Despite our billing as a multicultural city, it often seems that the main foodie strips are filled with burgers, sushi, and pizza. Now don’t get us wrong, we love all three. But sometimes you’d like to sink your teeth into a few flavours they’ve never met before. Enter Soos Resto Bar at 94 Ossington.
Having opened in mid-fall, Soos is the perfect spot to take your appetite if you’re looking to satisfy it with some fusion cuisine that isn’t usually found on the regular scene (something we hope Soos helps to change). For example, what do you think of when we mention Malaysian food? Our guess is you’re either drawing a blank or you’ve spent some time in SE Asia. If the former happens to be the case, allow us to enlighten you. You see, because Malaysia is comprised mostly of three ethnic groups – Malays, Chinese, Indians – its food contains a wealth of mixed flavours. Soos’ specialty happens to be Malay-Nyonya (the Chinese influence in Malay cooking) and they bring it up to speed by offering a variety of contemporary twists.
We start off with the Reconstructed Nasi Lemak (coconut rice cake, sambal ikan bilis, cucumber, fried quail egg), a plate that father-daughter duo Zenn and Lauren Soo assure us is served everywhere in Malaysia and is often eaten for breakfast. It’s a delightful introduction to the blended tastes of Malaysian cuisine and clearly a dish that can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Next up, a plate of Rendang Beef Short Ribs. We toss some coconut rice on top and place a spoonful of the meat onto a Roti to take it down in one fell swoop. The meat is tender and the flavour is impactful, with Chinese Five Spice likely leading the way. It delivers just the right amount of spiciness to warm us up but not distract from the taste. Lastly, a large steaming bowl of fresh market Sea Shells that includes shrimp, muscles, and crab is put down in front of us. Each former ocean wander is more succulent than the last.
Luckily, we’ve come to Soos knowing they’re famous for their Teapot Shots so we make sure to leave some room for dessert, even if it is only liquid. Teapot Shots are pretty much exactly what they sound like: a black teapot full of well-made cocktails that are meant to be shared amongst the table. It’s a great way to end the evening; sitting back, sipping from small sake cups as we take in the numerous styles (everything from Japanese to Dutch, Chinese to Portuguese) that combine to deliver the warm atmosphere inside Soos. It’s precisely the change in flavour and scenery we’ve been looking for. We suggest you discover it too.
#LYNL | (Live Your Notable Life)
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