Location:
A-5045 Plantation Pl., Mississauga
If it weren't for the "Restaurant & Bar" in the name...you'd think Axia were a club.
You did, didn't you?
Well, it's not. I don't know why they named it that, 'cause the inside of it looks like some sort of vacation package hotel....cane chairs upholstered in tropical fabric, hanging plants, palm trees, hanging lanterns and Christmas lights.
Then again, the outside looks like some sort of Iron Chef set.
Listen, don't try to figure it out...just enjoy the eats.
You'd be hard pressed to walk in there without a reservation...it's consistantly packed with plenty of wait time...yep, just like a club.
China Garden
Location:
7071 Airport Road, Mississauga
www.chinagarden.ca/
If you're ever in the west end of the city looking for some yummy chinese food, there's a little joint, that's one part ghetto and 2 parts awesome. It's called China Garden. Looking neither like China nor a garden, it does however, have some wicked hakka style chinese for $9-12 a dish.
Order at the counter then grab a seat...
It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes for your piping hot dishes to arrive!
A favourite whenever we're in the area, it's also open until 10:30pm on the weekends!
Nando's
Locations:
939 Eglinton Ave E
Toronto, ON
815 Britannia Rd W
Mississauga, ON
Growing up in Africa, I remember eating Nando's chicken and absolutely loving it, so when I first discovered a Nando's in the east end of the city, I was thrilled about the prospect of once again tasting the flame-grilled Peri Peri saucy chicken. Now this was pre-Foodhogger but I recall it not being as tasty as my memory had me believe...I walked away disappointed a little.
Then recently, I found a Nando's in Mississauga and those same childhood memories came flooding back; I just had to try it again. This time it did not disappoint...there was heat, there was flavour and there was plenty to go around.
The spicy fries were mighty deeelush.
The rice was nowhere near as good as it was back in my childhood days.
And there's definitely nothing spectacular about the salad...definitely could have done without it entirely!
But it's possibly the sauces that make Nando's Nando's. The sauces! First the garlic...
And then the all-important hot sauce...
The chicken was great...and we'd ordered some skewers as well...
We got a hot and a medium spiced chicken, but either they'd gotten mixed up or it was all very hot (although not hot enough for some).
All in all; satisfying and a fair recreation of my fond memories....I suppose the only thing missing was the African scenery...
Truscott Italian Bakery and Deli
Location:
2425 Truscott Dr, Mississauga ON
I'm sure you will agree, there's nothing quite like freshly baked bread; the smell, the taste, the warmth, it's all so very good!
I definitely heart bakeries. When I was growing up there was a lovely little bakery called Hot n' Crusty where the breads were baked fresh every morning; it was always such a treat to go there.
Recently we discovered Truscott Italian Bakery & Deli - a quaint little bakery right in the middle of a parking lot on the border of Oakville/Mississauga. It's been there only eight years yet it appears as though the parking lot was built around it.
I imagine though, that the past eight years have been enormously successful judging from the steady stream of customers at 8 in the morning! 
The cappuccino on the patio sounded like a great idea!
The breads! Rows of crusty, floured, multigrained loaves. I wanted to try them all...and in due time I will, but to begin....we got some fresh buns, croissants, and this:
Spacatelli....which I've never had before, but which was undeniably fresh (and still warm!!!).
The trays of muffins, pies, cookies and pastries were astounding!
I've yet to try their hot-table items, but I got their mini cakes/tarts for a tea party recently and they not only looked pretty they were pretty delectable, too.
Then there's their deli meat counter which boasts a variety of European meats, the huge selection of pastas (I recently purchased some corn pasta [gluten free] and added to it the all natural Mediterranean Garden's "fiery hot arrabiata" pasta sauce, which was fantastic), fancy imported drinks (lemonades and juices), farmed fresh eggs, and of course a massive collection of olives and olive oils! Heaven!
With our morning breakfast made complete with the addition of a divine "elephant ear" - stuffed full of chocolate - we were ready to start the weekend!
I'm sure many start their weekends this way and I for one can't wait to do it again!