The Keg: Iceberg Wedge

"Iceberg Wedge - Crisp lettuce wedge topped with tomatoes, bacon bits and your choice of ranch or Bleu cheese dressing."

I've always heard about wedge salads before - the newest "trendy" salad on the block. I have even heard about it on one of the episodes of Modern Family (Yes, I watch it. It's hilarious!). So when I saw this on the menu, I was quite interested in trying it. I didn't order it, however my mum ordered it and i just nabbed bites from her. I've discussed my particular experience during this visit in a previous post, however my review of this salad doesn't shine as brightly as the Sirloin & Dungeness Crab Entree.

I think the concept of the salad is interesting. Yes, it makes presentation pleasant. However, I personally think this style of salad is impractical. As much as I enjoy food and don't mind working for my foods (such as cracking the shells of crab legs or even preparing the food), I think it is absurd the amount of work that I had to put into eating this salad (I can't get my head around the idea of working hard for a salad). The general ingredients of the salad were great. The lettuce and tomatoes were fresh. The Bleu cheese dressing was unique but not overpowering. However, the process of eating this salad is just plain silly. The fact that you have to cut the lettuce head and distribute the dressing yourself is just, in my opinion, a pain. I was more concentrated on trying to eat the wedge without making a huge mess opposed to enjoying my meal. Perhaps due to my inexperience in eating "wedge salads" I found that the ratio of dressing was way to small to the ratio of "wedge". At the end, I found myself just eating plain washed iceberg lettuce - which is just boring.

In short, I feel that this wedge salad is a commercial gimmick. It allows for less labour on the kitchen side (your literally just chopping up a lettuce head into quarters and dripping salad dressing on top with all the other condiments) whilst management is able to boost the price of a salad up to $7 when the actual cost of the salad would be maximum $3. At the end, your essentially making the salad yourself but paying $7 for the ingredients to be placed in front of you in a pretty way.

{ The Verdict }

Experience: 4/5

Service: 4.5/5

Salad: 2/5

Value: 1.5/5

Overall: C-

Location:  162 York Blvd., Richmond Hill {Click here to find your nearest location}

Cost: $$$

Website: http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/

The Keg: Sirloin & Dungeness Crab

"Sirloin & Dungeness Crab - Naturally grilled top sirloin steak accompanied by a cluster of sweet Dungeness crab."

I was particularly interested in trying this seasonal dish from Keg. According to the very sweet waitress, which I believe her name was Sonja, Dungeness Crab is apparently known to be a sweeter type of crab. I do have to point out, that I did not like the fact that the Keg's overall lighting is so dim. I find it slightly difficult to maneuver in the restaurant, however lighting at the table is sufficient to eat.

Anyways, to set the mood, this particular meal was just a simple non-occasion meal with my parents. We haven't visited the Keg Steakhouse for awhile and a newly-renovated location opened a few blocks from where we live. Lately, we've been eating less red meats and we figured we needed some more iron and protein in our lives.

And of course... what is the point of going to a steakhouse if your aren't going to have steak? So I ordered the Sirloin & Dungeness Crab entree. As my memory best serves, I believe the entree was approximately $27 before taxes.

This entree disappointingly didn't come with any appetizer, though the meal itself is quite substantial. At the time, I was really craving a fresh salad and stole bites from my mum's Iceberg Wedge Salad that came with her meal. To be quite honest, being a seafood-lover, I could not conclusively eliminate the fact that the Dungeness Crab has a sweeter taste than the norm Alaskan Crab, I do not believe that the Dungeness Crab was in fact sweeter. Likewise, I felt the crab meat had a citrus taste, which is most likely attributed to how the crab was steamed. (lemon water, I guess?) The mashed potatoes at the Keg, like always, were very light and tasty. I appreciate that potato skins were left in the mix as it does give the mashed potatoes a different texture and that the butter was present but not overpowering. However, the Dungeness Crab cluster and the mashed potatoes was enough to satisfy my hunger and I was unable to eat the remaining sirloin to my dismay.

If I were to improve upon this meal, I would definitely suggest adding some steamed vegetables as mashed potatoes and meats can be very overwhelming for some individuals.

I did take my sirloin home and ate it for my dinner the following day, it too did not disappoint.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at the Keg and this seasonal dish was enjoyable. If I were to return to the Keg, I would order this again and I believe if you are willing to spend the money, this entree will not disappoint.

{ The Verdict }

Experience: 4/5

Service: 4.5/5

Entree: 4/5

Value: 4.5/5

Overall: A-

Location:  162 York Blvd., Richmond Hill {Click here to find your nearest location}

Cost: $$$

Website: http://www.kegsteakhouse.com/

Street Car: $4 Veggie Dog + Fries Combo

In between my classes, I often usually try to cram some time to eat since time usually doesn't permit me to do so. Conveniently located on my school's campus are a series of food trucks that sell various items from Chinese food to Western fast food. The truck I usually go to for poutine also had a $4 Hot dog + Fries combo so I figured I'd try it. I ordered a veggie dog, since I'd figure I'd be healthier... and didn't upgrade my fries to poutine. I'd say this is a waste of my $4! The veggie dog tasted horrible, regardless of the amount of condiments I put on it. It tasted like mushy plastic, if I dare say. I ended up carrying it around school cause I felt guilty chucking it out... and then chucked it on the way home. The only thing I ate were the fries... and without the gravy and cheese chunks, didn't taste that great either.

I will definitely not be ordering a veggie dog from this food truck ever again, and in the unlikely chance I order this combo, I am going for a meat dog with a poutine fries upgrade.

Aside from that, I'll still probably go to the truck for the poutines. They are a droolworthy guilty pleasure and aren't priced badly. The two men who own the truck are generally friendly although they keep to themselves and converse while making fried goods in what I think is Russian.

{ The Verdict }

Experience: 2.5/5

Service: 3/5

Entree: 0/5

Value: 3/5

Overall: D-

Location: St. George Street, Toronto

Cost: $