Nota Bene Restaurant

This past Friday I decided to experience the restaurant "Nota Bene", which is located minutes away from Downtown Toronto's theatre district. Opened in 2008, Nota Bene has been voted one of Canada's top ten restaurants by numerous magazines. This restaurant offers fresh and seasonal Canadian cuisine, which is affordable and perfect for shoppers looking to experience an amazing lunch at a decent price.

I began my lunch ordering the watermelon honey crush. A light and refreshing drink made with crushed ice, watermelon and honey. Very pleasant to the palate.

To start I choose the french onion rings, done in a light batter and topped with sea salt. Well seasoned, crisp and flavorsome. Absolutely the best onion rings I have had by far, this was indeed my favorite dish.

The Ricotta ravioli, with zucchini flowers and shaved truffle, is what was chosen for my main. This dish consisted of mellow flavors, however the pasta was cooked perfectly and very delicious, everything was well presented and up to par. I do however wish they served more on this dish, as what was served did no just.

Dessert was the white chocolate chip cookie, served with Ontario sour cherries and vanilla ice cream. This dessert was heavenly, just the right amount of sweet to satisfy any craving, although I must add the sour cherries were not needed. A different choice of fruit -raspberries perhaps- would have served well with the dish instead.

Nota Bene brings forth a modern atmosphere. Relaxed and the perfect place for any "foodie"! to enjoy lunch or dinner. Executive Chef David Lee presents an amazing menu and I will definitely be eating at Nota Bene again. Until then "take note" on my ratings for this restaurant.

Overall Experience - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Food Presentation - 4/5
Taste - 4/5
Location - 4/5

Address:
180 Queen St W,
Toronto, ON M5V 3X3, Canada

Phone number:
416-977-6400

Website: http://notabenerestaurant.com

Jump Restaurant

I have begun my dining quest with Jump Restaurant. Newly renovated, located in downtown Toronto's financial district- Jump is a restaurant which offers contemporary American cuisine. I had gone on a Sunday evening with my lovely lady friends and in lieu of Summerlicious we were only offered the fixed menu. Although I'm very much aware what Summerlicious is all about, I was not all too excited on trying their menu for that event and Instead, I was looking forward to trying their main menu. However, I made no fuss and placed my order for a 3 course dinner, a choice of one appetizer, main and dessert.

I chose the Ontario Summer Salad for my appetizer, a vegetarian dish which had a mix of baby kale, asparagus, topped with pistachios and fennel dressing. A light salad with a lovely crunch, presented well; yet lacked a little in taste, at times tasting a little bitter. However, it was indeed my favorite dish.

The Housemade vegetarian lasagna is what had chosen for the main, made with roasted courgettes and Ontario mascarpone cheese. A dish in which screamed yes to the eyes and No to the palate. The dish lacked highly in flavor; very bland and "fresh". The pasta too was overcooked, a highly disappointing dish overall.

For dessert I chose the Double chocolate brownie, with chocolate mousse. Both soft and rich in flavor, Not too sweet and a perfect fit for chocolate lovers.

As mentioned before, Jump restaurant has been newly renovated and has hired a new chef. Thus resulting in a menu change, this may be a reason as to why my taste buds were not all too excited. Although it was not a busy afternoon the service was fairly slow, but it gave my friends and I a bit more time to chat, which I did not mind. The restaurant was a little difficult to find, however I loved the location, hence it is located in the downtown financial district.

Jump is vintage-modern and the sky-high atrium brings forth a warm and open feel. At this time I would not recommend this restaurant, due to the lack of quality and taste presented in the food, not to mention that they only had a fixed menu to work with. I will however give them a second chance, as I would like to have a better understanding of quality and experience they stand by in their food. If you plan to take a Jump and visit this restaurant, please feel free to share your experience in the comments section below.
Until then, below are my ratings on this restaurant.

Overall Experience - 2/5
Ambiance - 3/5
Service - 2/5
Food Presentation - 2/5
Taste - 2/5
Location - 3/5

Address:
18 Wellington St W, Commerce Court East, Toronto, ON M5L 1L5, Canada

Phone Number: 416-363-3400

Website: www.oliverbonacini.com/jump.aspx 

WELCOME!

Hello my fellow foodies!!

Are you someone who is interested in trying new things and looking for a different experience, when it comes to your palate? If you've answered "yes" to the following, then this blog is just right for you.

My name is Jamila, and just like you I am exhausted going to the same restaurants, eating the same thing. I have decided to break free from the same "routine" and venture out on the streets of my beautiful city, looking for new experiences, memories and great times. I am in dire need of exciting, tantalizing to your palate, breath taking to the eyes kind of food! I know I am not alone when I say this. Here you will find my comments and ratings, based on location, ambiance, service, food presentation, and overall taste.

So my journey begins, and I hope you all will appreciate this blog and the benefits it may have for you, when in search of your next fine dining experience. Until then, cheers to great food and great wine!

- Jamila Marie