Some interesting sights can be seen on James street. I’ve seen a half-naked man try to push a bus backwards (unsuccessfully) and a Mother give her child an unlit cigarette so she could ‘pretend’ to smoke. What might not catch your eye is the tiny little wine bar tucked away in the bowels of 164 James St. S.
I have had the opportunity to dine at Boo’s Bistro and only learned of its existence because of my parents’ familiarity with the place. From its unassuming exterior, you would never guess such exquisite local dishes exist within. After one visit and a taste of Boo’s secret sweet chili shrimp recipe, I was hooked.
The dining room itself is beautifully decorated and candlelit tables contribute to the lounge’s tranquil ambience. Everything is impeccably clean from the polished wooden tables to the eggplant colored bathroom walls, and the table service parallels Chef Boo’s meticulous attention to detail. Every dish that emerges from his kitchen is not only palate-pleasing, but beautifully plated as well.
Though Boo is most comfortable in his kitchen setting, he often pops out and comes around to check on his guests to ensure that their appetites have been appeased. Although there are few vegetarian options on the menu, Boo has always catered to my food modification requests and has even offered impromptu vegetable-based suggestions to accommodate my dietary constraints. He features a daily vegetarian special that he willingly tweaks, which is something very few local chefs offer.
My last visit to Boo’s Bistro happened to fall during his Harvest Menu event, which included a set menu featuring all local and in-season delicacies. Because the harvest menu didn’t include a vegetarian option, I opted to start off with the most delicious cauliflower and lime soup it featured (unusual, I know!), but stuck with my traditional order of shrimp Caesar salad and crab cakes (possibly the best I’ve ever tasted). The gourmet dipping sauce it’s paired with is to die for; I could eat it with a spoon if it didn’t go against every etiquette lesson I’ve ever learned.
Though tenderloin is something I would never order, the Spicy Beef Ancho is one of the most popular items on the menu; it’s a mouthwatering fix of java marinated beef, spicy ancho sauce and frites, accompanied by the richest, most flavor-intense mashed potatoes you’ve ever tasted. I’ve snagged a bite of these off of many plates, over the time span of many visits.
I will continue to visit Boo’s Bistro as long as it’s open, and I highly recommend it to anyone with an adventurous palate that appreciates well thought out and well cooked food.
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