Beerbistro

Beerbistro (website, Twitter)
18 King Street East, Toronto ON M5C 1C4 (on the north side of King Street East, just east of Yonge Street) 416-815-7562
Google Maps

Pull your socks up, Beerbistro, there are dozens of less snobby pubs within walking distance.

I’ve been to the Beerbistro at least four times since I started this blog. I took notes most visits, but I just kept going to better pubs in the meantime and I would slipped my review of Beerbistro to the bottom of my pub review notes. I recently decided that it was now or never as I hoped that my earlier meh experiences were just coincidences. The Beerbistro is loud, despite being carpeted, probably due to its high ceiling, and the pub is divided into two areas with a large bar and related seating in one part and a more formal restaurant feel in the other. The crowd is business people, understandably.

On my most recent visit to the Beerbistro, I told the greeter that I was meeting two people for dinner. After a while, I decided to check my telephone as my companions hadn’t arrived and discovered they had been turned away as they had been told that they would not be seated for at least an hour! I could see several empty tables near me and I couldn’t see reserved signs on them. I bolted down my second drink and ran across the street to the Office Pub, which was quieter and less pretentious and found my companions there.

Number of visits by yours truly: four and no more, most recently on a weekday evening in April 2017
TTC information: just a minute’s walk east from King Station
Booze selection: just shy of 100 beers on menu, including one cider, which is a rotating tap. They have a tasting flight (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: swanky with beer pairing suggestions
Service staff: on my second last visit about a year ago, we were rushed out as it was crowded and we were not encouraged to spend the evening drinking, in fact an empty glass sat on our table for a lot longer than usual and was ignored by our waitress, then see above for missed dinner with friends
Prices: expensive
Toilets: needed cleaning 
Patio: on the west side, but very dark as between tall buildings
Wheelchair accessible: not really, hallway to toilets crowded and too many high-top tables for those who might not be able to sit at them
Televisions: three over the bar showing sports
Live music: doubt it
Piped-in music: Lenny Kravitz

Rating: three pints (out of five)

DeSotos

DeSotos (website)
1079 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto ON (on the south side, between Lauder Avenue and Glenholme Avenue) 416-651-2109
Google Maps 

The place to be on St. Clair West.

When my better half and I finally gave up on the nearby Fox and Fiddle, we decided that we had to find another place that served decent food and had half-decent service on St. Clair West. We quickly found DeSotos and were very happy, until the second time we went there and found that the place was closed for a private party. (The service there now leaves much to be desired, so the search continues.) We had checked that very day that DeSotos was open on its website (as it was a Monday) and there was no notice. I would have checked their Twitter feed, however, their Twitter feed is private — why? I even looked at their Facebook page and nothing. Anyway, we had to go back to the Fox and Fiddle even though we were not happy there.

DeSotos is an interesting pub, it has apothecary jars, seltzer bottles, an aquarium, an old-fashioned fan, typewriter, cash register, and, inside a bookcase, a copy of Playboy Blondes. The pub is split into two rooms and has lots of dark wood, but it is quite bright nevertheless. Larger groups can be accommodated, but don’t be surprised if they can’t take care of your request at the last minute. Unfortunately, the pub is very kid-friendly. (Don’t worry, I already know I will die alone, unloved, and unmourned.)

Number of visits by yours truly: three or four, my most recent in August 2015
TTC information: a 20-minute streetcar ride (that’s what the TTC says) westbound from St Clair Station, or take the Dufferin bus north from Dufferin Station, which will drop you after a seven-minute ride at St Clair West and just a quick walk east from there
Booze selection: 11 craft beers with Strongbow cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: Italian pizza, burgers, oysters, with aspirations to be a gastropub
Service staff: neglectful at times (on our most recent visit, I didn’t tip as the waiter took 10 minutes to clear our plates and we waited another 10 for the credit card machine, I gave up and went to the bar and was informed that he had other customers. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t tip)
Prices: decent
Toilets: the locks are flimsy and it’s a little cramped
Patio: north and west, both on the street
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: one near the bar and a pull-down screen for television events
Live music: jazz on Sundays
Piped-in music: mellow “Delta blues” according to my better half

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five) 

The Quail (A Firkin Pub)

The Quail (A Firkin Pub) (website, Twitter)
1055 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4W 2L2 (on the east side between Rowanwood Avenue and Roxborough Street East, the nearest major intersection is Yonge Street and Alymer Avenue) 416-962-0782
Google Maps

A quiet pub suitable for a pint after the rigours of the day. 

I’ve been to the Quail (and Firkin, which it dropped a while ago) several times since I began this blog way back in January 2011, however, I could just never get worked up enough to do a TorontoPubs review. The pub review sheet for the Quail would be relegated to the bottom of the pile again and again until I felt that I couldn’t remember enough even with my notes to give a fair judgement of the place. So I would recycle the Quail review and dream of other pubs. I had someone ask me recently why I hadn’t reviewed the Quail as it’s pretty much in the heart of Toronto, so I thought I should try one last time, just for you, my dear reader. However, it’s taken me two months to write the review. I guess Firkin pubs are rather boring for this jaded reviewer. They’re too predictable and too corporate.

As a re-branded Firkin pub, the Quail has the Cool Britannia (that’s so 1997) style down pat with pseudo punk embellishments, Union Jacks galore, London Tube signs, and various things that scream “God Save the Queen!”. The Quail has a raised seating area at the back that can comfortably seat eight with a sofa and fancy chairs. There’s a pool table right at the back and a mixture of seating including stools with backs, which always worry me if I know I am going to be enjoying my company and booze that night. Large groups won’t have trouble getting seats together unless it’s prime pub time. I can see this pub being a popular summer one with its patio, but summer in Toronto is all too fleeting.

Number of visits by yours truly: my third or fourth visit, most recently on a weekday afternoon in May 2015
TTC information: just a block and a half north of Rosedale Station
Booze selection: about 20 beers or so, including Somersby apple and blackberry, and Brickworks cider (they have Pimm’s)
Food selection: standard Firkin pub grub with lots of sandwiches and wraps
Service staff: friendly
Prices: standard Firkin prices
Toilets: not bad
Patio: west-facing on Yonge
Wheelchair accessible: yes, except for the raised seating/pool table area at the back
Televisions: nine televisions
Live music: probably not given that it’s so open and part of a building
Piped-in music: James, The Who, The Cure, Oasis, Phil Collins

Rating: four pints (out of five)

The Wallace Gastropub

The Wallace Gastropub (website, Twitter)
1954 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4S 1Z4 (on the west side, between Chaplin Crescent and Imperial Street, the nearest major intersection is Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue) 416-489-3500
Google Maps 

Whatever the name, this is usually a good spot for a beer or two in Davisville.

Formerly the Twisted Kilt, which used to be the Bow and Arrow, the Wallace Gastropub has had several names over the years. We went to the Bow and Arrow a lot as they had sea salt and cracked pepper chicken wings, which were so good! However, we stopped going after a poor experience, then it became the Twisted Kilt, then the Tilted Kilt chain came to Canada and the pub was apparently offered a spot of cash to change its name (but not its telephone number), and thus the Wallace was born.

The seating is benches and movable chairs, most spots designed for couples or groups of four. Larger groups will be hard pressed to find seating without a reservation or good timing. If it’s the winter, you might not want to sit near the front door as the wind can whip in and chill you to the bone. However, you can sit near the fireplace in the raised area! The current décor is (fox) hunting scenes and other traditional pub paraphernalia. You can rent the upstairs room for private parties, which can comfortably fit 50 or so. I have rented this space several times over the years and it is a damn nice spot for you and 49 of your closest friends.

Number of visits by yours truly: forty or more visits, we used to live nearby and it was a nice walk home. Our most recent visit was on a Saturday night in August 2014
TTC information: just a minute walk or so north of Davisville Station
Booze selection: 20 or so beers, Waupoos cider and a number of wines (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: limited gastro selection with cloth napkins
Service staff: not bad
Prices: expensive
Toilets: not enough, only two downstairs in the ladies’ room. There was no soap in the ladies and “too much ice,” whatever that means, in the men’s (I can guess, but I prefer some mysteries to remain as to the male experience)
Patio: west-facing and very small
Wheelchair accessible: they have a step at the front and apparently a wooden ramp, but that’s not accessible if you are arriving by yourself and waiting for someone to let the pub know you want to come in
Televisions: several
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: Beatles, Robert Plant, Queen

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

Bier Markt (King West)

Bier Markt (King West) (website, Twitter)
600 King Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1M3 (on the corner of King Street West and Portland Street, the nearest major intersection is King Street West and Bathurst Avenue) 416-862-1175
Google Maps 

A great patio on King Street West with great beers. 

We ended up at here because WVRST was full due to June’s Cider Week and I needed some liquid refreshment — stat! So, fortunately, the Bier Markt just down the street fit the bill and an evening’s plans that seemed derailed was quickly set right. My partner in crime and I had been to the location several times before when it was the Amsterdam, but we hadn’t been to it since it became a Bier Markt. We sat on the patio, which I usually avoid, however, the weather was so nice, I risked a tan and agreed to a spot on the patio. We enjoyed a free beer sample and enjoyed the people and car watching.

The Bier Markt is very dark inside, in part because it is in a basement, like her sister pub on the Esplanade. Is this a branding attempt? Seating is varied downstairs with high top tables with backless stools and tables against a brick wall. All in all, a decent pub with lots of beer.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first on a weekday afternoon in June 2014
TTC information: take the King streetcar west from King Station (seven- to ten-minute journey — according to a very optimistic TTC itinerary) or take Bathurst Streetcar south from Bathurst to King, which will take about 12 minutes and then walk east
Booze selection: well over 100 beers from around the world, with a focus on Belgian beers. As always with a selection this large, be prepared for a back-up order as they might be out of your first choice. For those who are cider drinkers, they have Somersby, Blackthorn, Magners, two types of Rekorderligs and the nectar that is Crabbie’s (alas, no Pimm’s)
Food selection: fancy end with oysters, risotto and beer can chicken soup 
Service staff: good, however, this news story about the front-of-house female staff having to wear skimpy outfits might be something to keep in mind. Yes, they changed the policy, but they still had it and enforced it until people complained. I am not impressed with sexism with my booze  
Prices: expensive for the most part. However, it is cheaper for some beers
Toilets: nice, watch for the hidden ledge on the way to the toilet, I can see people stumbling over that in the darkness
Patio: west and one of the best in downtown, great for people watching
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: three
Live music: DJ on Wednesdays/something on Thursdays/live rock on Fridays/something on Saturdays (alas their website is useless at explaining what is happening on Thursdays and Saturdays) 
Piped-in music: modern

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

The Firkin On Yonge

The Firkin On Yonge (website, Twitter)
207 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5B 2H1 (on the east side, between Queen Street and Shuter Street, the nearest major intersection is Queen Street and Yonge Street) 647-345-0455
Google Maps

Is this really a pub?

The Firkin On Yonge is the brightest pub I have ever been in! Blindingly white walls! They also don’t have cider. I don’t know if they are being ironic, but having a picture of stick-thin Twiggy on a place that serves food doesn’t really inspire confidence.

The Firkin On Yonge is a relatively new pub (it opened in the spring of 2012), but it has a built-in reputation as part of the Firkin pub chain — so too many televisions, limited menu, and regular beer selection — but there’s more to pubs than that! The pub is long and narrow (it has an exit on the alleyway near Massey Hall). Downstairs, they have a long bar and lots of booths and upstairs can be a private party room. Apparently, the place attracts a business crowd during the day, despite the fact that they are across the street from the Eaton Centre.

When asking my better half for his thoughts on the Firkin On Yonge, he said that he had nothing to add, it left no impression. Considering the location, you’d think they would at least try, but with substandard service, no cider, and no atmosphere, I really would go anywhere else but here.

Number of visits by yours truly: first and last visit on a Saturday afternoon in March 2013. Second pub of the day!
TTC information: just north of Queen Station
Booze selection: 24 beers, but no cider! (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: standard Firkin pub grub with lots of sandwiches and wraps
Service staff: not good, our server was too busy and it appears we aren’t the only ones who have noticed the harried servers. When we got our change back from our bill, our server gave us back two dollars too much, when I politely pointed this out to her, all she said was “okay”
Prices: standard Firkin prices, not expensive, but not cheap
Toilets: downstairs and clean enough
Patio: tiny smoking patio on Yonge
Wheelchair accessible: yes, they even have an elevator
Televisions: lots and lots
Live music: apparently they do have live music, but I could see no promotion of it
Piped-in music: Muse, Depeche Mode, and Tom Petty

Rating: two and a half pints (out of five)

Fionn MacCool’s (Davisville)

Fionn MacCool’s (website)
1867 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4S 1X8 (on the east side of Yonge Street, between Balliol Street and Merton Street, the nearest major intersection is Davisville Avenue and Yonge Street) 416-484-1867
Google Maps 

A decent Irish pub in the heart of uptown Toronto. 

I saw this Fionn MacCool’s for the first time while waiting for the Yonge bus at Davisville station a few months ago and I thought that I should check it out, purely in the name of research. In terms of the big pub chains in Toronto, it goes like this — Pogue Mahone et al. at the top, then the Duke of York et al., then the various Fionn MacCool’s pubs, then the Firkin pubs, and the Fox and Fiddle pubs at the bottom, so an evening at a Fionn MacCool’s is not an evening wasted.

This is a rather small pub, and you’ll be hard pressed to find seating for a large group as most of the tables are high top ones with stools (not the most comfortable for long-term seating). However, there are proper tables at well. The walls are covered in pictures of great Irish men, like Oscar Wilde, images of Ireland, etc. 

There are four Fionn MacCool’s locations in Toronto: this one, Bloor Street East, Front Street West, and  The Esplanade, so make sure everyone knows which one you are suggesting for your Friday night booze-up.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first time to this branch of the chain, on a weekday evening in late February 2013
TTC information: just south of Davisville Station
Booze selection: a section of 44 beers, with four ciders at the moment — Alexander Keith’s Cider; Magners;  Rekorderlig Wild Berry; Früli (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: not that Irish given the theme of the place
Service staff: friendly, however, we did have to flag down the waitress for another customer  
Prices: slightly higher, but you are dining at a Fionn MacCool’s
Toilets: one for ladies, one for the gents, and one unisex for those who need accessible toilets
Patio: west-facing on Yonge Street, probably one of the sunniest late evening patios in the city as it’s across the road from the Davisville rail yards. I might have to confirm my suspicions in the summer
Wheelchair accessible: yup!
Televisions: four televisions
Live music: “sometimes”
Piped-in music: traditional Irish music, Cranberries, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

The Office Pub

The Office Pub (website, Twitter)
117 John Street, Toronto ON M5V 2E2 (on the east side, between Nelson Street and Adelaide Street West, the nearest major intersection is Richmond Street West and University Avenue) 416-977-1900
Google Maps 

Nightclub, karaoke bar, upscale bistro dining restaurant, or pub? Only you can decide. 

When I walked into the Office Pub, I thought I was in a nightclub. If your mission statement is in the name of your establishment, then why confuse the matter by appearing to be something else? Anyway, the nice chandeliers and fancy tables hidden in darkness belong more in a nightclub than in a pub, which is odd given the after-work crowd it draws upon.

The menu for the Office Pub was covered in errors — would you like an Alexandar Keiths or a chocoalate flourless cake? And the website has the wrong postal code. However, the food was good with decent portions, and the waitress was attentive and didn’t complain when we asked at the end of the evening for separate tabs. There is a large upstairs area that is more pub-like than downstairs, and a third-floor private party room. I think they need to pull up their socks given the competition next door — the Town Crier).

Number of visits by yours truly: my first on a weekday evening in September 2012
TTC information: a seven-minute walk west and south from Osgoode Station or west and north from St. Andrew Station
Booze selection: 28 beers including Strongbow cider in bottles and Somersby cider on tap (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: lots of interesting poutines and pubby foods (the menus are available online)
Service staff: very good
Prices: good for food, expensive for beer (the menu did not list prices for the beer and had they done so, I would have stopped sooner than I did)
Toilets: not bad, but given the size of place, one ladies is not enough
Patio: west-facing Hooters and apparently in the back, but I didn’t see that one
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: three in our section and all showing sports
Live music: sometimes on Mondays, karaoke three nights a week and stand-up comedy sometimes
Piped-in music: Rolling Stones, Billy Joel, George Michael

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

The Granite Brewery

The Granite Brewery (website, Twitter)
245 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto ON M4P 3B7 (on the east side, just south of Eglinton Avenue East on Mount Pleasant, the nearest major intersection is Yonge and Eglinton) 416-322-0723
Google Maps

Good beers, iffy service, in-house keg-to-go beer store.

I can’t remember the first time I went to the Granite Brewery. I’ve been a number of times over the years as we used to live nearby and it has a central location. However, the service can be bad, so I have hesitated to go back there. One time we waited more than an hour between visits by our server (we had fresh drinks to start with and were on the back patio, so we didn’t mind for a while, but by the time our server came back, we were not pleased and he didn’t seem to care). This bad service is part of the reason I have avoided reviewing the Granite Brewery.

The  Granite Brewery has a library room, lots of Hogarth prints, and a set of stuffed Laurel and Hardy playing chess. The large room at the back has awful tablecloths, which remind me of garden parties in the 1980s. However, they do have a decent self-serve brunch on the weekends and on-site brewing. They also have menus in large print and Braille.

Update 2014.03.21: I tried to make a reservation for 16 people in the front room of the Granite right by the windows, but they wouldn’t change the orientation of the tables to accommodate my group, so we’re going elsewhere!

Number of visits by yours truly: two or three dozen visits as I used to live nearby, most recently in late August 2012
TTC information: you can catch several eastbound buses from Elington station, but as the pub is only a 10-minute walk, you might just want to consider that as figuring out which bus is leaving first isn’t really worth the trouble
Booze selection: eight beers on tap, five in circulation, several of these beers have won awards. They have Strongbow cider in bottles (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: good salads and standard pub grub
Service staff: can be hit or miss. On my most two recent visits the service was very good and the place was very crowded
Prices: expensive
Toilets: recently renovated
Patio: covered west-facing patio in the front and semi-covered in the courtyard in the back
Wheelchair accessible: yup!
Televisions: at least four and one was turned off
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: Queen’s “Under Pressure” and the Shins (I have no idea who they are, but my friend knew)

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five)

The Town Crier

The Town Crier (website)
115 John Street, Toronto ON M5V 2E2 (on the east side, between Nelson Street and Adelaide Street West, the nearest major intersection is Richmond Street West and University Avenue) 416-204-9588
Google Maps

A delightful pub close to Queen Street West and the Theatre District!

I must admit I have become a little jaded when it comes to pubs, which is not surprising given my mandate to seek out new pubs and new taverns, to boldly go where no TorontoPubs blogger has gone before, and to report weekly. I am starting to visit pubs I have previously avoided as it feels a little like I am running out of unreviewed pubs. So it’s rather nice to go to a new pub and feel a little of that ol’ pub sparkle.

The Town Crier was better than expected for a number of reasons apart from my check list below — dark red walls with gilt crown mouldings, dark wood panelling, lovely light fixtures, and (warm) leatherette chairs. The only criticisms I have of the pub, apart from the situation in the ladies’ toilet (see below), is that the tables are very small, so that it felt a little cramped and that there is no air conditioning, however, they have tonnes of fans, so they do their best to make their patrons comfortable. We will be back.

Note, this pub is owned by the same people who run the Village Idiot Pub and Sin & Redemption and there is a large upstairs area, which can be reserved as a private party room.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last on a weekday evening in September 2012
TTC information: a seven-minute walk west and south from Osgoode Station or west and north from St. Andrew Station
Booze selection: almost 100 beers from around the world, including Leffe Brune and four ciders — Somersby, Thornby, Sir Perry, and Blackthorn (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: German focus with a twist (which was rather nice for my better half who had just come from the Fatherland and was pining for the cuisine)
Service staff: very good
Prices: not bad for the size of the servings
Toilets: unfortunately, the toilets were very messy on my most recent visit (2012.11.11). The ladies’ toilet stall on the outside wall might be best to avoid when the window is open as the person using the stall might give a show to the people who live across the way. Just saying…
Patio: west-facing Hooters, for some this might be considered a bonus
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: none
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: Feist, Neil Young

Rating: five pints (out of five) 

The Black Bull

The Black Bull
298 Queen Street West, Toronto ON M5V 2A4 (on the northeast side of Soho Street and Queen Street West, the major intersection is Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue) 416-593-2766 ‎
Google Maps 

Probably the best patio for blocks! Certainly on Queen Street West.

Laying claim to being the oldest pub in Toronto, the Black Bull is an institution on Queen Street West. (In my humble but historically trained opinion, the Black Bull isn’t really the oldest as it closed for several decades at one point, so the real honour goes to the Wheat Sheaf.) The Black Bull is basically the only pub on Queen Street West since The Bishop & the Belcher up and left for Church and Bloor. Yes, there’s the Duke of Richmond and the Friar and Firkin, but they are off the beaten path.

Anyway, I’ve walked by the Black Bull more than a hundred times as I was an aspiring goth (I wasn’t allowed to dye my hair black and I wasn’t as pissed off at my parents as my other goth friends were at theirs) who tried her damnedest to hang out on Queen Street West as much as possible in the late ’80s and early ’90s. I, however, always felt that the Black Bull was a bit of a biker bar, and as a result, I haven’t spent my drinking money there very often. The Black Bull is a rather nice looking pub, despite the stuffed bull’s head over the Queen Street door, with wide aisles, high ceilings, personal coat racks, and retro-booths that seat four comfortably with a relaxed atmosphere with no frills whatsoever. The back of the pub has a pool table and karaoke on Sundays. Note, they do not provide separate bills.

Number of visits by yours truly: my fourth or fifth, most recently on a weekday afternoon in July 2012
TTC information: a five-minute ride west to Soho from Osgoode Station on the Queen Street West streetcar
Booze selection: 25 beers including Strongbow cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: lots of burgers — grease is my word du jour
Service staff: good
Prices: reasonable
Toilets: no hot water, no paper towels, and a smell that lingers
Patio: one of the best in the city and certainly the best in the neighbourhood. Perfect for people watching, lots of sun, and you too can look hip
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: three
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: early ‘8os

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five) 

Victory Cafe

Victory Cafe (website, Twitter)
581 Markham Street, Toronto ON M6G 2L7 (at the corner of Markham Street and Lennox Street, the nearest major intersection is Bathurst Street and Bloor Street West) 416-516-5787
Google Maps 

Decent pub in Toronto’s Mirvish Village.

Tucked away on a cool little street, the Victory Cafe is one of those pubs that you have to know is there as it’s off the beaten track. I like the Victory Cafe’s painted walls and the cozy feel of the pub, but there’s a bit of a problem with the service, one can feel that one is sitting in a dead zone or that one should be doing secret signs to get the waiter’s attention. The toilets also leave much to be desired, my beloved grandmother would have likely walked out after her inspection of the toilets — in her opinion: if the toilets are bad, then what is the kitchen like? — they always look like no one has been in there with a cleaning agent for a few days, see below for my personal horror story on my most recent trip.

However, in the Victory Cafe’s defence, it does offer a number of yummy beers and three different types of cider, and the menu is a refreshing change from the standard pub grub one gets. Once again, the Victory Cafe was chosen as one of Now Magazine‘s top pubs for 2012 and I have to disagree. It’s not bad, but the Victory Cafe is not great.

Number of visits by yours truly: four or five, most recently on a Saturday night in June 2012
TTC information: a three-minute walk from Bathurst Station, just walk to Bloor, then two blocks west and south to the first intersection
Booze selection: about 30 beers, mostly local, and Strongbow, Thornberry, and Williams ciders (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: hamburgers, lots of local and ethical offerings
Service staff: all male and friendly, however, we had trouble getting their attention several times
Prices: good
Toilets: terrible. I came downstairs from my second visit to the ladies that evening and discovered to my horror as I was sliding into my seat that I had toilet paper stuck to both of my shoes. Now I knew why a fellow smiled at me on his way up the stairs
Patio: west and south
Wheelchair accessible: no way
Televisions: two showing hockey 
Live music: sometimes
Piped-in music: loud

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

Bedford Academy

Bedford Academy (website, Twitter)
36 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto ON M5R 1A9 (on the north side, between Avenue Road and Bedford Avenue, one block north of Bloor Street West) 416-921-4600
Google Maps 

The Bedford Academy could be a great pub, but settles on being a reasonable watering hole instead. 

Over the years, the Bedford Academy has benefitted from the poor service of the Duke of York. The Duke has a problem with some staff members’ attentiveness and bookings or rather lack thereof and as a result, I’ve gathered my belongings and moved across the street to the Bedford. For a while we went to the Bedford — which was close to my beloved’s old work place —  instead of the Duke, but, alas, service seems to be a problem for both establishments. I remember on at least one occasion being ignored at the Duke, going to the Bedford instead, and being ignored there too. (I was sober — could it have been the worst half hour of my life?) I’ve been to the Bedford enough times to know that I would rather go somewhere else.

However, focussing on the times I have been served at the Bedford Academy, I have enjoyed myself. The pub is in a huge old house sprawling over three floors (the top floor has a private party room) featuring soft orange lighting, olive-coloured walls, Art Nouveau chandeliers, and a European flavour. The seating inside is varied, although I have spent most of my hours on the enormous patio of the Bedford. The Bedford benefits from its close proximity to UofT with its clientele and is open until two seven nights a week.

Number of visits by yours truly: two dozen or more visits, most recently in June 2012
TTC information: St. George Station’s east exit, within stumbling distance
Booze selection: 19 beers on tap, including Strongbow cider. They also have lots of wine (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: lots of burgers and pastas
Service staff: good this visit 
Prices: reasonable for being so close to Yorkville
Toilets: clean
Patio: one of the larger patios (seats more than 180) in central Toronto, you’ve got a lot of selection of locations as the patio wraps around the building 
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: not as many as you might expect
Live music: no
Piped-in music: jazz and blues

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five) 

bar Wellington

bar Wellington (website, Twitter)
520 Wellington Street West, Toronto ON M5V 1E3 (at the northeast corner of Portland Street and Wellington Street West, the nearest major intersection is Bathurst Street and King Street West) 416-341-8880
Google Maps 

bar Wellington is a little too cold and a little too clinical. Could it be the condo crowd’s perfect pub? 

[B]ar Wellington is in a lovely Victorian building with old tiles on the floor, dark wood, steep stairs, dim lighting, and leather high-back chairs that promise privacy. However, the promise of privacy is negated by the loud music at bar Wellington, which means that one must talk loudly in order to be heard. [B]ar Wellington’s coldness and clinical execution in the heart of the oh-so-fashionable M5V postal code shows that the perfect pub is not perfect, it is organic and has character. One could say that bar Wellington is all style and no substance.

Perhaps my thoughts on the pub are coloured by its affiliation to the Bedford Academy, which is one of the more frustrating pubs in Toronto.

Number of visits by yours truly: my second visit, most recently on a Friday night in May 2012
TTC information: an optimistic seven-minute ride west on the King Street West streetcar from King Station or an equally optimistic eight-minute ride south from Bathurst Station
Booze selection: 12 beers, including Strongbow cider in cans (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: not outstanding in any way. I found the food overly spicy, I actually didn’t finish my meal as it was too much for the old taste buds
Service staff: all right for the most part, but our server disappeared for a while and the greeter at the door seemed to have x-ray vision as she looked straight through me and didn’t see me as I walked in. I paused to see if I might be stopped or greeted in any fashion, which didn’t happen, and so I walked on
Prices: expensive
Toilets: odd, the mirrors over the sinks are very high in the ladies and the toilet roll dispenser was still broken three weeks later after my first visit
Patio: at the front, side, back and roof (north, south, west and rooftop). Voted one of the best patios in 2010 by Toronto Life
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: five or six
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: lounge music that was too loud, it made it difficult to hear one another

Rating: three pints (out of five) 

Loons

Loons (website, Twitter)
416 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto ON M6R 2N2 (on the east side, between Howard Park Avenue and Hewitt Avenue, the nearest major intersection is Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas Street West) 416-535-8561
Google Maps

Best patio on Roncesvalles.

I first went to Loons about eight or nine years ago. We had a friend who then lived in the neighbourhood and we met there for a pint on the patio. Over the years I’ve been back a couple of times and I like it, but Loons could be better. It’s a tad seedy at night, perhaps because cover bands remind me of movies where fights break out. The fact that only our group (who had sat down to drink and dine well before the cover band began) and what appeared to be a handful of regulars were the only people inside Loons that night shows you that everyone else knew something we didn’t.

Loons has old prints and dark red walls, which makes it rather attractive, and a shuffleboard table and a jukebox. While I was waiting for the rest of my group to show up, I found a loonie on the seat next to me, so I decided later to use it in the jukebox for a song (a dollar a song in a pub, no wonder people steal music) and because the cover band came on, I never heard my song. In summary, unless it’s patio weather, go elsewhere for your pint.

Number of visits by yours truly: three or four visits, most recently on a Friday evening in May 2012
TTC information: a four-minute ride southbound from Dundas West Station on the King or Dundas streetcars to Howard Park Avenue
Booze selection: 12 beers on tap including Strongbow cider and Magners in a can  (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: lots of sandwiches and wraps. The menu is online
Service staff: good
Prices: not bad
Toilets: not acceptable, but could have been worse 
Patio: west-facing and quite large, the best in the area
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: four
Live music: Fridays and it was a cover band the night we were there
Piped-in music: AC/DC, Pretenders, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five)

The Madison Avenue

The Madison Avenue (website, Twitter)
14 Madison Avenue, Toronto ON M5R 2S1 (on the east side, between Bloor Street East and Lowther Street, the nearest major intersection is Bloor Street West and Spadina Avenue) 416-927-1722
Google Maps

Your frat home away from home.

Ah, the Madison, or as some call it, the Maddy: a labyrinth of rooms entwining three Victorian houses together, poor service, and more pretty young things than a cougar would know what to do with. I went to the Madison with a friend who arrived early and was “kicked out” of the downstairs part as it didn’t open until nine (there were no signs) and then apparently sat for 20 minutes upstairs before being acknowledged by our waitress only moments before I arrived. Our waitress was pleasant, but it seemed there wasn’t quite enough servers for the crowds. And it was crowded! Almost dangerously so, and it was only seven when we left. I think my friend and I were the eldest people in the Madison by the time we managed to squeeze our way to the exit.

The Madison has pool tables that are poorly located next to the toilets making the facilities difficult to access as you politely wait for people to take their shots. There are dart boards, fireplaces, and interiors in the British style (meaning interior glass, velvet seats, etc.). The pub, located in the heart of the Annex, is open every day of the year and until two at night! Perhaps if I were in my early twenties, I would be in love with the Madison, instead I entrust this establishment to future generations of budding pub lovers as I probably won’t be back.

Number of visits by yours truly: second or third visit, most recently on a Friday afternoon in April 2012
TTC information: just a minute east from Spadina Station
Booze selection: 20 or so beers, including Magners cider (no Pimm’s). The website claims 150 draft taps, so those beers must have multiple taps
Food selection: no surprises
Service staff: see above for my friend’s adventures
Prices: reasonable
Toilets: very cramped
Patio: west-facing and rooftop, apparently it works out to five different patios on various levels
Wheelchair accessible: no way
Televisions: not as many as you’d expect, but we were in a quiet spot. According to the website, the pub has more than 50 televisions
Live music: Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, starting at ten
Piped-in music: not on when we were there

Rating: two and a half pints (out of five) 

Jester on Yonge

Jester on Yonge (Twitter)
1427 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4T 1Y7 (on the east side of Yonge Street, just south of St. Clair Avenue East) 416-323-3421
Google Maps 

The place to go for booze, glorious booze, at Yonge and St. Clair. 

I can’t quite remember the first time I went to the Jester on Yonge (meaning that it was a long time ago, not a night I can’t remember). For one of our earlier visits, our friend reserved the back room for a private gathering. We had the pool table and jukebox all to ourselves and we had a lovely evening. The only time the room was “invaded” by non-guests that night was by people looking for the board games that the private room has available. After our most recent visit, which was part of a three-part mini pub crawl (only one drink and snack at each establishment) of St. Clair and Yonge, my favourite drinking companion and I declared the Jester on Yonge to be the best of the three pubs we visited that day.

The Jester on Yonge is a long narrow pub with exposed brick walls, mirrors, and black and white photographs. There are booths, benches, and tables, and a lot of stools to be had around the bar. There are newspapers on Saturdays and there were two people dining alone the afternoon in question, which is always a good sign, in my opinion.

Note: there is the Court Jester on the Danforth, so make sure you and your fellow boozehounds know where you are gathering.

Number of visits by yours truly: my fourth or fifth, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in April 2012
TTC information: a one-minute walk south of St. Clair Station
Booze selection: about 30 international and domestic beers, including Strongbow cider (no Pimm’s, but our server knew what it was)
Food selection: Tex-Mex, pasta, a decent variety and served until one in the morning most nights (until midnight on Sundays and Mondays)
Service staff: busy
Prices: expensive for booze, $8.19 for Boddingtons/Old Speckled Hen
Toilets: downstairs and less than fresh
Patio: small, west-facing and on Yonge
Wheelchair accessible: yes, but the toilets are downstairs, so I don’t think this is accessible
Televisions: nine!
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: very low, the only song I could make out was “Veronica” by Elvis Costello

Rating: four pints (out of five) 

The Bull and Firkin

The Bull and Firkin (website, Twitter)
1835 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4S 1X8 (on the east side, between Balliol Street and Merton Street, the nearest major intersection is Davisville Avenue and Yonge Street) 416-485-2290
Google Maps

Good for a pint after swooning over graves of the famous at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. 

I’ve been to the Bull and Firkin a number of times over the years as we used to live nearby and as we have a number of friends who still live in the area. In terms of sitting, it has lots of booths, including seating for groups of six, but for larger groups, you are really only in luck if you get seating at the back, near the toilets. It has happened a few times that we have been part of a larger party gathering at that pub and have had to ask diners in that coveted area if they would mind moving up or down a few tables so that we can accommodate our numbers (these diners have always been gracious about this request, so that is a good reflection on the pub).

The Bull and Firkin is a sport bar, plain and simple. It has two dart boards, two pool tables, and at least two arcade games. The televisions, which are everywhere, show sporting events. Knowing this, I have even looked up the Maple Leafs’ schedule to avoid going to the pub when games are on. I remember going to the pub one evening in April a few years ago and being almost unable to converse with my companions because the noise was so loud.

And now a semi-regular feature of my blog: Toronto’s history. As mentioned in the dek, the Bull and Firkin is close to Mount Pleasant Cemetery, which is “home” to, among others:

• Banting and Best (but not together)
• Timothy Eaton
• Mary Fortune (Titanic survivor)
• Glenn Gould
• Foster Hewitt
• William Lyon Mackenzie King
• Oliver Mowat
• Alexander Muir
• Egerton Ryerson

Number of visits by yours truly: two dozen or so, most recently on a Saturday evening in October 2011
TTC information: just south of Davisville Station
Booze selection: 16 beers, including Strongbow cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: standard Firkin pub grub with lots of sandwiches and wraps
Service staff: pleasant and friendly
Prices: decent
Toilets: just two for the ladies, which isn’t quite enough given the size of the bar
Patio: on the street facing west
Wheelchair accessible: no!
Televisions: I counted seven from where I was sitting and all of them were showing a “vulgar sporting event”
Live music: I forgot to ask, but I doubt it given the layout of the pub as there are pillars and booths in the way
Piped-in music: sports was on, so music was off. There is a jukebox

Rating: three and half pints (out of five)

The Duke of Somerset

The Duke of Somerset (website, Twitter)
655 Bay Street, Toronto ON M5G 2K4 (on the east side, between Elm Street and Walton Street, the nearest major intersection is Bay Street and Dundas Street West) 416-640-0921
Google Maps

Great for a beer after work!  

My merry band and I have been going to the Duke of Somerset a lot lately to play PubStumpers. However, the latest season is now over and we have decided to rest on our laurels, so I won’t be going back for a while.

The Duke of Somerset has a very business-like crowd, not surprising given its location. It has a lot of booths, which is nice if you like booths, but if there are six of you, announcing you need to use the facilities results in a lot of bother. There are a few benches and chairs with movable tables, but these are few and far between. Keep this in mind if you have a huge group (ten or more), because the pub isn’t really designed for large gatherings. If you are sensitive to smoke, do not sit in the booth that is directly to your right as you walk in the main door. I had the misfortune to sit there once and had the second-hand smoke from the patio repeatedly wash over me.

Number of visits by yours truly: three dozen or so visits, most recently on a weekday evening in November 2011
TTC information: equidistant between Dundas Station and St. Patrick Station
Booze selection: standard Duke pub selection of approximately 35 beers, including Strongbow and Magners ciders. They have Pimm’s!
Food selection: standard Duke pub grub
Service staff: like all Duke pubs it can be hit or miss. If you are lucky you might get Becky, who is very good!
Prices: expensive like all Duke pubs
Toilets: clean
Patio: large portico style on the west side of the building, so not a lot of direct sunlight
Wheelchair accessible: the pub itself is accessible through the office tower at 655 Bay Street, however, I don’t know if this building is open the same hours as the pub. I’d call ahead
Televisions: several, often showing the same sports show on multiple screens
Live music: Wednesdays
Piped-in music: Katy Perry and company

Rating: four pints (out of five)

The Local

The Local (website, Twitter)
396 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto ON M6R 2M9 (on the east side, between Howard Park Avenue and Marmaduke Street, the nearest major intersection is Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas Street West) 416-535-6225
Google Maps

Perfect for a pint before or after a show at the Revue Theatre or during a stroll along Roncesvalles.

This is a posting by my better half. Enjoy!

Opinion is divided on the subject of whether children ought to be welcome in the pubs of the nation. On one side are those who see no problem with bringing children into drinking establishments. On the other side are the right-minded, who correctly find it abhorrent. A pub ought to be a sanctuary, offering a respite from the whining, screaming, and intrusiveness of kid-friendly establishments. The availability of a public space where one may over-lubricate oneself, blessedly free from the need to set a decent moral example for youth, is chief among the benefits of a polished civilization. Sadly, there are too few such spaces remaining.

It is with this in mind that I offer my assessment of The Local, a perfectly acceptable little establishment on Roncesvalles: its only flaw worth remarking is the lamentable number of couples with children one will tend to find there. On the other hand, I suppose they can’t be held solely responsible for what seems to be a disappointingly common phenomenon among Roncesvalles’ young(ish) hipsters, who seem to want to display their children and other fashionable accessories to an admiring world.

Clientele aside, The Local offers a decent selection of Canadian microbrews, including Ironwood cider, which one doesn’t often find. One of my more recent visits was as part of a Friday pub crawl with some friends from work. One of the friends I was with ordered an Ironwood, which he subsequently described as tasting like Jolly Rancher candy. He couldn’t finish it, so he asked the server if he could order something else, saying that he would of course pay for the unfinished cider in any case. Instead, the server brought him a new drink and insisted on not charging for the cider, which was very nice of him (it turns out that it was his first day). In terms of food, on this visit all the menu items were cold plates. I had the ploughman’s lunch, which came with some very good artisanal cheeses. On my next visit I was presented with a completely different menu. It turns out that the cold plates were due to an electrical problem in the kitchen, which meant nothing could be made that required cooking. This is now fixed. It must be said that as I had no idea there was a problem in the kitchen is to The Local’s credit.

The decor is old hardwood floors and lots of exposed brick. Here and there the walls are decorated with retro ephemera such old 1960s board games and album covers. There is a brick patio in the back where I sat on my most recent visit. Though small, it is quite comfortable, with a mass of climbing ivy conveniently beautifying what would otherwise be an ugly fire escape.

Number of visits by yours truly: four or five visits, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in September 2011
TTC information: a four-minute ride southbound from Dundas West Station on the King or Dundas streetcars to Howard Park Avenue
Booze selection: 13 beers, Ironwood cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: basic, but rather interesting selections, such as Bombay poutine
Service staff: very friendly
Prices: moderate
Toilets: downstairs, dingy, but clean enough
Patio: west-facing and rather small
Wheelchair accessible: nope
Televisions: nope
Live music: practically every night except Fridays. See their event calendar for bands
Piped-in music: The Ramones, Patti Smith

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five)

Stout Irish Pub

Stout Irish Pub (website, Twitter)
221 Carlton Street, Toronto ON M5A 2L2 (on the south side, between Parliament Street and Berkeley Street, the nearest major intersection is Carlton Street and Parliament Street) 647-344-7676
Google Maps 

Don’t believe the hype.

I went to Stout as our regular PubStumpers pub was repeating a season of trivia and we wanted to try somewhere new. I wanted to like Stout — I really did — as it has a cozy fireplace with slippers and a games night with Scrabble and other classics on Mondays, but Stout was not for me.

There are a few reasons I won’t be going back. First, they serve “Irish Car Bombs.” I have no problem with the drink itself, but the fact they listed it on their menu shows just utter insensitivity. Next, there was aggressive marketing concerning PubStumpers, which has not happened at the other places I have been to as we were asked for our email addresses and extra points were given for the most enthusiastic team. (Seriously? This ain’t high school, this is supposed to be fun.) Finally, the service was slow, my meal arrived five minutes after everyone else’s at our table, and at the end of the evening there was a mistake on our bill, naturally not in our favour.

According to NOW, Stout was voted the best pub in Toronto for 2014. I weep into my cider for those who voted for this farce. You, my poor dears, obviously don’t get out enough. Also, they don’t seem to run Pubstumpers here anymore according to the Pubstumpers website.

Number of visits by yours truly: first — and my last — on a Tuesday evening in July 2011
TTC information: a three-minute ride southbound from Castle Frank Station on the Parliament bus or take the streetcar from College Station eastbound, which will drop you after a four-minute ride at Parliament
Booze selection: 45 beers, with a taster tray, so you can try any four. They also serve Screech, single malt Scotches, cider, and lots of mixed drinks (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: I overheard one patron say that the chicken wings were “some of the best wings [he’d] ever had.” We ordered them; they were good, but not great and according to my favourite dining companion, the food was rather bland
Service staff: slow (see above)
Prices: expensive, $2.75 for ginger ale (!)
Toilets: downstairs, cramped, and only two stalls in the ladies’
Patio: west-facing
Wheelchair accessible: no as toilets downstairs and the entrance level was very, very crowded with seating
Televisions: three that I could see
Live music: Irish kalee on Sundays, cabaret on Wednesdays
Piped-in music: Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles

Rating: two (out of five) 

Mill St. Brew Pub

Mill St. Brew Pub (website, Twitter)
55 Mill Street, Building 63, Toronto ON M5A 3C4 (between Trinity Street and Cherry Street, on the south side of the lane just south of Mill Street, the nearest major intersection is Parliament Street and Front Street East) 416-681-0338
Google Maps

Perfect for a pint after an afternoon in the Distillery District or before a SoulPepper production.

Is there any sweeter word in the English language than “pub”? Inspector Morse’s favourite word — if my memory serves me well — was “unbuttoned,” and the Marquise de Merteuil’s favourite was “cruelty” (translated from the French, of course). What I am getting at is that after a hard day of window shopping, and after a gruelling week off work, the word “pub” lightens one step and brings joy to one’s heart.

Mill St. Brew Pub was a lovely way to end our day at the Distillery District. Keeping in tone with the rest of the area, the pub itself has exposed brickwork, painted inside, and wooden floors. There are bookcases, framed beer mats, and it’s very bright due to the skylights. In the middle of the pub itself is a brewery behind glass windows, which you can tour. My husband’s beer was served in an old-fashioned mug and I had ginger-flavoured beer, which could have been more gingery, but I am not complaining! The pub also has a store (not open the same hours as the pub itself), which alas did not sell the ginger-flavoured beer on its own.

Number of visits by yours truly: my first, but not my last, on a Friday afternoon in early August 2011
TTC information: a five-minute (that’s what the TTC itinerary says) ride eastbound from King Station on the King streetcar to Trinity Street or take the bus from Castle Frank Station (the 65 Parliament), which will drop you after a 12-minute ride at Front and Parliament
Booze selection: 12 beers — all Mill St. naturally — and you can get tasting trays of beer, so we had one. There are also a number of coolers, wines, martinis, and Waupoos cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: interesting, pub fare pumped up a notch
Service staff: pleasant
Prices: considering the area, it’s reasonable
Toilets: all right, a little messy
Patio: north and west. The north was a traditional patio, while the south was funky
Wheelchair accessible: yes
Televisions: too many! Reminded us of an upscale Jack Astor’s
Live music: no
Piped-in music: Sloan, CCR, INXS, Mr. Bowie

Rating: four and a half pints (out of five)

The Rebel House

The Rebel House (website, Twitter)
1068 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M4W 2L4 (on the west side, between Gibson Avenue and Roxborough Avenue West, the nearest intersection is Yonge Street and Alymer Avenue) 416-927-0704
Google Maps

The place to go for tourists (and their hosts) who want to try a truly Canadian pub.

I’ve been coming to the Rebel House for years because it’s convenient and it’s good. I remember one time ordering a wild boar dish, loving it so much that I ordered it again and had seconds then and there! Alas, I don’t think they have that item anymore, but that might be a good thing. I like the food a lot, so when we did a three-part pub crawl in early July 2011, I suggested that we eat at the Rebel House as I was sure our meal would not disappoint. The Rebel House is located in an old building that was likely around during the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837, which the pub is named in honour. The pub’s logo of the hanged man probably commemorates Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews, who were both hanged for their parts in the Rebellion of 1837.

The pub’s seating is very cramped, but that’s my only complaint (perhaps it would not be so cramped if I didn’t order seconds!). The walls are covering with horns of deceased beasties, Krieghoff prints, mirrors, and old etchings. They have a lovely stained glass sign upstairs in the window.

Update 2014.03.21: I tried to make a reservation for 16 people upstairs on a Saturday afternoon and they don’t take reservations. Fine, but when I explained that I wanted the upstairs for a sewing group, I was informed that I would have to rent the entire floor and pay $3,000. I nearly hung up on the server. Some places need to take themselves a little less seriously.

Number of visits by yours truly: a dozen or so, most recently on a Saturday night in early July 2011
TTC information: Rosedale Station. The pub is northwest of the insertion from Rosedale Station, however, you don’t want to crossed north and then west as the intersection only allows pedestrian crossing on the south side, which is annoying and dangerous
Booze selection: more than 30 in bottles and on draught, including Waupoos cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: local (i.e. Canadian) in focus, with meals featuring elk, moose, and buffalo, and barley risotto. They also have pickled eggs! (The menu is online)
Service staff: very good
Prices: expensive, but I think you get your money’s worth
Toilets: very cramped in the basement. There is a unisex toilet upstairs that is a little better
Patio: west and very nice with heating lamps and a parachute cover to protect patrons from the blazing sun
Wheelchair accessible: no
Televisions: we were sitting outside, I think there is one over the bar
Live music: nope
Piped-in music: we were sitting outside so there was no music

Rating: five pints (out of five)

Axis Gallery and Grill

Axis Gallery and Grill (Twitter)
3048 Dundas Street West, Toronto ON M6P 1Z3 (on the north side, at the corner of McMurray Avenue,  the nearest major intersection is Keele Street and Dundas Street West) 416-604-3333
Google Maps 

A lovely patio in the Junction. 

During the winter, the Axis, which is a pub in the loosest sense of the word, is warm and dimly lit by candles. While in the summer, the patio is packed, the inside is deserted, and every customer seems to either have a child or a dog in tow. The interior is decorated with photographs and art for sale and there is a party room downstairs with a ping-pong table.

On my most recent visit, a woman — presumably the manager — was standing in the patio entrance glaring at our server, willing him to be quicker, but had she come out to the busy patio herself to clean the empty tables and distribute menus, he would have been able to serve more people more quickly and everyone would have been happy. They also have those mobile credit card units without the disclaimer about the tip percentage option being based on the total including taxes, not the subtotal excluding taxes.

If meeting up with friends, keep in mind that there is the Axis Gastro Pub, located on Bloor near Bathurst.

Number of visits by yours truly: three or four times, most recently on a Saturday afternoon in late May 2011. I doubt I’ll be back anytime soon
TTC information: take the Dundas West (Junction) bus north from Dundas West Station (seven-minute journey)
Booze selection: 13 beers, including Strongbow cider (no Pimm’s)
Food selection: straightforward with pasta and sandwiches. The menu is poorly edited. I have never eaten there as our foodie friends live nearby. What’s the point in eating at Axis when you can dine on dishes lovingly prepared by superb cooks, food that would make angels weep?
Service staff: v-e-r-y  s-l-o-w (see above)
Prices: expensive for booze, mid-range for food
Toilets: the dead spider entombed in its own cobweb had been removed since my last visit
Patio: on the west side with trees, but they offered scant coverage from the sun
Wheelchair accessible: no way!
Televisions: four and two behind the bar
Live music: open jam on Tuesday nights, dee-jay on Friday night, patio playing during weekend brunch, Saturday has live music
Piped-in music: jazz

Rating: three and a half pints (out of five) 

Sarah’s Café and Bar

Sarah’s Café and Bar (website, Twitter)
1426 Danforth Avenue, Toronto ON M4J 1N4 (on the north side, at the corner of Monarch Park Avenue, the nearest major intersection is Coxwell Avenue and Danforth Avenue) 416-406-3121
Google Maps 

A diamond in the rough. 

Similar to our odyssey to the Gull and Firkin, my husband had hurt his Achilles tendon and was having difficulty walking. A friend had recommended the One in the Only Cafe on the Danforth to us, so we decided to check it out. We walked out after five minutes of sitting in the dark and being ignored by the staff. Perhaps we weren’t hip enough? We then went east to Seanachai, which used to be The Hargrave, which was closed that Sunday afternoon. We pressed our faces against the dirty windows and it looked like it was no longer in business (it’s now Rails and Ales). The one time we had been there, they weren’t serving food, even though it was dinnertime. On we trod and decided to go with something reliable.

Sarah’s is a diamond in the rough, near dives/greasy spoons/regulars-only places called Big Ronnie’s and Jane’s Happy Bar. Sarah’s follows the trend in that it has a person’s name in its title, but the similarities end there. Sarah’s is the type of place you could take your date or your mum. (Let’s put it this way, one of the times I was in Sarah’s, I was sitting beside a lesbian couple who were quietly dividing their assets post break-up.) I’ve been to Sarah’s a number of times over the years and it’s always a good time for me, not necessarily my nearby seating companions.

Sarah’s is very bohemian with big windows, lots of cushions, velvet-covered lampshades, and tables with fancy inlay. Strangely, it doesn’t look like the interior shots on the website, which seems misleading. The kitchen is front and centre, so you can try to see the progress of your dinner order. The place can get very busy late at night, but there is also a room in the back, so check that to see if there might be a spot for your group.

Number of visits by yours truly: five or six, most recently on a Sunday afternoon in early June 2011
TTC information: Greenwood Station or Coxwell Station. Looking at the map, it’s equidistant between the two
Booze selection: lots and lots to choose from, 13 on taps and 70 in bottles — with a Belgian focus — including pear cider (no Pimm’s). Like most places that boast a selection this large, be sure to have a back-up choice when ordering. They also have an extensive wine list
Food selection: the fancier and eclectic end of pub grub, such as cheese platters and mussels, but not a lot of selection. Apparently, Sarah’s also does catering
Service staff: very friendly, but can be slow
Prices: expensive
Toilets: two unisex and both leave something to be desired. The wheelchair-access toilet is better than the all-access one, in there my friend hit her head on the hand dryer as she was standing up.  My beloved grandmother would not have approved
Patio: two, one to the west and one to the south of building. The west one has a cover and both are of a decent size
Wheelchair accessible: one of the toilets is accessible with railings
Televisions: one in the back room that I have never seen turned on
Live music: open mic every Sunday afternoon
Piped-in music: The Smiths

Rating: five pints (out of five)