Cafe LemonTree - Fun & Tasty Korean

Boy ... how far we have gone with this blog. When this started I viewed it as a side hobby that I never expected to take off or become anything significant. And while it still remains a hobby for me, I nevertheless can only imagine what my life would be life without this blog. It has forced me to try new things, explore Winnipeg in ways that I never would have initially done so and introduced me to incredible and awe-inspiring people. Having finished my most recent rotation and going onto vacation for the next week, I had wanted to snag the last Korean restaurant on my list of must-trys: Cafe LemonTree.

The name would not be suggestive of a Korean restaurant and in reality, the exteriors also do not point to its ethnic roots. Nevertheless when one sits down in the splendidly quirky restaurant and peeks at the menu, one realizes the Korean basis of the restaurant. The interiors feature a random mishmash assortment of different sized tables each with comfortable but aged seating and fun quirky tableclothes.

The menu is an assortment of brunch and dinner items all cooked with Korean (and sometimes Japanese) styles and flavours. Their shtick seems to be the use of cast iron skillets to cook and serve all their food. The main hallmark of their dinner service is their BBQ skillets which feature a combination of items along with a BBQ meat. Adding further to the skillets are a nice combination of traditional Korean dishes like Japchae and Dak-Galbi. Unfortunately missing are the stews I have come to love (re: Gamjatang) and rice dishes like Bibimbap, but nevertheless there should be enough here to make anybody happy.

I was impressed by the presentation of the Korean Style BBQ Skillet (Dak Galbi). A bevy of items adorn the side of the skillet including potato wedges, rice, fried udon and a grilled pineapple. The star of the dish though was the Dak Galbi. A nice combination of chicken, rice cake and vegetables are all fried to perfection in a Korean spicy bean paste. Balance is achieved through the addition of green onions which give a tart freshness to the fried meat. The other items on the skillet are each by themselves fine, but seem lost amongst each other in the skillet. In truth there does not seem to be much forethought into how each item plays with one another, but instead the chefs relied on sheer quantity to fulfill the diner, pity.

The Okonomiyaki combines a bevy of seafood (shrimp and octopus) in a creamy batter that is fried crisp and topped with teriyaki and Japanese mayonnaise. The inclusion of red cabbage in the base batter, thoughtful and unique, gave the dish a bite and density that is normally not found in other versions of this dish. Unfortunately the seafood (which I suspect originated from the frozen variety) was rendered tough and rubbery through the cooking process and was easily the worst component of the dish. The teriyaki and mayo sauce toppings were tasty and offered a nice flavour contrast to the dense base pancake.

As with all Korean restaurants, a number of Banchans were served. The Kimchi was nice and flavourful with a bold spiciness that worked well with the decidedly duller flavours of the skillet. Pickled Cabbage offered a sour and salty bite that actually contrasted the flavours of the okonomiyaki well.

Cafe LemonTree is a unique take on Korean food and for the most part, succeeds in doing so. While certainly areas to improve upon, the base cuisine is decidedly authentically Korean and should be on the radar for anyone looking for good Korean, especially if you are in the area or are tired of the usual offerings.