138 Adelaide St E
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 850-2726
http://www.laide.ca/Google Map Date: August 25, 2006
What's on the menu: Tapas menu
Drinks: Full bar list
Atmosphere: cool, cozy and casual
Cost: $30/person, but depends on how much you drink
After an evening of watching street performers at the Toronto Buskerfest (including an incredibly amazing
Fire in the Sky show), CFO and I were looking for a little late night snack. With few choices this side of Yonge, our hopes of decent food fell on Laide. Located on its namesake street (Adelaide), just west of Jarvis, is the inconspicuous, erotic themed lounge.
Walk into Laide and you'll get why owners, Racquel Youtzy and Sam Gassira, fittingly named the sexy, casual lounge that way. The entrance is adorned with naked figures in suggestively provocative positions, vintage porn movies playing throughout the night... a stripper pole sets the ambience for the evening.
Feeling a little out of place in an unfamiliar venue, we find any empty spot in one of the few booths. Luscious, comfortable couches allow you to slip off your shoes, sit back and relax. Thin curtains add intimacy to your evening. Friendly waitresses come by as you’re seated to take your order. First timers (like us) can ask to see the smallish menu.
The menu consists of a Tapas foods section and a list of stylishly named drinks. Laide’s $25 nightly special (2 mains, 1 dessert) is a perfect way to share a meal and connect with that important person. Still feeling the effects from our meal at
Milagro, we decide to limit ourselves to the five-spiced rubbed back ribs ($15). Drinks are a little harder to decide with so many seductively tempting options -
Nymphomaniac - spiced rum, peach schnapps & malibu, Deep Throat - frangelico, vanilla vodka & a squirt of cream and the seductively inviting
Threesome - a three layer surprise (drinks between $10-15).
Laide's inviting atmosphere keeps the scene diverse - the after work crowd, club goers, people in the area... enticing for all. With such a relaxing atmosphere, its easy to forget that we're here to try the food. Soon after, our ribs arrive on a wooden sushi tray - a bowl of ribs accompanied with a plate of kettle chips. Tableware is asian themed - tacky and unnecessary.
A taste of the ribs.... surprisingly very good. Meat is juicy and tender, there's a peppery taste from the spices, but also sweet from the hoisin sauce. Kettle chips are a bit stale, probably store bought, but helps balances the sweetness of the ribs. A finger bowl is smartly placed with the ribs to help clean sticky hands. We finish our plate quickly, but only to sit back and enjoy the rest of our evening.
Apart from Laide's comforting couches and relaxing atmosphere, there's actually a restaurant worthy menu. With a kitchen open late everynight and savoury food items, midnight diners now have a new venue for a delicious meal. From the looks of it though, most aren't here to try or discover Laide's food and it's too bad.. our small sample will have us coming back again.
Approval Rating:
Walk into Laide and you'll get why owners, Racquel Youtzy and Sam Gassira, fittingly named the sexy, casual lounge that way. The entrance is adorned with naked figures in suggestively provocative positions, vintage porn movies playing throughout the night... a stripper pole sets the ambience for the evening.
