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- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 3 pm - 1 am
Thu-Sat 3 pm - 3 am
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
25 reviews for The Caledonian
Review Highlights
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"The Scotch Egg, it was tasty." In 7 reviews -
"Teena and I both had fish and chips which were great." In 5 reviews -
"There were Scottish dancers which were very entertaining." In 9 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Jim G.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Caledonian is the ideal place to channel your inner haggis. I had a lot of fun here. Friendly people, good food, huge variety of whiskeys and ales, guys walking around in kilts saying unintelligible things to one another. I tried a couple of the single malts and a rich Scottish ale that hurt my head the next day. The servers were enormously helpful and friendly, and even the patrons chimed in with recommendations. A very comfortable bar to sit at and I wish it was in my neighbourhood. The food is reasonably priced. I tried the Taste of Scotland platter. Loved the sausage roll and the Scotch egg. The haggis tasted like intestines or something. Actually, I didn't hate the haggis but I can't see ordering it again on purpose.
A great place! -
Review from Jay M.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
Finally had the opportunity to stop in for some dinner last weekend, and am glad I did!
The draught beer selection is pretty sizeable and I tried a pint of Deuchars IPA with impressive results.
For an apps we chose the Sausage Rolls ($7) which came with 2 medium sized sausage rolls and a small amount of mixed greens salad which together were nice start to things. My girlfriend had some kind of whiskey made mussels which were they days special. She said they were good but left an uneasy feeling in her stomach, maybe because shes not normally a whiskey drinker.
For mains, I went with the Highland Burger ($15) with shoestring fries (that may have been thinner than my actual shoelaces) with an order of their curry sauce that they recommend with the fries. Personally I thought the curry tasted better on the burger than fries, but in the end it was a pretty satisfying meal either way. My girl had the Steak Pie ($14) which was is exactly what it sounds like, and received no complaints.
We also split a dessert of some sort of chocolate cake thing which was quite good.
Overall I liked the place. It reminded me of the Aulde Spot Pub as it was a little more on the gastropub/higher end vibe than the traditional dank pubs. While I was charged for 3 drinks each when we only had 2, that was quickly corrected and in the end we paid $92 after tax before tip for 2 apps, 2 mains, 4 pints, and 1 dessert... So it was on scale for what I expected and the food didn't disappoint so I had no problem paying it, and can see myself coming back in the warmer weather to take advantage of what looks to be a pretty sweet backyard patio. -
Review from Tina H.
3/25/2012
This place is amazing if you love scotch and want to consume it alongside some tasty Scottish noshes!
I heard about this place on Yelp when they hosted the Robbie Burns Supper. I wanted to go but they sold out, which--along with the solid 4-5 star reviews--led me to believe this place was awesome.
I made it here eventually anyway on a nice, cool night and sat on the patio. A couple of friends and I split the Taste of Scotland plate which included haggis, scotch egg and sausage roll. If I can say I have a favourite type of pub food it's definitely Scottish pub food!
For my main I got the beer battered fish and chips. I felt that maybe there weren't enough of the chips part, but maybe that's because they were so good. I asked for curry sauce on the side and though it deviated from the whole Scottish thing, was still a great complement to the fries. My friends got burgers which they seemed to enjoy.
The BEST parts of the whole experience were the scotches as well as the lovely service. The lovely Scottish lady was very friendly and helped me pick out some drams. The waitress was also great too. They seemed to be very attentive even though the place was busy on a Friday night.
I tried two scotches. The first one I ordered was a Speyside single malt, the Glenrothes 1985 Vintage. I wanted to order a scotch that I could say was older than me! It was delicious!!! So smooth and sweet. I asked for ice on the side but I ended up drinking it neat, and was extremely sad when it was all gone. Not sad enough to order another one. At $16.50 per shot you can't get carried away!
Scotch #2 was an Islay single malt, the Ardbeg 10-year. This one was also very delicious! Very smokey and peaty, but it also had more complex flavours to offer than just smoke and peat. I have the Lagavulin 16-year at home and wanted to try something different, and the lovely Scottish lady suggested I try the Ardbeg 10-year. It was cheap in comparison to many of the others listed. I was shocked I liked it so much.
I love the smokiness and peatiness of Islay malts and they have since been deemed my favourites, although I also love the sweet, complex and spicy flavours of Speyside and Highland scotches like the Glenrothes 1985 Vintage, Oban 14-year and Cragganmore 12-year.
All of my scotch experiences have made me want to visit Scotland so bad! It'll be my next big trip!
All the hipsters can keep sippin' their bourbon; it means more scotch left more me! -
Review from Jake J.
2/27/2012
During my bi-annual or so visits to the fine city of Toronto, I usually meet up with a friend who is a fellow scotch enthusiast to partake in a tasting. The first spot we visited was this lovely bar.
Our first time going here, we were total scotch noobs and learned a fair amount from one of their samplings of various whiskies. It was an enjoyable evening in spite of being in the dead of winter so when I returned to the T-dot in the summer, I made a point to come back and bring my wife along.
This time, we got a seat on the patio and it was this that gave the bar a fifth star. The space is perfect. It is away from the street but still with fresh air (no smoking allowed) and wonderful on a summer's eve. We did a tasting tour of the different regions of Scotland this time and were introduced to some varieties that have since become our favourites.
This is for the scotch lovers... -
Review from Natalie B.
Toronto, ON
4/27/2012
Some thoughts: Great setting to go and unwind with some friends. Candlelit, upscale pub feel. My friends and I witnessed a Scottish celebration of sorts beside us- it was amusing and a great atmosphere for all. Excellent selection of whiskey. Extremely helpful and friendly waitstaff. Apple fritters were delicious. I was boring and had a glass of cab sauv.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
Whiskey!! A whole Wall of Whiskey at The Caledonian!!
I should have order one of those instead of a beer... definitely next time.
There are quite a few Scottish draft beer in the menu. The Tennent's Lager I ordered which is the best selling pale lager in Scotland was well balanced: crisp with a hint of malt.
The crowd here tonight was quite mix: with families and even a table of seniors with their party hats on at the back room.
Haggis Fritters any one? Thanks for Vivek for sharing his deep fried haggis with a smokey whiskey sauce. I guess deep fried makes everything tastes better?! It was not gamy at all but has this funny texture of sticking to my mouth.
Service here is top notch! Our server is courteous and efficient and always check in on us.
The Caledonian is surprisingly busy even on a weeknight?! I wondering how it would be on a Friday or Saturday night! -
Review from Chris P.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is a whiskey lovers wet dream.
The wall behind the bar is drowned in whiskey from floor to ceiling. It was the first stop on our Yelp Dufferin Grove bar crawl so I took it easy and went with a basic rye and diet. I liked the vibe of this place. Nice and relaxed, great atmosphere.
It was a little odd that there was a rather large group of people standing in the middle of the bar, not sitting at the bar, and blocking the entire path for the serving staff. I would expect this to happen if the bar was busy but there were more than enough tables open for this group to grab a seat and get out of everyone's way.
February Food-Free Yelping Challenge 9/29Listed in: Food-free Challenge
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Review from Dave M.
Toronto, ON
4/20/2012
I absolutely love this place. Donna is, in my opinion, the most engaging and people-first restaurant owner in Toronto. This is her baby and it shows in how she remembers names, drinks, faces; in the delightful (if all female which is cheating to a lecherous Italian-Irishman) staff; in the vibe of 'don't you wish this was your living room?' The scotch selection is second to none, and beers are likewise excellent.
All I can say is I'm dead glad this is my local. -
Review from Shiona R.
2/2/2012
I will start off by saying I may be biased as I am Scottish, but whenever I feel homesick I head here!
I know of no other bar which has such a fine variety of Scotch, serves Vodka and Irn Bru and has a haggis burger on the menu. (For those of you who have never heard of/tried Irn Bru - it is a bright orange Scottish soda/pop that has the most indescribable flavor, you either love it or hate it...I love it!)
My advice before going here is to book as I have never seen the place empty. Owned by a Scottish expat called Donna (who is a true salt of the earth West Coast Scottish person!) it has a super friendly relaxed atmosphere. On my first visit I was greeted with a hug and welcomed in to the bar.
Do try the following - haggis fritters (if you only want to brave a mouthful of this beautiful food), the fish and chips (fries), the haggis, neeps and tatties (turnip and mashed potato) and if your waistline permits the deep fried mars bar. Most items on the menu have a recommended whiskey pairing...and do try, especially with the haggis.
The food has always been lovely, I have been here on several occasions. In fact a group of friends and I went here on Christmas Eve, I honestly felt like I was home. I cannot say enough how inviting and fantastic this place is!
Warning - most Scottish cuisine should be eaten with a group of friends, preferably trained in CPR as undoubtedly someone will need resuscitated! -
Review from Catherine M.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
I've been once and thought it was a decent place. I went with a friend on a quiet Sunday evening, it was definitely cosy. Both servers were nice and friendly. Sadly I can't say much on the whiskey selection - I had wine (of the week?), a reasonably priced VQA, my friend stuck with beer.
I thought some of the food was a bit overpriced for the pub environment - I love Scotch eggs but couldn't bring myself to spend 8 bucks for one here (vs. 2-3 pounds in the UK). I went for the Mac and Cheese, which was very good with healthy lashings of bacon.
I didn't feel compelled to rush back though but would probably try again. -
Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
8/31/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm all about atmosphere and this place has it: friendly, inviting, comfortable, it's like I was stepping into someone's house. It's all Donna's doing. She's the proprietor of this establishment and once you step inside her bar, you're in her home. She will make sure that you're having a great experience. In fact, all of her staff offer the same level of customer service.
My first introduction to the Caledonian was on a Wednesday night and the bar was pretty busy for a weekday. Near the patio, a group of men and women of various ages were singing Scottish folk songs. This group meets once a month and if you happen to be there on the same night, it's such a beautiful thing to see and hear. I've been in love with the Caledonian ever since.
In terms of libation, the Caledonian doesn't fail at this. Their beer and whiskey lists is good. They have 10 draft beers, including KLB Raspberry wheat beer. But it might be worth your while to try one of the bottled imported beers from Scotland. My favourite is Alba Scots Pine Ale, which is a popular choice.
Their impressive scotch and whiskey menu includes Oban, Macallan, and all of the Glens you can think of.
Their menu is traditional Scottish fare but I've only had three of their items: Fish and chips made with a light beer batter; curry and chips; and my favourite, the Taste of Scotland platter. This platter is best to share with a friend and it includes a Scotch egg, Scottish oat cakes, apple smoked Scottish cheddar and haggis balls.
Mmm, haggis...
If the idea of eating stuffed sheep's stomach doesn't scream "yummy" in your head, then try a haggis ball. They're small and you can always share it with friend. It's not as gross as you think and it doesn't look anything like the food you would stab on Robbie Burns' Day.
So, go ahead, try it.
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Woot! Woot! My 200th post!Listed in: Beer & Whiskey Joints
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Review from Paul M.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first trip the Caledonian was a bit of a mixed bag, and if Yelp had a 3.5 star rating, I'd be inclined to lean towards it. However, I'm going to have to settle on a 3 star.
Ok on to the details.....
Our group showed up at the Caledonian later in the evening for a night-cap and was told that on Thursday's the bar has last call at 1am. With a statutory holiday looming on the next day, a few fellow Yelpers piped up to say, "Even on Holy Thursday!?'
Yes...apparently even on Holy Thursday.
Considering the bar was fairly full with patrons looking to unwind (get drunk) without the worry of an early morning the next day it certainly came as a bit of a surprise, and I'm sure the Caledonian missed out on a boatload of extra revenue. On the bright side, the waitress was more then understanding and let us nurse our beers until 2 am. (Disclaimer: After writing that last sentence, I adjusted the Yelp rating to a 4. Must give credit, where credit is due.)
The atmosphere and feel of the Caledonian is great and while I can't speak for the food they offer, they've got a great patio out back that smells like rich, new MDF board (Disclaimer 2: I once worked at a woodworking factory. When you head out back, look up under the awning. That my friend is MDF board...and yes it was brand spanking new on my visit).
If the weather had of been a few degrees warmer I'm sure our group would have enjoyed our beers a little more. I can easily see this patio being a big hit come summer time and hopefully the scent of new MDF has subsided.
I'm looking forward to my next trek to the Caledonian this summer to enjoy a nice cold beer on the patio......I just hope that last call on the weekends is 2am! -
Review from Dimitrios D.
7/26/2011
A cool Scottish pub.
Nice drink selection and friendly waitstaff.
The food isn't my personal favorite but a lot of people seemed to enjoy the Scottish platter which has fried haggis fritter things and Scotch eggs (I think they're called that) and some cheese and crackers. -
Review from Gordon J.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2011
It is a very warm and welcoming place. Donna, the owner made a point to come over and introduce herself, and dropped by from time to time to ensure all was well. I noticed that everyone who came through the door had the same treatment. The servers too, were all very warm and personable. I felt very settled the whole night
The food was excellent. I started with a Scotch egg. I love Scotch eggs, and have few places to have them and this was as good as my Scottish neighbor used to make in Oshawa a lifetime ago. Teena and I both had fish and chips which were great. I loved the lightly battered fish, the chips and the greens which came with it.
I love the beer selection. They have a good draught selection but if you are looking for true Scottish beer, it comes in bottle form. Many great and unusual choices.
Their motto on the website is "Come for the food, stay for the drink, return for the friends you've made."
As Teena and I left, Donna the owner, on a very busy night, made sure to call out to tell us to have a good night and thanks for coming.
Thanks Donna......and yes we'll be back! -
Review from Lindsay D.
Ottawa, ON
2/26/2011
I consider myself to be very lucky that this is my local - how can you go wrong with that many delicious beers (the Elderberry & Heather ones are my favourite, so far) and such an amazing (and reasonably priced) assortment of single malt scotch?
The food is significantly better than your average pub food - in particular the scotch egg, which cannot be adequately described due to it being That Good, and the steak pie, which is perfect winter food.
I like that it's unpretentious and casual, too, possibly because it's aimed at a slightly older crowd than other bars in the area. -
Review from A S.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 1/17/2012
Once again, I love the whiskey selection here. They have a huge variety (anything from Macallans, Laphroigs, and even a Japanese whiskey).
This time, I also had the food. The selection is brief and very Scottish. The fish and chips were crispy and great. The apple/pear crumble was delicious.
The clientele is a mixed bag - students and geriatrics, young professionals and baggy hipsters. The waitstaff are friendly and as accommodating as possible.
Laid back atmosphere.
I have nothing bad to say about this place. Nothing at all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2012
I came here far too late to get food so I'm rating this as ONLY as a bar. And not just any bar, this… Read more »
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Review from S. E.
Toronto, ON
2/28/2011
Excellent atmosphere, the best service I've had in ages, and a fantastic fish and chips - where the large filets are lightly battered and delicious - where the fries laying under the filet aren't starchy, over-oiled, and soggy. Crisp and light, flavourful.
The Scotch Egg is delightful, crispy and rich - finish it with the creamy bread pudding and wash it all down with a Caledonian pint. The haggis was more than I'd expected in terms of texture and presentation.
Dreamy. -
Review from Trish I.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2011
I think it's an amazing little pub for the area and central Toronto as a whole! I ordered the Steak Pie and it was delicious. Rather than getting an overly greasy, massive portion of junk, the dish was impressive. Perfectly cooked green beans was a pleasant surprise for a pub!
The owner Donna, was really friendly and genuine, constantly checking in on us. Great beer and whisky selection, cozy understated (not tacky) decor... great little spot on College west! Had a great time, definitely going back.
ps: there's an area in the back for a patio.. can't wait for warm weather to enjoy this outdoor pub space! -
Review from Barry S.
North York, ON
3/6/2011
It's been a couple of weeks since we went to The Caledonian, but I felt I should share my thoughts.
I was there with Patty H (her review is also here) and was eager to let my new friends in Toronto sample some of the Scottish foods I had been ranting on about !
Firstly, I would say the atmosphere and décor was very similar to a number of Scottish Pubs back home... there was also a good selection of Scottish booze based beverages, but sadly no Irn Bru :(
We ordered quite a selection from the menu, and let everybody dig in.
The food was served in pretty good portions. My penny pinching Scottish upbringing made me think you didn't quite get all you paid for with some of the portions, especially the Scotch Egg.
Unfortunately I felt the Haggis lacked a little authenticity. It wasn't as spicy as I would have expected and I would have preferred a loser texture too. I have never been served a slice of haggis, unless its then been fried and served on the side of dish or on a roll. The gravy, was also unexpected. White turnip, rather than brightly coloured neeps? I guess it had been toned down for the Toronto market , and they did what they could with the ingredients to hand ?
All in all, it felt like a wee spot of Scotland in Toronto and it was an enjoyable brunch. -
Review from Teena D.
Updated - 6/18/2011 7 photos
I haven't been to the Caledonian since January (my one and only time) and I was welcomed like it had been just last week since I'd been there.
We sat at the bar and Beth took good care of us. We ordered the mac and cheese and a Scottish egg and they were good.
There were Scottish dancers which were very entertaining.
What a nice place ... I'm going to make it a point of getting there more often.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/29/2011 ROTD 2/22/2011
We'd read a couple weeks ago in the Toronto Star about The Caledonian, a Scottish pub in our 'hood… Read more »
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Review from Kent P.
12/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a nice addition to the neighborhood because it's a little more upscale than most of the bars- but still comfortable enough not to care what you're wearing. Been a few times and the food hasn't forced me to write home to mom, but the Innis and Gunn / Guinness / beers on tap taste a little better given the environment.
The space sort of reminds me of what The Keg might have looked like before it was a chain. Does that make any sense? Doesn't seem to have any drink specials I'm aware of, so you'll probably be spending $6.50 a pint or so.
Manager is a cute little number that puts some effort to make sure you're having a good time, which is nice.
Also, biggest basement hallway / smallest bathroom combo I've ever seen. -
Review from Patty H.
North York, ON
3/2/2011 5 photos
I went to this restaurant because my Scottish friend want to try out 'haggis' in Toronto.
We made a trip to come here for brunch on Sunday.
We have a party of 5, we ordered, Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, Scotch Egg, Scotch Fry, The Caledonian Burger, Fish& Chip as meals to share. We also ordered Deep-Fried Mars Bar and Bread and Butter Pudding as dessert.
First of all, my Scottish friend was not very fond of the haggis. He said no one would ever serve haggis with gravy on top. The neeps (turnips) are usually color yellow in UK, but here is white?!? Also $14 for this dish is a bit over the top.
2nd, the scotch fry, which comes with blood pudding. The blood pudding was REALLY dry. The rest is tasty and A-OK.
The Scotch Egg, it was tasty. However, $8 for just ONE egg, then again, it's abit over the top.
The fish & chips are excellent. The burger's beef patties is very dry.
We ordered deep fried mars bar and bread and butter pudding as dessert. Deep fried mars bar is interesting, extremely sweet. (Do not try to eat this dish by yourself, you need two ppl, because it's too sweet!). Also, $7 for ONE deep fried mars bar? That is also on the expensive side.
Bread and butter pudding is very dense. It is too dense for my Scottish friend. He never thought the pudding would be 'that thick and dense'.
Overall, we have 5 people, and the bill comes to be around $27 dollars. Very expensive for brunch for sure.
Other than the prices, I think the food is well presented, the waitress is very nice and they answer and listen to our question and request patiently.
But would I come here again? If they make the price $3 dollar cheaper, sure. -
Review from Liora I.
Toronto, ON
11/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
The warm and inviting atmosphere at this brand new Scottish pub is a whisky lover dream. Plus, it's the only place in the city where I've ever seen haggis on the menu... I'm still working up to trying the haggis but I'll report back once I do.
This bar might just breathe some new life into this strip of College Street that was previously home to not much more than several vacant shop fronts and the less than stellar Black Knight. -
Review from Stephen T.
Toronto, ON
6/19/2011
I eat (and drink) at the Caledonian regularly. I also bring colleagues and Customers here, we never leave disappointed.
It's easy to pour a poor pint. Donna pays particular attention to maintaining clean draft lines and always serves a perfect pint (best Guinness I've had in Canada!).
The excellent menu is often complimented by 5 or 6 specials, there's something for everyone. The friendly staff will be happy to recommend their favourite items, and engage you in a friendly chat.
To be guaranteed a great pint and quality food, I highly recommend the Caley. -
Review from Mary E.
Toronto, ON
8/23/2011
This place is amazing. The owner is a very nice Scottish lady, the food is delightful, and the last time I was there someone actually broke out some bagpipes to play.
