At this time of year when we’re all feverishly counting calories, switching to Splenda, and lying to people about how we’re always at the gym, we exhale a breath of relief to see a restaurant opening up on Queen West that isn’t one of those darn-tempting, diet-breaking burger places. Not to hate on the buns or anything, but a girl has to watch her figure. Amen? Amen.
Started by Shontelle Pinch, the creative genius behind the Gourmet Bitches food truck, Rose City Kitchen is a new 15-seater inspired by the cuisines of the Mediterranean and Middle East and aims to totally change how we experience it. With the region’s rich history as a coastal trading mecca, RCK draws influences from Southern Arabia, Egypt, Syria, Greece, and Rome. The result is a menu including sandwiches capturing the spirit of each region as defined by their key gourmet and authentic ingredients (um, yum habibi). Everything from Rose City Kitchen’s recipes, to the breads they use, to the ingredients are positively dripping in authenticity from the Mediterranean. If there is such a cooking technique as a flavour-infusion of culture, they’ve got it down. Chances are you’ll try something you’ve never experienced before which is great because, well, you can pretty much have a burger any time. Amen? Amen.
Rose City Kitchen will be opening this month at 406 Queen Street West.