Since about 2012, 124 Street has been the place to be, the street that was becoming something. New restaurants move in monthly, cute shops are popping up everywhere and – the biggest sign of a new “it neighbourhood” – it even has its own farmers’ market on Thursday nights.
This is the place that is considered the spark, the impetus for 124th Street becoming a destination instead of a place you just drove by on your way to bigger and better areas. This French patisserie is full of exquisite desserts, from the salted caramel macaroons to the darling little tarts. The quality and variety is unlike anything we had seen in the city before – and made it OK, even admirable, to drop $30 on a few mouthfuls of deliciousness.
I love this place – we always have the same friendly server, I always order the same steak with salad and it is always, always excellent. Basically, it is consistently great and I am never disappointed with what I find here. If it ever changed too much – the menu, the chalkboard with the specials written on it above the fireplace, the tray of dessert prototypes to show you exactly what your cheesecake will look like – I would likely die of a broken heart.
The diner can be found just off of 124th Street, in the High Street complex that is considered part of this up-and-coming area. There is no pretension or formal attire to be found here, just good food in big portions. The chicken burger is stuffed with so many fixings that you’ll need a napkin bib – but, no judgement here.
This is, without a doubt, one of my favourite restaurants. The décor is rustic chic, the space is cozy and the food is extraordinary. But the restaurant lacks the pretension that can come with such high-quality food and a well-known chef. Instead, you will find whole animal cooking (try the questionable bits, no question about it) and local, farm-to-fork freshness.