PF Chang's (Shops at Don Mills)

Yesterday, Bear was working late and I decided to take advantage of the winterlicious opportunities around that neighbourhood. Low and behold, my first instinct was to find a Thai restaurant, and did make reservations for Linda Modern Thai at Shops at Don Mills. Then I remembered, I did not have a memorable experience at this restaurant.

So instead, I decided to try something - and that "something new" was PF Chang's. Either on urbanspoon or yelp had good reviews and described the restaurant as a US chain that had recently opened a location in Canada. One posting likened the dining experience at PF Chang's to "eating Chinese food at the Keg" - and it was exactly that. The atmosphere was clean and very Keg-like. Our server was attentive, the food came out quickly and it seemed to me that the food did not have a usual MSG-taste in cheap Chinese restaurants (this is not to said that they don't use additives - because I did experience the usual food additive swelling of face and hands in the morning - but perhaps not as severe as after eating at the usual hangouts).

The Winterlicious Dinner ($25) and their usual Dinner for Two ($24.99) ... what am I missing here. This made the entire point of coming here for winterlicious moot. I made Bear order the winterlicious option so that I could get the Ma Po Tofu and ordered an additional appetizer.

The yelp recommended "dynamite shrimp", which was small deep fried shrimp doused in Bear's fav - mayo-siracha hot sauce. Nothing spectacular except for the look of delight it is able to bring on Bear's face. Bear's favourite condiment isn't honey - it's mayo.

The veggie spring roll was nice (new kinds of veggies other than the usual cabbage etc.) but tasted processed. The wonton soup had nice pork dumplings with ginger which I enjoyed (then later regreted after reading that chinese restaurant soups and sauces are flavoured with food additives). 

The sesame chicken was kind of like 양념치킨 (korean fried chicken). The Ma Po Tofu was deep fried and the sauce pleasant (loved that it wasn't overwhelming or salty). I especially enjoyed the "fire" flavour that comes from foods cooked in very high temperature.

All in all, I enjoyed the food at PF Chang's and the fortune cookie was a hoot. I considered coming back to try out other items on their menu as I walked out of the restaurant and waited for my $3 valet parking.  

We were full and didn't have room for dessert. The New York style cheesecake we brought home - was so good with raspberry coulis - right before bed. The carrot cake was moist, light and soft (like of like cinnamon cake) but it wasn't my cake so I only had one bite.

Yes. I went to bed very full. Never a good idea. I'm surprised I didn't get nightmares. 

But that was after. 

After waking up to some swelling in the morning, I hit "msg" and "PF Chang's" on  google and I find out that PF Chang's does not use MSG (good!) but they may use something worse - a mysterious food additive derived from yeast - it has neither been confirmed or denied - what the heck. 

Good feelings are gone. I won't be going back. But now I'm curious to try the Japanese restaurant next door - Kabuki.