samuraiya
Member Since: August 14, 2007Reviews
Michael Kluthe Salon & Beauty Spa
I recently went to their spa for a facial ($75 for 1.5hr) and bikini wax ($30 in only 5 minutes!). The price was really good for the service and even better with the 10% off for new clients (you must print out the page from their website though)... +
I recently went to their spa for a facial ($75 for 1.5hr) and bikini wax ($30 in only 5 minutes!). The price was really good for the service and even better with the 10% off for new clients (you must print out the page from their website though). I went to Kim for both services and I absolutely loved her service and personality. She was straight forward, but nice. And she knows what she's doing with the waxing. She's fast and somehow it doesn't hurt that much! The facial was customized to every client's individual skin condition, which is how it should be. For my oily skin, she did cleansing, then put on a peel with the steam, followed by extraction, mask, a really long face massage, a back rub, and finished with a light application of lotion where needed. My skin looked way better after the facial and she didn't even try to sell me any products! All she gave me were free advice on how to take care of my skin. I highly recommend her. The atmosphere, especially in the very bright white flourescent lit waxing room doesn't exactly shout "spa". But the room where I had the facial was nice and dim and relaxing enough. For me, service is the important thing, ambience is just a bonus. -
Fusilli Ristorante
This little Italian gem of a restaurant is located on 531Queen East, just west of River. The atmosphere was really romantic and sweet (dim flattering lighting, Italian 'christmas' music, a chalkboard of wine suggestions, soft banquet on one side... +
This little Italian gem of a restaurant is located on 531Queen East, just west of River. The atmosphere was really romantic and sweet (dim flattering lighting, Italian 'christmas' music, a chalkboard of wine suggestions, soft banquet on one side, and less than a dozen tables in all). The part that blew me away was the service. This restaurant is owned and operated by Giuseppe, who was serving that night and he welcomed us with a free plate of bruschetta (very fresh) and a bread basket with their house made eggplant spread (interesting flavours). The menu is small, with the traditional layout of primi, secondi, carne & pesce. But, I think I'll order from their specials from now on. $100 (incld. tax & tip) for 2 appetizers, 2 pastas and a bottle of wine. The food, was quite good, my favorite was the special of the night, which my boyfriend ordered - a fettuccine with meat sauce (the sauce was so good, very authentic southern italian) It was so good that I basically abandoned my plate of pasta and started eating bread dipped in the sauce! I also barely touched my pasta because by the time I got to it, I was so full from the bruschetta and bread (& the half a 9"cake I ate during the day), that I could barely eat more! When Giuseppe saw that I started eating from my boyfriend's plate, he came over all concerned and asked me if I didn't like my pasta, to which I explained that I suck because I ate so much of the really delicious bread he offered. When the bill came, he didn't charge me for my pasta! But we paid for it anyways since it's me, not the pasta! So, yes, because of such a warm & honest service, and the simple & authentic italian food, I highly recommend this restaurant. One can easily have dinner there for $30/person if you order wine by the glass instead of a whole bottle. Very good price & exceptional service. Will definitely go back. Perfect for a date. -
Glysomed Hand Cream
I agree with all the other reviewers that this cream is extremely thick and a little bit really does go a long way. Since it's so heavy, I like to use it only at night, for both hands & body. I put on the aveeno body lotion and then put a layer of... +
I agree with all the other reviewers that this cream is extremely thick and a little bit really does go a long way. Since it's so heavy, I like to use it only at night, for both hands & body. I put on the aveeno body lotion and then put a layer of glysomed over it to lock in all the moisture. In the morning, my skin feels super soft. I've been doing this consistently for a week and have been very impressed with the results. -
Sushi on Bloor
This place is all about deals & value. Two can lunch for $11.00 and be happily stuffed with very delicious Japanese food. Their lunch specials are incredible - 12 pieces of sushi rolls for $5.99 (included are 2 varieties of rolls, salad & miso... +
This place is all about deals & value. Two can lunch for $11.00 and be happily stuffed with very delicious Japanese food. Their lunch specials are incredible - 12 pieces of sushi rolls for $5.99 (included are 2 varieties of rolls, salad & miso soup). My current favorite is the seafood salad, which is a huge salad of spring mix, kelp & alfafa sprouts with an assortment of seafood & sashimi ($6.00). It tastes so fresh and healthy - definitely won't leave you feeling tired after lunch. My second fav is the negima yaki ($5.50, grilled roll of thinly sliced beef around green onions) This is a lunch time bbq indulgence. Each bite-size piece is a flavour explosion of perfectly charred meat glazed with real teriyaki sauce, the kind where soy sauce is slowly simmered into soy syrup. If you decide to check this place out, it might be a good idea to just do take-out instead of eating in. Firstly, it's always packed even after the regular lunch hour. Secondly, you get 20% off take-out orders! So, look up their menu online and call ahead to get the best deal. www.sushionbloor.com -
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar
I'm a bit torn about this one, specifically the Keg Mansion. I really enjoyed my dining experience there because the atmosphere was great - nice decor, spacious rooms. I especially loved the individual dining rooms, some with a fireplace, and each... +
I'm a bit torn about this one, specifically the Keg Mansion. I really enjoyed my dining experience there because the atmosphere was great - nice decor, spacious rooms. I especially loved the individual dining rooms, some with a fireplace, and each with less than 10 tables, making the whole meal a lot more intimate. The service was good and the place is just so relaxed. It's great to go for a date or to catch up with friends. The price is reasonable. But, the food is just not that good. The sauces were mediocre and the steak was a bit tough. Still, I think I'd go again because of the reasonable price and the atmosphere. It's a good alternative for when you crave to go out for a nice dinner but don't want to dish out the cash. -
Izakaya
This restaurant is just a great concept gone terribly wrong. An "izakaya" is to the Japanese what a pub is to the Irish - lots of drinking with affordable, casual bites on the side. The atmosphere is supposed to be relaxed and rowdy with the after... +
This restaurant is just a great concept gone terribly wrong. An "izakaya" is to the Japanese what a pub is to the Irish - lots of drinking with affordable, casual bites on the side. The atmosphere is supposed to be relaxed and rowdy with the after work crowd drinking their day's stress away! It should be so crowded, you're constantly rubbing shoulders with the next table. But this restaurant took the casual style of the cuisine and repackaged it into an expensive and way less delicious version of the original. Being Asian, I really take offense at the capitalizing of such eccentric rituals, especially by the food industry. By elevating the izakaya into a posh dining establishment, the essence of the ritual is lost. It's now just a theme park version of the real thing. The noodles, which I looked forward to, was a total disappointment as well - overly salty soup; regular noodles; scant pieces of meat. Guess this is what you get when posh replaces comfort. -
The Mercantile
Healthy, organic, artisanal, and gourmet - this is what the Mercantile is all about. Located in Little Italy on College St. West, this little food shop has been around since 1999. They carry a wide range of products from tea leaves and spices, to... +
Healthy, organic, artisanal, and gourmet - this is what the Mercantile is all about. Located in Little Italy on College St. West, this little food shop has been around since 1999. They carry a wide range of products from tea leaves and spices, to organic candies, baking supplies, pasta, sauces, jams, preserves, etc. This is where you'll find those Martha Stewart-esque food products that you thought Whole Foods would carry, but doesn't. This is also where you should go if you have a foodie on your list to shop for. Some of the really interesting things I found were chocolate covered figs & cherries or chocolate covered pumpkin/ sunflower seeds! They also have a great selection of snacks that are healthy and great looking. One of the things they specialize in is gift baskets. There is a great selection of containers to choose from. Shanon, the owner, was at the store on the day I visited and was really helpful in putting together my snack basket. Everything is priced fairly. It definitely isn't much more expensive than Whole Foods. But, you can end up splurging a bit especially when you start to put everything that seemed interesting, which is pretty much everything they sell, into your basket. So, before you walk in, bring someone to moderate your spending! -
Ancient Secrets Seaweed Mineral Body Firming Mask
This mineral body mask claims many things - body firming, pain relieving, skin smoothing, backne fighting. So, initially, my mindset was to test out all its claims and see if it really works such wonders. I put it on my grandmother's arthritic... +
This mineral body mask claims many things - body firming, pain relieving, skin smoothing, backne fighting. So, initially, my mindset was to test out all its claims and see if it really works such wonders. I put it on my grandmother's arthritic hands, my moms terribly sore back, shoulders and arms, my "slightly" cellulite plagued thighs and very sensitive back (meaning, it can break out just from irritation by a rough sweater). And what I found was: my grandmother thought her painful fingers were relieved; my mom thought the soreness did go away while she was slathered in the buttery mask, then wrapped like a mummy in plastic wrap and warm blankets. As for me, well, my thighs felt super soft and I didn't break out in backne! Did it work its wonders? Well, I say it did an effective job of what it claims to do (and yes, those cellulites are still on my thighs). But, really, the best thing about this product is that it makes you want to stop and pamper yourself and the ones you love. This stuff smells goood - fresh, earthy, and feminine. That scent alone made me want to pamper myself the moment I received this body mask in the mail. So, bring out that fluffy robe, scented candles, bath salts, sugar scrubs and the best smelling body wash you have; a little bottle of sparkling wine or champagne on the side wouldn't hurt either. But, with all that, don't forget the plastic wrap. And oh, switch those phones to silent mode. -
Lubriderm Intense Dry Skin Repair Lotion
I too was pleasantly surprised by this product. My first impression was, "whoa, this cream is thick!" But, it does spread rather well and once it's absorbed, which took about 5 minutes for me, the skin feels smoother and softer. I really liked... +
I too was pleasantly surprised by this product. My first impression was, "whoa, this cream is thick!" But, it does spread rather well and once it's absorbed, which took about 5 minutes for me, the skin feels smoother and softer. I really liked how versatile it is. I can put this Lubriderm cream on different parts of my body - from normal arms to really dry hands and legs, and even that troublesome rough patch of skin on my heels - and they would all benefit from the moisturizing effect of the cream without feeling greasy. I especially liked using it on my hands and feet. I can wash my hands a couple of times before needing to reapply. As for those dry heels of mine, they did get a bit softer after a couple of nights of application. So, for the lazy ones out there like myself, it's definitely worth getting since you won't need to buy a different cream for the hands and feet! The only drawback would be the cost and the scent. At $8.99 for 140g, it does cost about double the typical drugstore body lotion. Scent wise, though it's supposed to be unscented, there is this slight rubber/plastic smell, which dissipates after the cream has been absorbed. It could be annoying for some, but, it's not a big deal, and I can definitely overlook this slight blunder for the effectiveness of the cream. -
Trevor Kitchen and Bar
I love small restaurants, especially ones that deftly capture the fine balance of hip & modern with comfort & intimacy. Trevor Kitchen and Bar is such a place to the bone. From interior design, to sound, service, and food, everything is carefully... +
I love small restaurants, especially ones that deftly capture the fine balance of hip & modern with comfort & intimacy. Trevor Kitchen and Bar is such a place to the bone. From interior design, to sound, service, and food, everything is carefully edited to the point of being "just right" - nothing superfluous, and nothing less than inspiring. The dining room is modern but warm. Sounds and music from the bar spill into this area, enhancing an otherwise more formal room with a lively and easy going vibe. The waiter was professional, swift, and does a fine job with wine suggestions.
It's very easy to fall in love with the cuisine at Trevor too. The menu is a play on traditional European comfort foods, without turning every dish into overly premeditated deconstructivism or molecular science. Here, flavours come from slow braising, roasting, and other traditional techniques, while still surprising the palette by the use of quirky ingredients (i.e. beef cheeks), exceptional combination of flavours & textures, and simply skillful execution of every plate. I had foie gras with pork belly and spiced apple to start, followed by grill pressed hen with spatzle in riesling sauce, and finished with vanilla beignets with chili spiked hot chocolate. Everything was very delicious, portions were generous, and I definitely recommend all of the above picks.
The one thing that really blew me away, though, was the amuse - roasted pumpkin soup with truffle oil served in a little espresso cup for leisurely sipping at the beginning of the meal. The soup was mild, silky, and frothy, like a warm cashmere blanket on the tongue. In the center was the surprise treasure of one perfectly toasted pumpkin seed, whose earthy and nutty flavour exploded with such intensity and conviction. This was a perfect ode to autumn and a clear indication of the talent of Jesse Valins - new chef du cuisine at Trevor. The meal was around $100 for 3 glasses of wine, 1 appetizer, 1 main, 1 shared dessert, an espresso, tax and tip. You get great value for the money. So, if you're looking for an intimate, sophisticated and very delicious dinner without the suffocating formality or pretentiousness of some restos, Trevor is the place to go. I'm looking forward to trying their lounge menu as well, which includes such fun offerings as mini Kobe beef burgers and surf & turf tacos. Dinner reservations recommended.
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