- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
C'est What?
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 am
- Take Away:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
111 reviews for C'est What?
Review Highlights
"Food was great, fantastic beer selection."
(in 28 reviews)
"They have cactus cut sweet potato fries."
(in 8 reviews)
"Enjoyed the pool tables and the couches, nice touch on the..."
(in 13 reviews)
Loading...
109 reviews in English
-
Review from Sandy C.
Scarborough, ON
1/19/2012 2 photos
A great pub to go to with your friends to enjoy some beer and possibly play some scrabble!
The pub is lit and isn't dark and overly loud compare to other ones I've been to. The selection of beer is intriguing and my friends tried a few of them (they do not recommend the coal one cause they said it tasted like drinking actual coal). The two beers they loved were the Coffee Porter and the Waupoos Cider.
I had a Hazelnut Brownie which was very moist and paired well with the vanilla ice cream and the hazelnuts. Really delicious!
Definitely a great place to spend some quality time with your friends! -
Review from Sarah B.
Toronto, ON
1/8/2012
This place used to be a great hangout spot. But in the last few years, it has gone down hill fast.
Attempted to go there for my 30th birthday awhile back with a group of 15 people. Was told they do not take reservations and just to show up. When we arrived, the place was close to empty (at 10pm on a Saturday) but was told they could not seat us together since we were too large a group.
We found a section where there were enough seats if we moved the tables together but were told since it was two different waiters, we were not allowed.
Ended up leaving. If they want to turn down 15 paying customers, then so be it.
Still an ok place to go for microbrew beer with a small group of friends. Don't order food. -
Review from Jason R.
12/21/2011 1 photo
C'est What is a great place to hang out, try a lot of different beers including local microbrews, and meet new people. The place is always alive and Saturday nights the place is packed. However, even then its still a chill place to hang with a friend and grab food and drinks.
When I'm in the Toronto area, C'est What is one of my favorite places to stop in and have a pint. -
Review from Annie L.
Toronto, ON
1/28/2012
Got there with a group of 10 or 12 people at 6p.m. to ask for a table. They told us it'll be a long wait, but "long" was so unreasonable (we were still at the bar at 8:30p.m.) some in our group left. Some continued our after-work beer with great conversation, and two of us went to the waitress to ask why there is a 6-person table behind us that's been empty for over 1/2 hour but we're not allowed to sit on it.
"We don't want to put more chairs around that table." "When you are a group we cannot seat you in two small groups." "The tables are reserved but we're having trouble contacting the person before you." ... 5-10 minutes of excuses later, they sent us away. THEN they called us back on the buzzer 5 minutes later, to say (this is 3 hours later, an hour before the kitchen closes) "Because your friend and you are demanding that you be seated we'll make you an exception and let you sit at that table." WOW.
If my friends weren't already drunk from idle waiting and drinking on empty stomachs I would've said "let's go next door". I don't understand why they got so attached.
My partner and I ordered a Shepherd's pie. We both got food poisoning of some sort and had to run home.
Polite wait staff but no courtesy can hide their terrible business attitude. Looks like plenty of other yelpers share the sentiment...so I don't understand why this place is so crowded, it's like watching the door mats come for the door. -
Review from Christa B.
1/27/2012
Agree with Sarah B., what happened to the relaxed, beer a-plenty afternoon killer? Doesn't matter how many people you show up with, you now get a list of rules and inconveniences before they deign to seat you. Don't be two minutes ahead of your party - if you don't have quorum, you don't get a table.
The beer selection is great of course, and the only reason to visit. Just don't expect simple conveniences like split bills, the ability to add a chair if a friend shows up (god forbid), or pleasant service. -
Review from Mike E.
Toronto, ON
12/21/2011
They have one of the best selections of local beer in Toronto.
Good vegetarian / vegan selection on their menu, the veggie burger is great and the fries are fantastic! -
Review from Michelle D.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
"can I get a pint of Keiths please?"................."Try again".
I went to C'est What for the first time last night and thoroughly enjoyed myself!!
The place is essentially a large spacious basement with many rooms, but very quaint and cozy, with a super chilled out feel to it. The food was amazing and the beer selection was great.
They have an extensive list of beers on tap and in bottles, majority of them starring micro-breweries which is so awesome and such a great change from the world of Stella and Keiths!!!!!
We sat at a closed off fire place on comfy couches and carpets, and didn't move for 3 hours besides the much needed 20-odd bathroom breaks!!! We all got a variety of beers... The Hemp Ale one was my favorite! The pumpkin ale was delicious as well.
The veggie burger is delicious, as are the sweet potato fries that are actually "yam chips"... essentially sweet potatoes sliced into 'crisp' shapes' ....evidently sweet potato anything is my weakness!!!!!!
Great place to hang out and try good beer :) -
Review from Brett V.
Oakville, ON
1/14/2012
The things I love about this place is the fantastic beer selection. They rotate the casks very often so there is more new beers (and tasty) to try every week So far, it's one of the best places for beer in the core I have found so far.And the beer prices are good!
They also have delicious lamb burgers among other dishes. It is well worth it.
The atmosphere kills it. Friday and Saturday gets so busy that you can't even sit down with your friends for a good beer and a bite to eat because you are "crowding the table." I would only go on a weekday again. -
Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
10/29/2011
C'est What is a great beer-bar, a place for beer snobs, beer lovers, and beer drinkers to rejoice in their collective passion for hoppy (or malty, or whatever) suds! This place is everything the Rhino is not: excellent service, clean taps, clean space, comfortable seating, tasty food...
Sure, it's located in what essentially amounts to a basement, but I never really felt like i was chillin' in someone's dank and dirty. The place is spacious, well laid out, and lit just shy of atmospherically (not sure what that means exactly, but I hope you catch my drift).
The beer list is not insane, but I appreciate that -- there's not a bad choice to be found, and the seasonals and cask offerings are yum, every one. I was particularly fond of their house chocolate stout!
But while C'est What will never stray from its beery roots, it's the food that really struck me. As pub food goes, they have some great options: I highly recommend the house-made veggie burger w/ yam fries, made with ancient grains, chick pea, and more. Awesome. One of the best veggie burgs I've ever had, pub or no pub, though it bears mentioning that the patty is deep-fried. So much for the healthy option! As for those yam fries, man, delicious, even if they do range from crispy to floppy depending on the chip. Texture didn't matter much, they tasted that good.
Finally of note, C'est What doesn't, as a general rule, offer tastings of their beer... but they will, if you ask nicely. And "a taste" amounts to probably 5oz, so I understand why they're reluctant. So again, ask nicely, thank kindly, and tip well, and they'll be more than happy to give you a few nips of what's on tap to help educate your decisions. Plenty of time for beer-blind choices later!Listed in: 30 in 30? Quantity & Quality!
-
Review from Anne B.
10/5/2011
I went here last night for a beer with some friends after going to the movies across the street.
I was super excited that they had St. Ambroise Pumpkin Ale as it is my new found favourite autumnal beverage! For this reason alone I would give this establishment 5 stars, but it actually has several other fine features that warrant the high rating.
I actually didn't have a chance to try any of the food (though, I plan to on my next visit), but judging by what I saw other people eating it looked pretty darn decent (yes, I realize that's a lame food review...I'll update this when I have actually consumed something from this bar. Promise!).
The trickiest component to a successful bar is the ambiance. It's the je nais se quois that, unlike a fine ale, can't be bottled and bought. A place either has it or it doesn't. Cest What? has achieved this laid back and seemingly effortless comfortable feeling that is perfect for catching up with friends over a couple beers.Listed in: Places that make me giddy..., Libations
-
Review from Americo G.
Toronto, ON
One the best places in Toronto for cask ales.
-
Review from Nate H.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2012
Great vibe, food and service. Don't expect amazing but a very solid option all-round.
-
Review from Fern H.
7/24/2011
The beer selection at C'est What is truly one of the best in the city which is why we came in on Sat. night.
Be aware that if you are in a group of 6 people or more, they will not do separate tabs for the table and there is an instant 15% gratuity tacked onto your bill.
Our server was cold, indifferent and wasn't really willing to answer questions about the beer menu. He gave me an eye rolling when I asked for water in addition to my pint order.
Pint prices range from $6-$8. I got the Hop City Mr. Huff lager, and also sampled someone's Spearhead Pineapple IPA which I thought I would like since I love pineapple but it was just too bitter for me.
We ordered 4 appetizers - poutine with bacon ($9), calamari ($9.95), artichoke dip ($7.95) and antojitos ($6.95) and they came out pretty quickly.
I think this was the first time I had been to C'est What in the evening and the atmosphere was pretty loud and rowdy with lots of action going on near the pool table areas.
Might have been an off night for service because I have been here before and the service was much better. -
Review from Mark R.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
First went here for a work party. I like the atmosphere and really enjoy the tap beers - great selection. The atmosphere is really friendly and enjoyable with a number of unique feeling seating areas. I always try to visit while in Toronto.
-
Review from Linda M.
8/21/2011
This is another place I've been meaning to try for a while, especially once I found out that the boyfriend loves it. After deciding that lines at Food Truck Eats were too long for our level of hunger, we decided to head over there instead.
It's located in a basement, and I really enjoyed the rustic decor - simple tables and chairs, exposed brick, and graphic retro prints on the walls. It felt very cozy and homey. The server was very good at recommending beers to us, we each got something different and after tasting the others decided that we both preferred our own. This is a place that doesn't serve "regular" beer, they're all locally brewed. We both ordered the lamb burger, his with regular fries and mine with yam frites.
The food came out pretty quickly which was nice - we were hungry! The burgers came with tzatziki sauce, which was a nice combination with the lamb. It was honestly some of the best tzatziki I've ever had, and I love Greek food. The burger was large, juicy, and delicious. Unfortunately when I tried my frites (they were like potato chips made with yams), they were overcooked. All I could taste was char. With ketchup they were okay, but that shouldn't be necessary. The regular fries were quite tasty though.
Considering how good the burger was, I would be willing to overlook the yams except for one thing - the price was $12.95. Our two burgers and two beers were over $50 with tax and tip, and that's pretty pricey for lunch - and pretty pricey for burgers in general.
All in all, it was a very tasty lunch other than the yam frites, but the price point was too high for what it was. I would recommend this place for beers more than for the food. -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
C'est What looks and feels like a local watering hole. It makes for a nice hangout. It is a little lackluster, but that's its style.
*** DRINKS ***
I only had drinks here, no food. I had a beer: Neustadt Texas Tea and a sample of Big Butt Smoked Dark Ale. The beers are different from what most places serve, but it wasn't an extensive list. The beers are good, not watered down. I think the Big Butt should be drank only if you're going to eat something with it.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
As soon as you walk in, the bar is on your right. If you walk around the wall on the left, there is another bar. The decor is like a typical bar with the beer signs on the wall. Music plays in the background, just as you would expect. The bar is clean and so are the restrooms. It was pretty quiet when we entered, however at ~11pm a lot of people came in. The bar area on the left remained dead. All the servers I saw were men - not that there's a problem with that, but I'm just saying...
*** SERVICE ***
Immediately upon entering and taking a seat, we were greeted and asked if we wanted anything. We took a couple minutes to decide, and our server was ready for us promptly. When I asked for the Big Butt Smoked Dark Ale, he warned me that a lot of people don't like it, so he gave me a sample first. All the servers appear to work fast. The service is great.
*** PRICE ***
Pricing is good:
* Neustadt Texas Tea | $6.70 *
* St. Ambroise Raspberry Ale (half pint) | $4.85 *
** TOTAL (after tax and tip) = $15 **
*** QU'EST-CE QUE SAY? ***
C'est What is a good place to go for a leisurely drink if you're in the neighborhood. There are some different beers to try. I wouldn't mind coming back here for the Big Butt and some food. The service is great, so if you need an urgent drink, you won't be let down.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
-
Review from Isaac E.
North York, ON
10/3/2011
I really like this place.
It's quiet, intimate and you can actually have a good conversation over a pint. The food is above average pub fare and they make one hell of a Gin and Tonic.
Price could be lower but the price is worth it for the intimate setting. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
C'est What is A-OK if you want to beer and talk nonsense with your friends.
Nothing fancy, nothing pretentious.. but definitely don't bring your date here, she/he would think that "oh we are just friends, nothing more..."
Good draft selections and friendly bartender... even let you have a taste before serving you something that he thinks that you might not like.. I definitely would not have enjoy Big Butt Smoked Dark ale.....or any big butts!
All the drafts comes in half pint, great if you are doing a bar crawl which in my case..or you can early a couple of other beers and do it like a beer tasting. -
Review from L S.
North York, ON
1/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Lamb burger was great.
-
Review from Amy D.
5/31/2011
Stopped in on a Friday afternoon after walking about... 6 miles. Grabbed a couple of beers, poutine, and a lamb burger.
Was ok. Not outstanding. We didn't leave any food behind, if that's what you're asking. But I don't know that I'd go back to a place that boasts such a great beer selection and doesn't deliver (at least in my snobby san diego craft beer mind). -
Review from Ellie A.
5/28/2011
This review is for the food at C'est What only. If you want a place to have a great beer and relax with friends, C'est What is perfect, no argument. And they have terrific live music. But the food is so disappointing that it makes me annoyed. Because I really do want to enjoy it. This is especially true for their vegetarian choices. At first, the menu looks very veggie friendly (5 entree options), but my husband and I have eaten 4 out of the 5 over two visits and they have all been terrible.
Vegetarian gumbo is like something your older brother (sorry, Ben, not you) would cook you if he was babysitting. Overcooked, mushy rice, mixed with canned tomatoes, tofu cubes and some non-descript spices on a plate. C'mon C'est What! Put your game face on. At least TRY to make something appealing.
The Tofu wrap was boring because there was no real flavour in the grilled veggies (which, by the way, were odd for "grilled vegetables" - they were carrots, broccoli and peppers which made me wonder if they were leftover from a stir fry dish). There was, however, salt. I don't know what they used to marinate that tofu, but it tasted like a salt lick. Literally inedible. (Unless you are my husband who willingly ate mine because his gumbo left him hungry and unsatisfied).
The roti is uninspiring and the quesadillas are standard but certainly nothing worth writing home about.
I would say that meat eaters might have more success, but I glimpsed the inside of my brother-in-law's burger and, rather than being pink and juicy, it looked grey. With ground beef, that's a total turn-off for me. We tried the fried calamari, too. No flavour, but at least they weren't overcooked.
Oh yeah, and the service is slow.
So, in conclusion:
Go for beer
Go for fries (those are pretty good)
Go for basement cave
Don't go for food.
Vegetarian score = 4/10. Lots of choices, but none of them are worth your time. -
Review from Cameron O.
Toronto, ON
8/13/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I can't believe I forgot to review this place!
This is one of my top 3 picks for boutique beer in the city. The environment is cosy and like the other places in the area the vibe can vary widely depending on what day of the week and what time you arrive.
My visits are seldom during the trendy/busy times. Call me an old fart that way... I just don't do trendy/hip.
The selection of micro-brews is extensive. If it's small, new, or interesting (and local) they will have it on tap. Flights are a must unless you're really in the mood for one type of beer the whole evening.
I haven't extensively eaten the menu here but the sweet potato fries are a definite stand-out. They are pure warm, savoury, salty, herbed deliciousness.
The other food I've had has been good to great but not blow-your-mind like the sweet potato fries.
There are a couple pool tables and a reasonable-ish price for the usage.
The servers have always been excellent. -
Review from Sean M.
Vancouver, BC
11/4/2011
I met a friend here for dinner while travelling for work, as he lives in the neighbourhood. Great beer selection (I really liked the coffee porter), food was good, enjoyed the atmosphere (who says you Toronto types are stuffy?). All in all, I would recommend it if you're in the area.
-
Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
4/26/2011
I went to check this place out due the the beer selection hype. I have to admit that the selection was good, but I guess I imagined the length of the list would blow my mind; it did not. There were, however, quite a few interesting choices.
The food was very tastey. They have cactus cut sweet potato fries! They do not say that they are cactus cut, but they are. The burges were excellent. Juicy and flavourful.
Our server was super nice. I even saw her very politely putting up with some guy who felt like telling her his life story instead of ordering.
But the best thing about this place, is the atmosphere. Very chill, very very chill. If there is a larger group of you, I recommend calling ahead and reserving the lounge area around the fireplace. Private-ish, with couches, and close to the bar. :) -
Review from Toronto L.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2011
The Toronto Lover system:
5 stars = Must visit!
4 stars = Really good. I take my friends here.
3 stars = Somewhat worth it... if you have nowhere better to go.
2 stars = Below average. Attend only when necessary.
1 star = Do not visit!
I'm confused about C'est What. Let me explain:
I like bars with great food, and C'est What delivers. Everything I've seen there has been well presented, and from what I've heard it's all tasty.
I like good live venues, and this one achieves something rare: it can handle light folk music and jazz acts without making you feel like you're in a cheesy lounge.
There are lots of seats, and lots of tables, and booths, and whatever else you want to sit in.
It's in a decent location, but I wouldn't go out of my way to the "St. Lawrence area" for a drink. That's just me.
There's just something uncomfortable about this place. Perhaps another review can explain it better: the space is odd and winding, the service is cold, and it seems to be a restaurant, lounge, venue, bar, and, well, cafe, without being a spectacular version of any of these. Maybe they were geniuses to choose such a name, but I really have to say: c'est what?
3 stars -
Review from Arwen L.
4/17/2011 2 photos
C'est What? You had me at basement! And then I knew it was love when I saw the taps.
I tip toed down the steps into the bottom floor of this cute building and pulled up a seat at the bar asking my typical questions when I saw the keg handles. Do you have a list? The bartender handed one over right away. All they serve are Canadian brews.
Big note, each beer comes in 500ml (a pint) or 330ml (12 oz.). If you do not specify a size (which at first I did not) they will serve you a pint. In a bar with as many beers as they offer, pints can be dangerous. Go for the 330!
The downside to their beer sizes is that they don't offer sampler sizes. For me, this is a huge bummer. I am the sample queen! They do, however, offer small pours maybe 1 or two ounces if there is something you really want to try.
When I decided to take up the offer from the bartender on this one, I only asked for two that I was genuinely curious about. She wasn't overly thrilled that I took her up on her offer it seemed. I think if you didn't want me to ask, then don't suggest it as an option. This bartender also tarnished a bit of my experience too because she just wasn't very forthcoming. I don't know if it was because I was a tourist or what but her service took forever.
There was another bartender who was much nicer and kind of reminded me of what a love-child between Robert Pattison and the lead singer from God Smack (Sully) might look like.
For lunch, I ordered the tourtiere, a Quebec-style meat pie. It was really good as was the salad that accompanied it!
The website for this place doesn't do itself justice. I'd say, for any person interested in craft beer this is the best spot in the city!Listed in: Hmmmmmmmm, Beer!, Touring Toronto
-
Review from Mariko M.
3/20/2011 ROTD 7/17/2011
Real casual.
Two words that first came to mind when I walked in.
Came here with a friend on Saturday night for some birthday drinks.
A good variety of beers to choose from. If you're not a beer lover, don't fret - wines and mixed drinks are available too.
Pub grub is served too. Pretty good too!
Yay, I'm a fan.Listed in: My ROTD's
-
Review from Aaron C.
Victoria, BC
7/8/2011
I love C'est What for so many reasons.
I first came here for a Craft Brew festival a few years ago, and was amazed by the fun and cozy interior. I immediately thought to myself that this was one of those places that make me happy to have moved to Toronto. Unpretentious, hip and cozy are words I'd use to describe this place.
I've since come back a number of times, each being equally as enjoyable as the first time. Their beer selection is second to none, especially if you're looking for something local and delicious. With a rotating menu of beers on tap, there's always something new to try, and I've always found the bartenders friendly and knowledgeable about their current selections.
If beer isn't your thing, this place has a great food menu as well. My personal favourite is their lamb burger which comes with these amazing thinly sliced sweet potato fries and tzatziki that never disappointed.
Finally, if you're looking for something a little more, there is a small selection of board games around their fire place as well as a few pool tables.
I constantly remark about C'est What being my favourite spot in town, and every time I go back I'm reminded as to why. -
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2010
So three girls walking around needed to find a place to eat and catch up... we come across the doors of C'est What and cannot open the door whatsoever.... we're wondering how this place can be closed on a weekday at 6 o'clock.
Warning... PULL DOOR HARD!
Finally realizing our stupidity, we walked down the stairs to this cool little pub with tvs across the bar, and tables for people to either watch the games or just socialize. A very casual atmosphere I must say as the service was not too attentive, but maybe my girls and I were talking too much to notice anything at all around us.
I ordered the shepherds pie which I was told was delicious.... the girls ordered stews. It came out in a huge ceramic plate, and the only thing I could see was melted cheese.. not going to lie, not sure if it was real or processed, but it looked too much for my liking. The flavours were standard, nothing out of the ordinary and nothing beer soaked as I might have read.
The beer selection was decent, although one of us thought their choice was very unenjoyable. It's hit and miss really. Not bad for a chill night and good catch up times! Prices are very reasonable for food and the location is bang on. -
Review from Caroline W.
Scarborough, ON
6/18/2011
Go here for the beer, but not the food. The beer selection is pretty good, and reasonably priced.
The food is a different story. The menu has a vegetarian section, but some of the options just sounded really off-putting. I decided on a veggie soup and yam fries. The latter was much better than the former, which was flavourless. I couldn't really tell what the soup had in it.....yay mystery meals? Not really.
The restaurant has an inviting atmosphere, and there are musical performances sometimes.
So, if I went here again, i'd probably just get a beer and some fries.....I'll stay away from the other food. -
Review from Laura H.
12/17/2010
Well...
I'm torn on this place. The good parts about it is that it boasts a relatively impressive list of Canadian microbrew, and it's in a good location. In my opinion, the fact that it doesn't have a television is actually a mark in its favor, and the subterranean cave-like atmosphere is pulled off quite nicely. It's got pool tables and a fireplace and an alluring long line of taps that draw beer fiends like me as a backyard barbecue draws flies.
The bad parts: when I was there, they seemed to be out of all beer brewed at C'est What? They definitely had a bountiful selection on hand, but, I mean, I wanted to sample the wares that were brewed on premises. Felt a little cheated on that one, had to say.
The waitress was relatively helpful - when my friend asked for a selection of hoppy beers she was able to deliver appropriately. She was kind of terse, though, which I thought was a little bit uncalled for. You're a bartender at a beer bar. People are going to ask you about the beer. If you don't like being asked about beer, get a job where you are less likely to get asked about beer.
The food was so-so. I ordered the jerk chicken roti, and was underwhelmed by it. Not that it was a bad dish, but frankly I could have used a little less jerk in my bartender and a little more in my chicken.
Overall, if you're looking for an easy-to-get-to place that has a good selection of beer, this place would fit the bill. However, I wouldn't necessarily recommend going for the food - it wasn't completely terrible, just that Toronto definitely has better to offer as far as that's concerned.
That being said, I would go back, but probably just for beer and to get snarky with the bartender. -
Review from Tom A.
3/14/2011
The first time I visited C'est What? I was a stupid American wandering around downtown Toronto without a data plan on his cell phone. I was attempting to find the Shopsy's downtown to get my smoked meat fix. I eventually admitted defeat and decided I'd get a drink at the first place I found. That place happened to be C'est What?
I stumbled down the staircase to find this incredibly cozy place. As I was filled immediately with this "Why can we have nice things like this where I live?" jealousy.
Staring at a craft brew list of beer, I tried a few pale ales. Both were great but, the Steve's Dreaded Chocolate Orange Ale is truly phenomenal. Also, they make a pretty solid poutine.
Since then, I've made C'est What? one of my usual stops when in town. -
Review from Mel U.
12/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
When traveling to different countries, I seemingly always find the "American" bar. C'est What? felt much like "home" to me. Truth be told, I selected this establishment because of its name -- a true pun in a name, I cannot resist! A crossroads of travelers and transplants -- including even a bartender from Ohio(!!!) -- the environment is overtly stranger-friendly, yet hidden like the location of your favorite neighborhood dive bar. At least, we walked past it several times, without notice.
I love to discover new beers, especially in new places -- and C'est What? carried many of which I have never heard, as well as several of their own brews that were surprisingly good. We already ate prior to bar-hopping, so drinks were the only thing on the menu for us during our visit.
We wanted to stay for another round, but were disappointed to not see a TV in the house (hockey, ya know -- keep this in mind, sports fans), so we switched bars. But I highly recommend locals and visitors alike to check out their awesome draft list!Listed in: Taste of Toronto
-
Review from Sergey S.
11/27/2010
Huge (really!) selection of beers - I've found lots of "local" breweries products which I barely heard about. European beers are also present, and it's actually nice to compare the flavours.
Food is good - something between 3.5 and 4 stars, depending on a plate. A bit more diverse than a typical beer-side selection, so you can actually eat there, not only drink.
There is live music, and it's not annoying if you are not in the mood, or may be even quite enjoyable if you are.
Servers are friendly, but somehow distracted - you may need to make an effort to be blessed by their attention. There was one (hopefully unique) case when a waiter brought me my order almost half an hour before serving the rest of our group. Result - my plate was cold, their plates were late.
Overall feeling: nice place. Not without its quirks, but definitely worth returning. -
Review from Rita M.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2011
I liked the atmosphere a lot, but that could be because I was with a big group of friends and we had a great time. The only thing is that a beer and a sandwich set me back 25 bucks, which I thought was a bit much. Sandwich was a pulled pork (bland but totally saved by the sauce) concoction on a baguette. Their sweet potato chips that came on the side were so good I barely got to eat any. My friends finished them for me before I could say much, lol. Good place, lots of fun.
-
Review from reno a.
6/23/2011
Found this through yelp of course while visiting Toronto food looked interesting but i was a bit skeptical. Ordered the butter chicken and was pleasantly surprised it was pretty good (i wasn't expecting authentic here). My mom ordered the Roti and was surprised again the actual roti was good it was massively filled with veggies though and was ok flavor wise. My bf had the bison burger and the coffee porter bbq sauce was a bit on the runny side but was really good and he added jalepenos on top of that (not such a good idea it became too spicy but still really good) Beer selection was not as much as i thought it would be but the beers we had from the rotating cask menu were good.
-
Review from Brandon L.
This place is awesome!
Food was great, fantastic beer selection. The live music was great.
I told my wife when we got there that we were going to be there all night, jokingly, but we did indeed stay till late. We sat arround the fire drinking and making new friends.
If I go back to Toronto I will definitely go back here!
The crem brule is to die for. You can get a free desert coupon at the mall that is close by on one of those tourist racks. -
Review from Rayanne L.
East York, ON
7/25/2010
I would give this a place two point five stars if I could because I actually like the environment and beer selection quite a bit, but the service has always been SO terribly awful, I just can't bare to up the junction to three stars.
Every time I've been (which is kind of a lot), the servers don't go near you unless you're basically screaming your body off. Most of them have no sense of humour, so my flirting and ridiculousness gives me no upper hand. They show no personality and act like they hate their jobs. Maybe they do? Maybe that's part of the job? Maybe you have to be surly to work there?
Worst experience ever this weekend, though. Went to the bar with some friends to order more drinks. Friend asked for a cocktail suggestion -- something delicious, but that still tastes like alcohol -- and the bartender refused to give any input or reccos. I was like, "Really? You won't give any suggestions?" and he said, "I don't read minds."
Another friend asked for a B&B and instead of saying, "Sorry, we don't have that," he just said, "No." Then he slammed my friend's beer down in front of him and half of it spilled all over the bar in front of him.
Later, he came around to pick up some of our glasses and I helped push them over to his side of the table -- you know, just to be nice and give him a hand. He looked at me and said in the meanest, most sarcastic voice I've ever heard, "Thanks for doing my entire job for me. I really appreciate that."
Man! I am riled up about this still! I can be head-over-heels for a place, but the moment someone is a jackass, I can't deal.
But whatever, beers are delicious. Haven't had the food, but have been around lots of groups eating there and it doesn't look too impressive. Hah.Listed in: Chiling Out, Maxin', Sweet Beer Selections
-
Review from Viviana M.
Toronto, ON
5/31/2011
C'est What is a rather unique Pub in the heart of downtown Toronto. Their selection of beers is quite decent and so is their food menu. Although this place is not in my Toronto's Best list, I would still recommend it and especially if you go for a bit to eat. My suggestion will be the Lamb Burger, a must have. Only advice is to stay away from the Sweet Potato fries as these tend to be on the greasy side. Other than that, the regular fries and onion rings are great.
-
Review from sarah l.
6/15/2010 10 Check-ins Here
There are over 50 C'est What reviews so I will regale you with stories of good times I have had here rather than rehash the good the bad and the ugly. (the good is the drinks, the meh is the food and the ugly are the prices to play pool!)
The first time I went to C'est What was with Leslie S. on a random Friday night two years ago. We played pool, met a group of guys in town for a bachelor party, got our bar tab cut off (I don't remember us drinking 12 pints!) and stumbled home with a stop for cinnabonn at Union Station where Leslie wouldn't let me eat mine because she was done hers already. I will never forget you not letting me eat that pastry you know!
The second time I went to C'est What was with Leslie and Robin F from Vancouver, who was crashing with me for a week or two when I still worked at a consulting firm. We arrived for dinner because they are both vegetarians and we all like to drink. The food here is not good. It's verging on bad. But they have 30 taps so... whatever. That night there was a dixieland band playing in the other room and we did not wear out our welcome, thankfully.
I didn't go to C'est What again until this year on my birthday, when Mike S. took me to a bourbon tasting hosted by Makers Mark's Ron Oliver. Yes, his name is really Ron Oliver & he is a swell guy. Mike and I had a blast and the food was actually really great that night (or we ate after we had been there for awhile... you decide).
Finally, another Mike S evening at C'est what was the Craft Beer Festival. Wow, was this an awesome night. 1$ tickets for a 3oz sample of more than 55 beers. We had a great time. This was an all around great night and I attribute it to C'est What starting things off right. I arrived at 1700 and secured us a table that we stayed at until 2130, sampling over 15 beers from the list. Then we went to starbucks because it was only 930. I spilled coffee on my shirt but I didn't notice, and we went to 3 other venues while I looked like a dirty vagrant. GREAT NIGHT.
C'est What: a place where I always have a good time, no matter what.Listed in: Places Where I had a Great…
Read more reviews for this business:
French (2)
