Earl's Kitchen & Bar
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Nightlife Bars Canadian (Traditional), Bars
150 King Street WSuite 100
Toronto, ON M5H 2B6
(416) 916-0227
- Hours:
Tue 11:30 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
42 reviews for Earl's Kitchen & Bar
Review Highlights
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"The outdoor patio opened this week, and it's GORGEOUS." In 11 reviews -
"I had the Bronx burger and salad, which came with a..." In 3 reviews -
"They have drink specials every day of the week." In 3 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Joie T.
The girls here are HOT! That's right! I said it! And I said it to my husband a few times during dinner, too! He just kept laughed at me, amused. "WHAT girls?", he asks, staring deep into my eyes like no one else exists. "Liar!", I called him out! "I know you've been staring too!". He just widens his eyes and focuses on ME even MORE. Well trained, I thought!
The girls here are all dressed in sexy black dresses or uniform. All short & tight.
And they all "happen" to be beautiful!
Oh right, I'm a fan of the food, here, too! I was in the mood for vegetarian, so I got the veggie quesadilla stuffed with zucchini & eggplant & peppers & oozing with cheddar cheese! It was excellent, and very tasty! I topped it off with the sweet potato fries (extra $2). But it was soooo worth it! The sweet potato fries must have been baked in the same oil as the french fries because you could taste it! Deep fried to perfection! Crispy outside, and soft sweet potato filling that is not over fried! The husby got the steak & veggies and really liked his dish! Together our bill with tax & tip rang up as $75. Decent pricing.
Loved the all-wood panel ceiling, see-thru wall and the luxurious spotted leather booth seating. The pendant lighting by the window was a nice feature, and the bathrooms are dark, sleek and sexy!
Come to be allured by the food, the interior, and, ummm, the girls! -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
5/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
VIBE
It would have been nice to experience Earl's had I actually gotten a seat here.
Given it's smack dab in front of the financial district and across from St. Andrew subway station (making it very accessible for those coming from elsewhere), it's not surprise we didn't get a seat here.
The patio is darling and due to the almost one hour wait, I can see why. But I don't wait in line for that long to stand outside. Um...
Inside, it's bankers and suits and more bankers and maybe a cougar and basketball player or two but...meh. If I was 25 and working in the TD Tower, I'd be all over this place. But I don't need to drink at some schmance place to escape the unhappiness of my white collar job and first world problems.
WE ATE/DRANK
Can't say. Maybe I'll come at 3 p.m. in the afternoon and let you know...
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
How many hostesses does it take to greet you? Five if you're at Earl's. And yes, they're all judging you. Nice bathrooms though. You're welcome.
I'm sure it's lovely though. -
Review from Immunity Booster ..
3/23/2012
Beautiful wait staff, great patio bar, and good food. Great for casual / business meetings and leads right into happy hour at the end of day.
First time in Toronto this week and I landed at the right bar. -
Review from Karen S.
3/20/2012
$4.99 Tuesday night bellinis! It would have been a great night for the outdoor patio - apparently all the other suits thought so too, so inside the bar we went. Not too shabby with a large comfy booth. Chicken tacos - unexpectedly good! That avocado made the whole thing worthwhile.
It was a bit too loud for me and great for people watching of a particular type. Earl's is a very slick production that fits perfectly with the financial district that it's located in. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
4/18/2012
Great lunch patio if you can get a seat. I had the Bronx burger (about $15) and a pint ( or 2 , well, 3) of the albino Rhino ale. Delicious. Burger is HUGE and messy but very good. As everyone else points out the waitresses are hired for a specific reason here, and it's not just customer service skills. ( although they carry out that part of their duties well enough!). Bar is packed in the evening with Bay st crowd.
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Review from Nav K.
Toronto, ON
4/18/2012
Went there for the first time with my friend as she works in the neighbourhood. Just when Toronto is getting flooded with pretentious gourmet restaurants where you can't get a basic burger anymore along comes Earls. The food is DELICIOUS. The service is really good but since the two of us were girls, the lady wasn't paying as much attention to us as the suits but fair enough, they would give her more tip anyways. As I am mostly confined to the art/design district, I was expecting cocky suited people but everyone seemed so friendly! If you don't like loud places, you might not want to be here as this mainly for people who are work-repressed throughout the day and then let out all their energy after work. I got the chicken tacos and they were so damn good!!!
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Review from Kunal D.
Toronto, ON
3/2/2012
Earl's is another legit west coast chain taking T.O. by storm -- show the shitty franchises here how it is done!
The food is delicious - my personal favourite is the Blackened Chicken when I'm hungry, as it is filling and tasty. Their burgers and sandwiches are money too. They have a good selection of tap beer - one of the few places that serves Kokanee on tap! They have a wicked patio, but to enjoy one of those for lunch, need to get there before 11:30am to book a table (send a junior from the office to hold down the spot, guarantee he would love it -- I've done it :D )
As you would expect from any downtown resto, there is enough eye candy around. The service is friendly, but because they are busy and I'm an impatient ""ck, I find them to be slow. However, they are super nice lol -
Review from Sheryl N.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
I just had lunch here today, and maybe my expectations are not very high, but I was BLOWN away by the lunch service.
Arrived at 11:50AM with no reservation to meet a friend - the place was beyond buzzing, apparently Thursday is a very busy day. They put me on the wait list and said it would 15 minutes, and they would text me. They have a nice wait area, couches etc, so I just spent time on my phone until my friend came. In about 15 minutes, I did get a text saying my table was ready - love technology! We got a high table by the windows and it was just a lovely spot to be. Sunny, far enough away from the other tables.
I ordered the Cajun chicken ciabatta sandwich with fries - the Cajun chicken actually has a kick, and the bread is soft and has some greens and tomatoes. The fries were crunchy and I shared with my friend, and still left some in the container - definitely worth the $13.75. My friend got tuna tacos with a small salad. She really enjoyed both dishes, again perfect lunch serving and affordable pricing.
The waitress was really friendly, kept checking in on us and we got water promptly, our food arrived in about 10 minutes (which is great as its lunch hour) and the tab came swiftly once we were done. The main Hostess also came by and said that she is glad we stuck around for the table, and to find out if everything was going well.
In and out in one hour and we didn't feel rushed. All in all, I will be returning after work to have their cocktail specials and enjoy the patio as the weather warms up. -
Review from Lynn C.
Updated - 12/19/2011
Since the first time I came here, Earl's has been one of my favourite hangout spots. Never in my life would I have thought I'd like a spot full of bay street suits but I really do like this place, a lot.
The drinks are inexpensive and tasty, the service wonderful, the food delicious (though salty) and reasonably price (you can't go wrong with their $13 delicious delicious Earl's burger), and the atmosphere and vibe is trendy without making you uncomfortable.
Hot waitress help their cause too.Listed in: North American Chains
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/7/2011
Erm...holy suits galore. I have never seen such a crowded place in which every single man in the… Read more »
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Review from Amy S.
Toronto, ON
10/24/2011
Big boobs serving big boobs.
Food is delicious. Would probably taste better on someone's expense account though - it's pricey for what it is.
I haven't checked out the patio yet, and it does look nice.
Faster service if you don't have a uterus. -
Review from Eric L.
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The best part of this is the outdoor patio. The worst part is, the snoby waitresses and clientele. Being in the financial district, I should have expected it. (This is just not my point of view, I saw the waitresses laughing at a client for something they did. Like a mean laugh, like the ones bullies do at school.)
The patio however is pretty kick ass.. The patio feels like you are inside a house with comfy couches and heated lamps, but the roof is non existent. You are surrounded by beautifully lit sky scrapers and a view of the CN tower if you are sitting in the right location.
They have drink specials every day of the week. That night it was 2oz for some special cocktail (I forget what exactly, but it was some girly drink. Hot Tip: They have brown food coloring to make it look like scotch.) for $10 including tip. -
Review from P R.
4/29/2012
Julia was great today! I mis-ordered, but she helped get things straightened out. Thanks to her, I enjoyed the meatball sliders AND a great glass of wine.
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Review from Maddy K.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2011
GREAT LOCATION! GREAT PATIO! Which by themselves deserve five-stars but then you have a seat...
The service is quick and attentive which is a plus!
We went there for drinks after work around 10 of us. We were thrilled with our waitress - she was great and attentive. However when it came to the bill there was much confusion. Between the time we ordered the drinks, enjoyed them with great conversations and by the time we got the bill the drink prices had changed. That's right - its like Toronto real estate here - you blink, and the prices have gone up!
We were a little disturbed and shock and checked the menu against the bill and brought it to the waitress' attention:
She said "yeah the prices changed today."
We said "but the menu does not reflect the price changes"
She said "yeah they probably forgot to change the menu"
We said "that's not cool"
She ... the most beautiful smile ever...
We ... the most disgruntled look ever...
She said ...still smiling... "I can change the prices back if you want"
We.... "ummm. HELL YA!!"
So she brought a revised menu without that beautiful smile this time around though and another lady walked around the floor collecting all the menus.
So disgruntled and unimpressed I tweeted earls about it and someone tweeted back "please explain further I would like to help." Which I did, and they never got back to me. You see, I only have 42 followers or so - I can't hurt Earls much. And they know it.
It's not my most favourite place to go. -
Review from Lauren M.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
The biggest problem with Earls is it is located in a douchey area. BUT if you are a Bay street type and enjoy hanging with the Bay Street crowd, than I imagine you would rate this place a solid 4 star.
Earls has a really nice patio. I have tried visiting a few times in the summer but the place was way too packed to find a table. Now that the weather is cooling off it's possible to be seated outside. (They have heat lamps!)
I was also pleasantly surprised at the cost of drinks here. They have daily specials. We visited on a Tuesday and had some delicious $4.99 bellinis. Great price. Thursdays sounds promising too, with a large cocktail list all at $4.99 pricing. Normal cost is $7, which really is reasonable too.
The waitstaff there were all extremely attractive yet dumb as shit. (Just how I like em!) -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
We walked by Earl's while looking for some place for an after dinner drink... I got sucked in when I saw the patios with comfy seatings and the heat lamps.... I ran in so fast and so my fellow yelpers don't have a chance to change their mind!!
Friendly hostess asked inside or out? I screamed OUTSIDE... so apparently outside is first come first serve.
Drinks Specials everyday.. Tuesday Bellini special.. Bellini please and even the guys ended up drinking one of those....
Good friends, good conservations, cheap drinks and cool patios.........
Life is good!
It helps when our waitress was pretty, witty and quick!! She gave us a split bill without us requesting!Listed in: Places I Would Go For A Drink…, Patio! Patio! Patio
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Review from Mariko M.
9/17/2011 2 photos
I had an errand to do in the Financial District a couple of weeks ago and I passed by Earl's. Everyone in the joint seemed to be having a jolly good old time on the patio, so I decided that I would come back to see what all the hype was about.
Came here tonight for a Saturday night dinner.
My friend called about reservations on Monday and was told that they were completely booked. Hardly the case. We walked in and waited for 20 minutes to sit in the dining room. The waiting period gave us an opportunity to look around the entire restaurant.
Decor of the place is really nice. The lounge area is an open concept w huge screens to watch sports (I guess?). The patio is spacious with heaters so you don't freeze your derriere while sitting there. In spite of the consistent theme of open and spacious going on here, the dining room was a little crowded and tight to maneuver.
The Food: Grilled Chicken and Brie Sandwich w French Fries
Love the idea. Grilled chicken, brie, apple slices, garlic mayo, spinach and fig jam sandwiched in between a ciabatta bun. Good idea and potential to be a kick a$$ meal. Sadly, it was way too oily. I had to keep wiping my hands as oil kept dripping on to my plate.
Service was ok. Initial contact w the server took a long time. I have to give kudos to the manager. She noticed this and got us drinks on the house.
Nice place with mediocre, reasonably priced food in a swanky neighborhood.
A solid 3 star. -
Review from Esther P.
Toronto, ON
2/17/2012 1 photo
Finally got a chance to try out Earl's for lunch this week. I had the planked salmon on brown basmati rice with mango salsa and roasted root vegetables (it was great, I ate all) and my girlfriend had the geera chicken curry with nan bread and rice (that was nice too, I'll have it the next time). So I'll be back. Kind of noisy environment but lively.
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Review from Rob S.
Etobicoke, Toronto, ON
Updated - 2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Single girls - this is The place to be on a friday evening! Ratio is definitely in your favor in a good way.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2012
Saturday night at Earls - good time. Service quite good at bar given it was fairly busy. Ordered… Read more »
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Review from Jack W.
Toronto, ON
8/6/2011
Reliable, and a better steak than the Keg.
Earl's is ubiquitous in Vancouver (my previous home), so I was interested to see how they stacked up here. Gotta say, it was very favourably.
We were parched and ready for rest after a long walk to the waterfront with not quite enough liquid on hand. We were really impressed with the size of the incredibly active and bright patio, but were even more so with the coool dark inside of the restaurant (which was what we needed, some cold air).
One of the best medium-rare steaks I've ever had, in all honesty. It being summer, they have warm potato salad and coleslaw on their menu of sides, and we substitute that for the usual mash & veg, and it was just a wonderful meal all around. Beer for the husband, Iced tea for me, both in amazingly frosty glasses. Our waiter was a doll, and as I say, the kitchen staff were obviously on top of their game because holy cow, what a steak. Tender, cooked exactly right, and holy cow I am drooling about it right now. =)
We followed up with the campfire s'mores dessert, which is a specialty which is not always on the menu, but when it is, get it! It used to be just one s'more, which is why we ended up getting one each... and it's now two per order! So we tucked into them anyway, even though we were getting pretty full at this point. Didn't need to eat again until the next day, so it certainly paid off.
Going to definitely come back often, when I want a reliable experienced spot for a relaxing time with friends.
Now hand me something to clean my keyboard with... -
Review from Catherine L.
Toronto, ON
7/16/2011
I've been here probably about 6 times now since it opened. Since it's right next door to where I work, it's an easy place to go.
The outdoor patio opened this week, and it's GORGEOUS. Unfortunately, it's super hard to get a seat, or even standing room on the patio. I've tried about 4 times now and I haven't succeeded yet.
The drinks and food are consistently good, though it's a bit slow since it's so busy. I like that they have drink specials almost everyday except for weekends (Fri - Sun), which makes this cheaper than some other places in the area. (E.g. On Thurs, all cocktails are $4.99 instead of $6.99).
If you can get a seat here, I would definitely recommend it! -
Review from Steph L.
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Earl's might be a popular chain restaurant out West, but in Toronto it's a popular hot spot for Bay street suits!
I've called each week trying to make a reservation.
Apparently, calling on a Tuesday to reserve on a Thursday isn't enough notice!
However, they have tables reserved for walk-ins, you just have to line up... for like, an hour.
#Line up#: Front door to bar
It's about a 30 - 45 minute wait during peak periods right after work.
But at least they give you free pizza to nibble on and a glass of champagne. Free drinks +1 star. :D
Once you get to the bar...
The bar is packed.
Packed, packed, packed...
#Waiting for a table in the dining room#:
Another 30 minutes of waiting.
Time for another drink!
The dining room is not as busy and there is ample space that you don't' feel cramped at all.
It was neat that they have an ipad with their most up-to-date wine list.
It's fun, I like ipads... and wine! The prices for wine are good and not that expensive by the bottle, considering how most places really jack up the price.
Earl's does have daily drink specials.. Unfortunately, Thursday is some fruity icy sugary grossness.
I ordered:
* Prawn dynamite rolls ($11) - It's a large order of breaded prawn sushi.
* Bronx burger ($16) - Tip: Eat the onion rings first
* Sticky Toffee pudding ($8) - Gooey, sweet... didn't taste too much like toffee, but I'll still eat and enjoy it!
Service was surprisingly good for such a busy place.
No attitude at all, our waitress was prompt, attentive, and didn't rush us with anything. She even split the bill properly for shared dishes and wine.
Even though I generally dislike chain restaurants... I found myself very pleasantly surprised by Earl's.
Good food, excellent service, and lots of eye candy! It's loud, fun, and perfect for some after work mayhem. -
Review from Kristy P.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2011
IT WAS OK.
Went here with a couple of girlfriends on a Friday night. Luckily we made a reservation a week before so our table was guaranteed. We came in 1/2 hr earlier and we only had to wait for 5 minutes to get our table set up. Not a bad start.
As soon as we settled in, we couldn't help but notice the loudness inside the restaurant. IT WAS VERY LOUD that we had to yell out our words to have a proper conversation. At the end of the night, one of the girls lost her voice. Uh oh.
We shared a pitcher of white sangria. It was alright. It's a pretty small pitcher and it didn't come with any fruits in it. Wait, it did. A few diced apples. SCORE. That costed us $20.
I ordered grilled chicken and baked brie sandwich with a side of fries. The sandwich was pretty good, I liked the sweet and savory blend. However, it's too oily. The fries were ok, tasted like McCain's fries. One friend ordered the chicken tacos. She said Joey's tacos were better :p The other friend ordered the chicken cajun sandwich. She didn't say much about her food so I guess it's neither here nor there.
Didn't order any appy or dessert, though I really wanted to try the s'mores! Perhaps another time...
Overall, it was an ok experience. Our waitress was ok, neither attentive nor ignorant (maybe a little snobbish? I got that vibe from her...) I'm going to try Joey's first before coming back to Earl's so I can make a proper comparison :) -
Review from Charles D.
1/12/2012
Ahhh Earl's...where the secret of their success isn't so secret. It would be easy to write this place off as an upscale Hooters/Twin Peaks type of joint, and it honestly sort of is, but you know what? I think that even if the waitresses weren't smoking hot (and for the most part, fun and cool to boot!) and scantily clad, I'd still go! Last night's visit marked the sixth time I'd been, all as part of some business drinks/dinner occasion, and I must say that Earl's is six for six in good times had. The food is consistently good. Not great, but pretty darn good (the lamb popsicles are a bit overpriced, but delish). Drinks? Suprisingly affordable, and they get a tip of the hat for having an affordable wine list that seems to stick around the 4x markup rule. I'm not an oenophile, and thus not too picky, so having a good selection in the $30 - $35 a bottle range is a nice touch. Extra marks for the cool male bartenders too. Normally at a place like this, they're either extremely aloof or extremely annoyed. Friendly and helpful here though! Atmosphere? Solid. Nicely designed, and a pretty classy joint all around. Service...good as well! The waitresses are pretty attentive and knowledgable, and frankly, way exceeded my expectations.
So you know what? Scratch my opening comment. I think that the T&A definitely helps Earl's create buzz and gets people in the door, but the quality of their overall offering gets them to come back. Four stars. -
Review from Jesse T.
8/14/2011
Had the chicken tacos. They were really good, along with a side caesar salad. They were good. I asked for a suggestion of a beer, and the waitress suggested the Pale Ale made for Earl's (I can't recall the name). I totally ignored her and asked for an Alexander Keith's IPA. She kind of looked at me alarmingly. In the past couple of months, I have noticed that the staff in bigger cities are starting to do a good job of knowing what good beers are.
We were here on a Sunday afternoon. Not crowded. In fact, I think we were the only people eating inside. Everyone else chose the patio. The day manager helped us to understand the trolley and subway system. He was a great help!
There were these HUGE burgers they were carting out. I didn't realize this was a chain. Good service, big food, and it appeared to be a decent beer selection, although it was mostly macros. -
Review from Leona L.
Toronto, ON
2/21/2011
What a fun place! I went here this past weekend after always seeing it on my commute to work and so glad I did.
The minute my friend and I stepped in, doors opened for us and we were greeted by the hostess. While she looked to see if there was a table for us, another girl gave us some bubblies!
When we were seated, we were able to persuade the waiter to get us more champagne. The menu looked fab and our waiter even gave us an iPad to play with to see what type of wine works best with the entree we wanted.
My friend and I looked up our entrees and wine pairing on the iPad and I then proceeded to look and see if the iPad had angry birds. It had the app listed but stupid thing wouldn't let me access the actual game. Clearly that's where this restaurant lost a star from me.
We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip. YUM!
For my main course, I had the chicken and bri sandwich with the New England Clam Chowder soup. The soup was delish! My sandwich was good... it was an interesting good. The menu description for the sandwich wasn't too detailed so I was a little taken back when a slice of apple hit my mouth. I also think there was raspberry jam in my sandwich. Nice for lunch, not so appealing for dins.
Along with my meal, my friend and I split a half litre of the Down Under half blend Riesling (can't remember the actual name of the wine).
The atmosphere, the amazing and friendly service, and the good food pretty much made my night. I would def go there again for food and drinks. -
Review from Laura L.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2012
Earl's is our go-to for Thursday/Friday nights with the coworkers as it is a building away from my work. The seafood linguini was great, they put breadcrumbs on top to give it a bit of a crunch. Really good. Not too salty, not bland, just right, with a big shrimp. Yum.
I had an appetizer that was really good too, it came with a dip of some sort, but i can't remember what it was. The pizzas aren't bad either. My coworkers said the burger's pretty good too. Good amount.
I normally sit in the area near the bar as i go there for drinks most of the time.
Washrooms are pretty clean. The place is pretty clean in general.
Waitresses are nice, although a bit slow. I go at busy times though, so I can see why. If you're going for afterwork drinks, I recommend coming before 5 p.m., especially on Thursdays and Fridays. It gets packed.
Never sat out in the patio, so I can't comment on that yet...
Overall, I think it's a great hangout spot with good food. -
Review from Danielle F.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2011
Lasting Impression: Woah! I like you just as much as I do in BC!
Service is a huge thing here. From the hostesses, to the manager, the server itself, everyone is just plain, ol' nice. Our waiter seemed a little nervous for some reason, maybe he's new.
Food was delish; it was your standard Milestones-y fare with some twists. I had the Los Cablos Chicken Tacos with the soup of the day, a chicken and rice, Indian style thing. The meal was a lot more filling than it appeared to be! I did really like the tacos, a bit different than the ones I had in Kelowna. There were only two of these ones, but they were bigger. Also noted, they were pre-hotsauced. My bad, my mouth was on fire after I cleaned out extra sauce provided.
The soup was ok. It came with julienned apple and red pepper on top. Apple seemed like kind of a random addition but once mixed in, it didn't really matter. Gorgeous presentation for it all! Seriously, even coffee came out on a platter with all of the possible fixings.
I'll be back for the food, smiles and to relive some glory British Columbian days. -
Review from Laura T.
4/24/2011
Earl's is definitely an upscale apres-work watering hole (as aptly stolen from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). If you're looking for good food (a little pricey), and a gaggle of financial district types, this is the place.
When we first arrived, there was no way we were getting a table - but then a very friendly waitress spotted us and said a table was just cleared. Lucky me, and Melissa D., snagged a spot. Generally speaking, if you're heading there after work any day of the week, be prepared to stand.
Service was quick, and the drinks were delish. Tuesdays are bellini night, and we enjoyed a few white peach bellinis for only $4.50 and a tasty spinach & feta dip to share. Served with unlimited crostinis, it was the perfect dish to accompany our much needed beverages. For a more hearty meal, they have sharing platters like baby calamari, salmon and tuna rolls, grilled tacos, edamame, and chicken tenders (just to name a few). The burgers also seem to be popular (ranging from $12-$15). People seemed to be enjoying whole meals, and not just drinks, so there seemed to be something for everyone.
The service was the most impressive part of the evening - everyone was overly accommodating, and eager to please. Even though it was busy, our server was attentive and chatty!
The decor is pretty cool - take note of the single lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling. Great ambience and energy, but it's definitely for a suit-wearing crowd, and people willing to stand while sipping drinks. Really great people watching too...if you're into that sort of thing... -
Review from Andre M.
Toronto, ON
4/8/2011
Leona, Danielle and Jennifer's reviews say it all. Just went there with five business colleagues for lunch -- we knew it is crazy busy at lunch so two of us showed up at 1120 am. The staff at the door were very accomodating and found us an excellent table for six.
Talked with Tamika our server who is cute as a button and very, very nice. I had a Guinness (perfectly poured) and my buddy had the recommended Albino Rhino draft. Our friends arrived and we ate like kings. Superb service and excellent food. I had the Bronx Burger, which is a massive burger, mozzarella and three homemade onion rings with a side of fries. Tamika suggested I eat a ring, then flatten it to eat it. Worked like a charm. We'll all be back. -
Review from Vera W.
North York, ON
8/17/2011
So I went here yesterday and let me just warn you not to go so late on a Monday night if you want service. My bf and I waited 15mins and no one greeted us or came by.. I finally went to the bar and asked the bartender if someone could service us. At least he was nice about that.
The food was alright. We started with the calamari and it was cooked just right but the sauce lacked flavour. We order the steaks and they were cooked exactly how we asked and was tender but lacked a little something to make it special.
I would probably go here again to try their other dishes. Found this site today: http://phenu.com/earls The Dungeness Crab & Prawn Salad looks really good! -
Review from Parv D.
Toronto, ON
7/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A plush place packed with pretty people on a pint-sized patio.
The food is actually quite good, and you can't beat paying $4.50 for a fairly decent cocktail or pint of beer.
I've only ever been there on Thursdays when the patio is always stupid-busy, so getting a reservation way in advance is highly recommended. Unless you're hoping to bump shoulders (and other bits) with the throngs of eye-candy in suits or short skirts, I'd recommend skipping the patio and staying inside...where the ambiance is hip and the service a lot better. Plus, you avoid getting into a verbal rumpus with the patio-bouncer-fella, whose strict adherence to the fire safety code would make any fire marshal proud.
Great place to people watch (the yuppie suited variety), get hit on by inebriated wanker bankers, or enjoy a very good lunch/dinner on non-busy days.
But if you're on (or hoping to get into) the patio, be prepared to wait....and wait...and wait... -
Review from shyni y.
5/26/2011
The reputation that precedes this restaurant, is ALL TRUE.
I went here for brunch - I wasn't too keen traveling near work on an off day but I heard about this place often enough that I got my lazy ass downtown.
Thank goodness for my naggy friend who dragged me here, otherwise , I dare say, I would have been incomplete.
What I love most: the open, lofty ambiance. it seems that because we're all so conscious of having "privacy" it brought a slew of high-boothed restaurants, with dim lights. I'm not a fan of eating in the darkness, but that's just me. So it was nice to be at a place that have decent amount of lighting, open air ambiance.
THE FOOD? ORGASMIC.
I had the Bronx burger and salad, which came with a delicious "simple vinaigrette" - sooo good -I think I licked the dressing off.
I'm not a burger person - any one will tell you.
But i stuffed myself with all of this burger and it's massive real onion rings, covered in all sorts of grease , and risked major itis(we did sit in the restaurant for quite some time after) - it was JUST THAT GOOD.
If you have yet visited this place, YOU need to go. -
Review from Tom S.
5/18/2011
Came here twice while on a recent business trip in Toronto. Based on the reviews, we decided to bring clients here for lunch, and then we came back again that night for dinner.
Definitely one of the few instances of a business meal I can remember where all the plates were devoured. Over lunch, I really enjoyed the Italia pizza, which is essentially an Italian meat lover's pizza. My colleagues gave their entrees rave reviews, including the salmon, Santa Fe chicken salad, and spicy seafood pasta.
Upon returning that night, I had the chicken tacos and substituted the soup of the day (black bean) for the standard side of fries. Both were excellent. As a group, we ordered the s'mores for dessert, and they definitely didn't last long.
Presentation and service were fantastic throughout both meals. Can't wait to return.
One potential drawback is that the music is a little too loud. It's a very eclectic mix of music, but definitely too loud for conversation with your "inside voice." At points during lunch, we were straining to hear each other. But, if you're prepared for that ahead of time, I think it'll be just fine. -
Review from Jordan T.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/15/2011
Finally ate at Earl's last night. Had the half ribs and half Cajun chicken. The ribs were great. The chicken was good, but nothing exceptional. However, the warm potato salad the meal comes with is really good. A member of my group had a steak, which he thought was excellent and perfectly cooked.
As usual, the service was excellent.Listed in: The Financial District
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/1/2011
I have been trying to call Earl's for the last five minutes in order to get a reservation and it's… Read more »
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
8/1/2011
I've never been a big fan of Chain restaurants, especially not for dinner - love the small scale ones that seat about 35 - 50. Earls is one of those places I would go to for drinks, and good conversation... not so much for a solid dinner.
We had a group of 10 and were seated at these LARGE square tables... it was actually a little difficult to talk because the person across from me seemed so far away.
The ambiance is definitely swanky - love the chandeliers, comfy chairs and the large space... the patio I've yet to try.
The waitress through we were waiting for more people so disappeared for about 20 minutes while we were waiting for her to come back to take our order.
I ended up getting the Los Cabos Chicken Tacos and came with cajun sauce on the side. It came with two for $11, but if you wanted a full meal (ie - fries), then you can add $2.50 for them.
The taco looked very appetizing - full of colours, lots of toppings, but at the end of the day.. I didn't really taste a lot of chicken... in fact I was more wondering where it was.
My friends who opted for the lobster and shrimp salad were definitely not satisfied as it looked bare, and I think there was a tablespoon of lobster meat... makes me wonder if it actually came from a can. The large shrimp definitely didn't love up to its size and it just looked minimalistic. Other people's meals seemed okay so I would advise to stay from the specials.
The place is definitely hopping every day of the week. Make reservations if you can, especially for large groups. Enjoy the people you are with because you may not enjoy the food. -
Review from Jennifer C.
Toronto, ON
4/3/2011
Earl's is great because it offers many things in one place. There are two sections to the restaurant: the quieter dining area where tete-a-tetes are possible and the louder more lively (albeit meat-market-ish) bar lounge area with televisions for the games and floor to ceiling glass walls onto King street. All in all, it's always fun at Earl's.
PRICE:
- Fair.
- You're looking at $10.50 for a nice glass of red wine.
- Appetizers (i.e. baby calamari; dynamite roll: $12 each.
- Entree: $15+.
SERVICE:
-Wonderful! The hostesses and waitresses (all young, pretty girls who's looks obviously played a part into getting hired) are lovely and very welcoming. No snotty attitude. No feeling of being rushed to leave so seats can be turned over to next customers. There are no reservations btw. You're looking to wait at least 20 minutes on average for a seat in the dining room but the bar/lounge will keep you busy til then. The male bartenders are also very decent and do not have that general aloofness or better-than-thou air to them. Overall: very pleasant.
AMBIANCE/CROWD:
- Two different areas: dining room and the bar/lounge.
- Dining room: low lighting. Generously spaced seating. Some seats can look into the action of the kitchen. There is also a small bar right at the front but it doesn't act as a distraction if an intimate night is what you want.
- Bar/Lounge: Television screens show sport games. Bar top and area is busy and usually goes 3+ deep. High tops for 4 ppl are available. Long dining tables that can be used communally by different groups are present. Private tables set against the wall in a U shape are available. Crowd depends on the night and time. Happy hour is obviously overflowing with the bay-street crowd looking to let loose after work. Women are here in groups as a girl's night out. Not a first date kind of place considering you'll have to wait to get dining room seats. If there is a game at the skydome or acc, there are fans having post-game drinks. Generally 25+. Overall: good ambiance. Not pretentious or snobby.
FOOD:
- Pretty good considering so many things are already happening in this place. The burgers are great. The Dynamite roll is very popular. Their clam chowder is pretty good. -
Review from Maggie T.
Toronto, ON
3/26/2011
After I missed out friends' invite to go as group on Sun, I went next day as I had been wanting to go for a while. The place was very busy. We had to sit at bar for a drink first to wait to be seated. It was Monday, after outing with friends and dressing up during the weekend. I decided to ditch my heels and change into something casual comfortable tracksuit (LOL)--TNA top and pants, a down vest with fur pompoms on d strings for the hood. Yeah knowing exactly what kinda place I was going, I didnt really cared what I was going to "stand out" n look "too cute" or "too young" for the classy environment to humiliate myself. It was a cold rainy day, I just wanted to chill(and be warm lol). And turned out the service was excellent. I was expecting seeing stuck up high-class-wanna-be-hooters like the waitresses at Joey on Down Mills. The pretty ladies at door and our waitress were exceptionally nice!That made the restaurant Joey look really bad on service considering Joey owns Earl's which is interesting!
As we were getting a drink at bar waiting for dinner table. The girl sat beside me ordered a very "good looking" appetizer which made me n my friend lock our eyes on it for quite some time. Its some sort of baked garlic bread thingy cut into long sticks came with big bowl of warm 3 cheese spinach dipping, topped with finely chopped green onion and I could smell a lot of garlic. The bread sticks looked soft and puffy, unlike those thing flat bread at most restaurants. We ordered that when we got to our table, it was the best bread with dip ever!! For $10.99 it was well worth it!
I had seafood linguine, and my friend had the burger. They both turn out excellent. The waitress was so sweet, she didnt just come over to ask me if I was done so she could take the plate away. She was watching me to see if I was really done with my food towards the end. One point she was walking over but realized I wasnt finished, she went back n waited. Also she came to our table to refill water number of times before our glasses were half empty. We gave her a very nice tip, I think she was very well deserved. She barely had any conversation with us, but she was truly paying attention on what we needed throughout the whole dinner. We never had to ask for anything over 2 hours, she knew what we wanted before we ask. I think she was smart =D I told her she was very beautiful before we left just to make her night. -
Review from Es P.
Toronto, ON
7/29/2011
Took a client here with a colleague for lunch and ordered the mediterranean linguini with chicken. It was pretty tasty and the linguini was al dente. Side of crusty bread was a perfect compliment. I can't comment on what my companions had but I'm sure it was tasty. All the plates were polished clean! Patio reminded me of O&B on Yonge and Front. Wish I could've stayed and had a few more pints but had to run to another appointment. 3 entrees, 2 pints of beer and a glass of wine; $100 including tip.
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Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
12/7/2011
Earl's is nestled amongst the business giants at King and University and was teeming with suits and loosened ties on the Thursday night I paid a visit. The place was packed, and I soon realized that this was not only attributed to its convenient location. Earl's serves up some seriously good food.
I'll be totally honest right out of the gate and say that I rarely frequent chain restaurants. If I do, it's because it's for a birthday or office party where the show of hands wins. Chain restaurants don't usually sell me on coming back for more. Earl's did.
We started with the Tuna Poke Nachos ($11.50). Served on crispy wontons, and loaded with cubed raw tuna, cucumber, avocado and tomato, they looked like they would be a task to eat. I envisioned myself taking a bite and (if the toppings made it as far as my mouth without falling off) having it crumble, leaving me with half of a naked nacho, or in this case, wonton. They surprised me though by maintaining their structure (and toppings). The spicy mango coulis they were drizzled in leant a nice kick with some crushed macadamia nuts paying tribute to the Hawaiian roots of the dish. I'm not normally a big fan of sushi, but in this case the texture of the tuna and avocado married nicely with the crispiness of the wontons.
Next was the Gnocchi with Italian Rose Sauce ($10.50). I love gnocchi, but it is associated with being too heavy and too filling often because, well, it usually is. Not in this case. Earl's handmade potato gnocchi was the perfect consistency throughout. Consistent consistency if you will. And true we shared it, but it was a generous portion and neither of us felt weighted down afterwards. That wasn't the best part though. The title of the dish doesn't do it justice. This gnocchi isn't served in just any ordinary rose sauce... it's served in a rose sauce made of San Marzana tomatoes, burrata cheese and fresh basil. This, my friends, is the Margharita pizza of gnocchi. Enough said.
Being ambitious (see: gluttonous), we welcomed the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($13.50) and Potato & Leek Soup ($7) to our table. I'll start with the soup...although in reality that wasn't the sequence of events. The soup was creamy and filled with chunks of potato (skin still on...because that's where all the vitamins are!). It was good, but let's face it, it didn't compare to the main event of this course. Even halved, our plates were dwarfed. This is one behemoth of a sandwich. Piled with tender BBQ braised pork and coleslaw then dressed with a fiery chipotle mayo, this sandwich was a nice balance of spicy and sweet. It was messy like it should be so keep the napkins close at hand. I had almost reached my limit but I knew dessert was on the way, so I exercised some will power (says the girl on her third course) and left a few bites on my plate. I would be lying if I said I wasn't sad to see it go.
You might think that by this point we were too full to even consider the possibility of dessert, and by daily caloric standards, we probably should have been. But we laughed in the face of those standards and pushed onward...onward to Warm Gingerbread Cake ($8). Rarely do I find myself at a loss for words, but this cake found me there. It might have had something to do with the fact that my mouth was full of the aforementioned cake, but also because it was really, really good. I could use a plethora of colourful adjectives to describe this cake (see: heavenly, divine, decadent) but it all feels so cliché, and none of them would do it justice anyway, so I'm sticking with good. Damn good. It was served warm (as promised), drizzled with salted caramel sauce and with sides of brown sugar apple slices and vanilla bean gelato. Now on any given day, I'll take a cookie over a slice of cake, but not on this day (or any day going forward where I'm given the choice between a cookie and this particular cake). It was impossibly moist and as we ate it we debated about what made it so. We came to the conclusion that... well, we didn't really come to any conclusion, except that it was killer, and we would be back for more. Whoever is slicing the cake at Earl's isn't stingy (bless their soul) but that was one plate that went back to the kitchen devoid of crumbs.
Now Earl's isn't the place to go for a quiet date. The people are loud (because there are a lot of them), and the music is loud (because it fights to be heard over the people), but the food is excellent and the service, equally so. It's a hike from my house in High Park to the Financial District, but one I'm willing to make again. Three words folks... warm, gingerbread, cake. Do yourself a favour. -
Review from Paola B.
Markham, ON
4/17/2011
AMAZING! Although this is a chain, it does not behave like one. It reminds me very much of Joey's. I am relieved to see places like this opening up instead of more Milestones and Moxie's, and in the absence of a Cheesecake Factory this is a great option. The food is delicious, and although there are traditional items, this is not a traditional menu. From the appetizers, to the entrées, and finally to the desserts, my three girlfriends and I had an amazing time. The ambiance is vibrant yet relaxing, the decor is super trendy yet classy, the service is fantastic, and just like at Joey's you have the option of sitting at the lounge with the bar and huge screens in a super comfy booth, or in the dining area. This place is not small and it gets VERY busy because of how good they are.
