What’s on the menu at Ji, a Southeast Asian pub from the owners of Pukka
Name: Ji
Neighbourhood: Humewood
Contact: 760 St. Clair Ave. W., 416-792-5550, helloji.ca
Previously: Concession Road
Owners: Harsh Chawla and Derek Valleau (Pukka, Concession Road)
Chef: Kirti Singh (Pukka)
The food
Comfort food favourites get Indian makeovers at Pukka’s casual spin-off. The poutine, for example, swaps out gravy and curds for pulled beef curry and paneer. While some of the menu is straight-up Indian-spiced pub grub, such as butter chicken mac and cheese, there are a few more traditional dishes on offer, including lamb shank rogan josh. There are also a few vegetarian-friendly options like a vegan caesar salad dressed with smoky coconut “bacon” bits and a cashew dressing.
The drinks
Ji’s meagre draught offerings (two) are augmented by a slew of Ontario craft tall cans, and the bottle selection includes some lesser-known international beers, including Italy’s Bruton Bianca. Themed cocktails include a chai flip and a tamarind margarita.
The space
The two-room space is divided into a bar with flat screens and four-tops on one side, while the other half is done up in bright gem hues with blue banquettes and vintage travel posters. The TVs will screen muted classic Bollywood flicks.
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Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.
