Treadwell Farm-to-Table Cuisine

Niagara-on-the-lake is a little piece of paradise just a little under an hour away from Buffalo, NY. This peninsula and the surrounding region is home to some of the best landscapes and wineries that Ontario has to offer. Where there is fine wine, fine dining is never far away.

Treadwell is a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on creating delicious dishes - each featuring a small number of select, local ingredients. They are located near Queen St and Victoria St, along a busy stretch of road in the Niagara-on-the-lake Old Town. At the time of writing, they are ranked #3 on TripAdvisor amongst restaurants in the area, preceded only by two very popular gelato shops.

Tucked away in an alley, away from the main street.

Note the water bowls for visiting doggies.

Pork Belly Ramen at Sansotei Ramen

Sansotei Ramen currently has two locations around the GTA- from what I gather on the internet, it seems like they'll be opening up a third location in Markham soon!  On our visit, we went to their Dundas location- the small shop was steps away from the Yonge-Dundas Square and at a very convenient location.  While we've definitely heard the name before, we had not found the right time to visit.  To be completely honest, I went to the restaurant ready to be disappointed as I don't seem to be a fan of the traditional ramen bowl.  But I am happy to report that I was very pleasantly surprised!  

Their storefront is certainly very small and cozy, with just a few tables squished closely together.  A quick scan of the place showed five or six large tables that seat between 4-6.  Luckily, we went on a Thursday night around 7PM and there was only a short 10-15 minute wait outside for a table for 6.

The menu offering is small- with just a few ramen and side dishes offered.

Yes, we love this place: Richmond Station

Success deserves celebration, and there is no better place for celebration (by food) than at Richmond Station! It was a Friday evening and a series of events in our personal lives had given cause for celebration. We turned to our local favourite knowing that it would offer the best combination of quality, price, and speed. It wouldn't be our first time at the restaurant and it likely wouldn't be our last.

No chef's table today. Peeking at the daily specials.

Something looks different here. Maybe everything.

With Richmond Station's ever-changing menus, it seems as though we may never end up eating the same dish twice. On the bright side, this probably means we'll never need to go to any other restaurant to try something new. But on the flip side, it will also mean that it's unlikely that we'll be able to revisit any old favourites (unless we go two days in a row).

Learning to love charcoal with Izakaya Ju

Izakaya Ju is a Japanese restaurant that is located in J-Town, the same plaza where Shiso Tree Cafe is located.  The interior resembles that of Guu, but with less of a crowd and quieter.  I generally prefer a quieter/less rowdy dining experience so this suited me just fine!

We actually had a bit of a rough start with this restaurant; however, we have definitely grown to love this izakaya and it is now part of our regular dining rotation.  Our first visit to this restaurant was a little disappointing- based on what we gathered from our subsequent visits, I would probably chalk this up to a combination of an off day and ordering the wrong items..

Tako yaki ($5)

Octopus balls

These are definitely a must-order for me whenever I visit an izakaya.  They were delicious and a reasonable price.  I realize that these are only little balls of dough and are really easy to make, but they just taste so darn good!

Eating with: Gusto 101

Gusto 101 is a relatively new hotspot for diners seeking Italian cuisine in the fashion district. The restaurant emerged out of a remodelled garage and serves dinner on two floors - we dined on the upper level which features a sunroof. While mobs of diners can regularly be seen on weekend evenings, we visited on a rainy day.

One noteworthy point is that Gusto 101 serves wine on tap! At a $1 per ounce, thirsty diners can opt for either the house red or white wines. Tiffany got a glass of the Gusto Rosso, a Cabernet Sauvignon & Malbec blend. We found the wine to be adequate but you certainly get what you pay for.

Fresh Baked Goods at Duo Patisserie & Cafe

Duo Patisserie & Cafe opened last fall- as the name implies, they offer a wide selection of delicious pastries!  Over the past year, this cafe has quickly become one the local favourites (also one of my favourites too)!  We have seen the little shop grow in popularity and it has become nearly impossible to snag a table in their seating area during the weekends.  However, on this rare occasion, we were able to find a seat..

Typically, we just purchase their pastries for home to avoid the crowd and to save time, but eating in is also very enjoyable.  Their interior is very clean and modern and you can also peak into their kitchen in the back.  

Fancy Dinner at HOB NOB restaurant & wine bar

On one of our recent visits to the Niagara region, we dinnered at the HOB NOB restaurant located within the Charles Inn.  Like many of the other restaurants in the region, they serve farm-to-table cuisine using fresh ingredients found in the area and this definitely makes a big difference!

The Charles Inn is a mansion located along the main street of Niagara-on-the-Lake.  This area of the city reminds me of Main Street Unionville; filled with boutiques and historical buildings/structures that have been left intact. The exterior of the hotel was very picturesque and fit right in with the other shops and houses on the street. The restaurant itself was very cozy and we were seated in the main dining area by one of the windows overlooking the street.

Hot Dogs & Beer at WVRST

WVRST is located in the Fashion District, along a particularly busy stretch of King West- steps away from numerous bars/restaurants.  It was a warm Friday evening and we were here to celebrate a friend's birthday!  When we arrived, the place was already jam-packed with diners and there was a line of people waiting to place their orders.

The restaurant is very casual and is definitely more like a bar than a restaurant.  The interior is very modern, with a large communal-style dining area.  WVRST is known for it's extremely large selection of sausage meats and craft beers and ciders.  Oh, and the duck fat fries- can't forget those!