Do I really call it “Fresh by Juice for Life,” or just “Fresh?” Even though everyone still calls it “Juice for Life?” Ah, well, what’s in a name, right? I hadn’t been here in years, but Kim had just gotten their new cookbook, and we had recently made a few enjoyable things from it, so decided to meet Marco and Irit here for dinner. Yeah, I know, why would buying the cookbook make you go out for dinner. It makes sense in my brain.

It was packed for a Sunday, giving hope to the idea that some people still go to restaurants on this increasingly fast-foodified strip of Bloor. We had to wait a bit for a table, and were eventually seated near a friend of Kim’s, who seemed to be on some sort of date. Odd situation, eh? You acknowledge each other, but you’re not actually eating together. So although you’re sharing space to some degree, at some point you have to kind of pretend the other person isn’t there. I think.

We got some sweet potato fries with miso “gravy” to start. There was some sort of screw-up with the order, so it took a really long time to get even that. I take it, however, that this wasn’t a typical occurrence, as the waitress seemed far more distressed about the whole thing than we were. Eventually, they arrived, and though I thought they were a bit overdone, both Kim and Marco like them that way, and they were still really good. I would definitely recommend getting them with the miso gravy. That stuff kicks ass! It’s got a broad, smooth, and slightly musty flavour that compliments the salt on the fries perfectly.

For the main, I got the cheeseless “Supreme Pizza” with black olives and artichoke hearts. It was good, but a bit oily, and the olives didn’t have much flavour. The sauce, however, was really tasty. I think all in all, I would have rather gotten a sandwich, if only because it’s a bit more food for your buck. Marco’s Magic Tofu sandwich looked fantastic — crispy tofu with honey mustard mayo and veggies. He also recommended the Urban Cowboy, which looked like pretty much the same thing except with tempeh.

Kim and Irit each got a special rice bowl with some kind of peanut sauce and a side salad. There is quite a nice selection of dressings as well. Kim got the green dressing, and, as I was finishing off her salad for her, I enjoyed the tangy cilantro hit. Though names may change, Juice for Life’s still got it.