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The Blake House
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 am
Sat 10 am - 2 am
Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for The Blake House
Review Highlights
"the great prime rib dinner they do on Sunday nights."
(in 3 reviews)
"...totally transformed from its former "Red Lion" incarnation."
(in 3 reviews)
"Great large patio."
(in 2 reviews)
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22 reviews in English
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Review from scarlette g.
12/3/2011
Great food, great service, reasonable prices. definitely would come back for more!
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Review from Heather B.
Scarborough, ON
2/6/2012
Ended up here Saturday night for Winterlicious.
The place was packed and had good atmosphere.
We were taken right away and our table was in the basement part.
I was a little hesitant because I don't like sitting in "dungeons", however it was nicely presented with lit candles and a lounge area as well.
Service was great and the food came quickly, however we were not rushed which is always nice. Some places for Winterlicious want you in and out of there because they can use the table for others who want to spend more.
I had the French Onion Soup - It wasn't baked but I didn't mind. Broth was tasty and enough cheese, onion, and bread.
Next up was the Lobster Linguini with peas and a white wine creamy sauce.
It was enough to satisfy my hunger I usually don't like white sauces but this was not and not too much cream which always seems to be the case.
To top it all off I had the creme brulee! DEVINE!
Some of my friends had the Fruit Crumble and were disappointed because it seemed too "healthy" haha. Rolled oats on top.
We also had bread/butter to start and I like whatever they did to the butter. It's been mixed with some herbs but I can't figure out what.
I would definitely come back here and perhaps try their actual menu.
Parking is a little sketchy I have to say - $3 in an underground parking lot and $2 to get out. However I was lost getting from the car to the place - I don't like creepy stairwells! Who know who you find in there :( -
Review from U. S.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2011
My first experience here was great:
Pros:
-a couple veggie options on the menu. One vegan option I think (roasted veggie wrap). I had the portabello mushroom burger with goat cheese. It was AMAZING and deliciously messy. I also had sweet potato fries - the fries were awesome, and covered in some sort of batter. The sauce (whatever it was) was great too.
-Friendly servers
Cons:
-could not find any! -
Review from Isabel R.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is great! As others have mentioned, it has totally transformed from its former "Red Lion" incarnation. It's got a similar vibe to other Jarvis Mansion conversions such as the Keg Mansion and the Grand Hive, but with a less corporate feel.
I was first here to watch one of the Stanley cup championship games, and though by no means a sports bar, most people were tuned in and there was a great friendly feel despite the competitive edge.
The food here good "English Pub" style food. They've got sandwiches, burgers, and a selection of other main entrees. I got the Stout's Pie and would definitely get it again. I think I had the best meal of the table.
Food wise, I would probably avoid the Caesar salad, though. Or, at least, know what you are in for. It's not a regular Caesar dressing, but a vinaigrette that's really mostly just oil. So it's kind of an oily, not particularly flavorful salad.
That being said, one bad salad wont keep me away! Everything else about this place has been great!Listed in: St. James Town Hot Spots
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Review from Groomzilla W.
Toronto, ON
1/7/2012
Great restaurant/pub. Enjoyed wings on a Saturday night and two excellent pints of beer. I'm always a little wary of ordering draft given how many pubs maintain (or rather don't) dirty lines but my Mill St Tankhouse and Amsterdam Nut Brown were fresh and fantastic. The wings were good too. So good we have decided to call this gaff our local that's not really local.
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Review from Andrew C.
Toronto, ON
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Formerly the Red Lion, The Blake House has renovated and updated the menu. Great large patio. Excellent variety on the menu. Try the calamari, Apple Glazed Pork Chop.
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Review from Jonno F.
Toronto, ON
2/18/2011
Bravo! Certainly have transformed the place since the previous 'Red Lion'. Basic pub food with a little gourmet touch. Menu is well put together and service is excellent. The manager (or maybe owner) is soooooo friendly. I have a bit of a man crush. Lol.
I work at a bed and breakfast on homewood, which is right around the corner from the Blake house. All the time guests arrive with one thing on their mind. Where can I get a bite to eat nearby? I never hesitate to send them to the Blake house. A) because it's close and B) because it's got some really decent food. Nothing overly spectacular... But GOOD! my guests have always come back satisfied and happy. That's all that matters to me.
After sending many guests to this fine establishment, I finally got a call at the B&B from the manager of the Blake house, thanking me for sending so many guests over. Ummm, how sweet is that?! To top it off, I went there for my birthday and mentioned that I was from the bed and breakfast, and the manager bought our table of 10 a round of shots. AND the waitress bought me a personal birthday tequila shot. Happy birthday to me!!
All in all, go! You will not be disappointed. Good food, decent price... But the thing that makes this place spectacular is the service. I'm such a sucker for good customer service and this place takes the cake. So once again... Bravo Blake house! -
Review from Melanie C.
Oakville, ON
9/7/2010
I love the fries! I don't know what their secret is, but I can't get enough of their fries. I don't even eat them with ketchup or vinegar or gravy - just straight up.
On my first visit I tried the Avocado BLT because it came highly recommended. It was fantastic. Did I mention the side of fries were great too?
For visit number two, I didn't want anything sandwich-y so I chose the Capri Spaghettini. (They only have one pasta option on the menu... or so I thought...) It was very tasty, but the portion was small and there weren't a lot of vegetables, so I felt like I was just eating noodles in an oily sauce.
I later found out that due to my late arrival, I missed the specials of the day, which included a linguine with portobello mushrooms. Lesson learned. Always be on time? Nah, always ask for the specials before ordering.
I love the wide-planked hardwood flooring and the feel of the old house. I don't love basement washrooms. Service was a-okay, but nothing to rave about. -
Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
9/11/2010
Last night was my first trip to The Blake House. The building is great! A fun little patio out front and somewhat attentive staff.
As with most evenings out at a pub or bar, you are there to enjoy the drinks and the company you are with versus the actual food. The group I was with was fabulous and I had a great time laughing and hanging with Renata R, Fabio N and a few newly adopted friends.
The food was okay. The french onion soup had bacon in it - which totally sold me. It also steered away from traditional in the topping. Instead of having hot glorious onion beef broth underneath with a crusty mound of bread and cheese on top, the bread and cheese were quite on the scarce side. This alone has inspired my winter mission - to discover Toronto's best french onion soup.
Their steak sandwich is actually quite good. I ordered medium rare, and it actually came medium rare! Served on a baguette and filled with red peppers, goat cheese and onions, I highly recommend this pick.
I also sampled the communal poutine - which was pretty fabulous and HUGE. Absolutely a crowd pleaser.
Take a group with you and try out all their martini's and order the poutine. You'll have a great night.Listed in: Bottom's Up!
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Review from Anna K.
Toronto, ON
11/28/2010
This is a great little restaurant right off of Jarvis. Their homemade soup is the best, it's served with fresh bread and is delicious. I always get their Steak salad which I love. The wait staff is very nice and personable and it's beautiful and old on the interior.
My only complaint is that it has a little bit of a sports bar vibe so there are lots of big screen tvs around. That's great for watching the game or a casual dinner but not the best for an intimate dinner or a date. -
Review from Brian K.
Updated - 9/19/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I booked a dinner here on a Friday night for my family. With toddler niece and nephew in tow, we have to plan our dinner spots strategically.
When we arrived, the manager Jimmy warned that it was louder than usual indoors, as there was a table of office workers present that had been hitting it pretty hard since lunch.
They were indeed loud, but my niece and nephew provided some stiff competition.
I'm posting this update though because the following day, I received a call from Jimmy checking back on how dinner was, again concerned that the rowdy group had interfered with our dinner.
It's rare to find that level of customer service. It being a pub, alcohol-induced noise is pretty much par for the course. I appreciate the manager going that extra distance.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/14/2010
As the current Duke of the Blake House, I figure it's time for a review.
This recently reno'd pub… Read more »
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Review from Chris P.
I came here for a UYE with some fellow Yelpers. I figured that since the place just opened we would give it a week before attempting. The evening that was planned happened to be their grand opening so the place was packed. We had wanted to sit on the patio but had to resort to sitting inside.
On the patio they had an oyster bar set up. I'm guessing this was just for the grand opening as I didn't see anything on the menu about fresh oysters. The patio is quite large and probably holds a good 60 people.
Inside, this old mansion has been restored to it's former glory and includes a wood burning fireplace and magnificent stained glass window. Hanging on the walls are old pictures of Jarvis street and the mansions that grace(d) the area.
They have a very diverse drinks list that includes beers, mixed drinks, martinis, and more. They are also reasonably priced with most of the drinks at $5-6. I was quite pleased that they had Grasshopper on tap.
The menu has a good depth and range of items and is accurately priced for the portions and quality. Most of the entrees range from $10 to $14 though there are a couple items that go as high as $18. The appetizers and soups range from $7 to $10. As I was sitting right outside the kitchen I saw many dishes pass by and they all looked scrumptious. The chicken wings look plump and saucy and the fish and chips look light and crispy.
I debated starting with the poutine but decided to skip it in the end and just went with the signature burger; The Blake House. The burger is $10 and comes with pickle, tomato, lettuce, and fries. You can add extra condiments for $1 each like cheese and caramelized onions as I did. Unfortunately the burger was really disappointing. It was very average and the the caramelized onions were skimpy. If I'm paying a buck to have a condiment put on I would expect that there would be enough if it that I could taste it, or at least be able to tell that its on my burger. The highlight of the meal was the salad that I swapped for the fries. It was their house salad with mixed greens, red onion and a vinaigrette. Very well done.
To finish the evening, my wife and I shared a creme brulee. For $6 I thought the portion size was a little small compared to Karl's sticky toffee pudding for the same price. However, the creme brulee was very delicious. The top was perfectly charred and the creaminess below was smooth and rich.
For the most part I was very pleased with the staff. Upon walking in, a gentleman asked how many our group was and offered the two of us that had arrived a seat while they cleared a table for us. Our server was a little flustered for most the evening because of the grand opening which she apologized for near the end of our visit. Most of the staff are experienced as they followed the owners from the now closed Groundhog Pub at Bloor and Sherbourne to their new place of ownership.
Overall this is a great place. As with any new place, even though its the same staff and owners as another pub, they have some kinks to work out. This may be my new regular watering hole.Listed in: ROTD's
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Review from Kat F.
6/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
The former Red Lion Pub (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...), which I never had the pleasure of visiting, has been transformed into a chic, upscale Bedford Academy-esque gastropub with a gorgeous, coveted patio. They literally opened less than two weeks ago and the patio was already teaming with people - I suppose a lot of them were former Red Lion fans waiting with bated breath for the new place to open.
Food was really, really great but overpriced. $11 for a B.L.A.T. sandwich sans B (bacon) is too much. I appreciated the small, manageable portions but the prices didn't reflect the quantity of food, especially since I opted for a meatless version (no price adjustment). The fries were outstanding - French Fry Crawl worthy for sure.
This is a four star pub to be sure, but the puzzling fact that a grilled cheese sandwich is only offered on the children's menu, and not scalable to adult size or price, truly made me angry. When I asked if they could please make it for me, the server refused, saying they could only make it for those 12 and under. An absurd ruling.
Try to get a seat on the patio; the location and atmosphere is wonderful! -
Review from Renata R.
8/22/2010
Situated right in front of the beautiful Canada's National Ballet School, on a victorian mansion, the Blake House will offer you great food and drink experience in a beautiful, beautiful place.
This is not your regular neighbourhood pub. They make poutine with style - au gratin, mas oui - and everything served will look beautiful. Too bad the crème brulée tasted just regular. After having astonishing entrees and main dishes, I was truly expecting a mind-blowing dessert.
I was a bit disappointed to learn they didn't have some basic items (like caesar dressing) that afternoon and the waiter couldn't find out if there was a "soup of the day". At least this made me choose their poutine and I definitely don't regret my choice. You should try it too!Listed in: Party Time
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Review from nikki c.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2010
A few of us went out last week to try out the newly established Blake House. It turned out it was the grand opening, so it was jam packed -- sadly there was no room for us on the patio.
The inside is gorgeous, lots of dark wood finishes. For some reason I had it in my head before I went that it was going to be just a typical, grubby pub. I was definitely wrong! The place has a classy atmosphere, and as Kat mentioned, even "chic." However, it's still relaxed enough that casual dress is just fine.
It took some time for a server to come by our table, I think there was a bit of a mix up between the server and the host. I was impressed by the selection on the drink menu. There was lots to choose from, some interesting cocktails, martinis and even frozen drinks. Drink orders were taken and unfortunately they were out of the pinot grigio I wanted. I told the waitress any white was fine, just nothing sweet, and she said she would bring a Chardonnay. It ended up being a little too sweet for my liking, and -- ick -- tasted very floral. Partly my fault, I should have asked to see the wine menu. For drink number two I opted for a beer, since they had a pretty ample selection. I tried a Kronenbourg, and success! Officially my new favourite beer.
The menu had a pretty good selection too, lots of variety -- everything from poutine to some sort of samosa shepherd's pie. This isn't really my thing when it comes to going out to dine; I prefer to go where the resto focuses mostly on a specific type or ethnicity of food. BUT if you're going out with a group of people who can't agree on what they want, The Blake House will solve your worries. I didn't order anything though (I had eaten beforehand, expecting traditional greasy pub fare).
I found the prices to be a little steep, and like Kat said they didn't allow "grown-ups" to order from the children's menu. Sometimes a gal just wants a snack-size portion! I did try some of Karl's "Oooey Gooey Toffee Pudding"; it was tasty, but not not particularly gooey (or ooey, for that matter).
I agree with Chris that this place has a few bugs to work out, but once they do it could be a pretty cool spot. -
Review from Greg T.
Toronto, ON
3/16/2011
The prime rib dinner on the 13th was spectacular! Great job guys!!
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Review from Elle B.
Toronto, ON
3/2/2011
I ADORE this place and better yet, it's my local!
My husband and I went for the opening night and have been frequenting the establishment ever since.
Jimmy is BY FAR the best owner, manager and all around nicest guy that I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He is so genuine and really does care about his business and his clientele. I would support that place, even if the food wasn't as good as it is, just because of that.
I agree with all the comments about the drinks. The beer selection is great, the wine list is okay and their martini selection and brunch cocktails are yummy.
The atmosphere is right up my alley. I love what they have transformed that old house into! It is a HUGE change from the Red Lion. Scuzzy to classy. Not to mention, siting on the patio during the warm weather is a home away from home for me.
If you really want to try something stellar at The Blake House (other than their tasty poutine and interesting twist on nachos), I highly recommend the following...
LUNCH - Smoked Salmon Salad - the best smoked salmon salad I have ever had and they don't skimp on the salmon, that's for sure.
BRUNCH - "Wakey-Wakey Eggs and Bakey" breakfast sandwich - my husband's favorite and it's all about how they slow roast and shave the peameal bacon...but be warned, it could give you a coronary!
DINNER - Chicken Pot Pie - comfort food at it's best, so flavourful, the crust is delish and it comes with a green salad on the side, so you don't feel like you are really over doing it.
SUNDAY - Prime Rib - for $17 they give you a massive slice of beef, mouthwatering horseradish mash potatoes, nicely cooked vegetables AND Yorkshire pudding. I have been to other places who boast a prime rib dinner, but they have neglected to include the Yorkshire pudding.
I love this place so much, that I am hosting my birthday party inside their private party room and I couldn't be more excited to have the event held there! -
Review from Juergen S.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
Really great place. Been there once and the food is awesome. Try the Calamari....
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Review from Mark V.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I love this place*disclaimer-* ambience for me is more important than the food so glean from this what u want. I love the decor especially the fireplace. It's hard to believe it was once the Red Lion a real hole in the wall.
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Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 9/29/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I had to drop a star from my original review. While the poutine is indeed amazing, the other food options are not so good (most of the times simply meh).
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/22/2010
A classic pub in the Church neighbourhood. I went there to meet some fellow yelpers and have some… Read more »
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Review from Chris E.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 9/23/2010
Same rating, but I wanted to mention two things: FREE WIFI! Just ask how to log on, it's easy. And... the great prime rib dinner they do on Sunday nights. $17 for a huge slab of beef, grilled veggies and really yummy garlic mash. Oh, and a very traditionally-made Yorkshire pudding (which, for the uninitiated, ain't at all like pudding). I still find this place to be a bit noisy since the makeover - the surfaces and fixtures really bounce the sound...but I still recommend giving it a try. It's usually quite busy now, a good sign.
Listed in: Restaurants
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/8/2010
I've returned a few times. The burger is "make it your way" and was delish...but so big that it was… Read more »
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Review from Colin B.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2011
I guess given the name, location and the building I was expecting better food. Nothing special... Just typical pub food.
