Out & About #366 | Satay Sate + One Ten Cafe

​For the regular commuter, subconsciously saving sights of one's surroundings within his or her mind isn't uncommon. Sometimes only selective observations are made, whereas outright oblivion occurs at other times.

In the rare case that I'm not absorbed in catching up with GOT7 news, I'll find myself staring mindlessly out the window of the bus while nodding to recent K-Pop releases, making mental notes about the unfamiliar-looking storefronts that pop up every now and then along Yonge. By engaging in this, I've unintentionally developed a casual to-go list suppressed deep in my brain folds, ready to call forth when the time arrives for the next North York excursion.

​At a loss for lunch options, I took to Google (and social media for ocular evidence) for assistance. Hakata had ranked near the top until I pondered about my several noodle-containing meals of the week. Associated with a stream of semi-consistent feedback, Satay Sate emerged triumphant.

I had recalled sauntering by its patio on numerous occasions, given the eatery's proximity to Sheppard station as well as North York Civic Centre. Digital reviews had remarked on the compactness of the establishment, limited service and seating, and speedy delivery times - all were proven to be true with our visit.

​Situated at the northeast corner of Yonge and Elmwood, Satay Sate appeared a lot larger from the exterior than it was in reality. Walls were dark with splashes of green, and decor was minimal with the exception of potted plants. A narrow strip of bar seats lined the north side of the eatery, while a communal table and two 2-person tables assumed spots in the centre and south perimeter respectively. A menu consisting of no more than eight entrees was placed near the counter.

​Within minutes of entering the near-vacant establishment, a stout middle-aged man emerged from the open kitchen in the back and demanded to know if we were ready to order. It was well after the lunch rush by this point, yet there were no greetings, introductions, nor even the faintest smile to welcome us onto the premises. Only one other customer remained seated in the dining area, but he had already been served and was merely munching on the contents of his biodegradable box. The hurried interrogation took me by surprise, as did his evident displeasure at having to tend to guests at all.

​Indonesian Street Food is not my specialty, so we were left to fend for ourselves and forage for additional details should the menu not provide sufficient clarity. The two most popular items - as derived from user reviews anyway - appeared to be the Beef Rendang and Sate Skewers, primarily Tempeh.
We settled for the Chicken Sate Entree and Beef Rendang, specifying the coconut rice upgrade (an additional dollar) for the former and relaying our concerns towards the spice level of the latter. The mustached man dismissed our woes about mildness, responding that it wasn't spicy in the slightest. This, of course, was a subjective opinion and he cared not a smidgen about whether his clients would be able to enjoy the dish's underlying seasonings whatsoever.

The reason why chili pepper symbols had been tacked beside the Sate Wraps but not the Sate Entrees remained unanswered to me, for I sensed sheer opposition from the cashier side to answer any questions from someone who was not fluent in his preferred choice of language. My foreign vocabulary is limited, though I was more than willing to expand my horizons should he had been willing to share about his culture and food customs. Curiosity remained unsatiated from the churlish service

​Multiple outlets were positioned along the walls for easy access. A secured Wi-Fi network was also offered, though the password was in quite the camouflaged spot; customers would have been unaware of its existence had they not inquired the service staff. The very fact that these two elements were offered in a quick service eatery was amusing to me, since it did not appear that they wished for customers to reside longer than necessary to consume their meals.

​Our meals were delivered with impressive speed: the total preparation time averaged ten minutes, including placement into compostable takeout boxes. A grimy water jug and stack of plastic cups were placed near the pickup section of the counter, but none was offered to us even when I marched over to retrieve the stack of boxes. The sole other customer in the vicinity had a cup placed next to him, so I simply followed suit when the discourteous fellow spun on his heel and retreated back into the kitchen.

​Both entrees consisted of rice topped with deep fried garlic, Acar salad, and a small bag of shrimp crackers. I could have easily done without the pungent crisps and gigantic fishy flakes, so it would have been nice to have alternative options (such as more salad).
Beef Rendang was listed as "coconut based beef curry slow braised in coconut milk and spices". As a lover of all things fragrant, I retained high hopes for this dish and anticipated a strategic harmony of milky mildness. The result was scarce in nutty aroma though bursting with complex degrees of seasonings. Apperance-wise, its lack of viscosity contributed fewer attraction points than that of thicker Japanese-style curry. However, the meat was tender without being tough; each lean block was suprisingly supple despite the absence of fatty tissues. The decision to adhere to regular Steamed Rice as opposed to upgrading to Coconut Rice had been the correct one, for only when consumed in conjunction with plain grains did the subtle hints of coconut flavour materialize.

​Chicken Sate comprised of an identical layout. Worth noting though is the meager inclusion of two satay skewers. Beef Rendang and Sate Entrees were both priced at $11.49 before tax, though the portion sizes differed in generosity. For those with smaller appetites, the contents of the boxes were fair, however the same cannot be said for ravaging stomachs.
That being said, I was rather pleased with the order in terms of presentation and flavour depth. Possessing a warm, silken centre and well-marinated profile, the skewers truly impressed with their varying texture and smoky aftertaste. A sweet-savoury peanut sauce accompanied the protein sticks, pairing wonderfully with the coconut rice. More floral and less sticky than its Thai counterpart, the gluten-free source of carbs further highlighted the individual flavours of the charred chicken cubes.

The side Acar Salad was a welcome addition to the box, especially considering that it was dressed in a light, tangy sauce (sans onion pulp!) dissimilar to that of economic sushi joints

​Two washroom stalls could be found towards the back of the diner, though only one was unlocked for customer use. Facilities were fairly new, but a thin layer of discernible dust was present on the toilet paper dispenser. The door also showed signs of rough handling via chipping. They did offer hooks and functional toiletries though, so I suppose it was sufficient given the atmosphere.

Reiterating my previous point, it's unlikely that Satay Sate will ever suffer from a lack of customers given its preferable location to the civic centre and neighbouring office buildings. Their primary focus is set on catering and quick delivery of meals, which they manage to accomplish with ease. For those that are less rushed with their meals, specifically the off-peak clients, it is highly recommended that they adopt proper serving mannerisms to better satisfy their niche. Indonesian establishments are already few in Toronto, so enthusiasm towards spreading news about tradition and culture would be appreciated.

​Have you ever seen plants in plastic bags before? Me neither, not until strolling by their patio anyway.

​Bake Code was nearby, so I suggested making the brief trek through tar dust territory to verify whether Thai Milk Tea had landed. Inquiring about its availability from one of the staff members ensured that I would not be lining up in vain should the beverage not have made its official debut.
Unfortunately, it still wasn't on offer yet. On the bright side, this also meant that I didn't have to join the excruciatingly painful lineup to relieve myself of the humidity.

As we departed the establishment in search of another thirst-quenching destination, I made an observation: Tsujiri would soon be making its way uptown!!  Matcha heaven is within reach!

​En route to Satay Sate, we had chanced by a dakgalbi spot that I hadn't realized existed until that fleeting moment. Not too far from the Korean comfort food restaurant was One Ten Cafe, an eclectic little spot that caught my attention more than once on my social media feed.

​The cafe contained as many seats as Tsujiri's venture on Dundas, except in the form of two-person tables with adorable centrepieces at the centre of each. Interior furnishings were spectacular for an establishment of its size: in attendance were eye-catching LED slogans, menu scrolls, figurines, potted plants, and even rose gold details on the disposal bin. String lights provided a hazy glow during daytime hours, while overhead lamps would, presumably, contribute soft ambience come dusk.

​A large menu was situated high on the wall behind the cashier/preparation area, just hanging on top marbled honeycomb tiles. More marble lined the drink pickup area, while cubic tiles of a similar colour scheme found their way into the single stall bathroom. Jo Malone candles and lavender sage soap helped to heighten sophistication levels within the small spot.

​For a quiet late afternoon, two members of staff operated the shop with ease. The female member gladly introduced their list of top ten items, drawing special attention to the Matcha Fresh Milk and Maca Macaron - the latter an unassuming combination of matcha and milk foam with a surface lined with macarons. The $7.50 snack-beverage was a rather hefty choice in my opinion, so I merely settled for a regular Matcha Fresh Milk and large Cold Brew Japanese Kyoho Oolong Tea. The duo set me back approximately the same amount as two 2 Ladies at CoCo.

​The male member of staff acted as support for the careful crafting of the beverages. I observed as the lady carefully poured freshly-shaken matcha atop 2% milk, then meticulously added ice cubes to meet my request of less ice. Rich and grassy, the Matcha Fresh Milk possessed the quintessential elements of my go-to green-tea based beverage without slick sweetness nor satiating creaminess

Cold Brew Kyoho retained the bold depth of Oolong mixed with cooling properties and gentle notes of floral. Kyoho, after a tad bit of research, is actually the name of a grape variety hailing from Japan, which would explain the discreet but well-received refreshing qualities.

​Parking is essentially nonexistent unless one happens to reside within the neighbouring condominium, or happen to be acquainted with a guest parking pass-bearing individual. I would recommend ditching the car for public transit on a weekday and trying your street parking luck during weekend evening hours.

Bye Mike! Where's Sulley though?

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