On Sunday, a friend wanted to go for breakfast at Tamis Cafe. Sadly, that filipino restaurant has shuttered last December after 9 years. It just shows how rarely Ottawans go out because none of us knew about the closure. But there was another filipino spot in Chinatown on Somerset.
I arrived about 30 minutes before Lola's Kitchen opened. So I stepped inside Ten Toes (Coffee House and Laundry) to get some tea and wait. I don't go to these gentrified businesses but it was a cold, breezy morning. With its eclectic tables and mismatched sofas, there were quite a few folks inside for the boho vibe.
Lola's was a tight space and we ended up on a narrow 2nd level (practically a ledge) where they had squeezed in 3 tables. We debriefed each other about the odd situation a few months back. It turned out that for this Christmas, instead of a frenetic trip to Japan, my friend was taking her family to a resort in Mexico. Although after about 4 days at these places, she'll start getting restless. Travel for dance competition for her daughter will pick up again in a few months. I had no idea that these showcases can last up to 6 days (another kind of "going bonkers from boredom" trip). I told her that my own "vacation" will be spending thousands of dollars to sublet in Toronto in the new year.
As for the meal, I chose the chicken adobo ($22) with a garlic rice add-on ($3) and she opted for something similar but with beef or tapsilog ($23). The waitress originally forgot our complimentary soup which was welcoming for today. There was a good amount of rice but only a few slices of plaintain. The chicken was a tender but a bit too salty. Also, for over $32 with tax and tip, I want big chunks of chicken not small pieces with bone. Once again, a better meal can be had in Toronto for 33% cheaper ($8 less). Eating out in Chinatown used to be cheaper but that time was long past.
No comments:
Post a Comment