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Food & Drink

What’s on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social

By Caroline Aksich| Photography by Caroline Aksich
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What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social

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Name: Pollyanna Contact: 1054 Gerrard St. E., 647-352-6969, thepollyanna.ca, @pollyannaeats
Neighbourhood: Leslieville Previously: Aprilé Bambina Cucina Owners: Cherie Stinson and her husband Joey Skeir (Eastside Social, Thirsty Duck) Chefs: Executive chef Stefan Skeene (Eastside Social) and chef Amber Farrell (Eastside Social)

The food

A menu of composed plates that bounce around the Mediterranean from Spain to Tunisia, with the odd detour to Asia. In true nouveau-Canuck style, no particular dish has just one influence: a typically Italian plate of black fettuccine, for instance, has both Spanish (chorizo) and Japanese (tempura-style octopus) elements.

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
The bagna cauda is Farrell’s favourite dish on the menu. Steamed and raw veggies are topped with a foam made from anchovies, butter and white wine. $14.

 

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
Avocado rolled in a corn nut-dukkah blend, heirloom tomatoes, garlic ancho chili jam, charred corn and a scallion-buttermilk vinaigrette. $13.

 

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
Cauliflower croquettes are served with saffron aïoli and a sweet chili sauce. $12.

 

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What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
This halibut tartare is served on top of a flame-torched avocado with peach habanero sauce, sun-dried tomato oil and crispy leeks. $14.

 

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
Pollyanna’s black fettuccine is made in-house using sepia ink sourced from Hooked. The noodles are then tossed with chorizo, garlic-and-marjoram-roasted cherry tomatoes. Ricotta salata and tempura-battered octopus finish the plate. $20.

 

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
The rib-eye is left to sit for a day in koji, which gives the meat some added umami. “It almost tastes dry-aged as a result,” says Farrell, who then cooks the steak sous vide before searing it in a cast iron pan. It’s served with caper-raisin relish. $29.

 

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social

 

The drinks

A tight cocktail list of refreshing classics (dark and stormy, salty dog) and a list of international wines, all available by the glass. There are only two beers on tap: Creemore and Lagunitas.

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What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
The Lavender Brown is made with bourbon, lavender honey and fresh lemon. $14.

 

The space

The 50-seat room has great bones: The exposed brick (Stinson pulled back a bunch of drywall to liberate it) and 10-inch floor boards are original to the building. And playing on the Pollyanna-as-parrot angle, Stinson (previously of Restaurant Makeover) has decked the space out in a parrot paraphernalia. Coming next summer: another 46 seats outside.

What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social
What's on the menu at Pollyanna, an eclectic new restaurant from the owners of Eastside Social

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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.

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