Ever since I went to Morocco 2.5 years ago, I’ve been craving for some authentic Middle Eastern food. So when Winterlicious came along, I knew I had to find a restaurant that served tagine!
[custom_box width=”60%” bgcolor=”#D5F2B6″ border_color=”#3F9F29″ text_color=”#3F9F29″ icon_url=”https://www.fionaman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/knife-fork.jpg”]RESTAURANT: Mideastro Yorkville
ADDRESS: 27 Yorkville Ave Toronto, ON M4W 1L4
CUISINE: Middle Eastern
PHONE: (416) 477-2427
WEBSITE: http://www.mideastroyorkville.com/[/custom_box]
I have to start off by commending Mideastro Yorkville with their customer service. The staff was very attentive and ensured that we enjoyed each dish. They were also very knowledgable about their dishes and listed off several specials they were offering on top of the Winterlicious menu.
If carbs weren’t bad for you, I could eat copious amounts of the bread with these three dips. There were so tasty and I just wanted to ask for a take-out container!
Bread with 3 Dips: Baba Ganoush, Hummus and Roasted Red Pepper
For appetizers, I decided to have the Moroccan Lamb Soup. This soup epitomizes what Middle Eastern spices is about. It was aromatic and filled with succulent pieces of lamb, chickpeas, and coriander. My only critique was that the soup lacked a bit of salt.
Moroccan Lamb Soup
coriander / lamb / tomato / garlic / chick peas / lentils
My dear friend had the Shrimp Falafel, which I believe is the better of the two appetizers. The tzatziki, hummus, and tahani all melded together. I was quite surprised by the crust on the shrimp. It was not oily at all and quite crispy.
Shrimp Falafel
tzatziki feta / pickled vegetable tartare / hummus masabaha / aji panka / herb tahina
Oh my…do I love me some risotto! The Black Truffle Risotto was quite earthy with the truffles without feeling heavy. Even though risotto is not found in Middle Eastern cuisine, it still retained its integrity by utilizing the spices.
Black Truffle Risotto (vegetarian)
mushroom medley / black truffle / asparagus / green peas
Tagine…the dish that I was really craving for. I’ve only had it with beef, lamb, and chicken…so it was a first having the dish with tilapia and capers. Even though the tomatoes were packed with flavour and the tilapia was moist, the use of the capers caused the dish to be more tangy than hearty. It was still delicious and well executed but it wasn’t the authentic tagine I was used to or craving for. I was also surprised that Israeli couscous was used. One thing that I had to remind myself is that Mideastro Yorkville is a restaurant that takes a modern approach to Middle Eastern cuisine. That’s why they paired the couscous with the spinach pesto.
Tagine
tilapia / white wine / saffron / capers / heirloom tomato sauce
Tagine
sheep yoghurt tzatziki / spinach pesto / Israeli couscous
If I ever see a dessert containing Nutella, I’m definitely ordering that! Nutella Parfait contained everything I liked in a dessert. Nutty and chocolate flavours from the nutella cream, saltiness from the salted pecan brittle, and the richness from the creme anglais. I’m not sure how this dish relates to Middle Eastern cuisine but overall it satisfied my sweet tooth.
Nutella Parfait
frozen nutella cream / caramelized bananas / rich creme anglais / salted pecan brittle / tuile cookie
If you ever want to try a modern approach to Middle Eastern cuisine and receive excellent service than this is your place. But if you really want authentic dishes, then your best bet is to try somewhere else.
