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Mavrik Wine Bar
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Wine Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
676 Queen Street WestToronto, ON M6J 1E5
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
(416) 214-9429
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 6 pm - 12 am
Fri 6 pm - 2 am
Sat 4 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
23 reviews for Mavrik Wine Bar
Review Highlights
23 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
4/4/2012
A bar that has bottles that you can't get from the LCBO? Sign. Me. Up.
VIBE
It's pretty basic in here. High top tables and lots of wood and mirrors fill the periphery of this small space. And the clientele? My friends! Ha. You will have to walk up to the chalkboard to read the menu. Noone will make fun of you, I promise. :)
WE DRANK
What a great selection of wines! (What else do you expect from a winebar?)
I was lucky to have come here with a wine writer and he recommended the full bodied red Colle Petrito Aglianico, from Minervino Murge, Italy 2008. I loved the smoothness of this wine and it went perfectly with the spicy apps that we had.
Wine writer friend likes more acidity in his wine so he had the Domaine Breton Trinchi , Cabernet Franc from Bourgeil, France. A bit spicier and much for my taste.
He also had the popular Villa Rubini which had a very peppery taste. He loved it but not my taste.
Melissa, our server/bartender, knew our tastes and was able to help us out. She's really knowledgeable and super friendly.
WE ATE
I was all ready to get these croquettes everyone was talking about to find out they were not on the menu that night. BOO URNS. They had a different menu on our night because the main chefs weren't in town and it was Korean themed (and Korean is the usual influence on the regular menu). So we got the Ginger popped chicken and pork belly tacos with wasabi mayo and kimchi on the side. Delish Delish DELISH. I could have ordered two but I wanted something else so we ordered off of their staple cheese/charcuterie list on the chalkboard. We got a hard cheese (Beemster) and a soft cheese (the Pierre Robert triple cream). Both were great and complemented the meat we had. And the Pierre Robert is DANGEROUS. Like I could eat at least 500 grams err 1000 grams of it in one sitting.
A note: it's not cheap here! But we had two glasses each of wine and the above food items
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
These ladies are mavericks! (Zing).
A great date place, especially if you're dating an alcohol snob. But lacks the pretentiousness of other bars. Me likey! A nice addition to the Queen West strip and alternative to Czehoski's.Listed in: Libations, West Queen West, Mexicana
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Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
3/8/2012
I didn't have any food, so this review is only for wine and ambiance.
I love wine, so I was excited to check this place out. It's tiny inside, but that goes with the territory on Queen West. There was a group celebrating a birthday the night I was there so it was super loud. The furnishings are all wood and metal, so it's more clean than cozy inside.
The wine list....it's pricey for wines by the glass. I wasn't in love with my selection or my companion's selection, but that's down to my taste buds. It was nice, but I wouldn't say that it has the ambiance to be anyone's local hangout. It has more of an after work drinks kind of vibe. -
Review from Roger B.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2011
I desperately want this place to succeed (I live 5min. away, and need a 'local' wine bar)
However... it's no Crush (or Eight, or even PicNic)... yet.
I found the prices a bit steep for what you were getting. Especially some of the more basic Ontario wines (VQA 'stamp' isn't all that impressive if you understand what it means or have tasted globally). Would love to see a few more interesting 'value' wines on the card. (eg. Think New world deals and some old world non-standards).
Atmosphere... something was 'off'. It may have been just the one night I went, but I found it very 'romantic-couply' (for lack of a better word) the night my friend and I went. Not very engaging... almost stand-offish. Would prefer more lively 'fights at the bar' (a la crush) vs. canoodling in the corners.
From the reviews... It seems like it's very much hit/miss. I'm hoping they get more consistent with their hits. -
Review from Morrie L.
Toronto, ON
5/6/2012
This place is a hidden gem. Came here by chance one day after work and have been coming back ever since. While the staff and service are consistently amazing and the food is very tasty , its the delicious wine selection that keeps me coming back for more.
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Review from Emily M.
12/24/2011
Love the vibe and feel of this place.
It's quite small so you might have problems with a group larger than four. But its perfect if you want a nice glass of wine with a friend. I dig it! -
Review from Purple B.
Toronto, ON
3/10/2012
I heart this restaurant! I've been here over 6 times and most recently had my friends bachelorette dinner party here. If you looking for a chill vibe, cool atmosphere and delicious food ( a la fish tacos) you've got the right place. The service is great here, Eric is always there to greet you with a smile and the entire staff is extremely nice!
My only feedback to yelpers would be that the menu is small and focused but it changes all the time. Some menu faves are the fish tacos, poutine, baked Brie and the charcuterie platter.
I guarantee that you will have a great time at this spot, it's great for date, night with the girls or just hanging out. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
This review is based on a CMYE: Jennifer K Spectular... It is no way reflect the usual atmosphere and offerings of Marvike Wine Bar..
Thanks for Vivek organizing it! And for Mavrik Wine Bar to have the whole place exclusively for us Yelpers to hang out!!
Great food to snack on!
Free finger food like:
- lobster roll
- deep fried shrimps
- goat cheese flatbread
- pate
- smoked salmon
Great and awesome services from the staffs!!
I love how intimate and cozy the place is so I can really mingle around and got to talk to everyone!
Love you all!!
I am looking forward to have another event in my honour when I have 5000 reviews and 20,000 photos?? Maybe? one day?!Listed in: A Day in Queen Street…
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Review from Jorge L.
Was here for a Yelp event and had a great time. The food selection was decent; lamb, flat bread, poutine and Ceasar among others. Will I come back yes? Definitely!
The server was friendly and attentive. Seating is limited so I can see that it can get packed with over 40 people. The ambience is awesome.
Street parking on Queen Street but remember, don't drink and drive :). -
Review from Yvette L.
Toronto, ON
10/4/2011
Mavrik accommodated our group of 12 late-night eaters with grace. The server was helpful and friendly, the food was fabulous!
We had some nice prosecco with meat and cheese chosen carefully by our server, some terrific poutine (ask for the shoestring fries to be cooked extra-crispy). Best part about this place is that the servers can navigate the menu for you and enjoy doing it. Don't even look - just tell them what you're in the mood for and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
*****Second visit a few days ago - one thing I didn't guess to ask for last time I was here was a dirty martini. I mean, I'm in a wine bar! How could I possibly expect the most beautifully crafted dirty drink EVER??? New martini mecca exposed! The fifth star in this review is entirely based on this drink and two more just like it! -
Review from Eric L.
9/5/2011
Came here with a few Yelpers for Jen K's 1 zillionth review party.
They gave us a few comped appetizers. Lobster spread on crackers, beef tartar, some fancy poutine among a few others. The snacks were tasty, but nothing to remember. I could have made the same at home.
Their saving grace is their decent wine selection for such a small place. It holds maybe 30 people. Also the bar staff were pretty friendly and quick on the ball.
I wouldn't go out of my way to come here but if you are looking for somewhere to have a few drinks in an open faced bar, then you should be content with this place. -
Review from William T.
Scarborough, ON
8/10/2011
Cool little venue, great snacks, good drinks & attentive staff!
It was a great celebratory evening & much thanks to Vivek, Jen K & people at Mavrik Wine Bar for this nice event!
Always lookin forward to more fun times! -
Review from Denise S.
I came back here recently for dinner with a wine-loving friend from out of town. The food selection is not great, but the fish tacos (cod in a light batter) were delicious! You get 3 small tacos. It's not really filling enough for a meal, but a good snack. The build-your-own charcuterie and cheese platter is a great idea. I think it was 3 items for $20 and there is a detailed list on the blackboard for you to choose from. The dessert options are quite uninspiring, so we went elsewhere for dessert (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). They also have wine flights, 3 choices for $15. I like the relaxed vibe and great wine list. I would be back for drinks and munchies, but probably would not come for dinner again.
Listed in: Not your average EtOH, Where everybody knows your…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/10/2011
I stopped by for the CMYE: Jennifer K Spectacular and really enjoyed the place! It is small and… Read more »
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Review from Lauren M.
8/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a celebration with fellow Yelpers.
Was surprised the wine menu wasn't a bit more extensive (for a wine bar) but I did appreciate that the wine selection at least had a varied price range with glasses starting from $7 and bottles from $30.
They made good mojitos too!
The food they served us was ok, nothing special but most definitely they were appropriate items to pair with wine. The beef tartar was quite nice; the gravlox was not - too bland and the crackers it was served on had turned soggy from sitting too long.
Service was OK, I think they were scrambling a little to serve our group of 15 or so. They definitely did not have time to give me any info about the wines I was drinking and at one point Rafi & I ordered a dessert wine by accident and the server didn't bother telling us this until he had poured it. Blerghh -
Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2011
Yes to the vino, no to the victuals.
Good music, chipper server, extremely tall chairs -- my associate and I found our legs dangling amusingly several feet above the ground. It's a nice size and it was relatively quiet around 10:00 PM on a Friday. Ambiance pleasant and stylish without feeling too disposable.
The by-the-glass list included some interesting new world wines (my preference), including a delicious California Zin (a rich red, very different from European zin's syrupy white), and reds from Anderson Valley (Cal.) and Oregon. The food was a little disappointing for what it cost: unwieldy fish tacos that quickly became soggy, and the little banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches) tasted weird with pulled pork, were served on buns that lacked the necessary crunch of French rolls, the daikon-carrot slaw was insufficiently pickled, and they were accompanied by a few small rectangular sheets of nori that my companion and I had no idea what to do with. -
Review from Kat T.
10/22/2011
I was on the hunt for another place to drink, that wasn't too beer-focused. So, I was totally stoked to recall that Mavrik is just around the corner from so many of the liquor and beer places further East.
Cool selection of music played at just the right volume so you can hear your companions.
Big list of wines, with many being from Niagara- try the Flat Rock Estates!
The staff were really helpful at describing wines, and we ended up with a bottle to finish the night off.
Great for a first date- not quite dinner, not just drinks.
Great for girls to share a big bottle of bubbly.
Space is a little sparse. Food looks basic, but like Czehoski next door, isn't quite balanced enough for a dinner, but perfect for after-work drinks and appy's. -
Review from Chris P.
Came here for the Jennifer K. CMYE.
The food was really good. All of the appetizers were delicious. I wish I had had time to order a meal.
The wine selection is solid. I'm not a wine snob by any means but I thought they have a good selection for both price and flavours/types. For $7+ I doubt you'll have trouble finding something you like. -
Review from Jonathan C.
Oakville, ON
6/23/2011 ROTD 2/7/2012
Wines intimidate me as much as lion, tigers, and bears; that is to say, a lot. My palate for wine is as refined as oil from the oil sands; that is, not at all. (It's analogy day!) Add in the pretentiousness that sometimes comes with wine tastings, airings, and you have me running the opposite way when I hear "wine".
Enter Mavrik wine bar. This little wine bar on Queen west opened up fairly recently and is as cozy as your favorite pajamas (ok, i'll stop). It's a small space, but one that makes for an intimate, friendly atmosphere. No dress code, pleasant servers, friendly owners, no pretentiousness, just (mostly) wine.
As the owner explained to me, they carry "artisinal" vintages of wine, which is something along the lines of micro brewed beer, or wines made in smaller batches. They have about 30 different wines and the owners and servers took the time to help me understand what the heck I was drinking. Not to say I'm the Einstein of wine now, but I think it did help, at least now I'm like the young apprentice (is that an analogy?)
The friendliness and atmosphere take away some of the intimidation of wine tasting and lets you have some fun without looking like an idiot. All in all, it's a great spot for both wine lovers and those less wine-refined individuals as me, and a nice meet up spot for friends to hang out (face it, once you hit your late 20s, sports and dive bars just can't be an every-outting thing anymore. Dive bars get old like... oh wait, I said I'd stop).
The best part is, if I give up on wine while my friends keep on trying new ones, i can always opt for a beer :) -
Review from Maheen M.
9/18/2011
I have been on a wine bar kick since my Niagara adventure a few weeks ago. Mavrik Wine Bar has this hipster vibe to it. Quaint and cozy, my friends and I got a corner table.
Their wine selection is quite good, from various countries represented - Canada to Italy. Glasses are $7+. I was impressed with their reds.
Food - they have a small plate menu great for sharing or just light meal. We shared the flatbread and each had a plate of our own as we were hungry. I ordered the Lobster Roll which was delish, not overtly mayoy and descent chunks of Lobster. One of my friends ordered the pork belly confit, which she enjoyed and the other ordered the fish and chips, which was great. The best part of meal was the dessert, we shared their homemade donuts which came with ice cream. It was soo good, think gourmet Tim Hortons. Plates varied from $9-14.
I love the vibe at this place, I can definitely see myself coming back and hanging out with friends for an evening out.Listed in: Drinking Establishments
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Review from Michael O.
Toronto, ON
12/3/2011
The wine was good...but that's about all this place offers. It had four star potential, but falls short because:
1) It's needlessly expensive: $73 (with HST) got us four glasses of wine and two small (repeat: small) plates of decent but not amazing food...if the tab had been ten to twenty dollars cheaper, it would have been totally reasonable...but it wasn't, hence one star less. I expect either more of a meal or truly stunning food for these prices.
2) Surly, pretentious staff. The restaurant is located on Queen, but the service reeks of a snotty King West vibe...if I wanted to spend substantial cash to be treated like I wasn't cool enough to be eating there, there are many options one streetcar line south...hence, another lost star.
If they could find a more pleasant waitstaff and offer better value on food (a combination of lower prices,larger portions, or greater quality), this place could be a winner. Until then: avoid. -
Review from Francis R.
Toronto, ON
12/13/2011
Love the tapa like dishes which are very delicious and also the place has a very nice vibe with pleasant staff. Decent and somewhat different to other places on this strip. You don't need to book either.
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Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
8/18/2011 2 photos
Mavirk is a fine looking restaurant with great service. The food isn't great and the price is a little high for what they serve.
*** FOOD & DRINK ***
I ordered poutine and had some hors d'oeuvres.
* Poutine | $10 *
The poutine was quite bland. The sauce was very thin and sank to the bottom. The fries had a lot of potato flesh, which is good. There were some cheese curds but they didn't stick to the fries and kept sliding off.
* Hors d'oeuvres *
The hors d'oeuvres were not bad, but just not very tasty.
* Wine *
The wine selection was very small for a place that's supposed to be a wine bar.
*** SERVICE ***
The service was very good. the servers were attentive and pleasant. They were also very sociable. I sat at the bar and they were happy to speak, even if just briefly.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
The bar is small, but there are enough seats for about 30 people then there's a lot of standing room. The decor is modern and trendy with concrete floors. The wooden shelving adds a bit of class. The bar is clean and well lit.
*** PRICE ***
The food pricing is too high. The wine prices are marked up a lot.
* Poutine | $10 *
* Terra Serena [bottle] | $40 *
* Jean Paul Benoit and Droin [bottle] | $98 *
* Chateau Fountaine [glass] | $7 *
*** EXPERIENCE ***
Mavrik is a really nice looking restaurant and has great service. However, the food and the pricing aren't up to par. The food is a bit bland. The pricing is high and the wine list is small for a wine bar. Unfortunately, Mavrik doesn't live up to its good looks.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
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Review from Amalia E.
Toronto, ON
7/31/2011
I've been looking for a good wine bar for a while, and this one hits the spot. This is a perfect place to go with a group of friends, hang out, catch up, have a bite and drink amazing wine. At night, they also play fun music, and on a few occassions, have also played some music I requested!
The owners are usually there, and the service is pretty amazing. Staff is really helpful in terms of picking out a good bottle or glass of wine. Would definitely suggest this bar for a group gathering, or a night out to catch up, drink and relax!
Definitely will be back again soon. -
Review from Elvis A.
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here for a yelp event and this place is tiny. For a wine bar I don;t think their selection is anything special the two wines we wanted to try were not available. The small food items are nothing to write home about. Just your standard fare. Poutine was very average, so were the lobster rolls and other h'ordeuvres. Service was OK for a special event. The event was great as its the people who make or break an event. Keep up the good work Yelp Folks! Jen waiting for your 5K review party!
