You probably know Wayne Gretzky as one of the all-time best hockey players to hit the ice, which he is. With more goals and assists than any other player, he currently holds the title of the leading scorer in NHL history. He is also the only player to have ever earned 200 points in one season. Which he accomplished 4 times. As the holder of 61 NHL records, 40 regular season records,15 playoff records and 5 all-star records, he has undoubtedly earned the title of The Great One.
Aside from his achievements on the ice, Wayne has built himself an empire of business endeavours off the ice. Most familiar to Torontonians is the restaurant Wayne Gretzky’s Toronto which has now held a home on Blue Jays Way for 25 years.
In celebration of Wayne Gretzky’s Silver Anniversary, the team behind the restaurant decided to revamp the menu by featuring “25 of the best items you’ve ever tasted”. Executive Chef John McKee revealed the new menu during a private sit-down dinner a few weeks ago. The dishes included unique combinations of classic pub foods and even some healthy options. Sort of.
The Food
We started off with a larger than life sharing platter made up of Buffalo cauliflower, garlic bread, nachos, guacamole and sweet potato fries. This could have probably been dinner on its own. Perfect for sharing with a large group or on your own. No judgement here. According to General Manager Adam Watkowski, “there’s no counting calories when you come to Wayne Gretzky’s.”
Next up on the menu were Gretzky’s Smokehouse BBQ Ribs. We got a small tasting of the dish but when you order it off the menu you get a half rack of ribs, french fries, and side of barbecue pork & beans.
Next up, because we were not nearly full enough, was the Cheeseburger Fries. Now, these are not your everyday fries. These were described as a deconstructed burger in the form of french fries. This interesting dish was made up of Yukon Gold potato and pickle fries topped with cheese sauce, ground beef, special sauce and a smoked tomato ketchup. I bet you can guess what burger they were trying to embody with this concoction.
Signature hand-crafted chicken fingers were up next for us. Accompanied with classic coleslaw, french fries and doused in a spicy sauce, these were the most classic item from the entire tasting.
And finally, no meal is complete without dessert. Dinner was capped off with a more than generous slice of their Mile-High Chocolate Fudge Cake. Topped with Sweet and Salty popcorn balls, this cake has been on the menu for as long as we can remember. So, we’re glad it’s not going anywhere.
Surviving the ever-changing dining scene in Toronto for over 25 years is no feat. With strong leadership at the helm and this most recent menu evolution, Wayne Gretzky’s could absolutely see itself in Toronto’s Entertainment District for another 25 years. Their new menu will be in place for Summer 2018. Click here for more information on their restaurant, menus and summer patio.
