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I have only just started eating oysters last summer, when I was blown away by my first ones at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal. Since that first try, I’ve been sampling them all around Toronto, including one at Kensington’s Pedestrian Sunday or another at the Roncesvalles Polish Festival. I decided I wanted to sit down and try a variety of fresh oysters, savouring each one with a different sauce or garnish. Where else than the seafood kings of Toronto, Oyster Boy?
We had to start with fresh oysters! Donatello and I got a sampler, trying three different oysters each. The six oysters were promptly shucked and served on a bed of crushed ice with lemon wedges and freshly grated horseradish. They were accompanied by a trio of condiments: red wine and chopped onion, cocktail sauce, and a spicy hot sauce. Our favourite oyster was called Valentine, and to be honest, a squeeze of lemon was all it needed.
We arrived early just when the restaurant opened on a snowy Sunday afternoon. Our new favourite meal is lupper (between lunch and dinner), which allows us to eat early with plenty of time for digestion before going to bed. Also, going to a restaurant before everyone else means that you can take more of the waitstaff’s time, asking for their recommendations before they get really busy.
We wanted to make the most of our visit and try as many dishes as possible, choosing a mix of appetizers instead of mains. The food arrived quickly and another pleasant surprise was the sturgeon ceviche served with a stunning 3D presentation of crispy taro chips. Donatello is a big fan of ceviche, and he proclaimed this one to be amazing. I haven’t eaten much before, but it was never my favourite because it always seemed too liquidy and without any flavour. This one had none of those issues and really was delicious.
My least favourite dish was probably the crab cakes, but only because they were the least memorable. Two large crispy cakes were served on a pile of seaweed and slaw but the flavours just didn’t pop like in the other appetizers we ordered.
Since it was a cold winter’s day, we ordered something hot and creamy- the seafood chowder. This was a very light chowder with chunks of potato and a mix of yummy seafood. The french fries were thin and crispy, great when dipped in the small pot of curry sauce. We washed our appetizers down with a cool glass of white wine and enjoyed our perfect Sunday afternoon.
Visit Oyster Boy
872 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON M6J 1G3
(416) 534-3432
