Going down memory lane

July 16^th 2012

Number 4

Yes I did go for lunch today, but it was that kind of day.  I knew just the place to go.

THE RED TOMATO 321 King St. west.

I have been going to the red tomato since I moved to Toronto over 25 years ago.  I loved it then and I still love it now.  I have never been there to just drink, but I do realize a lot of people go there for just that purpose.  I have always gone there for the food.

The food!!  Where do I start?  Well let’s start with the concept of the restaurant.  It’s in the basement of the restaurant Fred’s Not Here (same owner), at the red tomato, you order appetizer size food all night.  There are full size entrée’s, but it’s cool just to order nibbles all night and sit there.  Back in the day, you could go there and get a lava stone at your table and you could cook your own food.  That was a blast, but unfortunately the stones didn’t last that long and they are gone now. 

How about the time when the owners of the red tomato decided to change the menu!!  Ah they didn’t realize what would happen.  They had such a revolt from the regulars that they had to change it back.

My all-time favourite there is the coconut shrimp.  Yes a lot of places have this dish, but if I am not mistaken they were one of the first in Toronto to have this.  For me it was really weird to order this because I hate coconut, BUT!  Once I had their coconut shrimp I was in love.  It is also the Thai dipping sauce they serve it with.  I know at some time in my past visits I have had thoughts of ordering a lot of it and secretly taking it somewhere and get it tested for its ingredients.  It’s that good.  They had great pizza(not anymore) and pasta’s.  You can’t go wrong with anything you order here.

They have a great wine list by the glass and by the bottle, or if you are like me and am one of “those” kind of customer’s, they will give you the wine list from upstairs, and you can order from that.  They also have a great selection of beers by the bottle.

I don’t know what it is about the red tomato, but I have also felt very comfortable and at home there.  I will continue to go there as long as their doors are open.

2 smiley faces