Restaurants
Karine's
Karine's, a new eatery in the Village on the Grange food court, offers a rare combination of all-day breakfasts and plentiful vegan treats. I'd never been to the restaurant before, so I was surprised to be greeted familiarly by a smiling lady in a hot pink headscarf. Hand to jutting hip, she purred, "Hi baby. What can I get for you, baby?"
Now, grown woman to grown woman, this baby talk is a novelty, and my usual response to the catcalled 'hey baby' -- a middle finger and some stern words -- just doesn't seem appropriate. Still, I'm tempted to give her a good "you don't know me" finger wagging, until I notice the menu. $5 for breakfast? The choice was clear: I make an exception, order and serve myself a tea while Karine fries my eggs. (Is she actually Karine? I don't think so, but if she gets to call me baby, I get to call her Karine.)
Bedecked in hot-pink flowers and flashy purple prints, Karine's looks like an exploded fragment of Barbie's Dream Home, but thankfully the specials are geared more towards paper bag princesses than the plastic-doll crowd. At $5, breakfast includes 2 eggs, toast, and a choice of salad, bacon or sausage, plus fries, tropical fruit garnish and unlimited coffee or tea. Fries come in regular and garlic varieties, but unless you're planning to kill a vampire later, I suggest choosing the regular.
The breakfast is surprisingly generous, so I have time to read the menu while I devour my crispy bacon and perfectly fried eggs, and scrape raw garlic from over-garnished fries. Ranging from pedestrian standards like the $5 breakfast and sandwich combos, Karine's also offers vegan waffles and burgers, fattoush salads, raspberry turnovers and exotic cheese platters.
I decide to get a vegetarian platter to take home, and am greeted this time as "honey-bunny." Although the $8 take-out platter is supposed to include four choices plus salad and pita bread, Karine insists I take more, piling my container high with mushroom-fried and tomato-pesto-topped tofu, tomatoey baked eggplant, a vegan burger patty, a serving of roasted vegetables and a scoop of celery and fava bean salad.
Like my breakfast, the platter is a satisfying mix of garlic-dominated flavours, with rich portabella tofu, sweet pesto tofu, perfectly roasted vegetables and a divine baked eggplant the definite highlights. I could do without the greasy, rice-heavy vegan burger, but will definitely be back for more of Karine's tropical-fruit topped combos and sugary sweet talk.
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WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE.
http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/artsquarecafe
Now there's *another* place I'll have to line up to eat at, thanks to you.
Do you hate me?
P.S. Seriously, Karine's is great!
The gregarious mother is Maggie (founder of Maggie's on College) and the daughter is Karine. This is not too hard to find on their website (which is linked to in the article but apparently to difficult to read for an easy fact-check).
Look closely and u will notice it's not styrofoam.
It's absolutely biodegradable container.
btw, any plate that involves their bomba and garlic fries, i highly recommend!
The Vegan french toast is a real stand out on the menu, but I really like Vegan benny (the sun dried tomatoe sauce they throw on it is so good). I'm a sucker for the galic fries but do warn that they are DEADLY! So don't order them if you've got a hot date later;)Thanks Ladies for being awesome!
Certainly will be heading back!
I guess constructive criticism is completely uncalled for. My apologies.
But, yes, I definitely took the other half home in a styrofoam container.
Thank you.
Each one of you played a big role in our success.
Our 398 square feet establishment has become as popular as our large restaurants.
We all thank you for that.
We will always serve you only the most Fresh and the most delicious of all. We care too much about all of you.Forgive us for the stupid STYROFOM because that's only for our clientele's budget purpose. Thanks again and see u all soon for some delicious Vegan and Gluten free Crepes Extravaganza!
Check our website for updates. Love, Maggie
If you prefer not to go to the Grange, I know that Karine's caters, so they'll bring it right to you!