Woo Buffet Restaurant & Lounge
Toronto Life Square
10 Dundas St. E., Suite 500
(416) 977-9657
www.woorestaurantlounge.com
Dinner & drinks for 2: $65
Rating: ** 1/2
Woo is similar to Mandarin in that it’s pink and gray and offers hot and cold foods for a fixed price (Sun-Thurs-$20.95, Fri-Sat-$23.95).
What is noticeably different is the decor — they’ve tried to go upscale with lots of glass — and feel. Loud music plays while young servers/hostesses pass, dressed as if heading to a club.
The menu selection is Pan-Asian — Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai — with Deviled Eggs, Potato Salad and jello thrown in.
Buffets usually bring to mind gluttonous behaviour, but I appreciate the opportunity to try lots of different items and choose the amount I want.
My first go round I have:
Spicy Bean Sprouts, Shrimp Cocktail, Mango Salad, Striploin Roast, Beef Ho Fun Flat Rice Noodle, Green Beans, Szechuan Chicken Stirfry and Lemongrass Porkchop.
Next up I have various maki, Shanghai Noodles and a bowl of Pho.
Some dishes are fantastic, like anything pork and chicken. The Pho, however, is terrible (a cinnamon-y broth topped with luncheon meat) as is the Shrimp Cocktail.
About half of the dishes are fresh and lively, while the rest are overcooked, lukewarm or simply disappointing. So choose what you like and leave what you don’t. It’s that simple.
Dining out
Cowboy Lunch
Looking for an interesting breakfast or lunch option? Then you’ve got to try Avenue Open Kitchen’s Western Sandwiches. They not only have the plain one ($3.95), but a veggie version ($3.95), a Dutch Western (with cheese) ($4.50) and the “Eastern,” created by a customer (with feta) ($4.50). Visit the A-OK at 7 Camden St. or call 416-504-7131 to place your order for pick-up.
Take Two
Many restaurants have opened up second locations — making it easier for you to get the food you want where you want it. Recently, Hashimoto, Le Papillon, Milagro, Mitzi’s and Rodney’s have expanded to serve you. And there’s more to come. Stay tuned…
