The Mugshot Tavern
Posted on July 18, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in High Park
5 stars
- The High Park neighbourhood is near-void of good places to grab a pint. Well, it was until The Mugshot Tavern opened anyways… The Mugshot easily provides the perfect answer to filling that void, and then some. Truly nice owners, delicious food, and a killer environment, this place takes the neighbourhood bar way beyond what it’s expected to be.
If the Mugshot doesn’t have the best draft selection in a 10 km radius, it certainly has the most well-thought-out one. These guys obviously love beer, and more obviously is that they’ve put a ton of thought into what is being pulled from the taps. It’s all craft beer, and some interesting stuff at that. Chances are they have a few you’ve never even heard of, like the King Pilsner and Warthog Ale. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that they’re probably one of only a handful of places in the city with either on tap. Don’t expect to find Canadian or Blue here; what they offer is much more creative than any of that stuff.
The food, and the entire menu for that matter, is equally well-thought out. It’s a killer mix of Southern-soul and comfort food, and they do a dam fine job of pulling it off. You can expect to find Southern favorites, like fried chicken with fritters, and some not so expected ones, like in-house-made corn dogs with chutney. The presentation is pretty decent too and again, goes beyond the typical bar stuff. It’s pretty obvious that the people manning the kitchen know what the hell they’re doing back there. Rarely do I go to a restaurant and have difficulty deciding what to order; at The Mugshot I was torn between a few items.
They’ve done a dam good job of ridding the place of all remnants of the defunct McKenzies that used to take up the place. They’ve clearly spent a lot of time, thought, and energy turning it into something completely new. The environment, painted in bright red and tactfully covered in old-school, famous mugshot photos, is easily the kind of space you could hang out for a long, long time. It’s comfortable and welcoming, the way a neighbourhood local should be. Despite not being an overly large place, it still accommodates nicely, and any excess people can spill onto their cozy rooftop patio.
And the staff at Mugshot? They couldn’t be any friendly. Having only been open about a week or so, you’d never know it by their attitudes. Likely working long hours, round-the-clock, getting the place ready and established, they’re still sociable, out-going, and friendly. I sure-as-hell didn’t feel like a stranger in this joint, and I don’t think anyone with even the teeniest bit of personality would either. Even coming in by yourself is sure to get you some conversation.
It’s clear that, after just opening, they’re still trying to establish their crowd. It’s still sorta random as to the people that might be in there. While one day the bar could be full of seniors, that evening it could be packed with a younger crowd. It seems to be dependent on the time of day, but it’s also, unfortunately, the way the neighbourhood seems to work. Customers are sorta like family; you can’t really pick ‘em.
The Mugshot isn’t just the kind of place you sit, drink, and hide from the world, although it provides that pretty well; it’s also the kind of place that you can unexpectedly get some truly imaginative and delicious food in a comfortable and welcoming space. In a neighbourhood like High Park, The Mugshot Tavern is unrivaled in every respect.
- Andre
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A Dark Horse
Posted on July 1, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Bloor West Village
3 stars
- The most common praise of Dark Horse is its patio; the most common complaint about Dark Horse is its lack of service on the patio…
If you’ve been to Bloor West Village, you know that there aren’t a lot of patios in the neighbourhood, and any patio that you do find is likely going to be small, cramped, and full of people. With the exception of the Firkin on Runnymede, Dark Horse has one of the biggest and best outdoor spaces in the village to drink pints, people watch or eat burgers and fries.
But, as many people have pointed out before me, the service can range anywhere from slow to crappy when you’re sitting out there. While you’re waiting, you may even be waiting so long for service that you’ll feel compelled to go inside and get your own drinks, which causes the server to give you attitude when she eventually gets to your table, which causes you to feel uncomfortable; you see the vicious circle taking shape here…
All-in-all, the food at Dark Horse isn’t half bad. Granted, they aren’t going to win any awards anytime soon, but for pub food that goes well with a few drinks, it’s pretty decent. While some of their food, like their calamari and their fries, are previously frozen and highly unimaginative, other items, like their Village Burger or their fish and chips, are clearly made in-house and truly tasty. They also serve a weekend brunch that is worth checking out, but expect to wait for a table; it fills up quickly with the neighbourhood locals.
All of the expected draft options are here…I think. Truth-be-told, the server never actually rattled off the draft list to us in the limited time she spent at our table. Luckily, there were a few beer-branded signs in the patio, which makes the process a little easier, but a lot less convenient.
Dark Horse’s problems are easily fixable; they just need a bit more staff. Trust me, sit back on the patio, have a pint, and watch them work. It’ll quickly become obvious that they’re understaffed. Another server or two during their busier times, and Dark Horse could be fantastic.
Truth be told, it’s just a pub, and a fairly average one at that. If you’re in a hurry, you may want to avoid this place, but if you’ve got some time to kill and want to soak up some sun on a patio, Dark Horse provides nicely.
- Andre
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The Rebel House
Posted on June 21, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Rosedale
3 stars
- As a group of new Toronto recruits, we decided to try out Rebel House at the suggestion of one of my coworkers. An easy walk from the Rosedale subway stop, we went the evening of the Stanley Cup final, expecting the place to be packed, but managed to find comfortable high-top seating, and friendly service, amidst a fairly busy night.
The Rebel House is a small pub, with a quaint upstairs section, where we sat. Several TV’s aired the hockey game, and there was an eclectic mix of people, some older, into their 50’s, but predominantly a mix of twenty and thirtysomething young professionals and students.
The menu is varied, but small, although they offer a revolving door of several daily specials that seem to be based on season and availability, which is always a good bet.
My dining partner decided to go with the daily special Mussels ($14), absolutely delicious in a white wine and garlic sauce, with toasted garlic bread. I ordered the Spicy Spinach Cheese Pennies ($10), small appetizer-sized cheese patties, with nary a spinach leaf in sight…nor were they spicey. No matter. These delightful little morsels were crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and came with a delectable tomato chutney and sour cream to top with. At our server’s suggestions, I also ordered the Spinach and Apple Salad ($6), with cheddar cheese, toasted almonds, and a homemade maple dressing on the side. A wonderful combination. In fact, we liked the cheese pennies so much, we ordered another batch, only to find that that a repeat order isn’t always as good the second time around. These pennies were so thick with grease, I found myself soaking up the oil slick with a napkin just to get them down. I think ordering a third time might have settled this dilemma for good, but for now I choose to remember the experience based on my initial encounter with the Spicy Spinach Cheese Pennies; delightful.
My dining partner, an “adventurous” drinker himself, ordered a Labatt Blue, but it did come in the extra large bottle, which made him smile from ear to ear. I ordered the Henry of Pelham Pinot Noir to start, but must admit that it tasted watered down and a bit weak. Not to be discouraged, I tried the 2006 Cabernet Franc Special Reserve VQA after dinner, and was pleasantly surprised by one of the nicer glasses of wine I have had at a pub in some time. It had a heavy quality, with a nice vanilla finish. I would go back to Rebel House just to try this glass of wine again.
Our server was friendly and talkative, and the prices at Rebel House are fairly reasonable. Wine was about $7-$8 a glass, and our meals were between $8-$12 for the appetizers, and up to $20 for an entrée. Except for the bad experience with the second order of cheese pennies, Rebel House is an excellent neighbourhood pub, serving up good food at good prices.
- Janine
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Axis Gastropub
Posted on January 3, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in The Annex
2 stars
- Having grown up enjoying pubs far and wide, it doesn’t take much to cajole me into visiting the newest local for a pint and bite to eat. This was the case a few days back when a number of friends thought it would be fun to get together at Axis Gastropub on the corner of Bloor and Markham in Mirvish Village.
Axis sits in the old Rocco’s Plum Tomato location and is the sister pub to Axis Gallery and Grill in the Junction. This corner seems to be one of the those ‘Bermuda Triangle’ hospitality locations, with new establishments failing to get a foothold over and over again. Maybe the Axis folks will succeed where others have not.
Arriving, a number of us remarked that the large room, decorated in a modern style, was a little stark and very empty for the time of day. It certainly didn’t scream ‘Pub’.
Within seconds we were greeted by the two servers/bartenders and warmly directed to sit wherever we’d like. Both of these guys seemed genuinely happy to see us and quickly told us about the pint special for the day.
Taking a large table in the back of the room, we sat, chatted and waited for our drinks that soon appeared.
Perusing the menu, it was soon clear that this place was trying to please everyone. The choice was almost limitless with the usual pub fare coupled with ‘build your own’ pizzas and an entrees list that went from curries to fish and all the way back to steak and pasta.
At the server’s recommendation we tried the Pulled Pork Nachos. What came was a healthy portion topped with a mound of pork and all the normal nacho toppings. Tasty, but not remarkable in any way, and the amount of topping-less dead space at the bottom was quite disappointing. Hot wings soon appeared followed by a number of comments of: ‘Okay’, ‘Not stellar’, ‘Not that spicy’. Following another suggestion, my Axis Club sandwich soon arrived. A Pub staple, the clubhouse has almost as many variations as there are pubs. This club was well prepared, but again not remarkable. Combining chicken breast, ham and bacon on whole wheat bread it was pretty standard, much like what you’d find in a veteran diner or truck stop.
Overall, Axis Gastropub does not live up to its name. It doesn’t really feel like a Pub and there isn’t anything remarkable about the food. Maybe it is a case of higher expectations, but I can’t imagine returning when there are so many other better options nearby.
- Guest Contributor
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The Central
Posted on December 29, 2010 by TOFoodReviews Staff in The Annex
2 stars
- Located in the Annex, in the middle of Mirvish Village, The Central is a bar, a restaurant, and a live music venue. The dimly lit house-turned-restaurant with the splendidly seamy vibe immediately and completely tugged at my heart strings. I loved the rickety setting and little details like the “Draught: Use Your Eyes” sign behind the bar.
But, as with any new love, first impressions can often deceive you; The Central played with my emotions. The menu – and be warned the online menu is not what you will find when you arrive there – has so much potential and I very much wanted the food to live up to my expectations. My party of three shared grilled calamari with side of salad greens in a light citrus dressing, followed by entrees of grilled mushroom salad with shrimp, a grilled vegetable sandwich with sweet potato fries, and a cheesesteak sandwich with Tom Yum soup, all of which (with three beers) came in at just over $60.
The menu items are not very risky, but still need to be done carefully to be successful. As much as I wanted everything to come out perfectly, it simply did not. First of all, the calamari was a very large serving – so far, so good. But, in grilling it whole, the tips became overcooked and the centre remained undercooked, and there was a hint of burnt charcoal flavour. The grilled vegetables were also overcooked, producing an all-over brown hue, making them completely lose their individuality. The cheesesteak had the right flavour, but again, the beef was slightly overcooked and chewy. Finally, after looking forward to trying one of the desserts in hopes for menu-redemption, like the candied strawberries or the ever-infamous deep fried Mars bars, we were told that all they had available was ice cream. Not so impressive.
While the main dishes and lack of desserts were disappointing, I do have to commend them on a couple of things. All of the side dishes were on-point; the dressing on both the calamari dish, and the mushroom salad were light, flavourful and had a good citrus tang; the sweet potato fries were crispy, and came with a side of a creamy cinnamon dip that was a great alternative to regular ketchup; and the Tom Yum soup was hot, spicy, and a great choice for a chilly December night.
I have decided that The Central could very well become a favourite spot of mine for drinks, and maybe appetizers, but is just not an ideal choice for a full dinner. The venue itself is one that you should check out, and I expect it is only better when the patio is open in the summer. If you don’t want to sit in the main bar to listen to the band they have a cozy lounge space upstairs that can be rented for private parties. Also, they clearly take pride in the beverage menu, especially the beer choices. When we had some trouble deciding on a pint, we were offered a sample of a new label on tap called Netherworld, a Flying Monkey brew, which is similar to the popular Mill St. Tankhouse Ale.
I give them an A+ for atmosphere, but only a gold star-for-effort on the menu.
- Nicole
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The Duke of Kent
Posted on December 18, 2010 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Bloor and Eglinton
3 stars
- The Duke of Kent serves up traditional pub food in a cozy spot at the corner of Yonge and Eglinton. Kent is just one of a series of ‘Duke Pubs’ scattered around Toronto, and judging from the fairly comprehensive website, each has a slightly different décor, but all of them seem to tap into that English corner pub ambience.
After a long week at work, I was on the hunt for a casual space to grab a pint, enjoy some hearty food, and catch up with some friends; the Duke of Kent was a great choice…for the most part.
I snagged a corner booth with my dinner group on a busy Friday night. When we first walked in, it seemed hopeless. We wanted dinner, but there was nary a table to be seen. The staff did everything they could to make a space for us so we weren’t forced back out into the cold to one of the other countless restaurants in the area. That is what service is all about, and we were happy to stay. Many thanks to the serving staff for being so accommodating on a hopping Friday night!
As for the food, it is the expected and welcomed pub spread. They offer up fish & chips (yes, served in a basket on paper), pot roast and potatoes with buttered peas, and even bangers and mash. You will find an array of reasonably priced English pub food on the menu, with entrees coming in at about $12 across the board.
As I’ve said before, I tend to go for the specials, and that night it was Moroccan Stew. Unfortunately, I am sad to say it was disappointing. The dish was somewhere between a curry and a Mexican chili, and I was given a healthy serving for the $12.99 price-point. But, I couldn’t help but become envious of those around me who had gravy-topped pot pies, crispy fish and chips, beefy burgers and gooey quesadillas. I probably would not have been as put-off by the it if it was labelled on the menu, as it was on my bill – just ‘vegetable stew’. It was not as exotic as the name lead me to believe, and with a delicious-looking curry dish on the main menu, I expected more spice and life in my ‘Moroccan’ Stew special.
For a visit to the Duke, I suggest going full-English. I saw enough plates of fish and chips go by to convince me that it is a popular item, and how much more traditional can you get than that? Also, I have the ‘famous’ deep-fried pepperoni targeted – it has to be famous for a reason!
At the end of it all, the Duke of Kent draws in a wonderfully lively crowd, and provides a great atmosphere and service, albeit a bit slow – but hey, it was busy! My food may have only been so-so, but the brew was cold, and my night was great.
- Nicole
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* Lead photo credit to IndieYuppy