377951 Tue Mar 06 07:14:13 -0800 2007 38 23 Ontario (including Toronto) 0 2357131 hi guys, can anybody tell me where i can find a good traditional irish pub? i know u have fionn mcools and the irish embassy,pj o briens but there all fake to me!! live music actual irish people!! any info would be great! Tue Mar 06 07:14:13 -0800 2007 77718 eire 1 2357240 Dora Keogh or Allens http://www.allens.to/dora/dk2.htm Tue Mar 06 07:44:00 -0800 2007 2357131 73936 Finnegan 2 2394855 The line-ups start here before 10am. But it's so worth it. Sat Mar 17 09:20:42 -0700 2007 2357240 20645 mummy2Luna 1 2357500 Galway Arms...Lakeshore Blvd..near Costco Tue Mar 06 08:50:05 -0800 2007 2357131 12395 emq 2 2394961 Galway Arms in on The Queensway east of Plastics Dr. (tim horton's) and is on the north side..... Sat Mar 17 10:06:27 -0700 2007 2357500 83559 eyyyelash 1 2357608 McVeigh's at Jarvis and Richmond (i think) Tue Mar 06 09:13:15 -0800 2007 2357131 21376 Sam I Am 2 2359951 McVeigh's is Church & Richmond. Tue Mar 06 18:37:49 -0800 2007 2357608 11462 westhead74 1 2358145 wherever you go, go early. especially in the case of mcveigh's and the dora. those places usually get packed by noon on a weekday st. paddy's day, on a weekend you'll be lucky to get through the door. Tue Mar 06 10:49:14 -0800 2007 2357131 48117 yoyodyne 1 2358260 The Tarra Inn on Eglinton in Scarborough. Tue Mar 06 11:09:36 -0800 2007 2357131 12072 Googs 1 2358335 Avoid any place that serves green beer...no Irishman (or woman) would be caught dead in a place that dyed their brew...I think McVeighs does this...yuck Tue Mar 06 11:24:31 -0800 2007 2357131 73936 Finnegan 2 2394966 Mr. McVeigh is Irish from Belfast...does that count? Last I was there (years ago), most people were fresh off the boat. That doesn't necessarily cover St. Pat's though, when everyone is "Irish"... Dora's is great, but crowded. St. Pat's is the worst day of the year to go to an Irish bar... Sat Mar 17 10:07:28 -0700 2007 2358335 52117 morrigan 1 2358359 So that pretty much narrows it down to Dora Keogh or Tarra Inn then doesn't it Finnegan? Tue Mar 06 11:28:33 -0800 2007 2357131 12072 Googs 1 2360642 hi guys, thanks for the responce!well as for finnegan i cant answer for him!green beer u are having a laugh! i havent decided yet! for jesus sake there has to be one decent irish pub in toronto? signing off desperate!!!! Wed Mar 07 00:30:23 -0800 2007 2357131 77718 eire 2 2361662 After multiple trips to Ireland, nothing here compares. I've tried some of the ones mentioned here, but avoid them 'cause I end up missing that country even more :( Wed Mar 07 09:35:34 -0800 2007 2360642 50683 Splendid Wine Snob 3 2361806 Here we go again. The constant theme of the Toronto boards about how the Irish pubs here aren't as good as those in Ireland, the Mexican restaurants aren't as good as those Mexico, the fish and chip shops are better in Britain,etc,etc,etc. I've been to Ireland many times and of course the atmosphere will be somewhat different here. My favourite is Dora Keogh's if you are looking for a traditional Irish pub. Their celtic sessions on Thrusdays and Wednesdays are fantastic and the set-up is very similar to the small village pubs I frequented in Ireland. The food and Guinness are great too. For a pub where you are more likely to actually spend time with the Irish (and Scottish), McVeigh's is a good bet. This is where all my relatives and their friends go when they come from overseas and it's authentic in the sense that it's just like the pubs these folk actually frequent back home. Nothing special in terms of food or decor, but it's a friendly neighbourhood pub. On St. Patrick's Day, even the "authentic pubs" are going to be full of green beer drinking revelers wearing "kiss me I'm Irish" shirts. It's inevitable. If you're Irish don't let this get to you. Enjoy the day that everyone celebrates your culture regardless of their background! Wed Mar 07 10:02:22 -0800 2007 2361662 58076 badbhoy 4 2361844 Go on my son! You've pretty much hit the nail on the head. Dora for the feel and Mcveigh's for the peeps. Thanks for a great post! Wed Mar 07 10:10:23 -0800 2007 2361806 48117 yoyodyne 1 2360646 Murphy's Law Pub on Queen at Kingston Road is always hopping on St. Patrick's Day. And the go early suggestion applies here too. Wed Mar 07 00:41:07 -0800 2007 2357131 19782 Full tummy 1 2360977 My pick for downtown irish pubs would be the Pour Irish Ale House in the Annex (dupont Street)...good selection of beers and a very good irish menu....and no green beer http://pourhouse.sites.toronto.com/ Wed Mar 07 06:46:22 -0800 2007 2357131 73936 Finnegan 1 2361000 A little farther west (Bloor and Keele - near High Park) my pick would be Whelan's Gate...a nice friendly pub with barkeeps that know how to pull a pint of Guiness...nice pub menu too Wed Mar 07 06:53:53 -0800 2007 2357131 73936 Finnegan 2 2361241 second whelan's gate! since i left the dora and the danforth for high park and environs, this has become my irish pub of choice! great atmosphere and decent food. Wed Mar 07 08:00:13 -0800 2007 2361000 48117 yoyodyne 2 4514545 just came back from the miller tavern on yonge street (near wilson). I had mentioned that they were having a party and there was a $25 cover fee that was going to a foundation on an earlier post. Well, for $25...we received 3 tokens for beer (steam whistle or guiness) or wine or a specialty cocktail made for the party. There was also a full buffet...shrimp, spring rolls, veggie/dip, carved beef on little buns, fruit, a pizza-like appetizer, a smoked samon and cream cheese appetizer, french fries and probably a few more items that I cant remember. The quality of the food was outstanding...and the service was super friendly. It wasnt packed-packed-packed, which was fine by me. I have been to two parties there before...and I always walk away satisfied. Worth checking out their website every once in a while. Cheers!! Tue Mar 17 16:59:45 -0700 2009 2361000 44524 domesticgodess 1 2361638 You could also try the Galway Arms on the Queensway. It is very West (technically, I believe it is Etobicoke) and I myself have never been, but when my relatives from Cork were here last September looking for a pub that broadcast the hurling match, the Galway Arms was the only place that I could find. Wed Mar 07 09:32:33 -0800 2007 2357131 19816 Lazar 1 2361687 PJ O'Briens is fake??? Are you kidding me! Guess you haven't been. They recently did a 'restauranr makeover' which really kicked things up a notch on the Irish side. Considering the owner and 90% of the staff are Irish, it doesn't get more bloody Irish than PJ's! Wed Mar 07 09:39:14 -0800 2007 2357131 19505 The Macallan 18 2 2361855 went to highschool with mr. quinn (the proprietor of PJs)'s son gavin who now runs the irish embassy pub and can attest that they're the real deal. Wed Mar 07 10:13:02 -0800 2007 2361687 48117 yoyodyne 3 4516148 during the summer, half the servers are Irish students Wed Mar 18 08:37:39 -0700 2009 2361855 222311 dickiegreenleaf 1 2361875 Let me know when PJ O'Brien's starts serving steak and kidney pie or the Embassy learns how to make a proper Irish breakfast. Until then... pass. Wed Mar 07 10:17:16 -0800 2007 2357131 12072 Googs 2 2366027 Steak and kidney pie is served each Thursday and Friday at PJ's as a feature. And the Irish girls are just as yummy! Thu Mar 08 11:30:52 -0800 2007 2361875 19505 The Macallan 18 3 2370042 Sorry I just get so tired of namby pamby Steak & Mushroom... As if. Anyway, my frustration is mainly in the fact that here I am, daughter of a Irishwoman living in Corktown and do you think I could get authentic fare anywhere near me? No. I have to go to Scarborough. I-ma-gine. Thurs & Fri is a nice touch. Every day would be nicer. Fri Mar 09 11:33:13 -0800 2007 2366027 12072 Googs 4 4514609 Googy where in Scarborough? thanks Tue Mar 17 17:21:27 -0700 2009 2370042 237919 Squeakycheese 5 4530031 The Tara Inn. Mon Mar 23 10:16:46 -0700 2009 4514609 12072 Googs 1 2365898 Try the Rebels Rock in Hamilton for true homey Irish Pub experience, warm environment, decent food and a well pulled pint of stout. Or you can try Slainte in Hamilton as well but they are more of a corporate offering with really nice traditional-esque appointments, such as woodwork from traditional Irish snugs and a decent Irish music jam every Saturday. (And Slainte actually makes a mean boxtie) Thu Mar 08 11:06:45 -0800 2007 2357131 12664 Mike from Hamilton 1 2366148 grace o'malley's downtown - duncan/pearl , great undercover spot, not great taps , hot waitresses, really nice layout, they'll have live music so it should be rocking Thu Mar 08 11:54:43 -0800 2007 2357131 16234 dannyboy 2 2395273 It must have definitely been rocking since there was a lineup around the block at 12 noon today at O'Malley's when we walked by! Sat Mar 17 13:01:25 -0700 2007 2366148 11750 fickle 1 2366190 hands down, the best st. paddy's day experience in the GTA is not at a pub, but going to the brampton irish centre which is tucked away in an industrial area. i imagine the food - if they even have it - wouldn't be terrific but the atmosphere is second to none! Thu Mar 08 11:59:59 -0800 2007 2357131 21376 Sam I Am 1 2366266 the Irish Club in Toronto always has a good knees up Thu Mar 08 12:16:48 -0800 2007 2357131 73936 Finnegan 1 2391611 Crosspost linking: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/381116 Fri Mar 16 07:17:17 -0700 2007 2357131 33204 EPIcureanTO 2 3463261 I thought I'd resurrect this thread since St Patrick's Day is fast approaching. Any new spots this year? Line-ups shouldn't be as much of problem on a Monday, just hangovers on a Tuesday! Wed Mar 05 13:14:40 -0800 2008 2391611 58076 badbhoy 1 4503021 Galway arms is real nice. cant wait to put away the landy and drink green beer Fri Mar 13 17:35:48 -0700 2009 2357131 258723 LBeater 2 4514623 What's a landy? Tue Mar 17 17:25:57 -0700 2009 4503021 71837 redearth