An Indian Twist on a Mexican Dish

Restaurant: The Smoking BuddhaCountry of Origin: India Location: 265 King St, Port Colborne How was it? Excellent with a hint of mediocrity.  The Smoking Buddha, an Indian restaurant nestled away in the city of Port Colborne is one of the Niagara Regions best kept secrets.  With a very unique menu and an equally unique venue, The Smoking Buddha is a small town restaurant with a big city feel.  The...

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Italian Worthy of a Medallion

Restaurant: The Barrel Country of Origin: Italy Location: 224 Garrison Road, Fort Erie How was it? The Barrel is comparable with an Italian grandmother's food.  The Barrel has been a staple of a Fort Erie residents diet for as long as I've been alive.  Each time I've been to The Barrel, I've been treated with friendly service, gracious hosts, and warm personalities.  The restaurant has a great Italian...

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Weak Greek

Restaurant: Joe Fetas Country of Origin: Greece  Location: 290 Lake St, St Catharines How was it? The hype was bigger than the taste. Going into Joe Fetas, I had heard many great things, and in return I expected great things. From a 4.5/5 star average review on Google, to being featured on a National TV show, Joe Fetas has a reputation for being incredible. There was nothing inherently wrong with Joe Fetas but...

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Return of the Burritos: The Frijoles Strike Back

Restaurant: Frijoles Fresh Mex Country of Origin: Mexico  Location: 3465 Portage Rd, Niagara Falls How was it? So. Damn. Good. My first rendezvous with burritos was good, this encounter was nearly religious. I was told about Frijoles Fresh Mex from a friend, and decided I needed to check out the small mexican themed take out for myself. I'm very glad I did. Both inside and out, Frijoles Fresh Mex looks very unassuming.  It's...

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More Japanese Please

Restaurant: Wind Country of Origin: Japanese Location: Garden Park, St. Catharines How was it? I entered Wind on a cold winter day; stomach empty, and hopes high. It was evident from the moment I entered Wind I was in for something special. There was a line-up of hungry people longer than the corridor could accommodate. Had the demographic of the crowd been younger, I'd have thought I was in line to meet Justin...

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Me Gusta La Comida Mexicana

Restaurant: Chile and Agave Country of Origin: Mexico Location: 51 Hartzel Rd., St. Catharines How was it? “Las cosas buenas vienen para las personas que esperan por ello” A Spanish phrase which means "good things come to those who wait." This phrase can best be applied to the St. Catharines Mexican restaurant, Chile and Agave. From attempting to get into the miniscule parking lot, waiting to be seated, given...

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Tasting Thai

Restaurant: Thai Dish Country of Origin: Thailand Location: 119 East Main St. Welland, ON How was it? Phenomenal. When I first entered Thai Dish I was impressed with the décor. Wall to wall, the restaurant was completely covered in Thai art, wooden elephants and soft acoustic music. The ambience of the room was so warm I considered skipping dinner to meditate. I was quickly seated with a smile and handed a menu by a friendly...

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An Introduction

Living the majority of my life in a small town has really restricted the potential of my taste buds.  Growing up, I lived in a little town named Fort Erie. Fort Erie is known for many things: the Fort Erie Racetrack, the annual Friendship Festival, and the historic Old Fort Erie. One thing Fort Erie is not known for, however, is cultural diversity.  With 91.3% of it's population registering as caucasian, Fort Erie isn't exactly the...

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