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Name: Rasa
Neighbourhood: University
Contact Info: 196 Robert St., 647-350-8221, rasabar.ca
Owners: The Food Dudes
Chef: Adrian Niman of The Food Dudes, formerly of North 44
The Food: The restaurant’s name is derived from the Latin phrase tabula rasa, which means “blank slate.” Fittingly, the menu doesn’t adhere to any particular culinary tradition, borrowing instead from multiple global cuisines, including French (bone marrow beef tartare), Italian (egg-yolk gnudi with smoked carrots and kale) and South American (lamb ribs with chimichurri and “pickled things”).
The Drinks: Toronto bartender Chanel Wood mixes up simple, strong cocktails incorporating fresh ingredients like ginger and fruit (one signature drink, the Cordial Affair, stars a tart rhubarb elixir that’s made in house every two days). The wine list focuses on Ontario bottles.
The Place: This is one of two new restaurants from The Food Dudes, the other being yet-to-open Ossington eatery Junk, the company’s collaboration with ex-Momofuku chef Matt Blondin. Rasa feels a bit like a cozy mining shaft, thanks to rugged plank-board walls and lots of metallic details. The 40-seat patio will open later this summer.
281093 <strong>Rasa</strong> is located at 196 Robert Street, just north of Harbord and west of Spadina (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-13.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-13/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-13 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281090 The slightly below-grade room feels a bit like a cozy mining shaft, thanks to plank-board paneling and metallic details (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-10/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281094 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-14/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-14 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281081 Chicken “chips” with harissa powder, labne dip and za’atar ($7) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-01/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281085 The Margherita toast comes topped with tomato sauce, goat ricotta, basil and fermented chili ($10). Add a meatball for an extra $5 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-05/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281083 The fish board always includes a ceviche, a cured fish and a smoked fish (MP) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-03/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281086 Cabbage rolls stuffed with kalbi steak, shimeji mushrooms, queso sauce, kimchi slaw and vermicelli ($17) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-06/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281087 The calamari bolognese is an Italian-Asian mash-up that incorporates fried pork, fermented chili and lots of fresh herbs ($17) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-07/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281088 Chocolate brownie with passion-fruit, coconut and marshmallow ($9) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-08/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281082 (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-02/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281084 The “Jamaican Observer” blends three types of rum with ginger and honey syrup ($12) (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-04/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)
281092 The 40-seat patio will open later this summer (Image: Megan Leahy) Introducing: Rasa https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/rasa-toronto-restaurant-12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/rasa-toronto-restaurants/slide/rasa-toronto-restaurant-12/ rasa-toronto-restaurant-12 0 0
(Image: Megan Leahy)