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