Out & About #304 | Spoon & Fork Plus

It was by pure coincidence that our belated Christmas dinner took place at the parent restaurant responsible for running Corner and, more recently, Mi’Hito. Spoon & Fork Plus – which is not to be confused with the original Spoon & Fork at Trafalgar and Dundas – offers All-You-Can-Eat in addition to à la carte items in a cozy environment featuring the same carpeting and light fixtures as Corner.

The location is more than convenient for those equipped with a license and vehicle, as it offers a substantial amount of parking in a well-illuminated lot. The spacious plaza is also home to Shoppers, Tim Hortons, as well as my personal fave: McDonald’s.

Having initially been informed that the restaurant operated in a buffet-like manner, it took me by complete surprise that the restaurant offered a full-sized, hardcover menu with laminated pages and waiter service. Ranging from Western-style appetizers to East Asian stir-fry and curries, the entirety of the menu could be requested by opting for the AYCE price.
​
Personally, I tend to steer clear of AYCE establishments, for I am never able to consume an amount sufficient enough to validate the experience economically. But Christmas dinners are a group decision; I took to selecting the more unique-sounding items during my stay for the sake of curiosity.

Beet Salad and Prosciutto and Melon were ordered first under the naïve impression that both would adopt the size of a standard appetizer. Scanty segments of golden beet topped with a quarter teaspoon’s worth of crumbled feta filled the first tiny dish, while a single wedge of cantaloupe and not-so-salty, rubbery Italian ham lay on the second. 

“Ahhh.” I thought to myself, “I see how it is now.” The grimy menu was lifted from the razor sharp walk-in clinic-esque paper of a placemat and perused for further options while munching away.

The Beet Salad was tasty, but overall on the average end on the spectrum; the latter was a tad laughable in terms of appearance and strictly disappointing in flavour composition. Despite a carefully-peeled melon wedge, the prosciutto itself lacked chewiness and texture, rendering dissatisfaction.

​Several members of our party took to indulging in incredulous amounts of sashimi, sushi rolls, and artisan-looking hand rolls. The items appeared fresh upon first glance, but the avocado was spotted slowly browning away upon closer inspection. A few bites of a veiny salmon sashimi slice and odd-tasting piece of tuna later, it was concluded that I’d be saving my raw fish appetite for their sister shops instead.

I was later told that the platters that arrived later in the evening faired better in quality and freshness, though I did not confirm this myself.

View the full album HERE !

​Dishes were continuously tasted throughout the night until my stomach could withhold no more.
The Marinated Seafood Salad was tart however didn't retain hints of any other seasoning nor flavour. It was bland for the most part, with the vinegar's only apparent purpose to be for the removal of fishiness.

A 2-piece Coconut Shrimp dish comprised of two small specimens of butterflied shrimp battered in a generous layer of toasted coconut flakes and a side of sweet chili sauce. It was actually an item I was quite fond of in terms of concept, but ultimately resulted in failure due to the lack of oil drainage. Had a sheet of paper been placed underneath (like with the Tempura Basket), the finished product would have been crispy and significantly less greasy. Points were also deducted for an almost indiscernible coconut-y aroma.

​Insalata Caprese was your typical Caprese salad consisting of nothing else beyond unseasoned tomato slices and mozzarella/burrata. Balsamic vinegar had been drizzled on in excess – though I’m not complaining. On the other hand, the olive oil could have been added in with a lighter hand.

East Asian menu items such as Garlic Beef, Lamb Chop (they asked about the degree of doneness?!), and Satay skewers were, overall, witnessed to lack visual appeal, with sauce smeared along the edges of the serving plate. This was quite a contrast to the more aesthetically-pleasing French Onion Soup, Escargot, and Beef Tataki, which I found garnished intricately enough to rival Guu (now Kinka).

Many of our orders varied vastly in terms of taste and presentation, with some performing significantly better than others. Steak and Portobello Ravioli turned out to be meat-less and devoid of wide, deep brown-hued mushrooms; Smoked Salmon Potato Gnocchi boasted insanely mochi-like bits of gnocchi in a watery pool of white sauce. For the most part, the gnocchi was passable, but the sodium-laden chunks of salmon were most definitely not. It was evident that both of these elements had been derived from pre-packaged portions.

At the opposite end of the spectrum were Deep Fried Brie and French Onion Soup. They faired astoundingly well and were adequately cheesy for my liking. While a bit more creaminess would have been preferred, oozing, stringy bits of Brie enveloped in a non-greasy, panko covering were greatly appreciated. The French Onion Soup didn’t appear to be a brine that had been slowly simmered for hours, but was nonetheless consistent with the bread, cheese, and soup ratio of other establishments.
​
The aforementioned are likely the only two items I would order again at full price.

​Desserts were not included as part of the AYCE option, but rather offered separately at rather atrocious associated costs. Thankfully, Vanilla and Green Tea Soft Serve Ice Cream was still included. I took to trying two rounds, with the first cup being a mix of milky, sweet vanilla and an icy "green tea" that paled in comparison. The second time around, I stuck to a full cup of Green Tea, only to once again be underwhelmed with a weakness in flavour. Texture-wise they were reminiscnet of a thinner version of McDonald's Vanilla Cones.

Seating was plentiful, with one end set aside for large group tables, the centre as a bar/reception area, and the alternate end for booths and smaller tables. Our server was the most commendable member of waitstaff I have had the opportunity of being served by. Despite having to constantly take orders, deliver food items, and clear tables for majority of the floor, her attitude was pleasant and her service exceptionally prompt.

Speaking conclusively, I cannot foresee another AYCE experience at this Spoon & Fork location, but I would be willing to try their more popular items in a more leisurely lunchtime setting. Numerous areas could have undergone improvements in hygiene control: sticky menus, crumbs sandwiched between table partitions, peeling bathroom facilities – just to name a few. Nonetheless, the dinner was enjoyable as whole. Variety was aplenty, even if standardized quality was not.

---