Restaurant Review: Rosebud

669 Queen St East ( at Bathurst) 416.703.8810

I promised my friend Elaine to be fair but critical of this new find. I get such pleasure in trying new restaurants. I confess I tend to overuse superlatives but I get very excited when I have a great meal in a new place. It is important for you to know that if I don’t like a restaurant I just don’t bother writing about it. I had heard a lot of this restaurant and was anxious to try it. My first impression was very positive. I love the dark wood paneling even in summer. My friend Elaine commented that she thought it had a Soho, New York feeling. The banquettes are new and nicely designed. There is warmth to the décor and a friendly feeling in the restaurant. The servers were adorable and friendly. One did forget to mention the daily specials but as it happened it was for soup only. She was very helpful with the menu and generally we were pleased in this department. Elaine and I shared a first rate gourmet salad of Organic Beets with Hazelnuts, goat cheese, baby arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. ($12.00) The beets were full of flavor and the goat cheese harmonized so well with the greens and the beets. Apparently the balsamic was a reduction which brought out the sweet taste of the excellent vinaigrette. I would have liked two more of the salad and called it an evening. For the main course I mixed and matched a few numbers on the menu. My dish was Tagliatelle with Wild Gulf Shrimp, chilies, tomato and basil. ($14.00 sm- $24.00 lge) Once again I was a happy camper. Elaine helped me to finish my large portion and declared it a winner as well. So what went wrong? Elaine ordered Roast Tofino Halibut with peas, leek, cream and sweet heirloom relish.($26.00) I felt the price was a little steep considering she was served a small portion of a piece of halibut. It was overcooked and the very few peas were dried out. No bread was served with the meal so her dinner was extremely lacking. Fortunately I was able to share my happy dinner I would have liked a positive response from the server when Elaine kindly commented on her dinner.
It is not a large menu but I always feel that a small restaurant should stick to a few items and do it well. For a first course Newfoundland Salt Cod Cakes with tartar sauce and dressed salad are offered at $11.00 Pan Seared Quail with dried cherry and verjus reduction is served with a treviso salad.($12.00) Organic Ontario Tomatoes and Buffalo Mozzarella Salad comes with basil and balsamic glaze.($14.00) Three Italian dishes are on the menu. Ricotta Gnocchi is served with sausage, rapini, garlic and tomato.(14/24) The Risotto is served with the wild gulf shrimp, chilies, tomato and basil.(14/24) is normally served with fresh ricotta, wild arugula, grape tomatoes and roast garlic.(14/24)
Organic Veal Chop with caponata and pink peppercorns and blue cheese is a suggestion for meat lovers.($32.00) Sweet Spiced Rock Hen with butter beans comes with cracked olives and feta.($24.00) Fish lovers have the choice of the halibut or Seared Digby Scallops with braised oxtail and frisee salad.($24.00)
I have never been a fan of ordering vegetables on the side. Charge what you like but make the platter complete. Organic Ontario Yellow Beans have bacon vinaigrette. Rapini is cooked with olive oil and roast garlic. Crushed New Potatoes are served with fresh herbs and butter. Sides range between $6.00 and $7.00
Would I go back again? The answer is definitely yes. They deserve a second try. There was enough that was positive.