5thelementt.com

[majic]

So my birthday was on Friday and i decided to go to a more 'classy' dinner outing instead of just chowing down some pizza and washing it down with beer.. I got an email from menuplace.com telling me that 5thelementt (http://5thelementt.com/) was having a special, two 4 course meals for $39.99

http://xs413.xs.to/xs413/07121/5thelementt.png

this was the menu we were given for this special

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/menu.jpg

the whole menu can be found here (http://www.menupalace.com/evites/5thelementt/promo2007/promo2007.html)

The owner/host BeeJay was a big guy but he was like a teddy bear.. it was my gf that mainly dealt with him.. he's soft spoken, greets everyone as they enter and takes the jackets off for you..

we had a large group so we decided on a semi private room and that was great b/c we didn't have to bother the rest of the folks at the restaurant.

the people dining there were from various backgrounds.. there were older people, younger crowd, dress shirts/dress pants, stylish jeans etc.. the dress code calls for smart casual but it they aren't that strict on it.. it's still nice to wear something different from time to time..

the atmosphere was great.. the staff there is polite and VERY laid back.. our group of ~20 arrived between 6:30 and 7:15 or so and the whole time they weren't pushing for us to start food orders or anything like that, just drinks and plenty of water :)

5thelementt - they have a patio that seats 192 people but it wasn't open yet.. should be good in the summer!

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/outside.jpg

now to the menu :)

i ordered the underlined stuff

Amuse

English Green Pea Consommé - i loved it.. it definately had some kick to it and the floating crouton like balls were tasty too.. it was greet so definitely interesting.. lots of the other people liked it too..

Small Choice of (Starter)

Asian Pear and Mango Salad - most people liked it.. i didn't so i can't comment on it that much

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/mangosalad.jpg

Chaat Delicacy - i heard it wasn't THAT good but then only a few ordered it

Vegetable Samosa Aut Gratin - looked damned good with all that cheese all over it :D .. generally people liked it so i'd say it's a no brainer

Salmon Wrapped Scallops - holy ****.. the scallops were bbq'd and they were soooooo yummy.. i failed to notice the salmon was smoked as i'm not a huge fan of it but it was still gooooood..

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/salmonscallops.jpg

Fish Tempura - don't know if anyone ordered this.. so no review ;)

Large Choice of (Entree)

Lobster Risotto - i know it's made with rice but it tasted like seafood pasta and it was delicious.. the sauce that kept the rice together was just right.. although the piece of lobster was small, the overall portion was of good size..

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/lobsterrisotto.jpg

Salmon Rolade - it's salmon.. i don't think you can go wrong.. people liked it .. i didn't try it.. :(

Tandoor Red Chicken - it wasn't red.. it was brown :P but it was a hit among the ones who got it

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/tandoor.jpg

Nizami Lamb Shank - I learned that the New Zealand lamb smells/tastes different from the Ontario lamb but to me there was no difference.. all i know is that there was a LOT of the meat and it was SOOOO tender.. i flipped the shank from the way it was served onto the other side and most of the meat slipped right off the bone.. WOW.. it was delicious.. and filling.. it was served with mashed potatoes and adorned with some greens..

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/lamb.jpg

Stuffed Paneer Tikka - we didn't have any vegetarians so i don't think anybody ordered this..

Dessert
Gulab Jamun with Mascarpone Cheese - they said it was good but it was a tiny portion.. i think only 3 balls half the size of a golfball..

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/balls.jpg

Creme Brule - people didn't like the consistency and the general consensus was 'i've had better'

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/cremebrule.jpg

Fresh Chocolate Mousse - WOOWWAAAWWEEWA.. everyone tried it, whether their own or shared, and omg it was JUST right.. not too sweet.. not too chocolatey.. not too grainy.. it was like chocolate ice cream but not THAT cold.. it was VERY VERY GOOD!!!

http://xs414.xs.to/xs414/07130/mousse.jpg

overall a wicked experience with my close friends.. great food and a definitely great atmosphere..

oh almost forgot.. drinks.. i don't know about the wines (there's a wine list on their site and prices vary from $9 - $15 per glass and more for a bottle) but mixed drinks and girly stuff was about $9 while the beer was $5!!! whether it was a bottle (stella, corona, coors, canadian, guinness and 1 or 2 others) or draft (steamwhistle only)..

i would definitely recommend you take your better half there or even get a group and check it out.. no coupon necessary as they have the fixed price special menu there.. just mention it when you call to place a reservation which is a must .. hurry b/c this deal expires by April 14th! but if you miss it don't sweat it, at the end of April they will have a deal 2 for $50 for the same 4 courses (might be different food) but you also get a glass of wine with each dinner

[Fuman]

man, I am cooking instant noodles... I dunno if I can still eat them now.
I just want the Salmon Wrapped Scallops... argh

[iconicrocket]

Thanks for the review majic, looks good.

[wtom]

You should also do a review on the photos because they look uberly amazing!!! I can almost taste the food! :P

[3GFX]

Impressive, I'll be remembering this one for SheFX.

[monty0501]

Hey thanks for the pointer,

Booked for Saturday, this should get me some brownie points!

Food looks good

[billyfo]

I tried it @winterlicious (sp??) w/ my boss, regularly $30 per person to a special for 2 w/ the same price but menu not the same w/ majic

[KenYork]

bubba have any of this at his BBQ?

[TheFastLane]

seems like a good deal ...classy place for the price

[the_dinger]

think Ill try it

[ecokenny]

My gf and I tried this restaurant last November when they had the 2 for 1 three courses menu for $30. Price sounded attractive but we were not impressed with the service and the quality of the food. We felt rushing from the server to finish one course and immediately present another course. Food was kind of like a fusion of Indian and Western cusines.

Also, they charged tax at the full price of $60 ($30 per person x 2 persons), then deduct $30 off the total amount of the bill. However, they advertised as 2 for the price of 1, not $30 credit toward your total bill.

Beejay was a very nice gentleman and treated every customer with respect and the highest possible customer service. Server was ok and the busboy was inexperienced and we could see him shaking as he approached our refilling water, changing utentials, and collecting empty dishes.

[majic]

so i had another opportunity to check the place out today... I took my mom for Mother's Day.. call me cheap (it's ok) but she loved the food and the ambiance and everything.. we had the same server as for my birthday, Vipin, and once again he was very laid back yet professional and always smiling.. we got there at about 5:15PM with reservations for 5:30PM and were greeted and seated by BeeJay promptly.. at that time there was a couple on the patio and a party of 6, party of 4 and a couple inside.. the place doesn't open till 5PM for dinner so it wasn't prime time yet but i counted about 10 servers/busboys so they were expecting more of a crowd through the night.. we were NEVER rushed and it seemed like the staff's timing (taking our old plates and bringing the new dishes out) was perfect.. i guess the key is to either book the semi private room for a group of 15-18 or go during off peak hours.. we were in and out in just over an hour, we eat quite quickly tho ;)

here's the menu for the current deal..

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/5thelementt.gif

last time i remember they only had steamwhistle on tap, this time they added rickard's honey brown.. i haven't had honey brown in a while so maybe i forgot the flavour but it was a tad more bitter than i remember (like a cross of steamwhistle and honey brown b/c i could definitely taste the hints of honey).. it came in a unique (tall) glass..

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00523.JPG

the soup tasted very similar to before, but this time it was tomato and leeks.. i loved the little puffballs heh.. sorry forgot to snap a pic of the soup :P

next was the appetizer, my mom got the grilled scallops and shrimps (2 of each) with a few greens on the side.. they were good, although just luke warm, maybe that's how they are served.. they tasted yummy though!!

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00521.JPG

i got the veggie samosa.. it was spicy and very tasty.. there was some green paste on it and that had a nice kick to it plus some of the seeds that just diversified the flavours..

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00522.JPG

then came the main course, my mom ordered the yellow fin tuna.. she asked for medium and it came out a little rare but tasted delicious.. it was seasoned with black sesame seeds and did not taste fishy at all.. it almost tasted like sashimi it was so gently seared.. she loved it..

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00524.JPG

and i got the lamb shank, again, and it did not dissapoint.. so succulent and peeling off the bone.. sauce wasn't too heavy and mashed potatoes were nice and creamy.. perfect..

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00525.JPG

by this point we were stuffed already and hadn't had the dessert yet.. so out came the peanut creme brule and the chocolate mousse.. the mousse wasn't as creamy as last time, it was a little harder but the flavour was the same, just lovely, like ice cream but not cold ;) .. my mom's creme brule was pretty good even though i am not a huge fan of it.. but the best was mixing the mousse and creme brule .. yum!!

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00527.JPG

http://xs315.xs.to/xs315/07190/DSC00526.JPG

what can i say.. i love this place and will DEFINITELY go back.. just checked the bill and we were NOT charged tax on two meals like ecokenny said.. just $45.99 for 2 people plus drinks.. excellent value, awesome service and wicked food.. haven't found anything wrong with the place yet..

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ps. i love my w810i.. all pix were taken by it in macro mode.. i was too busy eating that i forgot to take pix of the full dishes.. oh well just go to 5th elementt and you'll see it for yourself ;)