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- Hours:
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
14 reviews for Old York Bar & Grill
All Reviews
Old York Bar & Grill
I'll put this plain and simple.
I live above a British-style pub with a full menu, a good run of taps, an okay whisky list, and waitresses that wear school-girl short tartan skirts. And yet, this is not my local.
I go across the street to the Old York where I've been going since even the days before the 'Restaurant Makeover' it went through. Gone are the booths at the back where I used to play backgammon and in are newly poured floors, a new decorative bar and an antique beer sign above the stage.
There have been changes, but the heart remains the same. The menu is small and targetted with nothing but fresh ingredients used. The brunch on the weekends is abundant and tasty and the staff know exacttly how to take care of you.
Any wonder why I go?
Listed in: My Neighborhood, The Places I Go Out, Top Restaurants
Old York Bar & Grill
Updated - 10/6/2009
Probably my favourite sweet potato fries in the city. They're extremely thick cut - think one whole sweet potato sliced lengthwise into maybe four shards - and deliciously spiced with cinnamon, cumin, maybe cloves? They come with sour cream and also be sure to try the homemade jerk seasoning.
Grilled cheese sandwich on focaccia with havarti, brie and aged cheddar and pesto spread is also otherworldly. Who knew I liked pesto?? I certainly didn't.
It's easy to be neglected on the patio and service can be spotty. If you can, try to get the hot, bearded, plaid-shirted server. He's also good for a flirt, so if you're out of practice, he's happy to oblige.
Listed in: Grill 'Em! Toronto's Best…, Toronto's Most Terrifying…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2009
One day when I was going on an epic two hour walk with my friend Loyal J. we walked by Old York and… Read more »
Old York Bar & Grill
9/18/2009
Always happy to meet up with the Yelpers and share a libation or two. Thirsty Thursdays this week found us noshing at the Old York Bar & Grill (right next door to the Niagara St. Cafe :). I'd never been into the bar previously but I have to say I like this place a lot! It's a great spot to meet up with friends. Props to our barkeep Sky who shakes up a pretty decent Cosmopolitan. Hey, a girl likes her cocktails. I can't drink beer, it's just rented space and makes me fart like a truck driver! So Sky was quite content to meet my cocktail needs.
Considering this is a bar the food looks half way decent. I shared a Pulled Pork sandwich with my fellow Yelpie, FARC friend, Deanna. It was ok. Could have used a bit more pork and the bun was really soft, not crispy, just soft. Sort of the way buns get at the end of the day after they've been stored in a plastic bag. Love the fries and the sweet potato fries. The OYB&G has one of the most interesting condiments I've tried in a while. The best way I can describe it would be to call it Jerk Catsup. At first I thought it was grainy mustard in a bottle but later discovered that it was a jerk styled side for burgers or something to dip those huge wedges of sweet potato fries in to. It had attitude but not the barn burning type.
Good selection of on tap brewskies and a really laid back atmosphere make this a great little corner spot to hit up. It also has a patio which seemed to always be full but then again with fall on the doorstep who can blame people for squeezing the last few days of patio enjoyment.
Old York Bar & Grill
5/23/2010
I'm a big fan of this place for a number of reasons. Great location to walk over to after a Toronto FC game and never very busy. Fantastic patio. Hidden sorta location off of King Street. The Burgers are great. I really can't attest to anything else as I always get the Burger with Brie and Mushrooms. Best part is the amazing home made hot sauce. Very spicy. Recommended!!! Never been disappointed with the number of times I've been so far.
Old York Bar & Grill
9/18/2009
I was pleasantly surprised by my outing at the Old York recently! Having saw that it had fallen prey to the Restaurant Makeover fix, I had some trepidations going in about the service and food. However, once my pal Christine blurted via text 'pulled pork sammy here' those reservations were put aside.
The place is small, dark but unpretentious and the staff are friendly and relaxed. There's a very casual, down at home vibe about and they have a good selection of local beers on tap. I shared the pulled pork with CC and it was not bad! Better than most pub food even some of those corporate faux irish bars about town. The meat was tender but the sauce was timid and there wasn't enough of it. It came in a soft portuguese bun, an appropriate vehicle. I also had a spinach salad on the side that was nothing special but it was a healthy portion and came with sauteed 'shrooms and bits of goat cheese. The standout foodwise were the sweet potato fries-they were huge meaty fingers, hot and fluffy inside and a crispy lightly spiced coating. I'll be back to try these again and again....
What a lovely place to chill out, chow down and gab the night away.
Old York Bar & Grill
12/14/2009
The Old York is a nice little neighborhood place in an area where there just aren't a lot of nice little neighborhood places. An interesting selection of beers on tap, suprisingly good food, friendly staff, and a great patio in the summer make this place my go-to in the neighborhood. This is a great utility spot - good for quiet beers with pals, a casual dinner (the cuban sandwich is delish) or laid-back sunday bunch.
My only gripe is that the small size can make it difficult to get a seat, although crowds here are inconsistent - on a Saturday night, you never know if you'll be the only one there, or will be left table-less.
Old York Bar & Grill
3/31/2010
Attentive and casual staff, great relaxed atmosphere and perfectly acceptable food. There is a real neighbourhood feel at old York. You can spot the regulars by their sense of pride, familiarity and ownership. Wide mix of patrons from after work suits to local hipsters. I ordered the magic mushroom wrap and magic it was. The mushrooms weren't overly doused in balsamic but had a nice, tangy and earthy taste. As a vegetarian, I'm a pro at picking out a good mushroom burger or wrap and the magic mushroom wrap at Old York is high on the list.
Old York Bar & Grill
6/8/2009
When I moved into the area I immediately checked out all of the best pubs within stumbling distance of my home. The Old York was definitely a diamond in the rough.
I have taken many a friendly date to this location and am yet to be disappointed. They don't try to be anything more than a small local pub with a quaint feel to it.. ALTHOUGH they were victim to "Restaurant Makeover"... they quickly fixed that error in judgement.
They carry a few Ontario wines worth trying and their sweet potato fries are delicious. Don't go in with high expectations and come out satisfied.
The Patio is a must for summer :)
Listed in: Best Date Night Restaurants
Old York Bar & Grill
4/26/2009
If you want to change it up from the Foggy Dew a block away, Old York is a nice alternative. The food is more authentic and tasty anyhow. The burrito and bruschetta are amazing, and my vegetarian ex-girlfriend could always find good options (though the burrito finally came between us).
Frequented by hipsters, knitting clubs, and baseball teams, it can fit more people that you would think. Go early and get a spot on the patio though, and watch all the pig delivery trucks going into the slaughterhouse across the street (YUM!). Oh, and you'll probably be killed in the basement where the washrooms are. But like I said, the burrito is probably worth it.
Old York Bar & Grill
2/10/2009
The old york has been a staple destination for the King St west residents for years. Even before the days popularity in the King West Village, locals from all over would flock there for great live music.
It originally opened as a bar for the local meat packers and tradesmen of the area. It now has some what of a trendy vibe to it, but not too trendy where it is overcrowded by weekenders.
The bar itself went through the show "Restaurant Makeover", but really didn't do too much transforming as the bar still resembles that of a "dive". A dive it isn't, great food....burgers, wings, fresh salads, and all the other regular pub fare. The selection of Beer on tap is pretty good. I once had my first Guinness at the Old York, followed by another 6 or 7 many years ago. A great spot for a beer, live music, and finger food.
Listed in: Guys Night Out!
Old York Bar & Grill
11/4/2009
Know what? I've only been once, and didn't even try the food. But I have to rate this highly because it is just the coolest, chillin'est, laid-back kinda bar in the whole world. They even let ya smoke a pipe on the patio (most places would tell you it's a stinky business and banish you forever). If it weren't as far away from my home as it is, I'd probably live there. This is the kind of real, honest, down to earth kinda place that makes a good city a great city.
Listed in: Restaurants
Old York Bar & Grill
5/23/2009
Just the patio I've been looking for: delicious sandwiches, homemade fries, fresh salads, cold beer, and a convivial atmosphere.
Old York Bar & Grill
2/26/2009
The Old York is pretty much the best place in King West. With no pretentious vibe, this is the kind of place you can go for a laidback evening (or brekky). The food is great (sammies, fries, burgers, etc.) there's a good selection of quality beers, and super friendly staff who like to engage in amusing banter with customers. Its a place you'll definitely want to come back to again and again.
Old York Bar & Grill
8/22/2008
2 Check-ins Here
The Old York has been a perpetual breakfast haunt for my friends and I for years, and we love making the Saturday/Sunday morning trip down to relax on the patio and eat some fantastic food. We started going regularly because they did the best standard breakfast in the city (eggs, toast, home fries and fresh greens) but soon learnt to appreciate the rest of their menu -- eggs benny, the special omelette of the day. The service has never been super fast but for a small place that is typically busy it's understandable -- plus we are never in a rush on a weekend morning. Coffee is so so and it can be a struggle to get that 3rd refill someday's.
On the whole The Old York Bar and Grill ranks as one of the best breakfast joints in the city.
