Recently, the One, feeling the urge for a bite not of One's own making, wandered out in search of a bite to eat.

Eschewing our regular haunts we decided to check out Jamie Kennedy's new and somewhat well-concealed catering and dining venue at 4 Gilead Place., appropriately named Gilead Café.

Until recently a venue for taxi radio repairs and, later in the evenings mysterious cars go "bob in the night" this bright and airy eatery serves up a variety of tasty and attractive offerings to Corktown urbanistas.

Having noshed there several times now, we're pleased to say that the service is friendly and attentive, the food very tasty, and the portions adequate. We're OK with adequate given our volatile waistline, but having said that, would like a little more on the plate for the price.

All in all, though, we feel 4 Gilead is a welcome addition to the Duchy, and encourage you to drop by to say hi and eat well.

The One has dined at and reviewed the Dominion on Queen in the past, but we decided to update our review based on our experience this past weekend, which frankly, left us wondering if anyone is running the place.

On the spur of the moment, we and several other burghers of the Duchy decided a burger and beer would be a fine thing on the unofficial final weekend of summer. Our party likes wine and Strongbow (not in the same glass) and ordered our preferences.

Imagine our surprise and disappointment to find out, that as far as our booze preferences  were concerned, the cupboard was bare - on a holiday weekend no less!

it took 4 choices to come up with a suitable beer substitute for the cider - all the others were "out of stock, sorry" -  and several choices for the wine as well. And when the bill arrived, our party was overcharged for the wine ordered to the tune of about $10 a half-litre.

Thankfully the service was pleasant, and the food good, but there are too many new and better managed places around for this kind of thing - unless of course one prefers to drink nothing at a quiet, secluded pub.

We'd suggest phoning in advance to ensure what you want to drink is in stock before planning a night out.

Recently we dined out with The Neighbours at the Dominion on Queen, a local watering hole that also serves as the House of Parliament for the Duchy of Corktown. That unfortunate confluence aside, we have to say that our experience was generally very pleasurable.

The food was, in a word, terrific. Cooked and presented well, and the menu had variety that suited the many and varied gustatory proclivities of The One's companions.

As far as entertainment is concerned this establishment has become somewhat of a jazz haven here in the ghetto, and we're pleased to note that our entertainment for the night was engaging, talented, and, importantly, for our delicate ears and a desire to converse, not overly loud.

Our only complaint was with the service. A full house at this watering hole needs more than the one server on duty. While we saw her doing her best, we were considering either leaving, or pulling the taps and placing the orders ourselves, which we ultimately had the bartender do. Great food doesn't mean anything if it doesn't end up on the table.