Prairie Ink

Have you seen the new Don Mills Plaza? We felt as if we were in an American city in a posh shopping area. This is unlike any other shopping area in Toronto. All the shops are entered from outdoor. There is no high rise. The shops are designed in elegant fine lines on a series of streets that encircles the area. The quality of the merchandise is definitely up scale. There is some underground parking. Most of the cars park on the street in front of the shops. How nice that there are no meters or charges for parking. The whole area feels like a small village. It is great fun to walk from shop to shop. The centre area features the Clock Tower. Benches and a green area make it pleasant to sit and relax surrounded by these fantastic shops. Some shops are imported directly from the states and are new here in Toronto. The large book shop owned by McNally Robinson is the home for this wonderful restaurant. McNally Robinson has other book stores in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and New York. What a fantastic book store! Author events featuring local and international writers are common practice. Every Friday and Saturday evening you can enjoy free live entertainment.

The restaurant is on the second floor of the book store. Local produce and ingredients are used whenever possible. All breads and baking are done on the premises. I was delighted to hear that recycling is most important. What can’t be re-cycled is composted.

No wonder the place was crowded at lunch time during the week. The wooden floors, tables and chairs are inviting. One wall is covered completely with windows so you can watch all the action taking place outside.

Our server, Michelle, was excellent. She kept returning to see if everything was to our satisfaction. She was charming, efficient and very friendly.

My sister, cousin Helen and I had a delightful afternoon in spite of the cold winds outdoors. We had heard that the Crab Cakes are excellent. They are seasoned with ginger, lemon grass and lime leaves, served with lime aioli.($12.00) Sweet Potato Perogies are filled with sweet potato and a mixture of smoked and aged cheddar cheese.($11.00) Macaroni and Cheese is always a good bet for a satisfying lunch. It is home made with aged and smoked cheddar cheese and served with mixed greens.($10.00)

All sandwiches are served with choice of sweet potato fries, salad or a cup of soup. Helen ordered a Caesar Wrap with Chicken. She chose the Red Pepper Soup. It was a generous portion and thoroughly enjoyed.

My sister ordered the same wrap but with the sweet potato fries. Delicious!

I opted for the Roasted Beet and Goat cheese Salad. A mixture of Ontario beets and fresh goat cheese, toasted walnuts, oranges and mixed greens were lightly mixed with shallot vinaigrette.($10.00) This was a wonderful combination of the finest fresh ingredients. I considered the Warm Asparagus Salad served with roasted red peppers, proscuitto, toast and a balsamic reduction.($9.00)

Two pages of tantalizing desserts are tempting. They are all made on the premises Come for a full meal or afternoon coffee with a sweet. You will feel very welcome. This new restaurant in town has become a hub to meet friends and have satisfying dining in fine style.

We had a great family visit and vowed to come back again for more shopping and another satisfying dining experience.