Posts Tagged ‘independent restaurants’
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When I got home last night we decided it was a good night to have our more-or-less weekly date night as we are going to a work-related function on Saturday night. Amy wanted to get a haircut so we drove into St. Catharines and decided en route where we would go. We ended up at the Cat’s Caboose on Glenridge Avenue (sidebar: they have an absolutely fantastic website that I had not previously visited).
It is a very roadhouse/bar looking sort of place (apparently the Jagermeisterrettes were going to be there sometime later Thursday than we were there, which gives you an idea of the calibre for which they aim) though there is a more traditional-restaurant-looking dining area to one side where the music is not so loud and there aren’t as many TVs. There is a live jazz group (sometimes trio, sometimes up to a quintet) on Saturday afternoons/early evenings and live bands later on Saturdays. The decor and ambiance would not lead one to credit the food too much but appearances are (as they often can be) deceiving.
They have one of the most varied menus of any restaurant I’ve ever visited. Priced comparably to Kelsey’s or Boston Pizza (actually a bit cheaper than either), they tend toward what I think of as ‘generic restaurant’ food, not associated with any particular culture or cuisine. They have 13 sandwiches, 5 burgers and a couple kinds of wraps but also steak, fajitas in several varieties, pasta, salads and a ridiculously full page of appetizers. As I said, a very varied variety (that particular alliteration is a lot of fun to say) and extremely reasonable prices. They have fajitas for between $10.99 and $12.99 and I think most places start at $14.99 and tend upward.
Amy had the Roadhouse Roadkill Cajun Chicken sandwich (though she asked for and received the substitution of a wrap for bread) with Chicken Gumbo soup as a side ($8.99) and I had a Paris Chicken sandwich (chicken, apple slices and Brie which I chose because I wasn’t feeling particularly adventurous. I find it interesting how much my tastes have changed in that a sandwich with fancy cheese and apple slices is my “boring” option. Also it was $9.99) with a side of fries. Both of Amy’s dishes were slightly spicy. Not a “perspiring while eating’ kind of spicy but they had some bite. I really enjoyed my sandwich (though it was full of what seemed to be shredded lettuce mixed with mayonnaise. Tasty but a strange texture and appearance) and the portions were very good. I’m sure they have their fries supplied but they are quite crisp and not particularly heavy.
Our server, Alistair (not making that up) was very attentive and quite friendly. Overall it was a sterling example of an independent restaurant making up in quality, service and value what it lacked in national radio and television advertising campaigns. I think we’ve now been there three or four times and I recommend it highly.
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Downtown St. Catharines (and Niagara in general) is home to a great many excellent independent restaurants. Pow Wow is one of the first that we tried during our year off of chain restaurants. PW is right across the street from my office.
According to their site, they’ve been in business for nearly 15 years. They also have a second restaurant/bar on James Street. It’s called the Office. We’ve been there as well but prefer Pow Wow, by and large.
The lunch menu is really where they shine. We typically go there in the early evening and if one asks nicely, one can order some things from the lunch menu during what is technically dinner time.
We’ve only tried one of the appetizers. Meze for Two is several small dips and breads. The portion size is such that we usually order an appetizer platter to split and then a main course to split. I say ‘platter’ but it is 3-4 plates full of food.
We’ve gone to PW with a group of friends and split several pizzas. They are approximately six-slice jobbies on what I believe to be hand made dough. The Chicken Club is fantastic but the others are worth trying as well. The only pasta I’ve had there is the Angry Chicken which was good but rather spicy.
My favourite thing to order at PW is a sandwich. They have combined meat with pears or apples for a really interesting flavour mix (one that we have stolen and used at home. Mmmmm grlled pears). Last time we were there, we split a Chicken Apple and a Turkey, Pear & Brie. They are served with a several-different-lettuces salad under a light vinaigrette (spelled that right on the first try!) and a sort of pastry shell thing that I’m not even sure what it is. It’s very light and crunchy but has sort of an odd flavour and consistency. Not bad just not for everybody.
As far as I can recall, we have yet to sample their dessert offerings as we are typically too full of whatever else to even think about it. Some day we plan to do a progressive dinner through downtown and I wouldn’t be opposed to ending up at Pow Wow come dessert time.
when i walked down to the beach