“We are trying to create something new on the Danforth”
Media: Beach Metro News
Date: October 21,2008
Always looking for something new in my neighbourhood – and after a glowing recommendation from an old friend – I decided to see for myself. I dropped around for lunch a while ago and was treated to a very nice dining experience.
Melanie worked 12 years as a pastry chef at Movenpiek. Her husband, Rahul, was a chef at the Royal York Hotel for 10 years. They recently pooled their talents and opened Melanie’s Bistro at 1810 Danforth.
Melanie’s is narrow, like most Danforth restaurants, with seating for upwards of 40-45 depending on how you arrange the tables. The decor is minimalist – spare with pale yellow walls, tasteful artwork, matching simple, plain tables and chairs – giving the sense of more space than may actually be there. There were several other diners there for lunch so I didn’t get a window seat, but really, anywhere is fine.
The menu shows Melanie’s to be a mixed cuisine restaurant with an interesting variety of dishes.
Take for example their Newfoundland Breakfast Special: pan-fried cod cakes topped with poached eggs, finished with an herb Hollandaise sauce and served with country fries and toast ($10). Or how about a Shrimp BLT made with bacon, greens, shrimp, tomato and remoulade for lunch ($9). For dinner you can try such pasta entrees as Linguine with Vodka Marinated Shrimp ($18), Thai Style Seafood Risotto ($20), Butter Chicken ($16), or the tried and true Grilled Pepper New York Striploin Steak witb bourbon maple jus, garlic mash with cheese and grilled vegetables ($20).
If your mouth isn’t watering now, try Melanie’s weekend brunch with Candied Pecan and Cornflake Crusted Frencb Toast with caramelized peaches and khalua anglaise ($10), or Rahul’s Huevos Rancheros with spicy black beans and salsa ($10).
Melanie wants everyone to know tbat sbe proudly serves organic and fair .trade coffee along with wonderful desserts, pastries and cakes (she WAS a pastry chefl).
For my lunch I opted for another tried and true dish, the Denver, a bam & cheese omelette with onion, pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, with the option of fries or a salad ($10). I took the salad, a medium sized mix of greens including baby spinach and slivered carrots witb a light vinaigrette dressing.
The omelette (usually called a Western here in Canada) is just the right size, creamy with all the tastes coming througb as they should (no ketchup to drown everything!).
Melanie’s is licensed, so I had her lunch special, a glass of Fonterra Chardonnay
from Chile for $5.
Considering Melanie was a pastry chef, I made sure I left room for a slice of mixed field berry cheesecake ($5). It was very good, not to be really creamy New York style cheesecake, but with a drier, more cake-like consistency.
And I topped everything off witb a cup of the organic, fair trade coffee at only $2. Total for my lunch, including tip, was just under $30. I have friends coming to town next weekend. I think I’ll take them here for brunch.
For more information, or for hours of business call 416-422-1870.