Dining pleasure
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
Time perhaps for some more food reviews since the past few garnered a lot of interest.
As mentioned in a previous HodgePodge, Tez and I were becoming bored with visiting our routine dining locals – yet finding anywhere new or creative was difficult due to the negative impact COVID had on restaurants and pubs. Owners and managers struggled to find good chefs and waiters. With few or no clients staff were laid off and menus minimized.
While COVID has somewhat subsided the winter doldrums have overstayed.
Fortunately, desperate yet determined owners maintained. Hope held on. Now it appears brighter days are happening for some within the retail and restaurant world. It seems new pubs, restaurants, or dining locations of some scale opens every 10 days to two weeks in town. So Tez and I are back (the Dynamic Dining Duo) with bibs secure and in search of the perfect stomach stuffing spot. Many owners or managers are resolving their slashed menu scenario producing new and expanded food lists while also slowly replenishing decreased staff and valued chefs. Good help truly is hard to find.
Because of all the changes with new and old restaurants and pubs Tez and I are compiling a list of places we like to dine and wine and are hoping, (when dollars permit), to get out and support them. Several of our regular go-to locations took a hit with COVID however most survived. Some exciting new ones have been hatched as well. Of particular note are the number of brew pubs in the north end and about town. To assist in their reach for success it’s my hope to food/drink reviews on a monthly basis; not in great detail but simply my (our) thoughts on the facility’s food, hospitality, ambiance… Let’s start with a few of our favourites and how they have emerged from the COVID calamity:
Brandt’s Creek Pub – simply one of my favourites and an especially cozy feel in the winter. The wide-open main dining area focuses on a fireplace which just sends out a friendly vibe. Brandts also expanded with a glassed-in balcony hosting several tables. Their menu and staffing took a hit but is on the comeback however even now it has a fabulous listing of food. You can’t go wrong ordering the Apple Bourbon BBQ ribs. Tez loves their seafood linguini. And how can you not like a place that still serves Halibut? Service is excellent.
Kelly O’Bryan’s survived the scourge of COVID well from the outside but behind the scenes it was a tough go with limited staff working their butts off. While the menu appeared relatively in tack some selections were actually not available when ordered. Service was great as always but for a bit the general product was not up to its prime (a little food pun there). A recent visit there, however, indicates things are back to superb at one of the best dining facilities in town. Few locations provide the amount of food choices as Kelly O’s and if you can beat their prime rib or soup selections let me know.
Moxies is a whole new world since their fantastic clean bright new look renovations. Manager Bailey Shoppmann has provided a good variety of soups, and appetizers (check out the cashew chicken lettuce wraps) to the menu along with (though not for me) vegetarian plant base food. There is an overall leaning towards seafood or Asian tastes. For someone allergic to seafood the selection is diminished about 25 percent but still lots to choose from. I devoured their beef dip and Teresa their chicken alfredo. Happy hours are 2-5 and 5 – 9.
Health and wealth be willing food/drink reviews will continue regularly including more of our favourites from the past and new ones on the scene. Look for commentaries on: White Spot, Memphis House of Blues, Montana’s, Original Joes, Dunn Enzies Pizza, and Old Spaghetti Factory. If spending a few dollars but getting what you pay for is on your radar, there is always Earls On Top, Cactus Club, Mamma Rosa, Oak and Cru, Social Kitchen and Wine Bar, and Summerhill Pyramid Bistro.
We will also gleefully spend some energy bending our elbows to bring our perspectives on the quality of food or liquids, ambiance, and service at numerous pubs. I believe pubs often offer as good or better food than some restaurants. My HodgePodge pub runs will occasionally be assisted by a self-proclaimed beer master in a fun session I call Beers with Brian.
We will focus first on the new brew pubs but also visit the local long timers. Some of my favourite pubs include Mickies Pub, McCulloch Station, Craft Beer Market Draft, Train Station Pub, BNA, Wings Tap and Grill, Baxter’s Bar and Grill, Dakodas, Rusty’s Sports Lounge, and The Packing House. Looking forward to the task!
If you know of any new pubs and brewhouses or have a favourite then please send me an email and let me know. Just write to HodgePodge at charliehodge333@gmail.com.
Cheers!
