we gave it another try...

that is we went to Veritas for dinner... this time it wasn't Earth Hour, and so electricity was on... but the kitchen didn't seem to be...
one thing I do like about Veritas is their very Ontario influenced wine list... for Jay a glass of 2007 Red Conception from Fielding Estate, and for me a glass of 2008 Riesling from Thirty Bench... delicious...
the bread basket... two types of simple warm multigrain with white bean puree (puree could have used a bit more seasoning)...
now for the actual food... The evening began as a huge disappointment for Jay, because the app and the main that Jay wanted, the kitchen was out of that night.... I mean cooome on Brad Long, you sure as hell can criticize others on TV, where are your standards...
Appetizers....
I enjoyed Gathered Greens Salad with Vidal Vinaigrette plus Caramelized King Oyster Mushrooms... ok this was a total winner... amazing... portion huge... mushrooms plentiful (you can't really see them, because the salad is covering them up). We both loved it, and there was plenty to share... too bad the rest of the meal wasn't as fabulous...
What Jay wanted was Braised Short Rib Ravioli with a Concord Grape Reduction, what he had to settle for is Spinach and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli with Lemon Sauce.... he wasn't impressed. According to him the sauce was way too bitter, to the point of being nauseating, he scraped all he could of the pasta before eating it.... it just overpowered the simple flavors of the ravioli... someone obviously has no taste buds in the kitchen...
Mains...
I chose Nigari Tofu, Seasonal Vegetables and Miso Hot Pot... what confused me is when the waitress put down a fork and a knife down along with a spoon... I mean this wasn't a tofu steak... and I wasn't impressed by flavor either. Borderline too salty, and other than the sprinkling of green on top, the green veggies in the soup were way overcooked, mushy, no longer green disappointments...
What Jay was looking forward to was Slow Braised Venison Osso Buco with Roasted Butternut Squash Mash and Sauteed Beet Greens, but since the kitchen didn't have any he settled for Berkshire Pork Loin Stuffed with Sauteed Mushrooms, Spinach and Goat Cheese with a Cranberry Reduction.... ummm it looked good, even if the pork looked more rolled up than stuffed... Jay said it tasted ok, veggies were spot on, but the cranberry reduction seemed like jus with some dried cranberries thrown in
We decided against dessert. But we looked at the menu, one item listed is "Pie", but the waitress didn't inform us what kind of pie and we didn't care to give her false hope that we'll order anything by asking what it was. Anyways I feel that information should come as dessert menu is being shown, it shouldn't be asked for.
Overall Brad Long you get a C+. Not having menu items on a Saturday night when your restaurant is mostly empty is just not encouraging... We won't be going back, for a very long time, if ever... Toronto has way too many fine restaurants for us to explore and to spend our money in...