Bazaar Global Food Bar

There is something to be said about restaurant/​business discovery on Unilocal.In areas such as the Greater Toronto Area it’s not hard to find a restaurant new or old in much need of a review to introduce them to the Unilocal,however when in major cities like New York, Chicago, Toronto or dare I even say San Francisco the opportunity to be the First to Review a new spot is few and far between (damn near impossible).
Last night I was meeting a friend for an impromptu dinner and with many of our predetermined Unilocal approved choices either closed or booked solid (ya, on a Monday evening) — we decided to chance it! After some deliberation we decided to visit Baldwin Street and it’s tiny village of Asian restaurants and mid-​high price level bistro’s. We walked aimlessly up and down the street comparing menus with Unilocal reviews not really wowed by anything in particular.
Coming across Bazaar Global Food Bar we noticed that there were 0 Reviews! Could it be? We decided on a night of chance, that checking this spot out would be fun. Entering in, it wasn’t a whole lot to look at in terms of décor; black walls, wooden tables, with blue Christmas lights providing accent lighting along the perimeter of the floor.
It was empty and we were seated right away and upon glimpsing the menu I new this was going to be an interesting new experience. Their MO is to present Global cuisine in their menu, changing it monthly to reflect a different cultural focus — bringing in the spices, sauces, and flavours of different countries each month (and doing it well as I will soon reveal). In addition, they also offer a different THANKSGIVING menu every day of the week (each day a different country).
Getting the menu run down our server let us know what the most popular items were, and explained that if you were hungry for a proper dinner that you were best suited for one of their Tasty Bowls and if you were less hungry to go for one of their Naco (which is essentially a Taco/​Naan hybrid sandwich served with salad).
To begin we decided on their chunky guacamole with two salsas and chips to start. The Guac’ was likely one of the most fresh and flavourful I’ve had in recent memory and the two salsas (one a classic tomato and cilantro base and the other a mole/​salsa Verde hybrid) were both extremely fresh and all ingredients really shone through. Served with warm plain and blue corn tortilla chips. This was a unreal!
For our mains we decided to sample something from both sides of the menu. I noshed on the Butter chicken Tasty bowl which came armed with both rice and a side bowl of Naan bread. While my guest decided to have The Original Naco (pulled pork, vindaloo sauce, fresh greens, carmelized onions, plum chutney, cream cheese).
Both meals arrived and they were not what we expected. The Naco (for the less hungry person) was massive, more than I could possibly think to consume in a single sitting, mean while the Bowl was easily a meal for 2. The Naco was delicious and the use of plum chutney and vindaloo sauce (seasoned to your spice level preference) was one of the most unique and tasty takes on pulled pork I’ve ever had.
My Butter Chicken was beautiful (tears to my eyes, bride walking down the aisle kinda beautiful). The chicken was moist, not over cooked, and the sauce had a unique sweet kick to it and was thick and plentiful. It played across my tongue like a fluffy indian cloud (of sauce). Ughhh — so good!
After all this I was prepared to give this place a solid 4 star but then a few things occurred that put Global Food Bar over the top
1) Our server asked not only how our meal was, but asked if we had any suggestions on how they could improve
2) When we responded that we only wished there had been MORE guacamole because it was so delicious he disappeared into the back without warning and presented us with a new bowl full to the brim, just so we could take some home with us.
3) The price. $ 32 + tip. For an appetizer and 2 main courses. SERIOUSLY!!!
I’m a big fan of this place, the value, service and quality far exceeded my expectations on this night of chance and I whole heartedly recommend you visit this new spot on Baldwin!
Eatcrest Out!