Food 'n' Around

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I love my neighboUrhood for its access to a beautiful boardwalk, great schools, friendly neighbours, old trees, access to downtown and countless other reasons. I do find that I have to leave my block to get an excellent meal these days and I can't figure it out.

Leslieville is booming with terrific, innovative, fresh, quality restaurants and Danforth will please any palate any time but Queen Street in the Beach) has been ringing in mediocre. We have so much potential but I have had no luck lately.

For instance, one very sunny afternoon my husband and I found ourselves looking for a good meal on a patio. Sure we had a few choices but I was looking for something not deep fried. Strike a few of the list.

We choose the sunniest one and set to order _ carafe of white zinfandel ($18.00) and calamari. While the wine suited the day the calamari boasted one tiny squid tube sliced, breaded and deep fried ($6.95) It was greasy though tender and came with a very tasty taziki sauce and a handful of very wilted mixed greens that were unadorned and unappealing. Our entrees didn't improve our perspective.

My Thai chicken salad ($8.95) came with two handfuls of the same lettuce, two to three ounces of chicken that was soft but tasteless and a few slivers of grated carrot. The dressing was decent in its sweet sesame balance but surely nothing special.

The pizza came on a very tough, although thin, crust. Its toppings were a few slivers of sausage, an unidentifiable amount of feta and a few peppers. It was barely acceptable; I wish I could say more.

I haven't mentioned the name of the restaurant here because, the truth is, it could have been one of many.

My point is that we are a world class neighbourhood, in a world class city with world class chefs and we are failing ourselves. Accepting less than great (hey, I'd take very good) serves no-one. The establishment may make a few bucks today but its repeat business is waning.

Let this be my little call to action, my tiny voice of encouragement. I am normally Ms. Happy Sunshine and I choose not to review the restaurants that really do poorly in favour of those that make an effort. I only write about the good ones but I am deeply concerned that, on Queen Street East, I am running out of options.

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Theresa Albert-Ratchford is a personal chef and author of Cook Once and Week Eat Well Every Day and Host of the Food Network's Just One Bite.