2008 October > Taste of our Town - Cynthia's

Newmarket is lucky to be one of two cities that Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurants call home. We visited the upscale eatery last month for a delightful lunch and were made to feel quite welcome. From the traditional décor to the friendly and obliging staff, Cynthia’s is a wonderful spot for any occasion. The drink menu had quite a few options that consisted of many international and Canadian wines, beers, cocktails and martinis. Jasmine tea was on my agenda for my drink of choice. This was not just any tea! It was the whole jasmine flower which blooms once the tea is steeped and ready to drink - very beautiful. The food was unbeatable – fresh, savoury and artistically presented. The dishes offered are very accommodating, with options specifically for banquets and families as well as for vegetarians and everything in between from duck to beef to seafood. They even have a separate more authentic Chinese menu that offers all the classic dishes we know and love but prepared in a more traditional manner (which in many cases means healthier!). We began our meal with soups that were to die for! First, a seafood signature soup with a fresh combination of crab, shrimp, scallops with tips of the bamboo shoots. Secondly, the vegetarian option of Hot & Sour Soup that was loaded with tofu that had a tantalizing, spicy flavour. We then tried the egg white fried rice, with Chinese broccoli and fresh ginger. It was so light, with a nice flavour and the ginger added a unique kick and wasn’t overpowering in the dish. Alongside the rice we tried the Chinese Spinach, a mild but tasty dish, the cooked spinach was scrumptious topped with boiled mushrooms. Typically, whenever I have gone for Chinese food I get Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls, but I usually eat the chicken out of the big deep fried dough ball that surrounds the meat. However, Cynthia’s makes their sweet and sour chicken with lightly battered pieces of chicken, cooked within the sauce with onions, green peppers and pineapple. Such tender pieces of chicken that were so tasty I could not stop eating these morsels. Then came the king prawns, cooked to perfection in a garlic, butter and soya sauce. The garnish that dressed the prawns was a carving of a beautiful little robin. No matter how much training I could get whittling with a knife, my bird would probably resemble a happy face. It takes talent and patience! Then came the veggies - we had deep fried broccoli and Chinese mushrooms that had a dash of salt with only a thin layer of batter that made for a delectable side dish. It was similar to tempura but the minimal batter made it considerably lighter than you would expect a deep fried food to be. Overall, it was an absolutely delicious meal! But we weren’t quite finished yet – there’s always room for dessert. We had Chinese style deep fried crème brulée with deep fried ice cream that simply melted in our mouths. The crème brulée had a hint of coconut flavour and wasn’t overly sweet which was refreshing, however it was served with a side of sugar should you want it sweetened. Cynthia’s Assistant Manager Tony Liao brought the desserts to our table and soaked the deep fried ice cream in flaming Brandy before serving it to us. It was quite a show! A brilliant way to end an extremely satisfying meal. Cynthia’s Chinese Restaurant is located at 16715 Yonge Street, the southeast corner of Yonge & Mulock. Cynthia’s offers a banquet room to be rented for private occasions and has live entertainment every other Saturday. They are L.L.B.O licensed, will deliver to your home and offer take-out. Cynthia's is open every day of the week and features lunch specials from 11-3 on weekdays. For more information please visit www.cynthiaschinese.com or call 905-836-8113.