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The Emmet Ray
Category: Arts & Entertainment Jazz & Blues Nightlife Jazz & Blues Jazz & Blues [Edit]
924 College StToronto, ON M6H 1A4
Neighbourhood: Dufferin Grove
(416) 792-4497
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for The Emmet Ray
23 reviews in English
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Review from Lola L.
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is lovely.
Went to see a friend's jazz band play in the back and have a few drinks. The vibe was nice and chill and the patrons all seemed relaxed -- no posturing in sight!
Also, the whiskey selection is incredible! I was battling a cold, so I asked the waiter if he could make me something warm -- a hot toddy, maybe? It wasn't something they normally do, but he brought me one a few minutes later just the same. I would've preferred if he'd told me the price beforehand, though -- $9.50? But I still enjoyed it. The food my friends were having looked good, too. I'd come back. -
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
5/15/2012
3.8 Stars
VIBE
A great place to come when you're already inebriated. It's where the cool kids come after the party. Don't get me wrong, it's not fancy. Most "cool" places aren't.
You can sit in a pew in the front area. I personally liked the back area because there's a DJ, two couches and a mini dance floor. This night was a tribute to MCA, so Beastie Boys were on the soundtrack that night. It was fun, it was casual, it works.
Notes:
1. Hipsters dance funny.
2. Two straight Indian dudes dancing is not funny. It's just weird.
3. I will always fight. for my right. to paarrrt-aayy.
I DRANK
The usual. Heineken. But apparently, they have a good whiskey selection here. Maybe I'll have to come back for a bourbon sour.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I kind of like this place.Listed in: Libations, College Street
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Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
2/29/2012
It seriously felt like I was at an Elite Yelp Event. Everybody hovers around the Bar.
Except I'm squeezing between people where the Bar narrows to PAY for Alcohol.
No matter. $4.50 pints before 9:00 pm even on Weekend is superb.
After 9:00 pm seems reasonable pricing like other College st shops.
Music extremely loud even when we're opposite poles from the Music Source.
The Music Source was not coming from the in-house IPod, but rather Live is nice.
I just pretend that whenever my Friends open their mouth, they spoke 80s ol'skool.
The ultra-comfort lounge Sofas near the Front looking out to street is limited supply.
The seats across from the Bar aren't really seats but a Waiting Area for ordering.
I wonder how high you have to be to not be disturbed in the back by the Live Music.
Atmosphere, I can imagine it being perfect for Live Jazz the likes of New Orleans.
I'm down for that. -
Review from Elvis A.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Interesting setup for this up and coming neighborhood of bar/pubs.
Atmosphere is relaxed, laid back and inviting if you ask me. Good selection of booze with a huge selection of single malts, whiskies, beer etc.
Plus is the 4.50$ pints before 9 PM everyday so kudos for that.
They had a decent selection of beer but somehow I ended up ordering the Boneshaker (a local IPA with 7.1% alcohol) oh man vile stuff. I can't blame the place for this beer but sorta ruined my experience there. If you like that beer this is a good spot to have it.
Service is relaxed and since we were a larger group we were left alone after we ordered so we could chat and stuff with the water being filled regularly.
The big ? for me is why they only take cash! I mean who carries cash anymore at least accept interac.
3 Stars. -
Review from Jim G.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Had a very enjoyable evening sitting at a quiet table in a loudish bar. The whiskey and whisky list is impressive, formidable even. I could spend a lifetime sampling scotch, the Irish, bourbon and ryes. The beers on tap are really tasty as well. The place is full of regulars, and I can see why. $4.50 for any pint before 9 p.m. every day of the week! I didn't sample the food so can't comment on it, but I was impressed by the drink and atmosphere. Will definitely be back.
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Review from Kent P.
Updated - 12/9/2011 14 Check-ins Here
3 updates:
The chef and co-owner left, but they've got a new one and the food seems to be getting better than last time. Beef pot pie is still my favourite (although pricey at 10$).
There is some sort of secret list of patrons on the wall. Numbers, they call it. I think it has to do with bar tabs, but I'm not sure. I want on this list.
They serve on tap now a beer called BONE SHAKER. It's by Amsterdam and claims to be 7.1% alcohol. If feels more like it is 22.9% alcohol. Seriously, two or three of these are you're off your rocker. I'm not sure how many more bone shakers my body can handle. I find it tastes quite gross so like to chase it with something a little easier to pallet such as cheap tequila.
Good update.Listed in: DRINKNG IS FUN
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/24/2011
Still a great reliable and unpretentious pub. Last night they were playing bingo. Bingo! Get there… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
I dig The Emmet Ray.
The drink menu is great! A good selections of Beer, Whiskies and Scotch! The selection of Whiskies really blow my mind. There would be something here for anyone!!
They Even have Boneshaker IPA on Draft. Before 9 pm is only $4.50 a pint.... at 7.1% I don't need a lot to be blasted!
We were here on a Saturday late night! The place still hopping with a Live DJ pumping out "Old School" music, I guess 80s tunes are oldies....
Luckily we got the sofa area in the front where we can lounge around and yelled at each other since the music was quite loud at time...
My Yelp Friends kept nodding their heads and smiling to whatever I said.... can they really hear me??
I'll be back here for sure..... I want to have some Malt Scotch!! -
Review from Daniel T.
Toronto, ON
Very laid back spot near college and dovercourt. Huge whisky/scotch/burbon menu. Small but consistent beer and liqour menu. Prices are very good for the service and atmosphere you get. Overall an awesome spot to just hang and have a couple of good tasting drinks, and listen to the jazz/folk live music they have at the back. Not much of a food menu, but they have some munching options.
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Review from jenna m.
11/1/2011
The Emmet Ray located on College at Dovercourt is a super cool whisky bar. The atmosphere is very relaxed with hip and classy undertones. The bar itself is a nice infusion of contemporary and classic/retro furnishings and decor. Stained glass windows tastefully line the foyer as you enter and classic pot lights shine some light on the splendid bar. Oh the bar. This is by far one of my all time favourite bar menus. They carry a vast selection of delicious beer, gin, vodka, wine, whisky and many more fine spirits. They have a small food menu to satisfy some of your alcohol induced hunger cravings. Throughout the week and weekend live music and DJs delightfully entertain thirsty patrons. The bar keeps are very friendly, welcoming and accommodating. The Emmet Ray Bar are purveyors of the finest alcohol and providers of fantastic live music!
I highly recommend The Emmet Ray Bar! -
Review from Valery C.
12/8/2011
A jazz and whiskey bar some ways off from the more bustling stretch of College Ave, named after a fictional jazz guitarist from an old Woody Allen flick. Has the feel of a local hangout, couches up front, the bar area in the middle, and tables in the back, with live jazz most nights. Lively crowd on the late Saturday evening we went, and between that and the live music, it will be hard to hear your company, but we lucked out on the couches all the way up front by the windows, the quietest section. Friendly staff.
Plenty of whiskey on their menu, although beer was what I was interested in having. Several local beers on tap, and a good selection of import and Canadian craft beers, stored in a controlled temperature unit by the bar. Not too bad price wise, with most beers $5.75, and the more expensive hovering around $7 - 8 for the most part. Or better yet, their happy hour price of $4.50 a pint from their draft section up until 9 pm, but we were there after that hour. Instead, tried the Unibroue Fin du monde here, an excellent ale.
Definitely warmed up to the place as the night went on, and found it to be a laid-back bar without much of a scene, and can't argue with the solid beer selection. Cash only. -
Review from Vivek S.
6/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Popped in here late last night for some drinks before last call. The place was crawling with locals in various stages of inebriation.
It's a long and narrow space. The front is dark and cozy and the raised back room is a bit brighter and better for groups. It seems we had just missed a live performance, as a guitarist was packing up his stuff. Not to worry as a bloke with a 5 kg ball chained to his ankle was mighty entertaining. He was drunker than a skunk (if that skunk were a raging alcoholic).
Drinks are super affordable. They have Amsterdam, Mill St and Creemore Springs on tap, a wide array of bottles and a hefty selection of whiskey. My eyes widened at the sight of amber-filled bottles so I ordered a bourbon sour. One kind of feels like a douche ordering a mixed drink at 1:30am admist a cyclone of drunkards, but my cocktail was served with haste and courtesy. It tasted fantastic too.
I'll come back. They have a wall of great whiskeys and whiskys, and I'd love to try them all. I'll make sure to bring the old ball and chain next time too. LITERALLY.
Obligatory Title Pun: And you can call me RAY.
Menu Readability: I don't remember one.
Need to mention: CA$H ONLY.
What this place teaches me about myself: Whiskey is my weakness.Listed in: Places to get crunk in the…, Cash Only, Cocktail Boss
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Review from Jay M.
Toronto, ON
10/18/2011
this place, well, it is what it is, and I don't think they are trying to push much past that.
$4.50 pints before 9pm is a winner for sure and I'll continue to stop in for a cold one after a long day, but aside from that there isn't a whole lot worth writing about.
food menu is small and limiting for options. I will hand it to them that their whiskey selection is very impressive, but since I don't drink whiskey, this does nothing for me either.
the inside is dark, with very little character aside from the candle lit tables at night. there is also a matching couch and chair combo from the 70's you can sit on, but thats about the most notable thing for decor.
I'll give this place 3 stars because of the drink specials and the fact they aren't misleading you into believing the place is something it isn't.
without the cheap drinks, 2 stars tops. -
Review from Lauren M.
6/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
I would give it 3 star but THE GARBAGE SMELL forced me to reduce to two stars.
I'm sure it's fine on other nights, but on a Thursday night (I'm assuming the night before College St garbage collection) this place reeked of garbage throughout the whole bar. Gross.
Otherwise, I was expecting some kind of music playing but it was very quiet on a Thursday.
They do have lots of whiskey variety on the menu. Place is dark and cosy, old school decor, awesome ice buckets just screaming for you to slip them into your handbag and take home.
Service was great - very quick considering we walked in with 30+ people and I managed to get a few drinks without having to wait long at the bar. -
Review from Erin B.
8/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
Finally had an opportunity to check this place out and I found myself charmed. As someone else mentioned, it's classy without being pretentious. And just classy enough - I didn't feel underdressed or uncomfortable despite the slick, dark interior.
If I had, that would have stopped the moment the bartender approached our table. He was friendly and real and able to engage in conversation about the relative hops content of the beers on the menu. My friend ordered a guinness, "cause sometimes I just feel like a guinness, Erin". The bartender took his order and then asked if he'd ever tried the Mill St stout - no attitude, no 'ohmigod I can't believe you're not drinking local' snarkiness, but he still put it out there. I appreciate any effort to push local stuff. Especially if it's sans hipster attitude.
The Emmet Ray makes me wish I had more occassions to go out for a quiet drink or two these days. I'll try to make my next visit at a time when I can also experience the live music I read so much about. -
Review from Anna B.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2011
This place is my fav local in the west. Every day $4.50 pints from 5-9pm, YES I said every day, and surprisingly one of the best pulled pork burgers in town.
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Review from Chris P.
6/25/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Where'd everybody go?
This was what passed through my head as I came back upstairs from using the ATM outside of the washrooms. I quickly found out that they have a secret back room and had parted the curtains so our Elite after party could be more comfortable. Also, the look was great on the patrons faces when about 40 of us all waltzed into the place.
It's a cozy spot, but pretty bare for the most part, nothing fancy. The draught beer selection is sparse with only three options but this hole in the wall is all about the whiskey anyways. I'm not a whiskey drinker so I can't comment on the drinks but there certainly is a large number of options on their list. -
Review from Victoria S.
Toronto, ON
2/2/2011
i wish i had gotten there before nine for the infamous $4.50 pints. (from 5 - 9 i believe)..
it was pretty dark in there, lit up with lots of candles, and a dj spinning old vinyl which really set the mood. maybe 1 - 3 people dancing at any given time. bar service. bartender was really nice. pints were expensive though. some really old art on the walls and other antiquey things i liked.
i would definitely go back but i can't see myself becoming a regular.Listed in: best happy hour
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Review from Angela L.
5/28/2010
Despite the lure of $3 mixed drinks on the Wednesday that we stumbled upon the Emmet Ray, the shiny labels on the vast selection of import and specialty bottled beer that gleamed from the glass doored fridge was just too great to pass up on.
Off of the late night snacks menu, the assortment of marinated olives arrived plentiful and pleasantly warm. The next table over's cheese plate looked tasty too. Other delightful sounding house made nibbles to try next time include: candied walnuts, tamari almonds, and homemade pot pies. I don't even eat meat, but the chicken liver and cognac pate, terrine, and rabbit and chorizo rillette sound shmancy and possibly worth a try for those with an adventurous palette.
Despite having the reputation of being a great live jazz venue, the sounds on the evening we visited were instead an eclectic mix of everything from Lykke Li to instrumental movie soundtrack-like pieces. -
Review from Liora I.
Toronto, ON
4/10/2010
A great addition to this neighbourhood.
Charming space, mostly lovely food - just don't order off their "nibbles"section because were sadly surprised to receive variety-store-grade snacks when we were expecting homemade...it was weird.
Still I plan to become a regular - it's what the Red Room and Nirvana wish they were... -
Review from Michelle A.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Emmet Ray has a great intimate vibe that is perfect for meeting a group of friends or a cute date.The staff is very friendly and engaging, and they always have Big Wheel on tap (a personal fave). Go early -- pints are $4.50 before 9 p.m - and remember to go to the bank, it's cash only.
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Review from Andrew T.
Toronto, ON
4/26/2011
Great layout and lighting, staff that know the scotch they're selling, very reasonable prices and good music. Terrific, easy spot to go to and enjoy.
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Review from AA K.
Toronto, ON
8/12/2010 31 Check-ins Here
:)
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Review from Brian C.
Toronto, ON
7/3/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's all about the jazz for me. Despite not being a whisky drinker, the Emmet Ray's selection was the second thing that caught my eye, the first was the great jazz artists playing, the third were their prices.
I came to the Emmet to watch a friend's trio play some sweet tunes. The cozy and sparse bar felt like an elite secret shared amongst musicians and jazz aficionados alike. The low lighting and separated, sitting-room style seating in the back gave a sense of discovery that pulled me in.
As I listened and immersed myself in the tunes the entire bar took over my sense. A plate of warm olives to suck on let me enjoy some of the faire the kitchen had to offer. I watched as the staff patiently enjoyed the tunes as I much as I did, which made me appreciate that we could all share something together.
I did find one of the servers, I never caught his name, to be a little curt. However, when I retrieved the lost TTC pass he secured behind the bar I decided to overlook his cold demeanour. All of the bar's patrons were extremely affectionate. Many of them spoke highly of the cheese platter I plan on trying when I return.
