Hello all. I am hoping you can help me.
I will be in Toronto for a week in late July. I really want to try out a few of the best pubs and brewpubs in Toronto.
I love English style ales, prferably cask conditioned. Can anyone help me out with a few recommendations?
I am staying at the Delta Chelsea(Gerrard St) so hopefully something convenient to that or a subway ride. Also, I'll have my wife and kids with me so something we can all eat at too. Outside is great weather permitting.
In other words, pubs or resturants with a decent menu serving good local or imported English style ales!
I noticed that only 4 brewpubs are listed on this site as being located in Toronto( and 2 are shown as closed!) say it ain't so! Are there really only 2 operating in a city like Toronto?
Thnaks in advance.
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Toronto pub/beer/brewpub info needed for forthcoming visit..
Hi, WeaselCat...
Sadly, it is indeed true that there are only two brewpubs currently operating in Toronto - and only one of them (<a href="http://www.granitebrewery.ca/">The Granite</a>) actually brews on site. The house brews at the other (<a href="http://www.cestwhat.com/">C'est What</a>) are still decent, but they are contract brewed at County Durham, a brewery just outside of the city.
There is one other place that is sort of a brewpub - The Amsterdam on King St. West. I say "sort of" because on paper, the brewery and the bar are seperate entities, which is the only way that the brewery can bottle and sell their beer off-site.
Anyway, if you're looking for some English style ales and some good food, both the Granite and C'est What would fit the bill. The Granite specializes in British style ales in fact, and one of them is dry-hopped and cask conditioned. C'est What also has a cask ale amongst their house beers, and offers a great selection of other microbrews and imports on tap and in bottles.
One word of warning though - due to Toronto's smoking bylaws, children under 19 are not allowed at most bars/pubs. C'est What definately doesn't allow kids, and I think the Granite has the same situation. The only good beer bar in Toronto that is always smoke-free - and therefore, open to families - is Smokeless Joe, but the food selection there is somewhat minimal.
Greg
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: GregClow on 2003-06-17 16:00 ]</font>
Sadly, it is indeed true that there are only two brewpubs currently operating in Toronto - and only one of them (<a href="http://www.granitebrewery.ca/">The Granite</a>) actually brews on site. The house brews at the other (<a href="http://www.cestwhat.com/">C'est What</a>) are still decent, but they are contract brewed at County Durham, a brewery just outside of the city.
There is one other place that is sort of a brewpub - The Amsterdam on King St. West. I say "sort of" because on paper, the brewery and the bar are seperate entities, which is the only way that the brewery can bottle and sell their beer off-site.
Anyway, if you're looking for some English style ales and some good food, both the Granite and C'est What would fit the bill. The Granite specializes in British style ales in fact, and one of them is dry-hopped and cask conditioned. C'est What also has a cask ale amongst their house beers, and offers a great selection of other microbrews and imports on tap and in bottles.
One word of warning though - due to Toronto's smoking bylaws, children under 19 are not allowed at most bars/pubs. C'est What definately doesn't allow kids, and I think the Granite has the same situation. The only good beer bar in Toronto that is always smoke-free - and therefore, open to families - is Smokeless Joe, but the food selection there is somewhat minimal.
Greg
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: GregClow on 2003-06-17 16:00 ]</font>
WeaselCat - Greg has hit the nail on the head - after reading your post I was planning on replying immediately and read Greg's post and he's stolen my thunder!
Not to be too repetitve, but in order to add some more credibility and confidence (and perhaps some additional info for you).
re: C'est What? - This is my favorite beer bar, I'd recommend Al's Cask Ale, it is a fantastic beer, with a uniquely hoppy flavour. Although your kids wouldn't be able to eat here, what you could do would be to plan a lunch/dinner at the Old Spaghetti factory, a great big family restaurant with reasonable prices which is just around the corner on the Esplanada, then perhaps could nip over to C'est What? for a quick pint. Also immediately beside the Old Spaghetti Factory is the Bier Market (sp?) - You can probably pass on it though, the do have a VERY wide selection of bottled beer, but in my opinion it's mostly about sizzle, and not much about steak. You can find out more about C'est What at their web site - http://www.cestwhat.com
Regarding the Granite Brewery, as mentioned, it is non-smoking so you should DEFINATELY plan a family dinner there, for your first pint I'd strongly recommend the Best Bitter, Dry-Hopped - I agree that this is one of the best beers in Canada, it's fantastic - This and Al's Cask from C'est What are my 2 favorites for sure... The Granite also has a web site you can check out - http://www.granitebrewery.ca - You might have a bit of a tougher time getting up to the Granite, if you were going to take the Subway you could ride it up to Eglinton and then it's about a 10 minute walk East across Eglinton to Mount Pleasant, and/or you could probably get a cab for $15-$20...
I hope you enjoy your stay! Do you also want some bottle recommendations - where abouts are you coming from? We might be able to give you suggestions of which beer/liquor store to hit, so that you can enjoy a few bottles back at your hotel room too!
Not to be too repetitve, but in order to add some more credibility and confidence (and perhaps some additional info for you).
re: C'est What? - This is my favorite beer bar, I'd recommend Al's Cask Ale, it is a fantastic beer, with a uniquely hoppy flavour. Although your kids wouldn't be able to eat here, what you could do would be to plan a lunch/dinner at the Old Spaghetti factory, a great big family restaurant with reasonable prices which is just around the corner on the Esplanada, then perhaps could nip over to C'est What? for a quick pint. Also immediately beside the Old Spaghetti Factory is the Bier Market (sp?) - You can probably pass on it though, the do have a VERY wide selection of bottled beer, but in my opinion it's mostly about sizzle, and not much about steak. You can find out more about C'est What at their web site - http://www.cestwhat.com
Regarding the Granite Brewery, as mentioned, it is non-smoking so you should DEFINATELY plan a family dinner there, for your first pint I'd strongly recommend the Best Bitter, Dry-Hopped - I agree that this is one of the best beers in Canada, it's fantastic - This and Al's Cask from C'est What are my 2 favorites for sure... The Granite also has a web site you can check out - http://www.granitebrewery.ca - You might have a bit of a tougher time getting up to the Granite, if you were going to take the Subway you could ride it up to Eglinton and then it's about a 10 minute walk East across Eglinton to Mount Pleasant, and/or you could probably get a cab for $15-$20...
I hope you enjoy your stay! Do you also want some bottle recommendations - where abouts are you coming from? We might be able to give you suggestions of which beer/liquor store to hit, so that you can enjoy a few bottles back at your hotel room too!
Thanks for the replies-very helpful if not heartening?
Yes, definitely let me know where to get good bottled beer. Need some for the hotel. Would like some good local or semi-local ales, and maybe a place to get good English imports also.
I may be a little spoiled in this area. I live in Cincinnati USA which is not nearly in Toronto's category as far as cosmopolitan activities, things to do, entertainment, etc. In short there is just a lot more going on in Toronto.
But I am lucky enough to have 2 tremendous beer stores, both stocking about 800-1000 different kinds, both within a 15 minute drive, plus about 5 brewpubs.
What is there for me in Toronto as far as good pubs/eats or brewpubs either near the Delat Chelsea hotel, or accessible by subway?
What neighborhood of Toronto is the Delta considered to be in?
Could I drive to Granite? I'll have a car.
Thanks
WC
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: WeaselCat on 2003-06-18 09:32 ]</font>
Yes, definitely let me know where to get good bottled beer. Need some for the hotel. Would like some good local or semi-local ales, and maybe a place to get good English imports also.
I may be a little spoiled in this area. I live in Cincinnati USA which is not nearly in Toronto's category as far as cosmopolitan activities, things to do, entertainment, etc. In short there is just a lot more going on in Toronto.
But I am lucky enough to have 2 tremendous beer stores, both stocking about 800-1000 different kinds, both within a 15 minute drive, plus about 5 brewpubs.
What is there for me in Toronto as far as good pubs/eats or brewpubs either near the Delat Chelsea hotel, or accessible by subway?
What neighborhood of Toronto is the Delta considered to be in?
Could I drive to Granite? I'll have a car.
Thanks
WC
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: WeaselCat on 2003-06-18 09:32 ]</font>
Good to know! I've only been there once (going north of Bloor is an adventure for me...), and I didn't remember whether they allowed smoking or not.On 2003-06-17 20:01, Publican wrote:
Greg was mistaken the Granite is totally non smoking and threfore allows children.
I have a beer-loving friend who is often looking for places that he can go with his kid, so I'll have to mention this to him.
Greg
Well, I'm not sure how familiar you are with the liquor laws in Ontario, but basically, the only places to buy beer are at government-run liquor stores (www.lcbo.com) and at the semi-monopolistic Beer Store (www.beerstore.ca) which is co-owned by Canada's three largest breweries but sells the products of other breweries as well.On 2003-06-18 09:31, WeaselCat wrote:
Yes, definitely let me know where to get good bottled beer. Need some for the hotel. Would like some good local or semi-local ales, and maybe a place to get good English imports also.
The Beer Store specializes primarily in Canadian macro & micro beers, with a so-so selection of imports. Most of the stores have counter service - you go in, look at a wall of bottles, place your order at a counter, and your order comes out of the back room on a conveyor - very strange to most non-Canadians, but it is a hold-over from when our liquor laws were even stricter then they are now. They've started opening some self-serve stores in the last few years, and one of them is located on the east side of Yonge Street a couple of blocks north of Wellesley, which is fairly close to your hotel.
The LCBO offers a much better selection of imports, plus some Canadian micros that aren't available at the Beer Store. The selection varies from store to store, with the best selection in Toronto generally available at the Summerhill store (just south of the Summerhill subway station on the Yonge line) and the Cooper Street store (at Cooper & Queen's Quay, a block or two east of Yonge).
In this case, I don't epxect you'll find too much to be excited about in our stores. But you never know.But I am lucky enough to have 2 tremendous beer stores, both stocking about 800-1000 different kinds, both within a 15 minute drive
The Chelsea is right in the middle of downtown, just a block or so from Yonge Street which is considered Toronto's main street. There is no real name for the neighborhood except for "downtown".What is there for me in Toronto as far as good pubs/eats or brewpubs either near the Delat Chelsea hotel, or accessible by subway?
What neighborhood of Toronto is the Delta considered to be in?
You're also a block or so from Unversity Avenue, aka Hospital Row, so watch out for the SARS!
(Just kidding, it's not even close to as bad as the American media has been making it seem...)I can't think of any really decent pubs with a good beer selection that are within a couple of blocks of the Chelsa. But our transit system - subway, streetcar & buses - is quite good, and there are taxis everywhere, so you shouldn't have too much getting around. Check out http://www.ttc.ca for more info on the public transit system, including maps.
Sure, you could. Just head over to Yonge Street, go north to Eglinton, and east a few blocks to Mount Pleasant. But taking the subway (your hotel is a couple of blocks from College Station) and walking from Eglinton Station might be faster depending on traffic.Could I drive to Granite? I'll have a car.
Greg
Probably the best LCBO (Liquor Store) that I know of near the downtown area is the one down off of Queen's Quay:
LCBO Store # 217:
QUEENS QUAY & YONGE
2 COOPER STREET,
QUEEN'S QUAY,
TORONTO-CENTRAL.
M5E1A4
Phone: (416) 864-6777
Fax: (416) 864-6863
They have a pretty decent beer selection since they have the 'Vintages' corner, now you won't get nearly the 800-1000 varieties you might expect from back home, but this will be about as good as you can expect, and hey, you're only going to be in town for a few days, so if you can find a few 6-packs of something you haven't had before, you'll be alright!
If you check out http://www.Mapquest.com you can get maps & driving directions for all of the stores & pubs that we've mentioned so far...
If you're into good old fashioned (and BIG) burgers, another place you might want to take a drive out to is Dangerous Dan's Diner - It's absolutely nothing fancy, but they have some seriously HUGE burgers and some good beer on tap:
Address: 714 Queen East Toronto (Just East of the DVP)
Phone: (416) 463-7310
Lastly, depending on the ages of your kids, if you want to enjoy a non-beer related dinner, you might want to check out the Rainforest Cafe, it's really a blast for kids - http://www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/vDetail.asp?id=65
LCBO Store # 217:
QUEENS QUAY & YONGE
2 COOPER STREET,
QUEEN'S QUAY,
TORONTO-CENTRAL.
M5E1A4
Phone: (416) 864-6777
Fax: (416) 864-6863
They have a pretty decent beer selection since they have the 'Vintages' corner, now you won't get nearly the 800-1000 varieties you might expect from back home, but this will be about as good as you can expect, and hey, you're only going to be in town for a few days, so if you can find a few 6-packs of something you haven't had before, you'll be alright!
If you check out http://www.Mapquest.com you can get maps & driving directions for all of the stores & pubs that we've mentioned so far...
If you're into good old fashioned (and BIG) burgers, another place you might want to take a drive out to is Dangerous Dan's Diner - It's absolutely nothing fancy, but they have some seriously HUGE burgers and some good beer on tap:
Address: 714 Queen East Toronto (Just East of the DVP)
Phone: (416) 463-7310
Lastly, depending on the ages of your kids, if you want to enjoy a non-beer related dinner, you might want to check out the Rainforest Cafe, it's really a blast for kids - http://www.rainforestcafe.com/RFC/vDetail.asp?id=65
-
Uncle Bobby
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: East End Toronto
- Contact:
WeaselCat,
Don't know why nobody else has mentioned them, but you may also want to try Smokeless Joe's on John St. (between Richmond and Adelaide Streets West), a tiny downstairs establishment in the entertainment district. The bar offers a number of unique, high quality beers, oysters and delicious pub food (although the cheese plates can be weak). Uncertain about the kid-friendliness -- even if the bar is smokeless, it is still very much a bar with small tables squeezed into a confined venue. *Handpumps* and Joe is a truly pleasant host who likes to chat with his customers. Small patio facing onto a street which is mad on Friday and Saturday nights.
Allen's on Danforth Ave. is great, has a big patio in the back, and offers loads of beers. I believe it is child-friendly. It's Irish-American in theme, and is a knock-off of Joe Allen's, the theatre eatery in New York and London. Café Brussel just opposite on the north side of Danforth Ave. has a Belgian theme and serves a million varieties of mussels, and steak and frites. It also offers a very reasonable selection of Belgians in bottles. Both are priced marginally more upscale, especially Café Brussel. And both are a 10 min. subway ride from your hotel -- Broadview stop.
For a night out for just you and your wife, try Starfish on Adelaide Street East near Jarvis. Loads of oysters, seafood menu, and a unique oyster stout on tap. The head oyster shucker and proprietor is currently the world champion shucker. He will show you the Waterford crystal bowl that he won in Ireland if you ask him nicely.
Maybe also try the Victory Café on Markham St. in the Annex. (Below Bloor, on the corner of Lennox. Bathurst subway stop.) Near the university with a robust menu priced for lefties and liberals. I was there on Tuesday, and the Toronto Environmental Alliance was upstairs celebrating the banning of lawn pesticides. Have also seen poetry readings and improv comedy upstairs. Kids are welcome everywhere except the main bar. Nice patio in a lovely residential neighbourhood: peaceful and covered by a canopy of trees.
And although it is not beer related, Toronto is great for "ethnic" food. You should plan on eating like a swine while you are here. Suggestions -- Go to Gerrard St. E. between Greenwood and Coxwell for more styles of Indian/Pakistani/South Asian food than you were aware existed. (Take the car, or the College/Carlton streetcar because parking there is tough. 15-20 mins. from downtown.) Gets frantic on weekends in summer with Indian families from other parts of Canada and the Great Lake states. Try Lahore Tikka Hut or BBQ Hut for North Indian style barbeque, tandoori. For great Chinese go to Swatow on the east side of Spadina just north of Dundas St. W. in the heart of No.1 Chinatown. (There are at least two other Chinatowns.) None of these restaurants are pretty, and your kids may not have sufficiently mature palates for the strong, diverse flavours. But the food is wonderful and they all serve Indian and Chinese lagers to boot.
Hope you enjoy yourselves.
-Uncle Bobby
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Uncle Bobby on 2003-06-19 13:09 ]</font>
Don't know why nobody else has mentioned them, but you may also want to try Smokeless Joe's on John St. (between Richmond and Adelaide Streets West), a tiny downstairs establishment in the entertainment district. The bar offers a number of unique, high quality beers, oysters and delicious pub food (although the cheese plates can be weak). Uncertain about the kid-friendliness -- even if the bar is smokeless, it is still very much a bar with small tables squeezed into a confined venue. *Handpumps* and Joe is a truly pleasant host who likes to chat with his customers. Small patio facing onto a street which is mad on Friday and Saturday nights.
Allen's on Danforth Ave. is great, has a big patio in the back, and offers loads of beers. I believe it is child-friendly. It's Irish-American in theme, and is a knock-off of Joe Allen's, the theatre eatery in New York and London. Café Brussel just opposite on the north side of Danforth Ave. has a Belgian theme and serves a million varieties of mussels, and steak and frites. It also offers a very reasonable selection of Belgians in bottles. Both are priced marginally more upscale, especially Café Brussel. And both are a 10 min. subway ride from your hotel -- Broadview stop.
For a night out for just you and your wife, try Starfish on Adelaide Street East near Jarvis. Loads of oysters, seafood menu, and a unique oyster stout on tap. The head oyster shucker and proprietor is currently the world champion shucker. He will show you the Waterford crystal bowl that he won in Ireland if you ask him nicely.
Maybe also try the Victory Café on Markham St. in the Annex. (Below Bloor, on the corner of Lennox. Bathurst subway stop.) Near the university with a robust menu priced for lefties and liberals. I was there on Tuesday, and the Toronto Environmental Alliance was upstairs celebrating the banning of lawn pesticides. Have also seen poetry readings and improv comedy upstairs. Kids are welcome everywhere except the main bar. Nice patio in a lovely residential neighbourhood: peaceful and covered by a canopy of trees.
And although it is not beer related, Toronto is great for "ethnic" food. You should plan on eating like a swine while you are here. Suggestions -- Go to Gerrard St. E. between Greenwood and Coxwell for more styles of Indian/Pakistani/South Asian food than you were aware existed. (Take the car, or the College/Carlton streetcar because parking there is tough. 15-20 mins. from downtown.) Gets frantic on weekends in summer with Indian families from other parts of Canada and the Great Lake states. Try Lahore Tikka Hut or BBQ Hut for North Indian style barbeque, tandoori. For great Chinese go to Swatow on the east side of Spadina just north of Dundas St. W. in the heart of No.1 Chinatown. (There are at least two other Chinatowns.) None of these restaurants are pretty, and your kids may not have sufficiently mature palates for the strong, diverse flavours. But the food is wonderful and they all serve Indian and Chinese lagers to boot.
Hope you enjoy yourselves.
-Uncle Bobby
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Uncle Bobby on 2003-06-19 13:09 ]</font>
-
Uncle Bobby
- Posts: 383
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: East End Toronto
- Contact:
Oh, and kids are allowed upstairs at the Duke of York, a British-y pub with a middling beer selection. It's on the corner of Prince Arthur and Bedford, just off Bloor St., and immediately north of the university. 1 min. walk from the St. George subway stop.
The menu of hearty, if slightly bland, pub grub would probably be popular with kids. It certainly is with the Canada/UK Board of Trade which holds periodic meetings there. Also occasional Mike Myers sightings.
3 min. walk away is another slightly plush spot to take the wife: labrasserie.ca, in a small courtyard just off Cumberland, east of Avenue Road. Belgian/continental cuisine, and a great selection of domestic drafts and imported bottles. Almost directly below the hotel where visiting Hollywood royalty often stay so have your camera ready. Romantic too -- the proprietor and host is Michelle, a knowledgeable and welcoming epicure who signs her posts to the Bar Towel with "Vive l'amour".
Bon appétit.
-Uncle Bobby
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Uncle Bobby on 2003-06-19 13:07 ]</font>
The menu of hearty, if slightly bland, pub grub would probably be popular with kids. It certainly is with the Canada/UK Board of Trade which holds periodic meetings there. Also occasional Mike Myers sightings.
3 min. walk away is another slightly plush spot to take the wife: labrasserie.ca, in a small courtyard just off Cumberland, east of Avenue Road. Belgian/continental cuisine, and a great selection of domestic drafts and imported bottles. Almost directly below the hotel where visiting Hollywood royalty often stay so have your camera ready. Romantic too -- the proprietor and host is Michelle, a knowledgeable and welcoming epicure who signs her posts to the Bar Towel with "Vive l'amour".
Bon appétit.
-Uncle Bobby
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Uncle Bobby on 2003-06-19 13:07 ]</font>
The Bishop & Belcher has a large window display directing people into the door to drink "Carlsberg, quite possibly the best beer in the world". I think that tells you about all you need to know about that place.On 2003-06-20 15:09, WeaselCat wrote:
What about Bow and Arrow? Someone recommended that to me along with The Bishop and Belcher and The Rebel House.
The Rebel House has a very good selection of primarily (or perhaps exclusively?) Ontario micros on tap. I'm not sure about their current smoking situation, though.
I've never been to the Bow & Arrow, but I've heard good things about it. Again, I'm not sure of their smoking/children policy.
Greg