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The Toucan & Rirkpatrick's
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
8 reviews for The Toucan & Rirkpatrick's
8 reviews in English
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Review from Dana D.
Toronto, ON
4/5/2012
This place is the perfect watering hole (it really is a bit of a hole...) and I've had some of my best times in Kingston here: sloppy, slightly dangerous games of darts, celebrating when Crosby scored the winning goal in the gold medal Olympic game, swapping stories over a cold pint with strangers and close friends alike... there is something about the Toucan that breeds camaraderie, which isn't always the case in dive bars.
The crowd is the sketchiest collection of chatty drunks you could hope for; there's an age range of around 19-65 with the occasional underage patron, and in the wee hours everyone gets a bit rowdy.
The bartenders are all really friendly: last year, a high kick dance move (no, there's no dance floor, just good music and patrons that feel free to do as they feel) saw a shoe go flying over the bar, hitting a bartender. He just laughed. THAT's what I'm talking about.
Come early to catch the game, real late to witness raucous behaviour, and for goodness sake, don't bother with the food unless you're tanked. -
Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
10/3/2008
You always remember your first Guinness. If you don't, that means it was probably near the beginning of a really long evening, or you've not had your first yet. And if you haven't had your first, I don't even want to tell you where you've gone wrong in your life. Picking the right place to have your Guinness is a finicky chore as well. You want the place to be just right. Here are some basic rules:
a) Make sure the place is Irish. You'll not get a decently poured stout at "Chez Paris" or "Der Schnitzel Hutt".
b) Make sure the place is really Irish. That is, no franchises, no "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" bumper stickers. No deer heads wearing green hats on the wall.
c) Make sure they pour a Guinness properly. If you get your pint 30 seconds after ordering, you're not only in the wrong place, you've probably just found one of the many things wrong with the establishment you're in.
The Toucan is a fantastic Irish pub, truly Irish and a long-standing server of properly poured Guinness in the downtown Kingston core. The food comes from a shared kitchen (I believe) with Kirkpatrick's upstairs and throws out not only great fish and chips but also a dandy brunch. It's a great place to start, end, or spend the evening. -
Review from Annie C.
Kingston, ON
12/19/2008
Always a nice change from the debauchery that is the Hub. It wasn't until I walked in here one night stone cold sober in a quest for egg nog that I realized how divey it looks. The only other time I was there was last year for St. Pat's, which I was already thoroughly intoxicated for.
But I digress. Bartenders have always been very nice to me, never have had any problems with them. However, when I went with friends last St Pat's we ran into some trouble with a server/bouncer character who was checking our IDs and had a bit of a political inquisition with my Turkish friend. Had this unfortunate event not happened, I would be give the Toucan 4 stars, but the guy was a real douche bag about it. -
Review from Rob M.
Kingston, ON
1/2/2012
Best pint of Guinness in Kingston. Great Irish pub without trying.That awful smell someone mentioned previously is now gone. new fridges. Open year round even on Christmas Day.
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Review from Verona R.
12/20/2008
Nero is fiddling....
The smell of the floor in that place might keep the bugs away...but its keeping patrons away too. If you are an Irish pub...try adjusting your pint prices as well. As much as they bitch about the rich in there..their ripping off their own patrons. -
Review from E T.
Bath, ON
8/28/2009
Best nachos in Kingston. 'nuff said.
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Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
9/27/2008
Great place to hang out if you can find a seat outside. Bit of a "dive" inside. Hearty pubfare with good portions and good beers. Popular place and the Toucan brownie is awesome. 1/2 price food for graduate students helps... ID required.
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Review from Andy M.
Trenton, ON
4/3/2010 1 photo
After reading some of the reviews I started to wonder if they were reviewing the same place I have frequented. Yes it kinda looks like a dive but I think that the toucan doesn't cater to upper end people but to college-age kids looking for a good start for the evening and for 30-somethings looking for a very well poured pint. If you want a server looking after your every whim look elsewhere. If you want a good pub with good pub fare (and prices) then come on in with friends and you will have a good time.
