Eatdrink Waterloo & Wellington #5 February/March 2019

32 | February/March 2019
in a French country style, using traditional and
artisanal techniques. If you’ve never been before,
the $35 Prix-Fixe menu on Wednesday and Thursday
evenings is the perfect introduction. Lunch or
dinner (Wednesday–Saturday), and Sunday brunch.
214 Woolwich Street, 519-821-3359, artisanale.ca
Park Grocery is Guelph’s latest restaurant by the
Neighbourhood Group consisting of Borealis in
Kitchener and Guelph and The Wooly Pub and
Miijidaa Café & Bistro. The recently opened hot
spot which is part bar, deli and grocery shop
offers roasted piri piri chicken, sandwiches,
salads and soups all made from scratch. The bar
offers a selection of local beers and wine and is
home to a barista-driven cafe featuring organic
fair-trade coffee and tea alongside artisan sodas
and milkshakes. With an eye to a sustainable
future, Park Grocery supports a living wage and
donates 5% of sales from the Neighbourhood
Club members’ sales to local community and
environmental initiatives. 294 Woolwich Street,
519-265-9002, parkgrocery.ca
The recently opened Fusion Authentic Indian
Cuisine is co-owned by Jobi Joseph and Joseph
Stephen. Chefs create “savoury dishes that are
inspired and modern, yet comforting and familiar,”
says the website. “Enjoy traditional dishes from
North India or treat your appetite to delicacies
from the backwaters of Kerala.” 96 Gordon Street,
Guelph, 519-265-0999, fusionindian.com
Founder of Taste Detours, Lynn Broughton is a
certified Food Tour Professional. Not only do you
have a guide who is charming, knowledgeable and
well-spoken, but one who has the expertise and the
savvy to provide a first-rate experience. Broughton
recently introduced the Little Bites Food Tour. Join
Taste Detours on this shorter appetizer tour. You’ll
visit four local food purveyors to feast on their
tastiest morsels. tastedetours.ca
Crafty Ramen owners Jared and Miki Farrell make
their own noodles in-house daily from Canadian
wheat with a ramen noodle machine imported
from Japan. The kitchen is dedicated to superb
ingredients like earthy, pork-duck broth made
with locally sourced meat and bones supplied by
Trotters Butcher Shop. Jared and Miki are bringing
their delicious ramen to Kitchener at King near
Water Street soon. 17 Macdonell St, Guelph, 519
824-8330, craftyramen.com
Bryan Steele and his Guelph-based co-owner
partners Conrad Aikens, Justin Corstorphine and
eatdrink.ca |@eatdrinkmag
Derek Boudreau, all of whom have experience
in food, added another dimension to Guelph’s
exploding culinary scene when they opened the
88-seat La Reina last June. La Reina is an authentic
Mexican restaurant experience start to finish. On
top of tacos, which rival some of the best we’ve
ever tasted, they offer 60+ different tequilas. Head
chef Jose Matamoros brought with him chefs of
Mexican background representing different regions
of the country. You can “Tip the Kitchen” with Sol
or Modelo beer. 10 Wyndham Street North, Guelph,
519-265-8226, lareina519.com
Kitchener
Still yet unannounced formally, there’s a new
chef and other well-known personalities at the
popular Grand Trunk Saloon (GTS) in downtown
Kitchener. And look for other new developments
at the restaurant, according to ownership. Darryl
Haus, a principal at GTS, says (while keeping his
cards close to his vest), “Stay tuned in the early
new year!” We will.
Along Charles Street near Queen in downtown
Kitchener, a confusing situation has cropped up
regarding a “Royal” Shawarma that was in the
process of getting ready to open. The sign now says
“Loyal” Shawarma. Was the original name too close
to that of Waterloo’s small chain Shawarma Royale
on King Street near University Avenue, or some
other legal or title snafu?
Ambrosia Pastry Co., a Waterloo favourite, has
re-branded as Ambrosia Corner Bakery and
moved to the Central Frederick neighbourhood
of Kitchener. Owner Aura Hertzog took over the
space — once known by locals as Fischer’s Variety
— that was previously occupied by Public Market.
The new Ambrosia sells pastries and baked goods
that are made in-house and many well-known local
products, such as tortilla chips from Taco Farm and
breads from Golden Hearth Bakery.
Sadly, the so-called “Duke Food Block” in
downtown Kitchener has been diminished with
the closing of Bread Heads Wood-fired Pizza.
Owner David O’Leary has chosen not to re-new
his lease after several years of helping lead the
pack in wood-fired pizza in Waterloo Region. LRT
construction has had an impact on many of the
businesses in the core, and it changed customer
traffic flow and habits of patrons. O’Leary had
difficulty taking deliveries due to ION transit tracks
that run in front of the block. That said, look for
a strong Bread Heads presence to continue in
Waterloo Region and surrounding areas. O’Leary