Spicy Garden via Dial and Dine

Somewhere and sometime this past weekend someone kindly passed on their cold to me. By Monday the thing had fully developed, and after my final mid-term and an entire box of tissue, I was not willing to cook, and Zed didn't seem into it either. After much deliberation, we decided to give Dial and Dine a try.

Restaurants are sorted and selected by postal code (I'm not sure if you can order outside your postal code and pay a higher delivery fee or not). Being in Garneau, we had a decent selection, however many of the restaurants are really within walking distance of our apartment (High Level Diner and Fiore, for example). Zed suggested Chinese, which turned out well - Spicy Garden was listed in our range and was also well out of walking distance, justifying the delivery charge.

I was all about soup that evening and the Hot and Sour Wonton soup caught my eye ($10.95). Zed went for the Pork Wonton ($6.95) and we also decided to add in an order of Szechuen Beef Noodles ($11.95) for good measure, as well as a Green Onion Cake ($3.50 for one). The operator took my personal information and requested menu items, read everything back, gave the total, inquiring whether we would be paying via cash or cheque, then let me know everything would arrive in about an hour. All in all, a very smooth and tidy ordering process.

Our food arrived hot (packed in steiro) about an hour after placing the order, as the operator indicated it would. Unfortunately the Hot and Sour soup really didn't hit the spot. I'm pretty sure I ended up getting the Hot and Sour Seafood soup, as I didn't come across any wontons - disappointing as the operator had read back the order to me twice once placed. Zed was glad for the late evening bowl of wonton soup though, and the Szechuen beef ended up providing just the right amount of kick to clear my cold (at least temporarily).

Pork Wonton Soup

Hot and Sour Seafood Soup

Green Onion Cake and Szechuen Beef Noodles

Despite the mix up with my soup, Zed and I both agreed we would use the service again if we found ourselves in similar circumstances. Given the choice though, I would definitely prefer a stroll to a nearby restaurant to pick up my own food, avoid any communication errors and save the $7 delivery charge.

Total (including $7 delivery charge): $40.65 + gratuity

Dial and Dine Hours:
Tuesdays - Saturdays 5-10PM; Sundays, Mondays and Holidays 5-9PM