“Port Credit's finest.
See for yourself...” This challenge left on the Shore Grill & Grotto’s
website was accepted. Let’s see what the finest of the town has in store for us.
Certainly, it’s one of Port Credit’s largest restaurants: the abundant store
frontage provides a huge patio; that’s even before considering the cozy lounge
(with live music), huge dining room and private dining area.
Their bruschetta ($8.71) is best described as garlic bread
with cheese topped with sliced tomatoes – good if you want garlic bread, but
disappointing if you’re expecting bruschetta. The dish was missing that
freshness from the herbs, tanginess from a bit of citrus and overall lightness
that makes it the famed bread for me.
Consider sharing the cashew-encrusted goat cheese ($12.71)
with a table of four as its sheer size would be a handful even for two. I wasn’t
enthused when I read its description: cheese with nuts is understandable, but
did it really also require roasted garlic and raspberry coulis (two flavours
that shouldn’t work together). Yet, it all combined nicely, especially if you
love contrasting dishes: the creamy smooth goat cheese with crunchy cashews,
enhanced by the savoury sweet garlic and a pop of refreshing berry sauce.
In true Italian tradition, the seafood linguine ($19.75) was
huge (enough for a full plate of leftovers for my husband). There was also a good
selection of seafood that were cooked well: large and meaty scallops given a
light smoky grill, crunchy shrimp, tons of mussels, along with clams and
calamari. Even the pasta was slightly al dante – the building blocks to what
could have been a fantastic dish.
But then everything lacked flavour … unless you count a
quarter-cup of olive oil a predominant taste. The pesto sort of peeks through,
but the acidity from the white wine you’d want to cut through the greasiness is
non-existent. Some say lower sodium is good for the health, but for me I want
taste (or at least a shaker at the table so I can kill myself). And as much as
I love roasted garlic, the sheer amount was overpowering having had a few of them
whole after mistaking them as fallen crustacean.
For me, the Shore is definitely not Port Credit’s finest, although it wasn’t horrible either - the
restaurant does have abundant portions at reasonable prices. Rather, I wish it
relied less heavily on fats for flavours and more on herbs, citrus and salt. In
the end, take inspiration from your name – the Shore: incorporate the salt of the sea and keep out the oil.
How To Find Them
Location: Mississauga, Canada
Address: 71 Lakeshore Road East
Address: 71 Lakeshore Road East
Website: http://www.shoregrillandgrotto.ca/
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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!
Is That It? I Want More!
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