queen mother cafe

Queen Mother Cafe has been one of my favourite places to eat in toronto. it is definitely an unusual place. despite its name, this place offers selection of asian fusion dishes (mainly laotian, vietnamese and thai). i often come for dinner or drinks. the crowded seating area can fill up quickly and the noise level can get quite loud. but i love the low-key but lively ambiance. one thing i really like about the interior is the display of artworks on the walls which change from time to time, supporting local artists. awesome!

the menu is very creative and inventive (i've only gotten a picture of the appetizer which may not seem all that interesting but you should take a look at their dinner menu). many dishes have various ethnic twists to them. the house specials are always interesting, sometimes provocative. bonus point for being über original. the wine list may seem short but they do have excellent choices. the cocktail and martini list is extensive. i suggest the blueberry tea, the good kind (with grand marnier and amaretto) on a cold winter evening.

first up is the Crispy Calamari ($9.50). the calamari is chewy and soft. it melts in your mouth. the deep fried seasoned flour coat is marinated with ginger, garlic and chillies. crispy on the outside and soft inside. perfect! i like it with or without the sweet chili sauce.

the Quinoa Salad ($10.95) is, in our opinion, the best in town. it's nothing special, just some baby greens, garlic, lemon, herbs, chickpeas, goat cheese and olive oil with quinoa. but somehow all the ingredients are magically blended into a perfect salad. there's so much flavour i can't believe it is only dressed in olive oil and lemon. quinoa is very healthy gluten-free grain full of protein. i highly recommend you try this fresh salad. if you love quinoa, this will be a sensational tasting experience, if you've never tried quinoa, this will be a sensational tasting experience.

i know queen mother is famous for its Ping Gai and we almost ordered the infamous chicken dish, but this time we tried something new, Khao Soy Gai ($13.95). during my previous visits i've seen many people order khao soy gai. the three ladies at the table next to us also ordered it too, so it must be good, right? well... i've never tried anything like it. i can't quite describe how it tastes though. the broth is coconuty curry with hint of minty flavour that also taste a little spicy.

the menu explains khao soy gai as "a traditional northern Laotian dish of chicken simmered in a spicy broth of ginger, fresh Thai herbs, turmeric, curry and coconut milk, served on a bed of soft thin egg noodles, bean sprouts and watercress, garnished with mint, shallots, marinated bok choy and fresh coriander." (phew~)

it's a curious flavour. you won't know what it taste like until you actually try it. sorry i am not much of a help. but best part of trying something new is the unexpected surprise, hopefully the good kind :D i can't say i fell in love with it, but writing about it now makes me want to have more. strange.

while the other girls had wine to drink, i had Amaretto Sour. the lemon juice here is superb. nice clean taste, not too sour not too sweet. i also enjoy queen mother's sangrias (red, white, pink). they have it year-round. because even in winter, i crave some good sangria, don't you?

after second round of drinks, we ordered Goat Cheese and Artichoke Dip ($9.50) to pick at. notice the presentation of the dish is very similar to the crispy calamari. i like that they serve few slices of fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. the dip is very very creamy and and thick in texture. the taro chips are amazing. my misconception of taro bubble tea has led me to believe that taro is pastel purple, but they are actually golden-brown. the chips were crispy and addictive. it taste like half sweet potato chips and half potato chips. i want to know where i can get my hands on these taro chips. i will be much sad to find out that they make it in the kitchen (because that means i can't buy it to snack at home.. boo...).

by the end of the taro chips, we were too full to try some desserts. they have a wide selection of made-in-house cakes, pies and mousses next to the bar you can choose from. the staff here are all very friendly and prompt. one staff frequently made runs to make sure our water glasses were full. i should mention that on a friday night, we had to wait about 20 minutes to get a table for four. they do not take reservations which kinda sucks, so if you want to be seated right away, avoid the peak hours.

queen mother cafe is a perfect place for a dinner&movie (scotia bank theatre just a couple blocks away) on a casual date or to enjoy some original food and drink on a girls' night out.


Queen Mother Cafe
208 Queen Street West
416.598.4719
www.queenmothercafe.ca

posted by rin