Winterlicious review: C5 Restaurant

 

If not for the celebrity chef, get to C5 ---the acclaimed restaurant in the Royal Ontario Museum -- for the view, the culture, the ambiance. Although it didn't have the most enticing offerings on its Winterlicious menu (mostly comfort/ upscale cafeteria offerings), the food -- a good value for $25 --was well executed, portion sizes were decent and the service was friendly and attentive.
Located on the fifth floor at the centre of the intersection of the five "crystals" that make up the ROM's new entrance .... wait a second, brainwave, C5 = five crystals... Wow. Anyway, it's a giant modern, bright and airy space that can make even the dreariest Saturday feel a little lighter. Our server was obliging when we asked for a seat new the window (she said they just needed it in two hours, more than enough time for our lunch), granted our view out Bloor St. wasn't the greatest on account of the rain. The restaurant was about half full, a little on the over lit side, which was fine for lunch but I'd prefer more romantic dinner lighting. Note: Winterlicious is only on for lunch this year.

For appetizers, I decided to stray from my normal salad choice and go for the beef Carpaccio--- thinly sliced raw beef. It was as advertised, a very thin layer of beef that covered the entire plate, but alas, I was not a fan. Raw fish, bring it on! I don't know what I was expecting, but the smell of raw beef just hit me. When I added a thick strip of shaved Parmesan, and a few mustard greens into my bite, it was tasty, but I would have appreciated a better ratio of greens to beef. The portion size was more than enough.

The salad choice was rather plain, mostly greens, and accompanied by an unexciting olive oil and vinegar dressing. That being said, I would go for the creamy and rich cauliflower soup topped with crispy brussel sprouts. One bite hooked me. 

After opting for the super-beefy appetizer, I went vegetarian for the main with a roasted vegetable Cassoulet, a hearty and buttery tasting veggie stew made with wild mushrooms and cannelli beans and served with a slice of garlic toast on the side. A hit of sage was overpowering at times, and the alleged wild mushrooms were virtually non-existent. Those caveats aside, the slow roasted combination, which seemed to consist of squash, sweet potato, potatoes, turnips and beans was a rich and decent choice for the blustery day.

My dinner companions (as well as most diners, it appeared) opted for the other two choices. The C5 Farfalle with veal and pork Bolognese tasted homemade through and through. The ROM Pot Pie with free range chicken and Ontario root vegetables (the choice I wanted but turned away from out of caloric concern) came with a super buttery and flaky mound of crust that when sliced into exploded with heat and hearty scent. Go for that. 

I was disappointed in my dessert choice, preserved Ontario peaches and cream with a buttermilk "shortcake" but  shortcake this wasn't, it was rather two dry slabs of yellow cake with a few peaches wedged in between. Go for the citrus panna cotta, had one bite and wanted that. 

I recommend going here for Winterlicious because its the most affordable chance to check out the incredible space, but I wouldn't return for full price based on the offerings I received.