Have you heard of this nobody street called “Ossington?” Probably not. No one knows it. It’s full of trendy bars, good restaurants, yoga studios and clothing stores that make you feel cooler for having walked through the doors. One of the early settlers of the new Ossington (and one that actually takes dinner reservations) is Delux Restaurant. Opened in 2008, owner and executive chef Corinna Mozo created a French bistro at night, but in the daylight – the lunch and popular brunch menus have a more casual Cuban flavour.
The Cuban lunch menu offers pressed Cubano sandwiches ($10) and a similar Cuban Medianoche ($8) sandwich with tender cider-cured pork shoulder, shaved ham, grainy mustard, and gruyere cheese on a squishy freshly baked bun. Don’t be deceived by its humble size. With all of that pork and cheese, it’s just enough lunch to keep you from needing a nap. Balance the sandwich with a light salad like the avocado, citrus, and green olive ($6/$10) or screw this whole “balancing” act altogether and order a side of fried green plantains or fried ripe plantains ($4 each). If you’re looking for a full meal deal, order the Cuban Dinner. $14 will get you roast pork, rice and beans, plantains, and a salad. Ideal for those who aren’t good with choices.
A post on Delux’s website at the end of winter announced the birth of a weekend brunch. The pressed Cubano sandwich is available as a Cuban Breakfast ($14), similar to the Cuban Dinner, but with two poached eggs because hey, this is brunch time. House-made chorizo sausage and a duck confit picadillo hash give your eggs a tasty kick.
My next visit will be when the sun sets and Delux becomes a French bistro serving steak frites and braised rabbit stew. Perhaps more of a priority for me is the much talked about dessert of warm milk and cookies. Chocolate chip cookies baked fresh to order ($7) can be paired with a glass of “milk” ($4), though I’m not sure why “milk” is in quotes on the menu.
Have your pick of Cuban during the day or French at night, all in one place on that street no one has heard about.
Follow Delux on Twitter at @DeluxRestaurant
____
