Nice Poutine

218 Adelaide Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 1W7

http://smokespoutinerie.com/

Opened a while back, and based on much buzz, as well as some great reviews I decided I wanted....no, NEEDED to check this place out.

Before going, I read several reviews, all agreed the place was great, and a few called the pulled pork used to top the pulled pork poutine the best pulled pork in the city.

When we went the first time it was early afternoon and they did not open until the evening, so we had to skip it that time, but went back within the week.

Walking in I liked the place right away, a guy (turned out was the owner) was sitting by the front on his IMac playing some great 80's heavy metal. (I am a big fan).

Service was very prompt and friendly, I had the traditional poutine (just fries, gravy and cheese curd) just to try the poutine at its purest.

Smoke's did tempt me with the dozens and dozens of toppings you could add to your poutine(hot dogs, bacon, curry, the above mentioned pulled pork) but I thought for my first visit I just wanted to try the most basic.

I got my order and was a little worried, I thought the box it came in looked small, but in the end I could hardly finish what I had, so any more would have been a waste.

As for the poutine, the fries were perfect, they were cooked to the perfect consistency.

The cheese curds used were fantastic too, very squeaky and firm.

My only issue was with the gravy, or the sauce.

I am a really big fan of regular gravy, but Smokes has gone for more of a Quebec style sauce for their poutine (which really is more authentic).

Rather than the regular gravy that I know and love, they make their own sauce using chicken and beef stock along with a wine reduction.

Really it is a great sauce, I just was expecting a regular gravy.

As mentioned above, the box I thought was small filled me right up, and after a few mouthfuls I really began enjoying the gravy.

So in the end, while I do prefer regular gravy, the sauce used in Smoke's Poutine separates them from the rest.

I will be back for sure.

Reggie's Cheese Stick's

So Toronto finally has a good 24 hour sandwich place

http://www.reggiessandwiches.com/

They opened a few months back down on King St (571 king street west) and seem to have already captured quite a following (and not just from the strip club down the street)

I read a really good review in Now Magazine and decided we should check this place out.

The Menu http://www.reggiessandwiches.com/menu.html was pretty big, so much to choose from, but the staff were very gelpful in making suggestions.

We decided to have the Monte Cristo sandwich for me, Ham, roast turkey, Swiss, mozzarella,, Dijon mustard & mayo for $7.25, and the Chicken Parm for her $7.95Breaded cutlet, spicy tomato sauce & mozzarella.

Took around ten minutes for our sandwiches to come from the kitchen (the cook told us it was because he dropped one and had to make a brand new one)

The sandwiches were a fair size, and had generous amounts of meat.

I really enjoyed mine, hers was ok, but after having the same at California Sandwiches it's hard for these guys to make a better chicken parm.

My only complaint would be for nearly ten dollars a sandwich, give me some sides, some fries, a bag of chips, whatever.

Since we knew that there were no sides we ordered a side of cheese sticks (because the description reminded me of a great appetizer at the cheesecake factory)

The sticks were ok, but nowhere near cheesy enough, they are essentially macaroni and cheese formed into sticks, battered then deep fried.

I think with a cheese dip on the side they could be really good.

Overall, fast friendly service, good food, open all night, I'll be back.