I had heard about Rock Lobster and their pop-up restaurants
at Toronto Underground Market (TUM), but I didn’t get to experience them until
we tried a lobster roll at the Gourmet Food and Wine Show in November – it was great. So
when we heard that they were opening a permanent location and that they were one of the first restaurants in Toronto to offer wine on tap – and that the
wine was from Vineland Estates – we had to check it out. I’m definitely glad we
did
Wine on tap is an interesting concept – it allows the
customer to order in the quantities they’re comfortable with (at Rock Lobster you can order by the ounce) and the restaurant isn’t left with any half empty bottles that can
spoil. It seems like a win-win for everyone – including the environment. I
think it’s an especially smart idea for restaurants that don’t offer a lot of
wine selections or who want to make wine an affordable option.
customer to order in the quantities they’re comfortable with (at Rock Lobster you can order by the ounce) and the restaurant isn’t left with any half empty bottles that can
spoil. It seems like a win-win for everyone – including the environment. I
think it’s an especially smart idea for restaurants that don’t offer a lot of
wine selections or who want to make wine an affordable option.
“Vineland Estates is thrilled to be able to offer our
premium VQA wines on tap,” said Brian Schmidt, winemaker at Vineland Estates when I asked him about this new initiative. “We
believe that offering wines in a stainless steel keg to be poured by the glass
is not only good for the environment (no glass bottles), but it also gives
restauranteurs peace of mind that half opened bottles of wine in a fridge or
left on a counter will not oxidize and spoil.”
premium VQA wines on tap,” said Brian Schmidt, winemaker at Vineland Estates when I asked him about this new initiative. “We
believe that offering wines in a stainless steel keg to be poured by the glass
is not only good for the environment (no glass bottles), but it also gives
restauranteurs peace of mind that half opened bottles of wine in a fridge or
left on a counter will not oxidize and spoil.”
Vineland is definitely on the
cutting edge with this idea and Brian has been a great spokesperson for why
this could be a way to get more Ontario
wines into restaurants. “Wine on tap will encourage wine lovers to enjoy
amazing VQA wines without committing to purchasing an entire bottle during
their dining experience. Wine on tap, its time has come,” he says.
cutting edge with this idea and Brian has been a great spokesperson for why
this could be a way to get more Ontario
wines into restaurants. “Wine on tap will encourage wine lovers to enjoy
amazing VQA wines without committing to purchasing an entire bottle during
their dining experience. Wine on tap, its time has come,” he says.
For me, I started with the Vineland Estates Riesling and
found it was a nice intro to the meal – it’s a very versatile white, so it
pairs well with many of the options on the Rock Lobster menu. The Cab Franc,
however, was absolutely fantastic. I had this one with dessert and it was a
stunner. When you have only two wine choices on the menu, it’s rare for them to
both be of this quality – if wine on tap allows more restaurants to have great
wine at a reasonable price, I’m all in favour.
found it was a nice intro to the meal – it’s a very versatile white, so it
pairs well with many of the options on the Rock Lobster menu. The Cab Franc,
however, was absolutely fantastic. I had this one with dessert and it was a
stunner. When you have only two wine choices on the menu, it’s rare for them to
both be of this quality – if wine on tap allows more restaurants to have great
wine at a reasonable price, I’m all in favour.
And if you’re in the Toronto
area, I highly recommend checking out Rock Lobster. We had the lobster mac and
cheese, which is a super tasty comfort food classic and the lobster roll, which
is amazing. Shawn ordered the roll and I have to admit I would have happily
finished it for him.
area, I highly recommend checking out Rock Lobster. We had the lobster mac and
cheese, which is a super tasty comfort food classic and the lobster roll, which
is amazing. Shawn ordered the roll and I have to admit I would have happily
finished it for him.
The whale tail, which we had for dessert, was one of my
favourite desserts ever – it’s sort of like a gourmet beaver tail without the
greasy gross feeling that I always get from a beaver tail. Maybe it’s the crème anglaise they use or the Canadian maple sugar –
whatever it is, I want it again.
favourite desserts ever – it’s sort of like a gourmet beaver tail without the
greasy gross feeling that I always get from a beaver tail. Maybe it’s the crème anglaise they use or the Canadian maple sugar –
whatever it is, I want it again.
While I was all about the wine Shawn had to try the Caesar,
which comes with a half lobster tail. He said it was one of the better ones he’s
ever had. I tried a few sips and would have to concur – great presentation for
a really good drink.
which comes with a half lobster tail. He said it was one of the better ones he’s
ever had. I tried a few sips and would have to concur – great presentation for
a really good drink.
We’ll definitely be back at Rock Lobster (110 Ossington Street) – especially if
they keep serving great Ontario
wine on tap.
they keep serving great Ontario
wine on tap.
Toronto Life has a really good review of Rock Lobster (with much better photos) that you can check out here.
Great review, Krista! Rock Lobster was already on my list of places to visit, now it's near the top! =)
I enjoyed their lobster roll at the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo too!