Spice Route Asian Bistro Bar

Posted by Mary Luz Mejia May 13, 2008

A creatively "stamped" envelope with faux-postage from Vietnam, Pakistan, and China arrived at my door recently, heralding the opening of Toronto's new seen-and-be-seen King West hangout: Spice Route Asian Bistro-Bar. Helming the Asian-inflected menu is the talented Chef Winlai Wong (formerly of Monsoon) whose love of Asian food comes honestly as her folks are from China/Hong Kong. She also has the unyeilding support of her sous-chef and husband Sam in the kitchen - where the two work in seamless harmony (and have for years).

On a cold, rainy May night, I make my way over to the torch-lit entrance and pass through a massive, antique wooden door. The interior is slick with a little VIP room tucked away in a corner underneath the DJ booth (global electronica anyone? Yep, like the Buddha Bar, you'll be able to buy your own Spice Route CD soon too...). There's an impressive bar in the middle of the room with flat LCD screens hovering above you- the night I was there, the image looked like tropical underwater scenes. For me, the most eye-catching decor piece- apart from the many Buddhas, are the sepia-toned images of far-flung lands. They look like old photographs copied and made into triptychs, but they are in fact paintings.

There's a sexy patio outside- it will no doubt be packed once the hot weather arrives with its accompanying coterie of pretty little things swirling around the water feature with a signature cocktail or two. We sampled some apps but it's the mains I'd like to eventually get back to the Spice Route for- once the hubbub dies down a notch and the “suits” find their next hot spot to haunt.

Spice Route Asian Bistro Bar- 499 King Street West (at Brant Street)- downtown Toronto.