A painting of me

byMark

   20 July 2006, lunch time

Summerlicious is usually very hit or miss. Yesterday’s trip to byMark, which I thought would be a hit, was definitely a miss. I went to the restaurant with Nina, Riadh and Shima. The restaurant was fairly busy when we arrived at 9:00, but emptied out slowly as the night moved on. Shima and Nina didn’t like our waiter, though I’m not entirely sure why. I thought the service at byMark was alright, but nothing exceptional. (The best service I’ve encountered at a restaurant has to be at Centro or George.) I think everyone was a little bit disappointed with the food. I had crab cakes, followed by halibut, followed by a small mouse cake, as did Riadh; Nina and Shima had a chicken dish instead for their mains. The halibut was over cooked; it was far too chewy. The sauce it was in was quite tasty, but overall it was a disappointing main. The crab cakes were alright, but again, nothing too special. Shima’s chicken dish was quite bland, though I am sure someone would argue the flavour was subtle and nuanced. Everything tasted like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours on end, which might have been the case. I am sure during the rest of the year, byMark produces great food, but during summerlicious I don’t think they do in the least. As with Monsoon, I was left with no real desire to go back. If you want some good food during Summerlicious, my guess is that Bloom would deliver.

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Comments

  1. Our waiter was condescending!

  2. The best summer/winterlicious I’ve ever been to was at Hemispheres. That said, I’ve had so many disappointing meals that I don’t even bother going anymore.

  3. Yeah, I think i’m done with it as well. I think summerlicious/winterlicious was worth all the fuss when it first started. Now it just seems like a scam: fancy restaurants sell sub-standard food to hordes people who think they are getting a deal.

  4. I used to feel that way too, but now I think going for drinks or desert is a better way to check out a places decor: the meal will be cheaper, and reservations would be easier to get.

  5. I have only been to Jump so far and I liked it. Hopefully flow will be good. I think summerlicious/winterlicious is a cool idea. I rarely go to restaurants like these so its pretty fun.

  6. Jump did a good job during Summerlicious when I was there last. There are some places that do a good job during the event. The Strip House was excellent when I went last year for exmample. I just think these places are the exception, and most places are pretty ‘meh’.

  7. I went to Bymark once for desserts and drinks and it was really good. They even made us a dessert that wasn’t on the menu. You wouldn’t get that level of service at Summer/Winterlicious.

  8. Christina and I went to Bymark last year and loved it. I liked it better than Canoe. Your right though, all of these places are hit and miss, and chances are going to these places on a normal day would be far better. Sux to hear about your crappy waiter lol.

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