Cantine Bistro & Bar

Annabelle Goodman —

138 Avenue Rd                416 923 4822

A. and I have been friends since our early high school days. (A long time ago) We continue to honor each other’s birthday and to see each other for weekly lunches. This is a longstanding special relationship. A. expressed a desire to honor her birthday at Cantine. That certainly suited me. There were three of us lunching on this special occasion.

I always like Cantine because it has a welcoming homey atmosphere. The bar area at the front offers comfortable lounge chairs and conversational groupings. This is always a busy section. For a proper meal I like to dine at the back. The tables are well spaced and conversation is possible even though this is the most popular restaurant in the area. It is always crowded but conversation is easy because the tables are well spaced.

Salads are always great at lunch or dinner. One of the hosts for today opted for the Herb Crusted Goat Cheese Salad. A healthy portion of fresh greens was topped with a large piece of warmed goat cheese. It was colorful in presentation and apparently delicious on the palate.

Omelettes are usually my choice for lunch. There are many listed on the menu and you can even create a specialty omelette of your choice. The birthday girl ordered the Vegetarian Omelette. It looked so appealing. A side salad or frites accompanies the dish. I was delighted with Scrambled Eggs with Caramelized Onions and Smoked Salmon. The side salad was served in a small bowl. I like to keep foods separate and this way the salad did not spill into the rest of the food. The smoked salmon was of high quality. I meant to ask the server to make sure the eggs were not overcooked. I forgot but no worries. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and soft. There was a large amount of delicious caramelized onions and I loved every bit. It was such a delightful lunch. On several occasions in the past I have enjoyed the Salad Nicoise. For a special treat try the Seared Fresh Tuna with mixed greens.

The Canteen Burger has been a specialty here for years. A Vegetarian Burger now also graces the menu. Pasta lovers have many choices. My favorite is the Spaghettini with Tiger Shrimp. Love it. Friends tell me the Pan Seared Calves Liver is extraordinary. Grilled Atlantic Salmon is served with a beurre blanc sauce, mashed potatoes and sautéed veggies. I have dined here for many years. I can count on superior food all the time served in a friendly atmosphere.

It was a birthday so we had to have Dessert. The Key Lime Pie was indeed a treat. I can still taste the citric tart delight. A large scoop of vanilla ice cream was also enjoyed. The Biscotti was exceptional as well. After all it was a celebration.

This neighborhood restaurant is always delightful. The menu offers so many choices. The service is attentive and friendly. How delightful to walk to a gourmet dining experience and then try to work off some of the great food with a stroll back home. Cantine is always a winner.