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Ciro's
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Restaurants Thai Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Canadian (New), Thai, Dive Bars [Edit]
1316 Bloor St WToronto, ON M6H 1P2
Neighbourhoods: Brockton Village, Bloordale Village, Wallace Emerson
(416) 533-4914
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
24 reviews for Ciro's
Review Highlights
"Ciro's has the LONGEST beer list I have personally EVER..."
(in 5 reviews)
"...I moved into the Bloordale neighbourhood last summer, away..."
(in 4 reviews)
"...owners ever: I have only met Frank, but he is an incredible..."
(in 3 reviews)
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24 reviews in English
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Review from Chris A.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2011
It's a place to eat a good big garlic burger and try good beers instead of the traditional puddle water served around. Period. No Ossington posers needed, no "oh my gosh!" heard. It's a nice neighbourhood pub, and I so hope it keeps that way
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Review from Cheri D.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2012
Good effort on the beer list! They are actively working on the decor and atmosphere but as Ciros has been around for a LOOOONGGG time, the lack of pretension is great and I'm sure will always be the case. It is pretty dive-y but definitely worth it for the reasonably priced bottle list and poutine...
Listed in: Best Toronto Beer Bars
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Review from Val A.
Wallace Emerson, Toronto, ON
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Words can't even explain how bad the food is, which is disappointing as I've been here numerous times in the past with no complaints..so bad in fact that I had to sent it back..now if your wondering what I ordered it was chilli chicken..if you think your safe with the burger think again, my wife ordered that and had to send it back as well..on a positive note the waiter was super nice and actually took the food off the bill..even so I don't know that's enough to get me back..beer list is impressive, but a little on the pricey side for a "dive" bar with a tired interior. With a plethora of new eats in this hood I wouldn't be suprised to see a for lease sign soon.
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Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
6/19/2011
It is not often I give one star. In the case of Ciro's, I genuinely wish I could give less. Half a star is probably too generous. Zero for "Eep! Just close already!" is closer to the mark. We felt insulted and kind of violated, actually. Anyway...
... went to Ciro's last night with a group of 8 around 10pm, place wasn't busy, one guy working the ol' dual purpose bar/server role. We order the following, with parentheses providing a brief summary of the outcome:
* 3 bison burgers (Fine, 3 star burger maybe, homemade, BUT, came fully dressed with mustard, ketchup, relish... each of us had to scrape condiments off. Who does that? Let us dress our own freakin' burger. we'll call 'em 2.5, then.)
* 3 pulled pork poutine (Nasty frozen fries, ice cold un-squeeky curd, mediocre gravy, mediocre pork... BAD, so much so that two orders went mostly uneaten. 1.0)
* 1 nachos (Competitor for worst nachos ever that weren't intending irony or insult; covered in crappy cheap black olive slices and scuz cheese, with very, very stale no-name brand nachos. Sent back after a few people at the table sampled and rebuffed. The big zero.)
* 1 fried mozza sticks (Fine, probably from frozen; server tipped plate upon delivery and dumped two on the floor... they were replaced, but yeesh, talk about heaping bad upon terrible! 2.0)
* 2 cokes (Completely flat; notified server, who took his sweet time in replacing them with... 2 more completely flat cokes. Good job! Went unfinished. Another zero.)
* 3 Fin du Monde, 1 Mill St Coffee, 1 Cider, 1... Stella I want to say? (All were from bottles, none skunked, so that's good, but the price was a bit on the high side... nothing outrageous, but 50 cents to $1 higher than I would expect at most bars. 3.0 'cuz they had Fin du Monde... we'll be generous! Nothing interesting on draft.)
So, 3 burgers, mozza sticks, and 1 poutine were eaten (the latter grudgingly). 2 poutine, 2 cokes, and 1 nachos went unfinished (the latter so bad we sent it back).
The "cook" made angry faces at us and rolled his eyes from the kitchen (it's open to view). To exacerbate his suckitude, at one point he was smoking in the alley that joins the main bar and the patio, just outside the door -- the smoke was blowing into the bar, and we asked him if he could move away a bit. He nodded yes, but then didn't move an inch. We asked him politely for something simple, and he was a prick about it. Swell.
To top it all off, as someone else mentioned: Ciro's has the NASTIEST MEN'S ROOM IN THE CITY. It stinks so bad you have to hold your breath. It is filled with fruit flies and some kind of weird moth things. The urinal literally sprays water out at you when you flush. And the toilet... the toilet is covered in some kind of disgusting, slimy substance upon which the fruit flies and moths appear to be subsisting. When you're scared to wash your hands after taking a piss, that says a hell of a lot.
Oh, as for that great beer list that supposedly recommends this place: it's fine but nothing great, and the prices are higher than they should be considering they're just readily available bottles. The Rhino has a much better, more thoughtful, more unusual list that's just as large (maybe larger). So forget Ciro's and just go somewhere else, please!
In closing, if Ciro's were a body part, it'd be a badly infected rectum. Pure scunge, horrible through and through. None of us will ever return. -
Review from Ian B.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2011
Only reason I went here was because another place down the road that we'd heard good things about was closed and we were starving.
I tried to warn my girlfriend against ordering the calamari but she got it anyway. Big mistake. Think it was straight out of a frozen bag.
She got the california wrap which she said was disgusting. I got the bison burger which was ok but nothing to write home about at all.
I can see this place being ok for beers but stay well clear of the food. Do yourself a favour and walk 5 minutes East to some good spots. -
Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
1/21/2011
It's all about the beer.
After creeping the neighbourhood on Yelp and seeing that I'd be in the same boat as Sam G - i.e. post-hockey, no shower and in need of beverage, I convinced my team to hit up Ciro's for drinks.
This place is in no way scary like some of the long-toothed reviews suggested. It has its own thing going for it, though it reminded me a little of a Souz Dal - Ten Feet Tall offspring. And, fortunately, the "Nightmare on Elm St" bathroom situation is fixed as well. Granted, I won't be eating off the bathroom floor anytime (soon).
As everyone has pointed out, the beer selection is massive; I'd say somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50-75, the prices reasonable and quite a few of the selections I'd never seen before, so if that's not a beer trifecta, I don't know what is.
Though I didn't order off the food menu, I did give it a once over and there's nothing really mentionable here. The kitchen puts the orders out pretty quickly and the table next to us (our soul-crushed hockey opponents) didn't seem to complain, so it there might be some merit there.
Ciro's is a dusty gem waiting for your raggy business to restore its lustre. -
Review from Erin B.
6/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love ciro's for what it is: a gem of a dive bar that delivers with a comfortable atmosphere and food that's better than you expect when you walk in.
The first time I went I was surprised by the funky interior on an otherwise sort of grungy street with little to recommend it. Ciro's is dark and cozy but has interesting lights and colourful tiles to make it seem a little bit less seedy. The staff have always been super welcoming and happy to provide actual service rather than resentfully slinging a beer across the bar.
The bottled beer list is impressive. They carry a wide range of obscure Belgian beers that can otherwise be found at only a few LCBOs and premium beer places, and the prices are low for what they sell. Sadly, the draft list never lives up to my expectations - last time I was here they had a Chambly Noire tap on, which got me all excited... I was sadly disappointed to learn that it was just a teaser and my choices were actually limited to PBR and other bland blonde things.
The food is reasonably yummy, especially the noodle dishes, and the portion sizes are absolutely huge. The selection is eclectic pub fare - Asian noodle dishes, small twists on standard sandwiches, spanakopita, and burgers, and most of it is good for the price (not high). The chicken wings were breaded, over cooked, and under sauced, so I'll stay away from those in the future.
The horrifying state of the washrooms has been discussed in other reviews, so I'll leave it, except to agree that they are, in fact, pretty frightening.Listed in: Watering Holes
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Review from Sahra G.
7/19/2010
I went here with a big group of friends for Brunch on Sunday. I'd eaten here before and remeber it not being terrible however this time was awful.
The waiter was super nice. That was about where the positive stuff ends.
All my friends ordered "the hangover" which is a basic breakfast... 2 eggs, toast, potatos, and then a choice of Bacon, Sausage or Avocado. 2 of my friends ordered the Avocado and two ordered bacon. One ordered one breakfast with no bread and I had french toast.
When it arrived all of my friends eggs were overcooked. Not only that but the one who ordered no toast got toast (no biggie) but when she brought it to the attention of the waiter he removed it from her plate with his hands while it sat in front of her. The people who ordered Avocado wished they didn't as when it arrived it was FRIED and BROWN. Now I do a lot of cooking... and I have never once heard of anyone cooking avocado. We all assumed the avocado would have been raw. Sitting beside the two who had the avocado I felt like I was going to yack at the smell of the cooked rotten avocado. Trust me NEVER EVER EVER COOK AVOCADO unless you are like Gordon Ramsay or something.
When all the Hangover breakfasts arrived I assumed my french toast would be along shortly. Nope! Its like the chef made 4 hang overs and then when they were all done and served made my french toast because it arrived 10 min after everyone elses meal. but I think he prepped my french toast as he was making the hangover and forgot because when the meal arrived the french toast was soooo coated in egg on one side that it was like having scrambled eggs on french toast. I managed to eat one piece after scraping egg off one side.
our bill was $61 and 3/5 of us were not able to eat our meal because it was so poorly cooked. I will never ever go here to eat again. They have a great beer selection but the chef needs training. AGAIN WHO COOKS BROWN AVOCADO?? AVOCADO IS GREEN!!! -
Review from Melanie H.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2010
I'm SO CONFUSED. I was told this place is good for beer, and I agree, but I'm confused. "Good for Beer"? is that enough these days?
The moment we walked in, my entire respiratory system was invaded and destroyed by a burning type of cayenne pepper sensation. Not like someone was eating hot sauce, but like we had just walked into North America's largest hot sauce factory. My eyes are burning.
Then comes the washrooms. Down you go to the basement, into a pit of hell. I've never seen anything like this. Even in the dodgiest hole in the wall washrooms in a restaurant on a highway in the middle of Greece, I have never seen anything like this. I should have walked home to use the washrooms.
Then comes the foods. HOLY HALLELUJAH thank God I wasn't hungry. One of my friends ordered some type of wrap and the moment it came to the table I felt sick to my stomach even though I didn't even have to eat it. As I watched my friend pull out pieces of brown avocado and nasty mung bean sprouts, I had to look away, and hold on to my seat to stop myself from diving across the table to stop her from putting it in her mouth. I could tell it wasn't good even though she was too polite to say anything.
The beer selection is really nice and reasonably priced. The service was friendly and attentive, so I can't say that this place was terrible...but the whole washroom experience combined with that wrap my friend ate, has guaranteed that unless I'm not hungry and wearing an adult diaper, I will never go here again. -
Review from Toronto L.
Toronto, ON
7/9/2011
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 was dragged to Ciro's about three times before I finally managed to convince others that this place has absolutely no value, unless you're desperate for a $9 beer and you refuse to go anywhere else.
There's no good food here, the patio smells, and the services is completely inconsistent. Mainly, what offends me is the price they put on beer that, in this day and age, is available quite easily all over the city (including the LCBO.)
Sorry Ciro's.
2 stars -
Review from Martin S.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2009
First of all, as mentioned elsewhere, nicest owners ever: I have only met Frank, but he is an incredible guy who will always be interested in chatting, either on your thoughts on the bar/food/etc., or just in general, and has, on occasion, been known to start up the kitchen and cook meals after he has sent his chefs home. For that, and the massive beer selection, this place should be on everyone's must go to list. It is especially great in summer when the back patio is open, a perfect place to eat their cheap, and absurdly huge noodle plates.
The only caveat here is that there is really no middle ground for beers price wise. If you want to just hang out, eat some food and have some beers, you can either spend a fortune on (admittedly great) imports and microbrews, or have slightly overpriced canadian or budwieser. The regular 'good enough' on tap or bottled beers are way too expensive to bother with, so I tend to end up having a St. Peters ale (wonderful british beer) or two for 9$ each, and then leaving or turning to 6$ buds. Not the best place for a long night out, in other words.Listed in: Favourite TO Bars
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Review from Roanna Z.
6/11/2009
Like a heart beat in an area that clearly lacks a pulse, Ciro's is likely a nucleus for people living nearby. That is, unless you enjoy strip clubs. (!)
Ciro's has the LONGEST beer list I have personally EVER seen. No kidding. The menu is surprisingly diverse and the food definitely better than one might expect. The Patio out back would be great anytime it's warm and dry enough with two lovely big trees as canopy. The interior is pseudo retro with an insane mosaic floor that leaves you wondering (how long did that take?!) I'm sure there is some history there. -
Review from Daniel B.
2/6/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Ciros has the absolute worst men's room in the city. When given the choice between using these washrooms or being forced to go on dialysis, it's pretty much a toss-up. Arguably you'd be better off hitting the hospital, because at least those rooms are sterile and you might get a free cookie.
Sure, it's off the beaten path. And by "beaten" we mean 'physically swarmed by the teenage street gangs who seem to live in Landsdowne station' and by "path" we mean 'the spooky stripclub and social-club alleys' surrounding this notoriously sketchbag stretch of Bloor street.
But, aside from that... it's truly a wonderful spot.
One of the best beer lists in the city.... including items that you won't find anywhere else. A knowledgeable and friendly staff. A selection of interesting patrons who are all there for a similar urban experience. Great post-modern decor. Spectacular corn bread.
A great surprise on a Friday night. -
Review from Brenna K.
Toronto, ON
7/7/2009
I visited this place a few years ago in the winter and it was a quick in and out pint so I truly did not appreciate it as much as I did on my return visit last weekend.
Me and my boyfriend walked from Roncesvalles (it is only 10 min from dundas west) and I was really surprised. The staff were amazing and the beer selection was great. Unlike other bars with long lists (ahem...the Rhino) they actually have the beers in stock that they have on thier list.
Great outdoor patio and great people. This is my kind of place! I didn't eat so can't comment on food, but I would think you go to a place like this for beer over food.
And hey, after all those great beers you are only steps away from house of lancaster to make it a true lansdowne crawl! -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
6/11/2009 1 Check-in Here
Just got back here for the first time in a LONG while. I used to live literally 100 metres from Ciros about 6 years ago but since departing I haven't really made it back often enough. It's just too far off the beaten path for me (I'm downtown now).
It's really a hidden gem when it comes to beer in this area. Even considering the whole West end, there's nothing that comes to mind with a better beer selection. Probably about 75-100 choices on hand between bottles and taps. Unfortunately they were out of Rochefort 10 tonight but that would generally be my go-to. Blanche de Chambly and Chambly Noire on tap at competitive prices, along with Sam Adams Boston Lager, etc.
Food-wise it's an eclectic mélange...they have some Asian, American, some random wraps, and pub grub. I haven't sampled everything on the menu but what I have had has been quite good and everyone I have brought here can attest to some quality sustenance. The portion sizes are ridiculously massive as well, so bonus there!
They added a patio in recent years and that has been a welcome addition. We got rained out tonight but they can hardly be blamed for that! They have heaters as well so for all the smokers out there, that's definitely a plus.
If only I found myself in the West end more often I would certainly frequent one of my favourite old time venues more often. -
Review from Lev F.
Toronto, ON
7/1/2010
Now this was something different! To find this impressive of a beer list in an ultra ghetto location like that was totally unexpected. The contrasts didn't end here. You get a washroom straight from a Nightmare on Elm Street, a strangely cozy small patio with a nice view of trash bins lined up against the far wall, a constant ambience of screeching tires, shouts and foul expressions coming from the outside, and a very amusing local clientele, that get ever more entertaining as the evening progresses.
Honestly having had a good look at the "chef" I didn't risk ordering the food, so no comments here.
But you know, this place grows on you. Or maybe it's just me with my Russian background (yeah, this place definitely brought back some memories :) Plus I'm ready to forgive almost anything to a place that has both Westmalle Dubbel & Tripel in stock. So what the heck, 4 stars. -
Review from Chris P.
1/11/2010
When our group first arrived we turned a table so the six of us could fit. The waitress, a little abrupt, said we can only move it if we move it back when we leave. This fiestiness from the waitress actually turned out to be a good thing as we later found out.
Ciros' has quite the selection of European beers so anyone should be able to find something to tickle their fancy. And apparently they'll make french toast for you at midnight if you ask really, really nice.
The decor is an interesting mix of modern, 60's, and something I can't quite put my finger on. The bathrooms are also something to be seen but not in a good way. I don't think they have been updated since the dungeon/building was built. In the men's room the toilet has more caulk than porcelain and the urinal is out of order, not to mention it is one of those that is floor standing. Not to worry though, the dungeon trolls are more afraid of you than you are of them. -
Review from Kaye H.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2011
So I've kind of got a bone to pick with Ciro's.
When I moved into the Bloordale neighbourhood last summer, away from my favourite neighbourhood of Little Italy, and its neighbouring Kensington Market, into a more affordable situation, it's an understatement to say I was a little bummed.
But I wanted to give my new neighbourhood a chance, and along with the Value Village, Wal-Mart and all of its cheap necessities being ten minutes away, Holy Oak and Three Speed, I was getting pretty stoked on it.
I kept seeing Ciro's and one night my friends and I decided to check it out after I'd read up on it online. And what a surprise! It was dark, cozy (romantic even), lit with tiny candles on the tables, and the back patio was a delight during the summer months. HOWEVER, on my third or so visit, I ordered two Strongbows off the menu. The menu stated that a tall can of Strongbow was $6.75, which is a little pricey, but fairly regular. We finished our drinks and got up to pay our bills. I read my bill and for a second things seemed alright until I abruptly realized that the bill of about $18.00 for two $6.75 Strongbows seemed outrageous, and though I never do say anything, I politely asked why it was so expensive. The waiter (who we'd had before and is extremely charismatic and talkative) faltered, and became awkward all of a sudden, before mumbling that they'd forgotten to change the price on the menu. I paid, and still tipped, but was furious. It's just this kind of thing -- places trying to take advantage of their customers in little ways like this -- really irks me and happens too often. It's also against the law, if you really want to get nick-picky and down to it. I swore I'd never go back to Ciro's again.
And I didn't... until about three months later when I was severely hungover and it was cold and my roommate went to get a burger. I tried to go somewhere else, but it was closed! So I went to get a coffee, and I decided to order a side of fries. The side of fries was huge! So generous, and the fries were crispy and thick. It was something like $4.00 which is pretty cheap for a restaurant side of fries where the plate is basically exploding. So Ciro's redeemed itself that day a little bit for me.
It's a toss-up. I love the look of the place, and it's close to me, and they do have a wide variety of beers and drinks to choose from. In the summer, it's gonna be really hard to resist their quiet, cozy back patio. So maybe I'll keep going there, I'll just have to double-check the prices of all the drinks I'm ordering as I go. -
Review from Ramanan S.
Toronto, ON
8/22/2008
I've been to Ciro's several times now, and have enjoyed it each time. It seems a bit out of place at the corner of Bloor and Lansdowne, as there are no other bars like it in the area. It has a very large selection of beers, which are sold at fairly reasonable prices. The food is great, and very very cheap. You can't go wrong with that.
They have a really nice -- albeit dark as hell at night -- patio out back. -
Review from Jes L.
Toronto, ON
2/11/2009
The first time I checked out Ciro's I was a little skeptical - given the neighbouring venues (House of Lancaster, etc), but I was very happy to discover a solid menu and expansive beer list.
It really feels like a local joint - the staff is always smiling and laid-back. In the summer, its nice to spend a chill night on the back patio - feels similar to hanging out on a friend's deck, but you never have to get up for a trip to the fridge. -
Review from Debbie M.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2010
I love this place - it's become my local! Not only do they have lists and lists of beers from around the world but the food is fantastic. If you're expecting authentic ethnic, this is not the place, but if you're looking for 'mom's' version of ethnic dishes, this is it! All the veggies are always super fresh, generous portion sizes, great price - and the servers are all so friendly. I haven't had a thing that I didn't like. On a nice day - the back patio is a dream! Highly recommend!
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Review from Sam G.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2010
Perfect for a beer with your team after an hour of floor hockey and not having showers available! Okanagan draft for $6.50 including tax, no tip. Relaxed service (only one server, dunno what would have happened if it got busy). The draft was a bit warm - if it is again next time I will point it out. I was prepared for the bathrooms... its rather sketchy getting to the washroom although based on the Yelp reviews I was expecting a lot worse.
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Review from Kat F.
Updated - 1/9/2010 2 photos
4 stars go to my favourite plaided out ginger chef Bryan in the kitchen for busting out an off-menu french toast with homefries at midnight on a Friday night at my special request. That seriously made my night, and made up for the near death experience caught in a bizarre and unsettling Ukrainian love triangle while on my way back from the restrooms of doom in the basement.
Listed in: Toronto's Most Terrifying…, The Dive-iest Dive Bars In…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/20/2009
I finally got a chance to check out Ciro's heated back patio and it is indeed quite badass. Some… Read more »
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Review from K Lee H.
Toronto, ON
1/1/2011
Four stars for the best beer selection in something like a 2km radius. Don't go out of your way just for the grub or the grubby washrooms.
