Gourmet Tribe Hot Pot & Market (Chinese)

Gourmet Tribe Hot Pot & Market is located at 7500 Woodbine Ave., at John St, in Markham, the municipality north of Toronto’s east end. Gourmet Tribe has much more ($60+) expensive options including sushi/sashimi, but we didn’t need any more than the $25.99 lunch special hot pot, with broth included including sukiyaki, which is fantastic given that some places charge $10 or more for it. The mini-booth tables for two have two separate hot pots rather than just one so each of us get our own and can have different broths, again an improvement over other places that charge even more for a “split pot” of two broths than if they were the same. The soy sauce was excellent on its own, just the right strength and savour, and not salty, so I hardly needed anything else. There is also tea provided at table, and it is fragrant loose jasmine which is excellent unlike other hot pots where it’s bagged and/or dilute. Gourmet Tribe is a serve-yourself buffet-style rather than ordering from the wait staff, which is unique among all of them we’ve been to, and far preferable as one gets to pick the desired amount of everything rather than being overloaded or underwhelmed.

Mishy impressed me by knowing that oyster sauce and black bean sauce together were an excellent combination, plus I added a little garlic which made everything delicious. There were some large ear-like (chanterelle?) mushrooms that were delicious out of the pot. Watch out as I think the crab surimi is wrapped with plastic that isn't very visible. Mishy liked this place more than any other hotpot we’ve been to in a while, as could pick all the shaved beef she wanted. It was fresh and very good. I also enjoyed the meatballs and breaded fish. Sausage was excellent and I ended up having seconds and even thirds. Broccoli and noodles all came out excellent, but the noodles are very hard to pick up, so thankfully long forks are provided where the plates are... they seem to have thought of everything here. 

There is even dessert, of one ice cream cup of Chapman's vanilla strawberry or chocolate, as well as sliced peaches. Chapman’s isn’t my favourite by far (too textureless to the point of seeming synthetic, and not much flavour) but it’s still better than nothing. $25.99 is an excellent price, especially with all of the little details of improvements on the whole hotpot process, and we had a very enjoyable lunch.

Rating: 9 / 10 + 1.5 value adjustment = 10 / 10

Sushi Place (Japanese)

Sushi Place is still located at 1723 Bloor St. W. near Keele subway station. Our last review was only a couple of years ago but we got confused as to the date and thought it had been longer. We went for weekend lunch. Ginger is dyed pink. Chopsticks are reusables which is a welcome change. Pop is canned not AYCD for $2, but at least they have Pepsi Zero. Ordering is still old school onto paper templates. Soy sauce dispensers were very cute and looked like blue penguins, but unfortunately what came out of them was very salty and not overly flavourful. 

Green salad was fresh and we both loved the orange-based dressing, which reminded me of places a decade or more ago. Miso soup was good but we both noticed it was diluted. Spring rolls were very good especially with the sauce, Mishy noted that they were very light and flaky, so not oily. Mishy said that the cheese wontons had a burnt flavour, but I did not notice this in mine at least, and they were quite good. Agedashi tofu was very good and I thought the sauce complemented it very well, and it's also a generous portion. Beef udon soup was delicious with a more flavourful darker and savoury broth than most places have, and I enjoyed it more... better than average. Could simply be soy sauce in the broth but whatever it is works.

Vegetarian Philadelphia roll was excellent and we both loved it and didn't miss the salmon. Crab AKA surimi nigiri was very good and fresh and went rather well with the soy sauce, even though it was so salty; of course this was helped by bringing my own wasabi. Surf clam nigiri was also very good and fresh. Red snapper aka tilapia nigiri had a very slight aroma but not enough to matter, and similar for the salmon nigifi. Tobiko nigiri was very fresh and good if you're into that sort of thing. Tamago aka egg nigiri was also quite fresh and good.

Chicken teriyaki was excellent and we loved it, and we both also noticed that the sauce was reminiscent of places a decade or so ago. Gyoza were very good and the added sauce complimented them well.

Lunch dessert was all ice creams. Chocolate was quite good and not freezer-burned. One of my favourites, ginger, was very good and fresh. Red bean was did not have that elusive rare flavour but was still quite good and fresh with no freezer burn, similarly mango and vanilla. Strawberry was excellent. Taro, which I have never had before (other than surprisingly flavourless Melona bars) had a lovely buttery flavour which Mishy confirmed and also loved. Weekend lunch was $29 which is pretty much standard these days. We did have an enjoyable lunch even with the minor shortcomings.

Rating: 8 - 8.5 / 10 + 0 value adjustment (standard pricing) = 8 - 8.5 / 10

Original review below:

We hadn't revisited Sushi Place in five years so went there again just under a year ago (haven't had time to update unfortunately!) It's still pretty much the same interior. Ordering is old school onto paper template menus. Ginger isn't dyed pink. Reusable chopsticks are used thankfully. Veg roll options incl California. Soy at table was salty but very flavorful. $2 can pop, not AYCD, and $2 tea is available.

Miso soup was good but dilute, though we still enjoyed it. Green salad was quite good and fresh with mild citrus house dressing. Cheese wontons were excellent with plum sauce, very crisp and hot cheese so beware. Mishy loved the chicken teriyaki saying it was one of the better that she has had, and she did not describe it as “rubbery” which is rare for her. Spring rolls were similarly excellent, very crisp and not oily at all and with an excellent flavour. Gyoza were very good, especially the sauce, and not oily. Chicken katsu was quite good and again not oily; whoever does the frying here has the technique down very well. Agedashi tofu had a thicker sauce than usual, but it wasn't bad.

Veg California roll had no flying fish roe; it was good and didn't I miss the roe. Deep-fried salmon cheese avocado roll was an interesting variation and we both enjoyed it. Surf clam nigiri was fresh and good. Red snapper aka tilapia nigiri was also fresh and good, as was crab aka surimi. Salmon nigiri very good and fresh.

For dessert, taro ice cream was available though had very mild flavour. Red Bean did not have that elusive flavour and was slightly freezer burned. Mishy correctly noted that the flavours were muted. Chocolate definitely was, though what flavour was there was nice. At least there was ginger, which is our favourite. Weekend lunch was $24.99 (then... may have changed.) This was a good price for a good lunch and other than the minor issues with the dessert was quite enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 - 8 / 10

Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine

It’s been over eleven years since our original review, and a couple since the redo so we decided to do an update. Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine is still to be found at 287 King Street W. at John St., west of University Ave., a short walk from the St. Andrew subway station, and it still has a pretty interior mostly due to the windows and elegant tables which give it a Parisian flair, but these days there are far more extravagant especially in Brampton and Mississauga. Stairs are still unavoidable so it is not accessible for people with disabilities or in wheelchairs. We when for weekend lunch; there is also lunch buffet during the week though no dinner.

Mishy loved the butter chicken saying that it was very smooth, sweet, spicy and delicious. We both loved the tandoori chicken as it was wonderfully smoky, moist and flavourful... and fresh, which is very important. Samosas, although a bit dry, were delicious and definitely appear to be made on premises as lacked the loss of flavour freezing causes. Fried fish was excellent and well seasoned.

Naan was excellent, moist and fresh, smoky and delicious. Chana masala seasoning and sauce had some sweetness to it, which I wasn't big on, and it wasn't my favourite ever but still was alright. Aloo gobi was good although again not superlative. Mishy was not big on the lentil soup saying it lacked flavour, but I had no problem with it and thought it had wonderful seasoning and ended up having seconds. Veg. pakora were excellent, savoury and delicious. Kadai paneer was delicious and well-seasoned with a bit of heat. Chicken tikka masala was very good with not too much heat and excellent seasoning.

For dessert, there are three flavours of ice cream and gulub jamun balls. Chocolate ice cream was very rich, delicious and full of bittersweet notes. Mango ice cream wasn't the most flavourful we've ever had, but at least it was fresh. Strawberry ice cream was excellent with a puréed strawberry fruit layer. Gulub jamun were very good. Weekend lunch was $24.95 and this is a good enough price to warrant a value bonus... it’s still the same as over two years ago. There were a couple of merely OK items but nothing bad and a few excellent, so we certainly enjoyed our lunch and happy that Aroma is still offering it.

Rating: 8 - 8.5 / 10 + 1 value adjustment = 9 – 9.5 / 10

Original reviews follow:

Update 2023-Nov-14: Happy to return Aroma to the list! New review follows as it had been a while since the last one.

Aroma’s lunch buffet is back 7 days a week... a very welcome return! Has a similar interior to when we last visited; I never knew it had that second entrance on John St.

Veg. samosa was very good and spicy, but not excessively. Mishy absolutely adore the butter chicken, and chicken tandoori, saying it was like barbecue. I agree it was super-smoky and delicious; it was also moist which meant it was fresh. (Mishy even asked if we could buy a clay tandoor oven.) The vegetable pakoras were delicious and not overly hot. Chili tofu is probably a Hakka dish and was pretty good and not overly hot which I was afraid of, as if so it dulls my taste buds for the next ten minutes or so. Lentil soup was delicious and clearly homemade, as it was very fresh and wholesome. Butter chicken was delicious and the sauce was very creamy and rich.

Fish masala was delicious and mildly spiced and this doesn't turn up often on AYCE menus often; it was finely breaded, not overly, and enjoyable. Chicken tikka was delicious and all those spices were not overly hot or persistent; Mishy also loved it. Beef rogan josh is clearly a Mughal dish and was very good with hints of western-style gravy and savouriness. Soya chip masala was good and uniquely seasoned. Tawa paneer masala was very good and has a contemporary flavour reminiscent of mustard and mayo; they also had this at the last Indian place we were at.

For dessert, Mishy was not at all impressed saying that the ice cream was all freezer-burned and the, gulub jamun balls were flavourless and soggy and tasted like they were made of Bisquick. I try them and rather agreed as they were soggy and mushy. I noted that the ice cream freezer’s door had been left open all the way up which will cause freezer burning if the ice cream is not covered. Vanilla ice cream was good and not freezer-burned, chocolate ice cream was fantastically good with many rich bitter notes and flavour, and did not appear freezer burned at all. Strawberry ice cream was also amazingly flavourful, and Missy even guaranteed I would smile when I eat it which I did. Mango ice cream was quite good and I didn't find it freezer burned at all; not sure what Mishy meant.

Weekend lunch was $24.99. This is pretty much standard, even less than average these days. Although the nearby Host is five dollars cheaper, this may be an opening special price. It was worth it for such a good lunch.... glad to have Aroma back.

Rating: 8.5 – 9 / 10

Our first review:

Update: 2021-Aug-20 - There is no more buffet/AYCE at this location post-lockdown, and it is unknown if and when it will ever return. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.

This is a rewrite as our previous review (located below) needed more details and it's been many years since we were last there, during which AYCEs all over the GTA gentrified, increased their prices and otherwise changed, so was in need of updating.









Aroma is located at 287 King Street W. at John St., west of University Ave., a short walk from the St. Andrews subway station. Aroma has one of the prettiest interiors of an Indian AYCE I have ever been to, mostly due to the windows and elegant tables which give it a Parisian flair; it seems like an elegant and upscale place. Beware that stairs are unavoidable at this location so it is not accessible for people with disabilities or in wheelchairs.

Naan bread is already waiting in the buffet area so there is no need to wait for it to be brought, as well there is also plenty of tandoori chicken which other places tend to run out of. Naan bread was fragrant and tasty. The Tandoori chicken was very good but not like others elsewhere; was not as baked and was somewhat moister.

Lentil soup was delicious and not overpowering, I ended up having seconds. Samosas were delicious and not over-fried as at most other places. Tawa chicken masala was wonderfully delicious and fragrant. Mishy loved the butter chicken saying it was amazing and tender, and I agree that it was excellent, so we both loved it. Dal makhani was excellent and had a very good spice balance. Beef rogan josh was fantastic with excellent spicing and large cubes of beef. Matar paneer was delicious in a creamier than usual sauce. Aloo gobi was excellent and spicy. Fish malabari was delicious with plenty of cumin notes and some heat in its sauce. Peas pilaw (aka pilau/pilaf) rice was a bit dried out from being out for too long.  Eggplant masala was delicious, hot and spicy, and I am usually not a fan of eggplant. Beets were fresh but not pickled.

Mishy wasn't impressed with the misshapen gulab jamun (milk balls), but I enjoyed them, misshapen or not. Mango (muted flavor), chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice creams were all fresh and good. Mango chutney was excellent. Lunch is $15.95 on weekends which is a few dollars more expensive than Little India (the district, not the establishment) but is not bad for the area. I've been to Aroma several times over many years and have enjoyed every visit.

Rating: 8-8.5/10

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The earlier review:

AROMA

If you are looking for the best East Indian all you can eat food in Toronto, 'Aroma' is it.    Located right at 287 King Street West right in the centre of the theatre district, so you can have a brunch and then watch your favorite plays showing in Toronto.

I didn't think I would like Indian food as much as I did  I especially loved the "naan bread".  You order it special and they make it up for you.  It's a Persian oven-baked flat bread and it's so good.    

 Other choices are aloo-gobi, tandoori chicken of courses which is baked to perfection, and kept moist under aluminum foil.  

Some might think the decor is plain, but I actually find it very elegant with the white table cloths, decorated with golds, pewter and ceramic artifacts.

 

The waiters are very nice and efficient.  if i was to be a little on the crabby side, I think it may be that the waiters may be too efficient, whereas they are constantly filling your water glass and asking you if you need anything :)


  

Overall rating : 9/10

Saturday	12–11PM
Sunday	12–10:30PM
Monday	11:30AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Tuesday	11:30AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Wednesday	11:30AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Thursday	11:30AM–3PM, 5–10:30PM
Friday	11:30AM–3PM, 5–11PM