The summer has been literally slipping through our fingers, it’s been going so quickly. And we’re busy (I guess that doesn’t help) so it’s difficult to coordinate a Saturday with friends, unless you book months in advance (we already have plans for October 27th, believe it or not!). So when I tried to get a date with our friends David and Mi Mi, we were only able to come up with a Thursday last week or a date in October other than the 27th! And we didn’t want to wait until October to see them, so we nabbed the date and penned it in. David and Mi Mi work downtown and take the Go Train to the city every day, so we wanted to pick a place that wasn’t too far from the train station so we weren’t wasting time travelling to the station and have more quality time at dinner!
We selected Obikà Mozzarella Bar in Brookfield Place (used to be known as BCE Place, why do they keep changing the names of these buildings?). I have seen this place every time we eat at Marché (another great place to visit if you are in Toronto) and I knew I wanted to try it, particularly with my new found love affair with Burrata Cheese. Obikà flies their fresh mozzarella in TWICE a week from Italy. I kid you not. Their fresh Mozzarella balls are priced at $11 for take away, which isn’t bad considering we usually pay $9 for ordinary stuff at the supermarket! You can read about their fresh Mozzarella here, just click “Read more about our Mozzarella here”.
The restaurant is basically in the main floor atrium of an office building. It’s a lovely space with super high ceilings and the majority of the seating is in the atrium; bottom line is that’s it’s a mall and people walk by all the time. It didn’t give me the warm and cozy feeling. But once we got into the wine, and chatting, we soon became unaware that we were basically sitting in the middle of a mall.
We arrived a little late as I had to get ready — you know me, ladies, I can’t go downtown without the usual accoutrements (mini, heals, bling etc). We arrived by Subway at around 6:30 and David and Mi Mi had already ordered a couple of lovely sampler platters: A Tasting Plate of Three Bufala Mozzarella di Campagna ($34.00) Affumicata a smoked Bufala Mozzarella di Campagna, Classica a regular Bufala Mozzarella di Campagna and Stracciatella di Burrata which is the inside of a Burrata (this is the soft creamy part). I really didn’t care for the way they served the Stracciatella di Burrata in a bowl. My favourite, by far was the smoked Mozzarella, it was so tasty (I’m going to make my own smoked version this weekend!). They also ordered a Selezione di Salumi which was a lovely meat platter ($12.00), showcasing a Prosciutto Crudo di Parma DCP, Prosciutto Cotto and Mortadella. Now I know that Mortadella is the pride of Bologna, but honestly, it’s Boloney! OK, I take that back, I don’t want to offend my Italian friends, suffice it to say, I was not impressed. We ordered the Veneto La Serenissima Pinot Grigio ($35) because we all craved a light summery wine (it was incredibly hot and humid out). For our mains, each couple shared a pizza and believe it or not, we let our hubby’s choose. Mine, made a bee-line for the Cheese Pizza called Formaggio Morbidi ($17) (soft cheese pizza), decorated with Mozzarella di Bufala Campagna DCP, Gorgonzola, Staccchino and Ricotta garnished with fresh basil and EVOO. The crust was super thin and beautifully baked, crispy and soft and chewy all at once. We had asked them not to add the Gorgonzola until the very end after it has come out of the oven as our preference is not to have it render. It could have used a few more little bits (we LOVE our Gorgonzola!). David and Mi Mi ordered Prosciutto ($16) which was Prosciutto Crudo di Parma DCP, Mozzarella di Bufala Campagna DCP, Organic Tomato filets and Arugula. I think they enjoyed it. (I apologize for any spelling errors, the menu on line is extremely difficult to read).
Overall rating of Obikà Mozzarella Bar (in my opinion): Decor 2/5 (this failed incredibly because we were sitting in a mall), service 4/5, food 4/5, Value 2.5/5 (it’s not inexpensive, but the quality is very good), Noise: 2/5 (1 being very noisy, and 5 being very quiet). Reservations are definitely recommended.
This blog has a good photo of the first platter: http://cookbookstoreblog.blogspot.ca/2011/08/obika-mozzarella-bar-toronto.html
This search turned up a good photo of the second plate: http://obika.tumblr.com/post/2431126408/selezione-di-salumi-prosciutto-crudo-di-parma
This search has some good pictures of the restaurant: http://www.pic2fly.com/Obika+Restaurant+Toronto.html
Disclaimer: We purchased our meal for full price and my opinions just that, my opinions.
I love reading about some of the elaborate meals you have had. The vicarious experience is as close as I’m probably going to get but I may be able to try a couple of the items you’ve listed at some point in the future. I’ve heard of the burrata … a very novel form of cheese.
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Thank you kindly Maria, it’s such a pleasure to receive your kind comments and observations. I really appreciate it. Yes, burrata is a very unique cheese, and if you like fresh mozzarella, burrata is perfect for you.
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I still have to try fresh mozzarella or bocconcini. One day. 🙂
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I would recommend to try the best you can afford. Bocconcini is a harder, rubberier texture than fresh mozzarella and bufala mozzarella is even softer still. Burrata is bufala mozzarella on the outside and a soft creamy wet cheese on the inside.
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Mmm I adore cheese and burrata is also a favourite of mine. There’s nothing like it is there? 😀
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I haven’t tasted anything quite so creamy and unique before either.
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It sounds like a great place for a nice snack with a glass of wine (apart from the “mall feeling”). I wish I had a mozzarella bar here too!
I also like smoked mozzarella. Have you ever tasted smoked scamorza? (There are two types: natural and smoked). It’s really good and quite low-calorie so I often buy it and have it as a snack, it’s also good on a pizza instead of mozzarella.
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Hi Sissi, one of the three mozzarellas we sampled was smoked and it was truly wonderful. I mentioned to my husband that I would like to try smoking one at home (we have a cold smoker). It’s on ‘the list’!
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I love catching up with friends but like you, I like a place where I’m comfortable talking without feeling like I’m in a train station. I would have loved the food though!
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The actual location was indeed a disappointment, Maureen but the food was quite tasty.
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Great review Eva – I smiled when I got to the bit about getting into the wine and becoming unaware that you were basically sitting in the middle of a mall… sounds like yummy food – I love Gorgonzola too!
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Thanks Kelly, It’s a shame about the restaurant’s location, otherwise I’d be tempted to go again.
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Fresh mozz imported from Italy? How fabulous! And I’ve just discovered Burrata this year….sooooo good!
PS…I love that you threw in your list of on the town garb 🙂
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Thanks Liz, we won’t be going to Italy in this trip to Europe and that makes me sad; some of my favourite meals are Italian!
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I know what you mean by summer slipping through our fingers. The days sure are getting shorter. When one is with friends, the surroundings doesn’t matter anymore. Sounds like you had a most wonderful weeknight out.
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Thanks Norma. Even the air has an entirely different colour than it did a couple of weeks ago.
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They could seat me on subway tracks during rush hour, Eva, and i’d still like this place. A mozzarella bar? Oh my gorgonzola!!!! Marie mentioned burrata to me a couple months ago and I’ve since found it at “my” Italian market. It is so very good! It can be made at home but is far too involved for me. I hope this restaurant is successful enough for them to move to a more suitable home — like here in Chicago. 😉
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They are international John, in fact, Charles thought one of his friends dined in one in Rome. You should email them as a suggestion for a new location.
I recently discovered Burrata too (Just a Smidge had it on her blog) and am smitten too.
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Looks like a pretty cool place Eva, and one that my half Italian wife could really get into. Pretty decent wine list too. Always like to see multiple Feudis available.
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Thanks Jed, the food was better than the mall-like atmosphere.
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Hi Eva, do they also have a restaurant(s) in Italy? My friend went to Rome recently and I could have sworn she went to a restaurant like this with the same name! She said it was very good.
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I believe that they do, Charles. It seems they are an international chain. The food was quite good and I was impressed that they fly in their fresh mozzarella twice a week!
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Ah, cheese and then pizza — what’s not to like, except the mall-like atmosphere? Good pizza satisfies me every time.
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Thanks Sharyn, it was a little weird but conversation took our minds off it.
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Sounds like a great weeknight dinner out with friends. I’m with you – where is this summer going?! It’s crazy how fast it’s gone by. I have no doubt we would enjoy this restaurant. The meals sound right up our alley. And I love JT’s choice in pizza. Yum!
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Thank you kindly Kristy, it was a tasty meal.
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When enjoying the company of friends, you can always overlook that you are eating in a mall.
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So true Karen, so true.
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I’m glad you had a good night out and I can imagine you can feel summer slipping through your fingers. It’s only two weeks until you go into Autumn and we will be rejoicing that winter is over. We feel that winter has been going on and on and on but I guess the reality is, this year is flying by. Enjoy the warm days while they last Eva xx
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Thanks Charlie, at least when winter falls to us I can have some comfort that you will be enjoying your summer (although winter in Canada is a whole different story!).
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