My final restaurant review in Guelph was at the Borealis Grille. I watched the pitter patter of rain stream along the window as my taxi lurched through the city on Saturday evening. I shook the rain out of my hair and then entered the restaurant ever so gracefully. I was greeted by a hostess with a big smile who appeared to have been waiting for me. I was ushered through the main dining room which was absolutely jam packed. I was seated in a small nook bordered by a wall of wine which featured a large painting by one of the masters from The Group of Seven. There wasn’t an empty table in sight, clearly a local favorite.
I was joined by Matthew for the evening and while he flipped through the menu I snapped a few shots of the space. The restaurant features a “Hall of Farmers” located directly across from the kitchen, a homage to the folks who grow and raise our food. The food philosophy at Borealis is centered around showcasing local producers and seasonal flavours.
We started off with two cocktails and spent the next hour or so sampling ravioli, crispy fritters, mammoth burgers accompanied by sweet potato fries and a slab of rosy pink beef. Sweet finishes included a jar of salted caramels made with copper pot and wooden spoon as well as a ramekin of mocha pudding and crispy apple and smoked bacon turnover.
We sampled:
White Wine Sangria
white wine, apricot brandy, citrus, berries
Employee’s Only
vodka, st. germaine, muddle fresh lime, ginger beer
Shiraz
creekside estate, niagara
Cabernet Sauvignon
robert mondavi private selection, napa valley
Zucchini Fritters
spicy tomato remoulade and pea shoots
Butternut Squash Ravioli
roasted garlic butter, sauteed spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, asiago
Old Smokey Burger
harvest ale bbq sauce, balderson smoked cheddar, walnut hill smoked bacon, garlic aioli, sweet potato fries
Roasted Prime Rib
buttermilk mashed potatoes, seasonal veg, horseradish, beef jus
Apple and Smoked Bacon Turnover
warm caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream
Mocha Pudding
Hugo and Nate Fleur de Sel Caramels
