One of my fondest childhood memories involves Pokémon - the original 150(+1) to be exact. I owned not a single handheld gaming console, though was an avid enthusiast of the N64 system renowned amongst 90s youngsters. Further positive flashbacks can be derived from the Mario Kart mini-games, where shell-throwing and ramp-racing constituted perfectly normal acts in the quest for balloon accumulation.
This affection for games later led to fascination with RPG games in my tween years and frequent arcade visits post days of license acquisition. Impromptu Playdium visits were not uncommon practice in my regular hangouts, but at-home gaming was no longer a pastime I found myself investing in. It seems the opposite effect has affected the masses amidst the coronavirus pandemic; yet, in-person face-offs remain the most appealing for me. Human interaction is scarce these days, and I shall eagerly latch onto the opportunities that chance me by.
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In response to Peel Region'sreversal into a modified Stage 2 and Halton's maintenance of Stage 3, my extremely belated birthday plans were shifted towards the west end of the GTA, where Dave & Buster's replaced The Rec Room for our dose of friendly arcade competition.
The Oakville location appeared larger than the Vaughan outpost, or appeared in such a manner given the spacious arrangement of the games floor. Much like The Rec Room, attendees were required to complete a sign-in sheet with name and phone number details, though were not subject to symptom screening. Labelled glasses were used to distinguish between "used" and "clean" pens for peace of mind; disposable gloves and sanitizer were also situated at various stations throughout.
The Oakville location appeared larger than the Vaughan outpost, or appeared in such a manner given the spacious arrangement of the games floor. Much like The Rec Room, attendees were required to complete a sign-in sheet with name and phone number details, though were not subject to symptom screening. Labelled glasses were used to distinguish between "used" and "clean" pens for peace of mind; disposable gloves and sanitizer were also situated at various stations throughout.
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We strode past relatively densely-populated dining booths before finding ourselves amongst the flashing displays of simulation and redemption games. Noteworthy was the sheer variety of available attractions: beyond the inclusion of both DDR (malfunctioning at our time of visit) and Pump It Up platforms, D&B was also home to several games I had yet to witness in other establishments. Among these was a single-player module employing a VR headset, which we opted against trying for obvious health reasons.
Bathrooms were pristine and wait times were essentially nonexistent. Admittedly, the price per ticket is atrociously steep. This, presumably, bears a direct correlation to the quality of goods within the prize cabinet. Two visits' worth of points would have been adequate in earning oneself an avocado-shaped wireless charger at D&B, yet the equivalent of a dusty pack of Nerds at Playdium.
As it neared the 8:30 PM mark, we declared that dinner could wait no longer.
Prior to the incarnation of the space, I had visited Song Cook's on a handful of occasions. The most prominent in my memory are the dim ambience and partitioned dining floor. Returning to the tiny storefront nearly six years later, it dawned upon me that the restaurant had undergone extremely few modifications. The interior was precisely have I had remembered, as was the layout. Perhaps the only departure from the original Song Cook's was dual title of "Chi-Mac", which consequently broadened the menu with several saucy Korean fried chicken options. Naturally, the change summoned an advantage over nearby eateries such as The Fry and Sikgaek, which also offers indulgent, modern Korean cuisine.
The pickup process was as straightforward as could be: the items had been packed neatly in a foodora bag situated next to a handwritten "UberEat(s)" sign, with the receipt - including name and order number - added for clarity. After relocating to the unmarked parking spaces of the now-deserted lot, we unveiled containers of Honey Garlic Chicken, Kimchi Fried Rice, and Steamed Dumplings.
Coated in a sticky, luscious sauce with crispy fried garlic shards, the boneless pieces of Honey Garlic Chicken were ideal for in-trunk pandemic dining. They were more tender than they were crunchy, yet nonetheless delicious in the absence of pickled radish cubes. The Regular size provided a a portion suitable for sharing amongst two ravenous individuals, leaving behind no more than a few tacky morsels.
Coated in a sticky, luscious sauce with crispy fried garlic shards, the boneless pieces of Honey Garlic Chicken were ideal for in-trunk pandemic dining. They were more tender than they were crunchy, yet nonetheless delicious in the absence of pickled radish cubes. The Regular size provided a a portion suitable for sharing amongst two ravenous individuals, leaving behind no more than a few tacky morsels.
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Also of a decent portion was the Kimchi Fried Rice. Slightly peppery and topped with a sunny egg, the dish supplied energy to curb pre-winter jitters. In contrast to Sikgaek though, Song Cook's edition was admittedly devoid of a defining aspect: no seaweed bits to heighten umami, nor starchiness to increase satisfaction. Albeit delicious, it likely did not warrant its $15.99 price tag.
Steamed dumplings emerged in a format I hadn't expected. Sealed with a loose covering plastic wrap, the bite-sized parcels bore great resemblance to Man Doo Hyang's deceptively fiery starters, yet were entirely mild and great for sharing.
Steamed dumplings emerged in a format I hadn't expected. Sealed with a loose covering plastic wrap, the bite-sized parcels bore great resemblance to Man Doo Hyang's deceptively fiery starters, yet were entirely mild and great for sharing.
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We concluded the evening over hot - or rather, lukewarm - beverages fromThe Alley. Bubble tea shops have adopted earlier closing hours with the arrival of COVID-19, so haste was made.
The parking lot was oddly more populated than expected. Mask-less, huddled groups of young adults and rambunctious, LED-affixed pick-up trucks enjoying a joyride throughout the plaza were for foreign sightings for both of us, even more so for me as a local inhabitant.
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