Out & About #198 | Cagneys Steakhouse & Wine Bar

I don't know about you, but I tend to find myself embracing my more adventurous edge when located geographically further from home. (I mean, it's pretty evident from the number of successfully-executed Toronto adventures described in this space - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.)

While Streetsville is, at most, a fifteen-minute drive away, I must confess that my knowledge of the area is less than that of Markville. When Cagneys was suggested as our Friday night destination of choice, I had to do some quick Googling in order to determine its location and menu offerings.

According to Yelp, the self-classified steakhouse and wine bar underwent a substantial renovation just before the holiday season. As this was my first visit, I can't comment on the effectiveness or potential increase in visual appeal as a result of these upgrades, but I can confirm that the end product was rather lovely.

The long entranceway, made mysterious and a tad alluring through the use of a blue-toned lights and fireplace mounted on texturized stone wall, was a drastic contrast from the weathered plaza that the restaurant was located within. The interior decor was sophisticated and modest, with a mere touch of ambiguity. Divided into two sections, the left led towards a cozy dining area with black booths and dim lighting, while the right featured a drink bar and several television screens, sports bar-style.

Arriving for our 8pm booking, we were greeted and seated immediately at a spacious booth upon reaching the end of the tunnel - er, entranceway. Out of pure luck, the booth happened to be located adjacent to the glass-doored wine cellar, meaning that we were able to obtain a bit more light for photography purposes than the other nearby tables. In retrospect, this had little effect on the overall output shots, as the lights directly over the table were dimmed as the evening progressed.

We entered a brief moment of association with the black menus placed before us.
Saying that I was "stunned" with the price tags attached to the meals would be an understatement; I was incredibly overwhelmed to the point where my already-fatigued brain almost ceased to function. (Chilean Sea Bass for $44?! But why?!?!)​

Throughout the week, I maintain a strict eating schedule: dinner is consumed at 6 PM, and must conclude within an hour. Reasonably enough, I was more than a little distraught at having to play the waiting game with the kitchen crew at Cagneys. I understand that fine dining is intended to be a process enjoyed in a nonchalant manner, but having consumed nothing besides a glass of water at 8:30 PM, my senses were not agreeing with me.

Thankfully, the appetizers began to roll in shortly, along with a basket of freshly-baked, warm bread.
The Steak Bites arrived first: a pile of messily-plated mushrooms, diced beef, and sauteed peppers slathered in a sticky teriyaki-oyster sauce-like hybrid and doused in black pepper. I tried one bite before pushing it away and taking to griping about the forgotten trails of oil dancing on the plate. It wasn't horrible, mind you - the steak was cooked to a perfect Medium Rare, but the overly viscous sauce disturbed my tastebuds.

Next up were the bread basket and French Onion Soup, both of which were complete stunners. The bread rolls were warm, but not scalding hot; crunchy on the outside, yet fluffy on the inside, it paired amazingly well with the melonball-sized scoop of sweet homemade butter accompanying it.

Ordering the French Onion Soup was another great decision. Beneath a layer of stringy cheese was the most flavourful onion-infused broth I had ever tasted. It was a medley of complex flavours my sleepy senses could not decipher at the time, meaning that the only way to re-experience the starter soup would be through a second visit (should the occasion arise).

Some twenty minutes later, the appetizer dishes were finally cleared and the entrees were delivered. It was 9 PM by this point.

Too sleepy to digest anything besides my own poorly-chosen plate of Cagneys Flatbread (aka olive oil-and-balsamic-vinegar-drizzled foccacia topped with arugular, feta cheese, and halved cherry tomatoes), I managed to munch on a few pieces of the dish before utilizing my remaining energy to maintain mental alertness. (I'll have you know: 5 AM mornings are no joke​.)

The other members of my party offered great praise to their 8 oz. and 10 oz. steaks, even cutting a thin slice for me to observe the entirety of the Medium Rare-ness. The fries were apparently also done well.

Nearing the end of the meal, the waitress handed us the dessert menu. My eyes glimmered upon setting sight on the options, setting off an internal debate with my partially-functioning brain. Chocolate Tartufo, Creme Brulee, Sorbet - my stomach wanted everything but could have nothing; my body couldn't handle any more action, so I grudgingly handed it back.

Despite the fogginess of the evening, I still enjoyed the meal. Though the Steak Bites and Cagneys Flatbread were nothing impressive, the remainder of the meal made for a decent first experience. Our waitress, while not always within sight, was friendly and prompt with our requests for drink refills and napkins; the environment itself is already deserving of four stars (minus one for the hideous blue shadows it cast). In all honesty, I'm thinking about returning solely for the sake of trying their desserts...

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