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The Mugshot Tavern
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 5 pm - 2 am
Wed-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Background, Music Videos, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
20 reviews for The Mugshot Tavern
20 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
4/9/2012
I never get to the Keele and Bloor area, and frankly didn't know any dining establishments existed around here, so this was a nice revelation. I was with people that knew the owner and I was also drunk and got free drinks (not from owner; from friends) so I'll try to make this as unbiased as possible.
VIBE
Fun. Friendly. I love the concept of this bar with the celebrity mugshots on the wall. It makes for a great icebreaker and conversation. It just adds to that "cool" vibe. I feel like this is an industry place, mainly because I was with industry people. LOL. I *think they do karaoke here. I feel like this is the type of place where the bar would burst out into song at any moment's notice. It was quite late and the bar was pretty packed. That's a good sign. I'm glad to see something like this and it makes me want to come over to this hood more often.
I DRANK
This was the same night as the aforementioned bad date (See: Jack Astors; See: The Piston). I was already an iced smirnoff vodka drink and two GTS in so let's have two more GTs please! They were quite strong and tasty.
I haven't had the food here. I feel like this is where the skewed ratings are coming from.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
I liked the Susanne Sommers Mugshot (Really?! Yes). This place kind of reminds me of Cheers. And don't you want "everyone to know your name?"Listed in: Libations
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Review from Jenny T.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I were originally going to meet up at Whelan's Gate for St. Patrick's Day, but it was way too crowded as to be expected. They then went the Bar With No Name, which had no tables, so they ended up at Mugshot. When I showed up, we were able to get two tables for the group. Although Mugshot is not an Irish Pub, they were able to accommodate my friend who insisted we get green beer for the day.
As the name suggests, there were mugshots of people hanging on the walls of the place. It was fun looking at the pictures and guessing the celebs in the shots. The food at Mugshot is decent, they give pretty big portions. The fish in their Fish and Chips is MASSIVE and two people can easily share an order. The service that night was alright, it seems they are understaffed. The prices are fair; food and drinks for 3 people ended up coming up to $40 per person.
Although we didn't get to do the pub thing, Mugshot was a good alternative. I'll keep this place in mind the next time I'm hanging in the area. -
Review from Chris P.
1/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Came for drinks with a friend on a friday night. Upon arrival at 9pm the place was pretty much packed. I found a couple seats at the bar which suited us fine as we were just looking to chat and catch up. After the Leaf's game ended the bar cleared out slightly but filled right back up again soon enough.
I can understand the complaints from other Yelpers about the service. Our drinks ran dry a couple of times. The service issue isn't because the service is bad, it seems to be because they run the bar with a lean headcount. The bartender was constantly out from behind the bar serving drinks to tables. While she was kept busy all night she was friendly and in good spirits throughout the enitre evening.
Prices here are good. A night of pints and a few shots came out to $60 each. -
Review from U U.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 1/8/2012
Pros: I think it is worth mentioning that this place is rapidly acquiring a local pub feel - it is frequented by many people, both young and old (one family even came along with their young son). Nice!
Cons: Service remains unremarkable - it seems like it might be a little understaffed?2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/24/2011
Alright, maybe the server was having a bad day? Came back the next week. The next server was… Read more »
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Review from Gordon J.
Toronto, ON
10/11/2011
My wife and I have heard some good things about the Mugshot Tavern and decided to give it a try.
They have a good draught selection and an interesting menu. As it was the end of a busy long week-end for the place they were out of some of the menu items and some of the beer choices. We were more snaky than in need of a meal so we each ordered wings and we split an order of Mac 'N' Cheese Fritters.
I had the Cajun wings which were small but good. My wife had the medium wings. The wings are "baked, fried and then sauteed". My wife found the meat dry. I enjoyed them like that.
The Mac 'N' Cheese Fritters were a little bland. It could have used a little spice or bacon to jazz it up.
I had not had a King Vienna Lager before and really enjoyed it. I'll have to pick up some for home some time.
Our server Chantal did a great job looking after us and had a great personality.
It is called the Mugshot Tavern as the walls are decorated with celebrity mugshot photos. Some of them are from a celebrity's younger days and it was fun trying to name them.
This is a place I will definitely go back to again when I am in the area. -
Review from L B.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 3/2/2012
New rating to reflect improved experience.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/21/2011
I tried this welcome new addition to the neighbourhood several times with mixed results. The beer… Read more »
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Review from Teena D.
10/10/2011 14 photos
After our walk around High Park, Gord and I went to Mugshot Tavern (Bloor W/Parkside) for a late lunch/early supper. It opened about three months ago.
They have craft beer on tap. After walking around for a couple hours, our beer tasted good!
True to its name, there are pictures of celebrity mugshots on the walls. It was fun trying to figure out who they were.
We shared an order of Mac 'N' Cheese Fritters. They were good ... they could have used some bacon to liven them up, though.
We both got a pound of wings. Mine were with medium sauce and Gord's were dusted with Cajun spice. We found them overcooked and dry ... maybe because they are "baked, fried and then sauteed". Plus they were small (there were 13 to a pound ... I'd rather less but bigger).
Our server was Chantal. She was funny and sarcastic and took good care of us.
I'd heard good things about this pub and was looking forward to checking it out. It was okay but I must say it didn't live up to my expectations. -
Review from Justin H.
Toronto, ON
8/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Met up with Mr Kent P and Michelle to check out this new spot and grab a quick bite to eat before a film.
Seeing that I was already late for dinner, I ordered hastily something I thought would be quick (gourmet mac and cheese) and would arrive at the same time as the others. It took more than 45 minutes for my party's food to arrive, and then nearly another 15 minutes for mine to arrive - Wait staff guaranteed it was coming in less than 3 minutes. Unfortunately, their slow pace made me so late for the movie, "Bridesmaids," I opted not to go. Of the movies I wanted to see this year in theatres, Bridesmaids was probably #1.
Either way, it was a really long wait for a restaurant that had about 10 patrons. The gourmet mac and cheese was absolutely delicious but so rich I could only eat a quarter of it. It would have been better suited as a side to some chicken or something. Also, their tardiness might have been excusable if they prepared the noodles from scratch, boiled them, and then added the cheese, but I think they just warmed up a cold plate of mac and cheese (to be expected).
Thanks Mugshot Tavern but you ruined my only chance to see Bridesmaids in the theaters, now what am I to do? WHAT AM I TO DO!! -
Review from Kent P.
8/2/2011
Was happy to see a fresh and cool looking spot at the corner of Parkside and Bloor - an area that could use a refresh of the establishments.
Was not happy to experience excruciatingly slow service (a salad and the chicken took....45+ minutes, water was never filled up, had to track down server to find out what the hold up was, a third joined and waited the same amount of time for an order of mac and cheese). There were a few promises of food coming out that didn't materialize. Sounds like a few other reviews had a similar experiences (PS some of the high ratings here look a little suspect).
The food itself was good enough - the fried chicken had a KFC style skin which I appreciated, although the amount of meat was unfortunately lacking. Got a side of corn on the cob which was probably the best part of the meal.
The place was not busy- maybe 10 or 15 patrons.
Don't think I'd go back (especially at $15~ ish a dish).Listed in: Thanks Yelp!
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Review from Trish I.
Toronto, ON
7/22/2011
This place was a rare mix of a lively, comfortable bar with interesting beer and cider options as well as a place to enjoy fresh, delicious food. From what I heard, a lot of the food is locally sourced and as fresh as can be. for ex: I am not a fish and chips person, but I tried a bite of a friends who had ordered it, and wow, it was delicious. Flaky, moist... all the stuff you want in a good fish and chips. Homemade ketchup and tartar are a nice touch as well.
Ordered the nachos to start, they were great! Maybe some of the best nachos in the city.. authentic tortilla chips, lots of cheese and thick cut veggies on top... no skimming here - homemade guac, sour and homemade salsa on the side for dipping.
I ordered the fried chicken dinner that came with a side of deep fried mac n cheese and creamy broccoli coleslaw(soo good!) along with chicken gravy. I have to say I am a regular at Reggies Old Fashioned Sandwiches on King Street and their deep fried mac n cheese is pretty bomb, but the Mugshots was better! Never thought I would say that.. but it was creamier and less salty. Loved it.
The chicken was great as well, thick breast of meat, very moist, so yum dipped in the gravy.
Like the other reviewer said, it took me awhile to decide on what to order, because the menu had so many interesting items that I crave on a regular basis.
The cider I was drinking was called Thornburry I think, you can ask the server and I'm sure that will be the one.. it was great. Not too dry or sweet.
The only thing I would recommend is bring mosquito repellent for the deck upstairs.. though the cool treehouse feel is great for relaxing and hanging, you might get eaten alive by those little buggers.
Also, don't go in expecting the food to come out in 10 minutes... relax and let those cooks do what they do best. Believe me, it's worth the wait!!
ps: there is an area I noticed as I was leaving were you can get your 'mugshot' taken...pretty cool. -
Review from Joey S.
Toronto, ON
Finally made it into the Mugshot. Quite an improvement over the former Mackenzies (this should read "pseudo-Mackenzies" as the real owners of the Mackenzies brand moved west and opened a great bar next to the High Park subway station,, selling the original location to someone not quite up to their standards and who used their name in an unlicensed manner).
The Mugshot staff was attentive and turned out to be the owners. They remodelled the place with great mugshots of famous people like Bill Gates (arrested in 1975), Jimi Hendrix (arrested in Toronto in May 1969), and would you believe, Larry King (arrested in December 1971).
There is one main widescreen 42" HDTV with an HD source behind the main bar, and a secondary screen with music videos from the pay-for-music juke-box on the back wall. One of the bar owners/bartenders, Scott, is in a band, and plays eclectic mixes when people are not using the jukebox. They also have FREE WiFi. The remodelling included getting rid of the high-table and stools that were the main tables near the bar. Instead, they created intimate booths that are more appropriate, and likely seat more people, more comfortably. Scott also mentioned that they spent almost four-months fixing and cleaning up the place, and I can believe it. I think they did a great job. Good atmosphere, great roof-top patio -- when the temperature isn't 37 degrees Celsius like it was when I visited.
The Bar specializes in independent micro-brew beers, so don't ask for a Labatts or Molsons product. Local brews like Steam Whistle and Mill Street dominate the selection. I personally prefer micro-brewed beer as it tastes more like the specific styles of beer that they claim to be: like a pilsner or stout for instance. Arrived too late to try out the kitchen, but they do have weekend brunch starting at 11 in the morning on Saturday and Sunday.
Looks to be a promising addition to the Bloor by the Park BIA, and I'll certainly be back for more.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/11/2011 First to Review
New bar about to be opened in the location of the former Mackenzies at Parkside Drive and Bloor… Read more »
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Review from TOFoodReviews n.
Toronto, ON
7/18/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The High Park neighbourhood is near-void of good places to grab a pint. Well, it was until The Mugshot Tavern opened anyways... The Mugshot easily provides the perfect answer to filling that void, and then some. Truly nice owners, delicious food, and a killer environment, this place takes the neighbourhood bar way beyond what it's expected to be.
If the Mugshot doesn't have the best draft selection in a 10 km radius, it certainly has the most well-thought-out one. These guys obviously love beer, and more obviously is that they've put a ton of thought into what is being pulled from the taps. It's all craft beer, and some interesting stuff at that. Chances are they have a few you've never even heard of, like the King Pilsner and Warthog Ale. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that they're probably one of only a handful of places in the city with either on tap. Don't expect to find Canadian or Blue here; what they offer is much more creative than any of that stuff.
The food, and the entire menu for that matter, is equally well-thought out. It's a killer mix of Southern-soul and comfort food, and they do a dam fine job of pulling it off. You can expect to find Southern favorites, like fried chicken with fritters, and some not so expected ones, like in-house-made corn dogs with chutney. The presentation is pretty decent too and again, goes beyond the typical bar stuff. It's pretty obvious that the people manning the kitchen know what the hell they're doing back there. Rarely do I go to a restaurant and have difficulty deciding what to order; at The Mugshot I was torn between a few items.
They've done a dam good job of ridding the place of all remnants of the defunct McKenzies that used to take up the place. They've clearly spent a lot of time, thought, and energy turning it into something completely new. The environment, painted in bright red and tactfully covered in old-school, famous mugshot photos, is easily the kind of space you could hang out for a long, long time. It's comfortable and welcoming, the way a neighbourhood local should be. Despite not being an overly large place, it still accommodates nicely, and any excess people can spill onto their cozy rooftop patio.
And the staff at Mugshot? They couldn't be any friendlier. Having only been open about a week or so, you'd never know it by their attitudes. Likely working long hours, round-the-clock, getting the place ready and established, they're still sociable, out-going, and friendly. I sure-as-hell didn't feel like a stranger in this joint, and I don't think anyone with even the teeniest bit of personality would either. Even coming in by yourself is sure to get you some conversation.
It's clear that, after just opening, they're still trying to establish their crowd. It's still sorta random as to the people that might be in there. While one day the bar could be full of seniors, that evening it could be packed with a younger crowd. It seems to be dependent on the time of day, but it's also, unfortunately, the way the neighbourhood seems to work. Customers are sorta like family; you can't really pick 'em.
The Mugshot isn't just the kind of place you sit, drink, and hide from the world, although it provides that pretty well; it's also the kind of place that you can unexpectedly get some truly imaginative and delicious food in a comfortable and welcoming space. In a neighbourhood like High Park, The Mugshot Tavern is unrivaled in every respect.Listed in: 5 Star Eats in Toronto
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Review from Rafi N.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2011 1 photo
Mugshot is a nice looking bar with substandard service. I stopped in here to escape the rain and have a cool drink.
*** DRINKS ***
They have many beers on tap and a lot of other drinks too. I had a couple pints of Kronenbourg 1664. The beer was good, not watered down.
*** SERVICE ***
The service was lackadaisical. When I entered, I took a seat at the bar. I was not acknowledged until about 5 minutes later. The bartender was talking to one of his friends who was also at the bar. There were 3 servers but none of them were helpful. There weren't many people at the bar, but they were still slow. None of the servers really paid any attention.
*** ATMOSPHERE ***
Mugshot is a nicely designed bar with cool decor. There are mugshots of celebrities on the wall. There are a couple TVs as well, but nothing was showing this day. The floors, walls and tables are all wooden. The stools have backs, so you can lean back. They play good music and there is a "juke box" that allows you to select your own music. There is also a small stage area at the back for live performances. Then general feel of the bar is laid-back. The bar is well lit, but maintains an appropriate "bar darkness". The clientele is mainly locals who are about 35 years old and older.
*** PRICE ***
Pricing of beer is adequate.
* Pint of Kronenbourg 1664 | $7.00 *
*** BOOKED ***
If the staff at Mugshot were celebrities, then their pictures would be on the wall because this kind of service should be illegal. The atmosphere and selection of beers was good. I hope that the lack of service was a one-off because I would really like to return.Listed in: Noise 'n Poison
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Review from sherry w.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2011
Had a chance to drop by,
The interior is pretty neat, neat idea.
Had lunch there on a Wednesday. place was ok, service was quick as we were the only ones sitting there.
I order the burger and poutine, the wait time was not bad, food i would give a 7 out of 10 for the price it lacked wow factor.
Pretty neat place will drop by for a night visit and sample some of their beer which its seems is mostly micro brews.
Sherry ;) -
Review from rowenna g.
York, ON
8/14/2011
Oh my God the food here is incredible I had the ribs which came with potato salad and corn on the cob and my husband had the fried chicken which came with this incredible mac&cheese. Our server was great, I have no problems waiting a while for real fresh cooked food and the waiter kept checking in so we never felt forgotten. The beer selection was great and the prices were very reasonable. Overall a great date spot. **allergy alert: quite a few wasps on the upstairs patio
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Review from Takashi O.
Oakville, ON
10/24/2011
Mugshots is an Amazing bar experience!!!! A very unique atmosphere with a very nice decor. The nachos we had were amazing with fresh baked nachos brought in every day. The jalepeno's were fresh, not the pickled kind. The service was very fast and efficient and very friendly staff. The whole experience was an enjoyable one which I have never experienced before. A perfect neighbourhood pub!!!! Great Job Mugshots!!!!
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Review from Sarah M.
Vancouver, BC
2/3/2012
Great eclectic music, welcoming staff, and friendly patrons. Couldn't ask for more in a neighbourhood pub. Also, I hear they have really good food....I'll have to check that out next.
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Review from Lauren P.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2011
the mug shot thing pretty awesome as far as gimmicky crap is concerned. You can take your own mug shot near the back - which is fun after you have sampled their great beer selection. The food is way beyond bar fare expectations, fresh and original takes on burgers and fries. Their patio is small but whimsical in the way my bathroom was in college - with little disco balls and christmas lights.
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Review from Jenn N.
Toronto, ON
8/25/2011
A great local pub with fantastic food, and staff members who know what you'd like better than you do. We'll definitely be back!
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Review from Lori C.
Toronto, ON
8/21/2011
I'm going to be honest.. Since Mackenzies closed, I have been waiting for a spot to open up in this neighborhood that would suffice as my regular watering hole... Mugshots does more than suffice: The beer selection, which includes a commitment to local craft brews, is excellent. The service, is exactly what you want from your home away from home: staff who recognize you after one visit and even remember your beer of choice (the owners are young, energetic, and super friendly). And the atmosphere is cozy, intimate, and all too perfect for lazing away an entire afternoon. Oh, and the food...........
is ridiculously good.
I will go out on a limb here and say: Mugshots has
THE BEST DAMN FRIED CHICKEN IN TO.
I've had Stockyards, I've had Harlems, I eat fried chicken anywhere I can find it. This tops them all. Oh ya, and the deep fried macaroni will knock your socks off too.
Hm. I'm starting to think maybe I shouldn't post this review as I I don't want to share Mugshots with hundreds of others.... that would just be selfish though :)
