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The Done Right Inn
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 2 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- DJ, Live
- Best Nights:
- Thu, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
15 reviews for The Done Right Inn
Review Highlights
15 reviews in English
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Review from John M.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2011
You want a dive bar with a fantastic patio in one of the best neighbourhoods in the city? Look no further friends because you're not gonna find a better place.
Sure the beer may be warm and there is no AC indoors. Yea maybe skunks frequent the patio, and all the tables are wobbly but man this place feels like home.
I spent over about a year and a half living in this neighbourhood and stumbled in to this bar on a whim one day because the sign out front said there was a patio. I'm happy I did because it has become my favorite bar. This summer though it seems to have picked up a lot and you're lucky if you can find a spot on the patio even on a Tuesday night. Go regardless and thank me later. -
Review from Jeff C.
East York, ON
11/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is a dive bar for dive bar lovers. I had some time to kill and was looking for a place to have drinks before my restaurant reservation. This bar had high ratings on Yelp so I thought I would give it a try. I was still dressed in business clothes and felt out of place, not that any one cared. I wasn't thrilled with the experience but that's because I was prepared for a fine dining experience later. Queen West is definitely getting more upscale and this place seems to be a refuge against that trend. The patrons that were their seemed to love the place and many knew each other. It's not my kind of place but if you prefer uber casual to uptight and trendy enjoy. While I won't be back I hope the place holds it's own against the trendy foo foo tide.
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Review from hangover n.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2011
Like another poster remarked, this place is a hidden bastion of authenticity, smack in the middle of Queen West. There are far too many bars in this city that pretend to be dives whilst actually being trendy prepackaged hipster havens; if you're interested in seeing how the whole dive thing is actually done, head here. Great staff, good drinks, cool crowd. YES!
*No skinny jeans allowed. -
Review from Mark P.
Toronto, ON
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a bit like the Only Cafe, only without the Cafe. A bit more plain, but neat and they have Schneider Weisse...
Call it rustic, call it lean decorated but it does feel like something you'd find in Berlin Kreuzberg. Give it a try! -
Review from Kathleen B.
Toronto, ON
2/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love going to the done right with a friend to chat (it's quiet enough) and observe the locals. it's always interesting, as you can see from the other reviews here too. they also have some decent beers on tap, which is super important. (i think i drink mcdonald or something when i'm there).
the regulars are so friendly too, usually a bit too drunk and they just enter your conversation like it's the most natural thing in the world.
only 4 stars because the service can be sort of unenthusiastic and the bathrooms are pretty bad (no mirror in one, leaks on the floor, bad smells). on the other hand the service is sometimes really awesome, but here's my story:
two summers ago i ended up at the done right often on a sunday afternoon with my friend. we'd finish our shifts around 5 or 6 and go hang out on their patio drinking gin bloody mary's/caesars. i'm vegan so i get them made with tomato juice. the bar tenders would sometimes add all kinds of stuff in addition to horse radish like olives and it was awesome. but this particular time the bitchy server ran out of tomato juice so i ran across the street to buy some at the convenience store (after i've spent like $20 on these expensive double shot drinks) and she still charged me full price (like $7-8?) for the drink.
regardless, i still like to go here and bring along some good company, but i don't mind being earlier than my date either since it's such an entertaining place to be. -
Review from Jack S.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2011
In response to Kathleen, the bitchy server did not charge you full price if she charged you 7 or 8 dollars. 8 dollars is the cost of a double shot with no mix at the Done Right. If she charged you 7, she was giving you a discount.
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Review from Alex K.
Toronto, ON
7/23/2011
No Kitchen, so you can bring a sandwhich or order in or pick up something in the 'hood on your way down. Cash only. washrooms in basement. These are the facts of the Done Right Inn. The Truth of the Done Right is that it is a sanctuary in the middle of hipster land. A 'watering hole' in the best sense. seems like the regualrs rule here and friendly casual conversation is the tone. A great place to escape to for a beer after work or when you need a 'Cheers' momement. They will welcome you, pour you a cold drink and keep the tunes coming. It is scuffed, scratched and a little dark, all things I want in a club house. You might be in someone's amazing rec room bar or a small university pub, either way, get your butt into one their mismatched seats and let the happy chatter wash over you as you unwind. Not for the high heeled import car set, I can often find the staff of the queen st scene hiding out here from the 'tourists'.
BEST:Good Beer selection, mostly bottles. cheap for Downtown. casual staff.
WORST: the chance of hipsters finding out about this place. -
Review from Devyn G.
Toronto, ON
Now, I ask you, how can you not love a bar that actually accepts Canadian Tire money?
How can you not love a bar whose staff actually got pissed off when the place received a great review in trendy Toronto Life magazine because they were afraid the place would lose its local cred?
Once described by NOW as "so laid back, it's almost prone," the Done Right is a haven for the Queen West arts community, where lucky writers like myself have enjoyed sharing cold pints with other writers, artists, actors, musicians, and other assorted happy riffraff. When their resident spinner, DJ Spite, is up, you can be assured of a colourful tapestry of tunage to go with your brews. And they're even cool with you bringing in your own food, since they don't serve any.
The back patio is awesome with its high booths and the tree that yawns upward from its centre. The bartenders are all sassy and clever, each a unique personality bringing different energy and vibe with them. Their on-tap choices may be small, but its well selected, and plenty of other options stand cold in the coolers.
This is a Queen West person's Queen West bar. Beware of imitations.Listed in: Queen West
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Review from Stephanie C.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2009 1 Check-in Here
Thanks to Devyn G's ROTD of this place, I was pleasantly reminded at how great the Done Right Inn is, and how I should visit more often.
I made a point to meet a friend there the other night, knowing that they would share my attraction to the bar's laid back atmosphere. I think I share the same sentiment as some of my fellow Yelpers do, that I want to keep this place from turning into something bad or worse, trendy. I compare it to finding a good hairstylist or a good tailor: after a long search and numerous disappointments, finding the right combination of good service and a relaxed atmosphere is hard to come by, especially for a bar.
It's been a few days since my last visit but I'll be back. For now, I'm saving up my Canadian Tire money because I know I'll have a better use of it here than at said store.Listed in: My locals, Beer & Whiskey Joints, One ain't the loneliest number
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2008 1 photo
When I was a kid I assumed that all bars operated in the style of Cheers, where you'd walk in, and the whole bar would turn around and go, "Hey! Where have you been?" The bartender prepares your drink before you sit down, and he hands it to you as if he really cares, eye contact and all.
This assumption died when I entered my first bar at age 19, forcing me to tuck that fantasy away. It was material of the movies, and I'd certainly lost hope... until I stepped into the Done Right Inn.
There was something about this bar that caught my interest. The sign, the dim interior, the sofa and '50s-style chairs in the front, even the type of people.
In fact, this place is the most welcoming, charming place -- even for a single female -- full of regular characters who all know each other, spanning the age of around 4 years to over 60, and all of them, including the bartender, will talk to you and encourage dialogue if the place isn't busy. No one judges. No one is too cool for school.
Snobs, please go away! Even with my minimal interaction with the bar, I am already attached, and it would break my heart to see it become an impersonal place where everyone DOESN'T know my name.
PS. Dogs are welcome here! -
Review from Monsters K.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2010
Ok, in prep I've spent a lot of time here in the past. I've had some truly outstanding experiences. here is one of them
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A disturbing Evening...
So, at the Done Right.. usually a fairly calm place (sort of)... Myselfand Alex have stopped in for a pint before going home, MacClains and aSt. Andre please, all is well...
In comes 'Crazy Gypsy Lady', dressed all in black, black head scarf andall, maybe more of a Jawa than Gypsy, I don't know the Genealogyinvolved.. So here she is right beside me, her face is entirelyplastered with thick gobs of red lipstick, and a ball of smearedmakeup?Blood?Feces? for a third eye.. she is about 1 foot away from myface mumbling and rearranging small scraps of paper in herpurse/bag/evil carrier.
She manages to get it together to buy a beer from the bar and moves toa table behind Alex The Bastard with her scraps of paper and generalmalaise..this is better, but not great as she is in my peripheral, theworst place, she's right behind Alex, he can't see her, he's sittingpretty...Alex the Bastard.
Now, also in the bar is Strange Drunk Girl (College is back in you know)I've not seen her before, she is quite drunk.. It would seem that she isinterested in talking to Crazy Gypsy Lady. So Strange Drunk Girlinterrupts the frantic lipstick smearing that's going on, Strange DrunkGirl and Crazy Gypsy Lady are talking, hitting it off it seems. Aftersome unexplained moving around the Pub, Strange Drunk Girl decides theyhave to dance, the dancing is unpleasant.
Eventually Crazy Gypsy Lady has had enough and sits down, but is quiteworked up now... out comes the lipstick... Strange Drunk Girl nowstarts yelling at her about how they should go have sex, but can't causeshe's on her period (I am getting seriously creeped out at this point)..Around this time it becomes apparent that Strange Drunk Girl has withher Reluctant Male Friend. Reluctant Male Friend finally steps in andextricates Strange Drunk Girl, I am pleased..
Now its just Crazy Gypsy Lady.. She is very agitated, in an excitedstate if you like.. The Lipstick smearing is going full steam, rammingit into her nostrils, teeth, ears, really disturbing... Alex the bastardis calmly staring forward, why wont' he look! I try and make Alex look,to share the pain, he won't.
Crazy Gypsy Lady now wants to dance more, she is about 1 foot behindAlex The Bastard, gyrating, pulling up her dress/cape/rags and generallypleasing herself in a very frantic manner (there was inappropriatetouching) . Keep in mind, this is 1 foot behind Alex the Bastard ,whohas tranced out to avoid the situation, and about 3 ft. to my left, thisgoes on for several minutes, I am frozen, it is ghastly..
Crazy Gypsy Lady returns to her seat, more frantic lipstickapplication.. I have to stress that there are literally gobs of bloodred lipstick hanging off her face..
Eventually she leaves, this has been going on for about 30 minutes..
I decide it's time for another pint, my pain alone, Alex the Bastard having hidden his eyes... -
Review from Marie F.
4/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
"Shut up and pass me the Janga" is quite frankly the only thing I remember saying that night until it all went into a beautiful drunken haze!
It was a Sunday (don't judge me) and part deux of the Yelp Elite/my birthday after parties. I dragged along my hubby and friend Chris to participate in the debauchery.
Let's start with the things I do remember...
I remember this place being small, dark and random (similarities to my OWN description are purely coincidental at this time). It looked like a cozy dive bar for regulars and Queen Street West-ers alike. The funny thing is I have probably passed this place a million times and never knew it was a bar!
The patio is sick! The foosball table was convenient, and the bathrooms were certifiably scary ass hell!
Now for the parts I don't remember... I found the most amazing earth shattering cider in the world. The type of cider that if in the wrong hands could spell the end of civilization it self. The name of this cider you ask?! No F***ing clue :-(
I guess this means I'll have to make another trip down and try and write it down this time. -
Review from Jason E.
2/25/2010 1 photo
I popped in here after checking out Yelp Toronto reviews. I walked right past it, there is a sign, but not so as you'd notice. Inside it seems like it wasn't designed it just kind of happened almost as if someone had put a random selection of bar ingredients: furniture, kitchen equipment, lighting etc into a cocktail shaker and just upended it into a room. The staff are friendly and the place seems somewhat homely and comfortable. Apparently it's been open 11 years. It's a dive bar in the proper sense of the term, but friendly and posessed of a certain charm.
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Review from Anon O.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2011
i don't go out to bars so much anymore but this is a definite hang out spot when-ever i feel like going out. the bartenders here are AWESOME, i cannot even underline that enough. they are personable and super, super sweet. IE- on my birthday two years ago the bartender put on one of my favorite albums and proceeded to buy me and my date three rounds of premium vodka! it was definitely an unforgettable experience in terms of bartenders, it's hard to find ones that fun and generous! the atmosphere here is great too- no pretension what so ever, crowd varies from night to night but is generally low-key and relaxed. sometimes you will get people singing along to the songs and then the whole bar starts in and it's just a giant party. it's a small space with a lot of kitsch, velvet and atmospheric lighting. you get an intimate feeling and when it's crowded on the weekends you're still able to get great service, fast drinks and make a friend or two. the patio is simple and i've never had a problem finding a spot to sit. the overall vibe here is very relaxed. definitely a hidden gem, i'd bring ANYONE here, including my mom! cheers!
Listed in: FOOD & DRINK
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Review from nate C.
5/2/2009
awesome. went in for what we thought was going to be a couple beers. we ended up staying for 10 hours. great cheap beer. great people. free foosball.
