Merci Mon Ami

www.torontolife.com/features/merci-mon-ami

The place: One of the first businesses to face out from the Market Building, Merci Mon Ami beat Mildred to Liberty Village and Oddfellows to communal tables. A sunken dining room makes high ceilings that much higher, and a full wall of windows looks upon a skyline that’s not yet condo obstructed. Food is served in boxes unless otherwise requested. Coupled with the large wooden tables and natural light, this gives lunch a posh picnic feel. It’s a bit jarring to have food arrive in disposable packaging, though Merci Mon Ami assures us that all of it is biodegradable and/or recycled.

The crowd: IT guys sit comfortably next to expensively coiffed people from the cluster of nearby film offices. Executives (though no evident stars) from the not-so-secret Liberty Village porn industry also make a showing.

The deal: There are specials every day, but regulars concentrate their visits on Tuesdays and Wednesdays—the former for tacos, the latter for burgers. At $9 for a main plus salad, that’s two out of five weekday lunches sorted. It’s a bit incongruous to get a taco hit from a baguette-centric French restaurant, but Merci Mon Ami proves that good food can ride in on a dark horse.

The dish: The Tuesday-Wednesday dichotomy betrays some of the menu planning (somebody’s bulk-buying ground beef), but we can’t begrudge economies of scale when they produce such tasty results. On this Tuesday (like every Tuesday), the choice is between beef or chicken tacos, but it’s best to go with a friend in order to mix and match. Three medium-spicy hard-shell tacos leave the mouth hot and the napkin satisfyingly orange from juicy drippings. Mesclun greens take the side salad up a notch and come with legumes, tortilla bits and cheese under a smooth vinaigrette.

The time: 37 minutes.

I have eaten in the restaurant and also attended events catered by them. The couple that own Merci Mon Ami are two of the most thoughtful and attentive people I have ever met and this is obvious when you taste the food. Delicate touches of flavourful ingredients that are always the highest quality make a simple baguette sandwich and soup a divine luncheon experience (try the mushroom soup with truffle oil!). *MUST TRY THE BURGER*!!!!!! Only available on Wednesdays - the best burger in Toronto and the fries are incredible. Soft, juicy, flavouful - really, really amazing.

Also environmentally conscious (all take out materials are biodegradable) and supportive of local events and charities. So you can feel good about what you are eating!