As the Paramount Fine Foods empire continues to expand, a new location has opened on Yonge, just north of Eglinton. Similar to the other restaurants, their dining room is spacious (occupying two floors) and food arrives efficiently for a simple and quick dining experience.
In
celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday (coincidently, Paramount is
also celebrating their 10-year anniversary), the chain has created the shawarma
poutine. The dish incorporates the traditional ingredients – fries, cheese
curds, and gravy (Montrealers, I know it should be poutine sauce) – while adding
their signature touch by offering a choice of beef or chicken shawarma on top. Indeed,
the beef adds a different flair to the dish, the earthy cumin rub on the meat generating
a Mediterranean taste to the poutine. It’s a large portion and can definitely work
as a main, but best shared in the Canadian spirit.
For
Paramount newbies, the mezza plate ($8.99) is best to have on hand to dip their
freshly baked pita bread into. Although the hot from the oven pita can be eaten
on its own, the dough itself is rather tasteless; hence, a dunk in the hummus, moutabbal,
or tabbouleh is key. Having had it at
numerous locations, franchisees don’t seem to follow a standard recipe. Although
the main ingredients are the same, the taste changes ever so slightly. At
Paramount Eglinton, their moutabbal isn’t
as salty making the grilled eggplant flavour a bit more pronounced; the tabbouleh is as fresh as ever.
Since
it was my first time trying a manakeesh,
an eastern Mediterranean topped flatbread, it seemed like a good idea to get
the spicy chicken ($5.99) without cheese. Turns out you really need the cheese
as after indulging in pizza for decades, eating something that looks like pizza
without the cheese feels weird. Moreover, the “spiciness” was less about heat
and really had to do with the flavour, instead of a chili spice the manakeesh seemed to have a deep almost
bitter essence (although, to be fair, I have sensitive taste buds). Luckily,
after adding tabbouleh to the
flatbread, the parsley mellowed out the bitterness and it became tastier. Moreover,
the manakeesh was unexpectedly large
for the low price.
The
barbeque shrimp plate ($14.99) is quickly becoming my favourite main at
Paramount with two skewers of marinated shrimp that always arrive just cooked
through and flavourful, especially with the accompanying tomato garlic sauce.
Even without the poutine, I find it’s best to pair the shrimp with rice (as
opposed to fries) as the grains goes nicely with the tomato sauce or any of the
remaining mezza plate. Likewise, the crunchy pickles and turnips are great for
easing the stomach after a filling meal.
Paramount
Fine Foods has come a long way in its 10 years’ operating. What started as a
restaurant in Mississauga is now a fast growing chain with locations in Canada,
USA, UK, and Lebanon. Mohamad Fakih, founder of the franchise, is certainly
living the Canadian dream. Isn’t it perfect that on the chain and the country’s
key anniversaries, they celebrate together with the Paramount poutine?
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: 2311 Yonge Street
Address: 2311 Yonge Street
Website: http://www.paramountfinefoods.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!
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