Address: 99 Queen Street East
Website: http://thecarbonbar.ca/
Type of Meal: Dinner
Earlier in the year, I dined at Carbon Bar when it first opened (for a description of the restaurant and to read about my experience go here). Recently, I heard on weekends they hire a DJ and the restaurant transforms into a lounge afterwards. During the winter, anywhere that minimizes outdoor travel times is welcomed, so a return visit was in order.
But,
before the drinking festivities began, eating a substantial dinner seemed to be
the responsible choice. Since the beef brisket ($22)
was the highlight of my last meal it had to be ordered. Again, it was smoky,
flavourful and tender – everything you’d want brisket to be. This time the dish
was larger (albeit the price has also risen by $3) and contained various
cuts of brisket ranging from marbled to lean.
The first
fatty marbled slices were heaven, the meat was so soft and tender that it
melted on the tongue. I didn’t even need the sweet molasses BBQ sauce as the
brisket’s natural juices were so delicious. If you’ll be trying more than one
slice, I suggest having the lean one first as after enjoying the marbled
delight everything else pales in comparison.
More meat
was in order, this time the dry-aged hanger steak ($27). Cooked to a perfect
medium rare, the steak was very tender for this tougher cut of beef. Simply
seasoned, the natural flavours of the beef shone through. An ample portion of hollandaise
was included on the side if diners needed something saucy. The sauce itself was
decent, but with so many rich ingredients donning the plate, I personally would
have preferred something lighter (such as chimichurri).
Unlike the
other dishes, the hanger steak had sides included. A pile of
starchy smashed and fried potatoes that was tossed with some tart kimchi.
Topping the mound was a fried egg whose runny yolk covered the potatoes in a
gooey sauce. And a few soshito peppers as well. This was
certainly a varied dish – with different cultural influences and a combination
that makes it satisfying for brunch or dinner.
Not
reading the menu properly, we also ordered a side of soshito peppers ($8). But,
I enjoyed these non-spicy peppers so happily munched on more of them. The fire
roasted eggplant dip which accompanied the bar snack was rather mild and
forgettable, perhaps a dash of cayenne pepper or garlic would be a nice
addition.
The TCB
slaw ($4) is a side worth getting. It’s everything I enjoy about coleslaw –
crunchy vegetables and a predominantly vinegar based sauce with a touch of
creaminess. At Carbon Bar they also sprinkled crushed corn nuts on top which
adds even more crunch to everything.
Lastly,
was the side of collard greens ($5), this time simply dressed with a dollop of
butter rather than stewed in a tomato sauce. There was still enough flavour to
it and the leafy greens retaining some of its freshness. Another great side to
pair with hunks of meat.
Perhaps
it was the holiday season, but the restaurant really didn’t pick up after
dinner. We moved over to the lounge area but the promised DJ and beats never happened.
Nonetheless, some cocktails were sampled. The most impressive was the black
mamba margarita ($16) which was set a blaze at the table. It’s a strong drink,
not exactly my taste, made with charcoal infused tequila, Bowmore scotch, St.
Germain elderflower liqueur, lime and a sea salt rim.
The
volstead ($13) suited me better with a gin base, Amaro nino herbal liqueur,
agave syrup, cucumber juice, lime and orange bitters. It was very refreshing
and helped to alleviate the full feeling I had after all the meat.
A
cocktail that’s perfect for the holidays is the borealis sour ($14). Despite
the name, there’s nothing sour about it … if anything it’s sweet from the maple
whiskey. Mixed with rye, banana liqueur and topped with a foamy egg white
sprinkled with spices it’s a nice alternative to dessert.
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Gastro World's Grading System
- Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
- 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
- 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
- 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
- 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
- 10 - absolute perfection!
