Perla Restaurant – 539 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1A9
Country: Portugal
Seating: There are a couple of tables outside under an awning, a large back patio and cozy indoor seating. 
Must-try dish: Monk and Shellfish Rice / Arroz de Tamboril
Dinner guests: Charleith, Dirty D, International Sam of Mystery & Suited Sebastien 
The high: We met the chef and the entire family that runs this delicious operation. 
The low: We were regrettably too full to finish all the food. 

The decision to go for dinner at Perla came incredibly last minute, and the gang couldn’t have been more impressed with the service, the food and the atmosphere. This won’t be our last visit there! What makes Perla so special is that it truly is a hidden gem. No Website, No Instagram, No 3rd Party Delivery Apps, this place is old school and serves up some pretty spectacular Portuguese food. The only thing that puts this place online is a Facebook page and 125 Google reviews that couldn’t be more accurate awarding Perla a pretty impressive and deserving 4.7 Google rating.

Our server Sylvia runs the front of the house, while her mother Maria (Pearl) makes tasty things happen back in the kitchen. They’re an amazing duo, giving the restaurant character and comfortable family vibes. These women have unparalleled knowledge of Portuguese cuisine that’s reflected in each and every dish.  

We went a little overboard on food, but it was amazing to be able to try such a wide range of both meat and seafood dishes from Portugal. Our menu for the night was curated by Sylvia herself, who gave us the most authentic Portuguese dinning experience, way too much food. One plate would come out at a time, and was portioned perfectly to share amongst the group.

Grilled Smoked Pork Sausage / Chouriço: A crowd favourite, these pieces of seasoned sausage are perfect to share while waiting for more plates.

Garlic Shrimp / Camarão al Ajillo: Another appetizer that you just can’t go wrong with. Even shrimp is palatable for those who aren’t fans of seafood, and the sauce that these guys are cooked in is irresistable.  

Grilled Octopus / Polvo Grelhado: It’s common knowledge that Mandrea Bike loves octopus, so an order for the table was imperative. It was tender and presented in a way that would even have octopus non-believers having a taste. It’s an appetizer portion, but it’s also very sharable in a group. You know Octopus is cooked well as it can easily turn into rubber, Perla’s octopus was extremely tender and not rubbery whatsoever.

Shrimp Bisque / Crème de Camarão: A spontaneous addition that was too tempting to ignore. It was rich and silky. 

Grilled West Coast Calamari / Lulas Grelhadas: There’s an ongoing debate about whether calamari should be deep-fried or grilled. Although the grilled variety can sometimes be overcooked and chewy, Pearl’s got the cook time down and her recipe gives the squid immense bursts of flavour.

Monk and Shellfish Rice / Arroz de Tamboril: The Portuguese version of risotto or paella, this rice dish took the spit for the must-try dish of the night. It’s packed with meat from the sea, so much so that everyone at a table for seven gets a generous portion. It’s a heartier dish because of the rice, but it also balances the more meat heavy plates with something a little bit more special. 

Grilled Provimi Veal Cutlets / Bolinhas de Vitela Grelhados: Veal is incredibly tender, and this particular cut was no different, especially as it comes with the bone in. It was grilled to perfection, and anyone who’s a fan of barbecued meat will want to make sure this dish is on order. 

Grilled Sardines / Sardinhas Grelhadas: This classic Portuguese barbecue dish doesn’t always sound or look that appealing, however, we stand corrected. Again, the sardines are cooked in a way that there are tastes from the grill in each bite and each fillet falls right off leaving only the bones behind. It can scare some people away, but we say go for it and you’ll be happy to try something new!

Cubes of Pork / Carne Porco à Alentejana: With all the seafood, this dish was chosen for a little diversification. It’s exactly what you would expect from the title, but with a sauce to decorate it. In a group, it’s an excellent addition. 

Baked Salted Codfish / Bacalhau à Casa: Another mouthwatering recipe that made the final rounds for the must-try dish of the evening. Don’t be fooled by the word “salt” used in the description as it’s a common plate in Portugal, and although it’s savoury, the fish certainly isn’t overly salted. You won’t regret this choice! 

Grilled Lamb Chops / Costeletas de Cordeiro Grelhados: As amazing as this dish was, Mandrea Bike is trying to stay away from their usual favourites, so we opted for something a little more unique this time around. But not surprisingly, these lamb chops are to die for. We also appreciated the extra lamb chop to accommodate each diner. 

We want to give a massive props to our main girl, and the Char part making up Charleith for taking leaps out of her comfort zone during this meal by tasting everything, including the sardines. We’re proud of you, and so excited that your palate flew out of this world tonight! 

It was difficult making a decision for the must-try dish as everything was terrific, plus the care that Pearl put into each dish was evident both in the taste and presentation. There’s a small window looking into the kitchen at the back of the dining room that also gives a glimpse into the process of each dish before it comes out. 

Thank you Maria and Sylvia for the perfect Portuguese food experience. This is a truly family-run restaurant that has been around for almost two decades and we hope that it sticks around for many more! 

Eat with you soon,

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)