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Fionn MacCools
Category: Restaurants Irish Irish [Edit]
310 Front St WToronto, ON M5V
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Downtown Core
(416) 340-1917
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for Fionn MacCools
16 reviews in English
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Review from Robin D.
9/7/2010
Actually, I don't really drink and I've only been here once, but it was a positive experience. Was here on Labour day with some close friends and ordered some drinks. The place was mostly empty that you could easily hear the background music. Atmosphere was quaint (peaceful for downtown Toronto) and staff were friendly.
I doubt it is always like this, but it is really chill here. You can order some drinks and food. I shared a poutine, good but nothing special. -
Review from Jessika D.
Toronto, ON
4/30/2012
I walked in with some friends during their trivia night. Fortunately, we were able to find a table NOT in the trivia area, since with one of the group being in town only for the evening, we wanted to be able to chat. The fact that this table was inches from the kitchen was uninspiring, but that's the choice we had - noisy, or high-traffic.
The first thing on the menu that appealed to me was the Mac&Cheese. I'm Kosher, though, and don't eat bacon, so asked if it could come without. Nope - it's cooked in. I'm a tad surprised they don't have an option for no bacon, but there you have it. Waitress, very sweet and peppy and keeps calling all the women at our table "honey" and "darling," recommends I get the vegetarian grillbread. I didn't feel like it, and ordered the veggie burger instead.
Five minutes later, she comes back and informs us that they're out of veggie burgers. At this point it's fish & chips or grillbread, or watch my friends eat dinner, so I go with the grillbread. It wasn't bad. Not spectacular, but eminently edible if you don't eat meat or shellfish and don't want to just be a spectator at the meal.
One of my friends got the Poutine, which she found tasted... off. Burnt, almost. We recognize it has a Guinness base, but she said it tasted unpleasant.
Don't remember what the third member of our party got, but it was also of the "better than enh, but not stellar" variety.
Waitress was VERY nice and friendly, a tad pushy with her opinions about what I should order but in a way that probably goes REALLY well with straight male customers. Service was fairly speedy, prices reasonable, and two points for being presented with "can we get separate bills" *after* the meal and managing without blinking. -
Review from Chris P.
10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
WIth a name like Fionn MacCools I was expecting a sort of grungy, dark and loud pub. However, I was pleasantly surprised as FMC's is actually pretty nice looking inside with high top tables. clean bathrooms and several huge screen TV's perfect for some UFC watching. Also theres no cover here on UFC nights!
Their drink menu is pretty extensive and has some funky cocktails. I went with a few strawberry-lime-lemon-pepper martini type things and they were all delish and left me quite hammered indeed.
Overall though the energy seemed low and the service was extremely slow. I may not necessarily make a point to return here, however if I got invited out here again I wouldn't say no. -
Review from Eric L.
10/5/2011
I came here looking for a bar that was showing UFC. I'm glad to report that is a great place to watch UFC. Loads of tables, big screens, and a projection theater.
The food was not too bad. Compared to the other generic "Irish" wannabe pugs, this one is better than most. They have a few treats with a UK spin, like the Yorkshire puddings filled with chicken curry.
The service was so so. One of our servers was real quick, and very friendly, and let us reserve a table way ahead of time. However after what appeared to be a shift change, our new server was very slow and we had to wave her down for any little thing we wanted.
I'll definitely come back for some UFC action. -
Review from Lauren M.
8/21/2011 10 Check-ins Here
This place is only OK because it is convenient to my
place, otherwise I would avoid it.
They do show the UFC card for free and they always have tables available, so that is the main draw.
Service is ok, food is gross, pricing average. Nothing too thrilling or unique here. Sometimes overpopulated with tourist types or drunk students. -
Review from Howard H.
9/7/2011
OK - My dislike of things "Chain" is well known. But a chain pub? Really? Doesn't that sort of pre-defeat the entire essence of the pub concept?
This was a typical group drag-along, you know the deal - taken several blocks out of your way with a bunch of people you're not even sure you want to be out with... and you end up at Fionn MacCools.
The drinks are nothing to right home about - uninspired selection of mid-shelf booze and craft-like beer with a chain resto mark-up. Service was decent, but in no way exceptional.
But the food. The food is truly an abomination. This is the place where the wash-outs from Applebees training academy end up. Limp fries and chips and chili from a recipe that I swear they ripped off from my high school cafeteria. Bad food - truly bad.
The people turned out to be pretty decent and I ended up having a pretty good time; the extra star is a charitable gift as a reminder of a pleasant evening out. -
Review from Sergey S.
5/10/2011
Yes it's a chain - but a pretty good one. At least this particular location is quite decent and nice to visit. Clean, cool, working well.
Service is rather chaotic at time, but generally positive and pleasant to deal with. Food is okay - nothing especially bad, neither anything to die for. I tried different plates and was usually satisfied with quality of food.
Portion size is okay (4/5 actually, but still good enough to keep that belly round and happy). Drinks list is not that ample, but variety is present, so you should not be bored - at least for the first couple of visits. Wine menu looks a bit better than a beer one, which is funny.
Rogers Centre is just around the block - which means you can drop in before or after the game or show. Or rather "may attempt to", as the game days tend to be busy. :-)
Overall - not bad at all. I can imagine inviting someone for a drink at MacCools, passing through the zone. Though it will not be a "special" place to go, just a usual one. -
Review from Tony F.
11/2/2010
Review on the Run.
I'm torn. The service has always been good. So +. The food is awful. So -. But the Blarney Chips (Waffle Fries with nacho toppings) are my fricken most favourite thing ever. So ++?
Torn.
I'm all out of faith
This is how I feel
I'm cold and I am shamed
Lying naked on the floor
Illusion never changed
Into something real
I'm wide awake and I can see
The perfect sky is torn
You're a little late, I'm already torn
Conclusion: Eat Here? Only for a pint and some Blarney Chips.Listed in: Meh!, Lyrical Miracals
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Review from Elvis A.
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
We ended up at this place as our regular haunt is now showing UFC or other events for that matter without audio!
Its easy to get a spot here as it doesn't seem to popular. Beer is list is mostly mainstream generic stuff.
My buddy and I were starving so we ordered an appetizer of mini Yorkshire pudding to share and for the mains we both got steak and fries.
The Yorkshire pudding had a filling of tandoori chicken a bizarre combo in my opinion. The chicken had no kick and was very bland.
Service was good though as we were checked on regularly. The steaks arrived in a reasonable amount of time and were done to our liking. The onion rings were surprisingly good, pity the fries and steak were sub-par.
They have good setup to watch UFC but unfortunately its not in High Def why oh why they buy all these expensive TV sets and not show HD?
We were still hungry so went for a dessert of volcano chocolate cake. The dessert was OK as well.
I guess one can come here if the other places are packed but otherwise its just another generic pub. -
Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
2/17/2010
This place is excellent for meeting up with friends and hang out for an hour or a few. It is very clean for a pub, the atmosphere is very chill, and the staff is cool. They have live music on some nights (I'm not a big fan, as I don't like it too loud, BUT if you sit at the other end of the place, the music is just at the right volume).
Now to the menu. The Blarney Chips are a must have! They are basically a gourmet version of Fries Supreme. Very very yummy. The Prime Rib burger is awesome, and I love their Chicken Tikka Masala Boxty. Its a potatoe pancake with delicious Chicken Curry sauce and a bit of sour cream. It is not very spicy, so ask for extra spice! LOVE IT.
I should probably stop writing these reviews when I'm hungry...because now I want some :( -
Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
5/11/2010
I'll admit it, I visit this place regularly for two reasons:
1) It's across the street from my office
2) Friday pint pairs from 4-6 for $9.99. That's two of Guinness, Harp, or Smithwicks.
As it turns out, if you stay late enough on a Friday, they have live music as well. Note that the Bloor and St Clair W locations have the Friday special as well, not that I'm a beer whore.
As for the food, well, it's a Prime Pub, so you're not going to write home about this place being authentically anything other than generic.
In the end, if you're looking to kick things off on a Friday night in the core, this isn't a bad start. -
Review from Karim A.
Toronto, ON
1/24/2010
I actually found this place because I was fed up with waiting in line at Cora's and wanted a good breakfast place around the downtown core. The breakfast is very good and has a relaxing atmosphere without any lines or crowds. I also really liked their potatoes with the breakfast. The only bad thing, is the breakfast opens at 11am.
At night, it is also really good. The food is great, with a good selection and a classy atmosphere for an Irish bar. They also have live band's once in a while and have good specials during the week. Lastly, it has a solid location, being right in front of the CN tower. -
Review from Renata R.
3/28/2010
I'm a huge fan of pubs and I'm always willing to visit different ones. I've been there last Saturday and found the place very nice, even being in a large group.
They seem to have only one TV and where I was sitting I wasn't able to see it - this, for me, is a bonus. I hate the guy who had the idea of putting TVs in bars - I go out with my friends for chatting and fun, I can watch my own TV at home. So, Fionn MacCools is a very nice place for hanging with your friends, going on a date, whatever, because the TV won't steal your partners attention.
The food is very good and comes in reasonable portions. I ordered a Guinness Poutine and could share it with my husband. I strongly recommend the only Bailey's cocktail they offer, the name is something like Irish Cold Coffee Lalala I Can't Recall. Very good.
Oh, very important: they have an ATM right at the door. You won't be out of money at late night!
I'm not giving five stars because I prefer more old-fashioned pubs. But I strongly recommend this one. -
Review from Tom S.
5/18/2011
Typical Irish pub chain with very decent food. Great sweet potato fries. Came here for a late lunch, so I unfortunately can't say how busy it gets or how the service is during the busy times. But, service was friendly and we all enjoyed a good, but basic, lunch.
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Review from Angela G.
Toronto, ON
12/4/2010
Like the ambiance here. Good pub food. Attentive service. Would def go back
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Review from Anne M.
1/26/2011
Part of the Darcy McGee's chain. It is your typical Irish pub chain - somewhat decent variety of beer, pub food with Irish names (the Blarney chips are pretty good), and servers in kilts. In sum, for downtown TO it's good but not great!
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