Belated Abbreviations

Our principal objection to abbreviations is that they are too short; however, with so few essays in recent months, and so many experiences to recount, we will put aside our own prejudices in order to include a larger number of shorter opinions on a selection of local establishments.

Metro

Metro, on Victoria Street in Kitchener, is regarded by some -- need I mention his name? -- as one of the better local sources of breaded pork cutlets. We are not certain why this might be. While we were amused by the ancient layout and décor in the restaurant, we were unimpressed with both the speed and execution of our lunchtime platters. Our companion received a mushroom-sauce that he described as “goopy” and which looked to us as a concoction of Mr Campbell's. Our own Wiener-style schnitzel was bland and dry. We might forgive a bland, dry schnitzel, but we are not sure we can ever forgive the housemistress, who eventually served us our food, and then addressed us as “honey-bunch”. The gratuity we left behind did not, we fear, adequately reflect the familiarity and affection with which the housemistress regarded us.

Umberto's Bistro

We mourn the lack of decent Italian cookery in the Waterloo region; Umberto's was, sadly, typical of our local experience. We paid nearly twenty dollars for an imitation of spaghetti carbonara that would not have fooled a blind Roman beggar at twenty paces. The prices are high, we suspect, to give the illusion that the food is something other than inferior dried pasta with indifferently-made sauce and no imagination to speak of. Our waiter's habit of obsequiously scraping non-existent crumbs from our table with his little tin instrument provided far more entertainment value than the food provided nourishment of any but the basest kind.

California Sushi

The service is cheerful and polite, the prices are reasonable, and the fish is fresh; however, the limited selection on the menu is evidenced by the sameness of the maki (each “special” roll includes avocado, for example) and the other dishes are tediously standard fare. Their nigiri, though tasty, are unforgivably small. We had hoped for an interesting alternative to Samura and Nagano, but did not find it.

City Cafe

The vaunted City Cafe bakery has arrived in Cambridge, and none too soon. Their bagels and croissants are perfect, and their pizzas remain delicious. We have become rather fond of their lunchtime open-faced melted-cheese sandwiches, too; when we are in the vicinity of Chez Droll, they are our favourite lunchtime treat.

Concordia Club

We have attended the downstairs dining-room at this establishment on both menu and buffet nights; the food is varied, plentiful, and excellent. For a nourishing and enjoyable repast for an agreeably reasonable price, we cannot recommend better in this area. Our most Teutonic friends support our conclusions.

Mayan Grill

We happened to visit the Mayan Grill shortly after it opened in the summer of 2006; we were utterly charmed by the proprietor and her daughter, and we maintain that their Mexican food is unexcelled anywhere north of the 49th. We visited numerous times and sampled every item on their menu with enthusiasm. We note, however, that the establishment appears to have recently closed; if this is the case, then we wish the owners the very best, and thank them for being a very bright spot in the unfortunate dimness of local cuisine. If not, we anxiously await the reopening.