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RESTAURANTS

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Serving up wide variety of breakfasts and lunches including for vegan tastes

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 16 2024

Vegan tofu breakfast and vegan scrambled eggs, those aren’t the kind of dishes you get at a regular breakfast restaurant locally. But ever since The Breakfast Guyz opened at 2763 Howard Ave. (in front of the iCheckINN motel) last winter they’ve offered both a traditional Canadian breakfast as well as special dishes for the vegetarian and vegan community. Co-owner Shivani Babbar says there are as many as 10 dishes to accommodate a non-meat palate. “What I’ve heard as feedback from vegan people is that they don’t find a lot of places serving vegan breakfasts,” she said. ”And the best part about it is it’s just not the food but they can sit with their family or friends who enjoy regular food and they want to eat their vegan food and not feel left out and feel like ‘Oh I’m just ending up eating potatoes or a salad.’” But the resto offers a wide variety of breakfast dishes altogether. There are seven omelettes, several breakfast sandwiches, skillets, bennies, pancakes, French toast, oatmeal and parfait bowls. But it’s not just breakfast. The restaurant serves a full range of lunch dishes with appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pita, wraps and burgers. Shavani and husband Arun moved here from the GTA partly for a change in lifestyle. They both have backgrounds in the hospitality industry and helping new restaurants get up and running. “We wanted to do something where we wanted to create a balance,” she said. “Being in this industry you’re working day and night. But we have kids, we have family … and we wanted to have some spare time for our families too so we came up with the idea of breakfast and I guess it clicked.” Hence a resto specializing in breakfasts and lunches and open 8 am – 3 pm (4 pm Fri & Sat) seven days a week. The Breakfast Guyz has also carved out a niche hosting groups, often sports teams or family gatherings. “A lot of clientele have become our regulars, they appreciate our food, and give us ideas too and then keep coming back,” she said. “I think that’s the biggest (compliment) for a restaurant.”

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Parents and kids can party together at this Amherstburg family fun centre

WindsrOntarioNews.com Nov 26 2024

It used to be known as the Verdi Club, for decades Amherstburg's Italian social club. The Verdi closed some years back and the building has been reincarnated as The Fort Fun Centre. The Fort is one of the few private event centres in Windsor-Essex that accommodates both adults and kids. "The whole place is very family oriented," manager Bob Shaw says. "It's more like an arcade with a bowling alley - a family fun centre." There’s also beach volleyball and, coming soon, laser tag. The Verdi used to be famous for its traditional Italian pizza oven. The Fort has kept the oven and makes the same pizza! Shaw says that’s the top seller, with a build-your-own option with customers. But the kitchen offers a wide variety of burgers, steaks, wraps including chicken bruschetta, bowls, nachos, and a kids menu of course. On the entertainment side, there are themed nights like comedy shows with well-known and hometown star Leo Dufour. There’s line dancing - including instruction - the first Fridays of the month “which are really going well,” Shaw says. There's a "huge" patio with an outdoor stage in milder weather. "And we're licensed for 1600 out there.” The Fort can accommodate groups of 100 for private parties. The Fort pays tribute to its Italian heritage with a small bar reopened for banquets nicknamed The Verdi Room. The venue is open seven days after 3 pm weekdays and 11 am weekends (winter hours) and currently not open for lunch. But what makes the place stand out is that adults can have their fun and kids can too. "We have everything for adults and kids - great cocktails, great food," Shaw says. In other words, while the adults are sipping adult beverages the kids are playing in the arcade. No need for a babysitter.

Photo: The Fort

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Resto notes...Bubi's gone, Windsor needs a full-fledged Greek restaurant and Vito's DT on verge of opening?

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 11 2024

We’re sorry to see that one of the early innovators in Windsor restaurant dining has closed. Bubi's Awesome Eats at University and Janette closed after 40 Years on October 4th 2024. Bubi's changed the concept of the hum drum burger and caught the eye of critics winning awards and was even featured on the Food Network. “Garlicky good love to all!” was management’s Facebook signoff…..Meanwhile in the heart of downtown, at a well-regarded eatery, we were seated at a table that seemed like a football field in length – making us pretend to speak to each other through bullhorns – when there was only two of us. Why the distance? At the same resto – and this has been noticed increasingly at other establishments – the tip calculator on the handheld keyboard started at 18% not the former 15%..... Why is music in too many restaurants so bland and mediocre? A combination of 70s, 80s and early 90s tunes that have been played from time immemorial simply deaden the senses, enjoyable food or not......When they talk about the glories of ‘al fresco’ dining they didn’t mention the wasps. Repeatedly when we’ve dined outdoors, we’ve been plagued by wasps, even inside on one occasion sitting near the cafe's open street garage patio door……Let’s face it dining out these days is horrendously expensive and an eye opener to people who haven’t been out in awhile. Recent forays into county and city restaurants routinely saw bills topping $100 for two people. Yet there are more restaurants than ever so, like paying for gasoline, restaurant dining seems to be, as economists say, “elastic”…..It appears Windsor needs a good sit down and more "formal" Greek restaurant. Most existing eateries seem to be glorified take outs. One we attended was bereft of two classical Greek dishes; it didn’t even have ice for the water. They may have had gyros and fries aplenty but not the heavier entrée dishes like Spanakopita (spinach & feta in filo pastry) (photo) or even moussaka. We got up and left…..And we see that Vito’s, the popular and well regarded gourmet pizza restaurant, a Walkerville mainstay, appears to finally be opening its downtown location. WON has reported on this over the past couple of years. The downtown opening seems to have been hindered and earlier attempts to contact management were unsuccessful. Now, it seems, the resto is a go in the former Birks building – home to a number of higher end eating iterations over the years – at the prime corner of Ouellette and Park.

Photo: Google Street View

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Downtown offers diverse eating options within 'walkable urban landscape'

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 30 2024

The region’s downtown dining guide has got a boost from the Downtown Windsor BIA, now promoting the regional publication on its website, produced by Tourism Windsor Pelee Island. It only makes sense. Downtown gets a knock but there really are an astounding array of places to eat and drink in the city centre. And now is the time to embrace it. As DWBIA director Debi Croucher says, “With a high concentration of eateries, many reflecting the region's cultural heritage and local flavours, dining in downtown Windsor is about more than just food - it’s about the overall experience.” The guide is divided into eight sections, from Quick Serve to Pubs, Pizza places to Lunch, Cafes and Fine Dining. Quick Service features the traditional chains but also under the radar places like Booster Juice. Four pubs are featured and nine pizzerias including Snap Custom Pizza and Homeslice. Cafes include Café March 21 and Williams Fresh. Croucher says not only does downtown offer a “diverse range” of eateries but has "an abundance” of international cuisines, which people who haven’t been downtown in awhile might be surprised to find. Moreover, simply being downtown is a different experience. “Visitors can enjoy meals in stylish venues, artistic settings, historic buildings, or scenic outdoor patios, all within a walkable, urban landscape. Many establishments are locally owned, adding to Windsor’s authentic, homegrown charm.” While many long-time eateries are noted many newer ones are also listed. These include Panache Ultra Lounge & Restaurant, Auto City Hamburgers & Poutine, Saila Vibes, Thyme Kitchen and Smoke’s Poutinerie.

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Even in Windsor-Essex, great perch dinners may be a thing of the past

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 11 2024

By RON STANG, WON Publisher

Whatever happened to Essex County’s great perch dinners? At one time the late and lamented Duffy’s in Amherstburg, for example, offered all you can eat Friday night perch - and at a reasonable price. A recent visit to two area restaurants – in locations one would think would excel at serving fish – proved more than disappointing. At the first, a total of three fresh fillets were served on a plate with home cut and very yummy fries. But three fillets seemed a bit stingy though they were of a size normally associated with perch. The second restaurant served four measly – and I mean measly – fillets. And insult added to injury was the fact the fries were thin and bland, and about what you’d buy at a grocery store (on the low end). The second restaurant’s menu also proved deceptive. No prices were given, only the prices of add ons, such as "blackened" for $3. The whole shemozzle (with alcoholic drinks and one piece of cake) came to $103 before tip. Yet diners kept coming to this longtime and physically attractive eatery, about whom one can only say “there’s a sucker born…” The first restaurant priced its “three piece perch basket” at $21. It was okay but the fries were the true delight. And, yes, a little research shows that perch is now relatively expensive. An online answer said Lake Erie Yellow Perch currently is selling at $31.95 a pound. That’s from about $15 in 2016, according to a CBC story at the time, when it had just jumped from about $11 over the past year. However, at the first restaurant another fish dish didn’t make the grade. This was the seafood salad – $20 – which contained 80 per cent lettuce and cucumber bits sprinkled with some stringy squid, a few shrimp and barely there scallops. The website picture was highly deceiving. Even the bowl presentation was unattractive, likened to serving cereal. We want to support the restaurant sector but we also don’t want to be made fools of.

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Turkish cafe, pastries & grocery in one

WindsorOntarioNews.com August 12 2024

Troya Turkish Pastry and Grocery is something the city of Windsor has never had before – a combination Turkish café (outside and in), pastry shop and grocery store. It opened three weeks ago at 943 Ottawa St. just east of Parent Ave. The brainchild of Mehmet Murat Karademir, it has a delightful welcoming atmosphere, open 6 am to 11 pm and 1 am on weekends. Mehmet, who’s from Istanbul and now settled in Windsor with his family, thought there was a big gap in Turkish cuisine here. “Toronto has a lot of Turkish food, pastries and restaurants but Windsor didn’t have a lot of Turkish food stores,” he says. “So we decided to open a Turkish grocery and we added pastry.” Coming to Windsor was happenstance and not entirely surprising for a newcomer. Memet had originally planned to go to the US but stopped in Windsor and fell in love with a community without big city woes yet not too small to support a Turkish enterprise. The shop’s name refers to Troy, the ancient Greek city that’s located in Turkey. (Check out the 2004 film with Brad Pitt.) He encourages people to come for breakfast and sample Turkish coffee and pastries including baklava and cookies, made in house by a team of three chefs. Among the pastries are Sekerpare (flour sugar egg and oil), Fistik Sarma (pistachio roll), Sobiyet (similar to baklava), and Baklava itself. There are scrumptious rolls covered with hazelnut and almond, sour cherry, pomegranate, chocolate and lemon. And cookies galore. Along the grocery aisles you’ll find jarred marinated pickles, cheeses, meats, beans, soup mixes, coffees and teas and help-yourself bins with different types of nuts. Windsor may not have a huge Turkish community but it does have a substantial Balkan one (Macedonia, Croatia, etc.) and Greek. “If you know anything about Greek cooking, we learn lots of things from Greece,” he says. But it doesn’t really matter since the café-grocery welcomes everyone

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Oven 360 brings finer dining downtown

WindsorOntarioNews.com July 29 2024

The highly successful pizzeria franchise Oven 360 – now with 11 locations and as far afield as Chatham and Burlington and the first US location in Troy MI - has spun off a finer dining option in downtown Windsor called Cucina 360. The brainchild of chef Remo Tortola and a few investors, the 360 concept relies on an authentic Italian-built revolving (hence 360) wood-burning pizza oven. Customers can watch the pizza being made and, like at a Harvey’s or Subway, choose individual toppings. The restaurants serve up authentic Neapolitan pizza from the place in Italy from where Tortola hails. The downtown experience also includes the oven experience but has a full menu with an upscale but relaxed vibe. A bonus might be it’s located in a building well known to generations, the late lamented Kurt Deeg’s former Ye Olde Steak House on Chatham, St. W., which operated 40 years. Tortola says older customers talk of their memories. While clientele was a little slow to learn about the restaurant during its first year of operation in 2023 the pace has definitely started to pick up. “It’s amazing,” Tortola says. “The customers, especially the older people, all have memories of that place.” The next cohort of diners are those 30-50. And Tortola is getting tourist trade from people staying at downtown hotels. Tortola opened the restaurant after downtown investors approached him. “They said, ‘you are the right name to do something downtown and try to revitalize downtown Windsor.’ I liked the idea and that’s what we did.” Look for a contemporary elegance with brick walls, modern furniture, a bar and a well-stocked wine nook. There are cold and hot appetizers, pasta, steak, chicken, rabbit, veal and baked salmon. If Oven 360 is bringing people back downtown one can only hope its model can be duplicated by other retailers.

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Tommy's revives 'Tunnel' tradition

WindsorOntarioNews.com July 12 2024

The Tunnel Bar B Q lives! The venerable and popular one-time restaurant – which had legions of fans on both sides of the border and folded its tent a decade ago soon followed by the death of owner Thom Racovitis, continues in another iteration, as Tommy’s Bar-B-Q in the Roundhouse Centre across from Devonshire Mall. Run by long time former Tunnel employees Thom and Lesley Stoiantsis, the resto opened in 2017, first on Erie St. before moving to the former Outback Steakhouse in the Roundhouse. Thom – also known as Tommy – began working for Racovitis, his uncle, when he was 15 in 1967. “I did the managing and all the buying and made the barbecue sauce,” he says. As people have discovered Tommy’s the resto has built a loyal following; after all, who didn’t like the original Tunnel? And the restaurant has virtually the same menu – ribs, chicken, combos, fries, a variety of sandwiches and salads. And the desserts! The exact same cakes and pies that were almost as legendary as the ribs at the original Tunnel. Strawberry Romanoff, Black Forest, Swiss Chocolate, Chocolate Windmill, apple, coconut and banana cream pies - all made in house. “Our bake shop is in the kitchen and they start at 6 am and they’re usually out of there by one and then we open up our service at three,” Tommy says. Even the rotisseries are from the original resto. One of the few new additions to the menu is the Beef Ribs. “They’re a huge seller, because not too many (restaurants) have beef ribs. I don’t know of anybody else really,” he said. Some of the staff are the same. “Some employees like (his manager) she’s been with us for 36 years,” he says. “She worked at Tunnel, The (affiliated former) Other Place, The Marketplace (formerly at the Holiday Inn) and now with us. We have a few drivers that have been with us, a cook whose been with us over 25-28 years.” So, no need to mourn the original Tunnel, just head to Tommy's.

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Fest Windsor's top food celebration

WindsorOntarioNews.com June 28 2024

Shahdesh Singh found it a comparative breeze this year getting city approval to host the second annual Windsor Food Festival. The head of the PSD (Production Stage and Décor) event planning company learned the ropes last year but still attracted 7000 people to the Riverfront Festival Plaza. “It’s just that I was new and I did not know how to do that, and it was my first time dealing with the city,” Singh said. “Last year was difficult but this year it’s going smoothly.” Singh, who moved to Windsor in 2020, create the festival because he didn’t see anything like this in Windsor. “I understand there are some events on a small scale but not on the festival plaza,” he said. Not only is it a culinary spectacular. But it provides performing artists with a wide stage – literally – to perform and with exposure to new audiences. And PSD doesn’t charge them to perform. There will be singers dancers, drummers, many from the South Asian community, of which the festival has a distinctive stamp. “It’s where people can come, gather, enjoy, socialize,” says Singh, and has provided a meeting place for the city’s large Asian community. “The international students and the international community, they need this,” he said. Last year there were 18 stalls and this year so far 28 have been booked and the deadline for booking is July 4. Some 60 artists have also booked to perform “and we’re still open for bookings,” he said. And while South Asian cuisine will be a signature feature a wide variety of foods, from wings to poutine to burgers, will be available. Some of the vendors will be restaurants, others pop-up. All will be inspected by the health unit. The event will be held July 12 – 14. Admission is free with registration (for statistical purposes) or $2. After July 4 a map and vendor list will be posted to the www.WindsorFoodFestival.ca website.

Photo: Windsor Food Festival

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Next up for Golden Harvest: a full cafe

WindsorOntarioNews.com June 14 2024

Golden Oven European bakery has been a delightful addition to the local food scene since opening last fall with plans for a sit-down café in the next few months. Owner Sonia Abro and husband Ablahad moved to Windsor from Munich, Germany, where they also ran a bakery. But Abro had family in Windsor and wanted to make the move to Canada. People have raved online about the small bakery at 1794 Westcott Rd., open seven days. “We were surprised by the many different pastries having different textures from light and airy to layered and flaky to moist and chewy, being delicately flavoured to perfection,” one customer wrote. “My wife and I both agree that Golden Oven European Bakery is now our number one go to bakery.” The bakery has a variety of fruit pastries, croissants and breads, all baked fresh and using European ingredients. “We do European style I don’t think they have it here in Windsor,” Abro said. “We have 15 – 20 different kinds of breads.” These include healthy Good Heart with seeds like poppy, sunflower and flax. There’s Apple Cinnamon bread on weekends, the namesake Golden Oven bread with black and green olives, cheddar cheese. “This is bread you can pull apart and just eat as is,” Sonia says. There’s Smokey Onion, Orange Cranberry, Cranberry Walnut and Blueberry. And the pastries taste different because European cream is used which doesn’t give that too sweet taste. “It’s not sweet at all, it doesn’t affect the flavour,” she says. “Lots of customers say, ‘We didn’t have this kind of cake before.’” Sonia says some customers use the sweet breads to make French toast or simply dip in butter and eat. Patrons are obviously going away happy. “I don’t have any bad reviews, they always come and go with a happy smile,” Sonia says. “Another lady told me that she doesn’t want to come to the bakery but her feet told her to go,” she laughs. The croissants are large, flaky and buttery. Said a customer: “Hands down the best croissant I’ve ever had.” We can’t wait for the café to open.

Photo: Golden Harvest's facebook page

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Toto Cafe wants to up coffee house vibe

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 30 2024

Toto Café has upped the coffee house vibe to a surround sight and sound experience. The newish eatery at 12211 Riverside Dr. E. in Tecumseh melds different concepts to come up with a unique ambience. “We believe that every detail, from our concept to our decor, is an integral part of the story we're eager to share with you,” owner Joe Proeski says. The idea behind the cafe is to bring people together and create community. Proeski says the concept is “rooted in the idea of fostering genuine connections and creating memorable experiences.” The design blends “contemporary elegance with cozy charm,” he says. Customers will find “warm tones, natural textures, and inviting seating arrangements that invite you to linger awhile.” These include custom-made lighting fixtures made by local artisans to curated artwork on the walls. Proeski says the café is committed to a food experience of “innovation and authenticity.” Check out Toto’s signature Lotus energy drinks “crafted from natural, plant-based ingredients,” to the eatery's “decadent selection of pastries and desserts.” Proeski and staff have “years of experience” in hospitality ranging from restos to cafes, pubs and nightclubs, bringing the best of these to Toto. “Our vision was simple yet profound,” he says. “To create a space where people from all walks of life could come together, share stories, and savor moments of joy and connection over great food and drinks.”

Photo: Toto Café

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Couple expand to "Pan-Asian" cuisine

WindsorOntarioNews.com May 13 2024

ChopstiX, which recently opened at 152 Lesperance Rd. in Tecumseh, isn’t offering “fusion” food, at least not yet. But what it is offering is a “pan-Asian” menu, and that’s pretty unique for the Windsor area. Owner Lam and Justin Harb already had a following from their Pad Thai on Wyandotte St. downtown, which they ran for a decade. But it was small and only offered takeout. And an alert to the civic powers that be: It was difficult operating in that area because of the homeless and addicts with “a lot of garbage and needles,” Lam says. The couple now has three small children and didn’t want to expose them to that negativity. They took some time off and then the former Healthy Mama vegetarian restaurant space became available. “I walked into the place and felt instant connection!” Lam says. Asian food runs deep in Lam’s family. Her family originally opened Simply Thai in Tecumseh. Lam also travelled extensively in southeast Asia and her father urged her to open her own resto. “My dad thought that I needed some kind of inspiration,” she says. “So, he immediately sent me there for four months and I travelled pretty much with a backpack and stopped at stalls and watched people cook. I just kind of picked up the technique from my native country and created a menu right there for fun." She brought it home and her father said, "Great let’s go look for a restaurant." Meanwhile, Lam and Justin have been soulmates since college. While Lam concentrates on the food Justin focusses on the restaurant’s concept and aesthetics. As she says, “I’m the authentic and Justin is the modern.” So they’ve branched out from just serving Thai to Vietnamese and Chinese. “Not everybody’s into authentic Asian cuisine but I feel that people are ready to be introduced to it,” she says. But the couple has opened the door to expanding into a fuller “fusion” of cuisines and mixtures. “We’ll definitely get into more varieties,” she said.

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Windsor FB group chats up restaurants

WindssorOntarioNews.com May 2 2024

Windsor has its own restaurant chat site. It’s Windsor Food Spotters on Facebook. It was created two years ago and has almost 13,000 members. The unrestricted site is constantly updated with all manner of resto and bar discoveries, opinions and general discussion about the area’s dining scene. Today, for example, the lead off post is about Torus Doughnuts. “Over priced and overrated” says one contributor. Another “F--- donuts, stay hard” whatever that means. Another cites Terra Cotta Pizzeria (original spelled incorrectly) pizzeria downtown, giving shout out for its two for one pizza night. “With everything going through the roof these days price wise we could not believe the deal. 4 pizzas, 2 pints, and a litre of wine for $85 bucks. Take out the alcohol your looking at roughly $35 for 4 pizzas that were wood oven baked. Unreal.” Chimes-in another, “I haven't been there in ages someone told me they closed down, glad to hear they didn't, their pizza is delicious.” On a different topic, a poster wanted to know if any patios are open yet. One person replied, “We ended up going to Kildare House.” Someone else posted a pic of the Erie Street GastroPub. Others contributed: “River’s Edge”, “The Barrel House” and so on. A different poster is looking for a job for an experienced sever. “I have my smart serve and many years of experience but still unable to find a place to work part time.” Several commentators offered leads. Another poster praised Walkerville Eatery. “We got some dill pickle pizza, taco pizza (they had a BOGO half price deal on Wednesdays) and some delicious sliders (the kid - vegetarian goat cheeseburger, conquistador - chorizo burger, and the parm - chicken parm burger) with Parmesan fries. Yummy.” And is this sacrilege in Canada's motor city? This poster actually said they preferred Windsor pizza with “round and crispy” - as opposed to the Windsor traditional shredded - pepperoni. “Well done zza from Napoli Pizza.” Surprisingly, most people agreed with him.

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Sicilian cuisine stars in Riverside

WindsorOntarioNews.com April 17 2024

John Fuerth’s Capone’s Grill & Pasta Shop at 5880 Wyandotte St. E. in Riverside will be celebrating its eighth anniversary in July serving up distinctly Sicilian style Italian food. Fuerth has had a long background in the restaurant industry – “since I was a kid actually” - and worked in well-known eateries as far back as Bentley’s Roadhouse and Cadillac Jack’s. In 1992 he opened Jake’s Eastside Pub & Grub on Lauzon Rd. then sold it in 2004. But he had studied under a Sicilian chef de cuisine and always wanted to open that kind of restaurant. The opportunity arose in a vacant space that was a onetime dessert shop and the long-ago Elaine (French) Bistro. Sicilian food uses fewer ingredients and is heartier with solid meat and fish, with dishes wrapped in sauces like Marsala, Piccata and Sicilian. “We do some really nice stuff here but it’s not 10 or 12 different things that you have to put into a dish to make it good," Fuerth said. "Sicilian is more of a rustic type cuisine.” The resto’s menu has plenty of meat and seafood dishes. Fuerth's customers’ fave? “I probably do about 40 pounds of veal a week.” Meanwhile. typical dishes might be Braised Beef Tenderloin pasta with sautéed mushrooms with choice of noodles, Sautéed Prosciutto with onion, mushroom, spinach and grape tomatoes tossed in a cream sauce. Or Shrimp & Crab stuffed Sole (or other fish) topped with a white wine cream sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables. The Riverside location, comfortably seating 32 with a small bar, perfectly fits since Fuerth grew up in the neighborhood and there is no other Italian restaurant in the area. “There's nothing else like it out here," he said. Post-Covid, the restaurant is only open three days a week but does private parties other nights. That makes sense. “When we were allowed to reopen again it was 'like you know, we’re going to stick to the Thursday, Friday, Saturdays because everything – labor food costs fixed costs – have skyrocketed' – that if you’re not busy every day you’re not making money.”

Photo: Google Street View

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Three new game-changers on scene

WindsorOntraioNews.com March 17 2024

At least three news restaurants by higher profile restaurateurs or generating social media buzz have opened. The first is Vito Maggio's Nauti V’s Oyster Bar in Walkerville, not far from his long-time artisan Vito's Pizzeria. The "nautical themed" resto - when was the last time there was an "oyster bar" in Windsor? - will seat 60 and the space, with its very contemporary furnishings and minimalist exterior design, "exudes hip," a press release says. Several attempts to reach owner Maggio were unsuccessful. Appetizers include the “indulgent Oyster Flight" and the “spectacular" two or three tiered seafood tray, which likely will be a hit. Among entrees, check out the Squid Ink Linguini and the succulent Vito’s Branzino. But not just fruits from the sea are on the menu. Meat lovers’ cravings are being sufficed with dishes like Ribeye, Chicken Roulade and Braised Lamb Shank. Desserts include Chocolate Ganache Mousse, an aromatic Earl Grey Tart and Lemon Cheesecake served with spiced crumbled candies and orange caramel. Meanwhile, closer to downtown in a small plaza on Pelissier St. just south of Wyandotte St. is Soul by Mr. Spoon, owned by 20-year chef Patrick Weatherspoon, who agreed to an interview but didn't follow up. The southern style soul food resto features everything from outdoor BBQs to catfish, sausages, collard greens, cornbread, yams, and mac and cheese. It looks like a fun, niche addition to the city's already diverse food scene. Meanwhile, out in Colchester, The Wreck at Colchester Harbour hopes to turn what had been a previous and somewhat nondescript greasy spoon onto a full blown bar and grill. Obviously someone has seen the potential of a resto overlooking Lake Erie and capitalizing on the boaters and swimmers (in summer) who flock to the area. "Local owners, local chefs, locally sourced, fresh food - come taste the flavours of Essex County!" their website boasts. But nowhere does it indicate the names of the individuals behind it. WON reached out and the owner (unnamed) agreed to an interview but didn’t respond further. The menu includes a lot of pub food but with a special emphasis, as fits the setting, of fish - perch, pickerel (never can have too much of that!), haddock plus shrimp and calamari. There's also a ton of burgers, sandwiches and wraps. While all three new culinary offerings should be applauded it would also be nice if the owners made themselves available to tout their offerings. Marketing, after all, can help sustain an already tough industry.

Photo: Google Street View

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Servers now get regular minimum wage

WindsorOntarioNews.oom February 14 2024

People may question tipping after the provincial minimum wage was raised for restaurant servers to $16.55 an hour effective last October. That was up from $15.50. In 2021 the rate was as low as $14.25. Liquor servers in bars are also earning the same though in 2021 they made as low as $12.45 an hour. That’s according to Service Ontario, the government web site. The increases were “tied to the Ontario Consumer Price Index for 2023.” The fact servers were always considered underpaid as per the general wage rate was a reason for tipping - or at least tipping generously – in the first place. But now that they make the same as the general working population, some may question that…..Toronto-based Paradise Fine Food, which has an outlet in Windsor on Dougall Ave., is in hot water after a social media post. Owner Mohamad Fakih was responding to a customer who said online “I’ll never set foot in Paramount Foods ever again” and “terrorist sympathizers don’t deserve my business.” Fakih responded (post since taken down) “we don’t want your money. Please don’t bring us blood money.” But Fakih said he was accused of a false antisemitic motive. That didn’t stand well with one of Canada’s largest Jewish organizations. “With his social-media post, this Order of Canada recipient reminded many Canadians of the days when Jews were not welcome as patrons in various establishments throughout the country,” said Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s manager of research. “The hurt caused by his message was amplified by his usage of the phrase ‘blood money,’ a term reminiscent of the classic antisemitic trope of blood libel”…..Poor Red Lobster, which has an outlet in Windsor. Last year it launched Ultimate Endless Shrimp at $20 per. Customers took advantage, so much so the chain lost $11 million during its third quarter. “The proportion of the people selecting this promotion was much higher compared to expectation,” Chief Financial Officer Ludovic Garnier said.

Photo: Restaurants Canada

Dining-in coming to Ghanaian eatery

WindsorOntartioNews.com January 29 2024

It’s opening inside dining next week, March 6th marks a two year anniversary, and it’s up for the 2024 Chamber of Commerce ‘New Company of the Year’ Business Excellence award. It’s Zuleeats, the until now take out only and increasingly popular Ghanian eatery at 2760 Howard Ave. Helmed by Chef Zule (Zul-ee) – “everybody calls me Zule” – Ankamah (photo), the resto opened during the pandemic and was perfect for the type of takeout food culture that lockdown inspired. Chef Zule opened it after being laid off from her former job. “I had always loved cooking” so she decided to “jump back in” to her first love, selling meat pies and eventually opening the bricks and mortar location, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary on Ghanaian Independence Day. “In spring 2021 we got into the Downtown Farmers Market and that’s when we really got the great exposure.” Chef Zule is a Ghanaian native and longtime Windsor resident. But meat pies, perhaps owing to the country’s one-time British colonial status, is a huge staple of the country’s diet. “Every event that you go to no matter how formal it is there’s going to be meat pies somewhere,” she said. The resto has both meat (beef and chicken) offerings as well as vegan and vegetarian. Each filling has a unique blend of tasty seasoning wrapped in a golden brown pastry. Also on tap are sausage rolls and Ghanaian meal specials such as fufu, okra, jollof rice and chicken). There are also sweets including that Canadian fave, butter tarts. Everything is handmade, baked fresh with high quality products. Zuleeats products can also be found at various retailers in Windsor and Essex County. The dining-in option should open next week after Chef Zule gets her liability insurance. “Just two tables because we don’t have the space for anything more, so it’s going to be almost Subway style,” she said. The little outlet is also branding itself with a red and white logo and enamel pins, reusable insulated shopping bags and - yum – Zule’s House Blend Seasoning.

Photo: Zuleeats

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Deadline looms to repay Covid loans

WindsorOntarioNews.com January 15 2024

The deadline is looming for restaurants to repay their CEBA loans, handed out during the pandemic. The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) loans, up to $60,000, must be repaid by Jan. 18. The loans helped struggling small businesses including restaurants, one of the hardest hit sectors, during the spread of Covid-19. Industry organization Restaurants Canada says there are three options for restaurateurs. Pay the full amount and retain $10-$20,000 in loan forgiveness. If they can’t pay by Jan. 18 they can seek refinancing from a financial institution to repay the loan, and still retain the $10-$20,000 in loan forgiveness. But they must apply for refinancing before Jan. 18 and be successfully refinanced by March 28 this year. “Interest rates and the term of the loan will be set by the financial institution providing the refinancing,” Restaurants Canada says. “From what we are hearing, it will likely be a higher rate than the 5%”. If restaurants can’t repay this week and aren’t able to refinance “because of profitability/creditworthiness of your business,” interest stars accruing at 5% annually on the entire loan including the otherwise $10-$20,000 in loan forgiveness. The full loans would be due by Dec. 31, 2026. However, owners can repay at any time before that date incrementally or in one fell swoop. “This represents a bigger loan amount to repay, but at a lower interest rate than you could get from your financial institution.” Restaurants Canada says it continues to fight the deadline. “We have launched a letter writing campaign to the Finance Minister and continue to have regular meetings with Ministers at every available opportunity to detail why extending CEBA is the best solution for our industry." Members are asked to sign an online letter.

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Patio season begins March 15 for St. Paddy's Day; get those applications in

WindsorOntarioNews.com Dec 13 2023

The city has developed new guidelines for outdoor patios. They can be a maximum 15 per cent of indoor capacity, must have a 30-metre setback to residential buildings, no more than four street parking spaces can be taken up and they “must be defined by a railing or similar boundary,” according to an administrative report. Restaurateurs and bar owners must submit a “fully dimensioned and labelled property map and floor plans” including orientation of tables and chairs and design of railing. Tents, stages and deck approvals must be submitted separately. Patios can only operate at most eight months per year from March 15 to Nov. 15. “This time frame was selected to allow operation from the St. Patrick’s holiday to when cooler weather and snowfall would be expected to start,” the city says. Applications must be made every year “to ensure that the proposed patio meets the continuously changing provincial legislation and standards, city by-law requirements and associated policies or procedures.” Restos and bars with previous patios will be reviewed for neighbourhood impacts and complaints. Liquor applications to the AGCO are separate but done only after city patio approval. The city application fee is $570 plus HST or $644.10. The fee includes fire and buildings inspections and planning review.

Diagram: City of Windsor

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Vito eyes eastside catering warehouse

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 29 2023

Vito’s Pizzeria owner Vito Maggio is looking to build a catering warehouse in Ford City on St. Luke Rd. just north of Wyandotte St. E. Vito Maggio Holdings Inc. owns the now vacant property that at one time had four homes on it, demolished 10 years ago. The 134,000 sq. m. warehouse “will be used to support the applicant’s other businesses. Primarily, the building will be used to store equipment and materials for a local catering company,” a city planning report says. The building would also be “compatible” (artist rendition above) with other residential properties along the street and will use “higher quality durable materials.” That’s consistent with what is desired for community revitalization by a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant program for which Maggio has also applied. The program puts a freeze on current property taxes for 10 years while the assessed value of the property increases. The property’s current value is $6000 and the future assessed value is estimated at $140,000. The grant would be $4,789 or $47,890 over 10 years. That’s based on the different between the current tax paid ($248.25) and estimated annual future tax of $5037.66. The location is at the end of St. Luke Rd. at a turn before the railway tracks.

Image: City of Windsor

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Most Canucks dissatisfied dining out

WindsorOntarioNews.com Nov 13 2023

If you’ve been less than thrilled about your restaurant dining experience lately you’re not alone. Only a mere 30 per cent of Canucks were either “very satisfied or satisfied” about dining out over the past year. In other words, they weren’t getting value for money or were dissatisfied “based on the money they spent,” according to Dalhousie University’s agri-food analytics lab. Restaurants have been struggling since the pandemic and trying to cut costs. That’s perhaps understandable but diners still see – or don’t – what’s on their plates, and they’re not happy. Almost 70 per cent “observed that portion sizes at restaurants have notably decreased compared to a year ago,” the survey found. Diners in Quebec were most satisfied at 40 per cent while those in Saskatchewan were least – 17.3 per cent. Meanwhile, people are changing what they order when dining out or cutting back on dining altogether to avoid high prices. “80.1% of respondents acknowledging that higher menu prices have influenced their dining-out choices. An additional 8.0% reported that they no longer dine out at all." And a significant 88.3% of Canadians say "they're dining out less due to higher overall food prices compared to a year ago.” More than 80 per cent “have become notably more selective” in choosing where to dine while some 77 per cent “now predominantly opt” for more affordable dining. Discounts, rebates, and loyalty programs are increasingly popular - 76.2% of us preferring them.

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Traditional steak and seafood in Windsor? They've got you covered

WindsorOntarioNews.com October 30 2023

Yes, the restaurant world is awash these days in an almost infinite variety of ethnic and fusion cuisine. And it’s all a good thing. But sometimes you just want to go and have a great traditional style dinner of steak and seafood. And one of the best places to do that in Windsor is Take Five Bistro. Now in its 12th year the 60-seat resto on Erie St. E. is run by Cody Northgrave and Paul Sauve. For those with a long memory the building at one time housed Aldo Goldberg’s and then a short-lived bistro. Take Five specializes solely in dinner and features signature steaks like filet mignon, ribeye and New York, in a couple of sizes or cut to order. There’s also racks of lamb and thick cut pork chops. Seafood includes lobster, crab cakes, salmon and calamari. Northgrave said when the partners took it over the resto space – “dark and gloomy” but in an intriguing old world way – was perfect for a steak place, especially more than a decade ago when the city’s dining offerings were more limited. With its wainscoting and tin ceiling, the room has that “New York or Chicago vibe,” Northgrave said. The owners also wanted a different cuisine to stand out on Italian-centric Erie Street. The original clientele was professional class heavy with lots of doctors, lawyers and executives. That has morphed somewhat into families, a lot of people on dates - including marriage proposals - and special occasions; the resto has a sizable private back room. The owners experimented with live music when they first started but ironically that drove customers away. “So unfortunately, we stopped doing the entertainment and just focussed on the food,” Northgrave said. Competition? There is The Keg. And the now defunct City Grill “was our kind of competition for a bit there.” The restaurant has now earned its creds so much so that Caesar Windsor’s Neros Steakhouse often sends it overflow customers. Besides a regular dinner menu Take Five offers prix fixe for those who want the elegance but spend a bit less.

Photo: Google Street View

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Central Texas style BBQ with a twist

WindsorOntarioNews.com October 13 2023

Sawyer’s Craft Barbecue puts its own unique spin on barbecue while keeping to a core tradition. Opened since Canada Day weekend and occupying the spot at 1000 Drouillard Rd., formerly of The Grand Cantina which has moved to Walkerville. You might call it “craft” because of the deliberate care and curation that goes into its dishes. Run by a group of owners with experience in the resto industry – Richard Bayley, for instance, used to run The Butcher’s Table catering – the foursome for two years brought their Central Texas style BBQ to the Downtown Windsor Farmers’ Market, which proved hugely popular. Cantina’s move opened the Ford City space “and we decided to take that leap,” by opening a full restaurant with patio, Bayley says. What’s Central Texas? Think large cuts such as brisket simply seasoned with condiments like Kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper, smoked slowly at low temperatures over flavoured wood fire. Bayley says the owners “wanted to pay homage” to that authentic tradition, so find brisket, ribs, house made jalapeno cheese sausage, and creative twists like Brisket Fried Rice, even Brisket Hummus. All foods are prepared in house including ranch dressing, potato salad, pickles, and rubs. Mammoth hamburgers are also on the bill. All beers and cider on tap are local as per the “craft” name. The resto also, well, crafts its own cocktails. Diners have been flocking. Online comments: “Wonderful authentic BBQ restaurant sorely needed in Windsor!” “Visited Sawyers last night and the food was phenomenal.” Even a complaint about Canadian prices wouldn’t deter: “I will certainly be back though.” Sawyer’s teams with The Pastry Place & Bake Shop for desserts. The restaurant seats 40 indoors, caters, and will be offering a pickup/delivery option in the near future.

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The 'Thompson' twins in city & county

WindsorOntarioNews.com Sept. 25 2023

The Thompson House is one of those Windsor delights you may have never heard of. Tucked away on the city’s east side in Olde Riverside the handsome green and red “English style” building has the look and feel of, well, a genuine English pub! “We're here to offer a good old British vibe right in the heart of Windsor. But more than that, we want to put the ‘house’ back in public house.” And it seems the owners have done that along with their companion Thompson Manor Streak & Seafood restaurant in Kingsville. It may be surprising that the Thompson House was “constructed from scratch” eight years ago, because it has such a storied look to it. Previously a gas station was located at the Wyandotte St. E. address (at the corner of Thompson Blvd!). “We worked with an interior designer and woodworker to make sure the vibe of historic England became etched into its walls,” the pub says on its website. (Several attempts to reach management were unsuccessful.) The pub has nine imported and specialty pints on draft as well as a long array of premium and domestic pints. And, yes, there’s wine and lots of cocktails. As befits an English public house you can expect some traditional English food classics - and rarities in Windsor - like Bangers and Mash, Cottage Pie, Chicken Pot Pie and of course Fish and Chips. There’s live music Thursday – Saturday. Now, over to Kingsville. What used to be the charming Annabelle’s Tea Room and Restaurant on Main St. E. is now Thompson Manor Steak & Seafood. The upscale menu is extensive, from Malpeque Oysters to Bouillabaisse, to Flounder to Lobster Pasta, lamb and, well, steaks. The county's leading dining community's reputation continues intact.

Photo: Google Street View

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