Blue Olive

Blue Olive (Greek, 6196 Quinpool), visited May 28. The Souvlaki Family Dinner seemed like a good deal – and it was! We chose Chicken and Pork skewers served with oven-roasted lemon potatoes, rice, Greek salad and tzatziki, with baklava for dessert. We also added on the Kopanisti (roasted red pepper and feta) dip, which was a real winner. The portions were decent and the food was tasty. Worth a try! Verdict: 4.5/5 (90%) chance of returning.

The Souvlaki Family Dinner with Kopanisti dip from Blue Olive

Korca Pizza

Korca Pizza (Pizza, 2777 Agricola), visited May 22. We decided to call for a quick pick-up of meat pizza and garlic fingers & pop, as they had a decent deal. The pizza was similar in quality to the slice we’d tried last July as part of our Peninsula Pizza Project, albeit the crust wasn’t as dominant this time. Verdict: 3.5/5 (70%) chance of returning.

Italian Market

Italian Market (Italian, 6061 Young), visited May 21. We usually stick with the deli sandwiches, but on this day we decided to go for some of the pre-made delicacies, which required reheating (except for the Greek Salad). Everything was great, from the salad and Sausage Roll, to the saffron and provolone Risotto Ball and the multi-meat Stromboli. We didn't even have room for their signature Carrot Cake. We’ll definitely be back to try more! Verdict: 5/5 (100%) chance of returning.

 

Greek Salad, Stromboli, Sausage Roll and Risotto Ball from the Italian Market

Swiss Chalet

Swiss Chalet (3434 Kempt, Casual Dining), visited May 14. We had some gift cards to burn, so we swung for the fences and ordered the Family Pak as take-out – an entire rotisserie chicken with four sides (we got two orders fries two garden salads) with rolls. There was plenty of tasty food for the two of us, and we had leftovers for days. Verdict: 4/5 (80%) chance of returning.

Yeah Yeahs Pizza

Yeah Yeahs Pizza (Pizza, 1663 Barrington), visited May 8. Due to COVID restrictions, we ordered take-out. We were only looking for pizza – The Meat (pepperoni, sausage, smoked bacon) sounded up our alley, but we somehow ended up with (and paid for) a Caesar salad as well. By the time we realized what had happened, we were back in the car and it was pouring out, so we figured we’d just give it a go. The salad was a bit too heavy on the dressing, but just as generous with the croutons and parmesan. The pizza was as tasty as the slice we’d tried last October as part of our Peninsula Pizza Project, which ranked tied for first when it came to taste (it was just a bit too pricey on its own). As part of a whole pie, it made much more fiscal sense. All in all, an enjoyable meal. Verdict: 4/5 (80%) chance of returning.

Silver Dragon

Silver Dragon (Chinese, 2827 Robie), visited May 6. Due to COVID restrictions, we had no choice but to get take-out, although we enjoyed our few minutes of ambiance inside this quaint north end staple. You can't really go wrong with their combos, so we went for #9 (Sweet & Sour Chicken, Almond Chicken Ding) and #10 (Chicken Soo Gai, Beef & Broccoli), both also served with Egg Rolls and Chicken Fried Rice. There was more than enough for four meals. Verdict: 3.5/5 (70%) chance of returning.

 

Combos #9 & #10 from Silver Dragon

Motor City Pizza

Motor City Pizza (Pizza, 1515 South Park), visited April 30.  A “virtual restaurant” from which you can apparently only order through certain apps, we discovered that this Detroit-style deep dish pizzeria works out of the kitchen in The Lord Nelson. “Detroit-style” means it’s baked in a thick square steel pan, with thick, crunchy crust. In a way, it’s kind of like Pizza Hut pan pizza, but with caramelized edges. We went for the Original Bad Boy pizza (chorizo sausage, roasted poblano peppers, tomato sauce and cheese, although without the mushrooms), and it held its own against the variation we tried in the Motor City itself. The cheesy garlic sticks were similar in size but much thinner and as a result, kinda dry. The kale Caesar salad was a bit too saucy, but very tasty and big enough to serve four people. The Mozzarella sticks were massive, but a tangy sauce (marinara or ranch) would have made them shine. Overall, it was a plentiful but pricey meal, made even pricier due to the delivery charge (which is why we opted to pick it up ourselves). Still, it’s different than anything else we’ve tried in the city and worth a try. Verdict: 3.5/5 (70%) chance of returning.

Sapori Italian Street Food

Sapori Italian Street Food (Italian, 1741 Lower Water), visited April 10. The sausage pizza caught us off guard, in a good way, in that it was drizzled with honey. Apparently, it’s the only one on the menu to have that special touch, but it was damn tasty! The Orecchiette Bolognese was hefty and really hit the spot. This little gem isn’t trying to be fancy, but it will surely be a hit with the downtown business crowd and tourists alike, once life returns to “normal.” Verdict: 4/5 (80%) chance of returning.

Orecchiette Bolognese & Sausage Pizza from Sapori