Puck 'n Wings is the kind of place that you almost don't want to recommend for fear of jinxing it. Almost.
But their $5/pound wing special on Monday nights is a great way to grab cheap eats in the Annex, and the place is worth it for the wings alone. I'm not a huge wing fan, as they're usually a lot of bone and fat for the price, but Puck's wings were meaty and covered in sauce; not for anyone on a diet, by a long shot, but I also spied a "make your own salad" menu, so there is at least one veggie-friendly dish available (aside from the edamame appetizer).
My table and I ordered three pounds of wings to share, after enjoying the tongue-in-cheek menu (filled with hockey puns and tie-ins). We ordered one pound of sauce-covered maple BBQ, another of red thai chili, and a caribbean jerk spice rub. The dry rub was our favorite but the other two were solid contenders. Wings come with a dipping sauce and carrot/celery sticks on every other night of the week (when they're $10/pound) but our server explained that due to the special, the wings came straight up on Mondays without the extra fixings. Truthfully? We didn't miss them.
The wings were hearty, so the MVP fries that we ordered on the side were poked at, found tasty, but ultimately abandoned in lieu of the wings. I liked the honey-mustard sauce they were served with, though!
The atmosphere is low-key, comfortable, and fast-paced, with lots of screens to watch a variety of sports (hockey and European football seemed to dominate), and lots of windows for people-watching if that's more your speed. The server staff seemed a little understaffed, but everyone was friendly and knowledgeable, and moved quickly to make sure that the diners were taken care of. Not an easy task - we got in before 6 PM, and the place was almost full.
I know I'll be back - maybe not to brave the inferno wings that rate a 6 on the 1-5 scale of heat - but maybe for another new flavour of wings and to catch the latest game.
Note: This was first posted on urbanspoon on Oct. 28, 2010.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Review: Cafe O
Much like seasons, some foods are tied to times in your life. We can't help it; pairing certain foods with certain occasions comes naturally (it's what's in season) or sometimes with help from local vendors (it's what's available at the sporting venue; hello there, arena beer).
Short story long, almond-paste desserts will always hearken back to elementary school Christmas concerts; one of the moms at the school also ran a bakery, and would bring these amazing desserts with puffed pastry, slivered almonds, and almond paste in the middle in large rings of delicious to help fundraise for the school. Every year, my family would buy one, and my siblings and I would be on rations, lest we eat it all in one sitting. (It happened. Once.)
Since then, I've looked for something with a similar taste, having never been able to find its equal (or the name of the original). Last Saturday, I was delighted to find that Cafe O's almond croissant was one of the closest matches to date.
Light yet substantial, sweet yet not cloying, the crispy pastry complimented the smooth, almondy filling perfectly. I'm no pastry expert, but I was a very happy camper from my first bite on! M's cinnamon twist looked delicious, too.
My Mont Blanc chai was, perhaps, ambitious, but I have a weakness for chai and candied chestnuts (and the Symposium amaretto chai had been delicious) so I went for it. Unfortunately, while enjoyable, it KO'd my considerable sweet tooth and lacked the richness I had been hoping for from the chestnuts, or the spice-heavy aromas that I've been hooked on since Remedy Cafe first introduced me to chai. Maybe chai is milder on this side of the Canadian Shield?
The experience in overall was really lovely. Cafe O will see us again; they serve an array of impressive sweets, tarts, and cakes that all but ask to be sampled. The staff are all welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable (and seem like family). As a plus, the wi-fi worked well, much to M's delight (but they have limited outlets, so stake out your table if that's why you're there!) and the atmosphere is comfortable, well-lit, and quietly stylish. Points for the deep-set, swiveling armchairs.
If you're looking for a chill place to catch up with friends over coffee and a pastry, Cafe O is a great addition to the options that K-W offers.
Short story long, almond-paste desserts will always hearken back to elementary school Christmas concerts; one of the moms at the school also ran a bakery, and would bring these amazing desserts with puffed pastry, slivered almonds, and almond paste in the middle in large rings of delicious to help fundraise for the school. Every year, my family would buy one, and my siblings and I would be on rations, lest we eat it all in one sitting. (It happened. Once.)
Since then, I've looked for something with a similar taste, having never been able to find its equal (or the name of the original). Last Saturday, I was delighted to find that Cafe O's almond croissant was one of the closest matches to date.
Light yet substantial, sweet yet not cloying, the crispy pastry complimented the smooth, almondy filling perfectly. I'm no pastry expert, but I was a very happy camper from my first bite on! M's cinnamon twist looked delicious, too.
My Mont Blanc chai was, perhaps, ambitious, but I have a weakness for chai and candied chestnuts (and the Symposium amaretto chai had been delicious) so I went for it. Unfortunately, while enjoyable, it KO'd my considerable sweet tooth and lacked the richness I had been hoping for from the chestnuts, or the spice-heavy aromas that I've been hooked on since Remedy Cafe first introduced me to chai. Maybe chai is milder on this side of the Canadian Shield?
The experience in overall was really lovely. Cafe O will see us again; they serve an array of impressive sweets, tarts, and cakes that all but ask to be sampled. The staff are all welcoming, friendly, and knowledgeable (and seem like family). As a plus, the wi-fi worked well, much to M's delight (but they have limited outlets, so stake out your table if that's why you're there!) and the atmosphere is comfortable, well-lit, and quietly stylish. Points for the deep-set, swiveling armchairs.
If you're looking for a chill place to catch up with friends over coffee and a pastry, Cafe O is a great addition to the options that K-W offers.
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