Brunch/Dinner - Drinks - Free WiFi - 20% for students

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 Two weeks of promoting for Insomnia, all I had running through my head was - 'Spin the wheel for free food! Everybody's a winner. Win yourself $10 off, a free smoothie, or, a free plate of chicken and waffles at Insomnia Restaurant, Bar and Lounge. Located at Bloor & Bathurst, we have a full kitchen until 2AM and always a 20% off for students!', that, along with the sound of the spinning wheel, leading up to the last final slow ticks before landing on either three prizes....2500+ times. No complaints from me though, the weather was beautiful, we encountered a lot of excited (but many more, unexcited...they just didn't know what they were in for!) characters and I got to experience a lot of University eats. Lots of Hotdogs, fries, takeaway Chinese food and beef patties.

It's been a solid three months since the sunny days of prancing down George Street throwin' Insomnia vouchers like hunnids. I have never had the pleasure of eating at Insomnia in my life, but I sure knew the points of attraction to this place - from the top of my head:

Meeting up on my fortnightly visits to Bathurst and Bloor on Thursday evenings, I couldn't stop thinking about the plate of $5 Chicken & Waffles at Insomnia. After three months of (insomnia - not really - I just wanted to use that pun), I finally locked in a date for my mate and I to enjoy brunch here. There wasn't one reason not to already fall in love with this place, the 20% off for all students was the biggest winner for me! Waiting an extra 20 minutes for my mate wasn't a problem at all for me. I happily did so, connecting to their WiFi and enjoying the sight of snowfall right infront of me. I took my time taking in the place and snapping shots of my surroundings, of course.

I've wanted to try a Cube Toast Dessert since spotting one passing by a cafe (ZenQ) in Sydney two years ago. Finally, a sweet place Downtown has answered my prayers. Upon my bud's arrival, we quickly got excited over the place, connected to the free wifi (lol), ordered up a few things and pulled out a few gameboards. By this time, it was 9PM and the cafe was empty. The only games we were remotely familiar with were Boggle and Battleship... And just for photo purposes... Yep.

I have not touched a bowl of Ramen since my last incredible experience at Menya Noodle Bar during my 'Birthday week' in 2012 (Yes, that's a thing). Hitting up three Japanese joints in a single weekend was no biggie, Sushi Rio, Wagaya and Menya Noodle Bar, I got this, and each were fabulous. During my last Japanese feed, I was accompanied by my wonderful sister and ex-neighbour, who always knew the go-to places for the best of the best in Sydney. We were seated along a row of open-spaced tables, nice and cozy, rubbing shoulders with other diners in terrific (Instagram) lighting, all while admiring monochrome photographs stretched across the walls around us. An evening of catching up, the best Ramen combo I've had to date, and many smiles, these vivid memories of my carefree-self began to flow my mind on my way to Santouka Ramen.

One of the things I like about Toronto, is how much restaurants and retails stores really get into play into celebrating each holiday. Santouka was adorably decorated with little pumpkins along the shop window, and hardly-scary mini ghosts at each corner of the restaurant. But, during Christmas time it's an incredible step up. The shock of so many things going on in one shop display window at The Bay and then the feel of walking into Eatons Centre in early December and being faced with multiple gigantic twinkly reindeers plopped across the mall (here and here). I definitely thought something was wrong and felt strangely uncomfortable, but now, it's a much more pleasant feeling gazing up at these incredibly over-sized reindeers. 

On the hunt for my mate's craving of Japanese food by Ryerson, a quick Yelp search and we found Santouka Ramen, a short walk away. Hungry and seated in a corner booth by the window, a look around and to not much surprise, there were groups of students chatting and chowing away. I already had my eye on the prize. Whenever I am at a Japanese restaurant for Ramen, I will always one-up and grab the set. I love the flavours of everything together! It's exactly how eating Ramen should be. Broth, the perfect chew of noodles, pickles and rice.

Route 66 ($11.99)

A Beef Patty with Swiss Cheese, Grilled Mushrooms, Grilled Onions and Mayonnaise, with fries on side.

Look at those thick slices of crunchy pickles. The burger was tasty! I loved the cheesy and soft bites of mushroom and onion. The beef was not greasy at all, the bun was nice and soft. I didn't feel disgusting after this. I would leave out the fries (or sub it for onion rings) next time though, drenching it in ketchup didn't make it any more appealing either. 

Popping my pickles in, ready for my first bite!

The whole menu is overpriced, especially since I was only satisfied with the burger! 

I would definitely skip the fries next time.