"Food Studio: Not Just Crystal, the ROM Has New Food Too"

[OnDaGo]

http://blogto.com/restaurants/foodstudio

Just read this.. has anyone been? looks great. I wonder if you have to get admission to the ROM or if it is separate I need good food at lunch in the area...

"Druxy's at the ROM is no more. The day after the tired deli's lease expired, the ROM unveiled the Food Studio, a spacious and modern self-serve restaurant sporting an eclectic menu and commitment to sourcing local and organic ingredients.

On my visit earlier this week, there were already a number of diners helping themselves to a suprisingly vast selection which includes freshly made mini pizzas ($6.00), pasta ($6.50-$8.00), antipasti ($9.95), the daily stir fry ($8.95), grilled-to-order fish ($8.95-$11.95) and an assortment of good-looking sandwiches ($7.95), salads, soups and dessert."

[OnDaGo]

Since no one really knew and I was curious I decided to hit the ROM for lunch today.. To answer my own question, yes you can get to both restaurants without admission but you have to see the nice ladies in red coats to get a little beverage button so that security will let you inside the museum proper.. Once inside you take a flight of stairs down one level to Food Studio (plenty of signs). The space is bright, new and modern but the menus are not placed well. I ordered the grilled chicken breast with roasted purple potatoes & zucchini. The chicken was small and thin but well cooked juicy and had a nice subtle flavor. The roasted purple potatos were a nice touch made it feel more upscale. That with a bottle of coke was under $12. I felt it was worth the money but next time I would probably opt for the pizza or pasta as they looked great.

One thing I thought was strange and don't know if it is at all legal to do.. at the beverage station (un-manned) they had a tub of beer in ice and open wine bottles for "pour your own". This with most of the people in there being kids!. VERY strange...

[Kagemusha]

Confirms my suspicions that management is American and not down with LLBO rules. Still think the ROM blew it by turfing Kennedy out--the Gardiner's gain, I reckon...Oh well, now all we need is a world-class museum!

[Snarf]

With respect - you don't think the new display of aluminum siding where there was supposed to be glass is world class? Somewhere there's a dude decked out in polyester plaid and white loafers laughing all the way to the bank on the sales commission.......

[SherylKirby]

I think it needs a white picket fence out front. Any maybe some plastic deer and some of those windmill birds.

[julesrules]

We went for lunch the other day, but our verdict was... not bad for museum cafeteria food, but not something we'd go back for. My husband, not overly picky, only half-finished his pulled pork sandwich. My udon/chicken/thai green curry sauce from the stir fry bar was pretty lacking in flavour - nice selection of veg though. The antipasti did look lovely, but not quite a meal for the price ($10 for greens and selection of 3 antipasti, but I didn't see any meat or cheese, just veggies).
The strawberry lemonade was lovely however.

[OnDaGo]

So does anyone know if you can get in here without admission to the ROM?

[Kagemusha]

I'm thinking a call to the ROM might help here.One past version had Kennedy cooking in the Members' Lounge while the rabble dined in the public area.I suspect the ROM's "Anything For Money" strategy will have on-site restos open to anyone who can pay the bill.

[gloriana232]

Yep, there's a separate entrance for non-museum visitors. You get a pin, I think, marking you as such.

[Kagemusha]

Unless things changed, this boite is run by the same crew who does food for MoMA. Don't forget the ROM Crystal KIds ditched Kennedy(now across the street at the Gardiner) for a US-run(?) caterer.

[embee]

Danny Meyer? You gotta be kidding....

[OnDaGo]

But this is not in the Crystal this replaces the Druxys according to the article so I am not sure if it is the same... either way food sounds a heck of a lot better then Druxies and is trying to be Local...

[gregclow]

There are two new restaurants in the ROM with a local food focus - the casual, family friendly Food Studio, and the more upscale Crystal Five located up in the crystal.

[mister1970]

I believe the food service at the ROM is now done by Restaurant Associates out of New York, not Danny Meyer who does the MoMA. RA do the food for the Met and The Museum of Natural History in New York.

[Kagemusha]

Breathtaking that the ROM wonks went so far and paid so much for mediocre food. There's lotsa that around TO--cheaper, too! Nice to see 'em take profligacy so seriously; just wish such enthusiasm extended to running a museum.