Read Part 1 HERE !
The drive was long and, unmistakably, tedious. A collision on the Highway of Heroes encourage us to roam local roads instead. This was fun for a brief while, but ultimately led to prolonged travel times and ceaseless sightings of corn fields.
Most memorable were the cross-highway corridor of the Whitby GO station and short-lived detour of the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Clarington. Otherwise, the ride there primarily consisted of grassy hills, blue skies, and grazing cows. Thank goodness for an upbeat road trip playlist.
Along the way, we stopped at a nearby Tim Hortons for icy beverages and glazed Timbits. I had forgotten why I steered clear of Timmy's until stricken by the heavy dose of sucrose.
Not far away was the Toonie Monument. At long last, we had arrived in Campbellford!
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Sources reveal that the monument clocks in at an extravagant 5.5 metre-diameter - roughly 3000 times larger than the typical $2 coin.
We did our tourist loop, then continued onwards. The Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge awaited us!
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Nestled behind a series of OPG machinery was a dusty gravel lot, and behind it the suspension bridge.
The structure was a sturdy compilation of trusses and metal grating, unlike most suspension bridges, which are constructed from a complex combination of cables in tension and a thick deck slab. As such, the Ranney Gorge Suspension Bridge resisted quivers and side-to-side motion exceptionally well. This made for greater resistance against live loads, as well as sharper sightseeing images
View the full album HERE !
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We spent close to an hour trying to obtain the most optimal images. Final snapshots were captured as trail-walkers began to dissolve into the forested areas and families retreated back to their vehicles.
Two hours later, as dusk began to creep in, we reached the (beyond-) halfway point in Ward 34.
Sushi was our choice of supper. Not wanting to veer too far from the 401, we agreed upon Gonoe, a small Korean-operated eatery within close proximity to Don Mills at York Mills.
Their Thornhill location had surfaced on my feed some few years back, namely for small platters of live, squirming octopus legs. Unfortunately, this option didn't exist in the smaller, less remarkable North York outpost.
Sushi was our choice of supper. Not wanting to veer too far from the 401, we agreed upon Gonoe, a small Korean-operated eatery within close proximity to Don Mills at York Mills.
Their Thornhill location had surfaced on my feed some few years back, namely for small platters of live, squirming octopus legs. Unfortunately, this option didn't exist in the smaller, less remarkable North York outpost.
We had attempted to call in advance to reserve a table for the late munching time of 8:15 PM. Brusquely, and rather rudely may I add, were we told that reservations were not accepted. OpenTable was not an option either.
Yet, when we arrived, a party of four were readily seated before us, merely on the basis that they had reserved a table - a day in advance.
Yet, when we arrived, a party of four were readily seated before us, merely on the basis that they had reserved a table - a day in advance.
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Allow me to rewind to the moment we pulled into the small, poorly designed parking lot.
Gonoe is not a large restaurant; it merely assumes a narrow corner spot in the plaza in which it is located. The storefront was easy enough to spot even admist the dimming tones of the sky, but the simplicity of dining ended there.
Traversing through the double doors, we landed in the cramped quarters of the casual eatery. A minute passed, then five, then a few more. We hadn't been acknowledged at all.
The two members of waitstaff moved swiftly about the dining area, yet didn't bother casting a single glance in our direction. As I passed by the sashimi bar and slipped into the washroom, distinctively Korean phrases were heard. Even after I re-emerged from the stall, the ladies hadn't bothered with us.
One even had the audacity to seat the party behind us, claiming that they had reserved "in advance". The same ponytail-sporting waitress then dared to gesture towards a tiny two-person table, noting that it was "the only available table". Her take-it-or-leave-it tone was inadmissible. I proudly declined her offer, and responded that we would much rather wait for the next appropriately-sized table.
Ten minutes passed before we were finally seated.
Gonoe is not a large restaurant; it merely assumes a narrow corner spot in the plaza in which it is located. The storefront was easy enough to spot even admist the dimming tones of the sky, but the simplicity of dining ended there.
Traversing through the double doors, we landed in the cramped quarters of the casual eatery. A minute passed, then five, then a few more. We hadn't been acknowledged at all.
The two members of waitstaff moved swiftly about the dining area, yet didn't bother casting a single glance in our direction. As I passed by the sashimi bar and slipped into the washroom, distinctively Korean phrases were heard. Even after I re-emerged from the stall, the ladies hadn't bothered with us.
One even had the audacity to seat the party behind us, claiming that they had reserved "in advance". The same ponytail-sporting waitress then dared to gesture towards a tiny two-person table, noting that it was "the only available table". Her take-it-or-leave-it tone was inadmissible. I proudly declined her offer, and responded that we would much rather wait for the next appropriately-sized table.
Ten minutes passed before we were finally seated.
< Pictured above and below: Sashimi Moriwase, Chirashi, Sashimi & Tempura >
I cannot overlook the fact that it took another fifteen minutes to place our orders (with a different server), and then another twenty or so minutes, before food could be tasted. The table behind us, who appeared frequent customers of the establishment, were seated in a reduced time frame and had their hot plate orders delivered eons earlier than us. One ought to have thought sashimi dishes to be the quicker picks.
The appetizers of miso soup and ponzu-dressed salad were mediocre at best; crummy bits of chopped laver floated within the starter soup instead of the standard inch-long strips.
Our mains fared not much better.
I cannot overlook the fact that it took another fifteen minutes to place our orders (with a different server), and then another twenty or so minutes, before food could be tasted. The table behind us, who appeared frequent customers of the establishment, were seated in a reduced time frame and had their hot plate orders delivered eons earlier than us. One ought to have thought sashimi dishes to be the quicker picks.
The appetizers of miso soup and ponzu-dressed salad were mediocre at best; crummy bits of chopped laver floated within the starter soup instead of the standard inch-long strips.
Our mains fared not much better.
Chirashi was the most disappointing of the three: the fish lacked freshness, the tamago tasted repulsive and synthetic, and wasabi had been entirely omitted. Moreoever, the sashimi strips were far thinner than any of the pieces present in the Sashimi Moriwase and Sashimi & Tempura platter. Vibrancy seemed to be absent table-wide, but quality proved better with the standalone sashimi boat. A heavy dose of furikake yielded the illusion of enhanced umami. The sticky grains of cooked Japanese short-grain turned out to be the most enjoyable element of the grease-covered container, humorously enough.
Famished and fatigued, I was primarily focused on the container before my eyes. It wasn't until I was made aware of the restaurant's concerning use of katsu coating on the shrimp tempura that my attention strayed. The batter wasn't airy like your typical tempura, but rather stiff in comparison and reeking heavily of day-old grease.
Few complaints were overheard in regards to the Sashimi Moriwase. Compliments weren't expressed either, though
Famished and fatigued, I was primarily focused on the container before my eyes. It wasn't until I was made aware of the restaurant's concerning use of katsu coating on the shrimp tempura that my attention strayed. The batter wasn't airy like your typical tempura, but rather stiff in comparison and reeking heavily of day-old grease.
Few complaints were overheard in regards to the Sashimi Moriwase. Compliments weren't expressed either, though
Two gender-separated bathroom stalls were found towards the back of the restaurant. Facilities were old, and apparently so was the toilet paper holder. It was fixed to the side of the sink, whose cupboard stored a dusty collection of brown sandals instead of toilet paper. (But why? It had me pondering.) Exposed rolls had been left atop the paper towel dispenser to collect dust over the course of the day.
The bill came to a grand total of seventy five dollars - atrocious given our collective experience. We could have easily dined at McDonald's thrice for the same amount, and been treated with better service to boot.
Gonoe's Thornhill location may be a popular choice amongst locals, but I can wholeheartedly assure you that the North York outpost is worth skipping. I'll remember to take my sashimi cravings - and dignity as a paying customer - elsewhere from now on
Gonoe's Thornhill location may be a popular choice amongst locals, but I can wholeheartedly assure you that the North York outpost is worth skipping. I'll remember to take my sashimi cravings - and dignity as a paying customer - elsewhere from now on
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