Pubs/Sports bars with decent food near the Rogers Centre?

[soxchik]

Hello Toronto hounds,

I'm very excited for my first trip to Toronto next weekend to see the Sox take on the Jays. Since we are spending a lot of time at the park, we are all staying near there as well. I've been searching the board for some recent recommendations for pubs/sports bars in that general area (walking distance hopefully no more than 15-20 minutes) with decent food, but seem to be coming up empty. We are looking for a couple casual, vegetarian friendly, sit down places in that area where we can get a couple drinks and some good food before or after games. Also, are there any good quick or take-out type breakfast places around there (bagels, coffee etc)? Thanks!

[soxchik]

Just a quick report back after my trip this weekend. I got some great recs here so thank you! Because there were so many of us (25 in all) we ended up at some of those interchangable bars near the park with bad food (Loose Moose comes to mind - I didn't know you could screw up nachos). However, by Saturday evening a few of us were determined to get a good dinner in. We tried Smokless Joes but there wasn't a table big enough for 6 of us, so we ended up at Beer Bistro. It was really great for this group. We started with a hummus and spicy squash dip plate, fondue, and the frites. All a hit - especially the beer and cheese fondue, and smokey ketchup with the frites. The mains were two excellent bowls of mussels (or so they said), the chicken pizza which was pronounced decent but too small for the price, and a salad which was small but tasty, and the tomato soup which was very good. All in all, a great recommendation for a diverse group of tastes.

The other place we came across was the sunset grill near our hotel - we ate breakfast there every morning. Solid stuff for decent prices. The big hit here was the eggs benedict wtih peameal bacon for one of my DCs.

[soxchik]

Thanks for all the great recs! We'll try out as many of them as possible during our 3 day stay and I'll report back. And I REALLY hope the garbage strike is over...

[lister]

I live and work downtown. It's not that bad. A few public trashcans are brimming with trash. There's not much street trash. Many businesses are dealing with the garbage themselves including emptying the public garbage cans. It certainly doesn't stink yet.

[Gary]

Agree, the strike thing is not that bad, I don't know why I mentioned it. The media likes to make things into a big story so take anything you see on the news with a grain of salt.

I second the Smokeless Joe pub recommendation, too... was going to mention it but it doesn't really fit the vibe of sports bar (I think they have one TV but I've never seen it tuned to sports) and the menu is quite limited with possibly no veggie options. However, if you're into beers at all, this is THE place -- the beer list is a small book with imports from dozens of countries. Just watch out for the $20+ beers before placing your order :)

[Wahooty]

The last time I was there (albeit it was some time ago), they had a spicy peanut soup on the menu that I'm pretty sure was at least vegetarian, maybe even vegan. It was VERY good. The menu is limited, but I think they actually have a couple of veggie options.

[lister]

The TV is usually tuned to sports. Depends on whatever game is playing that day/night or if a big sporting event is going on like tennis or golf. There is no volume. If you're not in front of the TV at the back half of the place you won't notice it.

There are veggie options there. There is a sandwich, soup and two pastas. There is the occasional veggie special too. That doesn't sound like a lot but the menu is small because the kitchen is small.

[lister]

Smokeless Joe
125 John St.
About midway between Adelaide & Richmond

Nice small place. Plays blues music. 10 taps. About half local, half imports. Good beer, all micros. Lots and lots of bottles. Oysters, numerous mussels dishes, a couple sandwiches, soups, pastas, the occasional special, has several vegetarian items. Patio. Friendly knowledgeable staff.

We're usually there 3-6 times per month.

[Gary]

I agree that the area immediately around the Rogers Centre is very touristy, and most of the pubs and restaurants along front street are typical chains (Caseys, Jack Astor's, East Side Mario's, Loose Moose, Lone Star, etc) that are all uniformly uninspiring and interchangeable. In a pinch they might do the job, but are probably identical to what you have back home.

That said, there is a new branch of the Fionn MacCool's pub chain on Front just east of Blue Jays Way. In general I find that chain to be better than some other options, though it's nothing too exciting.

I strongly second the Beer Bistro recommendation above.

Another couple pub options are the Irish Embassy at Wellington and Yonge, and its sister pub PJ Obrien, located just southeast from there near Church and Colborne. The first is bigger and louder, the second smaller and cosier with an excellent quality menu. They do have TVs but no guarantee they'll be tuned to the baseball game... you might have to ask nicely. Baseball definitely plays second fiddle to hockey, especially since the Jays early good start fell apart.

Enjoy your visit! And I hope our garbage strike is over before you arrive. ;)

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Irish Embassy
49 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5E, CA

P.J. O'Brien
39 Colborne St, Toronto, ON M5E, CA

[phoenikia]

I want to like the Beer Bistro, but I've found the food to be average at best. I've dined there 4 times.

I'll probably be the dissent on this board when I say this, but I like the food better at the Irish Embassy (despite the fact it's what I consider a faux Irish pub, a genre I usually avoid) than the Beer Bistro. In my experience, the food at BB sounds interesting and promising when you read the menu, but the actual product doesn't taste that great. The only item on their menu that I would order again is the dessert sampler.

If you're vegetarian, the Irish Embassy serves a tasty grilled cheese sandwich made with raisin nut bread, green apple and old cheddar.

[aser]

Are you sure you want pub/bar food? They're not the first place I think of for vegetarian to say the least. The pubs around Rogers Centre are pretty typical, generic food, mostly deep fried, nothing worth your time. The only exception being Beer Bistro @ Yonge & King.

You're reasonably close to chinatown, you can hop over there. Also w/i distance is Ematei, a great spot for cooked Japanese food. There is also Tutti Matti if you're into pasta.

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Ematei
30 Saint Patrick St, Toronto, ON M5T3A3, CA

Beer Bistro
18 King St. E, Toronto, ON M5C 1C4, CA

Tutti Matti
364 Adelaide St W, Toronto, ON M5V1R7, CA

[soxchik]

Since I know we'll want to have a couple beers pre/post game with our food I mentioned a pub/sports bar. I suppose anywhere casual will work. We may try to stay away from the Chinatown/Japanese because the group gets that frequently in Boston. As far as the vegetarian, I'm the only one in the group and can usually find something wherever I am (outside of a sushi place that only does fish or a steakhouse). Beer Bisto looks interesting thanks!

[aser]

So yes do skip Japanese, but I would suggest you eat some Cantonese Chinese in Toronto. The quality is far superior than that of Boston's, and is Toronto's strongest cuisine. Along with Vancouver, it's some of the best outside of Hong Kong. Most of the good places are unfortunately in the suburbs, the one exception for downtown is Lai Wah Heen. It is expensive, but is as good as you'll find in N. America.

http://www.metropolitan.com/lwh/

Do try Waupoos Cider if you end up at Beer Bistro, great summer drink, plus it's local (Prince Edward County).

http://www.beerbistro.com/

[paper_bag_princess]

Which hotel are you staying at?

[soxchik]

Hilton Toronto: 145 Richmond Street West