Chuuk Restaurant, Pickering Review

In a restaurant landscape, filled with box chain restaurants that are boring, similar menus, taste and frozen food, comes something exciting, new, fresh and avant garde.

Brothers Chris and Vangel have brought Mexican food to Pickering. They are third generation restauranteurs. Their grandfather Angelo opened a burger joint in the same spot in 1965. Their father Don ran Massey’s from 1978 to 2008.

Chuuk in the Mayan language means wood embers. Some of the starters, sandwiches and all the main courses at dinner are cooked over wood fire.

I have had lunch and dinner twice so will be reviewing my experience at lunch and dinner.

As you enter the restaurant, the minimalist classic look reminds me of restaurants in Merida. I am having lunch with a good friend. I order the Citrus and Honey and he has the Tamarindo juice. The juices are fresh and delicious.

At Chuuk, everything is fresh. You can taste it.

I order the Chicken Torta and my friend orders the Cancun Burger. We split the sandwiches. The flavor from the wood is mesmerizing.

After I finish the sandwiches, I order a mezcal flight. I tell Chris, I also want to taste a tequila. I get two mezcal’s served with orange slices and insect salt.

The Clase Azul Tequila is out of this world. It is exquisite in a handmade decanter, made from organic agave and aged in American oak barrels. My tongue is excited with how smooth it is. The caramel notes, the pineapple flavor makes me want to have another shot.

The Del Maguey Chichicapa and Leyenda Mezcal’s along with orange slices are the perfect combination.

I am so impressed with my lunch experience, that I take my wife for dinner for our 17^th wedding anniversary.

We order the guacamole. The fresh chips with the lime and habanero are the perfect marriage in my mouth.

I order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Debbie has the Chuuk Margarita. The white wine is a perfect combination with the Guacamole. Debbie loves cocktails. She tells me this is the best Margarita she has ever had.

For dinner we try the fish and pork tacos. Everything here is made fresh in the restaurant. The tacos are also made by hand. The various flavors hit your senses. The fish is light, delicious with the perfect crunch. The pork is a perfect balance of all the ingredients.

Debbie has heard so much about the Pink Jaguar Margarita that she orders one and I try the Hemingway daiquiri. James the bartender has made me rethink my view of a cocktail. The flavors are in harmony, dancing to the perfect orchestra led by maestro James.

Debbie has a soft spot for desserts. We split the Cassava Cake. It is gluten and dairy free. I give in to my Swiss schooling by having the Kalani coconut liquor. You want a marriage made in heaven. This is the perfect combo.

Chris finds out it is our anniversary. He brings out two glasses of champagne for us on the house.

I have had an amazing experience. The menu except for the fish tacos and Cancun Burger is gluten-free.

Chuuk recycles approximately 90% of all waste. Chuuk uses the best purveyors to source their food.

Chuuk also has dancing every friday from 10pm to 2am. You need to check it out. It is the place to be on a Friday night.

I strongly recommend that you visit Chuuk to experience the flavors of Mexico.

Photo Credits: Chris Argiro