T wo years ago, alternative magazine Utne Reader chose College and Clinton as one of the hippest places to live in Canada. Contemporary lines of translucent plastic chairs blend beautifully with retro inverted-mushroom ceiling fixtures. Rescued off-white vintage '60s fiberglass bar stools hug an undulating wave of counter space. Stylish banquettes are smallish, as is the open kitchen.
Tempo encourages patience as dishes are prepared to order.
That means assured freshness at a time when local restaurants are under siege from Toronto Public Health for unsafe food conditions. Finely chopped Ontario lamb is combined with apple wood smoked duck liver, sun dried tomatoes, garlic chives and grated ginger. The mixture is stuffed into a wrapper and then poached. Could've eaten 40. Before frying the shrimp in batter, Thai breaks with tradition and marinates them in ginger and garlic, a huge bump up in flavor.