Review - Flare Magazine
Thursday, February 12, 2004

Toronto Even Laide’s name evokes a ménage á trois of meanings: the first, of course, being the most obvious. It’s also the French feminine of "ugly," but there’s no need to bust out in objection, ladies; the addition of the "e" represents an abbreviation of the lounge’s location, on Adelaide Street. Or, alternatively, it’s erotic, the mood that managers Sofia Marks and Racquel Youtzy desired for their stirred-and-shaken cocktails and chef Sam Gassira’s sexy "contemporary appetizers" such as duck breast with chocolate sauce. And, despite six plaster bas-relief naked torsos flanking the entrance, a brass pole with a sign saying "use at own risk," a projection of vintage adult films and a bar topped with a mosaic of pornographic pictures, its otherwise grey decor maintains a kitsch-free balance. Just to be safe, don’t forget the Laide-labeled condoms.