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- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, 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
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
39 reviews for The Rhino
Review Highlights
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"The beer list is amazing." In 7 reviews -
"...beer varieties, this one does so at a VERY reasonable price." In 2 reviews -
"and I must say, it was totally delicious every time." In 2 reviews
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39 reviews in English
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Review from Elaine K.
I've loved the Rhino for years. It's a great place to hang with friends, it has a couple pool tables, a juke box, a patio and over 300 beers in bottles.
It used to be my go-to place when I lived downtown.
The only problem is that it can take a while to get served. It's a pretty big spot and it's almost always completely rammed. Also, the downstairs bathroom area kind of smells like a dirty litterbox. -
Review from Suzie S.
Toronto, ON
1/19/2012
I went to the Rhino with some friends for a birthday celebration last Saturday night. I was thoroughly underwhelmed.
Appearance wise, the Rhino interior definitely needs an update. The entire bar looks quite dated and uninviting (Restaurant Makeover would be a good idea).
On the positive side - the Rhino does have a pretty extensive and unusual beer list. My friends and I visit places like the Beer Bistro on occasion and yet had never heard of many of the beers on the Rhino list, which was awesome.
On the negative side - from what I saw, the Rhino did not have a dance floor, yet the music was extremely loud, making it very hard for us to hear one another (even when there were 6 of us cramped around a table designed for 2). Also, to get to the bathrooms, you have to walk through a very sketchy looking basement. Service was quite slow... It took the server close to 20 mins to get our bill.
Since there are many other awesome bars in Parkdale (e.g., Stones Place just down the road) it's unlikely that I would ever go out of my way to visit the Rhino again. -
Review from Jessika D.
Toronto, ON
1/4/2012
I was brought here by a friend who said that it was a great place to go eat & drink.
Even he, a fan, was disappointed by what we saw.
To start with, I - driving - ordered a soft drink with no ice. What I got was not only flat, it was sour and rancid; clearly they hadn't cleaned their machine recently. When I called the waiter over to tell him there was a problem, he just looked at me, saying not a word. Normal customer service usually involves a "sorry, can I replace that for you?" not silence and a sullen stare.
My friend ordered the wings the waiter had described as one of the spiciest they had, and found them bland. I ordered... you know, I'm not sure what I ordered. It was so incredibly forgettable and inedible that I had almost none of it and just wanted to leave.
They get the second star only because whatever beer it was my friend ordered, he really enjoyed. -
Review from Patrick M.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/15/2011
Oh screw it. I won't be back.
Three of us last night, sitting right at the bar -- at the bar! You'd think you'd have great, prompt service at the freakin' bar, but no. No no no...
We managed a pitcher, with an extra beer each, in three hours. C'mon. I wasn't milking my drink. At one point I asked for a beer menu, actually got it quickly... then nobody asked me what I wanted. I tried to flag a guy down a few times with no luck. Then, fifteen minutes later, what happens? One of them swoops in, snatches up the menu, and rushes away! WTF! I wanted to give you moneys! For beer! C'mon! Do your job!
Adding to The Rhino's woes, when we finally managed to settle up our bill, they missed two drinks. Forget it. If you can't be bothered to give basic service, we can't be bothered to notify you of your own stupidity and ineptitude. So we got two free beers for our trouble and left.
I'm done. Thank's for going that extra mile in losing me, Rhino. i'm a beer guy. We should have had a long, happy relationship.
Now go get your shit together.Listed in: 30 in 30? Quantity & Quality!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/6/2011
The Rhino is a terribly difficult place to rate.
The beer list is nothing short of astounding, a… Read more »
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Review from Emily K.
Toronto, ON
7/13/2011
To be honest I've only been here a couple times, but before I came here friends of mine had been raving about how big their beer list was. As a huge beer fan I knew I had to go.
I was presently surprised by the beer list, as it was much bigger than I ever imagined. I have yet to be disappointed by any beer I've tried here, and I must say that compared to some other local pubs that also offer an abundance of beer varieties, this one does so at a VERY reasonable price!Listed in: Good for drinks
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Review from Teresa C.
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was excited to check out The Rhino because I had heard good things about the place! I swear!
But man oh man...was it ever a disappointment.
THE INFAMOUS PATIO
Okay, so the patio is actually just a giant concrete courtyard. There aren't any nice tables...or benches...or pretty little lights. It's a straight up courtyard with shitty tables and chairs. So if you're looking for a nice PATIO, this is not the place to come. It's also very dark because, again...it's a courtyard not meant for people to enjoy a few drinks. There are no lights out there, making it very difficult to read the menu.
THE BEERS
The beers on tap were only so so. Not too fond of the selection. Sure, they've got a big-ish selection of bottled beers...but it's summer time! I want a pint!
SERVICE
Our server was really nice and patient. The thing was that she didn't know anything about the beers she was selling. We asked her about three different kinds of the draft beers and she didn't know a thing except that a customer had ordered one of the three earlier and really liked it. She also told me that their chicken wings were really good...which brings me to my next point...
THEIR CHICKEN WINGS
...were awful. They were over-fried and dried out. The sauces were obviously mass-produced and probably came in a giant vat. The only redeeming thing about the wings were that they were cheeeeap (20 wings for $12). So if you're looking for something filling and cheap, this is it. I couldn't stomach all that grossness, though.
TWO REDEEMING QUALITIES...
1. the view from the patio is actually quite nice. The sides of the neighbouring buildings had such a nice, urban feel to them. So just remember to look UP and not ACROSS the patio. That's the key.
2. cheap beer. $5.10 for a pint. $3.50 for a shot. -
Review from Fabio N.
Toronto, ON
7/30/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Aside from the huge beer selection, the Rhino is not really my favourite bar in Toronto. I go there quite often anyway since a few geek groups like to have their meetings there (Reddit meetup, Rails Pub Nite and a few others). It's understandable, since it's such a big place.
Service is definitely NOT the defining quality here, but I have to admit it has improved a bit lately.
The food is nothing to write home about, although it veers a bit from standard pub fare. The pasta is ok, and so is their fish'n'chips. Their pizzas are just too weird for me to bother trying them, but I know some people who swear by them. To each its own, I guess.
All in all, a solid "meh" place. -
Review from Christopher R.
2/12/2012
Great beer list, sure, but tonight, ZERO respect for the customer.
We had all these small glasses/bottles of rare beer, (several of the Mikkellers, which are $20+ for a small bottle), and we were given 5 minutes notice that the bar was closing and we had to go. Then we were give a 2-minute notice by a woman shouting, about a minute later. Then, 30 seconds later (this is about three minutes after we even heard the bar was closing, plenty of tables still drinking around us) this guy comes to our table and startes SCREAMING at us and grabbing at our glasses like an animal, shoving his phone in our faces to show us the time. He forces us to chug this rare, not-for-chugging stuff and grabs the glasses out of our hands. It was insane and highly irritating. Then again, people in Somalia don't have any food, so... -
Review from Imran N.
5/8/2011
this place is almost legendary. It's stayed true to it's roots before queen west was hip.
it's the same as it was 9 years ago.
Great selection of beers, and a great place to hang. There used to be the box theatre down the street, so it was almost a 'green room' hangout. Smoking herb in the front was normal.
When i go back now, it feels the same. It does feel old and not updated to the new toronto gentrified ways, but the beers and good company always feels good. thats exactly why i like it.
It's like having a beer with your dad. comfort. -
Review from Anon O.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2011
I've been to the rhino once and that is enough for me. first of all the patio is more like a parking lot with disorganized tables, chairs and whatever else you may find that was probably thrown from the street into the area. i've never sat in a more uncomfortable seat at a restaurant/bar ever. the only thing the patio is good for is people watching if you get there early enough, it's literally right beside the sidewalk so you can have your fill of parkdales finest (and craziest)
The service here is unbearably slow. It's not a fast food place but you'd expect the staff to be a little more interested in what was going on. When we got there, it wasn't crowded AT ALL. in fact, we were one of two couples sitting outside on the patio, so i don't know why the service was so slow. Eventually we got our drinks which were fine, just like anywhere else.
I had ordered a soup and my boyfriend at the time ordered a salad. Both meals came 40 minutes later (soup & salad shouldn't take this long to serve!) and while my soup was moderate in taste, my ex's salad tasted like crap! He even put it "my salad tastes like what i guess dirty feet would". Gross! I tried it and indeed it was pretty flat. don't know if it was the dressing or the squishy mushrooms but it was not pleasant what-so-ever. We had told the waitress that the salad was bad (he wouldn't even attempt to eat it) and she was really nice about taking it off our bill. The only redeeming quality, the really nice waitress (she got a big tip).
After I forced the rest of my soup down, we paid and left and decided to never return again. I'd probably say this is an OK place to just chill at (INSIDE) if you're getting together for beers (the selection is great if you don't mind waiting 30 minutes for a drink), but definitely not food because not only will you be served an hour+ later, the food might not be good too.Listed in: FOOD & DRINK
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Review from Jordan H.
Toronto, ON
7/26/2011
The Rhino has never pretended to be something that it is not. If you are looking for a place that gives the impression of an elevated status, take your BMW up the road a bit to College Street and enjoy some over priced multi-ingredient drinks and well garnished plates.
The Rhino is place where good food, cheap drinks and great people come together almost flawlessly. With an infinite selection of beer and extremely unique menu you can return again and again but never have the exact same experience.
The patio is second to none. No its not well decorated but again if your looking for something swanky than refer to the first paragraph. I have heard that the service is terrible however my experiences have never led me to believe that. I'm sure they could over staff like most restaurants in the city but that would only increased prices and like most people I'll take great food and great prices over a tonne of wait staff standing around doing nothing any day! -
Review from Teena D.
4/30/2011 3 photos
We like the beer selection at the Rhino. Plus the food is so cheap.
But why does the service have to suck so bad?!
We were there this afternoon. We waited a long time for our second beer. Plus we waited 50 minutes for nachos. 50 minutes!!!!!!?????
Today wasn't unusual ... the service always sucks unless you sit at the bar. -
Review from Nadja B.
Toronto, ON
3/1/2011
This review makes me feel like I'm writing a breakup letter to someone I only wanted to have a no-strings-attached one nighter with... Here it goes.
I hate to do this so bluntly but I can't be with you anymore, rhino. Here are the reasons why
1. You have the worst food I've ever had the displeasure of putting in my mouth and a terrible vegetarian selection. Not to mention stale and partially soggy buns... Not a good combo.
2. You have the worst service I've ever witnessed in the entirety of my bar-hopping career. No table service in sight. after my partner and I had already plowed through 1/2 a pitcher of stale tasting creemore which we had reluctantly obtained from the bar a waitress marches over to us and demands that we wait for table service next time. Apparently she makes all her tips from table service only. Not my problem, especially if patrons have to sit there for 20+ minutes to even get so much as an, "I'll be right with you, sorry for the slow service."
3. Now... Okay, is it just me or does it taste like they don't clean the keg lines? I recall on more then one occasion heading over to the rhino after visiting a neighboring bar, ordering the exact same kind of beer and having it taste completely different. Almost stale or like rot.
Verdict: never again. I've given this place up to and including five nights of my life which i will never get back. I think five nights worth of attempting to like a place is more then generous. This was a love/hate affair that lasted too long and now I'm (totally not) sorry that it's over between us, rhino. -
Review from Ben S.
Toronto, ON
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Typical "patio bar" in most respects: shitty service, dirty washrooms... but has a great beer list. This would usually earn it a 4 star review from me, except that the beer list is either out of date, or they're out of most beers. The servers/bartenders get really annoyed of going up and down the stairs checking for inventory.
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Review from Giuliana B.
SCARBOROUGH, ON
11/17/2010
I like this place for what is is: A no frills pub with an impressive collection of beers and mediocre food. I come here to hang out with friends over pitchers or bottles of beer and I usually come when I am not hungry because the food is well, pretty bad.
They also have a pretty sweet patio that gets rammed in the summer, and where I do a lot of my beer drinking during warmer months. The fact that the Rhino is situated within walking distance of my bf's place is a huge bonus and also another reason why I give it such a good rating. It means that I (or we) can stumble back to his place after an evening of debauchery.
Also, most of the staff really know their stuff and are more than willing to answer your questions and make recommendations. I have yet to experience bad service here in all the years and countless visits I've payed it. So if what you are craving is hanging out with friends over ridiculously cheap beers and huge selection, then make sure to hit up The Rhino.Listed in: Parkdale Eats
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Review from Andrea H.
8/16/2010
Dear Servers at the Rhino,
I don't mean to tell you how to do your job...No, wait, I DO want to tell you how to do your job. You obviously need some help.
1) When you have close to 300 beers and 2 people come in and start asking about which lambics you have, it might make sense to bring them a menu.
2) After the second time said people have had to get up from their table to go to the bar to get service (and there are 2 servers working fewer than 20 people on a Sunday night), they tend to get somewhat irritated.
3) When your table is making sculptures by balancing empty beer glasses on top of each other in such a way as to enclose upside-down bottles, surrounding them with symmetrical arrangements of salt and pepper shakers, and are balancing sweetener containers on the tower, it is a sign that you have neglected them for too long.
3) When the member of the party who waits tables for a living is the one who thinks a 10 cent tip is too generous, your service is very, very bad.Listed in: Best Beer
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Review from Weez G.
Toronto, ON
11/24/2011
Do not come here if you are in a rush.
Every time I have eaten here the food has been fine and the prices are very reasonable. (This place has the cheapest brunch in the neighborhood and everything on the dinner menu is under $20)
The beer list is immense with a good draft selection and hundreds of bottled beers to choose from.
I have always found the service to be polite and friendly but this place tends to be slow. Even when it is not too busy, things can take a while; so if you go there on a busy day when the patio is full, expect to wait.
Addendum: Went there for bruch today and the service was quite fast. The prices are still low, my coffee was bottomless, my breakfast was cooked exactly the way I like it but there was no waiting. -
Review from Christine H.
Toronto, ON
2/24/2012
Better in summer when the patio is open.
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Review from Noel D.
I always knew this place had like 400 beers in stock, but with places like the Cadillac Lounge across the street I would never think to hit this place very often. I had ate here before and thought it was okay, but nothing too amazing. But then I had a surprising moment...
Was hanging out with my friend on the patio (will get to that aspect later) and was there from around 5pm to midnight drinking pints of Tankhouse and, for the first time, had both lunch and dinner in the same spot. Had the Cajun Chicken sandwich and salad (which was pretty good) and the Thai Chicken Pizza, which was pretty delicious!
The real surprise is when the bill came... I thought I was going to be dropping at least 100 bucks on 6-7 hours worth of eating and drinking, but my bill was just over 50 dollars! Turns out the pints were only 4 dollars each and the food wasn't even 20 bucks. I was in shock!
So right off the bat I would say the best thing about The Rhino is their prices. A bottle of Heineken is only $3.80 which is unheard of seeing as most places will charge no less than 6 bucks a pop. The food isn't going to blow you away, but it's quality in my mind. The service can be hit-and-miss (though the owner is awesome), but I will continue to hit this place over and over again knowing that it won't put a very big dent in my hurting wallet.
Note... The patio? More like a parking lot with plastic chairs. There's really not much going on there and it would be nice if they invested in some umbrellas at least because it could very well be the best patio in Toronto if they spruce things up. But right now there's no shade and very little character.Listed in: Reviews of the Day
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Review from Diana W.
Toronto, ON
1/30/2010 1 photo
Best beer selection EVER.
I met up with a girlfriend for dinner and drinks last night. She suggested The Rhino because it was apparently *the* place to go for beer. I am the first to admit I am a bit of a beer snob and I immediately flipped the menu to the German beer section. My eyes anxiously scanned the lengthily list for my coveted Festbock (dark with 7% alchohol), and I think I may actually have let out a yelp when there it was printed in bold black ink. **For those of you who don't know me Festbock is the liquid love of my life, I would happily replace all other fluids in my fridge if it wasn't so darn unhealthy and didn't lead to alcoholism. Just a couple of these 500mL cans and I'm the happiest girl alive, or at least for a couple of hours.
Besides all that, The Rhino really does have an amazing beer selection and is the true watering hole of beers.
The establishment is huge although I think the space could be better utilized to fit more tables and chairs. The staff were friendly enough without being fake or annoying, or on the other end of the spectrum, aloof. The restaurant, cutlery and bathroom seemed to be clean and free from offensive odors.
We ordered a couple of drinks each and split the grilled calamari and a pizza. The food was good (I'm fairly easy to please when it comes to pub-style) and we were pleasantly surprised when the bill slid in at under $35 before gratuity. And that was for both of us!
I look forward to going back again. Who's coming with me? -
Review from Rian D.
Montréal, QC
9/20/2010
Another of my regular neighbourhood haunts with a great patio, although more often than not they are 2nd choice to the Caddy's right across the street.
The bar staff are super stars. Seriously. Definitely with a no-nonsense attitude (i approve) but friendly and they remember you/your drink whether you are at the bar or at a table. They also are very knowledgeable about their beer list and actually know what they are talking about. For those who have had 'bad' service here, I don't doubt it happened, but bear in mind wait staff usually feed off of a customer's own attitude :p
Speaking of beer lists, the Rhino's list has a lot of variety and is impressive even compared to most "beer connoisseur" spots in Toronto. Come winter when patios are a moot point I will probably hit up the Rhino more often. A sweet spot for bevvies with friends.
Also, jukeboxes are fun.Listed in: Watering Holes
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Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/24/2008
I am a food snob do you have a problem with that? If you do then you and my boyfriend have something in common and maybe you too could drag me to the Rhino to make me prove I can be as plebian as the next guy.
As much as I attempted to enjoy my fried, tough calamari in an establishment that smelled like a wet cigarette butt from the last millenium, and looked like a collection of rodents could be dining one table over, I could not. Do you blame me? If you do, then you belong at the Rhino, enjoying your list of 300 beers (impressive, I know), and stuffing your face with day old fish and chips. If you want to meet me, I'll be down the street having a Fresh Peach Bellini at the Gladstone. -
Review from Christa B.
1/27/2012
The Rhino is perfectly Parkdale - huge beer selection, huge patio to enjoy it on. Menu is varied and tasty, service is friendly and helpful (moving chairs and tables to accommodate our party) - come here Sunday after softball, Friday after work, or Tuesday just because. An institution!
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Review from Jay G.
Toronto, ON
6/5/2009
Walking in it's just a normal pub but large. They have ample room for all your beer loving friends and your stories of debauchery, maybe even have some of those stories begin here.... totally up to you. Don't worry, if you don't have stories there is enough beer for you to create one and have it ready for tomorrow's hangover. This place has an amazzzzzing beer selection. Absolutely fantastic! Drinks are also available for an oh so recession loving price. Other than that though.... I'm sorry Rhino but you've got nothing.
Food here is completely hit and miss but mostly miss. I recommend you don't eat here and going elsewhere for food. I've had food here numerous times and every time it leaves me disappointed.
Have no fear, beer is here!!!... To rescue you.
Over 300 types! 300! THREE HUNDRED!!!! So what if the food is bad.... or sometimes good... but mostly bad, you are at a pub and you know what you're supposed to do, so get to it. I want to see glasses up and faces flat on the table. 300 beers on the wall and when you've gotten to 20 you definitely will have some stories.
Service and waitstaff is friendly. It may not be the quickest but it is definitely friendly.
Overall, it is a great pub with great beers. If you're looking for some fancy cocktail don't go here... actually if you're looking for anything other than beer don't go here. Sure they have other stuff but the quality would be struggling to meet satisfaction. Come for beers and the cheap prices in a slightly divey pub. Don't eat here. If you're looking for something else.... look elsewhere. -
Review from Magdalena R.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2010
Beer, Beer, Beer, as everyone has mentioned, there is lots of it here.
Personally, I am not much of a beer drinker BUT they do have strawberry beer which I do approve of. The drinks are cheap, making it a good place to go with a large group of people. The food is cheap as well, but only in price. The menu is actually tasty. The last time I was there I had the Spinach Fettuccine. It had grilled chicken, plum tomatoes, and a nice glob of goat cheese on top (which I LOVE). Simple and yummy. I've had other things off the menu and all of it has been quite eatable. The bathrooms are clean, the rest of the place is mostly clean, and there is plenty of room to sit.
In conclusion, if you want to go hang out, drink, eat, and still end up with some money in your pocket, then this is the place to be. -
Review from Peter K.
9/15/2010 3 photos
I can't even begin to sing all the praises of The Rhino. It was quite a journey getting here since the Queen street car on Sunday took a detour through King yada yada yada, but once we finally got here, everything was good.
Talk about a huge beer menu, and the prices were remarkably cheaper than anything we found in the downtown area.
To the blond waitress that served our group of five on the patio, you were truly a great sport and some of the best service we received in Toronto, we thank you! -
Review from Daniel F.
Toronto, ON
4/22/2009
Great beer selection (something like 300) but the food, however, is not so great. I would be showing up to drink but not to eat.
NEXT!
p.s. in the survey under "Alcohol", at the time of this writing, there are 6 votes for "None". Now that's just stupid. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2008
The Rhino serves food? Well, now that I know they do, this does not change the fact that I will NEVER eat food at Rhino.
But as bars go, I honestly like this place. Maybe it's just a skeezy dive bar but they do skeezy and dive just fine for me, and they serve alcohol so they've got the bar stuff covered, too.
At nights, it's usually a decent mix of every kind of person, and the place is big enough that all the different groups can disperse without any real interaction. This place is great for birthday gatherings -- there's tons of seating, cheap drinks, and a pretty central location in the trend-sphere(Queen & Dufferin area). And in the summer, they have a great side patio that is usually crammed with people.
Rhino the bar = More than decent. Staff are way nicer than at Stone's Place, crowd is better than Wrongbar, and drinks are cheap. The floor might be a bit sticky, but it's a dive bar. What did you expect?
Rhino for food? I wouldn't trust it. And based on the other reviews, it seems like I'm right.
PS I don't know why people have voted this place to serve no alcohol, obviously they have a full bar and beers on tap. Weird. -
Review from Adam P.
Toronto, ON
6/30/2009
I don't have much to add on top of what other people have already said. I have limited experience with the food, but the nachos and the burger tastes like any other non-spectacular dish you will find at other establishments
The reason to go is because of its quite large patio (which in my opinion could seat even more with a little bit of planning), and their ridiculous selection of beer.This is a great place to go for beer you won't find at a lot of other places.
Their pitchers are reasonable, especially the $11.25 pitcher of Rhino Beer. I myself don't like the taste of it, but for people wanting to drink heartily and be cost conscious, this is for you. -
Review from Marie F.
8/6/2010 5 Check-ins Here
I went to Rhino for a friend's birthday and I can't say I was overly impressed with my (lack of) service. I ended my shift at work before everyone and decided to pop in and get a table, a drink and some food before the festivities began... apparently the waitresses had a different idea.
I went to the bar, got a pint of Strongbow and sat down expecting someone to eventually come over and give me a menu. I had my laptop with me and was working on some emails at the time and couldn't exactly leave my table. I made eye contact and gestured to several waitresses who walked by and still no one came. By the time people started trickling in, the kitchen was closed :-(
We moved to the huge outdoor patio and I sampled more girlie beers from their impressive menu but the service didn't get much better. We were literally asking "do you work here?!" until our waitress came by and took our drink orders.
In the end, good beer selection but zero service! -
Review from Vanessa G.
Toronto, ON
9/12/2008
I have to say I wasn't impressed with the Rhino. For an area that is packed with hot clubs and bars (Parkdale Drink, The Drake, The Gladstone) you think it would kick things up a notch, maybe improve the decor or something.
I just felt like this was kind of a dive-y bar in Parkdale. Pool tables, big screen TVs and cheap seating. I couldn't tell if I was in a campus bar or a hot and trendy watering hole in Toronto's West end. Maybe that's what keeps people coming back; the fact that it never changes and probably never will.
In its defense, it does have a kick-ass beer menu featuring over 150 brews. And the patio outside is a nice escape from the Freshman feeling of the bar's interior.
If you're looking to relive your college days, this is it. If you're looking a more upscale establishment, this ain't it. -
Review from Samantha F.
York, ON
4/3/2009
I've been to the Rhino a couple of times, and I will definitely go back. The drinks are crazy cheap, though it's a bit tough to read the extensive drinks menu (hint, use your cell phone!). I think I ended up eating the burger all three times I was there (embarrassing!) and I must say, it was totally delicious every time. I probably wouldn't want to try something outside of very basic fare, hence the burger choice, but if that's what you're in the mood for, I recommend.
Nothing at all feels pretentious here, it's slightly divey, but that's kind of the point. The art is eclectic, as is the crowd. I'll definitely go back after work this summer as many times as I can. it's nice to have an option close to Liberty Village besides the Brazenhead!
Looking forward to the patio. -
Review from Erin B.
6/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
The rhino had, when I last counted, 343 bottled beers listed. And a dozen taps. The bottled beer is just stupidly cheap for what it is - you can find many of the same beers somewhere like beerbistro for substantially more money (for example: rogue hazlenut brown was $20 at bb and $13 at the rhino).
But you're saving because no one at the rhino (except maybe the managers) knows the first thing about beer. And they most certainly don't have time to tell you about it - the place is a circus most evenings. If you know enough to navigate your way around the huge beer list on your own, you'll love the deals on obscure and excellent things. Otherwise, you'll be flailing.
Aside from that, the space is big but the many strings of Xmas lights keep lend a cozy, warm feeling. And the patio is huge.
The service is sloooow. The place is huge and poorly organized, so that's to be expected. The servers are, by and large, refreshingly real in a sea of queen west hipster attitude.
I like the rhino for what it is, which is a comfortable place to go for a beer when I'm not in a rush. -
Review from Chris P.
5/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is kind of a dirty crap hole but the beer selection is amazing and the food is pretty good. I've been here on a couple occasions now and have always thoroughly enjoyed myself. The staff never seem to be the greatest but they get the job done.
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Review from Brian S.
Toronto, ON
1/30/2010
Beer, lots of beer. And beer at a reasonable price. Actually, I'd go further than that. It's got a full menu at a reasonable price.
The beer list is amazing. It's got probably 100 different kind of beers from all over the world, including a ton of German and Belgian beers you don't see everywhere.
In the summer it's also nice to sit out on the side patio and take in some rays. It's a bit of an awkward patio, but it works well.
The decor isn't the greatest, but the whole concept works well. -
Review from Brian C.
Toronto, ON
3/21/2010 1 Check-in Here
The Rhino is divided in to 4 scenes. When you walk in you find a large bar in the centre of the room which makes getting drinks pretty easy. On the weekend the tables surrounding the bar are a mix of a mid 20's to 30s crowd who stayed after dinner and some early 20s drinkers. There are two back rooms. The smaller one looks a little more high class and sitting in there guarantees that if you want to have a don't-bump-in-to-me evening, you could hang there all night. The other back room has two pool-tables, an old green-tinged big screen TV and a bunch of tables usually arranged for groups. All of this makes it feel like going to the legion in any small town. The 4th scene is the smoker's hideaway out the side doors. The food is okay, the taps are great and the table service is adequate given how busy this place usually is.
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Review from Jessica M.
Toronto, ON
1/11/2009
The beer is cheap, the waitstaff is friendly and the food is just OK, but edible. The problem is the food is horribly inconsistent. I've had some great meals there and too many so-so meals.
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Review from Dave M.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2011
The Rhino's biggest draw is their beer list, which claims well over 300 beers supposedly in stock. Perhaps my tastes are too specific, but I've had more than one encounter where the server has had to run and check on three or more beers in a row and come back saying they simply didn't have any more of that one. The whole idea of listing items on a menu suggests that, as a business, you ought to keep all of them in stock whenever possible. Of course this won't always happen with such obscure and (with the LCBO's archaic liquor and import laws) difficult to obtain, but almost ten percent of the beer list seems to be missing; simply too much. What they do have, however, is absolutely excellent and varied; very few repeats in style of beer and most of them are of high quality.
The food is passable to good, Very reasonably priced and the basket of fries serves three people with it's massive portion. Don't expect to be wowed by some culinary masterpiece: this is a laid back bar which serves food, not a restaurant that serves liquor.
Service does vary quite a bit, from pleasant and mildly attentive to barely present and thoroughly disinterested. Once, while sitting with a friend, we weren't given a beer list, so when our waitress came up ten minutes after being seated, we asked for one. Ten minutes later, she came back and asked if we were ready to order, to which we reminded her we still hadn't seen a beer list. "Oh", was her response, with an air between bored and annoyed. She came back (guess what) ten minutes after that with a list and stood there seemingly pressuring us to hurry up and order. I was tempted to ask her to give us ten minutes, but that seemed a bit petulant. My friend and I left after one beer (I'm a five a night kind of guy), and about an hour and a half. This particular experience was an aberration, however. The one adorable and well-humoured server I used to have normally was very attentive and engaging. She seems to be gone...so maybe so should I be.
To note: does anyone else find it weird having a woman in her mid-sixties waiting on you in a bar like this?
The Rhino is fun, with a great atmosphere and a bit of a high-end dive feel. The beer selection is truly impressive, and when the service is good, it feels like one of the better places of its type in Toronto. It's certainly not worth being an out-of-your-way destination, but as a local, works quite well. -
Review from Roy A.
Toronto, ON
7/17/2009
Yup the Rhino is good. The food is not bad. Drinks are reasonably priced. Except don't drink "the Rhino" beer. It tastes like backwash.
