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.

No Shucks to Give: Pearl Diver

During this week's Friday adventure, we visited Pearl Diver.  As the name implies, it is a seafood restaurant- I believe they're known for their oyster specials that run throughout the week.  But seeing as neither of us are fans of raw oysters, we opted to not partake in any oyster shucking.

The restaurant is located in the Financial District/St. Lawrence Market area and was only a short walk away from the office.  This stretch of Adelaide East isn't a particularly happening place (directly facing the St. James Park) but you'll definitely know when you've arrived.. assuming you've walked in the right direction.  The interior of the restaurant is very casual and welcoming with an ample amount of natural lighting.

Comfort Food: Harbord House

It was Friday night, after a long week at work and I was majorly craving comfort food.  The answer was simple- pub food.  That Friday night, we decided to head over to Harbord House.  We almost missed the restaurant because true to it's name, it's exterior resembles a house.

The restaurant/gastropub is two floors, with indoor dining and patios on both floors.  The inside is a bit dim and the air a bit stale, but the patios were excellent!  The patio was perfect for a warm summer day allowed us to overlook the busy streets below.

Crispy Buffalo Shrimp ($11)
with a lime horseradish cocktail sauce, blue cheese dip, carrots and celery

Pre-show Dinner: Luma

A couple weekends ago, we decided to visit Luma for an early Sunday dinner before going to see Wicked at 7PM.  Luma is located on the second floor of the TIFF Bell Lightbox in the Entertainment District.  Coincidentally, the Toronto International Film Festival was on at the time so a portion of King West was closed off and the streets were jam-packed with people.  The restaurant itself is very spacious with modern decor.  We were seated right by the window overlooking King West so we could see the crowds down below.

Dinner started with some warm focaccia that came with a hummus dip.  The hummus was delicious and left me wanting another serving of bread.  But.. since we wanted to stay awake for the show later in the evening, we decided to skip right to the mains!

Birthday Dinner: Ruby Watchco

East of the DVP, on Queen St E, lies an inconspicuous storefront with sheathed grey walls. Above the door hangs a little sign emblazoned with a big red R. The business's purpose is given away by the framed daily menu that greets those who enter.

We arrived early that Tuesday evening. The time was just shy of our 6:30 PM reservation. The hostess was quick to greet and we were seated promptly.

Inside the restaurant, we found a cozy dining room with a warm industrial aesthetic. Wooden chairs,  wooden tables, and wood-clad cabinets were set neatly along one wall, and a wide, sprawling bar along the other.