The new Urban Eatery at the Eaton Centre is going to be a much-needed oasis for last-minute shoppers this Christmas. Boasting a new interior with designer food booths, slick furniture and improved lighting, it is a far cry from the depressing, dark and foul cafeterias that the Eaton used to be known for. We expect this new rest area to extend mall stamina by at least a couple hours.We checked out the Urban Eatery by circling it several times. Firstly, the place is massive. Testing it at peak lunch time, there were still many seats available, the washrooms were very clean and queues were bearable, most even moving fast.
We note possibly Toronto's fanciest Jimmy The Greek, with a clean glass display that wasn't covered with aging posters or a smoke vent over the cashier.
Another eye-catching booth was Big Smoke Burger, with fancy wood paneling and an 8-man team at the counter. They filled orders at an average of a burger every 50 seconds, which is pretty impressive for a cook-to-order joint.
Do be wary of the vegan stores! We did not order from them, but happened to sit close enough to observe several people returning with their meals, asking for more toppings or sauce. We also saw some at the counter giving their meals the once-over. They weren't subtle about it. After paying close to $12, it didn't look like patrons were getting much.
We were there to try something unusual and found it in Szechuan, rare because of it's many noodle and soup options versus the usual chicken-or-beef. Reminiscent of an authentic Szechuan noodle store, your Asian grandma would be pleased. We enjoyed a bowl of their spicy soup base, topped with chicken and vegetables. For the average price of $8 per meal, a lunch from Szechuan comes with a tonne of fiber, meat without gristle, a hint of spice and noodles cooked just right.
As far as work lunches go, the Urban Eatery is a bright, well-ventilated and comfy environment to grab a decent bite in the middle of the city. We give it the thumbs up.