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Cat 'n'fiddle
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Music:
- Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
3 reviews for Cat 'n'fiddle
3 reviews in English
-
Review from Devyn G.
Toronto, ON
8/20/2011 2 photos
The longer I live in Canada, the more I find myself having a weakness for Britpubs. If only there were more monarchists in this country, man. Add to that that a girlfriend strongly recommended this place to me should I find myself in the Hammer, and the so-trendy place across the street couldn't keep me on their threshold for more than three minutes. (Besides: all they served was sandwiches and pizza.)
Though temptingly Britpubby a dish it is, the Cat and Fiddle's steak and kidney pie that was on special couldn't steer me away from something I go for only rarely: liver and onions.
Oh, shut up, you. I like it. Hated it as a kid, but now I do. So there.
But I also hadn't chowed all day, so an appetizer was in order. Naturally, for me, this meant the small plate of suicide wings. Verdict? A little on the scrawny side but also not overdone. The sauce was thin but plentiful, and they actually, honestly served it with bleu cheese without me having to specially request it. B+.
At first glance, I thought the liver slices were thin, but then I realized how thick the stack was under the perfectly sauteed onion slivers. And bacon. Did I miss it on the menu that bacon was involved? And real bacon, not sprinklybits, and at least four solid, long, tender slabs.
And then came the beef gravy... and not slathered on top of everything, oh no. Served separately in an actual, generously-proportioned gravy boat. I was impressed.
With it all? Steamed veggies (ok, especially when dipped in remaining bleu cheese from the wings) and somewhat lumpy and bland mashed. You might want to opt for the baked tato or fries.
After a day of exploring Dundurn Castle and its museum of British and Canadian military artifacts, enjoying the hearty rations here seemed the perfectly sensible thing to do. The relaxed ambiance was complemented by the crowd of laughing dudes in the dart room, but while other reviewers have remarked about how packed this place gets, during my Saturday early-evening visit, it was just them, myself, and server Nadine. Nice. That the tunage included Sex Pistols and Leonard Cohen didn't hurt.
I'll be back, eh? -
Review from Paul M.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Usually when my buddies and I head to Augusta street we check out the Plucker or Aout'n About. However, on a recent trip both pubs were packed so we took our thirst down to the Fiddle. It was my first time there and on first glance it looked to be fairly busy. The Fiddle must have been a home before because the layout makes you feel as though you're drinking in the living room, dining room or hallway of a retrofitted house.
Unfortunately, for our group of six we found ourselves waiting forever to order our pints in a bar that wasn't too busy. The bar area is extremely small and I don't think it could have been any narrower. The two bartenders were literally tripping over each other rushing to get thirsty drunks their beer. Naturally, the bar area is where everyone congregates and this only makes getting a beer worse. Trying to weave your way through patrons engaged in conversation, only to suddenly find yourself standing in the middle of their group because the bar area is swamped is not my idea of fun. In fact, I don't think the couple talking about their relationship problems appreciated me sneaking through their intense conversation just so that I could reach for the beer I just ordered.
I do have to commend the two bartenders who did their best to be as quick as possible getting everyone their orders, especially considering the cramped space they had to operate in. -
Review from Sam D.
Hamilton, ON
12/17/2009
As far as British pubs go, this one is awesome - it's got the decor down, and the food. The menu is great, it offers decent curry, quesadillas and a really awesome steak sandwich (among other things). As far as nightlife goes, it's pretty laid-back. There's occasionally some pretty decent live music. The highlight is the Tuesday Night Pub Quiz, but a warning - it starts at 7:30 but aim to get there at 5:30 or so, or you've got no chance of getting a table.
