Welcome to the corner! For years Kaashi Food Centre was a busy Chinatown hub for anyone looking for south Asian groceries and delicacies. Now Corner Peach (802 Somerset St. W.) occupies the space, a light, bright neighbourhood restaurant filled with art and furniture made by locals.
Cool and casual, the 30-seat spot allows restaurant veterans and lifelong friends Emma Campbell (whose most recent gig was front-of-house manager at Supply and Demand) and Caroline Murphy (whose resume includes stints at top spots Edgar and Town) to design their own restaurant from the ground up.
The duo took over the space last summer, gutting the interior, exposing hidden brickwork, and designing a space Murphy describes as “simple and clean.” The look matches their menu, which highlights simple, casual fine dining. “We’re going to take all that we’ve learned so far in cooking and make the dishes that we want to make,” says Murphy.
The restaurant hit a rocky patch just ahead of launch. Its original name, Too Beaucoup, was noticed by a number of commentators for its less-than-wholesome connotation, which is associated with a hooker scene in Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, and the owners had to rethink. They apologized, made a last-minute name change, and are now set to thrive as Corner Peach.
Corner Peach plans to change its vibe according to the time of day. It will have a distinctly coffee-shop feel in the first part of the day (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) with homemade pastries, Little Victories coffee, and lunchtime soups and sandwiches, then becomes an intimate spot for snacks and drinks (3 p.m. – 5 p.m.) and, finally, a place for casual fine dining in the evenings (5 p.m. – 10 p.m.).
Menu highlights:
>Sample small plates on the ever-changing dinner menu include: brussels sprouts with butter, bacon, honey, and thyme; beets with smoked and cured beef, horseradish, and walnuts; and tartare with fries
>Sample large plates include: braised lamb shank with mashed potatoes, celery root, and cabbage slaw; poached white fish with cassoulet, crunch, and seasonal vegetables; and spaghetti with mushrooms, egg, and pepper.
>The sample dessert menu includes: chocolate mousse and sugar cookie; apple pie with cheddar; and summer peach “beavertail”.
Find It: 802 Somerset St. W., open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Hot Tip: City Bites hears that Holly Laham (known for her “Holly’s Hot Chicken” pop-ups) is lending a hand, so keep an eye out for any fried-chicken specials.
Hot Tip #2: We’re not in the business of recommending restaurant restrooms, but we’ll make an exception for Corner Peach’s. Both have spectacularly original wall art by two neighbourhood tattoo artists.
