Based on my experience, 120 Diner should really be
considered a music lounge as opposed to a diner. On Friday evening, a singer who was part
of Music Can Heal, serenaded us with mellow songs which washed away the weekday
worries and left us in a meditative trance. The restaurant also features jazz, cabaret,
comedic acts and even karaoke nights if you want to grace the stage (here’s the
full calendar).
Similar to music lounges, they offer a variety of
cocktails. Two of their in-house concocted mixes look similar but couldn’t be
more different.
- The Burning Ember ($7.10), the same signature red as the tables, is their take on a vodka cran with a splash of ginger ale for bubbles.
- Meanwhile, the White Freezie ($9.75) may not look like the childhood frozen treat, but one sip will bring back memories. Surprisingly, we learned it’s the combination raspberry Sourpuss and banana that gives the frozen dessert that distinctive flavour.
Even the Grey Goose Peach Mojito ($12), the least colourful
of the bunch, has an element of whimsy from the skewer of candy that
accompanies the refreshing drink. I don’t know about you, the anything with
muddled mint makes for a great summer drink.
It’s a shame the chicken wings ($12.95 for 1lb) occupies so
little of the menu’s real estate (compared to the quarter page dedicated to
nachos and poutine) – I almost missed ordering them. Yet, it’d be a shame not
to try their wings as they’re fantastic (certainly gives my current favourite,
Real Sports, a run for its money).
Using a “jumbo” size, 7-8 arrive in a pound each having an
excellent crunchy coating while retaining a succulent juiciness inside. Their
in-house honey garlic sauce even incorporates cloves of roasted garlic, perfect
for smearing onto the sticky sweet sauce to give the wing an additional
richness.
The spicy fish sandwich ($14.95) caught my eye, an unusual
sandwich that rarely graces menus … especially one that’s oven poached as opposed to deep fried. Despite the relatively blank
looking fish, the sandwich has kick with its three spicy elements: firstly the sambal sauce, an Indonesian blend of
chilis and fish sauce, gave it heat and rich flavours; a layer of spicy mayo
for that creaminess that makes a sandwich hearty; and lastly pickled jalapenos
for a sting that dances on the tongue.
With gooey melted cheese and a soft Ace Bakery ciabatta bun,
the sandwich really comes together… seemingly simple but delicious. Even their fries
were expertly executed using in-house cut potatoes: retaining a long length, a
crispy crust encapsulating fluffy innards, and most importantly, arriving
piping hot.
For those who love protein, the 120 Meatlover cheeseburger
($17.95) takes their thick lean beef patty and piles saucy pulled pork and
double smoked bacon on top! Take it from me, there’s no way to eat this cleanly
so ask for extra napkins at the beginning. This is a serious burger with tons
of fixings including cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and crispy fried onions.
Perhaps the most notable feature that makes the restaurant a
“diner” is their desserts – a selection of traditional favourites such as
carrot cake, brownies, banana pudding and baked lemon squares. I suggest you
enquire about their weekly special, as the cheekily named strawberry TALL cake ($7.99)
was the perfect ending: pieces of dense white cake piled high with cold soft
serve ice cream and tons of sweet strawberries.
For a person who loves
strawberry shortcake, it was that light but sweet enough dessert that left me
satisfied. And since 120 Diner now has their own soft serve machine, expect
more of these gems in the future.
A fantastic new menu for a restaurant that’s just celebrated
its second year anniversary. Still the generous portions and affordable prices
the restaurant’s known for, but now an even larger selection and some really
interest options – spicy fish sandwich anyone?
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in the mission statement, I will also provide my honest opinion.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 120 Church Street
Address: 120 Church Street
Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
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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