Restaurants
Spanish Fly: Tapas at Julie's Cuban Restaurant
Thoughts turn to smoochin' once Toronto escapes the clutches of its winter prison. The newly summer-skinned brothers showing off tats and sisters in sundresses come charging through TTC turnstiles like glittering clouds of tropical fish into afternoons that wear the sun fiercely like a giant gold pendant. The heartbreak and heatstroke of August dog days still months away, now's the time to find that special sweetie 'n' head for the patios and there's no patio more likely to get you laid (patience, there'll be plenty of time for that) than the one in front of Julie's Cuban.
Sinking quietly back from Queen Street's bustle, on a residential stretch of Dovercourt (across the street from Luna), Julie's dwells in the shell of, and retains the erstwhile charm of a five and dime as fifties as any car roaming Havana streets and the patio feels more like having dinner in a friend's garden than sharing a stretch of sidewalk with pedestrian and automobile traffic.
Romance hangs in the air heavy and still as the scent of lilacs and these nights sharing plates is less a culinary trend than like the company you keep: simply 'what's in season'. Besides it's getting way too sweaty and swoonsome to eat an entire meal without a little help. Beware though, as the worst kept romantic secret downtown, Julie's attracts a crowd of like minded doe-eyed soulgazers so if you haven't got reservations you and your honey should be prepared to dine elsewhere, Jackson.
Since 'Cuban' is actually in the name, expect Julie's menu to offer a rich variety of Castro-less caribbean-inluenced tapas to suit any taste and easily squeeze out an evening's worth of dining. It doesn't matter where you start since its all yummy and the friendly wait-staff will happily stagger your selections, stretching out snacks well after the daylight dims and you've downed that third excellent mojito or split that second pitcher of above average sangria.
Raw like a dirty weekend and equally yummy and over way too soon, the fleeting citrus-y ceviche arrives a small but lively mix of the day's freshest catch soaked in lime juice sprinkled with onion, colourfully crunchy bell peppers and coriander and sweet corn kernels on a leafy bed of lettuce that'll have you hesitant to share no matter how fond you are of you company.
Expecting the Frituras de Mais (or Hush Puppies in the local currency) to sit in your gut and have you clambering for the nearest siesta cot would be a mistake as these mildly spiced, deep fried fritters are actually impossibly light pillows of corn batter served with a tangy hit of sour cream on the side. 
Papa Rellenas, a re-imagined Latin take on shepherd's pie are actually a variety of stuffings ranging from outstanding (peppery and tomatoe-y ground beef) to merely adequate (mushrooms and onions, cheese) engulfed in fluffy potato mash, then battered and deep fried and tabled as a crispy, golden, baseball-size (c'mon, it's their national sport) dumpling.
A serving of sweet, garlic and wine soaked shrimp seems like the attire of Julie's patio patrons: slightly skimpy; and the guac merely takes up table space that could be better suited to the superior chorizo, braised with onion strings and red wine--soaking up that excess sauce is a cinch with a filling order of moros (the traditional Cuban side of black beans and rice). But the menu standout is definitely the Plantanos Especial. A sweet, soft plantain, halved and fried and stuffed with more succulent picadillo served in a banana split dish cheekily topped with a cherry tomato will delight more than anything on the desert menu. 
While nothing on the menu by itself will blow you away there's a strange alchemy at work at Julie's, where the bamboo and umbrellas, the twinkling Christmas lights and the quiet neighbourhoodly vibe conspire to fill your belly and your heart and make Julie's almost a perfect place to negotiate the deal. Let's face it amigo, if you don't get laid after a romantic patio-side dinner at Julie's you never stood a chance.
Photos Courtesy of Anna Cook and Tim Shore
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But once you get inside it's one disappointment after another. We were there last night, a group of 9, for a special occasion.
The server was cute and friendly and nice, but seemed to be run ragged between all the other tables. He wasn't all that attentive to our group and we waited almost 45 minutes before we even ordered. Plus we had to literally flag him down just to order drinks.
The food is okay. And for just okay food, it's crazy expensive. The topline on this site is a bit misleading because the mains are more in the 20-25 range, with tapas items in the 8-15 range.
I had called before to see if there would be a cutting fee if I brought some cupcakes for our friend. The guy on the phone told me he didn't think so but would check and I ensure him that these were CUPCAKES, not a slab cake, not some huge concoction of a dessert...Cupcakes.
I asked him again when I got there and he said that the owner insisted on charging us, which was understandable, but a bit tight.. But at no point did he say the charge would be $18 added on top of our bill. More than the cost of the cupcakes themselves. Ridiculous. (and we gave one to our waiter because he was salivating over them!)
When the bill came, our waiter was nowhere to be seen to answer all the questions we had about what each item was, or even to explain the $18 OPEN FOOD item on our bill. There is nothing worse than 9 adults having to spend a half hour with our cell phones out trying to divide up a bill that ended up to be almost $500.
All in all, we had a good night, but I don't think any of us will be back there. Such a shame, since it's such a great location.
PS: Don't get the Sangria. It's not worth it.
THERE IS AN %18 SERVICE CHARGE. So no matter how poor the service is (It is poor) you are forced to tip generously. Likely, a result of people tipping poorly in the past to reflect the service received.
Most drinks are $10 after tax and served in tiny glasses. the cocktails contain little to no alcohol.
Nachos, something, that should be complimentary are brought to the table with out questions along with guac and salsa. 8 for the guac 7 for the salsa. didn't even ask just brought it out like it was a compliment.
I'm not the type to complain and would not have bothered writing this if it weren't for the fact that on top of all this I had made a reservation for 6 for my mothers birthday. they waited until we all showed up were seated and then told us that we had an hour and 15 minutes to order our food, drinks and dessert, eat it, and be out. When I am being rushed out the door on celebratory occasion the least I would ask is the decision on how much I'd like to tip.
And Marlon, you'll find most places have the 15-20% gratuity rule when dealing with parties of 5+. You should be thankful a place such as this one actually tells you about it, rather than hoping you won't notice and double tip instead.
Expensive for what seems like cheap ingredients, bland where you expect flavour. Very disappointed given our extremely positive first impression.
Also - we were seated and told we had an hour and a half before they needed the table. Classy.
Great atmosphere, not-great everything else.
As a Customer Service Specialist, I am dissappointed.
When you walk into Julies you would think it would be amazing. The decor is so kitchy and homey and reminiscent of a 60's take out shop. That is probably the only good thing about the restaurant.
The food hits the ceiling in OVERPRICED.
DO NO ORDER
everything???
an average main is 16+ $$
Appetizers are dripping in grease
Salsa and Chips- They charge you for a bowl of Tostitos and give you a small handful if you ask for more-- don't expect them for free
The owner is a crotchety old woman who wreaks of smoke and yells at her staff
The service was great-- apart from the owner who clearly did not know how to to talk to ... pretty much anyone
We did not approach her.. yet the way she spoke to the staff it was as if she likened them to dogs
....
our bill was for 3 ppl and amounted to 160$
...
I would have faired better going to a taco bell (which I haven't been to in almost a decade)