Einstein's Cafe

The man from whom this restaurant gets its name was born in Ulm on March 14, 1879; it was a Wednesday, and that's about the extent of what you need to know of the famous Albert Einsteisn and his relation to this story, which was written by a man who ate at this restaurant on October 23rd, 2009; it was a Friday.

I first heard about Einstein's through a coworker who expressed his detailed and contented experience of dining on their lunch menu, followed immediately by a backing recommendation to head there soon. By the description they both gave of the place, "Mexican food with their own twist on it" I knew I had to go; and on this note I should state my solid appreciation for the direction, because had it not come up in conversation, Einstein's location would likely have remained unknown to me for quite some time. It is situated downtown on Grant Street, just off of Fountain, which is subsequently where the crazy amounts of construction have blocked off entry (take a detour down Wellington to Neeve and you can still get to it). So, just as I heeded the words of a coworker, trust in the words that follow and detour your way through their doors for a hidden opportunity.

Just before I go in to too many details on the service and food, it should be noted here that I am guilty of a tragic crime against the industry in which I have studied and worked for so many years. If you've ever worked in a restaurant, then you will know and share the sympathy for the infamous closing shift; finding yourself standing alone behind a line at minutes to midnight, the stations wiped down and wrapped, fridges counted and the floor mopped; the only thing left for you to do is shut down the grill, fryer and oven and ditch your last saute pans on the dishwasher as you fling off your salt and peppers and grab a pint at the wood. The dream seems so close to your reach that you can taste the sudsy victory of another weekend finally out of the weeds; and that's precisely when a four-top walks in and orders apps and mains - you've never heard profanity until you've placed a cook in this situation.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this guilty diner did just that on Friday evening, and because of my trespasses, I will forgive the kitchen and staff at Einstein's for the very minor errors in the experience. Actually, I may go so far as to say that it was my actions that actually caused these slight hiccups in the meal, so please read on with this information in mind.

Now, without further ado, let's step inside the restaurant and into a dining room decorated with all things new and old, eclectic and collected, where the four of us grabbed a seat in the main dining room and began our experience with the famously named establishment.

Our first reactions to Einstein's were all the same: "This place is really, really neat!" and it was, I will stand behind that statement now. Its interior was just what you would expect after seeing the outside, with a fun, comfortable and inviting aura. It reminded me of an old bed and breakfast home, naturally collecting memories within its walls, offering a familial sense to all that enter. Further to being impressed with the decor and calming atmosphere, we were immediately greeted by the server who had been expecting us (yes, I at least had the decency to call ahead and make a last minute reservation) and she handed us our menus, took our drink orders and explained the evening's specials, which were tantalizing to say the least.

After taking a detailed look through their menu, I quickly recognized my ever so common dilemma, in that I was interested in more dishes than I could realistically order, and so even though the peach burrito sounded amazing, I opted for the red snapper with creamy sun dried tomato sauce, roasted potatoes, rice and mixed roasted veg. Two of my dinner companions went with the evening's special of roasted chicken breast topped with marinara and goat cheese, served with veg and potato and a choice of creamy cauliflower soup or fresh salad with a dairy free cucumber dressing; the final dish on our table was the bacon wrapped scallops with the same sides as previously mentioned. Since they were given a choice, and the cauliflower soup sounded far too satiating to pass up, both who ordered the special decided to forgo the salad, and as an app for the table we ordered the spicy goat cheese and olive dip, served with french bread, which I can only describe as being delicious.

Once the appetizer was cleared - and this is where I need to remind you of the hour on which we dined - the server brought out two salads to match the specials; the soup, it seemed, was completely forgotten. It was strange though, normally in a situation like this there would be the demand for correction, an upset and push to get the soup to the table, but for some reason no one seemed put off enough to bother; the salad after all, looked pretty darn tasty, and the ensuing flavours from those leafy greens and their complimenting dressing were enough to quickly forgive such an oversight.

When the salads were done and the mains presented, two things happened: first there was an incredibly inviting attack on the senses as wonderful aromas took over our space, and second, we realized immediately that the incredible portion sizes were likely going to lead to pleasing leftovers, and on this thought we were not wrong.

As far as the food and flavours themselves are concerned, I do have one qualm amongst the table to point out, and that is the lack of seasoning which went into each dish. While everything I ate was good, that is also the fairest way I can put it. Nothing was by any means bad, it was all really good, it just seemed as though the ingredients on the plate had so much more potential to be brought to life if only they had be been properly treated along the way. However, with that being said, I do also understand the growing trends in needing to watch ones intake of sodium and that the awareness and causes of so many food related diseases are becoming more commonly addressed on the restaurant scene, so even though this one honest upset stands with me, it may not stand with everyone; and to be fair, that is, after all, why restaurants provide us with salt and pepper shakers.

Finally, on the interest of service, despite stopping in at the doomsday hour, not once did we feel rushed to leave or as though we were holding anybody up from something more important, and for this fact I tip my hat in the direction of service. I often times forget about the patience a server must have to deal with the demands of hungry diners, especially when they are causing overtime on the week's pay cheque. Our server, however, never gave us the impression that we were anything less than important to her business, and that attitude goes a very, very long way for reputation; my applause goes to you.

When our meal did finish up and we paid our bill, there was a strong desire to quickly explore the rest of the house, and so we each took to a little tour to the upstairs dining room, which by this point in the day was closed off, but is open and often packed during normal hours of operation. Continuing our exploration back down on the main floor, there is a second dining area, a little coffee nook and a bakery, which unfortunately, and without surprise, was also closed; all the more reason for return visits.

To look at the experience as a whole, it was definitely one we all seemed to enjoy, with only a few exceptions that seem hardly worth mentioning as I reflect. I will most certainly be returning there, and soon. The remaining menu selections are too enticing to pass up and the bakery is an obvious attraction, as I'm a man who loves his pastries.

Its given name, which was chosen "Because the woman who originally owned it was eccentric and liked it," helps this place to stand out, make it memorable and it draws you inside this side-split century home for a closer look. Einstein's, as a lunch and cafe hot spot, has been a staple in the Guelph community for over twenty years, and their reputation is growing as each new one passes. Having recently gone through some renovations, they are pulling in bigger crowds and are amping up their production on a daily basis, and as a relatively new resident to this city, I will do my best to keep this reputation on the incline and can without a doubt see myself enjoying those in-depth conversations with friends, exploring the science of their food, and flirting with the idea of making this locale a frequent inspiration for projects yet to come.

Enjoy
-Phil

Einstein's Cafe

2 Grant St, Guelph

Open Monday to Saturday,

11:00am - Lunch Menu

2:00pm - Light Tapas Menu

5:00pm - Dinner Menu