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Einstein Cafe & Pub
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- DJ, Live, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
19 reviews for Einstein Cafe & Pub
19 reviews in English
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Review from Katie C.
Toronto, ON
3/12/2012
I adore Ein Steins.
1. It's super cheap. On one day of the week they have 2 dollar appetizers (not extremely delicious, but they do satisfy hunger for cheap!). The einstein's beer is cheap, about 10$ a pitcher. BUT a word of WARNING -- Einstein's beer USUALLY if not ALWAYS runs out. I cant remember a night here where they run dry. The next cheapest pitcher is 13 or 14$ which is also pretty good, but you can't beat 10 bucks!
2. Pool, Foozball, Jukebox. My friends come here all the time to play thousands of games of pool and/or foozball. It's just a fun atmosphere, lots of stuff to do. PLUS, pay 50 cents (i think) and play your own choice of song on the Juke box! It'll take a while to come on though... but still I remember nights where we spend way too much on that stupid machine.
3. For me, friendly crowd. The bartenders are always the nicest (even though they have to deal with so many students at the bar). If you're a U of T student, chances are you'll run into at least one person any given time youre here.
For me, I like Einsteins because it's good, cheap, fun, and close. It's not a place to, like, plan in advance on going to. But if you're down for some cheap beer, and food, and maybe a game or two of pool in a basement bar -- Einsteins is for you!
(I think they also have nights were different things were happening... i've been there when there was a stand up comedy act going on, an open mic session, and a hockey game party.) -
Review from Meena A.
4/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
My girlfriend and I came here on a Tuesday. And it was fairly "happenin'", for a Tuesday. We did feel a tad out of place as I am a Philosophy major and she is doing Psychology and Buddhism Studies. No one harassed us about our POSts, thankfully.
Started out with 2 pints (both were well priced, $6 for imports). Really enjoyed sitting at the well worn long wooden communal table. And the general vibe here is pretty friendly. Chatted to a few people at the bar, not in a "pick up way" but in a, "oh hey, I can be nice without being creepy". Didn't even think that was possible in Toronto!
My one qualm was the food service. After having a few beers and shots ($4.50 for a shot!), we were starting to feeling drunkenly hungry. I ordered a plate of Cajun wings and my drinking companion opted for the nachos. Although tipsy, we were keeping track of time. And fifteen minutes later, were getting antsy and hungry. At this point, the waiter came back around and asked for our entire order again. Then, we saw him make his way over and enter it in. This was incredible frustrating for our intoxicated tummies. FINALLY another fifteen minutes later, the food arrived. He had included fries with my meal (not as an apology but because he had entered the order wrong). I pointed this out and he cancelled them, because a side of fries costs extra here.
All in all, even with the time delay, this is a cool place. Pretty nerdy (there were kids with their laptops here). Good price on beer. Located at a good distance. Will most likely drop by again. -
Review from Michael N.
Toronto, ON
4/9/2011
Ah, Einsteins ... how I love thee. And I'm not a 18 year old engineering student! Shockers!
How can this be, you ask? Most of my colleagues ask the same question, and this is my answer - this is one of the best bars in Toronto. If you're looking for no frills, no pretension, or sense/care of style, this is your bar. The beer selection is good, the food is absolutely fantastic pub grub (the wings and nachos are glorious), and the prices are wonderful - a stein of the Stein (their local house brew) goes for $6.
Let me say that again - a liter of beer is Six Dollars. In Toronto. And it's not total swill. And you can get a massive plate of good nachos for $11-$13. Or a plate of wings for $10. The prices alone make this place worth a visit.
Some final words - this place is not for the faint of heart. It's mostly undergrads here, and the service is quick-tempered and sassy. It can get really loud, and to say it is a bit grimy ... well, that is an understatement. But if you're tired of these faux-British pubs that crowd out good bars in Toronto, or if you're looking for a place which is both consistently good and humble, then go to Einsteins. You may disagree, but I'm a Brooklynite who knows what makes a good bar, and I say you won't regret it.
P.S. Try the Apfelkorn. To this day I still don't know what it is, exactly. All I know is that it's $2/shot, and it tastes like apple juice. Except after a stein and 4-5 shots, you can't stand up anymore. Good times, good times. -
Review from Graham L.
Montréal, QC
1/18/2012
The server added a 15% gratuity charge to my bill without informing me, so I left a tip on the total as usual. When I noticed the extra charge the next day, I contacted the pub and didn't even receive an apology - the person I was in touch with (presumably a manager) seemed to have no interest in keeping my business. Considering there is no shortage of pubs in the neighbourhood, I certainly won't be going to this one ever again.
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Review from Dishan W.
10/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is as student-oriented as a bar could be. It's underground, named after a scientist, frequented by engineers, shabby, has it's own house brew "Steins" that's around $3.50 a pint and while I know of people that despise it, I can manage to hold my own against it leading to cheap bar tabs.
It's wings are a big draw and I enjoy their spicy flavours (honey garlic? no thanks!).
They have a juke box that for some reason I'm more tempted than I should be to use and they have some good local talent on live music nights. Not that great a location for Karaoke though.
Not a fan of it's patio as it's tiny and smokers linger not too far from the seats. Great for groups as it promises a cheap night out. -
Review from Karl R.
9/16/2010
No awards for decor. Even the patio features cheap plastic picnic tables you'd find outside of a 7-11 for people to quickly scarf down their chili dogs and microwaved burritos.
The beer is cheap. A pint of Waterloo dark for under $5. I'll take it. The burger and fries were decent, albeit at $10 maybe not so cheap.
Yes, this place definitely screams "where students in the physical sciences come to forget."
Service wasn't too bad. A mid-service request for a glass of water remarkably resulted in the glass of water being brought. I find 50% of wait staff anywhere never bring water when requested. "If it won't go on the bill and add to the tip, I can ignore it" seems to be the rule. I have a policy if you don't bring water on the second request I walk out with a salt shaker or soup spoon. It's just my thing. -
Review from Steph L.
4/10/2010
It's like the show Big Bang Theory, except they are all wearing blue construction hats.
If you are an engineer and want to go to a bar where everyone knows your name...
Discussions about Ruby, Python, Unix, physics, famous mathematicians...If this floats your boat, then this is the place for you. Einstein's brought me back to my uni days as a dorkus malorkus mathie.
Yeah, I had a cider, it was $7. It was alright...you can't really go wrong.
Most of the people I went with ordered the super giant beer. I don't know what it costs, but it's like a litre of beer.
/*
Drunk = false
BeerCounter = 0
for i = 1 to 5 hours
BeerCounter = BeerCounter +1;
if drunk = true
exit;
endif
if BeerCounter = 8
Dance wildly to Classic Rock song;
elseif BeerCounter = 10
Roleplay; You are the wizard; Cast spell for 5 pts damage
elseif BeerCounter = 12
Vomit all over girl sitting next to you;
endif
next i -
Review from Bijan V.
8/12/2008
**3.5 Stars**
A hangout for many of UofT students and others a like, most people regularly come back to this hidden gem (maybe not so much gem, I just don't know what else to call it) on College street. A cozy place with a good selection of beer and their own cheap house beer (actually not bad), it's a good hangout if you want to chat with a bunch of people and have a beer or two.
They have comedy nights, amateur band nights, etc, but what really gets people coming back is their wings! Extremely Large sized wings with great sauces that keep you coming back, well this is the reason why I keep coming back anyways haha.
If you head over there in the beginning of the september, you're bound to see a bunch of purple people (UofT Engineers) crowding the place and having a good time. -
Review from Ryan A.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2010
Being a UofT engineer, this is my usual watering hole. Sure, its not the classiest of pubs, but that's all part of its charm.
From my experience the service ranges from mediocre to terrible. The servers can be moody and I've once waited an hour for a cold plate of wings and fries. It's a hit or miss deal.
The house beer is surprisingly drinkable for $10 a pitcher and the wings are some of the best I've had. They're a respectable size and somehow manage to stay crispy despite the generous coating of sauce. The sauce selection is decent, but I never stray from the Hammer wings (not on the menu, but oh so delicious). -
Review from Payam Z.
11/20/2008
2.5 (when will yelp allow this?)
This place does attract the purple-oos but not much else!
It's great during the beginning of the year, but wears down as time goes by.
The wings have been good in the past and their selection equals O'grady's.
There are two negative factors that bring this down for me in comparison to Molly's and O'grady just around the corner.
1) It is by far dirtier (when I have been there anyways)
2) Sometimes the patrons look really depressed! -
Review from Tamar F.
11/5/2009
The "Engineering" bar. Two words: jagermeister and frickles. Yep, they have jagermeister on tap. Believe it or not, this teetotaler gives them mad props, as it's the only liqueur I will down. And $2 jager nights too.
Plus, they have fried pickles. Sounds gross, but it's fantastic.
Never went on a busy night, so the atmosphere seemed low key and had a great time out with my group. I'm not all for sweaty drunks knocking into me, so Einstein's fits the bill.Listed in: Toronto Pub Grub
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Review from Dave W.
Toronto, ON
6/12/2010
I didn't go to U of T, nor am I an engineer, so this place was new to me!
I can sum the place up by saying it is a "campus' bar, or a student bar. It's cheap, $10 a pitcher of the house beer. It was what you expect a $10 a pitcher beer would taste like. The wings were quite good and the fries were pretty great, so what else do you need?
Well, the staff were nice, but totally absent. And the place, while a little "rustic" in the front of the house, was a total disaster in other areas, like the bathroom.
So, the place gets 3 stars from the (close to) 30 year old me, but I would add 1 star for every five years younger I was. -
Review from Dardana M.
ON
12/2/2008 1 photo
Before I first set foot in Einstein's, I always assumed the interior looked like a laboratory or classroom or something...academic.
And...well, it looks kinda like a dingy pub. Apparently, it's where the U of T engineers hang out, but I haven't really seen the evidence of that (they're the ones who are painted blue, yes?). I do know that I work in the area and only went there at the prodding of co-workers (who I *have* seen evidence of), on a few occasions. My experiences were never bad, per se, but let's just say I'm not usually the one who chooses it-- but I'll go along anyway (so take from that what you will). I'm not the biggest beer drinker, so maybe I just don't get it.
I do know that the quesadillas are pretty good, and the company is always great, but I take them everywhere with me, right? -
Review from Eugene M.
Toronto, ON
4/23/2011
The house brew is cheap and won't make you go blind. Just remember that. And there's a pretty good selection of beer too. And this place reminded me of how fun a jukebox can be. Sure, there's the dank, the (underpaid?) wait staff that would just as soon slit your throat and the bathrooms that never provide any means to dry your hands after 9pm. But the beer is cheap. And the wings are pretty damn good too.
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Review from Catherine M.
ON
12/7/2008
Einsteins is the type of place I only go to when people I know are already there. Not surprisingly, the people I know who want to go there a lot tend to be math or engineering majors at U of T. Just in case the name and location wouldn't help you surmise that on your own.
The inside is the same as your usual dive bar - neon signs, lots of wood surfaces, dim lighting. I've been here a number of times and never witnessed any events going on other than people sitting around drinking beer. There is a jukebox so the music is semi-flexible depending on the crowd.
The drinks are cheap and plentiful here, and one thing going for Einstein's is the fact that the bar staff and servers are all very friendly yet efficient. Without that, I may have given the bar a lower rating. -
Review from Romeo M.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2010
Until I find another place this is #1 for me in Toronto get the hammer sauce on the wings and you cant go wrong, blue cheese dip with chunks of blue cheese. Nice large meaty wings I go basically every sunday or every other sunday..as I need to watch my figure...LOL if you know of a better place let me know!!! Cannot justify walking past Einsteins to go to Duffs anymore
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Review from Jaime G.
Scarborough, ON
10/4/2011
I'm from Scarborough, not a student or downtown resident, and I still usually make this a stop or destination during any kensington/college street drinking binge. Why? For starters THE CHEAPEST BEER AVAILABLE IN A TORONTO BAR. Even chinese restaurants/poolhalls don't serve cheaper beer. Ten dollar pitchers? Those haven't existed since I was fifteen! I disagree that it's all dorky engineers at this joint, I've actually scored here and I find it's a pretty good mix. You get a long of young people, the student crowd, and they're always really friendly and easygoing. The bartenders are alright but the service is awful, probably why I didn't give it a five-star review. The servers seem to really hate their lifes and get visibly offended when you ask them to do anything. The live music is pretty wicked, the guy I saw on Friday had a huge repetoire and did requests all night. Unfortunately when I saw the live comedy I was not impressed and it actually deterred me from drinking there. Two pool tables that usually aren't very busy and a foosball table provides lots of stuff to do once you've already hit on every chick in the bar. Einstein beer, despite being suspiciously cheap, is actually pretty good, and easy drinking, better than Coors Light or Mill St. Tankhouse Ale. I wasn't bothered by the decor, seems like a typical student bar to me, but yeah, it is definitely dingy. Highly recommended hangout that won't break the bank.
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Review from A S.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2011
Decent student bar. Decent fare, I guess.
The wings are a crap shoot though. I generally find them drier than I'd like (but okay). However, what's considered "hot" seems to vary on a day to day basis. I ordered mild and my friend ordered hot (not suicide). The friend's wings were at the suicide level - we've tasted them on a previous visit - and mine were definitely at the hot level. We each nibbled on one wing, grimaced, and let someone else take home the rest. I doubt I'll be getting wings here again or maybe next time I'll see what happens when I try one of the non-buffalo flavors.
Beer is cheap, I guess, and probably to my detriment. Each time I come here with friends, I lose count of the number of pitchers ordered and everyone staggers home no earlier than 2 am.
The service is a toss-up, as well. There are times when I have to accost the waitress and there are times when I actually see her come to my table more than once. It's not her fault....the bar is loud and full and no doubt she gets swamped.
Very casual, probably what some would call a "dive bar?" But this is where students like me go. And hey, it's not a bad place to meet fellow geeks. The geek vibe makes it nicer :)
Three stars for being okay. -
Review from Gavin P.
Toronto, ON
6/6/2011
This is a University of Toronto hotspot, and the main reason I like this place is because of their prices. Tuesdays before 9pm, Jager shots are $2 flat, and their house beer is $10/pitcher any time, any day. The jukebox is fun and has a good collection, and though the patio is small, it's great to sit out there on a summer evening when you're on a budget.
