal and service today. The food came to me in less than 20 minutes! Nothing beats great service and good food!

Service: 10/10
Food: 9/10
Experience: 10/10

Can't wait to come back!

Destiny

Today I decided to go to one of my favourite hotspots in Richmond Hill, Destiny. Destiny is popularly known for their specialty tea drinks, desserts, and appetizers.  I haven’t been there in a while so I was quite excited to return. Destiny is perfect for socializing with friends while enjoying great appetizers. The gold, white, crème and black theme inside has a very nice chic modern look to it, not to mention the sofas seats making it hard not to love!

I was seated right by the front main windows, my favourite spot actually. The feeling of the warm sun shining through the windows was such a relaxing sensation. I ordered a few appetizers and my all-time favourite drink ‘’Water Melon Juice’’. 

Water Melon Juice: It’s unbelievably refreshing! Fresh chilled watermelons blended with sweet syrup makes the best thirst quenching drink perfect for a summer day.  

I also ordered Almond Crusted Shrimp Balls, it was slightly bland but well textured. It looked visually appealing though, little cute balls of shrimp paste great as bite size snack.  

My favourite dish is the Strawberry shortcake, my all-time favourite dessert at Destiny. Fresh whipped crème with fresh cut strawberries between moist vanilla cakes topped off with shaved white chocolate. Yum!

Overall, I do enjoy the food at Destiny and the environment and atmosphere is great but one thing I highly dislike is the service. The service was absolutely awful; the server rarely came by and left my table hanging for over 35 minute. All I wanted was hot sauce and they never came by, I had to literally get up myself to grab it from the hostess. I was very disappointed with their service I would say its one the worst experience I’ve had at a restaurant. 

Service: 2/10

Food: 8/10

Experience: 7/10

Not the greatest for service but its still a nice place to hang out.

Spoon and Fork

 

 Today I've decided to try out something new. I headed towards Spoon and Fork's franchise located down Weston in the city of Vaughan. I've heard many great reviews about this restaurant so I figured I might as well give it a try. I've always enjoyed eating Japanese and Thai cuisine so I was very excited to see what this restaurant had to offer.


 As I stepped into the front foyer I must admit I was quite impressed. I was astonished by the interior design and layout of this restaurant. It was nowhere close to what traditional Japanese and Thai restaurants would normally be. I notice that the design of this restaurant is fairly westernized, very urban and overall visually pleasing.

The dimmed lighting and lavish furniture creates a suitable atmosphere perfect for a lovely evening with family and friends.

After I was seated down I took a look at the menu and I was surprised to see such variety, I was blown away by the selections they had to offer. At this point I was thrilled and immediately started to order everything that caught my eyes. Our server was absolutely amazing, he had made sure that all our questions and concerns were thoroughly answered. I was a bit nervous about ordering the ''Salmon Pizza'' I was definitely not familiar with that dish at all. I'm very glad that the server was well trained with memorizing each and every item on the menu. It really help me feel confident about ordering that dish. Soon enough it was brought to me on a sparkling white dish, I must say I was very impressed with the visual plating.

The salmon was delicious. Nothing is better than fresh thinly sliced salmon on a bed of deep fried rice cakes. In addition to that decadent ball of savory goodness, it was topped off with a drizzle of spicy mayonnaise. That extra kick of flavour tingled each and every taste bud in my mouth. I couldn't wait to try the rest of my dishes.

Up next was the ''Spider Roll'', the name was quite intriguing. Once again the plating was very visually pleasing. The perfect combination of jullian sliced cucumbers and crab meat rolled in a bed of jasmine rice drizzled with house teriyaki sauce... I was left speechless.

After a few more dishes I think I've come to a conclusion. I absolutely LOVE this place! The service was up to par and the food was amazing. I don't think there is anything bad I could say about this place. I can't wait to come back and show all of my friends. I'm sure they would love it too! Not to mention this would be a perfect place for a romantic date night.

Overall Ratings,

Service: 9/10
Food: 10/10
Experience: 10/10

This place is awesome!