reviewed-rated.com : FOOD: Regal Garden

There has been barely enough snow in Toronto all winter to add up to one good tobogganing day, but if it ever happens again, there is no better place for it than the legendary Christie Pits. If you manage to survive unscathed, you are sure to emerge with quite the appetite. Escape from the cold across the street at Regal Garden, and you will be able to silence those grumbling tummies without ravaging your wallet.

If you fancy a starter, it's worth a try because all their appetizers are home-made. They have Lunch Specials from as little as $3.95, with nothing over $5.30, and close to 20 all-day specials for $5.95 take-out or $6.55 dine-in. I asked the chef to bring me a couple of dishes of his choice, as everything on the Lunch menu looked pretty good.

The Sweet and sour Chicken tasted fresh and moist, and didn't have that typical creepy, bright red, colour, was tasty, and not super sweet On the side, Egg-fried rice didn't have the oily gleam or greasy taste that plagues many a fried rice...actually seemed pretty healthy.

Chicken Kung Po was a nice example of something a little less mainstream. It was flavourful with richness and spice that was nicely balanced.

My dad used to live right across the street from Christie Pits, but we didn't go out for dinner. We would pack up our sleds and head back, our cheeks bright red from the child-like inability to notice hours of freezing wind. When we arrived he would be making eggrolls, which we would insist on helping with. The day we walked in on him cleaning squid, however, we weren't nearly as enthusiastic participants... at first. Our disgust faded to curiosity and before we knew it, my sisters and I were elbow deep in ink and tendrils (the BEST part by the way!). Not everyone is blessed with a gourmet pa, and if we weren't so lucky, we would have appreciated having Regal Garden so close by.

Regal Garden
815 Bloor St. W
416-530-8088
Open Tuesday through Sunday until 10pm, Delivery
LLBO, tsing-tao beer available

Review by Melissa Peters