Restaurants
Rush Hour
Rush Hour is a relatively new addition on an unassuming corner in Davenport. A notch and a half up from homestyle cooking, they serve hearty and nutritious food in a casual atmosphere with a casual approach. It's not exactly fine dining, and prices reflect this. Dinner for four, with apps, entrees and wine comes in at around $40 per person taxes and tip in. Having had a great first meal there back in December, we figure it's worth another visit, and we bring friends.
One thing diners should know is that portions at Rush Hour are generous (I'm reminded of the many times I've eaten with old world family and at European friend's homes). This being our second visit, and knowing this in advance, we still can't help but order an appetizer - all of us deciding to go with a body-warming soup to fight the bone-chilling cold we just came in from.
Points are scored for the funky bowls that draw us into our winter-beater soups ($4). The Carrot Ginger is smooth, lush orange, and the punchy ginger bite is just what I'm looking for. The Cauliflower Cream soup is equally good - it's rich, and its flavour robust. Opting for something a little more adventurous, two in our party go for the Shrimp Curry soup, and quickly agree - it's a little less curry-rich than anticipated and is a little shy on flavour. We also nibble on the Chorizo Sausage appetizer ($9). It's sliced up and served in a colourful medley of grilled peppers, and we're pleased to find that it's a mildly spiced, delicious and well-prepared sausage.
Service is very attentive and staff friendly, and food and wine-pairing advice is shared comfortably upon request. We elect for one of the Portuguese reds from a wine list that doesn't go super deep on selection, but also doesn't go deep on the wallet ($22). We move on to mains.
The Pork Tenderloin ($18) is a tender, succulent cut - completely smothered in sauteed mushrooms. The grilled peaches are a nice compliment, but being canned, are not up to snuff according to the peach-loving ex-pats from the state of Georgia, who are dining with us at Rush Hour for the first time.
The Braised Lamb Shank ($17) is a rich, melt-in-the-mouth experience. Doused in a light tomato-based sauce and resting on a (far too) enormous bed of mushroom risotto, it's delightfully prepared and satiating.
Seafood mains are very well received and come highly recommended. The Baked Red Snapper ($18) is served completely covered in a saucy mix of delicious mussels, artichokes and olives. The Grilled Grouper ($21) is also a big hit, and comes prepared in a delicious citrusy, clear, white wine reduction with capers.
The atmosphere at Rush Hour is much like the food. It feels warm and comforting and the staff are so great that the (Ikea?) chairs (mine fell over as I pulled my coat off it) and the butter at the table (in those little single use plastic tear off lid jobs) are easily forgiven. Quality for price, Rush Hour is a really fantastic dinner experience.
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I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a fantastic meal and a very reasonable price.
The bread before dinner was dry, the oil was conola, the wine was watered down, both meals were sub par. My pasta was over cooked, the vegetables were not fresh and the sauce was canned and lacked flavour. My wife's meal was worse. Lamb shank, obviously cooked, frozen and micro-waved before serving.
The waiter did not speak english well enough to know what was wrong....
To be fair, I think it may have been an off night. When I look at the picture above of the lamb shank it looks nothing like what was served. Rather what was served seemed to be an imitation. Perhaps the chef had the night off?
The bone was freezing cold and the meat was dry - what does that say? When returned to the kitchen it came back simply flipped over and reheated again but the bone was still ice cold to the touch.
Maybe it was an isolated incident, but you are only as good as your worse day.
If the food had been decent the prices were great. Although we had an off experience there I wouldn't dissuade people from going, if the food improves this place has a lot of potential, maybe another night would be better and at that cost I think it's at least worth trying out.
BTW - re the name, that is a genuinely stupid comment. This is the internet, what difference does it make if your handle is Ugh or Shauna? It's not like anyone knows anyone else.
Also, bonus points for having fresh fish, not frozen. Seems to me that a place that keeps fresh fish on hand is not going to send out a nuked lamb shank. Anyway between me and the people we have dined at the place with, we've had all kinds of meat and it all seemed good and fresh (and this is on multiple visits).
All in all, it's a satisfying eat, fresh food, reasonable prices, decent wine. I have been a very satisfied customer.
Also, the bread is usually so good and fresh, I end up eating way more than my share!
Good points
Nice atmosphere, good prices and great service.
Bad points
Disappointing food, I had the grouper which was overly salty and quite hard to finish. Wife had the ribs which were nothing special and the bbq sauce tasted like ketchup. Fries were good though.
I hope the chef gets his act together soon as the place has potential however I suspect that it will end up as another local dive aimed at sketchy Portuguese beer drinkers wearing tanktops.
I think the reviewer pretty much got it right by saying it's a notch and half up from homestyle cooking. This place is a casual restaurant that serves typical Mediterranean / European food. If you're a cheap loser who expects fine dining at under 20 dollars for a main, obviously you'll be disappointed. And I really doubt this will turn into a local dive. You can really tell the staff make an effort.
to Ricky - there were 4 portuguese guys at the bar drinking beer when we went! None of them were wearing tank tops though! lol
I recommend going!
BTW, I had the bread and the owner baked it fresh for us! It was delicious!
PS. When a restaurant owner takes the time to make a 3 year-old's ice cream look like a work of art, they are obviously in love with their work and respect EACH customer.
I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this restaurant to friends and family-I already have!
GO you'll love it!
I highly recommend this restaurant for the food, atmosphere and service. My husband and I have been numerous times and we absolutely love it!
There where 6 adults and 3 children. The service was friendly and the food was very good. The decore is simple, teh room neat and tidy and teh bathrooms where clean.
Food was fresh and the portions where huge.
Our waiter offered suggestions for the kids and offered to make smaller dishes or split them for the children which was great.
Price was very affordable for what we received.
Would defiinatley go back. Rush Hour stands out in the area because there are so many lack lustre restaurants in that part of Toroto.
By the way, try the Flying Monkey Lager - it was wonderful if you know your beer.