Out & About #411 | Buster's at Yorkdale Concept + Koreatown

"Do you have anywhere in mind?" asked orangecane as we reviewed options for our first hangout of the year.

It would be an utterly untruthful to claim that I don't always have some sort of plan in the works, but the desire to try a new spot simply isn't as vivid at the thought of GOT7's impending concert. Tacking onto that would be the currently depressing downtime otherwise known as unemployment.

​To ensure that we would be safe from the frigid temperatures, I suggested assimilating at Yorkdale - a spot easily accessible by various forms of regional and local transit.

​CONCEPT had undertaken the "Food Crush" theme for this period, adding drink and dessert vendors to the rotating retail space. Among this lineup were: ME.N.U, Cheesecake by Heirloom, Chatime (no thanks), French Toasted by Fidel Gasto, and Buster's Sea Cove.
These were, without a doubt, renowned names to food enthusiasts of the downtown core. Alas, as the fastidious feasting creatures we were, few of the items on offer were deemed all that appealing. We made a beeline for Buster's, avoiding the sugar-laden cheesecakes on a stick and diabetes-inducing french toast creations altogether.

​Buster's is a long-time occupant of St. Lawrence Market, as well as a semi-frequent visitor of Mississauga's food truck festivals at Celebration Square. That being said, I don't think I've tried any of their classic items at all. (The sad-looking tacos were quite a disappointment.)

The Yorkdale pop-up had a menu consisting of five (presumably) signature sandwiches, five varieties of soft shell Seafood Tacos, and dessert in the form of homemade Key Lime Pie. We steered clear of the tacos, opting for an Atlantic Lobster Roll and Shrimp & Crab Sando to satisfy our post-Uniqlo appetite.

​The Atlantic Lobster Roll was a singular bread roll slathered with warm butter and stuffed with a generous portion of lobster salad. Accompanying it in its paper takeout box was a snack-size bag of Miss Vickies, a lemon wedge, and two pickles. Oranecane confirmed its deliciousness, as well as her joy in obtaining the item with such ease. She confessed that trekking to St. Lawrence during Buster's operating hours was not the easiest task.

​My own Shrimp & Crab Sando was not served in a sturdy takeout box, but rather a street food-style paper container. A single pickle and snack-size Miss Vickies were also provided on the side.

As opposed to the soft roll of the Atlantic Lobster Roll, the sandwich's components were pressed between two ends of a warm, toasted bun - with a relatively unstable foundation, if I must add. Positively brimming with crab and shrimp salad, the item was well justified in terms of price, even if the advertised lettuce was nowhere to be seen.

That said, it was also miserable to consume. The brioche bun did not envelope the fishy contents as the lobster roll did, thus prompting a disgraceful fallout with each successive munching attempt. The red onion bits and mayo were undeniably tasty, as was the seasoned shellfish emulsion, but it would have been nice to maintain dignity as well.

We wandered a tad longer before venturing to Koreatown. I managed to catch sight of the new Starbucks by the commuter entrance, along with Laduree and its bustling blossom pink interior.

A stopover was made at Put A Cone On It. It was here that orangecane was introduced to the establishment and the wondrous Kyoto Smoke and Matcha White Chocolate Chip Cookie combination.

Behold the majestic matcha-infused object!

We parted ways as the sun-less skies soddened with greyness. A haircut appointment under my name had been secured at Hair Bank.

​SORA was my first foray into the strip of salons along Bloor - a trial run that was backed up with concrete evidence from a fellow Toronto wanderer. Three visits of inconsistent service later, I decided it was time to venture further.

Investigation results concluded that Hair Bank had operated for slighly over one year, and that all recounts were highly positive.
The second floor salon was a mere two minutes from the cozy gelato/coffee shop hybrid. I pulled open the flimsy wooden door and was greeted warmly by the receptionist upon entry.

I relayed that I had made a booking prior, and within milliseconds, the lady behind the desk had ushered me towards the far end of the salon, where the coat rack and cubbies were situated. My name had not been asked nor confirmed; I was simply ushered in without questions.

Functioning similarly to NC Salon, guests had the option of stashing personal belongings in medium-sized lockers. The key was left with patrons such that their items could be retrieved personally at the end of the session.

​He motioned towards one of the seats, and almost immediately reappeared with a lengthy charging cable and wall adapter. When the cable proved too short to use comfortably during my snipping session, he disappeared again, only to return with a power bank for improved convenience and comfort. It was a gesture of ultimate accomodation that earned immense appreciation - a gesture entirely unexpected for my first appearance.

The owner and stylist, Jay, was extremely patient in assisting customers with their requests. He worked with extreme precision, clarifying details of the desired cut, even confirming the precise shape of bangs before proceeding. Also provided were recommendations and expertise on how to mediate hair concerns such as thinning and colouring damage.
A triangular foam sponge utilized at the end of the session to brush away fallen bits of hair

​After agreeing on the desired length to be removed, the snipping process began. Sections of hair were separated, and then misted gently. Hair-washing took place in a different section of the salon following the first round of cutting.

The setup was amusing to behold at first: the chairs were padded but not mechanically operated. They bore an appearance similar to a meeting room chairs but retained the hidden ability to tilt back with aid of hydraulics.
Water temperature was on the cooler side, though still comfortable and eventually warmed to an acceptable level. The faucet was closer to the scalp than preferred, and water entered my ears on several ocassions. Substituted in place of the shampoo-rinse-repeat theory was a combo of 1.5 rounds of shampoo and 1 round of conditioner followed by a brief scalp massage. It was interesting to see the stylist take hairwashing into his own hands instead of leaving it with a separate member of staff.

Another factor to note would be the innovative design of the hair-cutting gowns. A transparent pocket could be found in the middle of the gown, where customers' hands generally rest if not engaged in clicking/swiping activities. While I am unsure whether this was to allow easier access to smartphones during services, it was a design element garnering approval. The password-secured Wi-Fi network was also stable and speedy.

​A small single-stall was found next to a washing machine and dryer duo towards the back of the salon. The space was relatively spacious and relatively clean (minor specks of dust and a toilet functioning at regular levels of efficiency).

Hair Bank is run by a young, friendly husband-wife duo. Though, the staff consisted of one more lady, who assisted with passive tasks such as hair treatments and perms.
Two customers that had arrived for service after me were treated with the same, unchanging patience and respect, which only leads me to instil confidence in the small team even more.

Conveniently located nearby were Hodo Kwaja and P.A.T.; hoddeok and a custard taiyaki from Kevin's Taiyaki were obtained minutes before embarking the thorny return trip through rush hour.