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Victory Café
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Pubs Canadian (New), Pubs [Edit]
581 Markham StToronto, ON M6G 2L7
Neighbourhood: Palmerston
(416) 516-5787
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 4 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- 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:
- No
58 reviews for Victory Café
Review Highlights
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"...I would recommend the grilled cheese (with or without bacon." In 11 reviews -
"...for a solid draught beer selection and no-nonsense food." In 8 reviews -
"...to mention the leafy corner patio in the summer, the cozy..." In 25 reviews
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58 reviews in English
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Review from Alana C.
4/7/2012
Lovely patio that is large and there is a wait. But it is worth it. Vast selection of beer. The food, I feel, is a cut above standard pub-fare. I had a grilled cheese sandwich and it was really good. In fact, I was very impressed. I did wish that I had selected a different side, since they do no skimp on the french fries. I had many of those left over. The food is good.
The waiters are usually mega busy and I feel bad for this one guy who is really nice but seems to constantly have bad luck. One night when we were there the debit terminals were broken and it was obvious people were taking it out on him. Thus, he was a bit slower that evening. We had the same dude the 2nd time we went and he was pleasant and quick. So it shows that sometimes someone can just be having a bad day.
Overall, I like this place very much! -
Review from Jamie K.
Toronto, ON
4/30/2012
Went to the vic on a sunday afternoon for lunch with my girlfriend. Sat on the awesome patio and had a couple of beers and food.
- food was great we had the veg curry, the grilled cheese, and the calamari. All of which were perfectly done and tasted great, and of good sized portions.
- servers were very slow to get to our table (15mins), She also brought out our appetizer after we had fininshed our mains..... so that was kinda strange. That said she was very friendly and clearly very busy.
- patio was awesome.
-ambiance was good... except for three loud douchey 40 yr old guys sitting next to us that kept talking about how awesome they were and mildly harassing the waitress.
All in all a good experience and will be going back. -
Review from Vivek S.
The typical Markham street rigmarole is to start at Victory Café, fail to get a seat and then work your way northward until you end up at The Central. But should you happen to rewarded with a spot on their patio, drink it in, gentle reader. For this is where it all begins.
If there is such a thing as patio envy, then the other restos at Markham and Bloor streets must surely have it. Victory Café boasts a beast of a terrace, stretching right around a converted house. It faces both south and west which should make any pique any T.O. patio regular's curiosity. That said, it's almost always full on a pleasant day so patio-thusiasts are advised to make haste.
But the patio is (by orders of magnitude) my favourite thing about this place. The food is just OK. I probably won't start with the samosas again, but their pasta special was OK. Though the beer list is small, they have some solid options like Beau's Lug Tread. The service seems to be harried, so wear a big felt hat or illuminated spectacles or something if you want to get noticed. But other than that, the VC is A-OK with ME.
Obligatory Title Pun: VICTORY is fine.
Menu Readability: It's big and readable.
Need to mention: Much as been said about their mac and cheese.
What this place teaches me about myself: If the name of the game is patios, then we have a winner.Listed in: Places to get crunk in the…, Toys in the Annex
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Review from Rita M.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2012
Stopped in last night for a late dinner. We sat ourselves inside at the direction of the hostess, and it took a solid 25 minutes for anyone to even approach our table, and another 10 to order. And another 30 for the food to actually come out. I ordered the vegetarian curry with rice, at the recommendation of our server. Sigh, I should have known so much better than to trust someone who looks like she doesn't eat. It wasn't that bad, thus, the two stars, but it wasn't that good either due to the disgusting strawberry jam they smeared across the top of the dish was actually sickening (don't argue with me and tell me it was "mango chutney"--I know what mangos taste like!)
It was really loud inside. I get it, it's a pub, great. But just be prepared not to be able to hear your friends sitting across from you because the people on either side of you are actually screaming. It is unlikely I'll be back--the last thing I need is a plate of macaroni and cheese (which, by the way, every single woman in the place was eating and I thought to myself, "I'll bet that is the best thing on the menu...")
So if you're in the mood for a beer, macaroni and cheese, and you want to pay 20 bucks for all of that instead of just making it at home, fill your boots! -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
5/23/2012
Great patio. Slow service for ordering food & drinks but food arrives quickly. I have never found the servers to be good and you'll never see them smile. There is also a big deal made about splitting bills. Food is hit & miss, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Order the salads with dressing on the side - they put far too much on and it's not that nice!
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Review from Rachel S.
Toronto, ON
4/7/2012
I love this place. The wide selection of beer on tap is pretty awesome. This place has quickly and easily become my local hangout and the staff here are all friendly (and have amazing facial hair!).
There are two levels which means enough seating for everyone. Also, it's located in a great part of the city, right off Bloor in the heart of the Annex.
I have already brought a few friends here and will continue to spread the word about this place. I've only ever come here for drinks but this place has pretty great reviews for their food, too. -
Review from Heather K.
Toronto, ON
3/28/2012
I've been many times and always get the same thing, the famous Mac & Cheese. Try it and you will be beside yourself with gooey delicious joy. It's really that good.
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Review from Luke S.
Toronto, ON
5/7/2012
Good location and an amazing patio. I like the interior too. The beer selection is pretty good as well. What ruins this place for me is the staff. The services is slow and most of the staff I have met seem to be indifferent hipster types who act like they just don't want to be there.
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Review from Vivian P.
North York, ON
3/31/2012
you can find specials on their website (drinks and food)
table of four, we sat ourselves upstairs. it was candlelit with dim lights (the servers turned up the lights about 1/2 hour later)
owner came to take our drink orders and then food orders - he clearly knew the menu (didn't have to write anything down) and was friendly.
items that were consumed:
Weissbeer (Bavarian beer)
pulled pork sandwich, substituting fries with mac and cheese
Mac and Cheese + caesar salad
fish and chips (two pieces of fish)
To be honest, out of all the food we had ordered, the mac and cheese was the best. Pulled pork sandwich was dripping with sauce but it was bland.
The fish with the fish and chips were dry.
If you do order a sandwich, I highly suggest you substitute fries with mac and cheese (it's only $3-4 more and you get a portion that is just enough for you to enjoy mac and cheese (and not be stuffed / overwhelmed)). The entree sized mac and cheese is pretty big, so you could probably share it with someone else .
We didn't order the nachos, but it looked really good (many other tables ordered that, so we saw servers walking by with nachos throughout the meal). I think anything cheese related on the menu is a safer bet, so keep that in mind if you go. I do recommend going to try out the place anyways - doesn't have to be for food, they stock beer that is different from what you'd find in restaurants and it's a nice environment to just hang out and chat. -
Review from carolyn g.
1/5/2012
I come here every single time I'm in Toronto and it's always a five-star visit. The food is amazing and the beers are awesome too. The atmosphere has a great pub feel and no matter which room I sit in, I always feel relaxed.
I love the chicken club sandwich with sweet potato fries. The specials also rock. Last winter I had amazing mushroom gnocchi. My sister is addicted to the mac & cheese. She says it's the best she's ever had. Not my cup of tea, but the bites I had of it were good!
The service is good, although, sometimes it's a bit slow. Only real con I can say is that they charge for soda refills. But I love this place so much that it's still five stars!! -
Review from Anthony L.
1/30/2012
my wife brings me here nearly every time i visit toronto, as mirvish village is home to alot of shops we frequent, & i never leave unsatisfied. we've never had any food until our last jaunt, where we planned on just stopping in for a few drinks after hitting up sonic boom before heading elsewhere for dinner, but the scents flowing from the kitchen were making us salivate so much that we decided to just eat there. no regrets. service is always great -- last time the bartender even indulged me in a chat session about port wine. really cool guy. the place is missing a certain wow factor that i can't place my finger on, but i'd still highly recommended it.
i have to mention that they deserve a full star in itself just because the last time i was here they were playing the entirety of the magnetic fields' 69 Love Songs. -
Review from Wendel P.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2012
It's an okay spot away from Bloor street and the patio is nice but always crowded in the summer. Servers range from granola grumpy to hipster scruffy. Kind of seems like the service never comes together the way it should. Either the food isn't available, or you can't order just yet or the waitress ignores you. The mac and cheese is really good but even though I can see this place literally from my house I can't ever be bothered to go in anymore.
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Review from Jason A.
Etobicoke, ON
7/16/2011
Stopped by here for drinks and dinner on a Friday night.
It's a very nice patio right in Mervish Village which is great... the beer selection is good, the food is very average.
DO NOT order the Nachos... they're beyond terrible.
Apparently the grilled cheese is good, but overall I don't suspect there's much above and beyond regular pub grub here. -
Review from Laura T.
2/16/2011
I'll add to the slew of reviews - this is a great place to grab good comfort food and cheap beer. They have a not-too-extensive draught list, but the 8 or so they do have are delicious and different. They also allow you to sample one before ordering! No ciders on tap
The service is great, really attentive even on a busy Friday night. Speaking of which, make sure you go early and stake out a spot, this place is bumpin' in the evenings. It has a great vibe, good music, lots of people, and close to Bloor & Bathurst. It's not huge, but there is an upstairs and downstairs, both with a bar and tables and such.
They have burgers, mac & cheese, poutine, etc. All my unhealthy but oh-so-delicious faves. The prices are really reasonable as well. All in all, a great place for a much needed Friday drink! -
Review from Nadja B.
Toronto, ON
12/14/2011
All of their servers here are very pleasant and really, really knowledgeable about beer. seriously, every time I come here I learn something new and that is totally great. But when you go to an old place expecting to have a small-talk type conversation with familiar face about everything and anything going on in beer-land and see a bunch different faces instead, kinda irks me a bit. Consistency is not only awesome, but it makes a customer feel more welcome and at home. Not to mention the bartender I had the other night who couldn't tell me more about what was on cask besides the name of the batch and brewer, really? You're a bartender and you cant tell me how whatever you have on cask compares to, oh, say.. anything you have on tap? Isn't that your job? Or do you just not care? Also, what's up with the creepy/sketchy men hanging out at the bar almost every time I am in there, presumably making various kinds of deals with each other and ogling anything with breasts? Way to set an atmosphere.... And, I would way rather NOT watch crappy cp24 when I'm trying to unwind after work, just sayin'.
Other then that, their taps are decent. Their service is most-excellent, and their food isn't too bad either, albeit a bit pricey for general pub fare. It's probably better to hang out here on a quiet weeknight as it gets pretty packed on weekends.
2 stars for the servers beer and food, no stars for the old men, stuck-up bartender and all around shitty atmosphere that those two things create. -
Review from Imran N.
5/15/2011
Haven't eaten here, but have heard great things.
Cozy, warm, converted old house, and lots of floors to drink on. I liked that they had a private dining room too!
The best seller for me is the beers. Great beers on tap - my favourite was the wickedly hoppy "Flying Monkeys Hoptical Illusion"...and they're cheap. -
Review from Leeanne M.
5/16/2011
Simply put, my kind of place.
...open and serving food and drink until 2am
...cozy environment ( in a converted house) and good bar seating which is where I like to sit and eat and drink generally speaking
...attentive service
... small but focused bar menu, inexpensive
Side note 1: The soup special - a rustic borscht gave me a foodgasm
Side note 2: The grilled cheese wasn't bad, I just don't happen to like the super thick bread they served it on - it was a misorder for me, but depends on what ya like.
Side note 3: The bartender's name ( who was adorable and awesome) was Norm. And I just like that name - it's friendly! -
Review from Spiro P.
Toronto, ON
1/2/2011
I use to enjoy the catfish that they had, but they took it off of the menu.
Recently, I ordered the veggie burger and it was okay; nothing really special about it.
The service is great and, suprisingly, prompt.
This place is better for ordering a beer and meeting up with friends. -
Review from Alida S.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2010
I decided to visit The Victory Café because I heard it had one of the best beer selections in Toronto.
When I got there the place was packed. My friends and I were seated in a corner, right next to the kitchen area. I fell in love with the atmosphere inside the café: the dim-lighting, the rustic bar, people laughing and having fun! It really doesn't get any better than that.
The waitress came and took our orders. When the waitress returned, she was carrying our beers, and she was looking very confused. She didn't know which beer was which, so she had to go back and ask the bartender. After that fiasco was settled, we tried our beers, and they were delicious.
We decided we wanted to have some food, so we settled on the Nachos. Our waitress was nowhere to be seen. We waited a good 20 minutes for the waitress to come back and take our orders, but she never came. By the time she appeared, we had finished our beers, so we decided to eat somewhere else. We asked for the bill, and she brought it right away.
The whole night was pretty much ruined by our waitress' inattentiveness and unfriendliness. She didn't smile once, and she seemed preoccupied and uninterested. This seems to be a problem at Victory, and I hope they correct it soon.
Victory Café: Great atmosphere, crappy service. -
Review from Jim L.
Ottawa, ON
6/13/2011
Great place for a beer but give the food a pass. We went for an afternoon beer and a couple of munchies. An ok selection of cans and bottles and a very good list of local draft beers. We decided to have nachos and sweet potato fries. The plate of nachos was too small for the mound of chips on the plate, so that the upper layer was fused with too thick a layer of cheese and those poor chips on the bottom were just naked. The sweet potato fries were at the same time over cooked and limp. I noticed that many things coming out of the kitchen that afternoon seemed to be blackened. The guy at the next table waited forever to get the burger he had ordered. His partner had already finished her meal before he was served.
I'll still go back for a beer as they have a very nice outdoor space and it is located just around the corner from our daughter's apartment. But I'm not sure that I'll try the food again. -
Review from El W.
Toronto, ON
I go to the Victory Café fairly often. I'd say once every two weeks or so. I generally go after work as it is close to work and it's central enough for everyone.
When I go, I generally sit downstairs in the booths, but I have sat upstairs as well. Last week, I sat out on the patio which was very nice.
They've got a nice selection of local beers which changes from time to time. I like to try to try all of them but I never remember which ones I like!
As for food, I've had the grilled cheese sandwich and the chicken club sandwich both of which were delicious. Although, I love sandwiches, and by the time I get there after work, I'm usually starving so everything seems delicious to me. In any case, the sandwiches run about $9-11 if I remember correctly.
The service is generally pretty good. I had one experience where the lady serving us got a bit snippy (when we ordered a second bottle of wine, she rolled her eyes and said "you get charged for that"... ummmmm of course we do?) but overall everyone is really nice and informative. Sometimes, I find it's hard to get anyone's attention for another round or to get the bill, but it's usually pretty busy and I'm not really ever in a rush so it's not a big deal.
Overall, I must really like it there because I always end up back there! -
Review from Doug S.
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend and I found this establishment on Yelp and decided to try it out. We sat at the bar (as we're accustomed to doing) and ordered up some drinks and menus.
It was a Sunday evening and the cafe was slammed. Nonetheless we were given attentive service from our bartender.
The drinks were good (I had a local Ontario-brewed IPA, my friend had a Bloody Mary that was hand made (meaning made with Worcestershire, bitters, etc., and not with a pre-made mix). Both were delicious.
We ordered: my friend had the borscht soup & grilled cheese sandwich, I had the chicken curry. As a rule, I despise beets -- but I gotta tell you, this soup was delicious. I ate nearly as much of my girlfriend's soup as she did, it was so good.
The chicken curry was also really good and spicy. Humongous portion of deliciousness.
Also, the bar had the hockey game on, so it was an all-in-all pretty awesome experience. -
Review from Michelle A.
Toronto, ON
9/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place has been reviewed to death, but I agree with most comments - it's a cool spot for beers and okay pub food.
Quick summary:
1. FOOD - Lots of vegetarian options - especially for a pub. If you're sick of veggie burgers and food covered in cheese, try the curry. It's very flavourful, full of vegetables/chickpeas (not lentils - despite what the menu says). I know it goes against that 'When in Rome' logic, but whatever, I've had it twice, and it comes with mango chutney, so you can't go wrong.
2. BEER - Excellent variety of beers on tap.I had the Denison's Weissbier - tasted just like Germany.
3. SERVICE - Slow, but relaxing patio on quiet street makes it feel okay. -
Review from Payam Z.
10/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Victory Cafe has been an alright spot for me so far, but I'm sure with tweaking a few things it could work its way up to 4*!
The bar space is cute, though nothing special. If you're one who enjoys tucked away patios, Victory offers a pretty nice alternative to the Bloor St. buzz.
I've only tried the appetizers from the food menu, from which I'm a fan of the meaty wings. They offer pretty decent beers on tap including quite a few local and hoppy options.
One of the factors that has left me with a bit of sour taste is the fact that if you come with a big group (say 25 people), and there is a big order for the group (say someone is buying all the pitchers), you are not able to order separate food. This factor basically led to my starvation during my last visit.
Additionally, the front rooms catch a very cold breeze every time the door is opened or shut! This is a mechanism that should be taken care of in any bar in Canada! brrrrr -
Review from Sophia K.
Toronto, ON
5/4/2009 ROTD 10/2/2009
Whenever a hot summer evening rolls around, there's only one place I want to be: one of the cool kids with a spot on the Victory Patio. It's nearly impossible to get a table, especially if you're with a group, so come early...and camp out. Otherwise there's ample seating inside upstairs and down.
Never been disappointed with the food, although I was upset that they removed their chicken fingers from the menu. But their grilled cheese and sweet potato fries are still available and delicious. Also heard great things about the homemade mac n' cheese but have yet to try it. And with your meal be sure to try one of the microbreweries they offer. Get a Stonehammer and you'll never look back, I swear. -
Review from Isabel R.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 9/27/2010
I hate to downgrade the Victory, but every time I go there the food gets worse and the portions get smaller. I don't know if it's because I went there on busy nights, but the quality definitely went way down. The salad just became totally slathered with dressing.
I'm not gonna write this place off, but hopefully it gets on an upswing again.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/22/2010
I heard about this place for ages before I finally made it down. And I have to say, it held up to… Read more »
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Review from sarah l.
5/2/2010 7 Check-ins Here
I had a great time here. Maybe it was the company, maybe it was the patio or maybe it was the cask beer but I enjoyed myself at Victory.
The good:
- good beer selection and great prices
- good looking menu
- laid back staff (maybe too laid back) - but they let us bring over 4 chairs to a table for 2 with no problems or dirty looks
- GREAT fries with dill dipping sauce
The bad:
- our waiter was kind of a fail. He took forever to bring us anything so much so that we went inside to pay at the bar because it was taking him so long.
- The chicken wings were just okay. They were crispy and saucy and came with veggies and dip but they were the wrong kind of sauce.
The EXTREMELY weird:
- every single one of our wings was a wing. There was not a single drumstick to be had. It was eerie... but we didn't care.
Overall, I would definitely come here again. I would order something else and not be in a rush and it would have been great.Listed in: Chicken Wings... for better or…
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Review from Anna-Claude B.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2011
The Victory Cafe is where I go when I want to just sit around with some good friends drinking good micro brewery beer and eating good hearty food. The patio in the summer is really pleasant, shaded by a couple of big trees. Get there early on a friday though cause the line up starts pretty early. Inside is a bit dark, but still a good place to while away an evening.
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Review from Chris P.
After having some tacos at Al Asador Mike S. and i came for a couple of beers. The place is quaint and was all full on a Saturady night. We sat at the bar as not a booth was to be had. They were having some issues with their sound system but that didn't matter since the hockey game was on. The waitress was great and knows her beer. After asking her to suprise me for my second pint she picked an excellent amber with a nutty flavour.
This is a great place to hang out on a random evening and enjoy a pint with some friends. -
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/3/2010
Did you know they serve curry chicken? And did you know it's fantastic???
I'm 100% against eating curry in public. And I am 100% against eating curry in a pub. I find curry unattractive in every sense. But on an irregular strange day I devoured a plate of the most delicious on-the-bone curry chicken right HERE
And THEN I followed it up with their creme brulee which I was very impressed with considering it was a pub.
The bar is HUGE with two floors and two "wings" on each floor. I've never tried sitting upstairs- I thoroughly enjoy sitting at the downstairs bar. the staff are friendly- the beer is plentiful- and they have a killer stout on tap.Listed in: I'd destroy my liver for you:…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/4/2009
I thoroughly enjoy this place with a smallish group of friends (3-4 max). Dont' attempt to go here… Read more »
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
9/1/2008 1 photo
I'd always assumed because of Victory's location, right on Markham Street behind glittering Honest Ed's, it would smack of bland tourist fare. However, it's satisfied me not once, twice, but three times: a random and cozy drink meet-up and a reasonable candlelit dinner on the patio impressed me, but I was more than toppled over with glee when it came to brunch. Waffles and pancakes overflowing with fruit? HELLO, Nurse!
I'm just upset it's taken seven years in Toronto to discover the darn place. Let's make up for lost time, shall we?Listed in: Morning eats
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
5/27/2010 3 photos
Meh. A little overrated. I expected a lot more from this little pub
Although I really liked the beer selection from local microbreweries but would be nice if there was description about each one.
We waited almost half an hour for a table on the patio. And when it got dark, there were no candles or outdoor lighting. It was dark.
The place seems nice for a drink, rather than dinner. Yes it probably has one of the better selection of bar food but it's still bar food.
I don't know what's do great about the mac and cheese and why everyone was raving about it. It's good but not that good and there was really a pool of grease on the bottom. I felt like there was no taste and I added ketchup. I never like adding ketchup to my mac and cheese.
It came with the salad but barely any dressing on it. I was eating dry leaves.
The salmon crab cakes were Delish
The servers were okay and always seemed to try to carry more than they can handle as if to spare an extra trip.
Our server didn't seem to be all there and was soft spoken at first.
+2 for beers. +1 for food.
I'd come here again mainly for drinksListed in: Thanks Yelp!
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Review from Michael N.
Toronto, ON
11/10/2010
I really like this place - it's definitely a great student hangout. The prices are great, and it can really get hopping on the weekends; great vibe. The grilled cheese sandwich is probably one of the best I've ever had, and their fries are gorgeous. The beer selection is awesome, and the seating arrangements are really neat - this place is made for small groups (2-4 people). I had a birthday party here and reserved the side room, which worked really well for 15 people.
Only bad sides - it can get really hot and stifling (esp. in the summer) and the service can get really bad. For the party I mentioned it was decent because we had a server assigned to us, but they refused to let people pay individually, which was a hassle. Normally, it can take ages to get a server to give you drinks, and the bar(s) can get totally packed. Further, if you're sitting at a table and you try to speed things up by going to the bar, they might even refuse to serve you, to 'preserve the server's tab'.
Also - they have a fantastic beer menu, but that's it. Ordering wine or spirits (except for wells drinks) is a waste. Prices for wells are great, though.
To sum up- if you're relaxed and easygoing, this is a fantastic place. If you need good service to have a good time, I would suggest somewhere else. But this place is so good, you may want to make yourself easygoing ... -
Review from Ashley S.
Toronto, ON
7/15/2009
One of my fave patios and pubs in Toronto. Good micro brews and yummy home cooked style food. Best veggie chili I've had in the city. And great prices for the amount of food you get. Beer is average price.
And I love that it's in my neighbourhood (the annex), but off Bloor so it's a little more cozy and has better atmosphere than a lot of places in the area. Markham is a really cute tree lined street and sitting on the Victory patio is relaxing.
Only issue is the service can be hit or miss - they're never rude but depending on how packed the patio is you might not see your server for awhile but I go to the Victory to hang out, not to rush in and out so I don't mind.
If you're trying to hit the patio on a really nice evening be prepared to wait. But you can drink while you wait at least :) -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 5/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Grilled Cheese with gruyere, cheddar and sundried tomato pesto on Calabrese bread. Sounds great right?
Wrong.
I did not enjoy this. The pesto was sweet to the point of cloying and had I had a butter knife at my disposal I would have wiped it off the bread entirely. Everything else about the sandwich was magical, but next time I'll hold the pesto. Fries are fucking fantastic as always. Order them and try to ration your garlicky-dill dipping sauce.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2009
The first thing you need to know about the Victory Cafe is that whoever's choosing the music has… Read more »
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Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2009 7 Check-ins Here
One of my favourite beer spots in the city. Nestled away on Markham Street in the Annex with a fairly sizable quiet (well, except from the patrons) patio.
Come here for a solid draught beer selection and no-nonsense food. Some typical pub food items but they're all quite tasty.
Also been on several occasions for a hearty brunch. -
Review from Kim B.
ON
1/30/2009 5 photos
Good nachos are a hard thing to find in this city, because some people don't realize how important the ratio of cheese to chips is. (For the record, it should be 2:1).
The nachos at this place where the cheesiest nachos I've ever eaten. There was an actual sheen of grease on the fromage coating. It was glorious.
I also like this cafe (bar, really), because of its upstairs/downstairs separation which sort of reminds me of The Albion in Guelph (Hollah Guelph!). The place is decked out with basic tables and chairs as well as some more intimate booths that seat mostly two people at max.
A REALLY fun place.
Note: They only thing is I wish they had a better (or some kind) of wine selection. When I asked our cute Kurt Cobain (pre-heroin) waiter what wine they had he said, "red or white" and I sighed. And then told him he looked like Kurt Cobain but without the heroin. -
Review from Soukia S.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2010
I end up at Victory Cafe because it's on my way home from work, their music is good, and they have a great selection of beer. Oh, and it feels like a pub -- probably because it kind of is.
Normally quite packed with a good selection of non-pretentious folks, they have a downstairs area with two rooms and a larger upstairs area. Their cask beer is only served downstairs but you can trek down and trek back up with it if your party is upstairs. In the summer though, they've got a wonderful patio that faces the street so you can hang out, people watch, and drink beer on the most beautiful of summer days and evenings on Markham street. I can't wait for summer!
Their food is only fair to middling: not the best, not the worst. I normally don't go for the food but if I must eat it I will. They have the usual burgers, salads, fries, vegetable curry, and so on. -
Review from Emily C.
Montréal, QC
9/10/2011
This review is solely based on the creme brulee that I had. Who puts (possible canned) whipped cream on top of creme brulee?! Disappointing.
Best to stick to just the drinks at this place. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Toronto, ON
3/11/2010
This place definitely warms my heart. It's been warming it since 1998. All the food, service, atmosphere yadda yadda. All fantastic. I've attended many events here, such as MY BIRTHDAY, which is the number one event in the world. That and the occasional actor reading bonanza, Amnesty dance-a-thon, out-of-control boozefest or even just a mild-mannered chow-down on a plate of fries with a good old friend from yesteryear.
Plenty of room upstairs and downstairs, the Victory gets packed, especially on the patio in the summer because it's a great patio! And people are friendly and want to be your friend and cheers your beer and stuff. And all the cute guys seem to go to the good ole Vic. Is that a rule of thumb for this place? Girls: go to the Victory if you wanna scope out the bearded babes!
