Plenty of hut, not enough love

Loving Hut
140 Spadina Ave, Suite a101
1/4 stars
Samantha Osaduke
Contributor
Loving Hut may be the newest vegan restaurant around, but unfortunately I’m not feeling the love.
Upon walking in, I was surprised by how quiet it was at 1 p.m. There were only three people in the restaurant and there was nothing that could hide the plainness on display.
The interior design was lacklustre, with white walls, tables and chairs. The circular light in the middle of the restaurant that features the Loving Hut name and logo could do nothing to brighten the place up. Even the area near the washroom that had pictures of famous vegetarians such as Carrie Underwood, Alicia Silverstone and Richard Gere added no ambiance.
The service may have been impeccable and friendly, but they could not make up for a menu lacking taste.
The fried wontons appetizer was hot and fresh from the oven and had a strong ginger flavour with sweet sauce that disappeared instantly after it went into my mouth.
The entrée, savoury crisp, which consisted of deep fried sautéed soy protein was large and resembled deep fried chicken. When I took a bite, I noticed that it had a weird texture. The soy protein was both stringy and soft. The dish itself was heavy and I could only bring myself to eat two pieces before I opted to just eat the fries that came with it.
The fries were also a disappointment. They were overly deep fried which led to a dry and salty taste. I can cook better fries myself.
The bill was brought promptly after I put on my jacket, and the server asked if I’d like to take any leftovers to go, an offer I declined.
Although I split the meal with a friend, it still ended up costing $24. Despite the wonderful service, the food just wasn’t up to par. The dishes failed to impress and this is evidenced by the lack of customers, even on a busy Saturday afternoon.