Question: Does the waiter bad?

After MANY suggestions I finally decided to try and brought my mom and sister along. The food was really great, we had the duck confit, the short rib tacos, cheeseburger spring rolls, truffle fries and the chicken and waffles. Despite being good, the service was awful. It started out well, but then we got a table beside us with four people. The server must have known them. They got their food before us, despite arriving a half hour after us. The server was very attentive to them gave them each a dessert for it being their birthday, when they expressed that it was intact only ONE of their birthdays. So they all got dessert with a candle. We were still waiting for our last entree. They had all 8 of their plates come out and we were waiting for our 5th. It took 25 minutes to get the bill and the server went to the group beside us to cash them out first. It was extremely frustrating seeing everyone getting their food and special service. The food was great but the service seriously put a damper on the night. I honestly won't go back, there are way better restaurants with great and attentive service. After all, it's a part of the ambiance and experience.

Answer: They got their food before us, despite arriving a half hour after us

After MANY suggestions I finally decided to try and brought my mom and sister along. The food was really great, we had the duck confit, the short rib tacos, cheeseburger spring rolls, truffle fries and the chicken and waffles. Despite being good, the service was awful. It started out well, but then we got a table beside us with four people. The server must have known them. <hl> They got their food before us, despite arriving a half hour after us . <hl> The server was very attentive to them gave them each a dessert for it being their birthday, when they expressed that it was intact only ONE of their birthdays. So they all got dessert with a candle. We were still waiting for our last entree. They had all 8 of their plates come out and we were waiting for our 5th. It took 25 minutes to get the bill and the server went to the group beside us to cash them out first. It was extremely frustrating seeing everyone getting their food and special service. The food was great but the service seriously put a damper on the night. I honestly won't go back, there are way better restaurants with great and attentive service. After all, it's a part of the ambiance and experience.

After MANY suggestions I finally decided to try and brought my mom and sister along. The food was really great, we had the duck confit, the short rib tacos, cheeseburger spring rolls, truffle fries and the chicken and waffles. Despite being good, the service was awful. It started out well, but then we got a table beside us with four people. The server must have known them. <hl> They got their food before us, despite arriving a half hour after us <hl>. The server was very attentive to them gave them each a dessert for it being their birthday, when they expressed that it was intact only ONE of their birthdays. So they all got dessert with a candle. We were still waiting for our last entree. They had all 8 of their plates come out and we were waiting for our 5th. It took 25 minutes to get the bill and the server went to the group beside us to cash them out first. It was extremely frustrating seeing everyone getting their food and special service. The food was great but the service seriously put a damper on the night. I honestly won't go back, there are way better restaurants with great and attentive service. After all, it's a part of the ambiance and experience.

<hl> They got their food before us, despite arriving a half hour after us <hl> .


Question: How is the dinner?

Byblos is one of those restaurants you're always reading about but somehow you just never get around to visiting. But given that we had theater tickets one Friday night, the time was finally right to sample Byblos' much-ballyhooed wares.We arrived at around 6:15 and we promptly shown to our reserved table near the front. Our very helpful waitress appeared shortly after and we began the slow process of figuring out just what to eat. We ultimately chose six items:Duck Kibbeh (dried fig + date molasses + tahini): This was easily the highlight of the entire meal. I've eaten plenty of kibbeh over my lifetime but this is unquestionably the tastiest version of this venerable dish I've ever had. Everything was perfect, from the delectable spices to the unctuous, melt-in-your-mouth meat to the note-perfect sauce. Just astounding.Spanish Octopus (fingerling potato + biber chili vinaigrette + preserved lemon): Although the octopus was cooked about as well as I've ever had it - the octopus at Bar Isabel, for example, was far chewier - there was nothing about this dish that really stood out. Perhaps it's because it came on the heels of the sublime Duck Kibbeh, but there was nothing here that really blew me away in terms of flavor - although the presentation was quite nice.Sujuk Pide (turkish paste + persian feta + za'atar): I'm a big fan of sujuk (a spicy Middle Eastern sausage), so I was especially excited about this one. It's very good. All the components work extremely well together and the enveloping crust is baked perfectly. I suppose my one complaint is the sujuk itself, which, in addition to not tasting like any sujuk I've ever had, is completely lacking in the heat I've come to associate with the sausage.Mejadra (lentil + hung yogurt + fried shallot): Again, this is something I've been eating my entire life and I have to say, unfortunately, that this dish just didn't measure up. Despite the aforementioned dollop of yogurt, the rice is just dry as heck. It's been cooked in a skillet, which allows the side and bottom rice to get crispy - an idea which sounds great in theory but doesn't really work here. Far more problematic is the fried shallot on top. Traditionally, the shallots (or onions) are taken beyond the point of caramelization, which lends the dish a rich flavor that's unfortunately completely absent here. This was definitely the biggest disappointment for me.Seared Cauliflower (duck fat + tahini sauce + sesame + coriander): This is a very tasty side that's almost workmanlike in its execution. It's well done but it's nothing special, sadly.Turkish Manti Dumplings (smokey eggplant + yogurt sauce + molasses): This incredibly rich dish admittedly goes well with the Mejadra, as it cuts that dryness I mentioned. But it might be just a little too rich; between the heavy yogurt sauce and the sweet molasses, it's impossible to taste the smokey eggplant supposedly contained within the dumplings.All in all, I quite enjoyed my meal at Byblos. The ambiance is inviting, the service is flawless, and the food is, for the most part, quite above average. And I'd sure as heck go back just to eat that Duck Kibbeh again.

Answer: Everything was perfect

Byblos is one of those restaurants you're always reading about but somehow you just never get around to visiting. But given that we had theater tickets one Friday night, the time was finally right to sample Byblos' much-ballyhooed wares. We arrived at around 6:15 and we promptly shown to our reserved table near the front. Our very helpful waitress appeared shortly after and we began the slow process of figuring out just what to eat. We ultimately chose six items:Duck Kibbeh (dried fig + date molasses + tahini): This was easily the highlight of the entire meal. I've eaten plenty of kibbeh over my lifetime but this is unquestionably the tastiest version of this venerable dish I've ever had. <hl> Everything was perfect , from the delectable spices to the unctuous, melt-in-your-mouth meat to the note-perfect sauce. <hl> Just astounding. Spanish Octopus (fingerling potato + biber chili vinaigrette + preserved lemon): Although the octopus was cooked about as well as I've ever had it - the octopus at Bar Isabel, for example, was far chewier - there was nothing about this dish that really stood out. Perhaps it's because it came on the heels of the sublime Duck Kibbeh, but there was nothing here that really blew me away in terms of flavor - although the presentation was quite nice. Sujuk Pide (turkish paste + persian feta + za'atar): I'm a big fan of sujuk (a spicy Middle Eastern sausage), so I was especially excited about this one. It's very good. All the components work extremely well together and the enveloping crust is baked perfectly. I suppose my one complaint is the sujuk itself, which, in addition to not tasting like any sujuk I've ever had, is completely lacking in the heat I've come to associate with the sausage. Mejadra (lentil + hung yogurt + fried shallot): Again, this is something I've been eating my entire life and I have to say, unfortunately, that this dish just didn't measure up. Despite the aforementioned dollop of yogurt, the rice is just dry as heck. It's been cooked in a skillet, which allows the side and bottom rice to get crispy - an idea which sounds great in theory but doesn't really work here. Far more problematic is the fried shallot on top. Traditionally, the shallots (or onions) are taken beyond the point of caramelization, which lends the dish a rich flavor that's unfortunately completely absent here. This was definitely the biggest disappointment for me. Seared Cauliflower (duck fat + tahini sauce + sesame + coriander): This is a very tasty side that's almost workmanlike in its execution. It's well done but it's nothing special, sadly. Turkish Manti Dumplings (smokey eggplant + yogurt sauce + molasses): This incredibly rich dish admittedly goes well with the Mejadra, as it cuts that dryness I mentioned. But it might be just a little too rich; between the heavy yogurt sauce and the sweet molasses, it's impossible to taste the smokey eggplant supposedly contained within the dumplings. All in all, I quite enjoyed my meal at Byblos. The ambiance is inviting, the service is flawless, and the food is, for the most part, quite above average. And I'd sure as heck go back just to eat that Duck Kibbeh again.

Byblos is one of those restaurants you're always reading about but somehow you just never get around to visiting. But given that we had theater tickets one Friday night, the time was finally right to sample Byblos' much-ballyhooed wares.We arrived at around 6:15 and we promptly shown to our reserved table near the front. Our very helpful waitress appeared shortly after and we began the slow process of figuring out just what to eat. We ultimately chose six items:Duck Kibbeh (dried fig + date molasses + tahini): This was easily the highlight of the entire meal. I've eaten plenty of kibbeh over my lifetime but this is unquestionably the tastiest version of this venerable dish I've ever had. <hl> Everything was perfect <hl>, from the delectable spices to the unctuous, melt-in-your-mouth meat to the note-perfect sauce. Just astounding.Spanish Octopus (fingerling potato + biber chili vinaigrette + preserved lemon): Although the octopus was cooked about as well as I've ever had it - the octopus at Bar Isabel, for example, was far chewier - there was nothing about this dish that really stood out. Perhaps it's because it came on the heels of the sublime Duck Kibbeh, but there was nothing here that really blew me away in terms of flavor - although the presentation was quite nice.Sujuk Pide (turkish paste + persian feta + za'atar): I'm a big fan of sujuk (a spicy Middle Eastern sausage), so I was especially excited about this one. It's very good. All the components work extremely well together and the enveloping crust is baked perfectly. I suppose my one complaint is the sujuk itself, which, in addition to not tasting like any sujuk I've ever had, is completely lacking in the heat I've come to associate with the sausage.Mejadra (lentil + hung yogurt + fried shallot): Again, this is something I've been eating my entire life and I have to say, unfortunately, that this dish just didn't measure up. Despite the aforementioned dollop of yogurt, the rice is just dry as heck. It's been cooked in a skillet, which allows the side and bottom rice to get crispy - an idea which sounds great in theory but doesn't really work here. Far more problematic is the fried shallot on top. Traditionally, the shallots (or onions) are taken beyond the point of caramelization, which lends the dish a rich flavor that's unfortunately completely absent here. This was definitely the biggest disappointment for me.Seared Cauliflower (duck fat + tahini sauce + sesame + coriander): This is a very tasty side that's almost workmanlike in its execution. It's well done but it's nothing special, sadly.Turkish Manti Dumplings (smokey eggplant + yogurt sauce + molasses): This incredibly rich dish admittedly goes well with the Mejadra, as it cuts that dryness I mentioned. But it might be just a little too rich; between the heavy yogurt sauce and the sweet molasses, it's impossible to taste the smokey eggplant supposedly contained within the dumplings.All in all, I quite enjoyed my meal at Byblos. The ambiance is inviting, the service is flawless, and the food is, for the most part, quite above average. And I'd sure as heck go back just to eat that Duck Kibbeh again.

<hl> Everything was perfect <hl> , from the delectable spices to the unctuous, melt-in-your-mouth meat to the note-perfect sauce.


Question: Is it good to eat in that restaurant?

This place feels like a Toronto classic with a fusion twist on Asian classics! My go to here is usually kimchi poutine, or one of the sandwiches. All the food is always hot and fresh (probably because of how busy they are), and the ingredients taste authentic, even though the dishes are fusions. The spaces are usually small, and definitely not intended for long stays. I usually take my food to go and find a nicer area nearby (parks and public spaces abound). Definitely good for quick eats!

Answer: good for quick eats

Definitely good for quick eats !

This place feels like a Toronto classic with a fusion twist on Asian classics! My go to here is usually kimchi poutine, or one of the sandwiches. All the food is always hot and fresh (probably because of how busy they are), and the ingredients taste authentic, even though the dishes are fusions. The spaces are usually small, and definitely not intended for long stays. I usually take my food to go and find a nicer area nearby (parks and public spaces abound). <hl> Definitely good for quick eats ! <hl>

This place feels like a Toronto classic with a fusion twist on Asian classics! My go to here is usually kimchi poutine, or one of the sandwiches. All the food is always hot and fresh (probably because of how busy they are), and the ingredients taste authentic, even though the dishes are fusions. The spaces are usually small, and definitely not intended for long stays. I usually take my food to go and find a nicer area nearby (parks and public spaces abound). Definitely <hl> good for quick eats <hl>!

Definitely <hl> good for quick eats <hl> !