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Duggan's Brewery - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Gastropubs Food Breweries Nightlife Bars Pubs Gastropubs, Breweries, Pubs [Edit]
75 Victoria StToronto, ON M5C 2B1
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
(416) 214-4900
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
36 reviews for Duggan's Brewery
Review Highlights
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"no, get the duck confit poutine." In 6 reviews -
"9 IPA as I have heard its a must-have from Mike Duggan." In 11 reviews -
"...of IPA's myself and Duggan's famous #9 did not disappoint." In 3 reviews
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36 reviews in English
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Review from Joanne W.
2/9/2011
Fellow yelper, Derek H., would make fun of me because I'm yelping about this now. We went out yesterday with our co-workers (former co-workers for me) to Duggan's Brewery for his birthday.
We had a group of about 10 people or so - and we were greeted by the funniest host ever. A part of our group was already at Duggan's - we were there around 5:30 or so, so there weren't that many people there yet.
The group of us went full out and ordered a LOT of food, including the following:
1) CURRY POUTINE: Okay, so I was curious - and possibly craving a lot of poutine. I didn't find it as bad as most of the yelpers were saying; however, the fries weren't as crispy as I hoped they would be.
2) DUCK CONFIT POUTINE: The funny thing was this - those who had the curry poutine first, liked the curry poutine better. Those who liked the duck confit poutine first, liked the duck confit poutine better. I had the curry poutine first, so I liked it better. However, the duck confit poutine wasn't too bad. I guess I was looking for some kick.
3) ONION RINGS: The onion rings weren't bad. I thoroughly enjoyed the house made #9 IPA ketchup - best sauce EVER.
4) OYSTERS: At $2 per oyster, you can't go wrong. I'm not going to lie - this was the first time I've ever had oyster (GASP!) I actually really liked it - the spicy cocktail sauce gave it a good kick as well.
5) PORK HOCK: Okay - so this was deliciousness on a plate, but I could bias because I have a weird affinity for all things pork (or bacon). The smoked pork hock was HUGE (it says double portion - but you could basically feed 3-4 people.. that also ate the above items). It was a bit fatty, but what do you expect from a pork hock? The cider kraut was a great compliment to the pork hock. Definite recommend.
6) BEEF CHUCK RIBS: One of my co-workers ordered this and he said it was absolutely delicious. I didn't get to try, but it looked really good.
Overall, a great experience at Duggan's. Beer was good too (I can't remember the name of my beer, but it was the lightest one - I actually wish I went a bit darker). Food was a bit more on the expensive side compared to out pubs though. Service was okay - our waitress was quick on her feet, yet she seemed to have a bit of an attitude.
A great plus was that they were playing Beatles throughout the night. -
Review from Kat F.
I cannot say in all honesty that this place continues to merit the original four star review that I accorded it over a year ago when it first opened. The early days of Duggan's were a period of excitement and hope for what was to come, but sadly they've fallen short.
Inconsistent service, often unprofessional and careless, and prices that are far too ambitious for what is being delivered. To make matters worse, management seems disorganized and completely unfazed by their feedback. I shan't return nor recommend that anyone looking for a guaranteed good time do so either. You can get Duggan's beer at a variety of places in Toronto that have a much better atmosphere and consistent service.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/10/2010
The lock on the stall in the women's washroom broke while I was inside and I had to employ my… Read more »
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Review from Ben S.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2011
I've given this place too many chances. The beer teeters on being awful, and the staff vary from incompetent to insulting. The worst part is that, for a pub centered around beer, the staff have no idea how to pour a pint, and there's no decent bar to sit at.
And finally, there are some seriously suspicious characters who hang out here that you'll notice once the after-work-drink crowd leaves. -
Review from Margs L.
Toronto, ON
1/26/2011
I am definitely a fan of Duggan's. I have to state that I may have a bias because they allowed us to rent the downstairs space for FREE for a charity event. We did eat dinner and were treated extremely nicely by the staff. Our waiter was quick and very accommodating since we kept on adding more people to the table on a busy Saturday night. We ate some oysters to begin with and they were delicious particularly with the hot jerk sauce that they are served with. For my dinner I had the duck confit poutine and my boyfriend had the curry poutine. We also tried almost all the beers throughout the night and they were all excellent.
For the charity event we had the use of the bar downstairs and the ladies that were our bartenders were very sweet and lovely.
I will for sure be going back to eat more oysters and try some different items from the menu. -
Review from Charlotte S.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2010
Poutine and duck confit should never, under any circumstances, form part of the same sentence.
I had an opportunity to attend at Duggan's last week for a work holiday lunch function. It's directly across the street from my office, so it was a natural choice. Plus, a new place in the sea of overpriced Italian restos and hotel restaurants that is the Richmond/Victoria area was a welcome change of pace.
Duggan's is bare bones when it comes to decor and, dare I say, atmosphere. This review may be skewed by that fact that a) I'm pregnant and therefore not partaking of ales at this point in time or b) Because I visited this place during the early afternoon on a Friday or even c) Because the place is so large and brewery-like that they are clearly having trouble keeping it heated to a level acceptable by mammals. It was freeeeezing in there.
The service is excellent, but the menu is overreaching. If you want pork on your pizza, or pulled pork on your sandwich or a burger, I heard all good things from my lunch mates. If you want poutine, which is seemingly such an easy thing to NOT ruin, don't order it here. I didn't order it, because the gravy is not gravy. It is duck confit. The poutine (which they conveniently leave out of the description) is also topped with pieces of greasy, chopped up duck meat. Gross.
I ended up being really confused by the gravy situation and ended up with a plate of fries in front of me. Simply, I cannot base this entire experience on what I ate, because it's hard to eff up fries.
The service was great, especially considering the waitress serving our table was serving about 12 people single-handedly and didn't flinch when the most annoying "can we have separate bills" inquiry was tabled.
The menu is littered with glorified pub foods and a few dishes with which they are bleakly attempting to be creative, i.e. duck confit poutine.
If you go and try the beers or try the weird poutine, let me know. I'm curious. -
Review from Richard M.
Toronto, ON
12/31/2010
I really want to like this place. I try my hardest with every visit. I just can't bring myself to actually recommend it. The most recent visit was as mediocre as the previous.
The food is expensive and not worth the price. The beef goulash I had was actually pretty good, but the pizza and wings that my friends tried were less than stellar. The salad was also described by a friend as "salty".
The beer, which should be the focus of a visit, no longer has its own menu. In fact, there's no beer menu at all. The only listing we were provided was a hand-written list of 8 beers on a scrap of paper that completely lacked any description. It was also taken away from us halfway through our night so they could give it to another table. I guess they didn't have the time to hand scrawl another list? The waitress explained that the beer selection turns over too quickly to keep a menu up-to-date. A brewery without a beer menu is disappointing.
The service was also nothing special, with the waitress oscillating between somewhat kind and somewhat rude. Did I mention there were also a couple of fruit flies that were bothersome the entire meal? -
Review from Ashleigh G.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2010
Great venue for hosting private events.
We recently booked it for Pecha Kucha presentations and the staff/venue far exceeded expections. Food was great, beer was great, space was very reasonably priced and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Great AV equipment, private bar downstairs, and lots of room for around 100 people.
Will be back for sure. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 7/28/2010 3 Check-ins Here
My last experience was a bit weak and I've heard of similar experiences from friends that have come here based on my recommendation.
The food is good but it's somewhat overpriced and the service can be pretty terrible. On my most recent visit one of the people in my party received her food swiftly but the remaining people didn't have anything in front of them for a good 10-15 minutes after.
I'll still come to try some new beers on occasion but I'll try to find a slow night or something.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/2/2010
I was walking by last night so I dropped in because I heard they were now offering 4-packs of the #9… Read more »
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Review from Vivek S.
6/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's hard to pinpoint the favourite part of my last visit here. It's a toss up between when our waiter shouted accusatorily "it's women like you that made me this way" to Sarah L, and the moment he decided to start blaming me, personally, for every wrong thing that happened ever.
Not only did he insinuate that it was my fault that my (underwhelming) order of spetzle was late because it was sent to the wrong printer, he was also happy to mention that it was also my fault that he blew nearly $700 over the previous two nights getting drunk at Byzantium and various other after-hours clubs, and further, that I was responsible for the fact the he got spit on after slapping a girl in a club, that slapped him first, for refusing to sell her cocaine.
Not sure about the service here.
My meal was so-so. Sarah L. seemed to enjoy hers, and Mike S.'s schnitzel was massive. (Insert your own joke here, I'm too lazy.)
Obligatory Title Pun: Just DUGGAN a hole for yourself.
Menu Readability: Clean and tasteful layout, but could use a better typeface.
Need to mention: This waiter was batshit crazy; I've had reasonable experiences here.
What this place teaches me about myself: It's all my fault. -
Review from Mark H.
Toronto, ON
11/26/2010
Let's all remember that this is a brewery. So in my opinion we should focus on the beer first - and I can say that I enjoy Duggan's beers - especially the price. The stout is my favourite. Number 9 is now bottled and sent around town (note the bottle size is only 275ml) so maybe it is best to drink it here.
The food and service.... I agree it is hit or miss. The pizzas look impressive here, in fact most menu items are generous in size and taste, although it may not be the most healthy of menus - but hey this is a brewery people. -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
12/18/2010
I have been to Duggan's on three occasions and I completely agree with Sam G. that it's a straight up three. Actually Duggan's is really worthy of an additional half star for not calling itself a "gastro pub".
Food is pretty good and the space is nice. The beer can be a bit hit and miss. I would definitely stay away from their "Asian" brew, it's borderline offensive. Also, the last time I was there a friend wasn't happy with his desert, but I forget what the issue was. -
Review from Farheen K.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2010 ROTD 11/25/2010
Firstly, go here when you have 2000 calories to spare.
Secondly, keep in mind that this is a microbrewery and sometimes they're just not brewing what you might feel like having. The time I went, they only had 4 beers on the menu. 1 stout, 1 london porter, a wheat and the last I cant remember. Luckily I like dark beer otherwise I would be shit out of luck.
Get.the.curry.poutine. No, get the duck confit poutine. Actually wait, get the curry poutine. Or..no, get the duck confit poutine. bahh, JUST GET THEM BOTH! They're surprisingly good. (I told you to spare 2000 calories!)
Other than the poutine and the beer and the pretty awesome 12,000 sq. ft space, there is something for everyone else on the menu, there are salads, beef ribs, corned beef, tuna steaks and even fresh oysters.
I'm going to go back soon and if they give me a beer sampler (not on the menu), this will easily change into a 5 star review.Listed in: 15 Seconds of ROTD fame
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Review from Imran N.
4/19/2011
Went with a large group of friends. I don't know what happened that night.
The waiter was rude. The manager kept stalking around us. Then the manager got even weirder and brought out a sack for my god son to play with....um he's 1.5 years old and i don't see how he claimed this was his daughters favourite toy. newsflash, kids can suffocate and strangle themselves quite easily.
the brews were good.
The food was not.
I had the octopus and it was ok. I had the beef ribs and they were cooked to leather chewing quality. I sent them back and got the same thing, just a different piece. ah well. I wasn't expecting much better and had lost my appetite by then. Everyone thought the food was just ok.
The interior is ok as well. It could use a little bit of work.
The menu looks good. It's like a chef thought of this menu, and then was fired... leaving a cook to execute it. Whoever is in charge of the kitchen is not doing a good job.
duggan's can be so much better. it just isn't. it needs a new management team entirely. -
Review from Steph L.
1/24/2010
A) Brewery: An establishment dedicated to brewing beer.
B) Duggan's brewery: A brewery opened by Michael Duggan (Known for his co-ownership of Mill St. Brewery and his award winning beers)
Neither description (A) nor (B) states anything about spectacular food.
So, if you want fantastic reasonably-priced-original-flavored beers, this is the place! There are 8 beers on the menu, I tried 4 of them. #9 IPA, the stout, Belgian Tripple (holy crap that is a strong beer), and the London ale.
The beer that I liked the most was the #9. I usually drink girly fruit beers and ales, but this one went down really easy.
The food is alright, but definitely not the star of the show.
The poutine with duck confit .... gravy was very flavorful.
However the slimey, grey duck chucked on top looked unappetizing.
But still tasted good.
Pulled pork sandwich, not saucy enough on a slightly burnt onion bun.
The crispy onions in the sandwich made each bite interesting and crunchy...(but again not saucy enough).
They brought me fries instead of salad. Grr.
My friend had the pie which looked piping hot and tasty with a flaky crust.
The mashed potatoes that accompanied the pie were just... mashed potatoes.
*Overall, the service was fantastic.
*Nice looking venue, it's neat to see the brewing machinery as you walk-in.
*Located just far enough from the Eaton center so it's not packed with mall-goers. Great spot for all the condo/loft dwellers of Lombard and Richmond.
I can see why this place is super packed for dinners (A two hour wait on a Friday).
I would actually give this place 3.75 stars..which rounds up to 4.
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Review from Angela L.
1/8/2010
How do you choose a drink from a list of eight wonderful brewed-in-house beers? One at a time until you've tried them all!
I'm actually just kidding, cuz one pint of the rich 9.9% Belgian Trippel sipped at a "normal" pace might get you plenty full and tipsy already. In fact, because of this very fact, Duggan's is soon going to only serve these in smaller glasses. For those who can stomach it, you better hurry in and get your hands on these full pints while you still can. I'm a fan of IPA's myself and Duggan's famous #9 did not disappoint. Amongst my table mates, the Weissbier and German Pilsner were also big hits.
On this late weeknight, both the dining room and bar area were completely full. By default, we started off up at the bar where we were perfectly situated to watch the friendly English barman select and shuck our incredibly fresh dozen Mallet and Raspberry Point oysters ($3 each). Later, both the hostess as well as our server were incredibly helpful and insistent on us moving over to an actual table when our party grew. Off of the pub fare menu, the big juicy steak, generous steak sandwich, and English style fish and chips were all reported to be simply scrumptious.
The decor is put together with a casual vibe. The minimalism of the white walls are accented by the single exposed brick wall. The row of hanging lamps overhead provide dim lighting that sets the mood. The windows that wrap all the way around from Victoria to Lombard St. makes you, the happy diner, the window display for the few pedestrians that walk by. Smile! You're a live advertisement. -
Review from Karen W.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2010
I so desperately wanted to love Duggan's. Alas, that place is 'spensive for what they're offering!
I had the Pan-seared Tuna Sandwich. It was bland, the bun was limp, and it was served with a sad side salad: spring mix only, overdressed, no accompaniments. Truly amateur.
My partner ordered the Fish & Chips, which were sort of comfortingly boring. Except the fries were limp. The worst part was that it came with a little ramekin of blue cheese coleslaw. The coleslaw would have made absolutely sense when served with the Buffalo Wings, which is clearly what it was made for, but someone thought they could cut corners by pairing it with breaded halibut as well. Yikes, a horrifying flavour combination! It all just smacked of laziness.
While the No. 9 IPA is very good, I actually had to send my first pint back. Why? Because the glass it came in reeked like sour bar towel. I know the smell well from working in restaurants. Bar towels get mildewy if you leave them out overnight and don't change them the next day. So if you use them to dry a pint glass, the pint glass gets really smelly and wafts into your face every time you take a sip of beer. Ew.
Sending a beer back because it stinks like old bar towel is admittedly a weird complaint. But I doubt the server needed to come back with my new beer and say patronizingly, "Here you are, a new glass cleaned especially for you!" They cleaned a glass properly just for me? Aw shucks. -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2010 1 Check-in Here
I really liked Duggan's. Even thought the bartender was in the weeds when we were sitting at the bar, he was still really nice and tried his best to not make us wait. The beer is good, we got free oysters, and it's a comfortable place.
We tried a few of the beers, had a salmon salad, and the chef who came over to help the overextended bartender (Really? one bartender for a place that big??!) kept serving us oysters on the house!
Fortunately there were 2 of us, and we got there just after 6 on a Wednesday night. This place is big (I think there's even a patio?) and it was still rammed full of people of all ages.
Interesting note for you ladies - there were way more men than women here, and it's more upscale than a sports bar. Just an FYI from your neighborhood matchmaker. *
*Not really. I am not a good matchmaker. But I can tell you where the men are. That's important too!Listed in: Places with patios, Toronto Pubs
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Review from sarah l.
12/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'm never coming here again. I have given Duggan's too many chances (yesterday was my third visit staggered over several months); I want it to be awesome, but it always leaves me unsatisfied and slightly angry.
The good:
- Everything here has always been "okay" but I have never had anything really good (or even medium good).
- It's huge so there is usually a table
- They're lucky/strategic in that there is nothing else around this area
- It is very clean and the bathrooms are always clean even when it's busy
The bad:
- See Vivek's review for the lowdown on our crazy cokeface waiter night from earlier in the year - this was one of the weirdest service experiences I have ever had in my life... looking back on it, we probably should have complained on our way out, but I think we were all too stunned
- Yesterday, other patrons whispered to me upon exiting "don't get the corned beef" and I was like... shit, I just ordered that... but they hated it so much they wanted to tell me about it
- The corned beef is not corned; it's just a roast beef sandwich. it was actually an okay roast beef sandwich, but it was not what the menu advertised. I was less offended than the other party (but it's still not even close to corned beef).
- We seemed to remember the beer here being cheap, but then when we got our bill, it was not. It was $6.68 a pint.
- The food was also not cheap. Sandwiches are between $12-$15. Our bill for lunch yesterday was $45 (before tip) for two sandwiches ad two beers. If the food had been awesome I wouldn't have minded spending that much, but the food was mediocre and I get a better roast beef sandwich at Bonjour Brioche or Brick Street Bakery for $8.
- This is personal taste, but I have never loved my beer here. I like number 9 on draught at other places, but I always try something else when I am here because I can get 9 anywhere... and whatever I get is always okay but it has never been special or made me HAVE to come back to have it again.
- Mike and I quickly did the math on their growlers and they aren't really a great deal, and you can't refill them.
Overall, I will probably forget how much I am unsatisfied and underwhelmed by Duggan's in a few months and I'm sure I will end up here again, and I'm sure it will be crappy because it always is. I don't recommend that you go here at all, but it is a lot better than 1 star... I might give it 3 stars if it wasn't so expensive. -
Review from Jarek B.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2010
When I had heard that Mike Duggan had finally gotten his own digs setup, I knew that I had to check it out as soon as possible. Overall, I was very pleased with the visit!
The atmosphere was a bit more upscale then I had expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Additionally, the food was definitely not pub-fare quality, as I have come to expect from brewery locals.The only minor complaint I noted was that the menu descriptions could have been a bit more detailed. I had the "V and Chips" (A hollowed out loaf of bread about 10 inches long filled with french fries, topped off with a curry sauce), which was very filling. Great place for a lunch with friends, not so sure about dinner. I'll have to try the steak and report back...
Anyone whose had brewery-fresh beer knows that it is in a league of it's own, and the selection at Duggan's brewery does not disappoint. For the uninitiated, I recommend ordering a flight of beers to sample the many varieties of ales and lagers on tap (For four small glasses, it comes to $6 after tax). The Asian Lager, Festbeer and #9 IPA were absolutely fantastic, and my buddy enjoyed his Porter and Stout very much.
The service during the lunch hour was somewhat sub-par. We were greeted and seated in a small window alcove with a high table and high chairs. While the arrangement was not necessarily cramped, it was a little tight.
The waiter who took care of us made a multitude of mistakes... When we wanted to order samplers of beer, he did not explain to us that it was $6 for four samples. We tried to order three each, and instead of informing us of the pricing, he returned with four samples (omitting one of each of our requested drinks) and told us then then that it was six dollars for four samples. In retrospect, had we known, we would have just gotten four samples each. My friend was brought the wrong dish and had to wait an additional 10 to 15 minutes to get his food. When we asked for the bill to be split, the waiter told us that it would be no problem, returned with a single bill and told us to inform him of how we wanted to split it :\
I am going to dock them only one star for the service issues, as I had the impression that the waiter was new, and the beer was so good that I am willing to give them a pass on it. Being the beer hound that I am, I am going to be visiting this establishment many times in the near future. -
Review from Jerry C.
Markham, ON
On the recommendation of a coworker we brought a group of people here for lunch. I was expecting your typical grimy pub but this is a very interesting, clean and trendy restaurant, bar and microbrewery. Decor is muted grey with dark wood trim. Tabletops are an expensive feeling thick natural wood and the chairs and stools are a dark wood colour that matches the trim and bar. The grey tile flooring completes the stark and cold look of a brewery. The view of Victoria street is unimpressive but the copper set-pieces of brewery equipment on the mainfloor and basement are eye-catching.
No free parking is available but there are limited meter spots just outside and a pay parking lot just north of the restaurant. Service is attentive and follow the brewery theme. The server wore a white blouse, black pants and a hip apron.
Their lunch menu is slim in content but cleanly presented. Their specialty is obviously their own brand of beers including lagers, IPA and the rest. All of which my coworkers assured me were good. On the food front I ordered the braised chuck beef rib ($18) while my coworkers ordered the fish and chips (~$14) and a curry poutine (~$10). Yes, curry poutine.
The braised beef rib is a large piece of beef chuck including the rib bone with caramelized onions on top of steamed veggies. Although quite moist the flavour of the meat was much like the decor ... muted. The caramelized onions were great and the braise sauce was very mild. Veggies of green beans and carrots were good. Overall the dish was good but forgettable. I will not order again ... not because it was bad, but it wasn't something I would normally get. If you're looking for a pork back-ribs they also have that (as an appetizer, I don't know why).
The fish and chips appeared quite nice, not too battery, and the fries (which I did try) were tasty. They must use some herbs on them. The curry poutine was massive. It's a meal for sure.
This place is a little expensive for lunch and as I'm not much of a beer drinker, the food and decor do not offer much. -
Review from chris s.
Toronto, ON
2/7/2011
Great beer gets it 3 stars. Unfortunately, the food fails to live up to its descriptions. I was really excited to try the duck confit poutine, but found it overdone and soggy and served in a bowl, when a wider plate would have been more appropriate to show off the duck. The corned beef sandwich was not corned beef, it was roast beef.
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Review from Brad M.
North York, ON
2/22/2010
This place has a lot of growing to do. I'm not sure what it wants to be. A brew pub? Casual dining? It suffers at both.
Some issues on my last visit (I have been twice)...
They were out of 3 beers. You should NEVER be out of more then one beer at a place that has the name Brewery over the door
The beers are very good, but I don't like paying a different price depending on the beer I get. $6.45 for one beer and $6.09 for another? Really? Come on.
The service was slow and inexperienced. She cared, but needs better training.
The menu did not describe all the ingreediants in the food. For example, my sandwich had mayo on it, but did not call that out on the menu. I hate that. -
Review from A.J. S.
12/31/2009
For those of you who who don't know, Toronto is going through the beginning of a beer revolution (beer-olution?). Leading the charge is Mike Duggan is well known for his work with Mill Street (creating their formerly great Tankhouse) , and generally being well known in beer circles in Toronto. The honest truth is, I believe that Mike Duggan might be the best English Speaking brewmaster in Canada. Having recently won the best IPA challenge in Cask days at Volo Duggans opens his new establishment.
While at this establishment, I tried the Weissbeer and the Tripple. The service was good, the beer was good. I didn't eat anything, so I can't speak for their food. The waiter was really nice though. I liked ambiance in the bar, though it still is under construction at this point so I can't really say for final. This is definitely one of the new "it" spots for Beer in Toronto though. It's worth going to. -
Review from Sam G.
Toronto, ON
12/18/2010
Solid 3 as a place to grab a couple of beer, based on one visit. Had their #5 (Sorachi Lager) which went down nice and easy... maybe cause its only 4%. Lots of space which is nothing to be sneezed in (or very near) the financial core. No problems with service.
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Review from Soukia S.
Toronto, ON
1/17/2010
Located around the way from the Eaton Centre in a nondescript part of town, Duggan's Brewery is a real good find! With high ceilings, exposed bricks, minimal wall art and great floor space; this is a perfect gathering spot.
Since this is a brewpub; they brew their own beer which means...wait for it...their pints are around $5! There's a beer menu ranging from light lagers to stouts. I tried most of the beer on the menu and enjoyed each one.
Their menu consists of salads and appetizers at around $10 and their main courses are around $20. Their food is not pub fair nor gourmet fair; it's a mixture of both -- gourmet pub fair? It's tasty but not overly stupendous.
All-in-all a really great place to hang out for the night. Their waiters are in the traditional black pants, white shirt and black aprons which adds to the clean-cut ambiance. It also looks like you can hold a party in the large empty space in their basement.
Go to Duggan's! -
Review from omar k.
Toronto, ON
12/18/2010
we went yesterday, the friday before the week of christmas. no reservation, big mistake! but we left our phone number and they called and held our table for 20 minutes while we trundled back. that was really nice!
sort of downhill from there. the beers are good, but the food is dumb expensive for the quality. we had the curry poutine because the duck confit poutine was out. the curry poutine tastes like generic curry powder mixed with fries and some cheese. not interesting! it's the same taste as any other british curry. boring. just because you can put curry powder with any food, doesn't mean you should. i want poutine!
my friend got the heirloom tomato salad. really, it was greens and a few tomatoes. far too few for the price. i suspect because the day was so busy they were rationing the tomatoes! !
you can do better, duggan's. -
Review from Sean H.
Toronto, ON
3/7/2011
The beer was fantastic, I tried the Porter and the IPA. The Porter was dark and rich with a lovely roasted coffee flavour. It was heavy enough to be substantive, but not so much so that a second or a third couldn't be enjoyed.
The IPA, is not your traditional Indian Pale Ale. It is not pale at all. It is actually a dark amber colour. This is a really interesting take on an IPA, because it is hoppy as one would suspect, but the hoppy-ness is mellow and lasting more like a barley based beer.
The food was alright. I ordered the fish and chips, which were good, but certainly not particularly memorable. It seems that this is true for the rest of the menu as well. The beef goulash was described as being 'meh' and a little bit tough by my fiancee. So I tried a little bit and it definitely wasn't inspired.
I do have to agree with some other critiques about the service, and lack of a beer menu. We had a reservation for 7:15, one of us got there at about 6:50 and was seated at the bar until the rest of us arrived. When we arrived the host sat the rest of us without letting us know that our friend was at the bar. It was nearly 7:30 before we figured out what had happened.
Secondly, when I ordered my second beer, I asked the waitress what they had for lager type beers. She looked confused for a second and then offered me the IPA, which isn't a lager, but as you may have read above was quite good. If you are going to work at a brewery you should know the beers backwards and forwards.
Based on some of the other reviews, my desire to give Duggan's a second chance may not be worth it. But those who have said that the beer is bad obviously didn't try either the Porter or the IPA, -
Review from Mitch S.
Toronto, ON
5/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I came by here for an afternoon beer and I really enjoyed it. The first thing I noticed was the cool leather coasters, definitely a nice little detail. I sat at the bar and chatted with the bartender for a bit while having a pint of their weissbier. I'd say the staff if extremely friendly and I was very impressed with the beer. The weissbier has a naturally occurring banana hint to it...pretty cool.
Give it a shot of you're near by...Apparently the No. 9 IPA is the big seller here...sadly I've yet to try it. -
Review from Stephen B.
Toronto, ON
12/7/2010
Good waiter, location and atmosphere. But, the food was not good and over priced. Too many other good places to go in the area to recommend this place.
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Review from Marina R.
typical bar food. Nothing amazing. Oysters at $2/a shuck was great. The matzah ball soup was salty, their green salad was OK, their steak sandwhich was all fat. The service was good but the food wasn't enough for me ever to go back.
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Review from Todd G.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2011
The beer is good (you have to like craft brewed beer) but the food was nothing to write home about ... I had the Veg Curry and my Pops had the pulled pork sandwich. Both of us though that we had eaten better. I can see this place being good for after work drinks but for a good meal there are better places around.
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Review from Michelle R.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2010
I'm surprised the average rating for Duggan's isn't over 4 stars. We had an AMAZING meal for soooo cheap. I couldn't believe it when the bill came and it was only $45. I thought they had left something off it!
I only had a Caesar salad, but it was one of the better ones I've had - thought definitely went into that yummy garlicky dressing, which is more than I can say for most places in Toronto. My dining partner had the pulled pork sandwich - one of the best he's had in a very long time. He could not say enough about the blue cheese coleslaw as well!
Beers were good and CHEAP. Perfect combo.
Service was mediocre at best though - not very friendly, hence the 4 stars. -
Review from Reesa T.
12/31/2009
I would love to come back to this place in like a year (and hopefully not have to fight too hard for a table.) I cannot speak for the food as I not only didn't eat here but I also didn't even look over a menu. From a beer and ambiance perspective though I really really enjoyed this place, and our server was wonderful, a total pleasure.
I has the weissbeer and sampled their newest, the trippel. Also I had the No. 9 IPA as I have heard its a must-have from Mike Duggan. They are all terrific brews, so if you are downtown Toronto and want a glass of beer, a good and solid glass of beer that will not disappoint, head here.
Ambiance was great, low lighting and good acoustics. Music that I cannot remember specifically but I remember that I liked it and I think there was some nostalgic feel to it. Win. The architecture is open and features modern design. The stairs are tiles in a tiny subway-tile mosaic patter that is an exceptional touch. There are exposed walls that either are truly unfinished (especially downstairs) or its an unfinished urban feel for the restaurant and bar- I happen to love the unfinished look and I am excited to see what will happen.
I want to go back in like a year, sample to food too and I would not be surprised at all to give this place a 5. -
Review from Devin K.
12/17/2010
Duck confit poutine was pretty yummy for a Merican.
Stuck in a hotel with a head cold but managed to drag myself out for some lunch. Didn't have any beer, unfortunately.
But some tea and comfort food had me feeling better. -
Review from Michael L.
Calgary, AB
10/29/2010
I had a #5 and the pulled pork (lunch). The place was pretty empty. The food was good, not great. The beer was nice, light and refreshing. A good choice for lunch. It's hard not to compare to beer bistro. Beer bistro is better, but also a lot pricier. I think in both places you get what you pay for.
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Review from Lindy V.
Toronto, ON
1/16/2010
I thought it would be a perfect place to bring a party of ten for dinner and drinks. But tonight the wait service gets Duggan's 2 stars. We had a group of ten at 7pm on a Friday night. I'm not paranoid but it was as if our waiter was avoiding us the whole time and everyone had a bad service experience because of it. Still I kept smiling, wondering if he was having an off night, but then he seemed quite content so I have no idea why he was nowhere to be found. I should have started getting drinks for everyone from the bar. Though he never once apologized for taking forever and forgetting drink orders. I was embarrassed and my friends teased me "thanks for bringing us here." We sat for way too long with empty glasses in front of us. In three hours my friend could only get two glasses of beer because she sat with her back to the rest of the room so she could not see when our waiter was in our section so she could catch his attention. A friend arrived late and after ordering a beer, it took over 40 minutes for it to arrive. The waiter gave it to him for free because it took so long. We had to wait for him to drink it after everyone had finished. I think this is the worst service I have ever had. Honestly. If the beer wasn't delicious it would have one star. A new place like this can't afford to have the world's worst waiter. In the end the gratuity was included on our bill. $50 he didn't deserve. We paid it and left feeling stupid. Not the way I wanted to celebrate my friend's birthday at all.
