There is nothing more enjoyable than going to a new restaurant and feeling like you may have escaped to a new city, leaving behind your daily routines. That's how we felt walking into Bannock in downtown Toronto. Warm and friendly staff, modern and simple decor, a uniquely Canadian menu, it felt familiar and different at the same time. Owned and operated by Oliver & Bonacini, Bannock serves simple, Canadian, comfort foods like lobster roll, mac & cheese, Chinook salmon, chicken pot pie to name a few. They also serve bannock which is a round flatbread brought to Canada by Scottish explorers. Sounded yummy with very Canadian combinations like smoked salmon and cream cheese, bacon and tomatoes. Maybe next time.
We started the night with some drinkies. Hungry husband ordered a glass of Shiraz and I went with the bannock caesar. Deeeelicious. Instead of a celery stalk or pickled green beans, bannock serves the drink with maple bacon. Simply yum. Sweet and salty. Just perfect.
Doesn't that look yummy? Next, we ordered the prairie grain salad which I kept calling prairie girl salad. Either way, it was a mix of healthy grains, pickled eggplants, dollops of creme fraiche, sweet dried cranberries and pea shoots. A rather perfect combination.
There is one thing I should tell you. Hungry husband ordered the salmon and I ordered the turkey burger. Since hungry husband usually has a bigger appetite than a regular person, he didn't find the portion size filling. So he also had half the burger which was fine by me because it is a decent portion. What's the lesson here? Don't order the fish if you're starving. Our waitress recommended the turkey burger and it was lovely. Juicy, flavourful with avocado and onion ring on top. Can't go wrong.
The prices are fairly reasonable and there is take out if you are searching for grab & go. Bannock is a great choice if you're looking for an unassuming, casual, comfortable resto. Bonus: It's adjacent to The Hudson's Bay Company so you can drop in for a drink after a long day of shopping. Enjoy!
