Much has been written about the troubled restaurant space at 1055 Yonge St. being cursed. The location has housed numerous failed restaurants, including seven different incarnations since 1998—Cucina, Roxborough’s, Rosewood Grill & Piano Bar, and Tabla among them.
But Ed Ho, owner of Globe Bistro on the Danforth, didn’t let the location's history phase him. “I don’t believe in curses,” Ho said during an interview at Earth, which he opened in the Rosedale space in late November.
“I always wanted to have a true neighbourhood bistro,” said Ho, who called on interior designer Ron Nuhn to design the venue. Nuhn used an earthy palette of dark brown and taupe throughout the restaurant, which features decor elements like beams from an 1870's log cabin and light fixtures constructed out of recycled aluminum. An open kitchen houses a wood-fired oven where chef Kevin McKenna regularly roasts whole suckling pigs.
Ho said his philosophy towards Earth is similar to Globe in terms of the local, sustainable meats and produce featured on the seasonal menu. Offerings include Lake Huron walleye served with squash, spinach, and red pepper butter and Wellington County rib eye burgers. Desserts include an Ontario cheese plate, Niagara apple crumble, and a maple sugar tart.
Earth, which is available for buyouts, is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The main dining room seats 80, and a private room can hold as many as 18. In the warmer months, a side patio holds 50 while a front patio seats 23.
Set menus are available for large groups, and the restaurant plans to introduce a catering menu in early 2010.
