Wayfarer's Rest

Chicken Pot Pie at Woodlot (c) James Chatto

On a blustery Friday night, I checked out Woodlot, a new-ish restaurant that has opened at Palmerston and College. On the ground floor was an open kitchen next to a large wood-burning brick oven. In front of the kitchen was a large communal table for walk-ins. The entire space soared to the roof of the building. The smaller, reserved tables were up a flight of stairs on the mezzanine, which overlooked the main space. Nestled underneath this second story were the bar and bathroom. With the layout and the exposed brick and pipes, I felt like I've entered into some sort of medieval inn for elven hipsters.

I started with some fresh sourdough and a Hendrick's gin. The french onion soup was dark and rich. Though like all restaurants serving this filling soup, there was too much of it. I wouldn't mind a 5 spoon mini-serving. The terrine went well with the bread, but I like a little more earthy organ-meat taste to my pâté. The duck cabbage rolls looked more like wrinkly green tea ice cream scoops and was accompanied by a bed of sauerkraut. It wasn't bad but the duck could be a bit fattier. The potato gnocchi was a bit bland, but the home-made pappardelle with wild boar was delicious. The chicken and ham hock pie, additionally stuffed with winter root vegetables, and topped with a crunchy pastry top was tasty and filling. It was much nicer than the 50-cent-for-two frozen mini meat pies I had back in the 80s. For dessert, the apple tarte tatin came with caramelized entire apple slices and vanilla ice cream; I liked the apple, not so much the ice cream. There was also some sort of giant marshmallow with a creamy filling and wild berries. This particular dish did nothing to change my mind about the culinary mistake that is the marshmallow.

Woodlot serves good food, but not particularly innovative, in a convivial atmosphere. It's a little pricey for a regular haunt if you order multiple items. But if you limit yourself to a main entree, then it'd make a nice place to drop by for dinner if you're not up to cooking that night. That is, assuming you can get a table because everyone is dropping by Woodlot.