Help! - Need a restaurant with good food and a big beer selection in Toronto!

[michylly]

Its my fiance's 30th and I need help thinking of a place to bring him and about 10-15 friends! Requirements are: In the downtown core, Not overpriced, a big beer selection (he is a beer snob!) and great food. A private room could work too! Help!

[torontofoodiegirl]

My first thought was also Beer Bistro, but another thought is the Queen and Beaver - not an extensive beer selection, but the ones they do have are good.

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

[wherejessate]

Similar thoughts as most people. Beer bistro is probably the best bet. For the most part, the food is decent (they have some of my favourite fries in the city!).

Bar Volo - I wouldn't recommend it for a birthday celebration. Good beer selection, unfortunately the food isn't very good.

Wvrst - Went there last week and really enjoyed it! Nice beer selection (albeit pretty expensive!) But again, I'm not sure it's really a place for a birthday celebration since it's communal/cafeteria-like seating.

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Wvrst
609 King St W, Toronto, ON , CA

[danionavenue]

beer bistro, just was there like a month ago. their duck fat frites are delicious along with the 2 dipping options, I ordered a german beer and it came in a matching glass, well the guy on the label was printed on the glass, does that make sense? They have a huge list of beers from everywhere. If they like beer, this is the place to go. Their pizza was really good too.

[gwanderc]

Beer Bistro without question - Beer selection is great and the food is solid enough(amazing compared to bier market) - Mussels are a hit (I think they are just okay) Kobe Beef tacos are delicious

Bier Market is embarassing in terms of food - It blows my mind the prices they charge food-wise for absolute low budget garbage.

I wanted to vent about it a while back but didn't even think the place was worthy of a comment in the food department

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

The Bier Market
58 The Espl, Toronto, ON M5G, CA

[TorontoJo]

I've only eaten at Bier Markt once, and it was truly awful. Beerbistro is light years ahead compared to them.

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Bier Markt
, Mississauga, ON L5B, CA

[TexSquared]

BierMarkt is owned by Prime Restaurants. Same company as Casey's and East Side Mario's. That's why they're embarrassing as you said.

[iMarilyn]

Have you eaten at either BierMarkt?

[jdgo75]

I'd also vote for Cest What - and I think the food is pretty good.

[Sadistick]

Another vote for Beer Bistro.

Go for the pulled pork sammich!

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

[edfs72]

Their fries are amazing and I really enjoyed the cheese fondue as well

[jlunar]

If he's a beer snob and you want decent food, Beer Bistro all the way. Food at Volo is terrible. Beer Bistro also has a back room (with a minimum, I think) if you really want it.

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

[sasgirl]

What about WVRST, the new sausage and beer restaurant that opened up? It doesn't have a big beer selection but what they have does sound good.

[table4onthefly]

I agree with this post. Great casual atmosphere, they have a private dining area for larger groups and the sausages are fantastic. They also carry Dieu de Ciel, which is my favorite beer right now!

[iMarilyn]

La Palette on Queen W has a huge beer selection and good food. Wherever you go you'll need reservations for a group that large if you expect to sit together.

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La Palette
492 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V, CA

[JennaBean]

La Palette on Queen was TERRIBLE the last two times I went. So much so on the last visit, I don't think I'll ever go back.

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La Palette
492 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V, CA

[tweaked]

Sin & Redemption is right on McCaul, has a great beer selection, but only tolerable food.

Volo on Yonge also has an encyclopedic collection of beer, and better food. Small, though.

Personally I prefer Sin and Redemption as a bar destination, but I think that Volo and BeerBistro/BierMarket have the most optimal beer-quality to food-quality balance.

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Volo
587 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4Y, CA

Sin & Redemption
136 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 1W2, CA

[JennaBean]

The food at Sin & Redemption and Volo is really ick. There is also C'est What on front but again, not great food.

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C'est What
67 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E1B5, CA

Sin & Redemption
136 McCaul St, Toronto, ON M5T 1W2, CA

[michylly]

Thanks guys!
We've been to Volo so many times that I wonder about it being "special" enough for his birthday. And the food at sin and redemption is terrible! :)
I guess thats the problem - we've been to most of these places before tons of times! When you're with a beer-lover, you tend to flock to the same places! :)

[JennaBean]

You might want to look into the Beer Bistro. It would fit the bill in terms of the beer selection. The food is good but not great IMO. It is what I would call mid-price point with the most expensive main around $25. The other option would be the Bier Market on King. Again great beer selection and good but not great food. It is the same price point as Beer Bistro.

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

The Bier Market
58 The Espl, Toronto, ON M5G, CA

[michylly]

Thanks - I've looked at beer bistro but I've heard mediocre things about the food. Maybe just a beer list that isnt the standard "coors" or "canadian" crap you get at most places would do. But I definately need the food to be decent!

[TorontoJo]

The food at beerbistro is very respectable. It's probably the best of the quality beer-list options.

[Breadcrumbs]

I agree w TorontoJo. I take clients and out of town guests there routinely for lunch and the food has never been an issue. In fact, I'm happy to recommend the pulled pork sandwich in particular. The only caveat I'd offer w/r/t recommending BB is the noise level. Depending on when you go, if it's busy, you can count on it being fairly noisy. They do have a small fairly private room at the back and I believe it can accommodate 12 guests.

[TorontoJo]

Beerbistro for more trendy space, Smokeless Joe's for more casual. Though I'm not sure about the food at Smokeless Joe's.

Some other places with great beer lists don't necessarily have good food: Cafe Volo, The Rhino, C'est What.

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C'est What
67 Front St E, Toronto, ON M5E1B5, CA

Smokeless Joe
Toronto, ON, Toronto, ON , CA

[Wahooty]

Smokeless Joe is a bit small, and the menu limited. I like the mussels and oysters and such, but it's not really a birthday dinner kind of place. Beerbistro really fits all of the criteria the best, IMO.

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Smokeless Joe
Toronto, ON, Toronto, ON , CA

[tweaked]

IMO, Volo's food is better than the others you list. Though still not great by the standards of other very good restaurants in town. Smokeless Joe's beer list is excellent (and overpriced), but that place is small and their food somewhat dubious. I think that 10-15 people would pack that little bar!

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Smokeless Joe
Toronto, ON, Toronto, ON , CA