Restaurant Review: Edward Levesque's Kitchen

1290 Queen St. East 416.465.3600

I love discovering new restaurants. I am not that familiar with the Leslieville area of Toronto. I have noticed many listings in Toronto Life for restaurants in this area. It is certainly one part of the city I intend to explore. I have had a few very successful visits to restaurants in the area so I know that there is more to come. I loved the atmosphere in this lovely restaurant from the beginning. The kitchen is at the front. I love entering a restaurant where you get glimpses of the exotic dishes being prepared and your nose tempts you to good things about to happen. The centre of the restaurant has a lot of space. A series of tables is placed along each side. It gives the appearance of a lot of space. The walls are covered with pictures. A very private table is placed at the back of the restaurant and separated by furniture and plants. We were warmly greeted. I later learned that our server was Edward, presumably of the name of the restaurant. Edward is a very charming and helpful with the menu. He is also very skillful in the art of serving. When we left I counted 9 occupied tables (almost the whole restaurant) Edward was taking care of everyone. He was never rushed and always attentive. I like that. The menu changes daily to represent what is fresh and available at the time. On this particular day the soup of the day was Chilled Avocado w Shrimp, lime, chives and yogurt or Puree of Sweet Potato and Ginger w. julienne granny smith. ($7.00). Grilled Calamari is served with chickpeas and nicoise olives roasted with wildflower honey and lemon with parsley oil. ($12.00) We shared the Salad Greens. What a tasty salad composed of fresh fava beans, avocado and pecorino, marjoram/wildflower honey vinaigrette.($7.75) It was delicious and had a different tang from any other salad I’ve tasted. I loved it. The Butter Lettuce Salad is served with granny smith and endive, stilton, toasted walnuts, sherry vinegar and walnut oil. ($11.00)
My friend ordered the Morrocan Lamb Chops served with vegetable couscous, tomato/mint sauce and tahini.($22.00) The Grilled Shrimp Brochette is served with beet basmati and cucumber with preserved lemon salsa.($18.00) The shrimp are large, firm and very tasty. Chicken Supreme is stuffed with chevre cheese and sun-dried tomato, green beans, grilled zucchini and roasted mini-red potato with rosemary jus.($19.00) The Grilled Veal Scallopine is sautéed with zucchini and sweet peppers with lemon and fresh oregano.($19.00) Two pasta dishes are offered daily. Penne with Shrimp is served with fennel, fresh fava beans, zucchini, mint and olives with olive oil and garlic.(16.00) Separate vegetables are available if desired. Roasted Asparagus is served with toasted bread crumbs.($6.00) Red Potatoes Roasted is prepared with sea salt, garlic and rosemary.($4.00)
I have no hesitation to state that the food was outstanding. It is carefully prepared. The restaurant has been in operation now for five years. My friend and I felt that this is a well run operation serving excellent food. What more could you want?