Nao Obrigado Cajú!

Translation: No thank you Caju restaurant.  Okay, so this will be crass.  No restaurant should ever impose a 17% gratuity that is ALREADY included in your bill.  This leads to mishaps, irresponsibility and a pretentious attitude from servers that frankly should all dress the same in a uniform with bow ties and wrist-length white gloves with this gratuity.  Instead we are greeted by hipster black clothed servers who look as if Edward Scissorhands was their coiffeuse.  Attempting the Summerlicious menu for  $25, chef Mario Cassini promises a "contemporary offering of Brazilian culture and gourmet food" at Cajú (922 Queen St. W at Shaw).  If what this means is adding cassava in all its shapes and forms whether ground, deep-fried or coarsely chopped to generalized South American food, then he has succeeded.  The restaurant is open and inviting in its Jatoba cherry wood decor from Brazil, but don't be fooled... we were with the fresh and fantastic appetizers: Coconut-milk and curry soup, gazpacho and greens with passion fruit dressing and pumpkin seeds were sure to announce the fantastic.  Nope.  Nada.  The cassava gnocchi with heart palms, tomatoes and greens was bland and too dense that not even fresh ground pepper could not unite the mismatched flavours.  The paella was served dry leaving the diner parched and heavily relying on our bottle of Italian Frulili Pinot Grigio to tickle the tastebuds.  The chorizo and pork tenderloin dish was successful as its saltiness was supported by the deep-fried cassava bed on which it was served.  The desserts managed to salvage any hope in Summerlicious dining with its rich chocoloate mousse, passion fruit and mango mousse and lemon tart.  Mysteriously the coulis that was used in each of the dish manages to resemble and taste exactly the same.....  Enjoyable minus the atrocious service.  Did I mention the service was bad?  No really, it was bad.  You get the picture...
Website: http://www.caju.ca/

Bread plate to start off.  The three morsels of heaven are Cheese cassava buns.  Dangerously addictive.

Sweet pepper, tomato, ginger with coconut milk soup.  Super starter.

Cold gazpacho soup.  So fresh there was an imagined hint of watermelon...

Organic Greens with mango and pumpkin in a passion fruit dressing.. fantabulously frothing at the mouth.

House-made cassava gnocchi (dense and bland), rapini (really absent), heart and palm (bizarrely sour), cherry tomatoes, parmesan (lacking)...bleh

Beautifully presented but dry, dry, dry: Fish and shrimp saffron rice (Paella style... liars...)

Too bad the photo does not do it justice: Grilled pork tenderloin and choriço, tomato salsa, cassava chips and balsalmic drizzle... mwah!  Fantastic.

A trio of saving grace: (left to right) dark chocolate fondant, passion fruit mousse, lemon tart square with mixed berry coulis (that just so happens to be on EVERY dessert... just like how balsamic vinegar was on two of the main dishes... variety people!)

All in all, due to the company, a fun and fancy dinner out.  Enjoy the cassava-induced coma on your way home diners!