ursa

Every week I like the Downtown Restaurant Club more and more.  Each meal, a different member of the group chooses a restaurant that they'd like to check out, and for Maggie's pick, it was Ursa.  Since it opened in February, Ursa has been the subject of positive reviews aplenty (here, here, and here) and I will report no different.  Honestly, this was one of the best meals that I've had out in a long, long time.  Everything was on point - service, check, presentation, check, food, MAJOR check.  My main was a beautiful serving of chicken with polenta, greens, and mushrooms.  The chicken was cooked so perfectly that I'm sure that even my chicken-hating grandmother would get along just fine.  And the polenta?  I never thought I'd say this, but it very closely rivals that at Scarpetta.  I saved room for a dessert that I'd read a lot about prior to going to Ursa - the Milk & Honey.  Centered around house-made ricotta, this is an incredibly fresh dessert that doesn't leave you feeling like you just ate your face off (not that that ever happens to me when I go out to eat...cough).  And just when I thought things couldn't get any better, our server brought over some complementary shots.  So... I rest my case.  Ursa is worth the hype.

the Ginger Indie: ginger-infused gin, earl grey tea, fresh lime, candied ginger shave

Seasonal vegetables - pickled red and yellow beets, Ontario white asparagus, sprouted green lentils, dressing of burnt honey & toasted hazelnuts

Georgian Bay whitefish - puree of white beans, crispy cauliflower, and salsa verde

Rhode Island Chicken with amaranth & quinoa polenta, smoked wild mushrooms, lemon wilted chard, sprouted lentils, dehydrated buttermilk tuile

And again, with a view of the greens, mushrooms, and & polenta

Milk & Honey - ricotta, rosewood honeycomb, leatherwood, bee pollen, spelt rye