Sara "Pumpkinberry" P.'s Profile

Disclaimer: I did not foot the bill for our dining experience, or even part of it, but I did see the total ($500+ for our party of 5), and I can understand why people think it is grossly over-priced.

I'm on the fence about it, and I will go right out and admit that's because I didn't have to pay $500 for it. If I did, well, no, let's not even think about that!

I'm a local of three years, having married a local, but have never been to the CN tower.  But everyone in our party had been several times, so the consensus is to go in the early evening so you can see everything in daylight, and then watch the sunset, and leave after dark. I think that seeing the city lights at night was absolutely an incredible experience and I wouldn't trade it for only the daylight! But a mix of daylight, sunset, and night lights- I just might!

We made reservations (they are necessary) and requested a table by the window (recommended!) and boy was the experience incredible. Several times our table was just quiet as we watched the lights outside, because the entire restaurant rotates slowly so that you can get a full view of the city while you dine.

Most of the complaints in previous reviews were about the wait times and lines, but we didn't have any of that at either the restaurant or the tower itself (and we were there at dinner time, 6-9!), so I can't comment. In fact, the observation deck was completely empty when we went down after dinner.

And now for the food! I quite enjoyed my meal, but I know that other party members found it just "okay".  What I did like was that they provide a completely separate vegetarian menu with easily made vegan items, so we had no headaches about ordering.

I really enjoyed myself, and as long as you don't go overboard on appetizers and desserts and drinks- the prices are okay (at least for vegetarians!).  I certainly wouldn't mind coming again for a special occasion!

I wish I lived in the nearby area, because The Owl House would instantly become one of my most visited places.

And I loved it so much I'm not even sure where to begin with my review. The atmosphere is really something else. It's called, "The Owl House" for a reason, and it is a quaint old home that was converted into a restaurant! Even though the place was packed it still felt private and intimate, and the owls everywhere really made the place shine. Local art hangs on the walls for you to purchase and take home, and the service was prompt and more than satisfactory!  (We made reservations!) So add fact that it is vegan AND gluten-free, well bust my buttons!

While they do offer some meat, mostly everything their menu is vegan and gluten free- if it's not it can be made vegan (or GF). They use local ingredients, vegan cheese, seitan, and rice milk, and have an extensive gluten free beer list (heck, a very extensive beverage list) and a vegan dessert menu!

As if it couldn't get any better, the food was fantastic. The vegan mozzarella sticks? DELICIOUS. It was so hard for me to decide what I wanted to order because everything sounded so delicious and I wanted to make this visit count (since we're from out of town).  

I am so thrilled with my experience at the Owl House, it will be a must visit whenever we're in Rochester.

It's disturbingly difficult to find a coat in XS that is a) actually XS b) stylish and c) WARM.

Though Katie's is a small storefront at the Bramalea Center, there were several coats in XS (that fit true to size) and the representatives were the most helpful I've ever come across. (Um, she zipped up each coat I tried on for me?) After walking around from store to store, this was the best and I had to come back to it.

All in all, quite lovely!

ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREES!!!!

Okay, do I have your attention? Great. I'll start by saying Lowe's is MUCH better than Home Depot! It's probably even better than Rona! (And definitely better than Canadian Tire.)

But the reason I'm reviewing Lowe's in particular is because I was just there shopping for artificial Christmas trees with my husband and in-laws. We went EVERYWHERE looking for high quality artificial tress, and I mean everywhere. The Bay, Sears, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, even Costco.

Nobody could touch Lowe's. The trees were beautiful, inexpensive (especially compared to the others) and there was such variety. We each brought home a different tree and we love them. They look so elegant standing there that neither my husband and I nor his folks have decorated them yet!

Lowe's is definitely good for a lot of things, but especially so (and worth the drive in to Brampton), for artificial pre-lit Christmas trees.

The only thing that would make Big Apple Bagels better is if they had Earth Balance (non-dairy) spread or non-dairy cream cheese.

Big Apple Bagels has so many bagels to choose from, from your "basics" (Everything, Garlic, Sesame) to the more exotic like Maple, Tomato Basil, Cinnamon Bun, and Strawberry!  They also serve muffins, sandwiches, coffee and some fairly great bagged tea.  

Back to the butter.  So when I realized I had such a wide selection of bagels to choose from, and a great selection of tea or coffee, I was disappointed that my only non-dairy topping choice was peanut butter.  

Don't get me wrong, peanut butter is awesome, but I think it would behoove BAB to provide a non-dairy alternative.  Earth Balance spread lasts forever and has non-hydrogenated oils, it's a super healthy alternative to butter or margarine and would even make a great selling point to customers who do have dairy.  

I understand it's a chain and it's hard to do that sort of thing but I would go to Big Apple Bagels every morning for breakfast (and maybe even lunch) if I knew they had an alternative for me.

Finally, a place I can give the orange/red stars to!  I love the Galaxy Cinemas.  I'm used to paying a lot more to see a show and if I want to see something on opening night, it is literally a fifteen minute mental battle with myself as I decide if the crowds, obnoxious teenagers, huge lines, and prices are even worth my excitement over the film.  (Usually I don't end up going.)  

So imagine my pleasant surprise when I saw a movie opening night at the Galaxy and the line lasted no more than 3 minutes, the seats were big and comfy and allowed for the arm rests to be lifted for a maximum cuddle experience, and the theater was barely half full when the show started.

New favorite place.  Now I just need to move to Milton.

I am torn between three stars and four for Turtle Jack's because we actually had a really bad mishap during our visit but the food was surprisingly all right.

We had a party of four, and I ordered a veggie burger without cheese with a side of fries and my husband asked for the same.  I'm not sure how, "I'll have the same thing" = beef burger? (Especially when you brought me a veggie.)

The waitress didn't apologize and eventually the manager (I guess?) came over and asked how he liked his veggie burger but didn't apologize for the mishap or even offer to compensate for the fact that he had to wait an extra fifteen minutes for his meal while the rest of us ate.  I guess because my husband didn't yell or get upset, I guess they didn't feel the need to go out of their way to adjust our first impressions.  Something like that is really not okay in my opinion.

That said, mistakes do happen and I know that I wouldn't be opposed to eating there again if our family in Mississauga wants to dine out.  If it was a habitual thing, obviously this review would have fewer stars.

I'm not sure what the hype for Red Mesa is all about.  I've eaten here twice over the span of eight years and wasn't really impressed either time.  

This most recent time my husband and I each had the black bean cakes, which were nice enough, but nothing to write home about.  The atmosphere was like a cross between a pub, a sports bar, and a sit down family restaurant, with emphasis on the first two.  

Which I guess just isn't for me, to be honest.  But hold up, I'm not rating it two stars just because it's not my kind of place.  The food was so-so, and I think at a "Mexican" restaurant (well, ANY restaurant) the server should come back and at least see if you need more than that first piddly glass of water (you will) during the course of your meal.  So if you're like me and service, quality of food, a varied menu, and actually hearing each other speak are on your priority list, check elsewhere.

Just want to throw it out there that we just had a visit back to the TC area and we still love Taco House.  I was a little worried that we wouldn't be able to enjoy it once we removed dairy and the like from our diet- but guess what? Those delicious mouth-watering bean burritos can be ordered without cheese and taste just as fabulous as I remember.

We stopped so many times for burritos during our three day stay that some of the staff knew it was us by our order before we left.

Man, I'm craving some burritos now.

Yikes, after reading another yelper's harsh review of Whole Foods, I feel compelled to change it up a bit.

As an American/Canadian, I also have been anxiously awaiting any news of Trader Joes (or Whole Foods), and I was really really excited to find that one opened up at Square One.  (Whole Foods obviously, not Trader Joes, bummerrr.)

While the previous reviewer is right in some regard in that there are a lot of products that are still a step in the wrong direction (their packaging, excess processed foods, or promoting the idea that "free range" eggs actually exist), the store as a whole is, in my humble opinion, a step in the right direction.  

Yes, some of their prices are absolutely ridiculous, but some of them are very much not.  Isn't that the way of it with most stores?  I was able to get my Amazing Grass wheat grass and Amazing Grass Trio meal for $65.  And that's all together, not separate. (Normally they are $65 each, even on http://well.ca)  And nowhere else nearby carries it.  

Also, the selection is really something else.  I'm able to get my Japanese ingredients that no other store carries without driving 40+ minutes (and using all that gas) all the way to an asian grocer to get it.  So for those of us that can't make it all the way out to Big Carrot, or other indie grocers, having an option like Whole Foods nearby is definitely something good, not bad.

And speaking of steps in the right direction, I was very impressed that the first thing you see when you walk in is the books on display above all the food stations.  (China Study, etc.)  I think that is a very big step in the right direction.  Having such resources open and on display will inevitably reach more people and open more minds then it would hurt.

Some of my family, who are very unaware of health/planet/animal issues, suggested we carpool once a month and shop together so my husband and I could help them make better choices.  That wouldn't be happening if Whole Foods wasn't between us both.  Some people WANT to do right, not just "promote an image", but they don't know how or where to start.  Being educated on these issues has to start somewhere, and Whole Foods is as good as any place.    

While it's not ideal nor perfect, I'm grateful that I have an option for those hard to find products I love so much, without sacrificing my values to get them. (Driving 40 minutes, really? I don't need it THAT badly.)  And I'm grateful that it has spurred my family into educating themselves and eating better.  

And just as a final note, another reviewer mentioned that the cashiers often didn't know the produce codes, and I just want to point out that Whole Foods just opened.  A lot of these employees are just now finding their sea legs.  Give it some time and they'll get the hang of it.