Lahore Tikka House

Curiously, still under construction after what seems like a century, this is the outdoor palace of Gerrard India Bazaar. Eating on this tented patio, festooned with coloured lights, is a an absolute must do on a warm Toronto night. Don't expect china or silverware at this place and be prepared to do a little leg work once you've been handed our check-the-box ticket of menu items. Pick what you like and make your way to the cash register terminal, where some busy employee will take your ticket and in return you'll receive a number to place on your table. When your order is up, several waiters will swoop upon your table with multiple dishes served sizzling in hot-cast iron skillets. On weekends, someone will come around with fire roasted chilies straight from the tandoori oven on a three foot skewer. Pluck them off carefully and eat them with caution.

A bustling concrete- floored ambiance, bordering on cafeteria style is the key here. Where else in the city will you eat on a picnic table, with paper plates and plastic cutlery? But what they may lack in table service, they make up for in flavour. Pakistani food is typically richer and more meat heavy than most Indian food and Lahore is known for keeping a thick layer of oil on most of their curry dishes that not only adds flavour, but carries the heat. The faint of heart may have issues.

I feel sorry for the sad little iceberg salad that precedes the symphony of flavour. It really is negligible--the colesalaw of Pakistani cuisine: There, but rarely eaten or enjoyed.

However the meat does not disappoint. The chicken Tikka from the Tadoor is smoky, moist and delicious. Kebabs of Lamb, Beef and Chicken are plump juicy, and more than aptly spiced. Lahore does a great job of food from the tandoor and if you're ever walked by the kitchen, you can see why. Giant flames leap forth and the heat from the oven is enough to scald your cheek at a distance. The Butter Chicken has a good level of spice and is riddled with charred chicken loveliness, tomato, cream and yes, butter. Speaking of butter, the Butter Naan is crisp with a soft, pillowy inside. Perfect for sopping up leftover sauce.

Sadly, the vegetarian dishes are lost beneath the excess oil. Saag Paneer is little more than heavily spiced spinach and a few cubes of the nicely cooked pressed cheese floating in a sea of grease. The channa masala is masked by a stack of oily fried onions. It's too much for vegetarian dishes to battle.

1365 Gerrard Street East ,Toronto,ON M4L 1Z3,Canada Ph: 416-406-1668

Price: $15 per person
Value: Good
Rating: * * * Delicious Pakistani Goodness
Perfect for: Ultra Casual Patio Dinner
Reservations: No
Take Out: Yes

N.B. Lahore Tikka House is not a licensed establishment. Alcohol is not served.