The Bar Towel

Went down for the official opening for the new room. Was a fun night, good food, good conversation. Tried a couple new beers (for me at least) C'est What's chocolate ale, and Neustadts 10W40, and Durham ESB. Played some pool (thanks to the bartender - never hurts to ask!) Thanks to Dan-D-Man for the game.

I like the new room. I think I will spend some time in there... but it will be for different reasons than the old room. It has a very different feel to it, but still retains the overall feel of C'est What. Well done.

If you haven't been down, go check it out, this place is by far my favourite beer bar in Toronto, and with all the new taps it's simply heavenly! One thing to watch out for though is now that all the taps are so dispersed, they don't have all of them on all of the menu's - So it might be worth strolling around to decide what you want...

Was in the new room last Sat. evening after a movie.

Beer selection was good and well-served. (Robinson's Black Cherry was schmecky, as was the Durham XXX.) And the reno looks nice, especially the set-up around the fireplace.

However there was undoubtedly a different feel to the room from the old place -- a lot newer basically, fewer broken down couches and no backgammon. But also the staff are younger and they are all wearing matching t-shirts...baseball t-shirts, like in a sports bar. Okay that's fine, but the guys were pouring the beers and the gals were serving the beers, a distinct difference.

And not only are there TVs, but the whole room's sound system is hooked into the TV. If you want to talk AND watch the game, it might be difficult.

Interesting departure for these guys. I wonder how it's going to work for them, particularly as they are running in absolute proximity (and by extension, close contrast) to their more established spaces. Do sportsbar people drink Ontario micros? (I know they should, but do they? Eg. I was snickered at last night while enjoying a pop in the parking lot after my own game for saying that I liked Gritstone.)

The new space was relatively empty on Saturday, whereas we were going to have to wait for a table in the old part. Let's see.

And good luck to the C'est What guys. Once again, it is a nice reno, and the beer selection is without comparison. Heck, I may even go back to watch a hockey game myself. After all there are few other sports bars in the neighbourhood, and C'est What is my local...!!

-Uncle Bobby

Sheryl & I popped by C'est What today for lunch, and the new room was open, so we sat in there. They've done an amazing job - the fireplace nook is especially nice - and it looks similar enough to the other side to feel like the same place, but different enough to feel sort of like a different place, if that makes any sense.

The TVs weren't on while we were there, but I think that they are very well placed. Unlike a lot of bars that have TVs, they don't have one facing you everywhere you turn, so if you want to watch the game you can sit in the middle area, and if you don't you can sit in the north end of the room.

If they decide to show Leafs games, I may break my general rule about not going to bars to watch sporting events and head down there for a couple of pints during the playoffs.