Chances R you’ve been here

• Name + address: Chances R Restaurant, 1365 Woodroffe Ave.

• Diet: Meat, seafood, vegetarian

• Appetizers: $7-$20

• Mains: $10-$30

• Wheelchair accessibility: Yes

• Other: Kids menu

• Website: www.chancesr.ca

Established in 1976, Chances R has had the benefit of time and good management to build a loyal clientele.

Open seven days a week, walk in any time and you’re likely to find large numbers of people enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner. Naturally I wondered what made this place so popular.

For some perhaps it’s a trip down memory lane with the late 80s early 90s decor or the simple “something for everyone” menu that makes it easy to please both older and younger family members.

Chances R has many menu items that come in through a food service company and while they don’t declare that on the menu (no one does) they do indicate when something is made in house.

The crab cakes are a pre-made item served deep-fried with a side of house made harissa mayo. As with most of what I’d ordered, it could have used an experienced eye with respect to plating. 

While it was plainly presented, these crab cakes actually tasted good and I was glad to find that they were much better than I was expecting.

The spanakopita was also a food service item but tasted like the real thing. The filling was considerable and not 50% phyllo pastry. Three triangles for $8 made this a menu steal.

The $17 caesar salad was large enough to share. It was loaded with freshly made crispy bacon and airy, seasoned croutons that gave a salty punch to the mild buttermilk dressing. The dressing was very good although a little light on garlic.

The romaine lettuce was crunchy and supremely fresh but could have used actual grated parmesan cheese rather than the chewy strands of Canadian mozzarella.

Waffling between the fish and chips and burger and fries, the server advised that I should go with the burger. That was my initial impulse and that’s what I ordered.

The bun was very nice and held the contents without anything shooting out the other side. The burger was beautifully grilled with the char adding a lovely flavour to the experience. It was prepared well done but remained juicy, releasing a quality beef taste.

They could have added a plain leaf or iceberg lettuce but it came topped with that odious blend called “spring” or “mesclun” mix. In my fantasy world, any restaurant that serves this immediately loses their license to operate. One day I will explain all but in this application, any nuance of the greens was simply lost between the buns. The crunch of Iceberg lettuce would have been preferred.

Last up was the beef dip, an average-sized sliced beef sandwich served on a ciabatta bun. The beef was a little drier than expected and the accompanying jus, while advertised as house made, was a bit thin on flavour.

The fries, also made in house, were fresh and tasted good but were a little limp and could have done with an extra dip in the deep fryer.

I can see why folks like Chances R. It’s an amiable enough space, the prices are average, the service is very attentive and friendly and everyone is made to feel welcome. They also offer half-price bottles of wine after 2 pm on Wednesdays. 

I may find the food just a little average but in two years they’ll be celebrating 50 years in business. They clearly know something I don’t.

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Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misidentified the owners of Chances R. Le Foodcourt, based in Quebec, owns the establishment. Capital Eats regrets the error.