Out & About #450 | Wonderland + Katsuya Mississauga Preview

5/20/2018

Journeying to the GTA's largest amusement is always a taxing quest. The entire ordeal can be tremendously exhausting, given the painfully long wait times and excruciating treks to and from the parking lot in 30 degree-plus weather.

Instead of the regular seasonal conditions, this May happened to welcome sunny, blue skies and breezy temperatures - a welcome change from the sweltering scene I witnessed several years back.

In spite of the Victoria Day long weekend, lineups were lengthier than anticipated. Our "warm-up ride", The Fly, incurred a tedious 1.25 hour wait. By the time we had concluded the kid-friendly rollercoaster, the clock read half past one.

Perhaps it was merely the family-centric attractions, for the wait time of one of Wonderland's new additions was only a fraction of the well-loved starter coaster. Approximately 15-20 minutes after joining the back of the line, we were already being strapped into Lumberjack.

The contraption involved two gigantic axe-like configurations that swung back and forth, before making two to three complete revolutions. We happened to be situated towards the middle of the sets of seats, as opposed to the outward-facing edge that I had preferred. The ride proceeded in an unhurried manner, providing a decent view of the surrounding scenery and shrubbery. Speaking on my own behalf, it was a walk in the park; but the ride clearly wasn't for the faint of the heart for those vulnerable to motion sickness.

Seeing as the other members of our party were less intrigued by apparatus that spun and/or involved steep drops, they headed for tamer attractions and greasy amusement park munches.

We later rode Silver Streak, primarily out of coordinate convenience and its supposedly short lineup. The number of prospective riders actually accumulated after we had joined the snaking trail, but the idling period persisted to a solid 40 minutes.
The ride was clunky and shaky, with no cushioning behind the head. Feet were left to dangle as the cart progressed along gradual curves, jerking each step of the way. Put simply, it was significantly less enjoyable than The Fly and also resulted in minor headaches.

Walking through Planet Snoopy is an integral component of Wonderland for me. The children's rides are adorable and adorably furnished. Atmosphere-wise, there is a sense of sweet serenity to be felt throughout. It might be the alluring aroma of sugar-dusted funnel cakes and vanilla soft serve, or merely the milder attitudes of the wandering visitors.

New to the rainbow bridge entrance were cherry blossom trees - something not to be witnessed during previous visits. Some were vivid pink in hue, while others a subdued white.

Leviathan was the next stop of the day and, by golly, the crowds were ridiculous. From prior experience (363), it looked like we were in for a wait of 2-3 hours.
A tall pachinko machine and amusement park attendant were observed just outside the gates. Curious to play, I inquired the details of this setup. The employee responded that guests could try their luck at earning Fast Lane passes to several of the park's rollercoasters for five dollars. Peeking at the possible landing locations, prizes ranged from passes to Vortext to Behemoth to Leviathan and more, meaning that players would win an access pass regardless.

Relinquishing my bill and pulling the trigger without a shred of strategy running through my mind, I silently willed the ball to land in the Leviathan slot.
And bam! It did.
I had managed to secure a single entry Fast Lane pass for two riders.

Some twenty minutes, we found ourselves free of worry and instead excitedly screaming on the turquoise tracks. Escaping the century-long wait was truly blissful.

I pointed to Drop Tower to be next, where we waited in the commoner class for a total of forty minutes. Fast Lane entrants were few and far between, which almost prompts me to consider the additional charge for my next visit.

By this time, fatigue had hit us - a receding cold in my case, and lack of sleep due to poor decisions for my riding partner. Just before making attempts to meet with the other members of our party, we stumbled by the game zone.
My requests to try for a stuffed monkey were ruthlessly denied, though ball tosses for enormous, Styrofoam-stuffed starter Pokémon were attempted instead. Through this, a huge Pikachu was somehow obtained for bragging rights (not mine, of course).

The newly acquired item required a trek back to the parking lot. While en route, a small, washroom-less bubble tea shop was spotted. Though CoCo or One Zo would have undoubtedly been the better choice, it is not uncommon to settle for less optimal alternatives out of ease and convenience.

In all honesty, Tapioca Land's Mango Lychee Ice Slush with Pineapple Jelly wasn't half bad. The Banana Coffee Milk Shake was odd with a slick, synthetic aftertaste, though the tapioca pearls were tender and surprisingly chewy.
The shop was pretty quiet at our time of visit; drinks were crafted and delivered in record time. There was also an amusing straw dispenser by the counter where customers could confirm their colour of choice before twisting one of the several knobs. The addition of a napkin at the end of the track eliminated chances of the straw rolling out of the device and onto the counter, thus preventing chances of contamination.

Be aware that there are no washrooms at this Tea Shop 168 spinoff, nor the options of paying with credit card (cash and debit only).

By this time, I suspected a 60-minute wait for Behemoth. Neither of us were particularly fond of retreating back to the park for more waiting, so farewells were bid to the rest of the group before heading back to the west end.

Circumstances happened to align perfectly for a visit to Katsuya's Mississauga outpost, so the opportunity was taken advantage of. Moreover, the restaurant was holding a two-day Soft Opening special where each table was eligible to receive a free appetizer with a meal order.

The Japanese Fusion Tonkatsu expansion resides in a quiet plaza just west of Dundas and Mavis, across from the Fresh Co. plaza. With the inclusion of a private parking lot, dining at the establishment was less of a hassle than its original North York spot next to Mr. Meat.

We walked into an astonishingly quiet space: there was only one other table feasting in the corner. From the entranceway, I could spot one hostess/waitress and two members of kitchen staff donning white uniforms.

The interior was dim with the exception of sunlight penetrating through the street-facing glass panel. Strings of individual light bulbs hung from the ceiling, casting spotty, warm casts on the lacquered tables below. Wood appeared to play a predominant role in the interior design component, from the framed letters above the open preparation area to the varying sizes of cross sections adorning the walls. Even the bathrooms emitted the wondrous scents of newly sanded wood! It wasn't the bold like cedar or deep like juniper, but rather a forest-like musky; the appeal was as strong as just-received sealed albums.

We had the option of choosing any seat in the restaurant. The waitress brought over menus and a Stainless steel pitcher of tea shortly afterwards.

A complimentary Cheese Crabmeat Croquette and Double Cheese White Snow Chili Katsu were split amongst us.
The former is a no-fail pick, especially for those fond of mashed potatoes and stringy mozzarella. In comparison to the time I had visited with orangecane, there was less to be found of the honey butter mayo, but a noticeably crispier shell.

The waitress had confirmed the White Snow Chili Katsu to be pretty mild, so we resolved to the selection without much hesitation. The original intention was to choose the Cheese version, however, my dining partner insisted on trying the Double Cheese. This variation consisted of cream cheese-stuffed pork loin in addition to a sprinkling of mozzarella.

Served with short grain rice, cabbage slaw, and a pink pickled radish rose, the dish was more than plentiful for our appetites. The cabbage slaw - aka "salad" - was accompanied with a ponzu dressing with subtle notes of sesame oil. Miso soup, rice, and radish were also available for free refills - an added bonus for the famished.

Bearing a strong resemblance to spicy ricotta lasagna, the White Snow Chili Katsu proved crunchy and satisfying, albeit its progressively invasive seasoning. The blend of protein and fat was a tad satiating for me, though the pickled radish and tangy ponzu dressing assisted in cutting grease slightly. Inserting warm steamed rice and miso soup into the equation made for a seriously hearty meal.

Washrooms were found behind a door devoid of signage. A short, dark corridor with three sources of illumination housed gender-separated washrooms; as far as I could tell, the two stalls found within were pristine with sufficiently-stocked toiletries. Hooks were present on the backs of the stall doors and flushing capabilities were brisk and efficient.