Joy On Avenue - 서구 Canada

I came across this restaurant during Summerlicious and decided to check it out. The place looked nice and the waitress was very attentive. However, unless you are just looking to sit and chat over drinks, you may want to consider dining elsewhere. They offered a $75 Summerlicious dinner menu, but we quickly noticed that it would be more cost-effective to order items from their regular menu. We ended up ordering the crispy pork belly, duck le bleu, and pan-seared salmon. The pork belly appetizer took 45 minutes to arrive and was small and average in taste. At $22, it would be more worthwhile to go to Chinatown and get a whole box of roasted pork belly that is sure to be crispier and tastier. The duck was lacking in portion size and flavor, though the rice it was served with was more flavorful. At $36, you could probably get a whole duck in Chinatown that would be much better. The salmon thankfully was enjoyable and the vegetables it came with were quite good. Overall, however, the food was disappointing.

I had an excellent experience at this restaurant and it was hard to find anything I didn't like. The service was exceptional, with the waitress attentively cleaning the table between courses, changing plates and cutlery, and accommodating our request to move to a more comfortable table. The decor and ambiance were very well thought out, with rich colors and beautiful lighting, as well as details like gold cutlery. While these things are common in Yorkville restaurants, the standout here was the food. The oysters were fresh and well-prepared, and the beef tartare was delicious with a quail egg mixed in at the table. The truffled stroganoff was a highlight, featuring a tender cut of wagyu beef. Although it was clear that the meat was not actually wagyu, it tasted amazing and did not affect my enjoyment of the dish. I will definitely be returning to try the Russian dishes next time.