Gardiner

The museum- not the expressway.

So I have been wanting to check out Jamie Kennedy's latest restaurant at the Gardiner Museum for a while now, and as luck should have it there was one last table available at 1:30 on a Friday.
Even though I called in advance for the reservation, we still waited for almost 20 minutes before being seated.
not so great when it comes to lunch time.
The hostess did provide us with a menu to look over while we waited and waited, which is always good.

But I was finding the strong smell of fried food a real turn off and almost decided to walk.
(Holt's cafe is just down the street and I already know I love it there) but I figured I would be patient (not one of my strong suits especially when I'm hungry) and hope that the food tasted better than it smelled.
I'm all for the smell of roasted garlic, or grilled meat but the smell of oil and fried food is really kind of gross. especially at lunch.
It sticks to your clothes and hair and you end up leaving smelling like what you ate.
Not so good when you have to go back to the office or what ever else you need to do for the rest of the day.
perhaps a better ventilation system would be a good idea?
But I have always had great food at Jamie's Wine bar so I had high hopes.
I love that he is so passionate about locally grown produce and seasonal fruits and veg.
But aside from the lovely warm sour dough bread and beet root puree to start we were quite disappointed with both the service and our meals.
I had a pork dish with a maple slaw and big daddy had the rib eye sandwich.
both were really mediocre.
we skipped dessert to avoid further disappointment.
The atmosphere is okay, but again, a bit of a disappointment.
bad florescent lighting and again, I had a hard time getting past the overwhelming smell of oil.
sorry to go on about it, but it kind of ruined the experience.
I noticed some tables got some sort of little cookie and mini champagne grapes??? with their bill and we did not.
so the inconsistency was noted.
I don't think I would go back, but I'm glad we checked it out.
I will however go back to Jamie's Wine bar.
still one of my favorite pre-movie places to grab a delicious tapas style meal.

Jamie Kennedy at the Gardiner
okay service
okay food
okay atmosphere
3 O's.
(and not the good kind)

110 Queen's Park
(416) 362-1957

Comments

[Don Mills Diva]

What a disappointment. I love his wine bar too but I've never made it to his musuem cafe - I don't feel so bad now. I have a REAL problem with being made to wait and wait when I have a reservation. We waited squished on a tiny love seat for over half an hour at Susur's - blancing our coats on our lap - when we had resevred months in advance. Finally they offered us a drink while we waited but charged $18 a pop for them in the end. Sooo unimpressed - it's been 3 years and I am so not over it.

[lisa b]

I've been wanting to check this place out but now I am completely put off. I cannot stand that fried smell that stays with you all day.