Bar Hop 2 (Peter St)

[NRman]

i'm going to the Jets-leafs game tomorrow.
which BarHop do i choose pre-game?

[lister]

I've actually done that! I went to BH1 for lunch and found out that BH2 was opening that night so...

[napoleon]

I'll just say I'm giving BH2 a little more time to mature in the kitchen after my first visit during their opening week. Food was pretty uneven.

Their menu concept is also quite different. There are some sharable appetizer/tapas size plates. Then you move to sharable entrees in the $40 range like whole fish or "pig face" nachos. Then they have an utterly insane $100+ steak on the menu. Some things have got to go or be drastically improved, such as the scotch olive, which is a salty olive, wrapped in salty meat, and then fried in salty batter. It ended up tasting like a fried salt lick.

Beer is pretty good though...rather similar selection to the first BH. Interesting that they have a big space behind the bar for barrel aging.

Looking forward to a repeat visit in say a month.

[lister]

There's been some additions to the food menu. I was there for lunch yesterday and had the beef pepperettes and the fried chicken sandwich.

The steak is now $80.

I wish they did scotch eggs rather than olives.

[Craig]

I like the Scotch olive.

[Belgian]

The steak is now $80.

For flank steak? Yikes!

I just picked up a three-pound Porterhouse for $50, that's naturally-raised and decently marbled with a nice chunk of tenderloin on the one side of it. Beef prices have gone a bit haywire on cuts like Bavette and Flank, those used to be 'off cut' prices, about five a pound.

(Gonna grill sear then indirect heat to finish, thermometer.)

[lister]

The steak is now $80.

For flank steak? Yikes!

I just picked up a three-pound Porterhouse for $50, that's naturally-raised and decently marbled with a nice chunk of tenderloin on the one side of it. Beef prices have gone a bit haywire on cuts like Bavette and Flank, those used to be 'off cut' prices, about five a pound.

(Gonna grill sear then indirect heat to finish, thermometer.)

I don't recall what cut of steak it is. If it's anything like their steak specials at BH1, it's enough for two people.

I don't typically get steak in restaurants when I can cook them pretty well myself for a lot cheaper. I make a pretty good smoked marinated flank steak. I sometimes have exceptions occasionally for Barberians and Jacobs.

[Belgian]

That's not bad for two people, assuming a pound or more that's at least two eight-ounce servings. I can eat a pound myself though… bavette steak seared on cast iron with butter is amazing (and makes wonderful greasy smoke.)

[napoleon]

I just picked up a three-pound Porterhouse for $50, that's naturally-raised and decently marbled with a nice chunk of tenderloin on the one side of it. Beef prices have gone a bit haywire on cuts like Bavette and Flank, those used to be 'off cut' prices, about five a pound.

(Gonna grill sear then indirect heat to finish, thermometer.)

[OT] Where did you find the porterhouse? That sounds like a pretty good deal really. I like to sous vide it and then hit it with the cast iron personally. [/OT]

[Belgian]

Sanigans in Kensington Market is often my first stop. Yes not a bad deal, funny sometimes the best cuts are a decent value while nü-trendy stuff like oxtail or beef cheek has tripled in price.

[ritzkiss]

Stopped in and I think I could echo the unevenness of the food. Had a number of the sharing plates and nothing really stood out despite the unique concepts. Had the white fish which was deliciously done but the sauce and accompanying potatoes were subpar. Dessert was a little hit and miss too, but nice price points and size to try them both (two on there when we went). Good beer for sure, as expected, but definitely underwhelmed on the food. Atmosphere is much more wide open and spacious then BH1, but not really any more seating I don't think. Will have to try a little later on as they still work things out.

[Craig]

Stopped in and I think I could echo the unevenness of the food. Had a number of the sharing plates and nothing really stood out despite the unique concepts. Had the white fish which was deliciously done but the sauce and accompanying potatoes were subpar. Dessert was a little hit and miss too, but nice price points and size to try them both (two on there when we went). Good beer for sure, as expected, but definitely underwhelmed on the food. Atmosphere is much more wide open and spacious then BH1, but not really any more seating I don't think. Will have to try a little later on as they still work things out.

There are two more storeys to come for BH2. Second floor should open up sometime over the winter and the patio probably when it's warm and stuff.

[ritzkiss]

Stopped in and I think I could echo the unevenness of the food. Had a number of the sharing plates and nothing really stood out despite the unique concepts. Had the white fish which was deliciously done but the sauce and accompanying potatoes were subpar. Dessert was a little hit and miss too, but nice price points and size to try them both (two on there when we went). Good beer for sure, as expected, but definitely underwhelmed on the food. Atmosphere is much more wide open and spacious then BH1, but not really any more seating I don't think. Will have to try a little later on as they still work things out.

There are two more storeys to come for BH2. Second floor should open up sometime over the winter and the patio probably when it's warm and stuff.

Yeah, I had heard that. Sounds promising and I look forward to the increased seating in good beer bars in the city

[lister]

Bar Hop Peter St is finally launching their own brewed on site beers today.

Miracle Cure, Spanish Red, Tremolo (Ver. 2) & Purple Jesus

[lister]

In order of preference:

Spanish Red 5.5% 13oz Farmhouse blend with tart cherries, raspberries and blackberries

Tremolo II 6.2% 13oz Mixed-fermentation farmhouse ale

Miracle Cure 5.3% 15oz Saison

Purple Jesus 5.6% 13oz Red wine barrel-aged saison with fruit

I quite liked the Spanish Red. Tart with just the right amount of fruit flavour. The Purple Jesus seemed rather thin and watery to me.

Looking forward to more brews!