Rush Hour
1438A Dufferin Street
Phone: 416.533.4687
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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.
Comments (14)
I LOVE this place! I've been here several times and never had a bad meal. The owner makes you feel right at home, as he is usually the server during the week, and the atmosphere is so warm! I especially love the cauliflour soup and at four bucks, it's cheaper than a value meal! I love the steak, the gorganzola cream pasta, and of course the grouper. Go, you won't be disappointed.
This place is right in my neighborhood and I love it. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is chic but casual. The staff are friendly and welcoming.
I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a fantastic meal and a very reasonable price.
Wife and I went for dinner on a friday night. It was empty and for good reason.
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....
^^^ I don't believe a word of what you're written, and neither should anyone reading it. For certain, the oil is not canola, water is not added to wine, their sauce is not canned, and no one in their right mind would cook, freeze and nuke a lamb shank at a restaurant. You either have no clue about food, or you're making this all up to spite them. Otherwise you'd put a real name to your comments.
Why would I make it up? I actually wanted to like the place. The decor is great and the location is nearby.
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.
This "Ugh" comment is absolutely ridiculous! Full of either lies or mere stupidity! I can't believe anyone with any sense of taste would ever be able to write such laible and pass it off as a useful review. Get a life, go back to McDonalds where you deserve your poor quality meal, and the next time you go to enjoy a meal, spare us the anguish of reading your BS! Way to stand behind your comments with a name, by the way (sarcastic of course).
Jerrold / Shauna - Ugh is the only person who seems to has eaten at Rush hour and is not a friend of the owner therefore his comments are valid. This restaurant should be glad of this feedback and use it as an opportunity to improve it's food.
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.
I have been there a few times. I assure you that the oil is olive and the wine selection is good and has not tasted watered down any of the times I have had wine there -- which is all of the times I have been there. The traditional Portuguese style of some dishes could seem a bit off to some palettes if not use to that style of cuisine. However, there are also many continental dishes that are very good.
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!
Went earlier this week with the wife.
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 can't believe how harsh people are. I've been here a few times and every time I've been very impressed by the quality of the food for the price. It's always been fresh and well prepared.
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.
I read these comments after just having gone. I'm not sure I agree with any of them. This isn't the worst place in the city, but I would never tell my friends to go either.
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've been there a couple of times and each meal was a nice surprise! I'm used to going to the Canyon Creeks and Jack Astor's in the city. When I went the first time, I had their Picanha, a Brazilian steak. It was very good! The last time I went for lunch and I ordered a delicious summer shrimp and mango salad. I'm very picky with salads but this one was great! It's pretty good food considering the price. I'm planning to go with my family.
I recommend going!
BTW, I had the bread and the owner baked it fresh for us! It was delicious!
My friends and I have been to Rush Hour many, many times and have tried numerous dishes and never have we left feeling disappoited. Nice ambiance, Great food and friendly staff and not over priced...What more could you ask for?
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