I was determined not to write anything about a recent roadtrip to Toronto. After all, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision for a trio of twenty-something single gals - we didn't have the kind of money to be staying at the Royal York or to be dining at any four-star restaurants. It was just a weekend getaway. Just for fun. No work. No writing. Probably eating a lot at Tim Horton's.

Then we stumbled across Brown Stone. The moment I dug into my entree of red snapper, I knew I had to write a review.

The main thoroughfare of Toronto, Yonge Street is a flashy entertainment and business area, with shops galore and enough lighted advertisements to remind me of Tokyo. We decided to walk north from our hotel on College Street, braving the bitter winter wind until we came across something that would suit all three of us.

We saw Thai, Ethopian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Mexican restaurants...but nothing that appealed to all three of us. Then we reached the Brown Stone, housed in an inviting, hip brick building. We stole a glance at the menu posted out front, saw a wide array of possibilities, and decided to take a chance.

We were not disappointed.

The menu offers everything from unique salads and sandwiches to pasta, pizzas and steak.

After hearing the specials, I decided on the fish of the day, a red snapper with rice and veggies. Jen selected the salmon fusilli and Kelly ordered the salmon fillet, served on mashed potatoes.

A cozy restaurant, Brown Stone filled quickly. The decor was undeniabily funky without sacrificing comfort or the building's natural aesthetic. The walls were brick, votive candles burned on each table, complementing the room's modern light fixtures.

Kel and I shared a half-liter of white wine while Jen dared to sample the house sangria (which was deliciously light, fruity and spicy).

We didn't wait more than ten minutes for our meals — and it only took another ten before they were devoured.

Everything was cooked to perfection and presented beautifully (the red snapper was placed on a tower of rice, the plate drizzled with the house balsamic vinagrette). I've never heard so much praise — Jen decided that her dish was by far the best salmon she'd ever tasted (as was the creamy, cheesy tomato pasta sauce).

And to top it all off, the service was impeccable, the location is quite central, our meals ended up being the highlight of our weekend roadtrip...and I ended up writing a brief review, after all.

Brown Stone is located at 603 Yonge Street, (416) 920-6288.