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Esplanade Bier Markt
Categories: Restaurants Belgian Restaurants Gastropubs Belgian, Gastropubs [Edit]
58 The EsplanadeToronto, ON M5E 1R2
Neighbourhood: St. Lawrence
(416) 862-7575
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 11 am - 1 am
Thu-Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 11 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
90 reviews for Esplanade Bier Markt
Review Highlights
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"Beer selection is second to none." In 17 reviews -
"I had the traditional Gruyere fondue w." In 12 reviews -
"Server for recommending my wife's new favorite beer, Fruli." In 5 reviews
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90 reviews in English
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Review from Shiona R.
4/30/2012
The Bier Markt is my go to "I am feeling lazy and want to walk about 5 steps to find somewhere to eat" place.
Sundays will find brunch served with some live music. Monday to Saturday night, this place is always pretty busy, if the weather is nice then the patio (as with most places) is very busy. Friday/Saturday nights, after say 9.30/10 be prepared for potential queues to get in. Saturday night tends to not be a time I would go as the crowd seems a bit younger.
Beer: Great beer selection...in fact great beer menu! So many choices, so little time. I have to say the first time when I visited and was handed a novel style beer menu and asked for my order within 5 minutes, i was a little bit panic stricken as I had not made it past the third page. So the menu isn't exactly "War and Peace" but be prepared for some decent amount of searching. Beer cocktails...sound awful, are actually pretty damn tasty.
Food: I like the food here and have eaten here several times. Mussels are good, Markt fries come with some a few dips (the mustard mayo number is really tasty), platters are decent. Most recently I had brunch and tried the Benedict, which instead of being served on a muffin is served on potato rosti, delicious dish and I would highly recommend. Bison burger, expensive but heavenly meaty goodness!
The Bar: My only complaint are the curtains that you have to fight to get through, just past the main door. I do not know how I have managed to get tangled in them so many times/trip over the bottom of them. I just find them really disorientating, like almost stepping into the wardrobe and finding you are in Narnia. The bar is quite dark, but I love the decor, just feel they need more seats at the actual bar. -
Review from Jordan M.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
I enjoy the Bier Market.
It is primarily a restaurant but transitions into a bar for the evening crowd.
The restaurant is rather large and there can be some negatives associated with that when it gets busy (slow service, rushed kitchen etc.) but my experiences have all been generally positive with dining there in groups of 4-10.
Evenings on the weekend will almost always have a line so I wouldn't show up too late.
Great beer selection, which should not be a huge surprise. Average to high beer prices but a decent trade off for the atmosphere. They will often have live music
Good for groups. -
Review from patrick t.
Toronto, ON
4/6/2012
We had lunch on their patio today. It was very good. We were impressed with the menu amd the selection of beer from around the world.
The service was excellent. Our waitress was attentive and knowledgeable.
I would recommend this place. -
Review from Suan W.
3/8/2012
Best cheese fondue ever!!!
Best beer sampler ever!!!!!!
YEAHHHHH I'M EXCITED!!!!!!!! -
Review from Paul C.
Toronto, ON
2/25/2012
We went for dinner last night.
We have been going for years and the beer menu needs a little of a shakeup. There is a fantastic selection but after a while it would be good to have speciality limited beers.
The food as always is great and the server was who has been there for many years is really knowledgeable and friendly. He knows the beers as well as all of the food selections very well.
This was the second time that we have had to remind the hostesses of our seating number. They assign you a number an after an hour they hadnt called us. After reminding them and standing near the hostess station they found a table in minutes. This was the second time this had happened. -
Review from Cindy L.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
This is a fun place to go to with a couple of friends, definitely not the place for a quiet sit down dinner but a good crowd on a Friday for drinks and catching up.
There's a dance floor as well and music, it gets pretty crowded after 10pm though but the beer is really good since there is an excellent selection of beer to choose from along with cocktails that are quite appealing as well. The price is average depending which beer you are getting but it's a good experience.
The only food item I had at this location was the Markt Poutine, which was average and nothing too special but it tasted good with the beers we had. I would definitely come here again in the evening as it seems to have a better atmosphere for that.
This place is a good alternative to clubbing and ending up having to pay cover and overpriced drinks. Definitely would come back here :) -
Review from Behrouz M.
Toronto, ON
1/14/2012
Food: A
Service: A
Food presentation: A
Atmosphere: A
Prices: C
Recommended?: Yes
This place lives up to the name with a wide selection of beers. The food is also pretty good. And they have a live band usually on the weekend managing the high energy atmosphere. My only complaint is that both the beers and the food items are unnecessarily too pricy. Eg. ~$25 Kobe Burger, although was pretty good, it was definitely not worth $25. Bottom line, this is a place every beer lover should visit once. But go with a full stomach and pre-drink!! -
Review from Jeff P.
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a great find in Toronto! First off...the beer selection was great...and just like most of Canada, they really take care of their beer, with proper glasses for each brand and proper temperature and carbonation. This is definitely the place for a fun night/weekend with a lot of people and live music. But they also have great food, although the restaurant area can be very loud during the busiest times...but after a few beers you won't care...
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Review from Nayha M.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2012
Good: The beer selection is vast. Overpriced, but it's nice to try some non-standard suds.
Better: The dancefloor only starts looking fun after a few of the aforementioned beverages. It's definitely obnoxious if one isn't in inebriated party-time mode. Granted, that wasn't a problem for me. The thirtysomething crowd is mixed (locals, tourists, bachelor/bachelorette parties) and by the end of the night, everyone seems to be bopping away.
Best: The live band on this particular Saturday night was cranking out hits of 90ies. Any band that incorporates Mr. Vain and Rhythm is a Dancer into a medley is going to be playing at my wedding. They were awesome!
The UnGood:
1. They had the fake lineup farce happening on a cold winter night. Not appreciated.
2. The front-of-house staff were rude and unreasonable when my friend lost his coat check tag. Unfortunately, this tarnished an otherwise enjoyable evening. Perhaps I'll return in the summer when this is less of an issue.
Funds: No cover, $50 for 4 Oktoberfest-style pints. -
Review from Emily H.
11/24/2011
Do you really enjoy beer? Go here. Do you really enjoy hip, crowded party scenes? Go here. Do you enjoy beer but hate crowds? Don't go here on the weekend. (My rating of the place really jumps from a 3 - 4 depending what I am there for, but I do always find myself going back.)
Bier Markt is so not a hidden gem. Everyone in Toronto plus their cousin and grandpa has probably been to, or at least heard of, Bier Markt. With good reason too - BM has a great selection of beer, cute bartenders, nice patio seating in the summer, and a really happening weekend scene. I'm personally not too big a fan of their food items. Their menu is not too extensive and pretty pricey.
So you will always find me here with just my giant glass of Hoegaarden. And as I am slowly becoming more and more averse to crowds, you'll probably only find me here early in the evening until the place becomes pretty filled with sweaty, drunken bodies and the air becomes a little too moist to breathe.
Atmosphere - 5/5
Service - 4/5
Food - 2/5
Price - 3/5Listed in: 30 Day November Challenge!
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Mid Summer Evening+Patio+Great Selection of Beers+Yelp Drinking Buddy+Free WIFI
Equal a relaxing and enjoyable experience at Esplanade Bier Markt
I would have enjoy myself drinking beer and just daydreaming...... I found the food here uninspiring and boring...
Beer Beer Beer! Just give me the beer. -
Review from Danthanh L.
Toronto, ON
12/25/2011
Two words: BAD SERVICE! In my TOP 5 WORST Service Experiences.
Came here with friends for a holiday get together. We made reservations for 14 people and confirmed this with the restaurant. Knowing this, they gave us a table that can fit 8-10 max and to figure out how to sit the remaining people ourselves. We couldn't even get chairs! Waitress was so unhelpful, all I heard was "no i cant..no, sorry...unfortunately, no.." ... you get my drift. I would provide a name but she wasn't wearing a tag and actually, everyone was basically unhelpful. I managed to get 1 extra chair after asking repeatedly. I inquired to the waitress AGAIN, a staff member (who said she would find someone to help but never did) and finally a hostess (who must have sensed I was getting frustrated and might have asked for a manager if I didn't get my chairs).
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the company, food and music. Just not the service. I know we were a big group but I think the tip would have made up for the hassle? Also, there were so many extra chairs lying around I just wanted to grab one myself. I guess they were just trying to save them to fit in as many paying customers as possible. Though some of the chairs were still empty when I left the place. Anyway, whats more frustrating is that they wanted us to coat check too, charging $3 per coat and $5 if you place it together with someone. Sorry but this seemed like a rip off to me, its not a club but a restaurant & bar. I would assume that would be complimentary and if not, at least given as an option. Not basically forced to do it so we can have enough room to sit.
I am not totally writing this place off because everything else isn't bad. The food, beer and band are okay. Band played later then expected though, started around 10:15pm instead of 9pm. I had the Market Poutine $13 and Fruli Strawberry Wheat Ale $6.42. Both which I liked and would try again. The poutine was very filling and the ale was almost sweet as juice. If I ever do come back, I might try the Delirium Tremens Ale $7.74. I recommend trying this place only if you are in the area and in the mood for pub food. However, come with very low expectations! Perhaps you will have better luck then I.
It gets really noisy and crowded later though, so not ideal for any romantic dates or meetings. Dress Code: No hoodies but a sweater and jean outfit should be fine. -
Review from Cass S.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2012
Went for lunch yesterday and had the 'Monsieur Und Croque' Fondue along with a Jupiler lager, which apparently is exclusive to Bier Markt. YUM! It's really nice to see fondue on a menu in Toronto! I was with a party of four and we all sat by the window at around 1p.m... the sun was streaming in through the windows and I almost felt like I was sitting on a summer patio again, enjoying my pint, only it was the opposite experience--indoors in the winter drinking a pint and enjoying a pot of steaming gruyere cheese, and it was beyond gooood.
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Review from neesa r.
2/24/2012
a very nice place with a stage for live music and dance floor in front.
a bit too loud and we had to raise our voices to talk to each other.
the food selection is not bad but too limited for vegetarians... a mushroom soup ($7) a flatbread+goat cheese+sundried tomatoes ($13) some salads and fondues.
talking about fondues. My friend ordered one I think it was cheddar cheese with mustard dip snacks (bread/apple/sausage). for some reason the foundue was not flavorful enough and as a result not very satisfying. same with flatbread with chicken and brie cheese.
beer/wine selection is amazing! and they have a pairing suggestion to each dish on the menu. which is very helpful.
the staff is very friendly and the waiter we got (John) was fantastic. His energy virtually pumped us up=)
that's a nice place to come on a summer when they have patios outside right on a quite esplanade str.
TIP: they don't accept debit cards. -
Review from maverick m.
Toronto, ON
12/13/2011
THE GOOD:
Food is sooo good here. We were there for dinner and stayed till about 11:30 at night. Around 7 the line started and by the time we left, the music was blaring, there was live music and the place was packed. It's been a while since I've been to such a busy, hip and lively place with lots of atmosphere and no pretension. Loved it and would return here just to hear the music. Would definately have dinner here to avoid the lineups to get in. FYI, had the scallops appetizer, 12oz steak with rapini and chocolate cake. Took 1/2 the steak home cause there was so much food and was stuffed to the gills. Highly recommend.
THE SO-SO:
Sometimes it was so loud from the music and crowd that it was hard to carry on a conversation.
THE BAD:
Price
Lineups if you're past 7pm -
Review from Eric N.
9/6/2011
Oh Canada.
You are hilarious. You and your state sanctioned beer stores. Alas, I was taken here by my dear friends, who are Canadian. I loved the vast selection of beer, the oodles of good and delicious food (oysters in Toronto? why yes...yes they are good).
Oh Mac and Cheese, you are good. Oh beer. Anyway, I like your bier. -
Review from Sarah P.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2011
Bier Markt on the Esplanade is a great restaurant for a guy who thinks he's ballin' to take a girl who doesn't know better. I can see how the facade might impress some, but let me break it down for you:
The beer list is great. Mammoth. I don't drink beer that much so I'll let the other reviewers speak to this, but I'm thinking if you love beer, this might be a good place to drink... at least for a few post-work pints.
The food is decent-ish, but the price is whack. Way too expensive for what you get.
We did Summerlicious here, so for a $35 3 course meal, I was more than happy, but I wouldn't have been if I'd paid regular price.
I got the T-Bone Burger, house salad, and lemon tart. Burger was good, the fries were yummy, but you can get better for cheaper. House salad was a house salad. Lemon tart was bangin'!
I agree with most of the other reviewers regarding the crowd. It wasn't an unpleasant experience, but not really my scene. And I was there on a Thursday eve... I can imagine how it goes into super-douche mode on weekends.
Our server was really nice/attentive, the manager stopped by to see how things were, and they were accomodating when we were a little late due to stupid Jays traffic and an absence of available cabs. They did, however, remind me 37 times that we only had the table 'til 7:30 (our reso was at 5:30). -
Review from Jay M.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2011
It's pretty hard to argue with a place that has such an extensive list of beers from around the world. Even harder to argue when they have a great multi-page beer menu with write ups of all the brands available which can make the selection process part of the fun.
Then throw in one of their amazing cheese and lager fondue plates or an order of flatbread and you've got one of the best places downtown for after work drinks.
Originally I was a bit put off to find out of the places corporate ownership (the same company owns East Side Marios and Casey's restaurants) but given the resources that I'd imagine are required to bring this many brands of beer to one place, I'm willing to look past this.
Food and drink prices are pretty competitive with a lot of the other places on the Esplanade. Best to keep in mind that reservations can be hard to come by, and even finding a seat can be a challenge (or downright impossible) during peak hours...
But when it comes down to it in the end, this place is very easy to go and have a good time and a cold beer so in Yelp terms, "Yay, I'm a fan" sounds about right. -
Review from Edwin A.
almost a year later. re-reviewing this place.
i was here on a friday night, had to standing in line for about an hour. Apparantly we didn't here early enough because the place reached capacity at 9:45pm according to security. this is in the fricken winter, I'm surprised it was so packed.
no doubt it's a popular place in the city. in the summer time it's packed. mainly because it has a lot of beer selections and most importantly NO COVER.
my first time trying a Trappist beer, it's different and taste and smells a lot better than any other stuff I've had before. Kind of spoils you and I don't want anything else after that.
Band was rockin it out that night.. they were good.
Friend had an incident with a douche on the dance floor, people suddenly become so bold with alcohol. Anyway didn't have to knock him into reality.
Anyways besides that incident everything was alright. The beer selection and lively band will keep me coming back if I'm in the mood.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2011
came here on the weekend for the fondue festival and enjoyed a melting pot of gargonzola..
it came… Read more »
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lots of choices for beer, this is great happy hour and patio place. However, if you're expecting dinner here, be prepared to pay $$$
Popular food choices include mussel at $21/lb and a $19 cobb salad. You can also get entrees for $30+ or flatbreads (good enough for one person really for $15 on average).
beet and wine cost about $8 per glass/pint.
We got a flight of 6 cheeses for $20. It was okay, brie, rochfort + a couple harder cheeses like emmental. Comes with toasted bread and a fruit compote
I really like the $9 Praline Trio. A chocolate truffle, some cheese cake melt in your mouth cake and a chocolate praline swirl. -
Review from Christian N.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2011
Really good food and a bit of European fair. The owner is big on advertising German beer but the ads are a big fail for me as German. On weekends it gets pretty crowded and if you plan to have dinner there better come early.
As already said they offer a variety of good beer and some are even on tap. Heaven for beerdrinker who can not stand most of the Canadian or American beer. Their food is decent also more on the pricy end but especially their Oktoberfest special is pretty authentic and tasty. I would not recommend this place for a romantic dinner but in the summer its nice to sit outside on a not so busy road like King or Queen. -
Review from Azumi M.
Toronto, ON
2/13/2012
Was at the Bier Markt with some friends this weekend (8 of us in total) for their Fondue Festival.. We were all looking forward to the cheesy goodness but were all sadly disappointed.
My Boyfriend and I ordered the Brie and Lobster $23, and the Normandy $23.
Another couple ordered Gorgonzola, all in all we all order all the main fondues that were featured. Not a single person was impressed with result.
Our Normandy came first, all you could taste was Mustard. No cheese flavour came out.. the "fresh baguette" were cold and untoasted, plain white cold baguette was unappealing.. you were given two skewers with three one inch slices of a sausage, which was hardly filling but was the only item that tasted someone decent.. The small portion of green apples were also lacking.
The second fondue that came which we were looking forward to was the Lobster and Brie. Sadly again tasteless. ice cold fingerling potatoes slightly mushed, cherry tomatoes and again cold plain white baguette. with four tiny lobster croquettes ..this is $23? not worth it. again flavourless and extremely disappointed.
My friend's Gorgonzola came and we thought for sure it was be full of flavour.. it tasted like Rue. Could not pick out any sharp taste you would expect from Gorgonzola... needless to say she was extremely upset.
The only redeeming item we had that night was the beer.. although my second drink came with an extra seasoning of old lipgloss stuck to the rim of my glass.. Not mine that's for sure, I wasn't wearing any sort of lipstick or lip balm or anything! Gross!! - you'd think i'd get a discount out of it? .. nothing.
For two people, for two fondue orders, and two beer each... came to $88.86 Tax and gratuity already included (a 15% tacked onto the bill without even a word)
MAKE NOTE!!! Check your bill.. they add on 15% even if you think the service is good or terrible.
Let's say this.. Go there only for Beer.. but check your glasses as soon as it is placed down in front of you. Do not bother ordering food unless you have no tastebuds.
Fondue, a definitely SKIP IT! -
Review from Heather B.
Scarborough, ON
7/25/2011 6 Check-ins Here
It's my Party and I'll cry if I want tooooo!!!!...
Ended up at this place for my Birthday celebration on Sat night with some friends. I was told to come early to avoid the line up.. arrived at 10:30 and it wasn't too bad (I guess another factor was it was raining and people didn't want to wait in the rain).
Took about 20 minutes to get in. This place is packed and the only downfall I found with this place was there was NO A/C.. come on!
Especially with the weather we've been having lately and then the crowds -everyone was sweating their faces off. At least we all suffer together I suppose.
If you're a beer lover - this is the place to be. They have a great selection of imported ones however it could be a little pricey depending on your choice.
Ladies - If you're not a beer drinker, there is a nice one called Frulli.. Strawberry based beer.. sounds gross but nice and fruity.
I could only take one it was too sweet for me - so I stuck with my German roots the rest of the night.
At one point I needed a break and decided to look over their dessert menu.
They have their cheese choices which is a nice different change instead of your sweet classics.
I ended up with the Orange Creamsicle Creme Brulee... It was interesting but nice and creamy just like the popsicle.
The band on Sataurday wasn't the greatest. They were old men trying to be rockers and did SOME classics but most people were standing around socializing.
After the band ends their gig - they play Top 40 music and that is when the party starts.
I couldn't stand the middle of the pit because of the heat so I was stayed along the outskirts which seemed to be everyones idea lol.
Crowd was also decent - mostly mid-late 20's and no douchbags that grope you.. most of the people there were 'respecful' types.. which is always nice! :P
Over all I had a GREAT night and will definetely come back to dance - I hope the A/C situation was only a temp thing and it's not always like that!
Cheers! -
Review from Vivek S.
2/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Bier Markt is what my wise old pappy used to call a "horse of many feathers." Sometimes it's a gastropub with decent eats and an impressive selection of beer, and sometimes it's a lifesized whack-a-mole of douche-baggery (i.e., a club), filled to the brim with well-lubricated MBAs and girls wearing invisa-skirts. It's for this latter aspect that I write this review.
I'll to my best to appreciate this place as Friday Night Bar qua Friday Night Bar. Compared to club district this place is like the Royal Ontario Museum on the first day of an Egyptian uncrating: downright civilized. The bouncers here aren't tweaking meatheads on power-trips, the line actually MOVES based on capacity (as patrons left, new people got in), and the clientele aren't really the greasy, over-dressed, roofie-or-be-roofied, gel-slathered assholes that are crawling all over Richmond Street on a typical Friday night. You won't ever feel like you're going to get shot at the BierMarkt and that's a good thing.
The downsides of this place betray my old-fogeyism more than anything else. BM is packed and impossible to navigate, pretty damn loud (especially near the stage if there is a live band), the floors are sticky, and it smells like beer in here (duh right?). Five years ago (OK fine, ten) these could have been selling points for me. Now they are annoyances, but minor ones at that. That night, I never had to wait long to get a drink (OK fine, I was parked at the bar), and that's probably my #1 pet peeve about these places. When we were booted at 2am, they weren't dicks about it.
So yeah, good times. I'd avoid showing up at 11:00pm on a Friday like I did, as there is a long wait ahead of you. But it's not a vanity line, and once you do get in, you will actually be able to get a drink. Trust me, you may need it.
Obligatory Title Pun: A dare you to find a LAGGER line up OR: This place is HOPPING!
Menu Readability: I just look at the handles on the taps.
Need to mention: They have LOTS of beer on tap and good ones too. Don't be a douche and order a cocktail. Seriously.
What this place teaches me about myself: I don't have a "pappy" and no he didn't say that. But still, I miss him dearly, as fictional as he is.Listed in: Places to get crunk in the…, Hogtown Beer Haunts
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Review from Colleen L.
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beer! Beer! As far as the eye can see! Friendly and helpful servers? Check. Amazing food? Half-check. DAS BIER? Mais oui!
I'm not a huge beer person. I like ciders, but not sickeningly sweet ones. Our waitress steered me towards the Pear cider who's name I can't remember (although it sounded like 'pear' or maybe started with a 'p'). It was very tasty, a touch sweet, and served RIGHT cold.
The food was good, but forgettable, which is better than being remembered for being terrible. -
Review from Tina H.
8/13/2011
The white wines here are terrible! If you're a wine drinker you're better off expanding your horizons and drinking beer. I got the Stiegel Radler, which basically taste like a bubbly grapefruit juice with a splash of white beer. It's only 2.5% alcohol and 12 oz. glass. It's a very good entry point for those who don't like beer. I'm definitely selling this better than the server who tried to make me get a 20 oz. glass of something else. No thanks!
The chicken and Brie flatbread is quite mediocre. I'd try something else next time.
Service was pretty good this time around considering how busy it was. I've been before and service was abysmally slow.
There's live entertainment on stage. The music is ok. A bunch of hip old guys in suits and ties (even bowties) singing and playing instruments.
I've been here twice before. Full dinner on a less busy night was great. Drinks and apps in the bar area on a busy night is decent.
Bier Markt is a fun night out.. Kinda. Remember, don't get the wine! I never used to drink whites and it's because of places like this that serve terrible, possibly old, white wine. -
Review from Theodore Y.
8/28/2011
Our waitress Arianna had a very thorough and deep understanding of all the beer that was offered here. It's list was quite thorough and I must say, every single beer the 6 of us got was delicious.
The only knock on this place was the fact that their beer samplers often did not include choice beer. I think their Belgium beer consisted of Stella and other less than interesting beers.
I would come here again simply because of their beer selection, and helpful wait staff! -
Review from Nic N.
4/30/2011
Welcome to planet Jupiler...no, not Jupiter...don't be silly.
JUP-I-LER is a tasty beer that they have on tap at this joint. It was sooo good that I had to return for another on the following afternoon. (It wasn't too far out of the way since our hotel was right across the Esplanade).
I looked for more Jupiler to bring home but didn't see it in any of the Toronto beer shops (by the way....buying alcohol in Toronto on Easter Weekend is NO easy process thanks to the LCBO).
FOOD:
- Scallops and Prawns. OK, but not amazing, very overcooked and over spiced.
- Belgian Cobb Salad w/ rare beef filet. The concept / presentation was neat, but the overall taste did not match. I found it rather plain, perhaps it was the Belgian endive that threw the combo off.
ATMOSPHERE:
Well done on the inside, but a bit vanilla for my tastes. Its ironic saying this as a visitor but the place seemed a bit 'touristy'. Wednesday was 'vinyl nite' so a large painting on the far wall slides away to reveal a DJ that plays blaring music while you eat. Some of the music selections where good, but most where not to my taste. I don't believe I saw the 'DJ' actually use any vinyl, but I could be wrong since I was knee deep in Jupiler by the time he took to the 'stage'! -
Review from Sharon H.
7/14/2011
Came here a month ago with some friends while I was visiting Toronto. There was live music which would've been pretty good if it wasn't for the fact that my table was right beside the speaker so basically we couldn't talk at all the entire time the music was going. I thought the food was decent, not spectacular but overpriced. They have a very thorough beer menu and the one I tried was very tasty. Can't remember the name but it tasted like grapefruit.
Also, will never forget this place because I got bird pooped on the first time in my life during this meal. -
Review from Madelaine D.
Toronto, ON
2/15/2011
Take this place for what it is, a top notch pub with great beer and good music.
I am shocked at all these 2 star ratings, this place is great! Mind you, I've never eaten dinner here before apart from at a private work function where everything was catered.
I've been here for:
- casual afternoon beers before the raptors game
- private work function with ~50 ppl
- a few memorable nights on the town
I've never been disappointing.
The service here is always top notch (friendly, attentive, quick).
The beer selection is some of the best in the city with beers from all around the world.
And my favourite part is the cover bands that do exclusively top 40, pop, and get a great crowd of people up and dancing.
I honestly have had nothing but positive experiences here and would highly recommend everyone check this place out at least once. -
Review from Julia L.
Toronto, ON
2/19/2011
I was co-organizing a social event for work, and given that work socials and alcohol seem to pair so perfectly together, Bier Markt appeared to be the perfect venue! (Okay, I lied. My first choice was Beer Bistro but they don't take reservations for groups over 8 and only offer their private room which has a $600 spending minimum. Take note, fellow work social organizers.) In desperation, I turned to my second option, Bier Markt, and overall was very pleased with my experience here tonight.
I called on a Wednesday afternoon to make a reservation for 6:30pm on Friday night for a group of 15. They were able to accommodate my request, albeit with a few rules:
(1) Everyone must be charged on the same bill - no "separate bill" stuff happening.
(2) Automatic 15% gratuity.
(3) 15 minute grace period - after that, your table is up for grabs.
Ack! I hate rules, but at least they tell you all this up front so you can avoid any headaches later on.
I arrived on time but the rest of my party was running late. At 6:30 on a Friday night, it was already quite busy. I hovered anxiously by the door tapping my fingernails until they finally showed up 20 minutes later - thankfully no threats were made in terms of losing my reservation. We were seated at one of the long, picnic-style tables, which I loved...after all, what better way is there to get to know your coworkers than sidling up right beside them and drinking beer?
Our server was friendly, attentive and efficient, taking orders quickly, and bread was brought to the table some time later. In typical female fashion, I didn't even have to look at the beer menu before ordering the Fruli (YUM!!!), which was light and fruity and really hit the spot. I would say most beers average around $6-$9 each. As others have mentioned, extensive selection. You can also order a tasting selection of 6 beers for around $20, and they offer beer cocktails and the like as well. I wasn't hungry (only hungry for BEER) and didn't order anything to eat, so I can't speak much to the food menu, although others in my party who ate here seemed to be fairly satisfied.
The atmosphere is a bit dark and dingy, but the combination of the words "bier" (translation: beer) and "markt" (translation: market) don't exactly conjure images of clean, airy spaces filled with rainbows and butterflies. Yes, it is also loud, and yes, there is a chance you may see drunken men standing up on chairs and start singing loudly. But hey, if the company is good and the beer is good, what more could you really ask for? -
Review from Sergey S.
3/19/2011
Bier Markt is a well-established chain name, which unfortunately does not live to its fame.
What you will probably hear about it is that "there are lots of beers from all around the world there, and the food is all German!" What you will actually find is a number of Molson Canadian variations from different countries, and german-ish look-alike food of rather decent quality, but unimpressive portion size. And everything will be overpriced well beyond the actual value.
Is Bier Markt a bad place to go? No, it's not. Is it a wow place to go? Neither. Personally I consider it as an option to Jack Astors, without the associated noisy crowd (depends on your seating, bar would be bar). I won't go there on my own, but if there is a group of friends that feel like getting some beer without paying too much attention to the wallet - I won't hesitate. -
Review from Greg G.
6/7/2011
A great restaurant for business travelers and tourists alike!
Was in Toronto on business, and was referred to this place by my local colleagues. It was packed...on the outside. We almost turned around when we saw the patio, but we were starving, so we figured at least we could get an appetizer while we waited at the bar.
We walked inside and....crickets. Not a table was taken. But there was an hour wait for a patio table! Then we were informed that this week was the first week of decent weather in Toronto, so patio seating was at a premium. We ate inside.
Being the Yank that I am, I went with the kilo of mussels. My metric conversion was a bit rusty, and I my ignorance was rewarded with 2.2 pounds of mussels....holy crap they were delicious. I got them "a la snob" style (lobster cream) and kinda wished I had just gone with traditional lemon, white wine, and garlic broth. The lobster "cream" was lacking overall flavor, and was more of a broth than a cream sauce, but still, the mussels were fresh and plump and juicy, and the broth was great for sopping up with a little piece of bread. We also got an order of Poutin (Fries, covered with Quebec cheese curds and gravy), traditional Canadian fare, we were told. The gravy was delicious, accented the cheese curds perfectly.
A little pricey if you can't throw down the Corporate card, but still a very tasty meal. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
11/3/2010
Anyone that gives this place five stars really needs to get out more.
Where the Bier Market on King is a "little" classier, this beer garden turned nightclub is really nothing special. Especially when it is serving as the latter.
Bonus star for the nice patio, and the massive selection of fun beers. I've never had a meal here that was particularly interesting, and it is often filled with rowdy sports fans that use the green P across the road to park at when visiting the ACC.
Minus a star for the fact that the entire place SMELLS like old beer.
For Beer tastings on a nice patio, its a great choice. Especially if you have non-Torontonians visiting and they want an apricot flavored beer after trekking through the St.Lawrence market or something like that. You likely need the server to help you find something you will like unless you are WELL versed in Beer. I was disappointed in the "thick-heavy-dark-beer" selections that I sampled.
Avoid at all costs any Friday/Saturday night or any time there is a sporting event unless you like nightclubs, leaf fans or any combination of the two because then you'll feel right at home.
**Edit: I counted my Plus and Minus Stars incorrectly. Two Stars. ** -
Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
8/8/2011 6 photos
Bier Markt is a trendy pub with a classy attitude. The food and service is great. The pricing is just what you would expect.
*** FOOD ***
I ordered the special of the day, Chicken Pie, and had a pint of Jupiler to drink.
* Chicken Pie [Monday Special] | $19.00 *
The pie comes with 2 sides: fries and salad. The salad is good, although it's just a run of the mill salad made with cherry tomatoes. The fries are really good. They taste fresh and are crisp on the outside and full of potato flesh inside. The pie itself was very good. The pieces of chicken were well cooked and tender. The sauce was creamy and the crust was soft with a slight crunch on the very outer edges.
*** SERVICE ***
Service was great. When we arrived, someone came quickly to have us seated. She cleared a table at the patio and set us up with our server, Patrick. He was sociable and pleasant. He made suggestions and was quick. When we finished eating, he accidentally gave us the wrong bill, but quickly corrected it.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
Bier Markt is a trendy spot but has an appearance of class. Inside is decorate with dark wood to give a classic bar look. The patio area is pretty typical of a patio, but it's nice. Everything is clean, even the washrooms. The overall feel is one of relaxation and it's very inviting. This may be because it was a Monday evening.
*** PRICE ***
* Chicken Pie [Monday Special] | $19.00 *
* Pint of Amsterdam Blonde | $6.19 *
* Pint of Jupiler | $7.52 *
** Total (AT&T) | $42.00 **
*** EXPERIENCE ***
Bier Markt is a great place to go for a drink on a patio. It's also good for a meal. The food is great and so is the service. The look and feel makes you want to stay and come back. I would recommend that everyone try Bier Markt.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
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Review from Joe P.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2011 1 photo
** Brunch Review **
I've been to bier market quite a few times and they (obviously) always have great beers (the fries are good too). We had a large group and were seated with plenty of space on the fenced raised floor level inside).
The 2 star rating was for a dismal brunch offering. The food is overpriced for the quality. As well our server was inattentive (or they have trouble staffing the outdoor patio and indoor seating at the same time).
The funniest thing was the guy next to me tried the belgian waffles (11$)..... they sounded like the could be teeth-shattering. I've had waffles in Belgium before - which were chewy and delicious!! At the end of the meal one of the wait staff came to ask how everything was (kinda too late?) and his response was 'These waffles need a steak knife', they actually brought out a steak knife! (picture proof!) LOL.
If it were me I would have sent it back to the kitchen and just stuck with the beer for brunch :) -
Review from Anne B.
6/2/2011
I have had many an awesome night at the Bier Markt! I usually go just for drinks, but I have had dinner there on one occasion during their fondue fest. I had the traditional Gruyere fondue w. an assortment of tasty dip-ables and then the chocolate fondue for dessert (*drool*). As delicious as this meal was, it was a little pricey. However, I won't deduct stars for that because the food isn't why I love the Bier Markt.
If you plan on going here I cannot stress enough that you must ensure you're there by 10:00 at the latest! If you get there after that be prepared that you may be in line for upwards of 1/2 an hour. In the summer? Not a huge deal. In the winter? You're running the risk of frostbite.
There is coat check (which I love! Nothing worse than having to just toss your coat somewhere and just crossing your fingers that it will still be there upon your return) for something like $2-$3, but no cover (which I also love!).
It can sometimes be a little difficult to wedge your way in at the bar to order a drink. This would be made FAR more simple if people followed the very simple process of purchasing a drink and then stepping away from the bar to make room for other thirsty patrons. That's not the establishments fault though (although, if they started throwing these exceptionally rude people out, I might change my rating to 5 stars...).
The music is always amazing at Bier Markt. The bands I've heard there are exceptional and the music that they play in between sets will have you dancing your worries away!
This location is far superior to the one at King West. The King West Bier Markt has a very claustrophobic feel and just doesn't possess the same spark as the Esplanade location. -
Review from Leona L.
Toronto, ON
11/19/2010
The first time I went to the Bier Markt, I was a little nervous. Since returning to Canada after six months in Belgium, I was unable to find any good French-Belgian and Flemish food.
The moment I first walked in and saw Mannequin-Pis, I was home. The Bier Markt served my favourite beer, Leffe Brun, and had many more amazing European beers available. The atmosphere was relaxed and I liked the Esplanade location. It was secluded from heavy traffic which is a bonus.
Food I've had there include the flat bread, mussels and fries. Love the flat bread. It was delish! The mussels were great. The only thing that would help make it more authentic is that fries should be automatically served with the mussels.
Moreso adding to the awesomeness that is the Bier Markt is it's great staff. The few times I've been there, I had really great service.
If you want a chills night, with good European food, and great beer, go to the Bier Markt. Until I can find another Belgian style restaurant, you'll see me there. -
Review from Mel U.
12/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
We were lucky enough to be visiting Toronto AND Esplanade Bier Markt during its game culinary feastivul. And on Vinyl Wednesday, no less (a live DJ spinning an amazingly broad selection of classic rock, house music and indie).
For our initial dinner in the city, we HAD to gorge on the classic poutine. I only wish I went back one more day for more -- SO GOOD. As part of the feastivul, we ordered a few samplers: the buffalo quail (think: hot wings) and boar sliders. The combination of the appetizers and poutine was more than enough for ME for dinner (boyfriend enjoyed some additional moules for his "main" event). Everything was prepared with thought and contained interesting flavor. For my first time having quail, it was a bit gamey, but not wholly un-palatable. If I could pass along a tip, eat the quail quickly, as once it cools to room temperature, it increases in difficulty to chew. The boar burgers were a bit overcooked (I hate char), but tasty. It certainly isn't the best food we've ever had, but for a casual bar dinner, we were content.
The Bier Markt is dark, yet inviting and spacious (great for large groups, by judgment of its size). It was completely surreal being inside a place that reminded me SO much of its namesake in Cleveland (no relation to one another, but I'm sure the inspiration was there for one of them, if not Belgium bars in general). We sat in the bar area, and it was ripe with people watching opportunities (including an obnoxiously-close PDA couple).
Each employee we encountered was helpful and pleasant. The bar hosts a great beer list, as expected, spanning world wide breweries and some impressive locals. I was genuinely pleased with my local Wellington. But we were hoping for a few more extremely rare finds (we would have paid for something exceptionally interesting).
I want more of that poutine, please. Can one of you deliver to Pittsburgh?Listed in: Taste of Toronto
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Review from Sebb J.
Vancouver, BC
3/29/2011
I had high hopes for this place given that they are known as 'the mecca of beer' in Toronto. Well I was somewhat disappointed. A lot of Bay St types guzzling down their $10 Paulaners, women dressed like they were going to a top 40 bar on Richmond, coat check (?), dance floor. I guess it is more like a Meat "Markt" after all.
Lineup forms around 10pm so get there early. At least there was no cover but the wait to get a beer can be a bit stressful.
