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Beerbistro
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Canadian (New), Bars [Edit]
18 King St EToronto, ON M5C 1C4
Neighbourhoods: St. Lawrence, Downtown Core
(416) 861-9872
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11:30 am - 1 am
Thu-Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
145 reviews for Beerbistro
Review Highlights
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"They also have a great selection of food." In 14 reviews -
"...great beer selection and Belgian frites that can't be beat." In 8 reviews -
"Duck Confit pizza - OH YES." In 3 reviews
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145 reviews in English
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Review from Jordan M.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
Great beer selection as the name infers.
But I really enjoy the food here too
Moderate to high pricing in my opinion
Always enjoy going back when I can -
Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2012
Large selection of beers. Beer pairing is nice, and it goes pretty well with the food. The mussel dishes are delicious. Very flavorful and deep in its aroma. I've had lobster gratin for entree (not on the menu anymore). It was a soup with lobster meat in it. It was quite exquisite in its taste. The balance was excellent. There were many big chunks of lobster meat.
The restaurant has high ceilings, thus giving an airy feel. The decor is bright and quite modern. Not too pale or too stark. But warm and inviting. The tables are quite large, but they are placed too close to each other. There is virtually no privacy. And yes, it is noisy. There is live music from a jazz band as well. Not sure if they do this on a regular basis, but it added a lot to the atmosphere.
The best aspect of this restaurant is that they have Sierra Nevada, Orval, etc. - quality beers you cannot find in LCBO or Beerstores. And you can drink them while having an excellent meal. -
Review from James W.
Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
5/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Beer Bistro is so consistent that it's a regular spot when I'm eating in the downtown core. I'm a die hard fan of the pulled pork and I rarely deviate.
Go and enjoy the beer infused menu. -
Review from Eric T.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2012 2 photos
Solid place for beers and some higher-end food. Definitely a step-up from a regular bar.
They have an extensive beer list with tons of fabulous and interesting choices. The menu has lots of interesting sounding dishes, but they didn't live up to our expectation. We had the Fries, Hog Town Pizza and Smoked Trout Salad. Fries were pretty standard, not quite crispy enough for my liking. The Hog Town Pizza, we ordered the gluten-free version, had lots of toppings, but weren't super flavourful. Given that it's all pork and BBQ sauce, we were hoping for a flavour party in our mouth, but ended-up with a fairly bland pizza. The Smoked Trout Salad was good, but the dressing could have had more flavour as could the fish.
I'd be game to come back to try other dishes. One of our fellow dinners seemed to love the rabbit pasta. I just hope the food is more flavourful the second time around! -
Review from Jef F.
Québec, QC
4/9/2012
Very nice restaurant for beer lovers.
We tried the mussels with belgian beer. PERFECT -
Review from Kathy H.
Mississauga, ON
4/20/2012
I love this place!!!! The food is incredible, the beer is more incredible. Waitress totally knew which beers match which dish. We took her suggestions.
We had the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp $15.95, large shrimps with bacon. This has got to be my favourite shrimp dish.
The Rabbit Pasta $24.95, "brown ale braised rabbit, wild mushrooms leeks, tarragon, spinach & bacon," was totally delicious! We finished every bit on the plate.
I forgot what beers we had.... but mine was reeally really really really good. And it was so strong! I couldn't drink more than half of a half mouthful at a time, and I left it unfinished. So embarrassed!
The Jazz band that night was great. Not too loud too that I was able to hold a conversation. -
Review from Teena D.
Updated - 3/25/2012 14 photos
After Gord and I saw 21 Jump Street yesterday, we walked to the Beer Bistro (King E/Yonge) ... there were a couple beer that Gord wanted to try there.
It was fairly crowded when we got there ... and kept getting busier as time went on.
We sat by the window ... a great spot for people watching.
I had a Christoffel Blond. It was okay. Gord had a Saison Dupont and really enjoyed it. He also had a Junction Conductor's Craft Ale and like this one too. This is a great spot to go if you love beer and want to try some different ones from around the world.
Every time Gord came back from the bathroom, he would talk about the vintage beer ads that were playing above the urinals. Alas, no videos in the women's washroom ... just old-time ads promoting beer above the toilets.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2011
Though neither Gord nor I were chosen in the recent lottery to be able to buy one of the 70 bottles… Read more »
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Review from Edwin A.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love it, love it, love it!
Just oozes cool.
Like the restaurant design and detailing.
There was a Jazz trio playing at the bar; setting the mood of this well dressed happening spot on King St. Sat night.
We ordered a bunch of things this evening and I felt stuffed like a Panda by the end of it all. One notch of the belt loosened. Check!
We started off with a warm fresh loaf of sourdough bread.
then
Baked Garlic Mussels $13.25
sautéed arugula, spinach, witbier, shallots, garlic butter, chèvre & mozzarella
then
Potato Skins $11.95
white beer smoked salmon, housemade goat cream cheese, red onions & fried capers
then
Belgian Frites $on the house Thanks! :D
blanched in beef and duck fat,
housemade mayonnaise & smoked tomato ketchup
then
Steak Frites $23.95
grilled flat iron steak, tarragon butter, caramelized
shallots & ale-braised mushrooms
Very tasty. No room for any dessert.
My favorite would have to be the Potato Skins, such common name eliciting thoughts of carnival food but it's very far from that. Give it a try. It surprised me how good it was!
I'd say the only criticism is, they need to reduce the salt on the dishes. Wayy wayy to liberal on the frites especially.
Other than that we really enjoyed our time here. Loved the atmosphere and the beer infused food.
Recommend! -
Review from Charlotte S.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012
I work downtown, hence spend a lot of time here. I prefer to leave it behind me and make my way to my own neighbourhood, or, dare I say...kitchen....for dinner, but when I can't, I unfortunately have to visit places like this.
I'm sorry, downtowners, but there's nothing awesome about fries in a paper cone, unless you're in England, wearing a newsboy cap and calling people "guvna". Otherwise, I'd expect not to be charged like $11 for food wrapped in NOW Magazine. Seriously.
Before I say more, yes, I have a hate-on for the downtown core and it's restaurants. Why? Because they charge a premium (because their overheads are likely sky-high) and then don't really deliver on great food or great service and they never deliver on atmosphere, because all of the stripey-shirt IB guys who don't remember what their kids look like are there having mussels for dinner. Ew.
I've heard they have a fantastic if not overwhelming selection of brews, including from craft and microbreweries. So I guess that's good. But the prices and the 'tudes have to go. -
Review from Joey J.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Through the first couple of days in my Toronto trip, the movie Strange Brew was beginning to look a little too much like a documentary. Every brewer in Canada seemed akin to Max von Sydow, tainting his beer in an attempt to rule mankind while turning out an inferior product. Turns out, I'd just been going to the wrong places. Beerbistro has what every self proclaimed beer snob wants. Lots of good beers on tap. I started with a Muskoka Mad Tom IPA, which single-handedly made up for every bad beer I'd sipped the first couple of days in the country. From there, I asked the bartender for his advice on the second between the La Maudite and the Junction Conductor's Ale. He made a clear argument in describing both of them, so I ordered both of them. We could have played this game all night, as there were several beers I didn't get around to trying.
Beerbistro is the kind of place Bob and Doug McKenzie would be proud to call Canadian. Well, Bob and Doug MacKenzie post capitalizing on the back bacon and toque bubble and making millions. It isn't cheap and the food is a little bit of an afterthought. But the people here know their beer. And you've got to respect people who know good beer. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
12/30/2011
VIBE
There is a rotating door and for good reason. The place is buzzy with a casual mix of the Bay street crowd, locals and I'm guessing tourists from the King Edward Hotel nearby. Mainly a 28 plus crowd. It's sophisticated yet casual.
The front looks busy (and it is) but the back is a bit more subdued. I'm big fan of that comfy bench in the front. Service is friendly and swift.
WE ATE
Spicy Kobe Beef Tacos
vienna lager chili, aged gouda, grilled vidalia, onions, sour cream & lettuce
--they're not super spicy but they have kick. That said, isn't kobe beef supposed to be "special" beef? and in other segues I learned in Grade 12 English: Nonetheless, it's tasty. I'm a fan of the soft shell as opposed to a hard shell. They were a tad awkward to eat.
Potato Skins
white beer smoked salmon, house made goat cream cheese, red onions & fried capers .
These were also tasty and a good appetizer to share. If you like salt, there's plenty of it on this dish!
What I do like about this place is that they give drink recommendations for the dishes on the menu. They also have a detailed guide explaining the beers and stamps saying which ones are sold out. It's very practical.
But I did feel a bit rushed to order my drink. I got the Waupoos. A good go-to but it would have been nice to linger over other options.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
It ain't no bistro but it's a great place for a central meet up downtown with decent bites and drinks.
Value for dollar though, two drinks and two appetizers with tax came out to $46. I'm not sure if it was worth that much.
But I do like the place and I'll come back again (as I have before). I think I may get a main next time and test out the "worth it" theory. It's not my regular but it's a good "once in a while" place.Listed in: Libations
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Review from Maritza L.
Scarborough, ON
2/3/2012 1 photo
Great place to have mussels and beer. The frites, I must say, we're disappointing. Especially when they claim it's Belgium style and what they're known for. Other than the fancy way of preparing it in beef and duck fat, and serving it Belgium style (cone shape paper), there's nothing good about those soggy fries.
The beer selection is excellent. Most of the popular Belgian ones will be found there. I had the Triple Karmeliet, which is a bit spicy and creamier. Good with mussels.
Overall, great atmosphere and a place to have dinner or drinks. -
Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
11/19/2011
Beer Bistro was hubby's first choice for his birthday dinner, and not surprisingly so being the beer connoiseur that he is.
Conveniently located near the intersection of King & Yonge, It's a beautful high ceilinged interior with Art deco-ish flourishes. The Hostess was also super friendly and was very accomodating as I specifically booked a small booth/corner and also pushed back our reservation much later than anticipated, but my reservation remained well intact even when we waltzed in 5 minutes late.
The beer menu here is expansive and with choices as exotic as Avery Brewery's Mephistopheles Stout ( at 15.92% alc./vol !!) and Nickel Brook Gluten Free Specialty Grain Beer. It's evident that they'll be no no Pabst Blue Ribbon to be found here. I love that the Beer Bistro's menu also suggests a suitable beer for every app or entree and even categorizes it's beer menu by choices like "Quenching" , "Sociable" and "Robust"
To start we order the deliciously crisp Wild Crab Maki Roll that's battered with pilsner tempura, and hubby orders the Wood Smoked Buffalo Wings that is fruit beer-marinated, with chipotle hot sauce celery sticks, québec blue cheese & leek dip. Hubby compliments his wings with Neustadt Springs Big Dog Porter, which he claims is pleasantly bitter with a hoppy flavour.
For our mains I order the Grilled Atlantic Salmon with wok steamed vegetables & white beer beurre blanc which was mouth wateringly delectable as the buttery veggies with the beer infused Salmon was the perfect balance of light yet decadent.
Hubby entree is the Jamacian Goat Curry which is marinated in caribbean stout, tropical fruit salsa & coriander yogurt quinoa served with a bollock kicking scotch bonnet hot sauce which the server assures us is incendiary, but well worth the burn. Hubby's secondary beer is again from another Toronto brewery Junction Conductor's Craft Ale, which hubby deems as having a lovely, nutty aroma.
The clientele was mainly caucasian which stunned me given that it was downtown, but hubby (who is caucasian) asserts that it shouldn't be surprising as it is a beer-centric eatery. Heck there was even a snappy jazz band by the name of "The Gene Pool Boys" playing some hep tunes while we ate. I realized also that the dress code is certainly relaxed, even for a Saturday night as my Rihanna-esque outfit of a fedora, pleather pants metal spiked stilettoes and silver nails raised many a conservative eyebrow, I just can't help being a clotheshorse yo!
If you want a terrific meal accompanied by an excellent beer selection with an air of sophistication and minus the hoity-toity attitude, the Beer Bistro is definite must.Listed in: November is my b*tch(kinda)…
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Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
good news! new late night menu-POUTINE!
still my favourite resto in torontoListed in: Financial District/St.Lawrence…, I'd destroy my liver for you:…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/25/2009
I've come here often enough now that I think it deserves to be upped to a five star rating.
I just… Read more »
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Review from Mariko M.
1/8/2012
Came here for after dinner drinks on Saturday night at 10'ish.
Beerbistro is divided into two sections: dining area and bar. We sat in the latter. The bar has a lot to offer including beers (both domestic and intl), wines, and pub grub. By reading other reviews, it seems that there's brunch as well. The dining area was crowded so I think it's safe to assume that the food here is good.
Upon taking a seat, our drink orders were taken (awesome). Service was quite entertaining as well. There was a live jazz bland in the very well-lit bar area.
I'm giving this place a SOLID three stars for now, but this based solely on my experience of coming here for DRINKS (only) on a SATURDAY night. I just wasn't feeling the vibe. My sister tells me that it's different on weekday nights. And I would have no qualms coming here for a nice dinner.
A-ok for going out on a Saturday night ~ -
Review from Jorge L.
10/1/2011
From mild to wild. HUGE selection of beer that will appear to different beer lover (or trying to love beer).
I went to check this place with a friend who could dry a bar. I am not a drinker and I am cheap date. But the server was able to find me a beer (sorry I forgot the name) that made me keep my clothes on for the entire night. Me getting drunk is an ugly sight because it rarely happens.
Beer Bistro has a decent menu that will not bore you and your date. I have tried their mushroom pizza and their pasta. It was a pleasant experience.
The ambience was also great. It's a yuppie environment away from college crowd on Bloor. Downside is parking because it's difficult to find parking in the area. But, you're coming here to drink right? Don't drink and drive. Cops are waiting.
Peace.Listed in: My 30-day challenge, Eat Here, Not There!
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Review from Graham L.
Montréal, QC
1/18/2012
I took my fiancee here the day I proposed, and we had a wonderful meal. The menu options were unique and intriguing, and our choices were delicious. As you might imagine, the beer list is impressive, and our server recommended some excellent pairings to go with our food. She even gave us a free bottle of very good Belgian beer with our dessert because it was a special day for us!
My only criticism is that the big screen TVs showing sports make it seem a little less classy when you enter; however, once you're sitting in the dining section, you don't notice them at all. -
Review from Alison R.
9/29/2011
If Beer Bistro was in my city, I'd be there once a week. Alas, it is not so I'll just be happy I got the chance to eat there while visiting Toronto.
Excellent service. Our waiter was patient, meticulous in his descriptions of both beer and food and happy to accomodate our weird ordering style.
We tried a huge amount of the apps and then split mussels and a pizza. Everything was awesome. Well prepared and delicious.
Only complaint? It's crazy dark inside. -
Review from Mark F.
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
You had me at beer
I'm just a guy, standing in front of a beer, asking to love it.
Beer completes me
You get the picture and I really don't think you do. Come and experience the knowledge you would expect from a Sommelier, you get from Bier Markt. Sure the tab is better than most. Throw in the bottles and you have yourself a top notch selection. But wait, there's more. The gourmet brew menu has exceptional offerings you will not see again. If you think you know beer, come here and learn from the master, your bartender, David Bronfman and Bacchus himself, Stephen Beaumont. Even the servers are masters of suds. I was blown away. We did try a Lambics for $32.00/750ml and it was not for us but I'm really glad I tried it.
Did I mention there's also great food? Duck fat fries, Muscle Bowls, extremely knowledgable staff and old commercials playing at the urinals, Women, you will want to pop in and watch. The commercials...please.
If you know, you're already here. If you don't know, you will want to.
Trust me and come on down. -
Review from Sofie S.
4/23/2012
Stumbled upon this place while exploring downtown Toronto. WHAT A FIND! The mussels are to die for, however, I caught myself salivating at every plate that was walked past me. Beer lovers....this is the spot for you! A huge selection and the waiters are very knowledgeable! We were lucky enough to catch live music too!
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Review from Lawrence N.
9/4/2011
Oh Beer Bistro! Your duck fat fries and chicken wings are to die for and you have an impressive selection of beers. I'm sold. Wish you weren't located in a different city in a different country than the one I reside in....
They have a pretty cool bar area set up in the kitchen that I would love to eat at next time I visit. From what I could tell you get an amazing view of the chefs creating the magic. If only my date had known about it...If only I had known about it ...maybe next time. -
Review from Corrupted M.
Scarborough, ON
11/1/2011
I really don't understand what is all the hype around this place. Went there last night at around 9:00pm with a bunch of people.
Pros:
HUGE selection of beers.
Clean, nice decor, dimly lit (which i like)
Cons:
Food was mediocre at best.
We ordered different things from the menu to share:
Belgian White Mussels
Brussels Mussels
Spicy Red Thai Mussels
Flatbread and Dips
Duck confit pizza
Belgian Frites
All the mussels were way OVER COOKED and about the size of a penny. VERY disappointed. The sauce were 'oooh kay', nothing to really brag about. would've been nice if they gave us some bread to dip the sauce in it!!!
Flatbread and dips, well....flat bread and dips.
Duck confit pizza, was alright, but the supposedly duck confit just tastes like duck with heavy oregano/Italian seasonings. I think the duck have been sitting out for too long and kindda dried out. Duck confit melts in your mouth, this one didn't.
NOW THE FRIES!!! I've heard so much about the fries, but BELIEVE ME...I think it is VERY comparable to New York Fries. I mean, it's not bad, but I really didn't tastes anything different. The ketchup and horseradish Mayo was nice, but the fries itself....TRUST ME, it tastes like New York fries.
It's great that they have a huge selection of beer, then again, even though I am a beer drinker, I know what i want and don't need 10 pages to choose from.
SERVICE:
The service was ok, nothing really special. Our server had a really serious look on his face and was to the point. I guess that's a good thing...
They are really good at clearing plates as soon as you finish and get things out of the way.
Total bill with tips $230 -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
11/20/2011
I should probably preface this by saying I am related to the owner, but that only adds to the appeal! So what if I get a free beer once in awhile? I come here anyways!
Having lived in Belgium, I come here to relive some of my favourite Belgian foods and beer (although, I am admittedly not much of a beer drinker). The cheese fondue and frites are authentic standouts, as well as the pulled pork sandwich even if it's not really Belgian. You have to ask for the pulled pork as it's not on the menu, but it should be since it's so popular. Maybe I should see to this since I have the connection and all! -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
After going to Bier Mart for brunch without doing any beer tasting, the adventure inner me feel like I have been deprived. I want to go somewhere for some decent food (Bier Mart though has an impressive beer menu, but I was not impressed with their food) and some beer tasting, that's how I ended up at Beer Bistro.
My Yelp Drinking Buddy was impressed the moment he stepped inside the Beer Bistro. Friendly staffs, great beer selections, tasty food, classy yet casual atmosphere... oh and the Patio!!!
Our waitress was so patient and help us pick our 6 beer tasting selections. I am not a real beer expert and I could not even pronounce the name of the beer correctly... but it was an enjoyable experience!
We have the Spicy Kobe Beef Tacos ($13) to share. It was a little disappointing.. so disappointing that my YDB even forgot he ate that. It was either spicy or the Kobe beef just tasted like regular beef??
Belgium White Mussel ($16.95) which I really enjoyed. Light and creamy and not overpowering, really bring out the freshness of the mussels... I LOVE mussels!!
Flourless Chocolate Cake ($9) was so good, that my YDB ended up licking the plate.. yes he really used his tongue.... hmmmm
Beer Bistro is a great restaurant for casual dinner with friends where you can hang out over a pint or a romantic dinner with someone specials... But for me, I would definitely be back for a drink or to either at the bar or on the patio! -
Review from SB M.
3/7/2012
I like this place, but I could see it being disappointing for someone without a love of beer. I would say 4 stars if you like beer, 2-3 if you don't. I guess it all depends on how much mediocre food you will tolerate for excellent beer. I will tolerate a lot of things for excellent beer, so there you go.
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Review from Precilla C.
Scarborough, ON
9/2/2011 7 photos
Beer Bistro is tucked in the corner of Yonge and King, and I remember the first time I was here, I had difficulty locating the restaurant. It's easy to walk right by if you don't know that it's there.
Onto the food. We ordered a whole bunch of things to share
Cheese and lager fondue- aged cheddar, emmental and hacker-pschorr edelhell. This fondue was disappointing compared to the ones I had from Bier Markt. First of all, the baguette was unremarkable and bland. The melted cheese was only lukewarm when it came out. As well, I thought the cheese had a grainy texture and wasn't as tasty as the one from Bier Markt. After we were done with the baguette, there was still a lot of cheese left in the pot.
New England Style Mussels: steamed in beer broth with beer bacon, leeks, potatoes, cheddar, parsley vienna lager and a touch of cream. The mussels were served with a loaf of freshly baked Cantillon Sourdough, which tasted a lot better than the baguette that came with the fondue. The mussels were definitely a pleasant surprise.The broth, in particular, was wonderfully flavourful, perhaps a little salty on its own, but perfect for bread dipping and accompanying the mussels. My mom was prying out every last piece in the pot.
Belgian frites: blanched in beef and duck fat, and served with house-made mayonnaise and smoked tomato ketchup. Of course, the fries here are a must-order. For $6, you get a heaping portion of very delicious fries, and these are my favourite in the city! They are also probably the best valued item on the menu.
Lobster Quesadilla: I enjoyed the combination of leeks, sweet peppers, corn, smoked cheddar, basil and cilantro stuffed in a tortilla shell. Of course, the avocado salsa and gueuze-soured cream were excellent accompaniments as well.
Applewood smoked back ribs: grilled apple, arugula salad and roasted garlic mash. I was quite happy with these ribs, and they were almost fall-off-the-bone tender. The sauce was appropriately sweet and added a smokey punch to the flavours. However, the roasted garlic mash potatoes were really awful! It was dry, chunky, and bland. In the end, we left most of it on the plate and finished everything else.
Rocky Road Ice Cream Sandwiches: coffee porter ice cream, homemade marshmallows and walnuts, sandwiched between two stout brownie cookies. You can definitely taste the beer in the ice cream, and I really enjoyed chewing on the walnuts and marshmallows folded into the ice cream.
To sum up, Beer Bistro had hits and misses. The Belgian frites, the mussels and the ice cream sandwiches were the high points of the meal. On the other hand, I would definitely stay away from the black cod and fondue in the future. That said, I look forward to coming back and trying out the other varieties of mussels. -
Review from Teresa C.
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
My dining mate and I went to Beer Bistro specifically for mussels and beer.
I had the Blue Blonde mussels (ermite blue cheese, affligem blonde, pear, spinach, leeks and a touch of cream). The flavour was really wonderful. It was surprising and pleasant to find chunks of blue cheese inside the mussel shells. The broth is excellent; I slurped it all up with a spoon. The downside to the mussels was that they were teeeeeny. There were a lot of mussels, but they were all quite tiny.
We shared frites and they were quite good. Crispy and hot! It was really nice, dipping the frites in my blue cheese mussels broth.
I found the description of the different beers really informative and helpful. I felt like I had adequate information to help me choose the perfect beer!
The service was all right. Mediocre. Nothing too special. It would have been nice if we had our waters re-filled more often.
All in all, a great place to get mussels. -
Review from Cindy H.
8/16/2011
Prior to a concert at the ACC, my group and I were looking for a simple menu with good drinks.
After googling, some nearby places, we settled on The Beer Bistro, which offers a casual outdoor patio. For a Tuesday evening, it was quite busy. Probably wouldn't be bad idea to make a dinner reservation; however, we were early enough
We each ordered a 3 draught sample ($6). I was very excited to see BitBurger on the menu, as that was token draught we were used to drinking in Germany - quite refreshing!
Quite impressive were the Mussel Bowls ($16.95) - Belgian White were preferred over the Summer Saison. Our group also shared the Spicy Kobe Beef Tacos (which were small in portion size and not quite flavourful enough) and a Hog Wild Pizza ($15.75).
Service started to slow down towards the end of our meal (7:30pm), as more hungry patrons entered.
If you're a group looking to share and have a taste of many items, order a few extra things for the table. I found portion sizes to be smaller than normal. Overall, I enjoyed the outside seating, standard service, and selection of draught beers. -
Review from Nicole B.
6/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for a friend's birthday. I had never ventured in but by the happy hour Bay street crowd plus the Yelp views, I was intrigued. Maybe with their extensive beer menu, I could find a beer I truly like.
I made a reservation through Yelp and Open Table. The restaurant called me the day of to confirm and even handled my time change and various requests with ease. I wish I could remember the hostess's name but she was great. Plus her tattoos were awesome!
My friend was literally in awe that I thought I might see a tear trickle from his eye. The beer list amazed him. He even found a beer he didn't think he would consume outside of the Netherlands and got that far away look like he may have died and gone to heaven.
We started our meal with the Kobe beef tacos and they came out quickly--literally so quick, our waitress hadn't even come back with our drinks order yet. Very impressed by the speed.
I ordered the Steak Frites and it was delicious. My friend kept thinking there was something wrong when I was eating slowly but it was so good, I didn't want it to end. The fries were good but nothing special compared to other places I've been. I really liked their house-made mayo and stopped short of licking the metal container in came in. My friend ordered a side of mashed potatoes that I wasn't too fond of. It may have been too much sour cream but I wasn't a fan.
I was also impressed by our waitress's knowledge. She suggested an ale that perfectly complimented my main dish. My friend suggested cider for me and I enjoyed it a lot.
Appetizer, 2 ales, 2 ciders, meals and dessert = about $120. A bit pricey but around the same level as most high-end restaurants. I may not have found the beer to convert me on this trip but the food was delicious enough, that don't mind giving beerbistro another attempt to convert me to a beer drinker. -
Review from Cindy Y.
Scarborough, ON
5/2/2011 4 photos
Came here with a few friends on a Saturday night. Lesson learned, though: do not expect to find tables downtown on a Saturday without having made reservations (at least in the good places!)
But luckily, a tiny table in the bar area was available without any wait.
Well, the first thing I noticed was the ginormous menu of beers. Woah, serious.
Both my companions ordered a 1/2 pint with their meals (don't remember their exact kinds) but they both thoroughly enjoyed them!
We ended up ordering:
1) Salmon BLT mussel bowl
2) Belgian mussel bowl
3) Steak tartare.
Both mussel bowls came with a side sourdough loaf for sopping up mussel juices, which was quite nice compared to the usual slice of bread or mini bun! The mussel bowls were also really huge and cool-looking (heavy, too, damn. Props to the servers!)
But the flavours weren't all that exciting. The salmon BLT one had all the salmon pieces tucked at the bottom, and not too sure where the "BLT" comes in. The Belgian mussels had more complex flavours, but overall nothing that was really different from regular home-made mussels.
My dish was the steak tartare: it was a good portion, the horseradish mayo was tasty (but there was too little of it!), but the steak was pretty substandard. It was very stringy and tough, and I spent majority of my time trying to cut it up into manageable bites. I enjoyed the flavours, but the difficulty I had chewing it kind of ruined it.
Service was in general, good, and the atmosphere was nice. Only reason to return would be for the huge selection of beers to try, but don't expect too much from the food. -
Review from Jessica W.
Toronto, ON
5/27/2011
Get the cone of fries with extra mayo. Seriously, such good fries. I kind of don't remember the rest of my lunch, I think it was salmon cakes, it was fine, whatever, FRIES SO GOOD.
Minus a star for tables so close together you're practically sitting on the lap of the suit next to you. -
Review from Jill H.
9/14/2011
Always dependable for a great bowl of mussels and frites!!!!! And, an awesome beer selection, including (for the ladies)....Fruili!!! YUM, nothing better than strawberry beer!!!!!
This is a great spot for lunch in the downtown corporate district, to take clients to....or an after-work dinner with friends. I highly recommend it!!! We've never had a bad meal here -- it is always the high standard of meal you'd expect at a good restaurant!!! We love love love the selection of mussels -- from thai to mexican......fun fun fun!!!
YAY Beer Bistro!!! -
Review from Chris M.
6/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beer Bistro is easily one of the best destinations for beer lovers in Toronto. They do things up classy - owing to their location right near the business district downtown, it seems. The interior space looks really good, and there's a separate bar area with TVs as well as an airy patio.
The beer menu is absolutely gigantic. In addition to offerings from a seasonally rotating tap list, Beer Bistro easily has the largest bottled beer selection in Toronto, drawing its contents largely from European and American brewing heavyweights. I'm more partial to beer on draught, and so I prefer the nightly updated taps at Volo for extra variety and freshness (as well as a more local craft/microbrewery-focused selection,) but the bottle list at Beer Bistro could make even the most seasoned of beer geeks start to tremble with anticipation. They employ the great idea of dividing their beers into well-defined categories that even the novice drinker can understand - Spicy, Fruity, Sociable, and so on.
The food menu is more focused and not as large as the beer selection, but the kitchen does an excellent and creative job. It is mostly built around the familiar "upscale pub cuisine" standard - flatbread pizzas, steak frites (the frites are really awesome and come with mayo as well as the standard ketchup - hooray!), pastas, ribs, grilled fish and a goat curry dish, etc... The menu is rounded out with the Bistro specialty - mussel bowls in a variety of styles, all incorporating beer into their broth for extra flavour. I'd suggest trying the Brussels style with smoked sausage, fennel, Belgian blonde ale and hot peppers. There's even a dessert menu with such selections as beer-infused ice cream!
Service can be a bit slow at times, but the quality of the food will hopefully make up for the extra time it could take. A stupidly minor, but annoying quibble, if I'm allowed one - don't bring bread out before mussels so it sits and turns hard and cold! The servers are well-acquainted with the menu and all the ins-and-outs of the many beers available, as well as how to pair them.
A quick story: I was eating here most recently with a friend who works at Starbucks. It turns out that the owner of the Bistro is a regular patron of that very Starbucks! He recognized her by chance, came over, introduced himself and much to our surprise brought a bottle of awesome Italian sour beer by our table on the house! Now, that's service!
If your idea of a great beer place has as much to do with more refined surroundings and delicious food as it does with beer that tends to be on the exotic side (rather than the fresh and local,) Beer Bistro is your place. It may be a bit expensive but, it's a knockout. -
Review from Jen C.
4/8/2011 11 Check-ins Here
With a decent menu and late hours, this restaurant makes the regular rotation list. And beer. Lots and lots of beer.
Favourites are the tartare, fries, and the pizzas. There are times when these are only okay, and times, more often than not, when these are really, really, good. I've never had a truly bad meal.
This place tends to be busy at all hours - especially with the after-work crowd. There are regular tables, higher tables along a couch, and the couches in the bar. I prefer the couches in the bar for a relaxed late-night meal. -
Review from Americo G.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2012
Samuel Adams Utopia @ $20.00 for an ounce and a hall.
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Review from Eric L.
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is what all pubs should be like. Friendly and attentive staff. Great finger food and entrées. Extensive beer selection. Slightly expensive prices, however once in a while I don't mind paying a lextra for excellent quality
However, you are paying for the quality. The bill was very expensive, but I didn't care since it was comp'd by a client. Definately a place to bring someone if you want to woo/impress/treat. -
Review from Laura T.
1/13/2011
Heading to Beer Bistro on a Friday night to catch up and meet a friend's new love interest, was the perfect choice. Good ambience, comfortable bench seating, good drinks and a surprisingly diverse late night bar menu.
Our table 'sampled' (more like devoured), a chicken w/ bacon burger, cheese fondue and the legendary frits fried in duck fat. All delicious, rich in flavour, wonderfully presented.
This was a great spot to drink beer (and caesars) with friends and chat, definitely not a wild and bumpin' spot. I would recommend Beer Bistro for dins with friends or family, and a relaxed but intimate drink later on.
The staff was really great, and the beer selection of course, amazing. It's hard to find my favourite, Fruli beer (strawberry!!!) -
Review from Tina L.
5/10/2011
Thanks to beerbistro, where I learned to drink and love beer, I've spent hundreds(maybe thousands) of dollars on fancy beers in the past couple of years.
I was here a while ago, when there was a nice pappardelle dish with rabbit and mushroom on the menu. Since I wanted to try a couple of beers, the waiter suggested a nice trio to go with my meal, my favorite being the St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout.
Their homemade beer scream is fantastic - nothing like the ridiculous "homemade" ice creams we used to make in middle/high school. Here, the consistency is smooth, it's flavorful without being too bitter.
Food - delish with generous portions! Beers - wonderful selection. This will definitely be one of the stops the next time I'm in town! -
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Believe it or not, beer is not the best thing on the menu at the Beer Bistro. Although it cannot be questioned that this urban oasis of specially crafted beers is best known for its fine selection of suds, Their Belgian Frites are second to none and a clear standout.
For the reasonable price of $6.00 one can feast on crispy Frites blanched in duck fat and served with sides of house-made mayonnaise and smoked tomato ketchup. The frites come stacked in a pseudo cone of paper which needs to be unravelled as one works their way through the order.
Great atmosphere, great beer selection and Belgian frites that can't be beat. -
Review from Jess C.
6/22/2011
Beer battered mussels - SO GOOD! I would highly recommend the New England.
Paired with some Chambly (probably not recommended) - but delicious. I was not disappointed in the least, but wished there were more white belgium draught choices.
Love that they have outdoor seating and had free oysters and cocktails when I arrived. Apparently it is a part of some Toronto beer festival going on, lucky me :)
