Playpen opened a few months ago to little fanfare. We don’t know why. The child of the folks behind Tomi-Kro and Danforth favourite Lolita’s Lust, The Playpen does food well, and eclectic even better.
Playpen is somewhat based on the Playboy-esque lifestyle of the 70s…with Vegas-wannabe written all over it. In a cool way, of course. Its jive is furtive, and felt upon entry. The cocktail list, for instance, features a bevvy called the Fluffer. If you’ve seen any underground, porn-industry docs you’ll know what the reference is. Similarly, the Hot n’ Bothered brings up certain allusions.
The food is definitely eclectic, with dishes like the foie gras creme brulee, the veal osso bucco, and the Japanese steak tartare all showcasing different influences from international cuisine. There’s no set course type here, you can go from French to Asian to Spanish in a matter of lines on the menu.
Playpen may be in an off-the-beaten-trail location, but if you venture here you’re sure to have an interesting evening. Worthy even of the Hefster himself…
Photo courtesy Playpen
