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| Thanks to Parv for all the amazing interior shots (my phone couldn't do the space justice) |
The
Landing Group only started in 2010 and already has amassed eight locations
across the GTA. Their newest addition, dubbed the “Centre Ice” location (thanks
to their proximity to the Air Canada Centre), opens on August 23, 2017. Like
the rest of the chain, the Kelly’s Landing pad is large and spacious offering
an extensive menu that makes choosing difficult. Steve Pelton, CEO of the
Landing Group, notes that while they know they can’t please everyone, they’ll
try their best to do so.
During a
sneak peek event, we tried a number of items, prior to Kelly’s Landing official
opening. True to form, the dishes were very different. Of course, there’s
pizza, a perennial crowd favourite. Of the three styles, I was most surprised
with the sausage picante ($18), a flavourful concoction
combining spicy tomato sauce, house-made spicy Italian fennel sausage, roasted
peppers, and mushroom. Generally, I find sausage pizzas too heavy, but theirs was
not oily so the crust remained dry and crispy.
Moreover, the meat added just enough to taste without being too salty.
The
artichoke and cheese ($16) is what I’d normally order. The pizza is rich and
creamy thanks to the parmesan asiago cream sauce and goat cheese with
mozzarella mixture on top. Other ingredients are kept simple with slightly
tangy marinated artichokes, sundried tomato, and baby kale; items that help
balance the dish. Meanwhile, Mamma’s margarita pizza ($15) is the opposite –
light and juicy with a bit of sweetness from the balsamic syrup.
You’ll be
tempted to share an order of the brisket mac ‘n’ cheese ($11), which takes aged
cheddar pasta and tops it with brisket that’s gone through a 10-day brine and
14-hr smoke. Imagine the most intense smoky bacon with a light heat (care of
the poblano barbeque sauce), mixed with creamy pasta… how can
you resist?
As the
Beer Sisters taught me, creamy foods pair well with beer since the carbonation
in the drink helps to cleanse the palette; a dish like mac ‘n’ cheese goes
nicely with a light one. Coincidently, Kelly’s Landing has a ‘Beyond the Beer’
program where 50 cents from the sale of a draft Dos Equis gets donated to the
University Health Network (operates hospitals such as Toronto Western and
Toronto General). Now you can have your beer and help others too.
Two
dishes that wowed me at the tasting were the Moroccan curried chicken ($20) and
turkey burger ($16). The Moroccan curry incorporates a great blend of North
African spices so the sauce actually has a strong hit of spices -
full-flavoured and slightly spicy. It comes with fragrant basmati rice,
flatbread, and some cooling crema that helps stave off any heat.
While the
turkey burger ($16) is less exotic, it’s remarkably good thanks to the granny
smith apples and herbs mixed into the patty for flavour and moisture. There’s a
bit of spice from the chipotle aioli that’s balanced by a creamy Napa cabbage
slaw, no boring burger here.
For
vegans, Kelly’s Landing offers the Righteous Greens ($19) a mix of quinoa,
brown barley, kale, roasted yams, avocado, vegetables, chia seeds, and cashews
all tossed in a lime ginger sauce and topped with chili slices. It’s a hefty
filling salad with sweet, salty, savoury, and spicy flavours giving the dish a
Thai flare without tasting like a traditional Thai dish.
The Honey
Smash cocktail ($13) is summery and sipping friendly, comprised of Absolut
vodka mixed with strawberry and raspberry purée topped with mint. Touted as
their take on a daiquiri, I find the cocktail is much smoother and you can
taste the berries without the scratchiness of ice crystals mixed throughout.
During
brunch (Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm) you can get the Landing Cure
($16), a monstrous Caesar topped with a lobster tail, pizza slice, jalapeno
Havarti and bacon skewer, celery, carrots, vegetable skewer, and an extreme
green bean pickle. Good luck walking out hungry.
Aside
from the traditional beer (24 options on tap), cocktail, and wine options,
Kelly’s Landing also offers an extensive list of spirits. In fact, there’s a
good choice for scotch lovers at various price points.
During
the opening event, Glenlivet was on hand and I conducted a blind taste test to
see if age actually matters. As it turns out, the older scotches definitely
have less of a burn, but after a certain point it’s all pretty smooth.
Personally, I preferred the 15 to the 18 year ($18/oz) as it’s an easy going
drink. However, for people who like a drier peppery bite, the 18 year old
definitely has those flavours thanks to being aged in bourbon and sherry casks.
A more price conscious offering is the Glenlivet Founder's Reserve ($10/oz)
that has an amazing oaky aroma but harsher bite.
With
their 43' x 30' retractable roof and spacious patio, you know Kelly’s Landing
is going to be popular with the downtown crowd and packed during games.
Luckily, they accept reservations (even on their patio), which seems to be an
anomaly amongst the newer restaurants opening downtown. I’m already excited to
return for food and liberations and to try out the patio. Go soon, while the
summer’s still upon us.
