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Hey guys, the lunch was today, and we ended up going to Jason George as suggested by a few of you. There were 16 of us in total. I had the veggie burger and fries and really enjoyed it (the fries were especially good). Two at my table had the special of the day, chicken pot pie with homemade mashed potatoes - they loved it. Mixed reviews about the other orders - a cannelloni special, smoked salmon, and burger were so-so (I was surprised about the burger, because my veggie burger was great and I would expect a pub to at least do a burger well). Overall though, the food was generally pretty good - but the service at our table was pretty bad. Our server (we had one server per table, so she was serving 8 of us) was extremely busy, and therefore extremely inattentive. Orders came out late/staggered/incorrect, drinks were never refilled, and a takeout order was brought to the table alongside all the regular orders (as opposed to towards the end of our meal). She never came around to see how we were doing and never managed a smile. I don't necessarily blame her for this, as the restaurant was extremely busy at lunch time, but they should have been properly staffed. We had reservations and they should have an idea of how busy they get on a Friday at lunchtime. Despite that, I'm happy we went. We liked the atmosphere, and the staff didn't rush us out the door after our meal. Thanks for the recommendation! I would give this place another go.
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Great reviews on this thread! Surprised though that no one has mentioned Betty's. Its on King Street just east of Sherbourne. It has good pub food, specials of the day are usually especially good, a nice atmosphere and they pour a good pint. They could handle 20 people but I would also call ahead.
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Thanks for all the feedback! Sounds like there are better options available. Can Jason George support a group of about 15-20? I'm trying to figure out a good middle-of-the-road place for a farewell lunch....
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re: zainab13
Jason George is pretty small, so I'd definitely talk to them first. Fionn McCools is bigger and could probably accommodate a group that size; they even have semi-private rooms along the back that might work. http://esplanade.fionnmaccools.com
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re: zainab13
Googs
Feb 27, 2008 08:23 AM
15-20 shouldn't overwhelm the Jason George, but I'd call them first to be certain. It would really depend on when you want to do this.
http://www.torontoplus.ca/bars_restau...
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estestest
Feb 24, 2008 07:10 PM
I want so badly to love the Jersey Giant, but after one too many excruciatingly long waits for even a first approach, I simply can't do it any more. The last straw perhaps came when I was there with a friend for a bite to eat and a pint and our server came to notify us in the middle of our meal that her shift was over and we had to settle up with her... immediately. She stood over us while we rooted through our wallets to come up with the cash and then disappeared, assuring us that someone would be taking care of us.... fast forward half an hour and nobody has come to clear our plates or offer us another drink. I'm usually quite patient, but the place was empty and I'd really just rather head over to the Jason George or C'est What....
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re: Mila
Googs
Feb 25, 2008 08:41 AM
Make that a 3rd for the Jason George being the best pub in that neighbourhood.
Jersey Giant is just plain nasty sometimes. Poor service, bad food, although they can pull a pint. Speaking of nasty, I recall PSP's experience at C'est What, another place I'm not particularly fond of. Scroll down to the bottom of this and see if you'd want to go to CW without a bodyguard.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/469070-
re: Googs
I lived in the condos above Jersey Giant (71 Front E) for a year. In that year, I ate at the Jersey Giant once which is probably quite telling. I believe it was a Sunday brunch that we went to - and the food, while not terrible, was only so-so. Let's not even talk about the time the fire alarm went off in the middle of the night because of a small fire on their premises :o) .
We went to the Irish Embassy instead, or more often to Jason George, which I loved. I also remember trying a pub - whose name escapes me - that was behind/beside Romagna Mia. It had a pretty good 'pub' feel and nice enough wings (for the neighbourhood).
As for C'est What? I really wanted to like this place because of the cozy room and close proximity to work/home, but the second time I went there the service was TERRIBLE, in that it was slow-to-non-existent.
I found the immediate St. Lawrence neighbourhood to be a challenge to find your everyday sort of grub.... plenty of delicious, pricier options - which we enjoyed often enough - but not a lot of tasty/cheap options. But I guess I was spoiled living in the Spadina/College area in prior years.
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re: Mila
I will also jump onto the pile with my support for Jason George. Extremely consistent service, nice atmosphere without trying too hard, decent food, exactly what I like in a pub -- no stress. The only negative I can think of is that their bathrooms could use a little reno.
I want to love C'est What because of their vast Canadian microbrew selection, but as others have described, the service there can be quite horrific. In particular they are not at all accommodating to large groups, even though their space is vast. In fact, it was after the renovation about 5 years ago whereby they basically doubled in size that I noticed the service became crustier, and on weekend evenings the place took on a confrontational attitude that I associate with nightclubs (surly bouncers, arrogant service, etc.). Not for me.
The Jersey Giant and the Firkin in the Flatiron basement are emergency fallbacks, but not great for food. The Irish Embassy and PJ O'Briens are more upscale pubs, with the same owner, and their prices reflect that. The Embassy can be very noisy and over-run by business district clientele on weeknights. Depending on your perspective this is good or bad, I suppose.
Slightly south on the Esplanade, the Fionn McCools is not bad -- a cut above their other locations, in my opinion. They pull a good pint and the food has never disappointed me (shocking for a chain, I know). I've heard good things about the Scotland Yard along that strip as well but have not been myself.
And finally, food_wannabe is probably thinking of the Upfront Bar & Grill beside Romagna Mia, hidden behind Hi-Tech Kitchens. This place is very much a sports bar, a bit gritty but known as the film shoot location for many Good Will Hunting interior scenes. It is also favoured by me because they carry Caffrey's on tap, and have the area's cheapest fish & chips on Fridays (less than $5, I believe, and not bad). Their wings are okay though nothing to rave about.
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re: cheesymama
grandgourmand
Feb 22, 2008 12:27 PM
Your better bet is down the street and it's C'est What. Food's pretty good and they have a good selection of micro brews and it's much nicer inside than Jersey Giant.
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I've been for beers but never food. I deem it a very "authentic" pub, in that it is kind of gritty and dank. Cool if you're into that vibe, which I sometimes am. But one time I went in and had to leave because it smelled very, very bad. Not sure if it was wet carpets or a fellow customer but it was quite foul.
