Savana Café
431 Gilmour St.
(613) 233-9159
Rating: ****
Dinner for two with wine: $52
Signature Drink: Savana Martini ($8)
Bold gem colours and loud beats warm the mood at Savana Café, but the amazing Caribbean food makes it a hot spot.
We enjoyed the Table d’hôte ($35) including a starter, a main and a dessert. To start, my friends chose the Sweet Potato Soup with Cinnamon Crème Fraîche that included a hint of spice from a bird’s eye chili, and where sweet and spicy mingled cleverly.
I enjoyed the well-rounded salad that included all the tastes of sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami on one plate. For the main, one friend ordered the Hanger Steak ($21), which was tender and cooked impeccably.
The Vegetable Green Curry came with a delicious coconut-infused sauce, but the vegetables needed more time on the chopping board to be bite-sized.
I enjoyed the Black Cod ($21) but it was buried under a mountain of Savana Slaw.
The fufu, a thick porridge of plantains and chorizo, cradled the fish and offered a delicious layer of flavour and texture.
To indulge ourselves, we all ordered the banana, coconut and chocolate bread pudding. I was happy with the balance of bananas to chocolate, but the chocolate lovers were disappointed.
Like the islands, the pace was a little slow at times, but no worries because it’s worth the wait.
Dining out
Jadeland
Known as one of the finest Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, Jadeland specializes in Cantonese and szechwan food. Cantonese cooking is milder, while szechwan cooking is spicy and uses a variety of chili peppers. 625 Somerset St. W., (613) 233-0204.
La Cabana
La Cabana is a relaxed place where they serve Salvadoran food, including pupusa, tacos, agua de tamarindo and other tropical specialties. As well, you can pick up some exotic groceries in its adjoining store. 848 Merivale Rd., (613) 724-7762
