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Prohibition Gastrohouse
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants Gastropubs Nightlife Bars Sports Bars Pubs, Gastropubs, Sports Bars
696 Queen Street EastToronto, ON M4M 1G9
Neighbourhood: Riverdale
(416) 406-2669
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
50 reviews for Prohibition Gastrohouse
Review Highlights
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"The bison burger was great with a caesar worth the price." In 10 reviews -
"Almost every entree cooked in duck fat: check." In 5 reviews -
"This place has the best Mac and Cheese in the city." In 5 reviews
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50 reviews in English
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Review from SuperwomanEats L.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012 1 photo
I especially love this place because it is a 5-minute walk from my house!! Now, THAT is quite dangerous! It's been opened for quite a few years now, and if you are looking for a good pub/bar in the neighborhood, then look no further! Perfect for a quick meet-up or a sit-down dinner. Come by yourself, or come with a small group of friends!
I've been here many times, and have brought many people here! Everyone loves it! There are many TVs around the restaurant and even right above some of the booth seats, playing sports games, news, and even retro cartoons! Sometimes they have a live band playing although i'm not quite sure which days. In the summer time, they open their garage-style windows to give you the nice sunny patio feel, but the tables there are usually packed! Definitely a 5 star for atmosphere!
Their menu consists of burgers, wings, nachos, DUCK poutine, to charcuterie, paté, lamb sloppy joe, OYSTERS, and one of the best simple mac and cheeses in town! All their fried foods are fried in duck fat!!! OOOOHHHHH YEAAAAAAA!!!!! Beers on tap range from Rolling Rock to Erdinger to Delirium. Overall, a very good selection! They also carry a wide variety of bottled beers such as corona, heineken, moosehead, red stripe etc.
From what I remember, I've never had a complaint about their food. The most recent time was last week when I came to grab a drink and a bite just before the Raps game, and this was our "snack";
Chicken liver paté brulée: $9 (3.5/5 stars)
I definitely have had better, but this was as good as I can ask for at a pub. It deserved that extra .5 star because it came like a charcuterie platter with dried figs, apricots, honey, some delicious jam-like sauce, toasts! I asked for extra toasts to finish the liver, and I got it!
Mac et fromage: $11 half (4.5/5 stars)
As good as any simple mac and cheese out there! Half portion is the perfect portion if you want a snack or a side dish. It's served in a casserole dish and you just dig into creamy delectable cheesy goodness!
Tatertots: $6?? half (2.5/5 stars)
Just like your normal tatertots, but they weren't greasy at all. Best part was that it was served with wasabi aioli!! YUM!
Did I mention they have HOOCH HOUR?!?!?! 4-7pm and again after 10pm!! $5 ANY PINT!!!!! Also, just discovered they just started having $2.50 JAGERS, ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!!!
The only downfall to this place is that if you come at late at night on a weekend, chances are you will not get a seat.
Let's meet for HOOCH HOUR!!! -
Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
**Actually, 3.5 stars.
I've been here twice now -- once for drinks on a weeknight and once for drinks on a weekend. I loved the vibe on the weeknight: pub-style drinking without having to be in a pub. And as many others have mentioned, the food is really tasty. I love the nachos. They're served on a baking tray, so no more bare nachos at the bottom of the pile! And their guacamole was amazing.
So I didn't expect when I came back on a Saturday night that the place was going to be a pseudo-club? It was strange, to say the least. There was even a dance floor at the back. The vibe was completely different, but fortunately, the nachos were still available! -
Review from Peter Z.
Toronto, ON
3/23/2012
A local staple to many. The place is always busy during the evening. It might be best to reserve for dinner because there is limited space. The general atmosphere is a cool professional crowd and you tend to notice the locals amongst everyone. The downfall is it's kind of dark and when it's nice and sunny outside, the darkness makes it feel like you're in a cave because of the walls being painted black. I really wished they had a patio.
The food is exceptional for pub fare - especially the nachos, but make sure to top them with their pulled pork (you will thank me). I recommend everything, except I don't usually eat salad so I can't really give any feedback on it.
Typically there are dinner specials. On one occasion the special was rottisserie chicken with a cut of beef rib that was to die for. Another was a unique dish of turkey stuffing poutine (so good). Their 25 minute chicken is very tender and succulent - it's to die for, but be prepared to wait 25 minutes before it's served - recommended with a couple of pints. Everything else I've tried: grilled cheese with duck poutine, oysters, flatbread, chicken lollipops, burgers are awesome. Probably the best pub menu I've seen so far (recommend more to me please?).
There's a moderate selection of draught beers - my personal favourite is Stiegl. Best to arrive for happy hour where pints and your typical mixed drinks are around $5 - hours are 4-7pm and then 10-closing (I believe).
Their service is awesome. The girls behind the bar are always nice and always do their best to quench your thirst. The bonus is that they smile and have zero attitude. The boys aren't too bad either - they really take care of you during dinner and you'll be asked if all is well a couple of times during a sit-down, which makes it a good service. -
Review from Brandon B.
Toronto, ON
5/7/2012
Let me start by saying this is my first review, so please go easy on me. The fact that it's taken me this long to sign up and share is criminal, as I've had the privilege of experiencing some of Toronto's finest over the 3 years I've lived here. In any event, I'll try to make up for lost time with a flurry of accurate and intriguing commentaries! Now, on to Prohibition Gastrohouse...
I'd heard about Prohibition before, but completely forgot about it until a spontaneous weekday stroll through Leslieville on Thursday, May 3rd. Traveling with 2 other nouveau Torontonians, the "East" (i.e. everything east of Yonge) has always been the final frontier in terms of exploring the city; no longer, I say, as Prohibition definitely whetted an appetite for this vibrant neighbourhood.
AMBIANCE:
The layout of Prohibition is unique in that it forms a horseshoe around a central bar area. I'm not sure whether this is a positive or not, but I did find it impeded flow somewhat and created a barrier between the two sides of the establishment. That aside, it definitely had a homely feel, and the desired atmosphere of a welcoming, comfortable "public house" was attained. Numerous flat screens were well within view for those wanting to catch a glimpse of the game. Lastly, my friends and I discovered that the beer tap on top of the seat back is not merely decorative, but in fact functional for those parties wishing to purchase a keg of their own! How inspiring...
DRINK:
A wide selection of beers ranging from local microbrew, European standards, and hipster favourites awaits. The cocktail list offers something for everyone, and keeps pace with the current trend in speakeasy mixology. As for wine - although I didn't spend a huge amount of time examining the list, they appeared to have a good variety at a wide range of price points.
FOOD:
Here's where Prohibition sets itself apart from the other higher end pub/gastropub/gastrohouse establishments. Their menu is rich and unabashedly heavy, with essentially everything being cooked in duck fat. Realizing this, we started with some lighter items: first up, oysters, which were nothing out of the ordinary, with the standard sauces and horseradish toppings provided; our second shared item was the chicken liver pate, which unfortunately was a bit heavy on the spread-to-crostini ratio, and was accompanied by a rather blaze compote of sorts. The mains were when things got real, though: I had the "pork butt" sandwich, which included a delightful sweet and succulent piggy component complemented with a couple of artfully smoked cheeses, all pan-fried between what was likely sourdough; my pal had the 25-minute fried chicken, which was sensationally crispy but heavy enough to bump you a weight class in a MMA bout. Had we any room left over, the giant ice cream sandwich being attacked by the 4-year-old to our right would surely have been sampled.
COST:
On the higher side, but you get what you pay for!
SERVICE:
Cheerful, knowledgeable staff answered all our questions and waited on us without delay. They even promptly escorted us back to our original table after our first attempt at leaving was blockaded by the monsoon ravaging the street outside.
Overall, Prohibition left me full and well sated, with the numerous endorphins bathing my body post-meal all telling me it was a good time. Highly recommended!
- B -
Review from Emily C.
2/16/2012
I've been here twice -- the first time only for drinks, and the second we had food and drinks at the bar.
The vibe and food really, that sets the tone for this place. It was pretty packed both times? They have drink specials after 10pm ... we had the duck poutine. VERY fragrant. black truffle oil? if i'm not mistaken. and a pizza of some sort. very yummy!
Good service at the bar ... nice ladies behind the counters. Will definitely come back if i weren't moving so far away! -
Review from Danielle D.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
I can't stop talking about Prohibition, but maybe I should, as it might get me in trouble, horizontally.
A few classmates and I have what we call "Flask Fridays" which really translates into a visit to a pub on Fridays after class. We've visited bars on the east end, downtown, in the west end, you name it, we've got 8 more weeks to go and hopefully just as many bars.
To start with, we weren't aiming to go to Prohibition, we were looking to hit the Avro or The Comrade but the former wasn't open yet (5pm on a Friday, open yer doors!) and the latter was closed ALL JANUARY, so off to Prohibition we went, and it was the best decision on the block.
They have happy hour pricings, pint specials, drink specials and some insanely delicious beers on tap (Innis & Gunn, Flying Monkeys, Beaus, etc) not to mention some of the best gastro-pubby snack food this side of the Don Valley.
We came in early, 5pm and didn't leave til 10, we had the macaroni and cheese, the duck fat tater tots (which have ruined regular tator tors for me forever), a few pints each and we spanned TWO different shifts of servers. The mac and cheese was huge and split between two people and the tater tots was definitely a sharing dish. While we didn't order the sheet nachos, the table beside us did and it was also gigantic and perfect for sharing.
In terms of pricing, a person can nom and leave under $30 but if you really want to try a variety of the foods and beers you'll spend more.
But my favourite part of Prohibition was the service. They were quick, friendly, attentive and FUN. When my first beer turned out to be flat, they were on it like a bonnet, sniffing it, pouring a bit from the tap and tasting what they pulled. No muss, no questions, they apologized profusely and came back with a second beer of my choice. CLASSY. The service only continued to be great from there on. I will go back here any day, any time and you should do it too.Listed in: Splurge-eats!
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Review from Chris G.
Whitby, ON
2/28/2012
"Hooch Hour" specials are fantastic. Not many places you can get a $5 pint of Guinness or Grolsch.
Menu took time to interpret and the selection veered just far enough from regular pub fare, but familiar enough to have at the least a variation of something you may want.
Pricier than a pub, but the decor, music and Hooch Hour make up for that.
Tried the Chicken Lollipops brushed with a medium BBQ sauce - good enough, the minimum order of 3 was enough for me. The Missus & friend ordered the Tater Tos and they were fantastic. Until reading other reviews here, didn't realize they were cooked in duck fat but that explains that tasty saltiness.
Service was attentive and helpful - but was incredibly turned off at the final transaction, performed by some guy that kept wandering through the bak bar. As part of my bill was paid by cash, I was covering the rest on debit. The asshole says something to the effect of "well if you use the tip % option don't forget your actual bill total." He's lucky I was distracted and caught off guard or else I would have torn him a new one. It only hit me afterwards as I replayed that moment in my mind. I had to ask the missus if that's really what had happened and she confirmed it so. Thanks for judging me an idiot you dickwad.
Our main server was great so I was planning on tipping well regardless and I still did however I won't return for that comment alone. What a douche. -
Review from Yvonne T.
Although I did not live through Prohibition, which referred to the ban on alcohol and a period where bootlegging thrived, there's something naughty in the name that drew me to make reservations at Prohibition Gastrohouse.
Once inside, you will be greeted by overall dim lighting, booth seats that remind you of the rooms that men used to retire to to have a cigar and brandy, and accents of neon signs. The most interesting piece of decor for me was the rotating liquor rack. Talk about irony. Another interesting fixture was the beer fridge which quoted George Jean Nathan (a drama critic and editor) which read "I drink to make other people interesting." The restaurant was definitely visually appealing and had a lot of character.
For appetizers we tried the Pâté Brûlée and Mini Haute Poutine. It was interesting both from a textural and taste perspective. Offals are usually an acquired taste for most, but the otherwise "gamey" taste was offset by the caramelized sugar which had a slightly "burnt" taste to it. I usually indulge in liver of the duck variety, and was surprised that the chicken liver actually had a more pronounced taste to it. Texturally you had the creaminess of the liver coupled with the crunchy crostinis and sweet berry jam. My only regret was that there wasn't more crostini for the excess liver left over.
If there's one thing you should know about the food prepared at Prohibition - there is a lot of duck fat swimming around in the kitchen. I am all for using natural fats to flavour your food. While on paper this sounded wonderful, the presentation was not. The colour of the gravy was this light brown-ish colour that looked utterly unappetizing. The duck confit was soft but lacking in any real flavour and the fries were pretty soggy. Again, I applaud the specialty ingredients that Prohibition used, but it just didn't look or taste great.
Our water glasses were topped up whenever they were nearing empty. Our server checked up on us from time to time to make sure everything was fine. I was impressed with our server. The kitchen staff however - not so much. I say this because from the time our appetizers were taken away to the time our mains showed up at our table, about 30 minutes had elapsed. Our server was kind enough to let us known about 20 minutes in that the food wouldn't be much longer. They were over capacity with 2 large b-day crowds, the Winterlish crowd, and the local crowd.
By the time our mains (Lamb Shank and Mac et Fromage) came out, we were hungry. To add insult to injury, the Lamb Shank was cold. While it was quite tender, the absence of a reduction or jus made an otherwise promising dish from reaching its potential. The scalloped potatoes were bland and not crispy. Nothing compared to Julia Child's Potato Dauphinois! It also came with a side of green beans. The portion size was quite sufficient.
My Mac et Fromage came in a modest portion. I've heard people claim Prohibition serves the best mac and cheese. I beg to differ. And I nominate Trevor Kitchen & Bar for having a better mac and cheese. The promise of Vesuvio pasta was substituted by a common penne. The sharpness from the 2 kinds of aged cheese (Cheddar and Gruyère) all but drowned out our dearest Elizabeth (Bleu). If there was any truffle oil it turned out as just oily sans the truffle and the brioche crust that was supposed to provide the crunchy top was also MIA. If this spells the best mac and cheese in Toronto - kudos to you! I will add however that their mac was buttery and creamy, and I quite enjoyed the grainy texture of the cheese sauce.
For dessert we opted for the Eton Mess and the Triple Layer Brownie Cake. The Eton Mess was something I had never experienced before; hailing all the way from England; it is made with meringue and strawberries and topped with whipped cream. Great textures from the crunchy meringue which contrasted the smooth whipping cream. Ixnay on the un-fresh strawberries (which also made an appearance as an accompaniment to my Triple Layer Brownie Cake).
The Triple Layer Brownie caked looked like a store-bought cake. The Balkan Yogurt & Whipped Cream Frosting was definitely a "sour" note in the dessert and was most wrongfully matched with the brownie cake. I just don't understand why one would decide to put a dollop of tart frosting that does nothing to enhance the taste of the cake. This is one of the many times I actually didn't finish my dessert.
At the end of the night, our server came with a bill that already included gratuity. I looked around me to see if I had any invisible friends from my childhood sitting next to me to form a party of 6 which would warrant a tacked on gratuity. Alas, it was just me and my dining companion who were taxed with an 18% gratuity. I guess we should be counting our blessings that Prohibition didn't catch on to the article from the Toronto Star boasting that 20 is the new 15.Listed in: Summer/Winterlicious Dont's
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Review from Elaine K.
1/11/2012
Of this I'm sure: Prohibition is a great place to get a drink.
That being said, everything else got a little hazy as the night progressed due to said drinks.
I came here with a friend to discuss some business things. The place was absolutely packed so we sat at the bar and did some work on my laptop, thanks to the FREE WIFI. A couple of hours and some pints of Innis & Gunn later, we sat at a table and split the bison burger. The burger was pretty good, from my recollection.
What I really liked about the place was the service: everyone who served us was really professional and genuinely friendly.
It's not the best place to hold a business meeting, due to the fact that it's pretty loud in there, but the free wifi is great. It may have been easier to talk in one of the few booths in the place.
It's a bit pricey here, but I might check it out again because I like the atmosphere so much.Listed in: Giving you the business
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Review from Brian M.
North York, ON
2/7/2012
I hate to do this, but a 2 hour lunch service is ridiculous. The food and service are normally terrific, however winterlicous seems like the perfect time to just give up.
the duck fat fries were not. they were regular fries.
the brownie, well they were out of that, unapologetically.
the restaurant was mostly empty, yet the server came by for only the briefest of moments.... we were there almost 30 min before we were even able to order, and that only happened when we called her over.
including the gratuity in the total is also very poor form. there was a time when a gratuity represent the gratefulness of the customer, appreciation for the effort of the servers. I suppose you have to force it when that effort is completely missing.
this was one of my go-to date night places, however this one experience was so bad that I'm completely removing it my list. damn shame. -
Review from Jon-Jon G.
Scarborough, ON
1/31/2012 3 Check-ins Here
It's been awhile since I spoiled myself to some pretty damned good food. And by pretty damned good food, I'm talking about your guiltiest pleasures with a twist.
Prohibition has been on my radar for quite some time now. It's one of the few restaurants I've been eyeing during the commute between downtown and the Beaches. It took being transferred to Leslieville for work to finally give it a try!
We all took advantage of the Winterlicious menu and came in time for their Hooch Hour. $5 beers? Hello! Anyway, we all ordered the poutine, got two orders of the mac and cheese, and one order of the lamb shank, and ended with two orders of the Triple Layer Brownie Cake and one order of the Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse.
We were all pleased with our poutine. The fries still had enough crunch and crispiness to it, and it wasn't smothered with too much of the duck gravy. The best part was the duck confit, which was just perfect.
The mac and cheese, despite its small serving and cutely shaped pasta, was amazing. It must've been the black truffles that did its magic as I might go on record and saying this might be the best mac and cheese I've ever had (and this is coming from someone who loves his Southern style mac and cheese)!
Finally, there was the Triple Layer Brownie Cake. which I was expecting a rich cake (I mean, c'mon, a triple layer?), but it was nice and balanced, without being overly too sweet. The mousse, on the other hand, was a bit much for me, but sweet enough for my cousin who loves her sweets.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience with pretty attentive service by our server (who's name I didn't catch). It's definitely somewhere we all agreed we'd come back for, even with its regular menu.
I look forward to my next visit! -
Review from Myomi C.
Toronto, ON
4/10/2012
Nice servers, prompt service + good food, drinks and overall vibe. Tried the chicken lollipops (honey garlic and chili) -- drumsticks are a lot easier to eat than wings, and I love them both. These lollipops were deep fried to perfection with just the right amount of sauce. Also had a sizable portion of nachos with pulled pork. Although the kitchen forgot to add pork the first time around, the nachos came back to us straightaway and it was delicious. Someone in our group really likes Cobb Salad and from what I could tell, he enjoyed it because he devoured the whole thing faster than you can say...hey, how's the salad. We left Prohibition with a nice buzz and happy stomachs. I'll be back if I watch another curling match.
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Review from William T.
Scarborough, ON
2/1/2012
Located a few venues west of Jilly's, dim lighting, the decor was interesting, & the bar had lots of character.
Me & Yvonne T. went here for the Winterlicious menu.
For appetizers: "Pâté Brûlée" & "Mini Haute Poutine".
The Pâté was excellent in flavour & texture, however, not enough crostinis were provided as there were lots of the chicken liver left after the the last crostini was eaten.
The Poutine, fries were prepared in duck lard so I was expecting crisp robust fries, the duck toppings were not as flavorful as I remembered a duck confit to be. The dish portions were lacking, duck was not the best & the fries were soggy.
25 minutes passed after we finished our appetizers before our mains came to the table.
For mains:"Lamb Shank" & "Mac et Fromage"
Lamb Shank was tender, however it came out cold & there was no juice or sauce which could have easily made the dish significantly better. The scalloped taters were soft & had no flavor. The dish could have very easily been better.
Mac et Fromage was good, nice flavor & the cheese's texture was enjoyable. I would not have minded if there was a little more of it to go around.
For dessert: "Eton Mess" & "Triple Layer Brownie Cake"
The brownie in the brownie cake was not really brownie at all, more like supermarket cake. The Eton mess was interesting, like a lump of macaron at the bottom of some whipped cream like substance.
At the end of it all the bill came but also included gratuity, 18% gratuity, most uncharacteristic of western restaurants. I do not think I will revisit. -
Review from Peeds D.
Toronto, ON
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wish this place wasn't so awesome. It's especially dangerous for me since it's close to home (Leslieville).
I probably come here almost every other week. Each time I bring someone new, they are always impressed with the lowkey ambience.
They have a great menu that is shrunken down around 10pm. I absolutely LOVE their Haute Poutine (DF Frites, Duck Confit, Marinated PQ Curds, Duck Gravy & Red Wine Jus).
I've tried quite a few things off their menu (mac & cheese, pulled pork grilled cheese, bison burger) and they do not disappoint! Some of my friends have noted that their food was on the salty side though. I never really noticed that, but I guess it was probably because I always had a bevvy accompanying my meals.
I also love coming here for brewski's. From 5-7pm, then again after 10pm, it is HOOCH HOUR. YEAH BABY! That means $5 drink menu. They serve a decent variety of beers including flying monkeys along with the usual cracked canoes, mill street whatever, and rolling rocks. As for mixed drinks, I rarely order those so I couldn't tell you how good they are.
The prices here are a bit more than your average local watering hole, but it won't break the bank. -
Review from Allister H.
Toronto, ON
4/2/2012
Hands down the best pub in the neighbourhood. Food is consistently excellent, service is always friendly, efficient and fun and the drink selection is great. I would agree with other reviewers that a reservation is a good idea if you don't want to wait (especially on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday).
Very much worth checking out if you're planning a night out in Riverside/Leslieville. -
Review from Kent P.
Was taking a business lunch (like a boss) and as I walked into Dangerous Dan's, I just knew that it wouldn't fly. Yelp monocle said that Ruby Eats was right down the street. Not open. Damn. Turned around and next option: Prohibition.
Perfect.
Hot waitress with KISS patch sewed onto apron: check
Almost every entree cooked in duck fat: check
Some of the most excellent sweet potato fries I've ever munched on: check
Bill was 25$ after a huge lamb-shank sloppy joe and a can of Rolling Rock - which is steep, no doubt. But I was happy.
19.99 for 5 Moosehead in a bucket at all times (beat that deal...really. Try to) and fancy bar rail for 5$ during happy hour (Grey Goose, Hendrick's, etc).
You could do a lot worse on this section of Queen.
Big fan, big fan.Listed in: Toronto's Best Sandwiches…, ROTDs
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Review from Natalie F.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2011
I have been here a couple times - Hooch hour ($5 House wines and beers) is worth 3 stars in and of itself.
The menu is limited, and everything has duck fat (which is fine by me.) You can order things to be made vegetarian though, in most cases. It's a nice place to go and have a drink, but the menu's predictability makes it somewhere I don't generally go to eat unless I'm taking family out somewhere and want it to be close.
You can only eat Duck Fat fries with gravy so often. -
Review from Eric L.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only thing that prevents me from giving this place 4 stars are the prices of drinks and food.
The menu is is full of unique and classic items, but dinner and drinks in what appears to be a bar and grill can easily hit $100 after tax and tip.
I had the bison burger and a beer and it was nearly $30. The burger was very tasty, real juicy, and topped with crisp, fresh vegetables.
The inside is a mix between modern and rustic, with great open walled tables looking on the street front. The service is usually spot on quick and the washrooms very clean.
Overall it just feels like an overpriced bar and grill. -
Review from Fern H.
8/13/2011
We were looking for a place to grab dinner before the Cirque du Soleil performance of "Totem". The options in the Distillery District looked dismal so we had to broaden our search.
I called Prohibition for last minute reservations not knowing if the place would be swamped on a Friday night. Was greeted very politely and enthusiastically by person on the other end of the line. Actually made me look forward to good things to come.
We arrived around 6pm to find a booth already awaiting us. Our server dropped off menus and informed us that we were in time for "Hooch Hour" where all pints and a few glasses of house wine were $5. It's a deal too good to turn down so we ordered pints of Cracked Canoe, Wellington Ale and Spearhead Hawaiian.
For mains, I went with the bison burger ($16). Others ordered the pulled pork sandwich ($14), Buckingham Blanket ($14) and the 25-minute Poulet ($19). We were warned that the poulet would actually take 25-minutes to prepare so we went with an appetizer - prosciutto platter ($18).
The prosciutto was served on a wooden board accompanied by a small warm loaf of bread with olive oil and balsamic, a selection of berries/figs/apricots, salted almonds, pickles and mustard. A really great start.
Mains took a bit long to arrive, and even though we were warned about the 25 min. wait, it did take a bit longer, although not a huge problem. We all enjoyed our mains with the 25-min Poulet being the highlight. It consisted of 2 breaded chicken breasts, a side of sweet potato casserole, jalapeno cornbread and coleslaw. It was a portion that 2 people could have shared.
Prices at Prohibition are a bit higher than the average pub but most of the entree sizes are pretty substantial and enough that two people could share, along with an appetizer. As others have stated, the wine pours looked small but the draft selection is good so stick with beer.
Service was very friendly and attentive. Our server reminded me of a young Fred Savage ("What would you do if I sang out of tune...").
A big fan of the Hooch Hour, I'll most likely be back for drinks and apps. My fear of the East end is slowly subsiding. -
Review from Vince B.
Toronto, ON
10/31/2011
For what it is this place does it for me. I've seen it evolve from it's first days and continue to go back.
From breakfast (Duck Confit Benedict) to grilled cheese with bacon with a side of poutine or the mac and cheese (you can order it with bacon), the bison burger and nachos by the 1/4, 1/2 or full tray - perfect!!
Lots of great beer on tap, TV sports, dining street side open air or roll down window in the winter, booth or table in the 'dining' area - it's ALL GOOD.
Service has always been good to great too.
Prohibition does it nice. -
Review from Lauren M.
7/3/2011
Prohibition seems kind of overrated.
I was optimistic upon arrival, since it happened to be HAPPY HOUR and they had house wine and a large variety of pints for $5. We also scored a very nice table overlooking the beautiful Queen and Broadview area...
The server gave me the smallest glass of wine I've ever seen, $5 indeed!
I didn't order any food because I'm CHEAP and it looked fairly rip off. Did you know you can order nachos here for FORTY SEVEN dollars?!?! (Large nachos with chicken added) Those have better be good!
My friends ate a bison burger with fries ($15 - not too bad I suppose) and 3 chicken wings for $9. THREE chicken wings (drumstick only) for NINE dollars...but they did look pretty and had parsley sprinkled overtop.
The service was OK and the pub interior was nice. Plus, their logo has a centaur on it. So that's cool. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Happy Hour from 4 pm to 7 pm everyday for $5 a pint?
I would not complain too much if I am at Prohibition during their happy hour. Their draft choice during their Happy Hour is awesome.
However, being a gastropub, Prohibition really not good enough.
I was really hungry and when I need food when I drink my beer, so I forced my Yelp Drinking Buddy to order some food to share with me!
The Bison Burger with fries ($15) I found it A-OK.. didn't wow me but when I am hungry I am easy! The fries are seasoned with sea salt which is a nice touch.... Chicken Lollipops ($9) for sure is a little disappointing! I think I need 10 of those in order to satisfy me... they are quite tasty for just so mini...mini drumsticks!
Services here is so slow....... Waiter took forever to take our order!! Drinks took forever to arrive and so were the food. Maybe I just hungry??
I don't mind coming to Prohibition for their Happy Hour but the area just creep me out when it is dark outside.......and I would have just order a drink with no food.....and definitely NOT those lollipops! -
Review from Weez G.
Toronto, ON
2/8/2012
We checked this place out as part of the Winterlicious 2012 promotion and we quite pleased.
Everything we ordered was well-prepared and well-presented and the service was excellent.
My personal recommendation is that everyone try the "Mac & Fromage" at least once. Be forewarned, it is a lot heavier than it looks and it tastes fantasticly rich.
Prohibition also does $5 drink specials between 6pm-7pm. -
Review from Original E.
Toronto, ON
5/30/2011
I love a good pint like any other goat, but what's this, duck on fries!?
Gastro pubs have never tickled my virility, but I gave this place a try because it was ManU vs Barca and I needed to savour the true spirit of Champions League football (soccer).
Gastric rupture? No way.
Price? Too bloody high. Come on, $15 for a plate of chips? Even if they have some shards of duck meat on the chips, mate I want to see some Époisses de Bourgogne melted on top for these prices.
Reason behind this madness: I've mentioned this before, the magic word is gentrification. Working class hood has now been upgraded. What does this mean you ask, well it means you're going to pay $15 for a plate of chips.
Just ask Jacko he'll tell you. http://www.youtube.com...
Eitherway, great place, and great vibe with alot of juice. -
Review from Rob M.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
My 'local'. Great staff who work hard and are really friendly. Nice place to watch the game or hang out by the huge garage doors open in the summer making it feel like a covered patio!
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Review from Dazzer L.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2011
The service was excellent but the food, and the psychotic presentation of it were awful. My gfriend and I both ordered the 25 minute chicken - it took 44 minutes and the plates were actually cutting boards that almost covered our entire table, leaving just enough room for our 2 drinks.
Service: 5/5
Meal: 0/5 -
Review from Daniel O.
8/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Another restaurant/gastro-pub within minutes from my house, Prohibition looks like a sports bar from the outside, but don't be fooled. Their food is pretty great and they play great music. Also have a really extensive beer menu (on tap & by the bottle), wine list as well as an okay cocktail list.
Have been numerous times and have sampled many items on the menu I'll outline my favorites:
- Pulled Pork & Applewood Smoked Cheddar Grilled Cheese: served on sough dough bread, I opted for a side of greens with maple balsamic dressing. Very tasty, super decadent, the pulled pork is an amazing addition
- Buckingham Blanket - a wrap sandwich with rare flank steak, arugula, caramelized onions, wasabi-mayo wrapped in a Yorkshire pudding-like flatbread. This is my favourite item on the menu, like Sunday dinner in a handheld sandwich
- Chicken Lollipops - frenched Ontario chicken drumsticks. Tasty, their version of chicken wings
- '37 Cobb Salad - I know, who orders a salad in a bar, but as Cobb salads go, this one was perfect! Included pulled chicken, diced tomatoes, huge chunks of blue cheese, bacon, avocado, eggs dressed with a tasty vinegarette
Have also ordered oysters on the half shell, priced at $2 & $3 depending on the type, they were super fresh and briney and came with the typical oyster sides.
Overall, a good spot if you are looking to please everyone in your party. -
Review from Kenny T.
Toronto, ON
6/15/2011
From the outside you might not think this place was worth a look, but deffinitely give it a try. Great beer list, something for every preference. Food is hearty, homemade and very tasty. I recommend the cobb salad and the poitine (sans duck if that is too fancy)! The nachos are also killer - perfect for a shared snack.
The wine servings are scant and a waste of money, but if you stick to beer you won't break the bank.
Sit near the window and watch the crowds pass by - enjoy! -
Review from Jenny M.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2011
AMAZING mac and cheese! Full of flavour (and a hint of gorgonzola, just enough to add flavour without tasting too much like blue cheese!), unlike the mac and cheese at many other places, which is often bland, and lacking aged cheese.
I went with a group of four people and tried a bit of everyone's meal. We started with nachos, which come on a flat cookie sheet, so you can be sure all nachos have some topping, and they were quite tasty. The bison burger and pulled pork were also very good and full of flavour. Tried a bit of caprese salad as well, can't complain, the cheese was fresh imported buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy.
All in all, a great meal, not for anyone who's on a diet. We spent at least a couple hours there and had a few pitchers, great service the entire time. Will definitely be heading back to try some of the duck, and duck-fat items on the menu! -
Review from Kelly K.
Toronto, ON
5/5/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I love this place, as it's close to home, has a great and unique menu and great atmosphere but it is not for those even remotely on a diet. Their 4-7 and 10-? Happy Hour (hooch hour?) is nice, $5 beer and wine; the wine is a bit of a ripoff as the class is practically empty, but I will happily buy a $5 pint of Erdinger or (whatever the size is of) Delerium.
Tonight I had the bison burger with fries, which while very very tasty, was also very very juicy. Same with my friend's quesadilla. For a place that allows you to add fois gras to anything on the menu, this really wasn't that much of a shock, but still be aware tomorrow you are going to want to go for a run.
Also, if you are adverse to cigarette smoke wafting in while you eat your meal or enjoy your pint, stay away from the otherwise gorgeous garage door windows as people will stand practically inches away from you completely unaware that their smoke is fumigating your table. -
Review from Jeremiah M.
Toronto, ON
5/2/2011 2 photos
Sweet mother of god this place is awesome.
If you do one thing, make sure you order the chicken. So juicy and well seasoned. Not exactly the healthiest thing you'll ever eat, but it was ridiculously good.
Everything else was good too (oysters, fungi pizza, and fresh beer) but the chicken was a delicious roundhouse to the taste buds. Shouldn't be missed. -
Review from Jeff C.
East York, ON
I've been here a few times over the years, any time I am in the area. It's a nice trendy pub that is not too foo foo. My love is a fan of the muscles. There is usually seating available but it can get tight on Thursday or a Friday night. The food is decent for a pub as well. For cider lovers they usually serve Baumers on tap.
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Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
7/11/2011 3 photos
Prohibition is a place you walk in to and say, "cool". The look is typical of a bar. The food and service is okay. Their pricing is too high. I came here as part of a group of 5 on a night of eating and drinking.
*** FOOD & DRINK ***
I had Chicken Lollipops and half a Bison Burger to eat. I washed everything down with a pint of Erdinger.
* Chicken Lollipops | 3 / $9.00 *
Basically, 3 chicken legs. You call them drumsticks, they call them lollipops. There was a selection of different sauces with Scoville scale ratings, but only 1 was available: De Arbol. The sauce isn't hot but has a tangy flavor. The chicken is well cooked, but the sauce gives it all its flavor. It tastes okay, but it's definitely not worth $9.
* Bison Burger (with mushrooms) | $15.00 *
The burger is good. The meat was well cooked and juicy. The burger doesn't stand out as being unique. It's definitely better than a chain restaurant burger, but I think it's plain. The more you add to the burger the higher in price it gets.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
Prohibition looks nice. Our seating area was right next to a large open window, so it was almost like eating on a patio, except we were indoors. At our table, the seating was old school metal swiveling chairs. This added an unnecessary touch of hipsterism as none of the rest of the pub looked like this. Overall, the place looks really nice and it's clean.
*** SERVICE ***
The service was okay. We were seated and greeted immediately upon entering. Our waiter did his job appropriately, but didn't go above that. Food took long to arrive after ordering. The place wasn't too busy, and we only ordered a burger and 3 chicken legs. If you came here just for a drink, the experience would probably be better.
*** PRICE ***
The pricing is too high. The food is okay, and the portion is small. The happy hour is a little misleading because one of their import beers isn't part of the deal, but you only find out when you ask. Business owners should be honest about their pricing.
* Pint of Erdinger (Happy Hour) | $5.09 *
* Chicken Lollipops (3) | $9.00 *
* Bison Burger | $15.00 *
** Total (AT&T) | $55.13 **
*** PROHIBITED ***
Prohibition is a nice looking pub. If you came here to chill with friends over a beer, you wouldn't be disappointed. However, when you order food and you rely on the servers, the experience falls apart. The pricing adds insult to injury. I could see people stopping in here for a drink, but anything more should be prohibited.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
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Review from Miranda B.
Toronto, ON
10/9/2010
This place has the best Mac and Cheese in the city....which I stupidly did not order so I had to teef it off my friends plate. I had the nicoise salad which was also absolutely delicious. Tuna: perfect. Dressing: zesty. It really was a perfect salad.
I notice a lot of bellyaching on here about the lack of vegetarian options. I have said it here on yelp before and I will say it again: No Chef gets a hard-on over vegetarian cooking unless they are the owners of vegan/vegetarian restaurants. It is hardly surprising that a place called PROHIBITION doesn't specialize in vegan fare.
They got us out of there in less than an hour (we had a show to go to) which is impressive on a Friday night in Toronto.
I will have to go back to try something more substantial than a salad. -
Review from Vivek S.
5/4/2009 ROTD 9/25/2009
I've always had a good time at this place. The food is decent and a cut above regular pub fare, and I have no compunction about getting totally sloshed here. The layout is a bit schizophrenic: restaurant to the right, expansive bar to the left, but they pull it off well. I was wary of their ability to showcase live music when I was there Saturday night but it was a success.
Obligatory Title Pun: More like: prohi-BITCHIN'!
Menu Readability: They changed it from a broadsheet to a book, but it's still all right. Even though it's not a franchise, everything has a polished corporate look about it.
Need to mention: Music was excruciatingly loud in the back room where we sat. Management did not let up until the problem was fixed. Kudos!
What this place teaches me about myself: I'm secretly in love with downtown's East End. -
Review from Kat F.
Dear Prohibition,
Please stop completely revolutionizing your menu at such feverish intervals. The vitamin D fortified soy milk in my fridge lasts longer than an average entree on the menu here. With every new menu pressing, the list of vegetarian options dwindles and the prices go up (it's not a good look). The current incarnation of the "aged" (yeah right) grilled cheese has so little flavour that it belongs on a BRAT diet meal plan (http://en.wikipedia.or...).
Thanks,
Kat FListed in: The Best Places To Eat, Shop &…, List Of Things For New Yorkers…, The Art Of Mixology &…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/4/2010
This is my local and it's taken me a while to review it. Sarah L and I come here with terrifying… Read more »
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Review from sarah l.
Updated - 2/15/2010 12 Check-ins Here
Update to my Prohibition review. It's still 4 stars, which directly correlates to their proximity to my house and the fact that they stock Innis and Gunn.
Prohibition changes a lot. Maybe too much, but maybe not. I think they may have actually settled on their menu now, as it hasn't changed in a while and in the past it would have changed 3 times in the 3 months since Christmas. Some of my favorite things are gone from the menu, there's something new that I like, the hashbrowns are different every time I eat them and they are carrying Delerium on draught right now.
The things I miss from various old menus:
a) DUCK FAT FRIES. These were the greatest and used to come with a trio of sauces including a curried ketchup that I was in love with. Zack S and I enjoyed them on a number of great nights at Prohibition... they were kind of our go-to snack food for the east side. I sort of understand why the fries had to change - it's expensive to use duck fat and it's not vegetarian friendly (and their new fries ARE very good) but I wish the curried ketchup was still on the menu.
b) There was a chicken wrap that was kind of like a very chunky chicken salad. It used to be my lunchtime go-to item.
The things I like on the new menu:
a) Buckingham Blanket. This is a yorkie flatbread wrapped around roast beef and arugula with wasabi mayo and jus for dipping. This is either amazing or terrible on a given day. If you have it later in the night the beef is less rare and the jus is reheated and thick. If you have it earlier in the day it's usually better. This is a great sandwich and a good addition to the menu.
b) Chicken Fried Ribs. Another good new item.
The staff:
The guy who works the bar is awesome. He brought me a beer before I even ordered it the other day. He is friendly, composed when it's busy and has great beer picks when I say surprise me.
The cook is a jerk. I won't go into details, but don't try to talk to him (even if he talks to you, because he will just walk away in the middle of your conversation.) Anyways - if you are reading this, what I was going to tell you before you rudely walked away from me was that the 'final iteration' of the hashbrowns were really nicely seasoned and I applaud the use of the potato ricer but I wish there was a crispy outer layer. But whatever, you obviously don't care what the customers think because you're back there making art or some bullshit.
The manager is always there and drinking at the bar and he's hilarious and has great hair. He is always surrounded by cougars and I am slightly in awe of his magnetism.
There is also am amazing girl who works here that once yelled at a vagrant who was passing by through the garage door style window. "Be on you way Sir!" she hollered.
Overall, Prohibition hangs onto it's 4 star rating. It's a trustworthy food source in my neighbourhood, I love the ambiance and they have good taps. Bonus points for the speakers corner video booth in the basement that has never worked once when I have been there.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2009
I was at Prohibition 3 times last week and it was always fun.
Wednesday: Half price chicken wings.… Read more »
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Review from Dale M.
Toronto, ON
12/21/2009
I had my second dinner of Saturday night here.
When Wally, our server, suggested the chicken-fried ribs if I was feeling a bit peckish, I couldn't say no. Braised and baked ribs, subsequently breaded and deep-friend. A bit dry, but they fall right off the bone. Served with Kozlik's Mustard! The fries, btw, were also delicious.
Truth is, the food was really good last time I was there, too, though I don't remember what we had. Service is better than you'd expect for a place that's more bar than restaurant. Al in all, this is a cool place to hang, with better-than-average food and service.
There's really no good reason why I haven't given this place five stars. It just doesn't quite seem likke a five-star joint. -
Review from Cooper W.
Dundas, ON
8/1/2010
Top shelf product. No question.
My wife and I finally checked this place out last night. The food was great. The wine was great. Hell, even the water was great (with just the right sized wedge of lemon--I hate it when the lemon in your water is too big or too small).
Service was spot-on, friendly, and knowledgeable; I tested him, he knew what he was talking about. I like that. (Not that I test all servers I come across--last night I was feeling a little punchy.)
I ordered the Bison Burger. So good! Seriously. The meat is seasoned perfectly to where the flavor of the meat is the main stage and cast of the show. Fresh produce on board an artisan bun with a healthy amount of just-the-right-color fried onions (as requested extra) made the burger a work of art. Sweet frites were my choice of accompaniment, and I wasn't disappointed. No flimsy fries here.
My wife had the Nicoise Salad. She said she enjoyed, but that it was perhaps a little over dressed. Otherwise it looked like a finely composed salad with sushi-grade tuna on top.
Incidentally, I like hot sauce, so I had a side order of the De Arbol sauce--hot, but fantastic. So much better than the typical Tobasco-or-Frank's?-run-o-the-mill pub-like version of hot sauce.
The Zinfandel we ordered with dinner was above average for by-the-glass wine. So much so I asked the brand and intend to buy some.
All in all, I look forward to my next visit--and you should definitely go! -
Review from Ryan V.
Toronto, ON
1/6/2009
The Good - Half Price Beer and Mixed Drinks from 3:30-6pm every week day. How can you go wrong with $3.00 bottle of Heineken? The owner, Michael, very social and makes you feel comfortable as soon as you walk in.
The Bad - Service...Took me over 10 minutes to get a drink and I was one of 5 customer's in the place. To make matters worse, the bartender was within 10 feet of me for over 5 minutes!
The Ugly - The bloody bar seats....My god where did you get those things? You need to be on roids in order to move them to a more comfortable position.
