Rush Hour

Annabelle Goodman —

I recommend you rush to this outstanding family run, fantastic gourmet restaurant. It never fails. Fernando is my hero. He is the owner and most ‘rushed off his feet’ proprietor. He always greets his guests with calm and a cool pleasant manner. On this evening it was busier than I have ever seen it. There were several large parties. All the tables were booked. The patio looked like a movie set. All the tables had white cloths and lit candles. People were dining under the umbrellas and it was magical. With all those guests we were so well looked after. We delighted that we had a window table and it never did get too noisy.

1438A Dufferin St – 416 533 4687

I love the fact that this popular place is not on a busy part of the street. Dufferin, north of Dupont, is a residential area. The decor is elegant but simple. You will be so well attended by Fernando, his hard working wife and Alex (son) and Andrea (daughter). How wonderful to see a family working together so effectively.

It was my daughter-in-law’s birthday. Five family members were out for a celebration dinner.  I knew this was the perfect spot. Most of us love Tuna and that is my favorite food. The birthday girl adores a good steak dinner and I knew that the meat was well aged at Rush Hour and perfectly prepared. I also knew she would appreciate those hand cut fries. Big surprise. She chose the Prawns as a main course. Two enormous Grilled Prawns were attractively plated with a generous serving of vegetables.    The hand cut fries would have fed an army. Delicious.

The rest of us ordered that fabulous Grilled Tuna. It truly is perfection on a plate. Two large portions are marinated and crusted with sesame. Roasted potatoes, broccoli, green beans and carrots were delicious. It was a large portion but nobody left a crumb. The next morning I was craving that dish all over again because it was so delightful. Many other fresh fish dishes were also available.

I always enjoy looking at the platters presented at the tables. What are others eating? Pasta is very popular here. All the pasta is fresh. Risotto comes from northern Italy and is a carnarolli product. Traditional Mushroom Risotto features forest mushrooms, fresh parmesan and is topped with white truffle oil. Penne a la Vodka is topped with Russian vodka and includes crunchy green peas, forest mushrooms, and fresh parmesan. There are many Steak items from which to choose. All the beef is aged in house for 21 days. Truffle N.Y. Strip is a 13 oz. piece grilled and served with fries and veggies.

The Tiramisu was served in a martini glass. We all agreed it was the best we had ever tasted. There was plenty for 5 of us to dig into. What a delightful finale for the birthday girl.

Every time I dine here I promise to ‘rush back’ for another feast. I like everything about the place. I love to support a family run business. They do it so well. The food is extraordinary and always looks so inviting. The menu is varied. The prices are more than fair. Make sure you reserve before you rush there because this is a busy first rate outstanding restaurant.