Poutini's

During Nuit Blanche, Pamela and I finally went to Poutini’s in West Queen West. We had read a lot about it on the internet and had been wanting to go for a while, so when we finally visited we had high expectations. The whole experience was amazing, surpassing my wildest hopes.

Soft, creamy lighting, good wallpaper, and other decorative touches make it a really beautiful environment. The whole operation has a very handsome, stylish feel to it, and I like how there's an attempt to reflect the community by playing local music and displaying paintings of local painters. There is standing seating, or standup tables or whatever it's called, so you can't sit and eat but you can stand up and eat. Crazy hip hop was blasting when we were there, and the cashier was bouncing along to it while we made our order. We didn't have to wait in line for too long, despite the number of people there from Nuit Blanche festivities.

I like how simple the menu is. For $6.19 one may order either regular or vegetarian poutine; there are no sizes to choose from and no straying from the classic ingredients. The container and cutlery are disposable and biodegradable,* instead of the more common styrofoam and plastic. I was very impressed by the fact there there is only a green bin and a recycling bin in which customers may dispose of things when they're done. The poutine itself is a masterpiece. The vegetarian gravy is at least as good as any non-vegetarian gravy I've had, the fries were perfectly cooked and fresh as hell, and the curds were squeaky gems. I need to go back as soon as possible. Because it's open until 3:30 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday and 11:00 p.m. on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, it's perfect for my late ways.

*Update: Pamela read that even the straws and dipping sauce containers are biodegradable.