Category Archive: Restaurant Recommendations

Review: Vice Versa at Vdarra, Las Vegas

Vice Versa Patio Lounge Address: 2600 W. Harmon Avenue, Las Vegas (at the Vdarra Hotel & Spa) MJ Rating:  1/2 (2 1/2 out of 3 stars) Features: Vice Versa is located on the center patio of the Vdarra Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas. Casual, yet hip, Vice Versa’s patio has fire pits (perfect for colder desert evenings) and a water feature that helps make you feel a little cooler during the desert heat. Indoor seating is also available. The patio lounge features tasty small plates and handcrafted cocktails, often in some surprising combinations. As they like to say, they like doing things Vice Versa. Price Range:  Moderate to high, this is upscale Las Vegas, after all. Small plates start at $8 (truffle fries, fried mac and cheese bites) to $18 (three surf and turf sliders). Specialty cocktails start at $14. Happy hour is […]

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Restaurant Review: Estiatorio Volos, Toronto

Estiatorio Volos Address:  133 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario MJ Rating:  Features:  Volos is centered around the concept of Philoxenia, a Greek work meaning hospitable, a concept that is woven into the tapestry of the restaurant’s food, service, and ambiance. It takes traditional Greek cooking styles and infuses them with a modern twist with local Canadian ingredients creating upscale dining that still feels like you’re in a friend’s home. Assuming that friend is a Greek who knows how to cook well. Price Range:  Moderate to high. This is upscale, downtown dining, and the prices reflect the location. You know what they say – location, location, location! Appetizers start at $9 and entrees at $19. Dinner for two, with a shared appetizer, main, and a glass of wine (or cocktail), will set you back $100 or more. Personal Notes: The atmosphere at […]

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Restaurant Review: Marben, Toronto

Marben Address:  488 Wellington Street West, Toronto MJ Rating:  (2 out of 3 hearts) Features:  When my pal Andrew said we’d be sampling some contemporary Canadian cuisine, I had no idea what to expect. Canadian cuisine — what is it? Marben was about to school my palate. The exterior of Marben sports an industrial brick look, but inside were exposed beams and posts, giving it a homey lodge ambiance. We grabbed a booth across from the bar just inside the door, but if you’d like a more interactive dining experience, ask for a seat at the counter looking at the kitchen. Price Range:  Moderate. Starters range from $5 (bread and hummus) to $18 for a charcuterie board. Entrees range from $17 (grilled octopus salad) to $38 for a beef rib eye. Wines by the glass are $10-12 (bottles start at $45), a diverse beer […]

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Patria: Spanish Food in Toronto

Patria Address:  480 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario Rating:   (2 out of 3 hearts) Features: Patria makes use of the open concept, with high ceilings, full-sized cross-stitch art on the walls, and and exposed beams. There is a narrow outdoor patio, great for warm weather and, with the addition of some heat lamps, could easily extend into the fall and winter season. The venue is sexy in a bright and bold way, rather than dark and intimate, and it had me longing for lingering warm weather meals on the Costa Brava. Price Range: Moderate to high. The beauty of tapas is that you can try so many different things. But that also means your bill can add up pretty fast. Consider making a mean of a meat and cheese platter with a glass of sangria if you’re looking for a value […]

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