Walk
around Toronto and you’ll find tons of small restaurants that aren’t opened by “celebrity”
chefs or widely covered in mainstream and social media. I’m intrigued about
these establishments. Often the owner is also the chef and generally this is
where you can taste real authentic non-fussy cuisine.
Since
the restaurant is called Noodle & More, it’d be unwise to visit and not
order noodles. We’re advised their stewed beef hand-ripped noodles ($13.99) is
one of the most popular dishes. The broth is beef and soy sauce based with a
light spicy note in the background, flavourful enough that you didn’t need to
add anything else. While the diced beef were rather small pieces, they were well
braised and tender. Yet, the standout was the hand-ripped noodles arriving as
thick ribbons, almost like knife cut noodles but longer and slightly thinner. Surprisingly,
they could withstand sitting in the soup for a decent period of time without
getting too soft and doughy.
Unfortunately,
I couldn’t say the same for the fried noodles with beef ($11.49), which was too
soggy for me. The noodles were simply too thin compared to the sauce. Moreover, the dish
needed something crunchier to contrast against the soft noodles; while there
were bean sprouts and green onions, these were also cooked too long so didn’t
add a textual contrast.
Combining
the fried noodles with some of the stir fried vegetables with garlic ($9.99)
helped. These were cooked nicely, the vegetables retaining a vibrant colour and
crunch. It was also a surprisingly sizeable portion, which with all the other
carbs helped balance the meal.
As the
pan fried chicken, cabbage and mushroom dumplings ($10.49) arrived at the
table, memories of making paper snowflakes in kindergarten flashed through my
mind. Except, at Noodle & More the snowflake web is created from caramelized
dumpling juices. By itself, the dumplings’ filling needed more seasoning, but
once you dip them into the tableside condiments, it gets better.
Aside
from the hand pulled noodles, the dumplings are also made in-house, which you
can witness by the window. In fact, their sister restaurant (located on Dundas
West) is known for these creations. It’s called … wait for it … Dumpling &
More!
The savoury
Chinese crepe ($6.50) needs to be eaten quickly or the crispy wonton cracker in
the centre gets stale. From the areas that retained the crunch, it goes nicely
against the thin egg omlette and lettuce, bits of green onion and cilantro add
a freshness to the wrap. Hoisin sauce was smeared on the crepe for a bit of
sweetness, but would be nice if more was provided on the side so eaters can add
to taste.
For
something really flavour, the malatang
($12.45) is great, if you’re in the mood for a spicy dish. A variety of vegetables
are combined with tofu, black fungus and Spam in a bowl of chili laced broth.
It’s not nearly as spicy as what you can find elsewhere, the heat mostly coming
from chili oil rather than the Sichuan pepper that numbs and scorches. For me,
it was the perfect level of spiciness as anything more would be inedible. The
dish would be even better if there’s the option of adding noodles.
Truthfully,
I’d probably never would have stopped by Noodle & More if it weren’t for
the Eatibl app, which allows a user to book a reservation online. While this
doesn’t sound revolutionary, but what makes an Eatibl reservation different is
that depending on the time of the reservation, diners get a discount. For
example, at Noodle & More, a 4pm seating means you’d benefit from a 20%
discount, while other times 10-15% off the final bill. A great option for those
who have non-standard routines (i.e. students) or are not picky about when they
eat.
Otherwise,
it’s just a great excuse to check out some of the little known Toronto
restaurants. There’s tons to discover, some event at a steep discount.
Overall mark - 7 out of 10
Disclaimer: The above meal was complimentary. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
Location: Toronto, Canada
Address: 402 Bloor Street West
Address: 402 Bloor Street West
Website: https://www.noodleandevenmore.com/
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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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