Rhodes' Collard

Friday, I was back in Toronto for a few days. It wasn't as invigorating as the last time I descended on The Big Smoke. But 10 degrees warmer than Ottawa made up for the grey, overcast sky. This time, my short-term stay was in the East End on a side street near Coxwell subway station.

The communal kitchen and living room were cozy and nicely decorated. The most spectacular part was the pretty backyard with deck (covered for the winter). There were 6 rooms for rent: 3 on the main floor and 3 in the basement. The owner probably lived in one of the rooms though they all had keypad locks. My room was a basement unit with its own bathroom. There was also a second small kitchen to be shared among the subterranean dwellers.

After the initial wow factor faded, my room wasn't quite as pretty under a more critical eye. Firstly, this must be a grandfathered basement as the ceiling height was low. Secondly, the renovation used cheaper material and DIY workmanship. I felt the lumpiness of the floor as I walked around. Sure enough, a quick peek underneath the area rug revealed the laminate tiles starting to crack. There were several taped notices including an ominous warning that the toilet often clogged. To be fair, it's a nice enough space with a clean bathroom. Such a room at $114/night at Victoria's Mansion would be smaller and in worse condition.

For dinner, I thought about revisiting El Sol. But then I remembered being told that Ethiopian restaurants have mostly relocated to this area due to rising rent elsewhere. So in fact there were quite a few to choose from about 2 blocks west of Coxwell and Danforth. I stepped inside modest Abugida as their prices were cheaper than trendy La Vegan ($25 for a veggie combo!)

It was empty at first but became busier by the time I finished my veggie platter ($17). This was a delicious dinner with a huge portion. I would still have been happy if it was 20% smaller. The selection of veggie options was top notch: fresh salad, stewed lentils, cabbage, beet, green beans, collard greens, and berbere sauce. The last item added a bit of kick to the meal. Everything was nicely cooked and not too oily. The collard greens were just a bit salty but you could compensate with some earthy beet. By the end, I was overstuffed and a bit too full. A constitutional would be perfect but sadly after-dinner strolls are verboten for me. So I waddled back to my room for a short lie down.