PaiGu

After reading multiple reviews raving about this “charming little brunch spot,” I headed down to Le Petit Dejeuner at 10 am this past Saturday to see for myself.

We arrived at 10:25 to find the place without a line, unlike what many reviews had warned us about. The last member of our party had yet to arrive, so we walked around for another 10 minutes (they will not seat you unless your entire party has arrived). By the the time she arrived at 10:35, the place was full. We waited about 20 minutes before our server came out to get us.

The place was small and narrow, with large paintings in subdued colours on an exposed brick wall that was faded brownish red. It looked less charming than it sounds.
The food arrived about 20 minutes after we ordered. I had a Brussels’ style waffle with scrambled eggs and an apple coleslaw.

The Brussels’ style waffle was light and crispy, just like the menu promised, but it was also completely tasteless. The scrambled eggs were a little overdone, and the apple coleslaw had dill pickles in it, which was just bizarre. The peameal bacon was the only item that didn’t disappoint.

My companions’ eggs benedict fared a little better, although the hollandaise sauce was not that different from what we’ve had elsewhere.

With mediocre food, mediocre service, and a mediocre atmosphere (floorboards that creaked and only one washroom?), I couldn’t figure out why this place had gotten such great reviews.
“Maybe this place is cheaper than most brunch places,” one of my friends suggested. She often brunched at The Drake, and declared that our brunching experience was not complete until we had been to The Drake. But when I got home and checked the menu at The Drake, I found that there eggs benedict was priced at $12, while the eggs benedict at Le Petit Dejeuner was priced at $12.95.
“Maybe it’s a homelier vibe,” my other friend suggested. The place was not nearly as charming as some cafes I’d been to, which also served breakfast mind you. And if I really wanted a homely vibe, I could have made a better breakfast at home and even eaten it in bed if I wanted.

In the end, I really could not figure it out what about this place had charmed the previous reviewers. Maybe their $6 mimosas? But for a good sober breakfast, I’d go elsewhere.

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Waldo’s on King is an adorable little restaurant just outside the Covent Garden Market in London, Ontario. It seemed like the perfect setting for a ritual Sunday brunch. Unfortunately, after our meal, it will not be a regular visit. While the decor and service were effective in setting the right atmosphere, the food was surprisingly unimpressive. Despite an excellent array of appetizers on the brunch menu, everything that arrived was wanting.
The Lobster, Shrimp, and Scallop Bisque sounded amazing, but when it came, it was nothing more than orange sour cream, with a few scarce pieces of seafood. The scallops had a funny taste to them, as if they had been chemically treated (they tasted basic).

The Baked Brie in Phyllo was even less appetizing, with the “fresh fruits” garnish amounting to nothing more than a strawberry and a slice of orange. Why even bother putting that on the menu? It’s just sad.

The Chicken and Coconut Soup was a watery pool of coriander. I should have known. Coconut and broth do not fit in the same sentence.

We were excited when the Neptune Salad arrived though, a heaping plateful of shrimp, scallop, and lobster. That is, until we realized the scallops again tasted funny, like the chemically-treated kind. Besides, premium scallops would never be heaped onto a $11 salad, so I guess we should have seen that coming.

The only perk? They have great coffee.
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The Tasting Room is my favourite restaurant in London, Ontario if only for its melt-in-your-mouth, groan-with-pleasure creme caramel. Their creme caramel is the single most delicious taste my tongue has ever experienced. I was so shocked by how good it tasted the first time that I had to go back three times before I could confirm it: if heaven was a dessert, this would be it. This dessert was not, however, what brought me to the restaurant – it was a happy discovery at the end of a perfect meal.

What drew me to The Tasting Room initially was its large selection of appetizers, which came in large enough portions to constitute a small meal, or to share. Their Scallops Wrapped with Bacon are out of this world, but to be honest, so are most of their appetizers. Carribean Shrimp and Banana Curry is another unique appetizer that cannot be missed. The Calamari was a little on the bland side, but the Coconut Lobster Lollipops certainly made up for it. Prices for these appetizers are close to their entrees, but so are the sizes.

Their daily soup has also been consistently satisfactory. The daily soup is not on their menu, but I recall enjoying an excellent Black Bean Soup on two different occasions. I have not tried their entrees, as I am always full after the appetizers, but I have it on good authority that their seafood pasta is well-stocked for a $13 entree (lunch, $19 dinner).

They also have a very reasonable wine flight for anyone interested in a little wine tasting. Their servers are knowledgable, friendly, and always provide impeccable service. My only complaint is that their washroom facilities are far too small, but the rest of the restaurant is stylishly decorated.
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