Address: 10165 Yonge Street
Type of Meal: Dinner
Situated in
a neighbourhood reminiscent of Unionville, it’s unlike the plazas filled with
big box stores you’ll generally find in Richmond Hill. However, unlike the
cobblestone surroundings, Richmond Grill’s window is plastered full of decals
making it seem more like a fast food kabob place than an Italian restaurant. But,
if you’re able to look past the tacky window and enter the restaurant, you’ll
be greeted with an intimate and dimly lit dining room with bottles of olive oil
adorning each table. Yes, its quintessentially Italian and with it comes tons
of food and welcoming service.
Soon after
ordering, our waiter whisks out a basket filled with bread and crackers. As a
warning, do not fill up on bread as the portion sizes at Richmond Grill are
significant – and that’s putting it mildly.
Appetizers
are meant to be shared or could easily replace a meal if you’re not overly
hungry. My husband and I split the grilled calamari ($11.95; only half of portion
shown below) and even a half size consisted of one and a half pieces. The
calamari was tender and fresh; the charred smokiness was mellowed by the fresh
warm salsa topping it (consisting of tomatoes, olives, capers, roasted garlic
and red onion). I especially liked how the olives were freshly pitted and not
too strong as to overpower the dish. The salsa was good with the calamari, on
its own or would likely be even better atop bread (which I wanted to try it if
weren’t for worry about filling up).
The mixed
seafood linguine ($18.95) contained another piece of grilled calamari (I really
should have planned my meal out better), two prawns, chunks of tender salmon,
tons of mussels and unshelled baby clams throughout. The sauce, a simple fish
broth, is exactly what I want with seafood pasta – just let the cooking liquid
act as the flavour, too much tomato drowns out the wonderful natural seafood
essence. A mix of julienned peppers, leeks, onion, snow peas and roasted garlic
rounded out the dish adding some crunch to the pasta. If only the linguine was
more al dente, the dish would have been perfect.
My husband’s
grilled black angus striploin ($31.95) was a brimming plate of meat, fresh cut
frites, thick slices of portobello mushroom and vegetables. He noted the steak
was cooked well and the beef a nice tender cut. Alas, I was too excited to dig
into the linguine and forgot to snap a picture of his meal.
All in all, Richmond
Grill offers great dishes at a low price. Trust me, come hungry as you will
surely not be disappointed. Just try to look past the decals on the windows, not
the greatest sight, and you will be in for a treat. After all, a
restaurant that’s been in business for seventeen years must be doing something right.
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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!
