Welcome back everyone! We are pleased to return to The Varsity as your campus cuisine critics. Our goal is to explore restaurants convenient to the U of T campus, from the unknown to the oft-frequented, and find the best taste and best value without sacrificing quality. We have decided to start off the school year right, with healthy eating in mind, in reviewing a cozy Persian-inspired eatery located one block south of Bloor and east of Yonge Street.
Providing respite from the traffic and culinary congestion of Yonge Street, Camros is a unique cafeteria-style vegan spot featuring homemade organic dishes free of sugar, soy, wheat, and gluten. No hidden harmful ingredients here! What’s more, the Persian influence provides fabulous herb and spice medleys that preserve delicious flavours.
Equally impressive are the modest prices that won’t force you to defaut on your student loans. Offering combos of 2 to 4 items, with the most expensive dish at only $8.99, Camros has restored our faith in eating healthy on a student budget.
The changing menu features select dishes for each day of the week. We were fortunate to show up on “Mixed Vegetable Stew” day, sampling a wonderfully rich taste of apple and cinnamon that, simply put, tastes like fall. Each day also presents a different-coloured rice ball–ours, filled with lentils, was red. We disagreed over the flavour of the basmati —is it subtle or bland?— but concurred that the texture was absolutely satisfying, as only a dense combination of grain can be!
The kale salad also engendered mixed opinion. Kale is a bitter green that is certainly an acquired taste. Again, however, it was well-done, with the homemade dressing adding a lovely compliment if you are a tahinilover (who isn’t!). Quinoa, a nutritious grain that is gradually becoming more popular, is used here in an enticing and refreshing salad and provided a nice contrast to the stew.
For dessert: melt-in-your-mouth homemade cookies. The only difference between these and your mom’s is that they don’t rise. We recommend you stick with the ginger-spice and lemon-poppy—avoid the unsatisfying chocolate, which lacks the richness that most of us love.
The verdict: you get a taste of food that’s healthy—and exotic. The rotating menu and high turnover ensures consistent freshness. Our only complaints were the slightly cramped space and uncomfortably low window seats—minor details , as the atmosphere, friendly service, and good wholesome food more than made up for it. If you’re interested in trying Persian cuisine, this is a wonderful place to start, and you can rest assured that your body is getting exactly what it needs. Camros is definitely an option that deserves more attention from the U of T population.
