Cynthia’s Restaurant List Review: Combine Eatery

Last Friday, I posted a(n on-going) list of restaurants in the city that I would like to try (or return to for a different meal). The first restaurant knocked from the list was Combine Eatery, located on Danforth Avenue, just east of Broadview. The restaurant is, according to sources, “southwest” – as in Southwestern United States. Apparently, one of the owners spent a great deal of time in California when she was in the fashion business, and fell in love with fish tacos on her business trips. So yes, fish tacos (and other types of tacos, as well as burritos) are very much part of the menu. The restaurant, however, is NOT Mexican.

Vegetable fritters

For dinner that night, my husband and I shared a plate of vegetable fritters to start, before indulging on our respective tacos. The fritters, which are more or less falafels with corn, green onions, potatoes and red peppers in addition to the requisite chickpeas come in five pieces per order and served with salsa and lime crema as dipping sauces. My husband and I both loved them. Oftentimes, falafels/fritters can be on the saltier side, which these weren’t. And the dipping sauces provided the perfect accompaniment to the dish. It would have been nice if there was an even number of fritters – the dish came with five.

Grilled So-Cal fish tacos with salad

Then came the mains. I picked the grilled So-Cal fish tacos with a salad (it also comes fried) while my husband ordered pulled beef (coleslaw). All tacos come either with coleslaw (the creamy kind) or a green salad. The tacos come in a soft corn tortilla and are filled with deliciousness of cabbage, pico de gallo, cilantro, lime crema and Montery Jack. It is definitely messy to eat, but in a good way. A very, very good way. Other tacos on the menu include chipotle chicken, lobster and vegetable fritters. They also have burritos and other mains such as mac and cheese, meatloaf and burgers. Entrées are around $15 and $37.

We opted out of dessert, but may consider it the next time we come. Combine Eatery is definitely on our return list!

Note: Combine Eatery does not take reservations for parties of fewer than six. They also have a brunch menu! Combine Eatery is located on 162 Danforth Avenue, just east of Broadview. They are closed on Mondays. Phone: 416-792-8088

About Cynthia Cheng Mintz

Cynthia Cheng Mintz is the founder and webitor-in-chief of this site and the petite-focused site, Shorty Stories. She has also written for other publications including the Toronto Star and has blogged for The Huffington Post. Her first novel, Aspirations, was published in 2007. Outside of writing, Cynthia researches and advises philanthropic ideas for family funds and foundations and also volunteers.