Wednesday, December 12, 2007

RED ROOM (444 Spadina Ave.)

THE CO-CONSPIRATORS: Chris, Pam & Shanghoon

RATINGS:
FOOD: 3+
PRICE: 4+
SERVICE: 2+
AMBIANCE: 4


ALL-DAY BREAKFAST: YES
COFFEE/ESPRESSO BAR: NO
COFFEE INCLUDED: NO
FREE REFILLS: YES
LICENSED: YES
HP SAUCE: YES (but not on this day in particular)
PATIO: YES
BOOTHS: YES
OPEN-KITCHEN: NO

So a photographer, a rep and an art director walk into a bar...
At the corner of College & Spadina, on the northern border of Chinatown and no more than a block away from my office is the wonderfully dingy Red Room. One of the most well known barstaurants in the area, Red Room doesn't often fail in delivering cheap eats and an inviting atmosphere.

STANDARD BREAKFAST:
2 eggs
bacon or sausage
homefries
salad
toast
$3.75+tx.


THE FOOD: I was pleasently surprised, seeing as this was my first Red Room breakfast and taking into consideration how hit or miss they are as far as food quality goes (the soups and sandwiches are mintacular whereas much else on the menu is nothing to write home about). The ratios were a little askew. I got four pieces of bacon and yet only a single slice of toast which was pretty hard to distribute amongst two eggs. I fucking hate when the toast to egg ratio isn't even. Grrr...
Shanghoon Side-Note: The pancakes didn't have enough egg in the mix.
Pam Side-Note: The sausages are tasty yet predictable.

THE PRICE: A 5 were they a touch more attainable. Also, the fact that it was on Westside's tab didn't hurt in the slightest.

THE SERVICE: Nothing special. Forgetful to say the least. Took forever with the coffee rifills. The only real plus was water without asking.

THE AMBIANCE: It's Red Room. I've only ever met one person ever (who I soon after disowned) that didn't feel comfortable under the faint glow of the sporadic christmas lights and surrounded by the interesting mix of original artwork (chickens getting nasty and all).

Red Room is one of those places you could hit up for a mid-day business breakfast, head with 15 odd friends to get knackered or swing by on a thursday for a quiet soup and sandwich over the new Now. Either way, check it out if you haven't already and tell those who say otherwise to shove it up their wazoo.

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