CREDIT: ELLIS KOIFMAN / WESTERN GAZETTE
The Church Key provides an all around amazing experience, and honestly, who doesn't love free bread?

Whether you’re looking for a celebration meal, a nice date location or simply treating yourself to some quality dining, the Church Key Bistro- Pub is the place for you.

The entire restaurant feels elegant, but not to the point of snobbishness. Don’t be surprised or deterred if you find yourself among a primarily middle-aged crowd.

Everything feels intimate in this small restaurant, from the dim lighting to the small candles at each table.

The restaurant has a pub-like design at the front with a more restaurant feel at the back. Both seating areas are upscale and won’t disappoint.

Service is fast, polite and responsive to your every request. They do everything they can to ensure you have a good meal, including providing perfectly paced dishes.

Depending on your preference, the meal can be nice and slow over good conversation or a quick bite to eat before going to the theatre. Just let them know beforehand if you’re on a time crunch.

Staff is knowledgeable about the menu, which includes dishes such as lamb curry, fish and chips, mushroom tarragon chicken and the Church Key burger.

There are also features available, including the game of the week, a unique weekly dish created by the chef to showcase a different variety of game meat.

The drink menu includes an assortment of wines and craft beers.

Food & Drink

Cinco Sentidos Malbec Argentina 2011 ($8 per glass): A full-bodied dry red wine. Pairs well with just about everything on the menu, especially breads, pastas and red and white meats.

Pretzel bread with butter: Warm and fresh. A small loaf of soft bread to share as you wait for your food. Try to avoid the temptation to fill up on it.

Ale and onion soup ($8): A slightly salty and beefy ale broth with a perfect blend of flavour. Light on the cheese and a good portion of bread in the soup. No shortage of caramelized onions.

This is an interesting take on a French onion soup. The inclusion of Fuller’s London Pride Ale makes for a unique broth that will make the last drop seem to arrive far too soon.

Beef cheek pot roast ($25): The beef is rich and tender to the point of nearly falling off the fork as you take a bite. The fat blends with the rest of the meat to create full flavour that leaves you wanting more.

Surrounding the beef is an assortment of perfectly cooked vegetables of onions, carrots and potatoes. They are neither too soft nor too hard.

This dish is back by popular demand, which comes as no surprise.

It is filling, which left me saddened when I grew too full to finish the dish in its entirety.

From presentation to the last bite, this dish is a masterpiece. Simply put, I cannot imagine a more perfectly created beef dish.

Ratings

Price: 5/5: For an upscale bistro- pub, you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Atmosphere: 5/5: Intimate and homey at the same time, it’s easy to feel relaxed and enjoy yourself regardless of the occasion.

Service: 5/5: Quick and reliable, knowledgeable about the menu.

Food & Drink: 5/5: The chef is clearly both passionate and highly skilled.

Overall: 5/5