Advertisement

Food & Drink

Lulas okay, dude

LULA CAFE @ LULA LOUNGE (1585 Dundas West, at Brock, 416-?588-?0307) Complete lunches/brunches for $20 per person, including all taxes, tip and a domestic beer. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm. Closed Monday, holidays. Licensed. Rating: NNN

Call me a fuddy-duddy, but when it comes to being addressed by serving staff, Im with 90s thrash metal punks Scatterbrain: Hey, dude, dont call me dude.

Yet thats the way were greeted complete with hearty handshake, no less last Friday upon entering Lula Cafe, the curbside cantina thats just opened in the Lula Lounge. Oh, that his enthusiasm extended to waiting on tables rather than spinning retro vinyl on a turntable hooked up to a pair of crappy speakers. So what if we have to ask for menus, napkins, pepper and the bill?

The room is a riot of clashing tropical turquoise and pink, and a large front window opens to the cacophony of the street. Chef Derek Crinsons daytime card also reflects the clubs island aesthetic with dishes like jump-fried goat cheese salad with mango salsa ($9) and a grilled steak sandwich ($13) dolled up with chipotle sauce and horseradish cream.

We start with Tres Huevos ($9), a saute of chorizo, bacon, roasted red peppers and shrooms layered with a rough scramble, like some DIY frittata. Oddly plated over a Cuban black bean and corn guiso relish (at first, we think the kitchens forgotten it, but we eventually find it under los huevos), it also includes a roughly cut salad of cukes n tomato, a chive or two and pesto-spread whole wheat toast.

The smoked salmon plate ($10) finds thin sheets of Norwegian lox tossed with red onion and capers draped over house greens in ranch dressing. Sided with new potatoes in olive oil and fresh dill, grilled asparagus and a squoosh of sour cream piped out of a pastry bag, it shows the skill of which the kitchens capable.

Shame an unfinished order of frozen french fries with bottled ketchup ($2.99) inspires our parting remark: Yo later, dude.

stevend@nowtoronto.com

Advertisement

Exclusive content and events straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Recently Posted