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arts and culture
Jurisfoodence: Ravi Soups
LUKE JOHNSTON and DAN MOWATROSE
Contributors
Comfort food is a must heading
into the Fall and Winter seasons, and with your health and
happiness in mind, we went to
the heart of the Entertainment
district to find out whether a
Toronto soup institution has
what it takes.
vibe: dialed-back hippie decor (loved the giant
driftwood table) meets energetic CBD lunch
to the whole office. After arriving, I noticed that
service didn’t seem high on the priority list here.
The counter-order lady was
barking at us the second we
walked in. To be fair though,
the lunch rush began pretty
much right after we arrived.
Luke: In making my order,
I did feel somewhat hurried.
And they definitely could
make better use of the space.
The counter, tables and drink
fridge were too cluttered. I
was really pleased, though, to
discover the patio in back. Al
fresco dining is tough to find
in these parts and this little
(slightly run-down) patio was
a fun place to eat. Barely did
I have a chance to take in my
surroundings when the food
arrived. Honestly, Dan, it
took them 3 minutes took
make our food.
Venue: Ravi Soups - 322 Adelaide Street West
Cuisine: Soup & Sandwich
Food: Wrap and Soup Combo $10.99
Luke: Roasted Free Range
Chicken Wrap with Roasted
Yams, Spinach, Caramelized
Onions, Tomato Chutney and
Chipotle Mayo / Porcini Mushroom and Wild Rice Bisque with
Truffle Oil and Crispy Shallots
Dan: Curried Goat Wrap with
Spinach, Roasted Yams, and
THE PATIO AT RAVI SOUPS, 322 ADELAIDE WEST.
Mango Pineapple Salsa / CurDan: So what? The food was
ried Apricot & Red Lentil Soup
quick, who cares? I think the
with Lime Creme Fraiche
spot. On that note – and since it is OCI season
people running the show at Ravi focus on letLLBO Licensed? Yeah baby! Soup ain’t the
– Ravi’s is a short walk from the Bay Street
ting the food do the talking, leaving atmosphere
only liquid sustenance available at this fine
towers where many of our readers will be locked
and service off the priority list.
establishment - they got
down next summer.
Luke: I’m definitely not
beers, and brewskis, AND
complaining. The efficold ones. Possibly also
ciency made the quality
warm ones hidden in the
even more impressive!
back.
The Food
The Pick
Dan: Mother of god. My
Dan: My pick this week,
soup was righteous. It was
and after all the North
rich with lentil-ey goodAmerican-style feastness, but somehow still
ing on turkey leftovers
light. The sweetness of
from Thanksgiving I need
the apricots was mellowed
something a little differout by the drizzled lime
ent. Something healthy.
fraiche, and there was an
Something with vegetables.
underlying spiciness from
Enter Ravi Soups. This
the curry that fit perfectly
place is a hidden treasure.
with the rest of the dish.
There is also a second locaTopped with some pieces
tion in my neighbourhood,
of fried onion, there was
on Dundas West, just north
a bit of a crunch to some
of Bloor.
bites, which I found to be
At the Restaurant
an interesting addition.
LUKE’S PORCINI MUSHROOM AND
Luke: This place is no chain DAN’S CURRIED APRICOT AND RED
Luke: I’m not surprised
LENTIL SOUP.
WILD RICE BISQUE.
restaurant, though! And
that you addressed the
the Adelaide location is
soup up front. I thought
well-situated. With so many other great places
I strongly suggest getting out of the chaos at
we were coming here for soup, but it was the
to eat nearby, this place was actually tough to
lunch time.
wraps that really blew my mind! Both the lamb
spot from the street. Inside, there is a very cool
Dan: Totally true, just don’t give away the secret
» continued on page 13
monday - october 28 - 2013
the obiter dicta