Xango and my adventure writing about food

When a major credit card recently invited me to go to a restaurant, all expenses paid, and write an article about my experience, I never thought that this could be opening a big can of worms for two things that I always loved: Eating and writing!

By simply looking at me, you can immediately tell that I looooove food! No judgments about my overweight, but another thing that I absolutely love is writing. I've been spending a lot of time writing posts about digital marketing and social media, something directly related to my experience and work. But what about food? Besides being a necessity in our lives, for me, it represents much more than just feeding. It represents a business that generates millions of dollars yearly, employing hundreds of thousands of people, transcending a basic human need, and becoming the primary conduit for our business and social lives. We celebrate around a food table, do business, sign contracts, and really get to know each other over a delicious meal and cozy environment.?

That's why I've decided to start a new, and perhaps crazy adventure on Linkedin. Not sure if I am the only one to use this platform, created to connect people around business purposes, to talk about food experiences. I am not a culinary critic by all means, although I have some expertise in peeling potatoes for some of the most renowned chefs in the world like Paul Bocuse, Laurent Suaudeau, and Jefferson Rueda. But my intention is not to focus only on food and how good it is. You can get that on a Yelp review! Instead, I want to share my experience, impressions about the people (staff and patrons), create a scale that you can use beyond your typical food review to determine if that's the right place to be, either if you want to do business or have a good time. So please embark with me on this journey that starts at Xango, a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant located at 461 King Street West.?

Let's start by setting the tone: this is July 2021, Covid precautions are still in place, so I won't be able to say much about the restaurant interior, although I've been there before, and it's exquisite. I'll share with you my patio experience.?

Although there is some signage on King street, most of the patrons still walk to the restaurant's main entrance, which is located on an alley that connects King to Wellington. Solving the location issue and finding the entrance besides Arcane, which is currently closed, my partner in crime and I were greeted by the hostess and went through a rapid mobile self-check-in, the best I've experienced so far. Xango patio is modern with wooden and brick fixtures, surrounded by abundant greenery and bright neon lights. The tables and booths are very comfortable, music is there but not loud, so the 2,000 square feet of open-air space offers the perfect environment to have a pleasant conversation under a partial view of the CN tower.??

Danny, who I later discovered is the restaurant's general manager, welcomed us with a smile on his face (covered by his facial mask, of course), and made us feel comfortable. He introduced us to the menu concept, focused on Asian and Peruvian flavours, and offered us drinks. The restaurant has a fine selection of beverages, not an impressive wine list, especially if you are an aspiring sommelier. Still, they can prepare you the perfect gin and tonic. They offer a dedicated menu where you can select from 10 different gin brands, tonics, and garnish.??

As I mentioned, I've been to the restaurant before, and I was dying to eat some of the amazing dishes prepared by Executive Chef Claudio Aprile. He has hosted the TV show Masterchef Canada since 2014. But when I called to confirm my reservation, I learned that Aprile was no longer working there and that the kitchen was now headed by Chef Shawn Tesoro, an experienced professional, but with massive shoes to fill replacing Aprile. Was he able to? Let's dig into it, fork by fork.

Appetizers

We started our gastronomy tour with their famous YUKHOE BEEF TARTARE, $20. Good size for two, it delivers an outstanding balance of flavours between salt and acidity enhanced by the Asian pear. The housemade squid ink crostini is great!

The CRISPY SPICY SQUID, $22 can serve up to 3 people. The burnt pepper emulsion, red pepper coulis sauce is delicious. Just make sure you deep your squid rings to it in every bite.?

As a Peruvian-inspired restaurant, I was looking forward to the CLASSIC CEVICHE, $22 prepared with sea bream, baby shrimp, spicy citrus + pear compote, and garlic chips. It's good, but not the best. It was too strong on the cilantro, which I am not a big fan of, and the orange taste.?

Main

The LAMB LOLLIPOPS, $36 with chestnut crust, sweet soy + ginger glaze, Thai basil are delicious and can serve up to 3 or 4 people if you pair it with one of the sides.?

But undoubtedly, the superstar of this restaurant is the MISO BLACK COD, $35 that can be described perfectly in two words: Absolutely Fantastic!!! It's an explosion of flavours in every bite. The fish was cooked to perfection, and it melts in your mouth. The macadamia nut, burnt butter, and zucchini add a lot to this visually pleasant and extremely tasty plate!?

Desert?

We tried the PIE DE LIMON, $9 made with almond + orange crust, housemade meringue, Tromba tequila lime gastrique, and the CREMA VOLTEADA, $9 a salted caramel foam. They were OK, but if you are the type of person who easily passes deserts, you wouldn't be missing much.?

Overall, the food is delicious. Chef Tesoro, who translates from Spanish to Treasure, did an amazing job revisiting the menu and twisting unique flavors to create a breakthrough restaurant experience that encompasses authentic dishes and inspired new favorites.?

Rafa's scale of values

• Atmosphere: 8

The patio is beautiful, the booths and tables are very comfortable. The music selection is excellent, not loud, and the place is full of beautiful people ranging from the late '20s to mid-40s. Not sure if this is a trend, but on the day of our visit, Thursday night, the audience was predominantly female.??

• Time: 8?

Both servers and food came quickly enough, so you won't miss your important meeting right after if this is a business lunch.

• Service: 9?

The staff is super friendly. They really take the time to explain the concept and menu, recommend the best options, and chat if you want.?

• Food presentation: 9?

The pictures speak for themselves.

• Cost: $$$

Very fair price for the quality and experience.?

• Overall experience: 8.5
• Good place for business: YES

You can certainly have a team meeting or a business lunch/dinner in one of Xango's large booths. The service will be fast enough, the tables are sufficiently large to accommodate documents or laptops, your guests will be delighted with the food selection and drinks, and the outcome most definitely will be positive.