I have been busy, busy, busy. On top of work, I got a call back for a job that I had applied for a few weeks ago. After three interviews, I got a job offer that I am very, very excited for. Coincidentally, my friend Samuel also got a job offer that he really wanted the day after I got mine. So Minji and Daniel asked where we'd want to go for a celebration dinner, and I suggested Cafe 85, which has been popping up all over my Instagram.
Truffle Fries — Shoestring fries, parmesan, and thyme
Sausage Campanelle — Italian sausage, tomato sauce, kale, basil, and fennel
Short Rib Pappardelle — Braised short rib, pan sauce, pesto, and parmesan
Skirt on Skillet — 8 oz. skirt steak, confit fingerling potatoes, balsamic mushrooms, wilted spinach, and peppercorn sauce
The restaurant just had their soft opening so we missed out on their $10 short rib special promotion, but I'm not even mad about it because I don't think it would have given me the true, unbiased experience of what they're capable of. Most of the average-to-negative reviews of this restaurant were because people went for this promotion only to find out that it was a limit of one per table. The restaurant would lose money before they could even have their grand opening if this promotion was unlimited, and I don't think they should be penalized in a negative review for that. That having been said, those diners were missing out on some of the other amazing dishes on the menu. We decided to share the Truffle Fries, the Sausage Campanelle, the Short Rib Pappardelle, and two Skirt on Skillets, and everything was pretty damn incredible.
Flavour and texture combinations were on point, pastas were cooked perfectly al dente, the short rib and the skirt steaks were incredibly tender and juicy and not even a little chewy (the steak is on rarer side of medium-rare, which is exactly how I like it, so I might be biased here), portions were decent, and the pricing is entirely reasonable. Our server was pleasant and accommodating and not cloying at all, but made sure that we had everything we needed and refilled our waters regularly. The restaurant itself is cozy but modern with huge comfy booth seating. My only regret is not getting dessert (we had an 8:45PM booking for an escape room and couldn't stay longer). I will absolutely be coming back to try their brunch options — the Sausage Shakshuka and Duck Confit Benny are calling my name.
Cafe 85
280 West Beaver Creek Rd., Lower Level Unit 10
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Z1
(905) 224-0757
Be First to Post Comment !
Post a Comment