website: http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com
location: various locations, i visited the heartland location in mississauga (730 matheson boulevard, 905-507-4118)
restaurant type: nicer sit down restaurant and bar with mainly western food (a couple of non-western options are available as well)
price range: $12 - $50
dress code: casual to business casual, jeans and runners (not ripped or excessively dirty) are acceptable, working types wearing suits in for dinner are not unusual
ideal for: dates, small group on a night out, business meals
worth grins:
- good service
- nice atmosphere
- well presented food
- clientèle (mature, couples, career types)
worth shaking fists:
- slight wait for food
- moderate selection
- slightly pricey (for non-working individuals without an occasion)
my tastes:
i have been to various "milestone's" locations in the past but i am going to review the heartland location because i just went last night with two friends. "milestone's" is a nicer restaurant that i would not frequent on a regular basis purely for financial reasons. it is more a restaurant that i would consider if i was taking a girl out on a date or for dinner with a few friends. it has a very nice atmosphere with an older or more mature clientèle best described as "young career" or "stable adult."
the service at "milestone's" is fairly typical of a nicer sit-down restaurant. the servers all have matching outfits, impeccable manners, and the uncanny memory that manages to know which meal corresponds to which person without writing it down (in front of you at least). our server, andrew, was very polite and had a good knowledge of the menu options when asked for suggestions and descriptions of certain items. as expected, all of the drinks and entrees were brought to the table at the same time (drinks before meals of course) and at the appropriate temperatures.
the food is very nicely presented at "milestone's", with uniquely shaped plates and food laid out in a simple yet appealing manner. last night i ordered the "certified angus beef 8oz top sirloin" cooked to blue rare...and it was actually blue rare when it arrived. i was very impressed. the steak came warm on the outside, nicely grilled with crushed black peppers on top. when first cut into, the texture was very soft and the inside was a deep and dark red. the steak was grilled to a proper two or three millimetre depth leaving the inside blue rare with minimal juices (that may offend my dinner company). the accompanying portabello mushroom was soft and sizeable although a little dark, so it appeared to be strangely presented sitting directly on the plate half surrounded by darkish gravy (from the steak). my two sides, garlic mashed potatoes and vegetables were well done except the mashed potatoes were not as finely mashed as i prefer. on a side (and mildly amusing) note, denise (one of the girls at dinner) commented on my "polite eating" as opposed to her "shovelling" as she put it, but how does one shovel a properly grilled blue rare steak?
my "milestone's original bellini" came in an appealing yellowish-orange slush with a ring of deep pink along the edge of the martini glass and an amusing plastic camel (i have previously gotten a mermaid at a different location). the bellini was quite good, tasting sweet and not too strong of the various alcohols it consisted of. i opted away from the "ultiimate bellini", which is identical to mine except for the addition of a shot of malibu alcohol, simply because i was driving and prefer drinks that are overly strong with alcohol.
overall, my experience at "milestone's" heartland location was very nice. my dinner company seemed to enjoy their food as well during the course of our meal and conversation, which was aided by the decor and general atmosphere of the restaurant. i enjoyed myself enough to give a slightly larger tip to our courteous and helpful server at the end of the night.
Friday, June 29, 2007
fortune stone restaurant
location: plaza on the north-west corner of warden ave and steeles ave (exact address to be added after the next time i go...which should be soon)
restaurant type: hong kong style diner (chinese food with western influences)
price range: $5 - $15
dress code: very casual, jeans and runners are the norm
ideal for: quick and simple meals, small casual groups
worth grins:
- good portions
- affordable
- clean venue
worth shaking fists:
- limited seating
- significant jump in price for baked entrees (~$2 more)
- plaza is busy closer to the t&t grocery store
my tastes:
let me just say that i had to post my first review of this restaurant. this is one of my (and my family's) preferred restaurants...to the point where i can go with my friends and expect my parents to show up separately. my family goes on a somewhat regular basis to the point that the owner and waitresses recognize us and know generally what we are going to order. "fortune stone" is definitely a restaurant i would not hesitate to visit or recommend to a friend.
upon walking up to and entering the restaurant, my first impression was "this place is tiny...getting a table is going to be horrible." but to my surprise it was not too bad, most times i have gone there is either no line up or only a short five to ten minute wait (except when i went with large groups). despite the short waits, the restaurant is definitely small having only ten to twelve tables (ranging from two to six seats per). the nice part about the size is that the place is that it is cozy and clean. my parents especially like the cleaniness of "fortune stone"...
sitting down at a table and going through the menu is something of the past for me but on the odd occasion when i feel like trying something new i have found the menu to be straight forward and fairly standard; appetizers, small snacks, main courses (with rice, noodles, baked entrees, and skillet listed separately), and drinks. i have always found the food to be what i expected with no disappoints so far. most meals come with a soup (either cream or borsh) and drink (add seventy-five cents for cold drinks), come in good sized portions suitable for the average guy or girl, and taste the way you would expect it to.
definitely a restaurant worth visiting the next time you do not feel like cooking or if you just want to go for an affordable but good simple meal. my personal recommendations include the "creamed corn grouper on rice" (not baked) and the "black pepper chicken steak with spaghetti," both accompanied by a cold lemon tea...
JT
restaurant type: hong kong style diner (chinese food with western influences)
price range: $5 - $15
dress code: very casual, jeans and runners are the norm
ideal for: quick and simple meals, small casual groups
worth grins:
- good portions
- affordable
- clean venue
worth shaking fists:
- limited seating
- significant jump in price for baked entrees (~$2 more)
- plaza is busy closer to the t&t grocery store
my tastes:
let me just say that i had to post my first review of this restaurant. this is one of my (and my family's) preferred restaurants...to the point where i can go with my friends and expect my parents to show up separately. my family goes on a somewhat regular basis to the point that the owner and waitresses recognize us and know generally what we are going to order. "fortune stone" is definitely a restaurant i would not hesitate to visit or recommend to a friend.
upon walking up to and entering the restaurant, my first impression was "this place is tiny...getting a table is going to be horrible." but to my surprise it was not too bad, most times i have gone there is either no line up or only a short five to ten minute wait (except when i went with large groups). despite the short waits, the restaurant is definitely small having only ten to twelve tables (ranging from two to six seats per). the nice part about the size is that the place is that it is cozy and clean. my parents especially like the cleaniness of "fortune stone"...
sitting down at a table and going through the menu is something of the past for me but on the odd occasion when i feel like trying something new i have found the menu to be straight forward and fairly standard; appetizers, small snacks, main courses (with rice, noodles, baked entrees, and skillet listed separately), and drinks. i have always found the food to be what i expected with no disappoints so far. most meals come with a soup (either cream or borsh) and drink (add seventy-five cents for cold drinks), come in good sized portions suitable for the average guy or girl, and taste the way you would expect it to.
definitely a restaurant worth visiting the next time you do not feel like cooking or if you just want to go for an affordable but good simple meal. my personal recommendations include the "creamed corn grouper on rice" (not baked) and the "black pepper chicken steak with spaghetti," both accompanied by a cold lemon tea...
JT
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