Susur off to NYC
- Thread starter Kyra.Graves
- Start date
Most restaurants have a lifespan. For Susur I think it was 5 or 6 years.
He's going to shut down Susur for the summer, remodel and open a new restaurant in the fall. (Make and model to be determined.)
I've been to Susur once. It was great food, very unique, very good service. I found the interior rather boring / plain jane (the colonel Sanders piggy banks lined up against the wall were about as good as it got), and it was a Thursday night and the restaurant was maybe half full.
Susur himself was there, making the rounds, being seen, etc. Seems like a very personable guy. I've been to Lee several times and he also shows up there, but he doesn't chit cat with the diners like he does at Susur. (My one friend remarked, "shouldn't he be in the kitchen?")
Susur is also very expensive. $650.00 for 3 people, not including tip.
Not the kind of place the average middle class Torontonian heads off to on a weekly basis. Even rich Torontonians (of which there are plenty) probably go to Susur only once in a blue moon.
Would I go back?
Definitely.
Am I mourning its loss?
Yes and no. Yeah, it was foodie bragging rights, but there are plenty of amazing restaurants in Toronto. I wanted to take my ex to Susur but she seemed to think that it was kind of pretentious - the idea of you don't pick anything, he picks the food for you. I'm cool with that, she was not.
I'm not sure what his deal in NYC is going to be. I've heard he's going to be a partner in a hotel restaurant on the lower east side. He might think that NYC is going to beat a path to his door, but the competition will be very steep. He will probably also find that there are lots of advantages to Toronto that he won't find in NYC (populace wise, doing business wise, acceptance wise). I definitely wish him well in his new venture and my hat is off to his entrepeneurial spirit.
BTW, I went to Kultura on King just east of Jarvis on the south side. (Too cool for a sign restaurant.) Owned by the same guy who owns Blowfish. I'd highly recommend Kultura. Food was great, setting was one of the most impressive of any restaurant in Toronto. 2 people - $140 including dessert and tip.
http://www.kulturarestaurant.com/main.html
He's going to shut down Susur for the summer, remodel and open a new restaurant in the fall. (Make and model to be determined.)
I've been to Susur once. It was great food, very unique, very good service. I found the interior rather boring / plain jane (the colonel Sanders piggy banks lined up against the wall were about as good as it got), and it was a Thursday night and the restaurant was maybe half full.
Susur himself was there, making the rounds, being seen, etc. Seems like a very personable guy. I've been to Lee several times and he also shows up there, but he doesn't chit cat with the diners like he does at Susur. (My one friend remarked, "shouldn't he be in the kitchen?")
Susur is also very expensive. $650.00 for 3 people, not including tip.
Not the kind of place the average middle class Torontonian heads off to on a weekly basis. Even rich Torontonians (of which there are plenty) probably go to Susur only once in a blue moon.
Would I go back?
Definitely.
Am I mourning its loss?
Yes and no. Yeah, it was foodie bragging rights, but there are plenty of amazing restaurants in Toronto. I wanted to take my ex to Susur but she seemed to think that it was kind of pretentious - the idea of you don't pick anything, he picks the food for you. I'm cool with that, she was not.
I'm not sure what his deal in NYC is going to be. I've heard he's going to be a partner in a hotel restaurant on the lower east side. He might think that NYC is going to beat a path to his door, but the competition will be very steep. He will probably also find that there are lots of advantages to Toronto that he won't find in NYC (populace wise, doing business wise, acceptance wise). I definitely wish him well in his new venture and my hat is off to his entrepeneurial spirit.
BTW, I went to Kultura on King just east of Jarvis on the south side. (Too cool for a sign restaurant.) Owned by the same guy who owns Blowfish. I'd highly recommend Kultura. Food was great, setting was one of the most impressive of any restaurant in Toronto. 2 people - $140 including dessert and tip.
http://www.kulturarestaurant.com/main.html
The news article was right. Think the tasting menu is a thing of the past.
3-5 course meal can last up to 3 hrs. I guess most people prefer the more "casual" dining experience?
3-5 course meal can last up to 3 hrs. I guess most people prefer the more "casual" dining experience?
I have "dined" there once, but I did not appreciate the event.james t kirk said:
I have 3 words for it: Pretentious, pretentious and pretentious.
The morsels were great tasting, but I do not need a "presentation"
to accompany them. If the food cannot impress me, nothing else will.
I am not going back.
I on the other had thought it was phenominal, but I knew what to expect before I went. The date appreciated it as well. Not every day fare, but for a very special evening it was hard to beat.
I used to live near there and knew about the weekend (Thur-Sat) attitude. You're 3 P's are bang on by both patrons and staff, in addition to being rushed. So I would go Mon-Wed and always had a great time. Staff's attitude was more relaxed and more ordinary Torontonians would dine.danmand said:
I'm sad to see the place close.
I went to Susur a couple of years ago. I wasn't that fond of it, but it was OK. I ordered something with shellfish in it (can't remember what now) and the waiter came back later and said "upon inspecting it (the raw shellfish) the chef has determined it is not up to his standards and will not serve it. Please make another selection." I'm glad he was honest about it, but that was the one thing on the menu I really wanted to try so I was a bit disappointed. My friend had the tasting menu and liked it. My personal trainer went to Susur recently with his g/f and said he really liked it and enjoyed name dropping he went there to his friends at the gym.
I wish him the best of luck in NYC.
I like the Japanese place at the Prince Hotel, btw.
I wish him the best of luck in NYC.
I like the Japanese place at the Prince Hotel, btw.
I have been to Susur a couple of times, after spending time at For Your Eyes Only.
The food there is good. The chef's special creations are tasty, but the portions are small. After spenging well over a hundred dollars on food and drinks there, I was still hungry. Susur Lee himself came out to meet me once, we shook hands. Don;t think I would miss Susur being closed down. I probably won;t eat at their NYC location either, unless Susur manages to put more food on the plates.
I like the Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, 9 Chruch Street, south of Front Street, far better. Extensive wine selection, and the food there is great, tapas-size dishes. Try it.
Dinner for two, $100 to $150.
Here are some reviews:
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/bistro/jamie-kennedy-wine-bar/review/ (click here for map)
http://www.toronto.com/restaurants/listing/000-191-404 (click here for map)
http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/Jamie-Kennedy-Wine-Bar-review.html
Repeat: Yes
Rating: 4 Stars for food and service. Affordable wine list, many by are the glass.
CP
Disclaimer: I have no connections to Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar at all.
I am just a happy customer and I thoroughly enjoyed my dining and wine tasting experience there. Let's say I was lavishly entertained.
The food there is good. The chef's special creations are tasty, but the portions are small. After spenging well over a hundred dollars on food and drinks there, I was still hungry. Susur Lee himself came out to meet me once, we shook hands. Don;t think I would miss Susur being closed down. I probably won;t eat at their NYC location either, unless Susur manages to put more food on the plates.
I like the Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, 9 Chruch Street, south of Front Street, far better. Extensive wine selection, and the food there is great, tapas-size dishes. Try it.
Dinner for two, $100 to $150.
Here are some reviews:
http://www.torontolife.com/guide/restaurants/bistro/jamie-kennedy-wine-bar/review/ (click here for map)
http://www.toronto.com/restaurants/listing/000-191-404 (click here for map)
http://www.martiniboys.com/Toronto/Jamie-Kennedy-Wine-Bar-review.html
Repeat: Yes
Rating: 4 Stars for food and service. Affordable wine list, many by are the glass.
CP
Disclaimer: I have no connections to Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar at all.
I am just a happy customer and I thoroughly enjoyed my dining and wine tasting experience there. Let's say I was lavishly entertained.
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Susur has been resting on his laurels for far too long. His decision to offer only a tasting menu verges on sheer arrogance. The first time I went to his restaurant the customer was offered two choices of tasting menus or the option to choose a la carte. The last time I went, the diner was only offered a "take it or leave it" option of a single tasting menu. His reputation has been hurt by such an uncaring approach. To boot, he seldom cooks at his restaurant! If the place is named after you, the least you could do is to be there to cook for your customers on just about every night. I think Susur checked out to the Toronto dining scene long ago to turn his attention to his New York ambitions. I hope he returns to his brilliant self while he's there or else New Yorkers, who have many more choices of brilliant restaurants, will stay away in droves.
Well yes and no.rosemount36 said:
I will agree with you that Susur has a high opinion of himself. He has has bragged in the Canadian media something to the effect of, "Do you know how much money I could make in New York"
He was also hauled up before the Ontario Labour Board for example for abusing his employees.
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/256999
(That said, my employer does pay me, however, they work the SHIT out of us, and bullshit is part of the work a day world.)
The format was a tasting menu. He comes up with things you'd never think of or try in a million years. And it works and it doesn't. For me, when I was there, it definitely worked.
As to his cooking, you're right, he doesn't get his hands dirty so to speak. But he does come up with the IDEAS. He's the guy who creates the food. He is an artist in the true definition of the word.
You don't think that Eiffel was out there hammering rivets into the tower do you?
Or Henry Ford was working on the assembly line, or Frank Lloyd Wright was out there shingling a roof do you?
Susur is a genius to cooking as Wright was to architecture. He is an artist, the only difference is that he uses food in his creations. (Now that said, in my world, no chef comes close to a guy like Frank Lloyd Wright, but the principle is the same.)
I agree with you 100%.james t kirk said:
I only posted the link because I have enjoyed his food and his creations and I do wish that Toronto was able to keep it's talented artists rather than have them run off to NYC.
I don't know how Susur will do in NYC, it's a tough city to make it in as a chef but I do believe he has the raw talent to make it. My biggest question is how will the operations run? Will he market the new resto properly, etc.? I hope he succeeds if only because I would like to see Toronto on the map as far as good cuisine. I believe we have it in the city but it's gone largely unrecognized world wide, I truly believe we have some excellent chefs (JK is one of my favs! Yes I'm shilling Herodotus!) and think that having someone make it as a top chef in NYC would be a boost to our city as well.
As I said I enjoy his food and am looking forward to his next adventure!
Oh Jmes T Kirk - I wanted to know when you last went to Kultura? Last time I was there the food was nothing to write home about. It's possible it was the nights I was there (Tues. and Wed. about 6 mos ago) and a lot of restaurants don't have their Exec. Chef there on quiet nights but I'm curious? Should I give it a third chance or has it changed?
ChrisPalen - again I agree with the JK wine bar assesment, it's a different type of night out than Susur was but I LOVE JK! Jaime Drummond has the best wine selection in the city (IMHO) and I will continue to eat there weekly! For a single girl the meal is only about $20 and the wine... well that can get pricey but it's well worth it there!
I was at Kultura 2 weeks ago, and a week before that.
The place was packed on both nights and the food was excellent (IMHO). We had the gnochi, mushrooms orichetti, shrimp, tuna tar tar, and a couple of things I can't remember. Only the shrimp was forgetable.
Both times were a friday night.
I also recently tried out Cowbell on Queen and Sarauran and was ambivalent about it. I had high hopes after reading that it was opened by the first exec. chef from Globe Bistro (one of my fav's) and that he was using locally raised meets where the animals were all free range raised, hormone free blah blah blah. It was also PACKED. But the service was totally lacking (we waited at least 45 minutes despite having a reservation, the service was beyond slow (no wonder we had to wait to get in), got screwed up, etc), the restaurant was cramped, too much cold air from the front door, etc. Sometimes you go to a restaurant and you leave thinking, well, it was OK, but I won't be beating down a path to go back. Well, that was Cowbell.
The place was packed on both nights and the food was excellent (IMHO). We had the gnochi, mushrooms orichetti, shrimp, tuna tar tar, and a couple of things I can't remember. Only the shrimp was forgetable.
Both times were a friday night.
I also recently tried out Cowbell on Queen and Sarauran and was ambivalent about it. I had high hopes after reading that it was opened by the first exec. chef from Globe Bistro (one of my fav's) and that he was using locally raised meets where the animals were all free range raised, hormone free blah blah blah. It was also PACKED. But the service was totally lacking (we waited at least 45 minutes despite having a reservation, the service was beyond slow (no wonder we had to wait to get in), got screwed up, etc), the restaurant was cramped, too much cold air from the front door, etc. Sometimes you go to a restaurant and you leave thinking, well, it was OK, but I won't be beating down a path to go back. Well, that was Cowbell.
Thanks James!
I'll give it another try! I'm a veggie so I'm limited on my selections but as a general rule the good restaurants will accomodate me. I took a peek at the menu right now and there wasn't a gnocchi, was that a special or am I blind?
I'll give it another try! I'm a veggie so I'm limited on my selections but as a general rule the good restaurants will accomodate me. I took a peek at the menu right now and there wasn't a gnocchi, was that a special or am I blind?
Nope it was on the menu when I was there both times, and I would highly recommend.Kyra_to said:Thanks James!
I'll give it another try! I'm a veggie so I'm limited on my selections but as a general rule the good restaurants will accomodate me. I took a peek at the menu right now and there wasn't a gnocchi, was that a special or am I blind?
I looked at that menu on their website and it looks different than when I was there. I like restaurants that change their menu actually.
One of the upsides of Jamie Kennedy's for example.
Absolutley! Again me giving props to JK.
I'm waiting for someone to accuse me of shilling! Seriously I'll give it a try, like I said last time wasn't so good for me but perhaps I'll pop by tonight or next weekend. Sometime when it's a busy night, that might be the difference.
If I don't like it JK is always in walking distance, I haven't seen their spring menu yet but I've heard they moved away from the heavy 'comfort' food dishes.
By the way James (if I may call you that?), what is your opinion of Colborne Lane? Just trying to gage our similar interests.
Kyra_to said:
Been there once:
1. Food was very good.
2. Food was miniscule portions. (I was contemplating the beef just as this guy beside me took delivery of his. He was a big guy out with his wife. I asked, "is that the beef?" He laughed and said "yeah, I think that's what i ordered". I was perhaps 2 inches in diametre and an inch thick. I could have eaten it in one bite. I ordered the cod, and it was miniscule as well. As they were leaving, his wife said to him (no joke) "let's stop and get a pizza on the way home"
3. It was expensive.
Another one of those restaurants where you leave and you say, "It was ok, but I wouldn't make a point of going back."
I think I'm on the same page as you Mr. Kirk.
I loved the flavours of Colborne Lane and if it wasn't my dime I'd be all for eating a lot. However everytime I've been there I've been picking up the tab and it's damn expensive for what I get.
Last time I was there I had 3 dishes and 2 drinks (a wine and a port). For just my meal it was $150 and when I left I went to C'est What for fries because I was still hungry!
Sad when I eat like a bird and am normally full!
I loved Claudio Aprille when he was at Senses but I found it to be a more satisfying meal for my $$. His meals are always a bit 'delicate' however when he was at Senses I felt I got my money's worth.
Again everyone this is just IMHO, don't jump on me for my restaurant favs.
I loved the flavours of Colborne Lane and if it wasn't my dime I'd be all for eating a lot. However everytime I've been there I've been picking up the tab and it's damn expensive for what I get.
Last time I was there I had 3 dishes and 2 drinks (a wine and a port). For just my meal it was $150 and when I left I went to C'est What for fries because I was still hungry!
Sad when I eat like a bird and am normally full!
I loved Claudio Aprille when he was at Senses but I found it to be a more satisfying meal for my $$. His meals are always a bit 'delicate' however when he was at Senses I felt I got my money's worth.
Again everyone this is just IMHO, don't jump on me for my restaurant favs.
